King vs Queen Bed: What Is the Difference?
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Updated
December 20, 2022
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The best suitable bed sizes for couples or adults who like some extra space while they sleep are a queen or king bed. People often mistake choosing the wrong size bed for them and end up with either too big to fit their room or a size too small for comfortable sleep.
Buying a bed is a long-term investment, so it is essential to consider several factors before choosing the right mattress size. Let’s look at the difference between king vs queen bed dimensions. The main factor differentiating between a king vs queen bed is the size difference between a queen and king bed. A king mattress has a standard dimension of 76 inches by 80 inches, with a surface area of 6080 square inches.
A queen mattress has a standard dimension of 60 inches by 80 inches, with a surface area of 4800 square inches. It is the best bed size for couples.
What is the Difference Between King vs Queen?
Both the mattresses are similar in length but differ in their width. A king bed is 16 inches wider than a queen mattress, making it a suitable option for people who want extra space while sleeping.
Be it a King vs Queen mattress; both offer you the same space in length. However, their main difference lies in width. The King (aka Eastern king size) provides an extra 16 inches of room, which is best for couples without feeling cramped. King mattresses come standard at 76 inches x 80 inches; however, if necessary, they can be extended through 2 different sizes: 76″ or 80″. As their size is different, their price also comes in a distinctive budget bracket of almost $1000 extra for a King bed.
Here are some significant differences between queen and king size mattresses that can help you choose the best one as per your requirements:
To know more about sleep cycles, your chakras and its essentiality in your overall well-being, click here to dive deep into the world of sound sleep and cozy beds.
King vs Queen Bed
Let us walk through some of the pros and cons of both the two types of mattresses:
Pros of King Bed:
- A king bed is very spacious.
- It is suitable for people who wish to share their beds with kids or pets.
- It is ideal for large master bedrooms.
Cons of King Bed:
- The king bed is costlier.
- It will not fit inside small rooms.
- It is challenging to move a king bed around.
- There is an additional cost of accessories and bedding.
Pros of Queen Bed:
- It is relatively cheaper.
- One of the most common bed sizes, which means people already have the bedding and accessories for the queen bed.
- It can fit within small rooms.
- It is easy to move around when compared to a king bed.
Cons of Queen Bed:
- Couples who need more personal space will feel cramped.
- It is not ideal for people who want to share their beds with their children or pets.
Factors to Consider When Deciding Between King or Queen Bed
There are some factors that you should consider when trying to decide between a king and queen size bed:
Comfort
When deciding between a queen or king bed, your comfort is the key. Some studies prove that a comfortable mattress leads to better sleep. If you like to sleep with your limbs sprawled across the bed, then a king bed is the right choice for you. If you want to snug closer to your partner, then a queen bed is the right choice for you.
Price
The price of two mattresses with the same features and quality will depend on their size. A king bed is larger and will cost more when compared to a queen bed.
Queen beds will cost you anywhere from 500 to 3,000 dollars, while the price for king beds can range anywhere from 800 to 4,000 dollars.
If you are tight on budget, then a queen bed would be the right choice; however, the extra space on the king bed will make up for the cost in the long run.
Size of the Room
Size is another factor that impacts your queen vs. king bed choice. A queen bed is the smaller of the two and fits in small spaces. The minimum bedroom size required to fit a queen bed is 10 feet by 10 feet.
A king bed is most suitable for large rooms. The minimum bedroom size needed to fit a king bed is 12 feet by 12 feet.
Sleeping Partner
Your sleeping partner would also be a determining factor in your bed choice.
If you want to share your bed with your partner, pets, or kids, having the extra space on a king bed would be beneficial.
If you are going to sleep alone or snuggling up to your partner, then a queen bed would be the best.
Sleeping Positions
You should consider your sleeping position while determining mattress sizes. Some people sleep in a straight line, while others like to sprawl their limbs.
You can determine your sleeping position by the position in which you wake up. If you and your partner are side sleepers, you don’t require much space, and a queen bed is ideal. If you and/or your partner are back or stomach sleepers, then having extra space would be great, and you should go for a king bed.
Your Height
Your height is an essential factor in determining a queen vs king mattress. Tall people have trouble fitting their legs inside a small bed. While the length of both king and queen mattresses is 80 inches, other variations of king mattresses have a length of seven feet or 84 inches. The extra length makes the bed suitable for tall people.
Movability
While most of the beds are designed to fit easily with all doorways, you must measure the size of your door first before buying a bed.
Since a king bed is large, it is also heavier than a queen bed. It is more challenging to move a king bed around than a queen bed.
King vs Queen Bed Size Variations
Some of the significant size variations of a king and queen size bed are:
1. Split Queen Mattress
A split queen mattress is where two half queen size mattresses are connected. Each split-size queen mattress measures 30 inches by 80 inches. Couples with different mattress preferences can choose a split queen mattress with two other mattresses on each side. Also, with adjustable beds, they can raise or lower the height of the mattress based on their comfort.
2. Olympic Queen Mattress
An Olympic queen mattress measures 66 inches by 80 inches. It is more significant than a regular queen-size mattress while still smaller than a king. It is an irregular size and hard to find in the market, and you will have trouble finding the right size bed for this mattress.
3. Split King Mattress
A split king mattress is where two mattresses half the size of a king mattress are connected. A split mattress allows people to choose two different mattresses for each half. It also enables couples to select their preferred type of mattress for maximum comfort. Combining a split mattress with an adjustable bed allows people to raise or lower the height of the mattress on their side for custom comfort.
4. California King Mattress
A California king mattress is one of the great choices for tall people and bedrooms in a rectangle shape. It has the same surface area as a standard king mattress but differs widely in dimensions. It measures 72 inches by 84 inches and is narrower in shape with a 4-inch decrease in width and a 4-inch increase in length.
5. Split California King Mattress
A split California mattress is where two mattresses half the size of a California king mattress are connected. It allows people to choose two different mattresses for each half, and it is beneficial for couples who prefer other types of mattresses depending on their comfort. Each half of the split California king mattress measures 36 inches by 84 inches.
6. RV Queen Mattress
An RV queen mattress measures 60 inches by 75 inches, making it 5 inches smaller than a standard queen mattress in length. These mattresses are designed to fit inside a recreational vehicle and are not very common to find. While the width is sufficient for two people to fit easily on this mattress, there might not be an adequate length for tall people.
7. RV King Mattress
Just like an RV queen mattress, RV king mattresses are also made to fit inside recreational vehicles. They measure 72 inches by 80 inches, and since they are not a very common size, they are hard to come by, and it is the most superior mattress that can fit inside an RV.
8. Texas King Mattress
A Texas king size mattress has a dimension of 80 inches by 98 inches, and it has 4 inches of extra space width-wise and 18 inches length-wise, making this mattress an ideal size for really tall people. It is also great for family vacations with everybody sleeping in together.
9. Wyoming King Mattress
A Wyoming king size mattress has a square shape of 84 inches by 84 inches. This mattress’s least required room size is 14 feet by 16 feet, and it is not a commonly available mattress.
10. Alaskan King Mattress
A mattress that makes you feel like a king. With a dimension of 108 inches by 108 inches, this Alaskan king mattress is giant, and it can fit comfortably in a room of size 16 feet by 16 feet. Since the mattress is large, it tends to cost way higher than any other king mattress.
What Is Better a King or Queen Bed?
A king or queen bed, both are suitable for couples and adults. Which one is better for you depends on your requirements. A queen bed is cheap and can fit inside a small master bedroom or a guest room.
Conclusion
If you are a couple looking to share a bed with your pet or kids, then a king bed would be the right choice for you. It can fit inside a master bedroom. In this queen vs king bed guide, we have differentiated between the two in detail. You can look at our king vs queen comparison chart and the pros and cons of a queen vs king mattress to better understand the size suitable for you.
FAQs
A king bed measures 76 by 80 inches, and a queen bed measures 60 by 80 inches. Hence, both king and queen beds measure the same in length, i.e., 80 inches, but a king bed is more in width than a queen bed by 16 inches.
Both king and queen size beds are suitable for couples. Couples who enjoy space would love to sleep on a king bed as it offers extra 16 inches of width. However, couples who prefer intimacy over space would love picking a queen mattress as it provides a perfect blend of space and intimacy.
A queen mattress that measures 60 by 80 inches is the most popular size available on the market and is mostly preferred by couples.
If your queen frame is adjustable and can be switched to a king size bed frame, you can put a king mattress over it. However, if it cannot be adjusted, then you will have to buy a new frame as it would not fit.
The key difference between a standard and a full mattress is their size. A Full mattress measures 53 by 75 inches. On the contrary, a queen mattress measures 60 by 80 inches. Hence, a queen mattress is 7 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full mattress.
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