Full Vs. Queen Mattress
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The size of your bed is essential to bringing you the best sleep possible while lifting the look of your bedroom. Choosing between a full vs. queen size mattress can be difficult, especially because the inch difference’s impact on sleep quality is hard to imagine.
In this article, we show you that a bigger mattress isn’t always better if it is unnecessary for your personal needs. On the other hand, choosing to have those extra inches might mean more space for comfort and for future needs out of your bed, especially for growing families.
Key Takeaways
- A queen sized bed is longer and wider than a full sized bed, but both can fully accommodate an adult individual. A full sized bed may only be appropriate for couples with certain sleeping habits.
- Your personal lifestyle, the size of your bedroom, how many people will sleep in a bed, and your future plans will determine whether to buy a full size vs. a queen sized mattress.
Full vs. Queen Size Comparison
A full sized bed in Canada is 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. In feet, it is 4.5ft wide and 6.25ft long, providing more than enough sleeping space to fit an average adult individual.
Queen sized beds are larger than full sized beds, measuring 60 inches wide and 80 inches long. This is 5 feet wide and 6.67 feet long, boasting a big sleeping area even for tall sleepers.
That’s not to say that full sized beds aren’t capable of sleeping taller individuals, though. Being above 6 feet myself, I’ve often opted for a queen sized bed where possible – but when a queen bed isn’t possible, I could make do with a full sized bed by either sleeping diagonally or just accepting the fact that my feet will dangle from the edge.
It’s all about making do with what you’ve got.
That said, a queen sized bed will have 6 more inches of width and 5 more inches of length. This makes finding the right size of bedding and accessories more important, as sheets for a full sized mattress won’t fit a queen bed.
You might want to check out other mattress sizes in Canada if neither full or queen fits your needs!
Full vs. Queen Comparison Chart
| Characteristics | Full Size | Queen Size |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 75 Inches 6.25 ft | 80 Inches 6.67 ft |
| Width | 54 Inches 4.49 ft | 60 Inches 4.98 ft |
| Sleeping Area Per Person | 27 Inches (Width) | 30 Inches (Width) |
| Price | 800$-1200$ | 900$-1400$ |
| Who Will Fit? (At Most) | Two Adults of average build or One Adult and a pet | Two Adults of average build or Two Adults with a child or a pet |
| Best For | Young individuals, cuddly couples who like sleeping together, adults with a single pet, guests | Taller individuals (beyond 6.4 ft.), couples who are hot-sleepers, growing families, adults with multiple pets, master bedrooms |
Full Sized Bed
Dimensions and Measurements
A full sized bed, also called a ‘double bed’, is 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. This is five inches longer than the Twin XL and offers a lot of space for the average adult. Its 6.25 ft. length means that you won’t have to dangle your feet on the bed when you sleep and still have the space to accommodate another sleeper due to its 4.49 ft. of width.
The full sized bed is the start of the ‘boxy’ mattresses commonly seen in guestrooms and master rooms while being compact enough to not crowd a small room.
Pro Tip: My suggested room space to accommodate a full sized bed would be 10.11 ft long and 7.25 ft. wide.
Pros and Cons
A full sized bed might be perfect for you but it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Let’s look at where this size shines and where you might want to consider purchasing a queen size:
Pros:
- Fits in compact and smaller bedrooms without sacrificing a good fit for average-built individuals. Gives you more room for access or having bedside tables and lamps in smaller rooms;
- More affordable than a queen size for both the mattress, bed frame and bedding. A higher quality full size bed’s price might be on par with a cheaper queen sized bed;
- Easier to move around;
- Perfect bed for smaller master bedrooms or for your growing child’s bedroom, as it can last them until their young adult years.
Cons:
- Not for tall individuals or for couples who prefer space while sleeping;
- Couples who are hot sleepers might find it too cramped.
Queen Sized Bed
Dimensions and Measurements
A queen sized bed is 60 inches wide and 80 inches long. It’s 5 inches longer and 6 inches wider than the full sized bed, so sleeping with a partner, pet or child shouldn’t be a problem. With 30 inches of sleeping area per person, the average-sized person could spread out in bed at night without having to worry too much about their partner.
Offering a big upgrade from full sized beds, you might also want to check out the best hybrid mattresses in Canada if you are unsure about the bounciness or firmness that you want out of your bed.
Pro Tip: My suggested room space to accommodate a queen sized bed would be 18.75 to 12.5 ft long and 13.5 to 9 ft wide.
Pros and Cons
A queen sized bed is an upgrade over a full sized bed and offers more space around the bed for relaxing. Although this is the most purchased globally (1) and preferred by couples, there are a few disadvantages to the queen size:
Pros:
- More space for taller individuals and versatility for those who like to move around and spread while sleeping;
- Suitable for a wide range of use cases, whether it’s solo-sleeping, sleeping with your partner, children, or even multiple pets;
- Good starting point for ‘big beds’ without sacrificing too much bedroom space.
Cons:
- Will take up significant room in a smaller bedroom;
- More expensive than a full size bed without added core functionality;
- Bulkier and heavier, especially since your bed frame would also have to be queen sized.
You might want to check out the best firm mattresses in Canada as this will offer the needed support for back sleepers.
Can’t Decide Between Full Bed vs. Queen Bed?
Bedroom Dimensions
Your mattress size is the most important determinant of your bedroom’s overall layout. A full size mattress will take up 28.1 square feet of space while a queen takes 33.3 square feet, 5 sqft. more than a full.
Full sizes will work best for dormitories and condominium studio units in major cities where space is a luxury while queen sizes are the favored choice for houses, particularly for master bedrooms.
When in doubt, I like to go for the smaller option because you could always make the full bed fit in a space for a queen, but the opposite doesn’t always hold true.
That said, if my looks ‘empty’ with these sizes, I like to fill these spaces with other furniture or knick knacks. In my case, that would be a guitar, work paraphernalia, or an end table depending on where the empty space is.
Alternatively, you could also go bigger with the best king size mattresses in Canada will offer a better bed-to-room ratio.
Pro Tip: Leave adequate space on the sides of your bed while measuring so you don’t feel cramped moving around it.
Price and Budget
If you are working with a tight budget, the 100$ minimum difference between a full and a queen size mattress may matter. Beddings for queen sizes are also a bit more expensive than a full’s.
For those who don’t need the extra space from a queen, you might get away with a higher quality full with what you can save. Here are the best mattresses available in Canada to help squeeze out the best quality out of your budget.
Sleeping Habit
How you sleep is crucial for choosing the right size. If you only move moderately, a full sized bed will offer a snug sleep with plenty of allowance for moving.
For people who like to spread, starfish, sprawl, and even switch between different positions in their bed, a queen sized bed will offer that needed versatility.
Me and my partner are both side-sleepers, so a full was enough since we wouldn’t spread out while sleeping. Backed by studies (2), side-sleeping relieves my pain and makes me snore less.
If you are a side sleeper, a full sized bed is the perfect size for you. We’ve compiled a list of the best mattresses for side sleepers in Canada with a diverse option of full sizes.
Choosing Full Bed vs. Queen Bed: What’s Best For You
Personal Lifestyle
Your individual lifestyle is important to choose the size that meets your needs. Here are a few considerations to make:
- Do you have lots of other items around your bedroom?
- Is a wide sleeping area relevant for you? Do you envision yourself working or lounging around your bed during your active hours?
- Are you cost-conscious? How long will your next mattress upgrade be?
These questions will help you understand your relationship with your bed. When I was busy at the office, I found a full size to be perfect for my needs since I was saving up money during my upgrade and had lots of items to fill up my bedroom.
Pro Tip: Even small bed sizes can look big in your room when you don’t corner them against your window, avoiding a student dorm feel!
Individuals
A full sized bed is more than enough space for a single adult individual. If you are not taller than 6 feet 4 inches, you will fit in the bed no matter if you move around your sleep or stay in position. For the furparents, a full sized bed will even have adequate space to accommodate your furbaby!
Couples
Couples who value their individual sleeping space and those who are hot sleepers are better off with a queen sized bed. Even if both of you move while you sleep, the extra six inches ensures that your partner won’t disturb your sleep while they flail out.
Some cuddly couples who like to sleep close together find a full sized bed more than enough.
In my experience, a full sized bed worked wonders for our relationship as it gave us enough room to cuddle without the temptation of hogging the opposite side of the bed!
Anticipating Future Need
Since mattresses are a long-term investment, it is important to purchase while looking ahead.
Individuals looking at the Twin XL might be better off purchasing a full sized bed for another future sleeper.
Couples who are growing a family together might find a queen sized bed to be a safer purchase since it can accommodate a child before their teenage years.
Even for couples who do not sleep with their children, the added space of a queen size offers versatility for bonding activities on the bed, such as playing board games, watching movies together, or just the occasional night slept together.
Moving Your Mattress:
Planning out future relocations due to changes in work, for example, is important in considering your mattress of choice.
As a frequent mover, I appreciated the portability of a full size bed. Check this link out to find how much a mattress weighs if you expect to move out far before your next upgrade.
Accessories:
Your future sleeping upgrades should be taken into account, especially considering that the Queen size is the most purchased bed size globally.
Full sized beds offer limited high-end designs for accessories. It will be much easier to make your bed with frames, beddings, and accessories for the queen sized due to its popularity.
My Experiences
When I was still renting a small condo unit near my university, space was a luxury due to how expensive each square foot was. I opted for a full sized bed since a queen would mean not having a bedside table for my lamp, alarm, books, chargers, glasses and even my glass of water.
Ever since I had work and moved to a bigger house’s bedroom, I decided to purchase a queen size for aesthetic reasons and to accommodate a newfound spreading habit as I valued bedtime relaxation much more.
FAQ:
Do I need a queen or full sized bed?
Picking between a queen or full sized bed is dependent on several factors such as: room size, number of people sleeping, budget, and personal preference. If you want to have more space, opt for the queen sized bed. Otherwise, a full sized bed would be easier on the budget.
Can two people fit in a full sized bed?
Yes. However, there will be contact between these two sleepers, and a full sized will not give them enough space to move. A queen sized bed is recommended for couples who toss and turn and those who are hot sleepers. Purchasing a queen size also makes sure your bed can accommodate a family or other sleepers on your bed.
Conclusion
Choosing between a full vs. queen size mattress wasn’t so difficult after all, right? Reevaluating who will be using the mattress, how many, where, and for how long will help your decision to purchase the size that will last for your future needs. I recommend that serious sleepers get a queen sized bed for its versatility and assured comfort, while a full sized bed is best for those looking to squeeze the value of every penny for their next upgrade.
Still have questions about choosing between a full vs. queen size mattress? Alex Savy, the Co-Founder and Chief Editor at Comfynorth has reviewed countless sleep products with over 4 years in the industry and can help you find what you’re looking for. Reach out through email at [email protected]. When emailing Alex, include your full name and phone number or email address.
Additional Links:
- Prescient and Strategic Intelligence (2022, December ) Mattress Market Research Report: By Product (Innerspring, Memory Foam, Latex), Size (Single, Double, Queen, King), Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), End Use (Residential, Commercial) - Global Industry Revenue Estimation and Demand Forecast to 2030. Retrieved from: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/mattress-market#:~:text=The%20queen%20size%20category%20accounted,owing%20to%20their%20lower%20prices.
- Doug Cary, Kathy Briffa, and Leanda McKenna (2019, June 28) Identifying relationships between sleep posture and non-specific spinal symptoms in adults: A scoping review. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31256029/