Ultimate Bed Size Guide

What’s the best bed size for you? Is it worth upgrading from a double bed to a queen bed for the extra size or should you be upsizing even further?

Landing on the right bed size that corresponds to your needs, room layout, and budget can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put this guide together to help you make the best decision for yourself or whomever you’re buying a bed for.

Read on to learn about the range of bed sizes, who they’re best suited to, and other important factors to keep in mind before making your final decision.

Common Bed Sizes and Dimensions

There are seven standard bed sizes in Australia. These are as follows with corresponding dimensions. 

Breakdown of Each Bed Size

Single Bed

Chances are you slept in a single bed when you were a kid. At 92 cm by 188 cm, this bed is a good choice for kids and bedrooms with limited space.

Single Long Bed

A single long bed is the same width as a traditional single bed but offers 15 cm of additional length. Its overall dimensions are 92 cm by 203 cm.

King Single Bed

The king single bed takes things to the next level. It has the same length as the single long bed, but adds 15 cm of width. The king single bed tends to prove popular with teenagers and single adults. Its overall dimensions are 107 cm by 203 cm.

Double Bed

A double bed is the typical option that sits between a single bed and a queen bed. A double bed offers notably more width than all single beds, but its length does fall short of that offered with a single long or king single bed. Its dimensions are 138 cm by 188 cm. The length is the same as that of a traditional single bed.

Queen Bed

The queen bed is where your overall real estate takes a sizeable step up, offering more width and length than a double bed. Its dimensions are 153 cm by 203 cm.

King Bed

With a king bed, you gain even more width with an additional 30 cm. Dimensions are 183 cm by 203 cm.

Super King Bed

Last but certainly not least is the super king bed. A super king bed is the same length as a king bed but adds 20 cm to its width. In other words, a super king bed is 203 cm by 203 cm - a perfectly square bed with plenty of space on offer.

Suitability for Different Types of People or Households

When deciding on the right bed, take into consideration who you’re buying it for (a child, teenager, adult, elderly, couples, etc.) 

Single beds and single long beds tend to be designed with children and teenagers in mind. Single beds are more so for toddlers and young children, whereas a single long bed is better suited to older children, teenagers, or single adults. The king single bed is suited to teenagers and single adults.

Double beds are often recommended for teenagers and single adults, as well. While it’s called a double bed, couples often still find a double bed to be too narrow, width-wise.

Queen beds prove popular with those who find double beds lacking. Queen beds have more length and width than a double bed, making them appealing for couples or even single adults who need the extra length that a double bed is missing.

King beds and super king beds are popular options for couples, but single adults who want to indulge in a truly spacious night’s sleep may also opt for these. They’re great options for families, with room for kids and pets to relax.

For elderly people, what size is best for them can vary on a case-by-case basis. Smaller beds, such as a single long bed, king single bed or double bed can be good options as they require less effort to get into and out of. This can be helpful for elderly people who have mobility issues.

Room size is also another important factor to be mindful of. Make sure you take measurements of the room you want to set your bed up in so you know if it’s feasible. While a super king bed may sound luxurious, it’s not going to make for the best living experience if it takes up 80% of your room’s space.

Ideal Bed Sizes for Different Sleep Positions

How you sleep is another worthwhile factor to account for when choosing your bed. In general, most bed sizes will work with any sleep position, but certain ones are ideal.

For example, if you’re a back sleeper who likes to spread out in bed, a mid-sized or larger bed, such as a double or queen, may be better suited. If you share your bed with someone, then you may want to opt for a king or super king bed so you have plenty of room to be comfortable. 

The same applies to stomach sleepers, with the larger beds offering more surface area to work with.

When it comes to side sleepers, most bed sizes can work. If you’re an adult who sleeps on their side, even a king single bed would be enough - but whether you opt for that depends on how much space you personally want. If you share a bed with someone, you’ll likely want to opt for something that’s queen-sized or above.

Additional Considerations

There are a few more factors worth keeping in mind when choosing your bed size, so make note of the following:

Bed Frame Compatibility

As you’re searching for your next mattress, take into account the current bed frame you have or the next one you intend to purchase or use.

For example, if you’re looking for a single long mattress to fit on a trundle bed frame for when friends or family visit, consider that the mattress will need to fit under a bed space when not in use. This is often why mattresses designed with trundle frames in mind have a shallower depth than other single bed mattresses.

By and large, most bed frames maintain similar dimensions to the mattresses they hold, but some frames may extend out further by design or have additional functions that make them take up more space than you originally anticipated.

It goes without saying that you should get a mattress that corresponds to your bed frame’s size. So, you shouldn’t place a queen bed mattress on a frame for a double bed, nor vice versa. Make sure your bed frame and mattress are designed with each other in mind.

Room Size and Layout

We touched on this briefly, but your room size and layout matter. Is your room square-shaped or rectangular? Are there any walls or load-bearing pillars that obscure parts of it? Do you need additional space for a separate wardrobe or is yours built into the wall?

You want to opt for a bed size that caters for your personal wants (room to move, length if you’re tall, width if you’re broad-shouldered, etc.), but you also want your room to be easy to move around in. 

What good is a spacious bed if it forces you to walk around the outskirts of your room at all times?

Bedding and Accessories

While it may not seem the case at first, bedding accessories can take up additional space and influence the overall layout of your setup. Remember that if you opt for thick bedding materials, each piece will use up space. 

If you want to add a headboard to your bed or drape a canopy around it for aesthetic or practical purposes, this will take up room as well. The addition of side tables, lamps or other common bedside items also needs to be accounted for.

Be mindful of your space, how much needs to be set aside for the bed and framing, and any other bits and pieces that could influence the result.

To get started on your bed buying journey, check out our range of mattresses by size. 

If you have any questions, get in touch today or learn more about us. We’re here and ready to help you find the best bed for your needs.