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Which size bed is best for your lifestyle?

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You spend around a third of your life in bed. Sleep is one of life’s necessities, and a good night’s rest is essential for optimal physical and mental health.

However, an estimated 10 to 30 percent of adults experience sleep problems such as insomnia. One of the most critical factors in how well you sleep is your mattress. A comfortable, supportive bed can make the difference between fragmented, troubled sleep and restful, restorative slumber.

If you’re not sleeping as well as you’d like, it may be time to buy a new mattress. Most people should think about purchasing a new mattress or bed every 7 to 10 years. If your mattress is lumpy, uncomfortable, or causing you to roll to the middle, you may need to shop for a new model.

There’s a plethora of options out there to suit all budgets and sleeping considerations. Full and queen mattresses, for example, are some of the most common mattress sizes you can buy, but there are some key differences between the two.

To help you decide, we’ve rounded up some of the best full and queen mattresses available at different price points and to suit different sleeping needs. Here are our top picks.

The primary difference between queen and full beds is that a queen is larger and longer than a full bed.

A full-size bed (also known as a double bed) measures 54 inches wide by 75 inches long. It’s ideal for a teenager or a single adult, more affordable than a queen, easier to move, and more suitable for a small room.

Meanwhile, a queen bed measures 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, making it a good option for couples or a guest room. However, with more room comes a higher price tag.

If you’re a restless sleeper or need extra space for children or pets, a queen bed might suit you.

Finding the best full- and queen-size mattresses is no small task, but we’ve done our homework and researched our choices based on the following criteria:

  • Company reputation. Each featured brand has an excellent reputation, adheres to federal safety standards, and complies with socially responsible standards.
  • Customer reviews. We considered only mattresses that have impressive reviews on company websites and third-party sites to ensure each one delivers on its promise.
  • Company policies. We chose companies that allow you to test out mattresses before taking the plunge and include at least a 10-year warranty. We also reviewed return policies.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $500
  • $$ = $500–$1,000
  • $$$ = over $1,000

A decent new mattress is a fair investment, and ultimately it’s a matter of personal preference. That said, here are some factors to consider as you shop for a bed:

  • Size. Your height and bedroom size can influence your mattress choice. Taller people may prefer a queen mattress, as a full bed may not provide enough leg room. But if your bedroom is compact, upgrading to a queen bed may take away some of your living space.
  • Mattress material. Almost all mattresses are foam, innerspring, or a hybrid of the two. If you need support, then hybrid or innerspring mattresses are good options, whereas foam mattresses suit those who need pressure relief. Hybrid mattresses provide a combination of balance and contouring, so if you don’t know which mattress to choose, hybrid is a reasonable bet.
  • Firmness. It’s essential to find a mattress that feels comfortable for you and your sleeping partner.Your weight, how you sleep, and whether you have any pain influence what firmness level is right for you.
  • Comfort. Above all, your new mattress must be comfortable. So, to narrow your choices, consider all your needs when shopping. For example, do you move around a lot when you sleep? Do you tend to get up during the night and worry about disturbing your partner?

Best full-size pillow-top mattress

Saatva Classic Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: provides minimal motion transfer, making it ideal for couples, although this full-size mattress might be a bit of a squeeze for two people

Saatva has won awards for this innerspring mattress, which features a dual-coil construction to prevent sagging combined with luxury comfort layers in the form of a 3-inch Euro pillow top. The pillow top provides cushioned comfort and support to help align your spine as you sleep.

Saatva allows shoppers to customize their mattress experience, choosing from two height options and three firmness levels. Reviewers note that the brand’s classic mattress is breathable, cool, and comfortable.

Shop the Saatva Classic Mattress online.

Best full-size foam mattress

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: an ideal choice for side sleepers who like the body-hugging feeling soft mattresses provide

This award-winning mattress, which is made from four foam layers that hug your body but keep it cool, has more than 40,000 positive online reviews. The combination of gel-infused memory foam, dynamically adjusting foam, and a stable base layer is designed to provide breathable support to reduce aches and stiffness when you wake up.

Reviewers agree that this mattress helps with their back pain, and you can try it for yourself with Nectar’s 365-day trial period. Plus, if you buy, there’s a lifetime warranty.

Shop the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress online.

Best-rated full-size mattress

Tuft & Needle Original Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: a good option for people who like to stay fresh while sleeping, since the foam is infused with heat-conducting graphite and a cooling gel

Tuft & Needle has become one of the most popular mattress retailers over the past few years. In fact, you can read almost 50,000 reviews across the web with an average rating of nearly 5 stars.

This mattress has exceptional quality for the price and provides contoured pressure relief with extra support by way of patented T&N Adaptive foam technology. Plus, the graphite and ceramic components pull body heat away from you as you sleep, keeping you nice and cool all night long.

You can enjoy a 100-night trial and a 10-year limited warranty if you opt for this top-rated mattress.

Shop the Tuft & Needle Original Mattress online.

Best full-size mattress in a box

Sealy 12-Inch Medium Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: an affordable, supportive option for side and stomach sleepers

If arranging a full-size mattress delivery seems like a hassle, the 12-inch medium hybrid mattress from Sealy — which arrives conveniently in a box — is a great stress-free option. With a bed-in-a-box, the delivery company leaves your new mattress at the front door. There’s no need to have movers bring it into your home, and you don’t need to set up an appointment.

The mattress combines two innovative comfort technologies to support people with different sleeping styles: premium memory foam with a CopperChill cooling layer that responds to your body and deeper coils that provide additional support for your entire body.

Many reviewers comment on the outstanding comfort of this mattress and say that it helps relieve aches and pains.

Shop the Sealy 12-Inch Medium Hybrid Mattress online.

Best firm full-size mattress

Serta Perfect Sleeper 11-Inch Elkins II Firm Innerspring Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: a solid choice if you sleep on your back and prefer a solid, firm bed

The Perfect Sleeper is the only official mattress of the National Sleep Foundation, so you can feel confident in its quality and sleep-boosting properties. Serta also offers a 10-year warranty.

If you’re looking for a firm bed, then Serta’s triple layers of comfort — consisting of a CoolFeel cover, HexCloud gel memory foam, and the 825 Edition Custom Support Coil System — could be what you’ve been waiting for. Many reviewers say they had their best sleep in years with the Perfect Sleeper.

Shop the Sera Perfect Sleeper 11-Inch Elkins II Firm Innerspring Mattress online.

Best budget full-size mattress

Linenspa Essentials Always Cool 10-Inch Medium Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: an affordable medium-firm mattress ideal for all sleep styles

You may feel that a new mattress is out of reach financially, but if you’re working with a limited budget, Linenspa has you covered.

This mattress has an innerspring base with memory foam layers. And despite the affordable price tag, it features cooling technology that wicks heat away from your body as you sleep and low motion transfer so your partner isn’t disturbed even when you move.

It’s a phenomenal option for the price, but there’s only a 30-day trial, so you’ll need to decide in a few weeks whether it’s for you.

Shop the Linenspa Essentials Always Cool 10-Inch Medium Hybrid Mattress online.

Best full-size hybrid mattress

Avocado Green Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: full
  • Considerations: an organic mattress that combines soft memory foam with coil support and is ideal for most sleepers

Avocado use organic cotton, wool, and latex to craft these high quality mattresses. They’re also needle-tufted by hand and feature 1,414 individually tuned steel coils arranged in 5 distinct ergonomic zones to reduce motion transfer, relieve back pain, and alleviate pressure points.

There’s also the option to upgrade to a plush pillow top, making the mattress ideal for side and combination sleepers.

Shop the Avocado Green Mattress online.

Best cooling queen mattress

Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: an advanced cooling mattress that’s worth a look for hot sleepers

The advanced cooling materials in this mattress help regulate your temperature as you slumber, and the advanced gel memory foam layers offer cloudlike comfort and pressure point relief.

More than 1,000 coils provide support where it’s needed most. Additionally, you can choose from three firmness options to guarantee a fantastic night’s sleep, whether you’re a side, stomach, or back sleeper.

Shop the Brooklyn Aurora Hybrid online.

Best firm queen mattress

Plank by Brooklyn Bedding

  • Price: $$
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: a foam mattress explicitly created for those looking for an extra-firm option

The aptly named Plank mattress is engineered to create a neutral spine position to help relieve back and hip pain and improve posture.

A unique feature is that the mattress is flippable, with one firm and one ultra-firm side. You can sleep on a 0.75-inch quilted top layer with continuous stitching for an ultra-firm sleep or flip the mattress to the firm side with a 1.5-inch quilted top layer paired with a 2-inch TitanFlex comfort layer.

An optional cooling panel can be sewn onto the surfaces of both the firm and extra-firm sides to moderate temperature. Reviewers rave about the optional cooling panel, which delivers an impressive cooling effect on contact.

Shop the Plank by Brooklyn Bedding online.

Best latex foam queen mattress

Birch Natural Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: an eco-conscious, cushioning mattress that suits back and combination sleepers

Birch makes this mattress with organic materials, including cooling cotton and natural pressure-relieving latex. There’s also a supportive base layer of individually wrapped coils.

Latex is the ideal mattress choice if you need support that also cushions pressure points. Although memory foam is a worthy choice, latex is superior at reducing body pressure, as demonstrated in a 2017 study.

Shop the Birch Natural Mattress online.

Best queen mattress for side sleepers

Helix Midnight Luxe

  • Price: $$
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: a mattress created specifically for side sleepers

You can test out the Helix Midnight Luxe for 100 nights before committing. However, like many reviewers, you’ll likely be delighted with its hybrid construction that uses high density memory foam and a luxury pillow top.

Helix uses memory foam pressure point relief at the hips and shoulders to specifically support side sleepers. You’ll also benefit from the ultra-breathable cover, which is designed to help you stay cool and comfortable all night.

Shop the Helix Midnight Luxe online.

Best budget queen mattress

The Allswell Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: a medium-firm mattress ideal for back sleepers, featuring motion isolation that also makes it suitable for couples

In the words of Allswell, this mattress has an entry-level price but with high-level features.

This budget-friendly mattress features individually wrapped coils with edge support, which plays a key role in preventing sagging and keeping the entire mattress comfortable.

There’s also an upper memory foam layer infused with charcoal and copper gel intended to transfer body heat away as you sleep.

Shop the Allswell Hybrid Mattress online.

Best-rated queen mattress

Puffy Lux Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: suits all sleep positions and helps relieve back pain

With a name like Puffy Lux, how could this mattress deliver anything but cloudlike comfort? Thousands of delighted reviewers love this mattress’s lifetime warranty and Puffy’s cooling cloud layer.

The Puffy Lux has a contour-adapt coil base that provides ample support and stability. Meanwhile, the brand says its advanced contouring foam adapts to each sleeper’s needs.

Shop the Puffy Lux Mattress online.

Best hybrid queen mattress

The WinkBed

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: queen
  • Considerations: suitable for all types of sleepers, as there are different firmness options

The WinkBed is a solid hybrid choice because it combines a core of individually wrapped coils and a comfortable memory foam topper with advanced cooling technology.

There are four firmness options, including a plus option for people with higher body weights. If you’re a side sleeper, you should opt for soft, while back and stomach sleepers can choose from luxury firm and firm.

Shop the WinkBed online.

When should I buy a new bed?

If your mattress is lumpy, sagging, causing you to roll toward the center, or otherwise negatively affecting your sleep, you should consider buying a new one.

The general rule is to replace a mattress every 7 to 10 years. But this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and you may need to replace yours more often, particularly if it causes you back or muscle pain.

Who should buy a full bed?

Because full beds are shorter and narrower than queen beds, they’re a popular option for people who want a good night’s sleep but don’t have the space for a queen bed. They’re particularly suitable if you’re sleeping alone since you’ll have a solid 54 inches to stretch out.

If cost is a consideration, a full bed is typically less expensive than a queen, and you can usually find affordable full-size sheets and duvet covers.

Who should buy a queen bed?

If your budget and bedroom layout allow it, then a queen bed is an excellent choice. This roomier option is 80 inches by 60 inches, so if you or your partner is taller, it’s worth considering a queen bed for the extra legroom.

Queen beds provide plenty of sleeping space and may be more comfortable for people who like to move around in bed.

How can I choose which type of bed to buy?

Buying a new mattress is an investment, so you should take your time to research your options and consider your budget, room size, any sleeping partners, and your typical sleeping position.

For example, if you sleep on your back, consider a firm option, whereas stomach and side sleepers may prefer a soft mattress.

If you experience back pain, consider a medium-firm mattress, as a 2015 study found that this is the best option for spinal alignment, making for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, review the materials the manufacturers have used. Certifications like Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) guarantee that a mattress is free from toxic chemicals that can have negative health effects.

You may also find companies that offer trial periods or have generous returns policies so you can ensure that the mattress is right for you.

There’s no shortage of full and queen mattress options of for all specifications and price points.

But because a new mattress is an investment that can impact your spine health and sleep quality, you should take your time to review which options suit your sleep and lifestyle and read plenty of reviews.

Don’t forget the importance of reputation and quality. If possible, choose a company that offers an in-home trial and a comprehensive warranty.

Zia Sherrell is a health copywriter and digital health journalist with over a decade of experience covering diverse topics from public health to medical cannabis, nutrition, and biomedical science. Her mission is to empower and educate people by bringing health matters to life with engaging, evidence-based writing.