Have you ever bought the wrong size sheets or bed skirt for your bed? Many people have made the same mistake. What about fitted sheets to suit crib mattresses? Not only do you have to buy your fitted sheet with the width and length of your mattress in mind, but you also have to take the depth of the mattress into consideration. When it comes to the fitted sheet, it’s all about the square inch.
All Shapes and Sizes
Mattresses come in all shapes and sizes, including the extra deep mattress. Bedding accessories and extra padding, like mattress toppers, can make a notable difference to the bed sheet sizes you need.
The good thing is that when you do your research correctly and you measure your mattress accurately, you can buy the right size sheets with confidence. New sheets will usually list the exact measurements and the thread count on the outer packaging. If you’re buying second-hand bed sheets, you just need to make sure you measure them correctly before you make a purchase.
Benefits of Using a Bed Sheet Size Guide
There are many reasons why we recommend using a bed sheet sizes chart, but the most important two are as follows:
-
You can use the chart as a checklist to make sure you’ve taken all important aspects of your mattress and bedding environment into consideration. There might be something that, without the chart, you wouldn’t have thought mattered.
-
It speeds up the bed sheet buying process. We all lead busy lives. Having a complete bed sheet sizing guide in front of you before you buy means you can move forward with your bed sheet sizes search quickly.
Know Your Mattress, Know Your Bed Sheets
If you don’t know your mattress size, then you’re not getting off to a good start. If you want to buy bed sheets that fit and you want to avoid taking them back to the store because you need a different shape, then you need to know your mattress size first.
What follows is a list of the most common mattress types on the market and their measurements:
-
Twin: Fitted Sheet (75” x 39” x 15”), Flat Sheet (96” x 66”), Standard Pillowcase (20” x 30”)
-
Twin XL: Fitted Sheet (80” x 39” x 15”), Flat Sheet (100” x 66”), Standard Pillowcase (20” x 30”)
-
Full: Fitted Sheet (75” x 54” x 15”), Flat Sheet (96” x 81”), Standard Pillowcases (20” x 30”)
-
Queen: Fitted Sheet (60” x 80” x 15”), Flat Sheet (90” x 102”), Standard Pillowcases (20” x 30”)
-
King: Fitted Sheet (78” x 80” x 15”), Flat Sheet (102” x 108”), King Pillowcases (20” x 40”)
-
California King: Fitted Sheet (72” x 84” x 15”), Flat Sheet (102” x 108”), King Pillowcases (20” x 40")
Bedding Accessories Matter
Maybe you’re a big fan of the pillow top or the heated blanket. But be careful. Even when you know which mattress type you sleep on, you might not know the final measurements needed to buy your sheets right.
Bedding accessories invariably add to the size of your mattress. In particular, the mattress depth can be significantly altered if you sleep on a mattress topper. Always add a couple of inches to standard sheets if you’re going to stretch them over a mattress and other bedding elements.
Twin Size Sheets
Twin beds need twin size sheets. As the smallest standard mattress option on the market, they accommodate just one sleeper. Twin fitted sheets in the Mellanni range are made for mattresses that measure approximately 39” x 75”. Flat twin size bed sheets measure around 66” and 96”.
Depending on the material, Mellanni twin size sheets are available with deep pockets or extra deep pockets. The additional material used to make our extra deep pocket twin bed sheets helpfully deals with increased depth caused by bedding accessories.
Twin XL
Students in college dorms frequently need this sheet size. A little longer than standard bed sheet sizes for twin beds, the fitted bed sheet sizes for the twin XL are around 39” x 80”, while the flat sheet sizes measure 66” x 100”.
Just as is the case with the standard twin, Mellanni offers a range of twin XL deep pocket and extra deep pocket sheets to accommodate additional bedding accessories.
Full
A full size mattress is the smallest size that sleeps two adults. The beauty of the full mattress, sometimes referred to as a double, is that it doesn’t take up the entire room, making it the ideal size for guest bedrooms. You can treat guests to a really relaxing night’s sleep when choosing to dress your guest bed in a Mellanni Organic Cotton set. These 400 thread count sheet sets benefit from the GOTS certification.
The fitted sheets for a full in the Mellanni range are made to cover an area of around 54” x 75”. A full size flat sheet measures 81” x 96”. Again, thicker full mattresses can be dressed in deep pocket or extra deep pocket sheets, accommodating additional bedding accessories with ease.
Different Sized Queen Sheets
If there’s one thing you need to know about queen sized mattresses, it’s that not all queens are equal in size. While a fitted sheet for a standard queen bed typically measures 60” x 80”, a California queen bed requires sheet sizes that cover 60” x 84”.
Some couples find the half queen specialty mattress incredibly useful. Instead of having just one mattress on your bed, you buy two, each one measuring around 30” x 80”. The division in the middle gives you the freedom to have the mattresses placed at different heights to accommodate the sleeping needs of each adult. The half queen size flat sheet is also a useful option for bunk beds.
The Mellanni Queen Sheet Set - Hotel Luxury 1800 Bedding is available in standard bed sheet sizes, with either deep pockets or extra deep pockets. It’s a wrinkle resistant, breathable queen sheet set, made from microfiber in a wide variety of colors and prints. A second option is the Mellanni Queen Jersey Sheet Set, made from 100% jersey knit cotton. This set is super soft and resistant to color fading.
King Size Sheets
Most fitted sheets for a king size mattress are made to cover 78” x 80”. The flat sheet size for a king should measure around 102” x 108”.
The king size bed mattress is a great choice for two adult sleepers who invariably need to make room for children and pets at some point throughout the night. The Mellanni 100% Cotton Flannel Sheet Set - Lightweight is a practical and comfortable choice for a king size bed mattress, because the material is durable and homely. It’s also hypoallergenic.
California King Size Sheets
California king beds are considered one of the most luxurious mattresses for adult sleepers or extra tall adults on the market. The fitted California king sheets at Mellanni, including the Mellanni 100% Organic Cotton Flannel Sheet Set - Heavyweight, are made to cover 72” x 84”.
It’s important to note that this particular sheet offers a pocket depth that accommodates mattresses up to 16”. Thanks to its very special material, it’s a great choice for winter bedding.
Types of Sheets
A typical sheet set includes a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and then either one or two pillowcases, depending on the size of the bed the set is intended for.
Fitted Sheets
Fitted sheets are the ones you sleep on top of. They’re made with elasticated corners, referred to in the industry as pockets, that help the sheet to lie flat on the bed, keeping it in place throughout the night. The depth of the pocket is important because it needs to be deep enough to accommodate the thickness of your mattress.
Flat Bed Sheets
Flat sheets don’t need to be so precisely measured. Flat sheets are made without elasticated corners and designed to lay on top of the fitted sheet. When you sleep, you slip in between the fitted and the flat sheet, which is why it’s a good idea to find a sheet material that you love.
Make sure the flat sheets you buy are larger than your mattress dimensions. You need enough extra material to then fold and tuck the extra fabric under the mattress along all sides.
Bed Skirt
The bed skirt is a fabric that wraps around the bottom of your mattress. It hides the space between the mattress and the floor, helping you to cover the box spring or any other items that are below the bed as storage.
Measuring a Fitted Sheet
Not all manufacturers use the same measurements when weaving their sheets or mattresses. As such, it’s always a good idea to take your mattress dimensions manually and check the sizing of the sheets on the outer packaging before you buy. The three measurements you need to find sheets with confidence are the length, width, and mattress depth.
You need to take into account additional bedding features, including a mattress pad or mattress toppers, that might add to your mattress size. Your fitted sheet must be equal to or larger than the measurements you took. Always check the length of the pocket seam too. Your fitted sheet pocket depth must be the exact size or greater than the mattress depth.
Additional Considerations
Shopping for bedding goes beyond sheets. You need to take pillowcases and duvet covers into consideration too.
Pillowcase Sizes
Be extra careful with pillowcase sizes. Most bed sheet sets come with either one or two pillowcases, but pillow sizes range greatly. The pillowcases included in the bed sheet set you want to buy might be too small or too large for the decorative pillows you have on your bed.
As a standard rule, pillowcases for smaller beds measure around 20” x 30”. Pillowcases for larger beds tend to measure around 20” x 40”. If your pillows are larger than these measurements, you might have to buy your pillowcases separately.
Choosing the Right-Sized Duvet Cover
What about if you’re on the lookout for a new duvet? How do you know which size to select? While duvets do differ slightly in size, depending on the brand or manufacturer you’re buying from, there’s a general ratio rule between mattress and duvet cover that you can use to choose the best-sized duvet for your bed.
Never buy a duvet with a fixed cover sheet. Always buy one with a removable top sheet, so that you can remove and wash it as and when needed. As a general rule, duvet covers should match perfectly with the width and length of your flat sheet. This gives the duvet the extra material it needs to hang over the sides of the bed in a neat and attractive fashion.
The simple list below helps to illustrate the relation between mattress and duvet, making it easier for you to make a decision when the time comes along:
-
Twin Mattress: Twin Duvet
-
Twin XL Mattress: Twin Duvet
-
Full Mattress: Full or Queen Duvet
-
Queen Mattress: Queen Duvet
-
King Mattress: King or California King Duvet
-
California King Mattress: King or California King Duvet
Washing Your Sheets
When you get sheets, the first thing you should do is wash them. It’s important to rinse away any chemicals that may have been used in production or any grime that may have affected the product in transit. Remember that polyester sheets don’t wash the same as Egyptian cotton sheets. Natural fibers are different from synthetic fibers.
Understanding common bed sheet sizes is one thing. Learning to care for your sheets is another.
Choosing Your Bed Sheet Material
Making the best bed sheet purchase for you doesn’t stop with size. Choosing the right bed sheet material, with optimum thread count, is also important when shopping for new sheets. As manufacturers continue to innovate, options increase.
You can choose to slip in between Egyptian cotton sheets, natural or conventional cotton sheets, percale sheets, satin sheets, polyester sheets, jersey knit sheets, tightly woven synthetic fibers, or bedding made from chemically treated bamboo. The Mellanni 100% Cotton Bed Sheet Set is made from high quality cotton that stands the test of time.
Final Thoughts
If you can get the fitted sheet measurement right - length, width, and depth - and you’re careful about the material you choose, the risk of making a poor purchase is lowered dramatically. Happy measuring!
