Get the Skinny on Sheet Sizes
Don’t know your queen from your full? Here is a guide to help you figure out sheet sizes. These are common mattress sizes.
Twin: Approximately 39 inches by 76 inches Twin XL: Approximately 39 inches by 80 inches Full or Double: Approximately 54 inches by 75 inches Queen: Approximately 60 inches by 80 inches King: Approximately 78 inches by 80 inches California King: Approximately 72 inches by 84 inches
Once you know the size of the sheets and the mattress, you can estimate whether or not the sheets will fit your mattress. If you want to be super sure about it, you must either purchase the sheets (if they can be returned), or go home and measure your mattress. Few things can be more irritating than spending money on sheets that do not fit your mattress well. According to Real Simple magazine, sheets commonly are treated with chemicals that can include chlorine, formaldehyde, or silicon. Manufacturers coat the sheets to keep them from shrinking, losing their shape, or wrinkling. Some are treated with alkalis to give them a sheen. Consumer Reports says that the Federal Trade Commission wants retailers to stop labeling and advertising rayon textiles as eco-friendly bamboo. This is because the material is rayon once the plant fiber is processed. This means that some sheets labeled “bamboo” are actually rayon. Organic cotton should not have any chemicals on it. You may want to check out the fabric details in addition to sizing when you are choosing sheets. Make sure to wash brand-new sheets before putting them on your bed. If there are any chemicals, a routine wash will hopefully get rid of them and soften the sheets for your bed.
Other Tips for Decoding Sheet Sizes
Twin XL and California king sheet sets are usually available with the fitted bottom sheet; the top sheet is usually no different in size from the twin or king. (This explains why the sheet may hang over the side of a twin bed longer than on a king.) Some new mattresses have a deeper depth than older ones. In fact, many new mattresses are deeper, plus people may add mattress toppers that can add a few inches to the mattress. In that case, you should know that the standard mattress is 7 to 9 inches thick, a deep mattress is 10 to 15 inches, and an extra deep mattress is 15 to 22 inches.
