Twin XL vs Queen Size Mattress: What Is the Difference?
Written by Nectarsleep editorial team
Last Updated on Mar 29, 2023
Imagine getting to your bed after a long day and being excited about trying out your new mattress but the moment you spread out your legs, you find them dangling. People often struggle with finding the right size mattress for their bedroom, especially when it comes to similar sizes like Queen and Twin XL.
If you have the same doubt in your mind, your search ends here with the ultimate Twin XL vs Queen mattress guide.
Twin XL vs Queen Mattress Size Comparison
It is pretty obvious for the buyers to get confused between twin XL and Queen as both of them are 80 inches long. But, the significant difference lies in their width. The queen mattress is 22 inches wider than Twin XL, making it popular amongst couples. Twin XL measures 38 inches wide and 80 inches long, whereas a queen measures 60 inches wide and 80 inches long.
Twin XL vs Queen Size Comparison Chart
| Parameters | Twin XL Mattress | Queen Mattress |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 80 inches | 80 inches |
| Width | 38 inches | 60 inches |
| Surface Area | 3040 square inches | 4800 square inches |
| Price | $849 - $1949 | $1049 - $2249 |
| Occupancy | 1 child/teen/single adult | 2 adults and a pet |
| Ideal for | Single sleepers | Couples |
| Recommended Room Size | 8 feet by 10 feet | 9.6 feet by 10 feet |
What Is a Queen Size Mattress?
A queen-size mattress is one of the popular mattress sizes. It's best for couples who are happy with a 30-inch wide personal space each. However, if you have a child or pet who loves to co-sleep with you and your partner, queen-size mattresses are not the one for you.
The reason why queen-size mattresses are popular is that they are versatile. It works for both couples and individuals and master bedrooms and guest rooms.
Sleepers who love to change positions throughout the night or toss and turn around will significantly benefit from a queen-size mattress. Being smaller than king-size mattresses, the best part is that they fit into regular-sized rooms without cluttering them.
Pros
Here are some common benefits of using a Queen-size mattress:
- They work both for single adults and couples
- They work enough space in your room for both walking and placing other furniture
- Can fit into smaller master bedrooms
- Offers enough personal space to individual sleepers and couples
- Long enough to fit in people under 6 feet
Cons
Here are some common drawbacks of using a queen-sized mattress
- Being slightly bigger, they are costlier than Twin XL
- It's heavier to move which makes installation somewhat difficult
- Not big enough for couples with kids and pets
Variations in Queen Size Mattress
Queen-size mattresses come in two variations:
1. Olympic Queen Mattress
Measuring 66 x 80 inches, Olympic queen mattresses offer 6 inches of extra width for couples who love to put in a few more inches between them or single adults who sleep with fussy kids.
Despite being slightly bigger, it can easily fit in bedrooms that cannot accommodate a king or California king mattress.
2. Split Queen Mattress
Split queen mattresses work best for sleepers who prefer to have their favorite type of mattress on their side of the bed. A split queen bed is nothing but a standard queen mattress split into two halves for couples to enjoy their 30 x 80 inch of personal space on their favorite mattress material.
What Is a Twin XL Size Mattress?
A twin XL mattress has the same length as a queen mattress and can accommodate adult sleepers or tall teens equally well. But at the same time, being 22 inches narrower than a queen mattress, it's not suitable for couples.
Often categorized as single beds, twin XL size mattresses are best for studio apartments and small guest rooms where one has to be smart with space allocation.
Twin XL beds often double up as children’s beds. If you have toddlers, you can also try putting them together.
The biggest benefit of a Twin XL bed is that two Twin XL makes a king mattress. So anytime you have guests over, you can push two Twin XL mattresses together to make one big bed for your guests.
Pros
Here are some common benefits of using a Twin XL mattress:
- Being smaller, it's much more affordable than a queen mattress
- Best for small apartments and rooms that cannot accommodate a queen or king-size mattress
- Works well for both tall adults and teenagers
- Lightweight and much easy to install and maneuver
- Works for every sleeping position
Cons
Here are some common drawbacks of using a Twin Xl mattress:
- Does not offer enough room for you to spread out
- Not suitable for couples, people with kids, or pets
- Finding the right accessories and bed sheets for these mattresses is hard
Conclusion
Deciding between queen size and Twin XL mattress might have been confusing, but not with this guide. Take a note of your personal preferences and tally them with our checklist to see which of these two is better suited to give you a good night's sleep.
Factors to Consider When Deciding Between a Twin XL or Queen Mattress
Wondering if you should get a Twin XL or Queen mattress? Here is the ultimate mattress checklist to help you decide:
1. Price
If you are running on a tight budget, you might want to stick to a Twin Xl mattress. You will easily find an average Twin XL mattress for $849 - $1949. Being narrower and designed for single sleepers, they don't need as much material or labor as constructing a queen-size mattress which is bigger and costlier. A queen-size mattress will cost at least $1049 - $2249.
2. Room Size
Your room size also determines the type of mattress you can fit in. For example, the perfect room size for twin XL mattresses are 9 x 10 sq. ft. However, buy a queen mattress if your room measures 9.6 x 10 sq.ft or more. After all, you don't want your bed to take up all the space in your room,
3. Sleeping Partner
Your sleeping partner does not just get a place in your bed but also gets a say in the mattress selection. If you have a sleeping partner go for a standard or split queen mattress. However, a Twin XL mattress alone can meet your needs if you sleep alone.
