Queen vs King: the size difference
Both beds are 80 in long. The whole difference is width: 60 in for a Queen, 76 in for a King. In metric, that is 152 × 203 cm against 193 × 203 cm. All the Queen measurements: queen bed dimensions.
| Size | Inches (W × L) | Centimeters | Surface | Min. room* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | 60 × 80 in | 152 × 203 cm | 33.3 sq ft (3.1 m²) | 10 × 9.2 ft |
| King (Eastern King) | 76 × 80 in | 193 × 203 cm | 42.2 sq ft (3.92 m²) | 11.3 × 9.2 ft |
| California King | 72 × 84 in | 183 × 213 cm | 42 sq ft (3.9 m²) | 11 × 9.5 ft |
| Wyoming King | 84 × 84 in | 213 × 213 cm | 49 sq ft (4.55 m²) | 12 × 9.5 ft |
*Minimum room = bed plus 30 in (76 cm) of walking space on both sides and at the foot. Our calculation, not a manufacturer figure.
How much room does each sleeper get?
Split in two, a Queen leaves each adult 30 in of width, about the width of a crib mattress (28 in). A King gives each of them 38 in, the width of a Twin mattress (our calculation). Those 8 extra inches per person, over the whole length of the bed, are the whole case for a King.
Will a King fit where a Queen fits?
By our calculation, with 30 in of walking space on both sides and at the foot, a Queen needs a room of at least 10 × 9.2 ft and a King at least 11.3 × 9.2 ft. The length of the room does not change; only the headboard wall has to be 16 in wider.
Real beds: the King version is 16 in wider
Six beds sold in both sizes by a US furniture wholesaler, outside dimensions from its published drawings:
| Bed | Queen, outside width | King, outside width | Outside length, both sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray finish, headboard and footboard | 63.5 in | 79.25 in | 84 in |
| Black frame, white upholstered panels | 63.75 in | 79.75 in | 85.25 in |
| Natural finish, storage drawers | 63.5 in | 79.25 in | 83.5 in |
| White, upholstered headboard with LED lights | 62 in | 78 in | 85 in |
| Brown wood, printed upholstered headboard | 62 in | 78 in | 85 in |
| Gray and black, bookcase headboard | 62 in | 78 in | 92 in |
On all six, the King version is 15.75 to 16 in wider than the Queen version and exactly as long: the same 16 in as between the two mattresses (our calculation; the last three rows are rounded to the inch on the maker's sheets). Headboards sold in both sizes follow the same rule: 15.7 to 16.93 in wider in King.
Sheets and frames are not interchangeable
- Fitted sheets: a Queen fitted sheet is 16 in too narrow for a King; a King fitted sheet hangs loose on a Queen.
- Frames: a Queen frame cannot hold a King mattress. Two Twin XL bases side by side, the base of a Split King, have the same footprint as a King.
- Comforters: some are sold as "Full/Queen" or "King/California King"; check the finished size on the listing. Typical sizes: comforter size chart.
Queen, King or bigger?
If a Queen feels narrow, a King is the natural step. If you are tall, compare the King with the California King, 4 in longer. If even a King is too narrow for your family, the Wyoming King (84 × 84 in) and the Alaskan King (108 × 108 in) are the next sizes up.
Beyond the King, the step up is a square oversized bed: see Alaskan King vs. King for the numbers per sleeper.