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What are the Different Sizes of Sheets?

Amy Pollick
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 136,387
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Since beds come in different sizes, so do the sheets covering them. Sheet sizes are determined by the length and width of the bed and come in the following categories: twin, double, queen, king and California king. These standard sizes are seen throughout the industry.

Sizes are fairly standard, except for the "pocket" measurement on fitted sheets. This tells the shopper how "deep" the sheet is, in case he or she has an extra thick mattress, or one with a pillow-top. So, if a shopper has a thick mattress, he or she can look for a deeper pocket, ensuring the sheet will be a good fit.

As a rule, sheet sizes are (for fitted sheets) as follows:

  • 39 inches (99 centimeters) wide by 75 inches (191 centimeters) long for a twin sheet;
  • 54 inches (137 centimeters) wide by 75 inches (191 centimeters) long for a double sheet;
  • 59 inches (150 centimeters) by 79 inches (201 centimeters) for queen size beds;
  • 80 inches by 80 inches (203 centimeters) for a king sheet;
  • and 72 inches (183 centimeters) by 84 inches (213 centimeters) for a California king.

A shopper can expect sheets to be 20 to 30 inches (51 to 76 centimeters) longer and wider for the fitted sheets in each size.

The sizes of sheets are standardized because mattress sizes are the same in every store. A shopper has to be able to check the sizes with confidence in any store and know that they will accommodate her beds when she gets home with the linens.

Sheet sizes, thread count, and quality determine bedding prices. Since thread count usually denotes a higher quality sheet, this is a good comparison feature among brands. The larger the sheets — and the higher the thread count — the higher the price, as well.

A shopper can get a decent set of twin sheets, as for a dorm room, relatively inexpensively. A double sheet set usually costs around twice the price of single sheets. Prices can be quite for high thread counts and a designer label for king size sheets, however. Shoppers can compare sizes, prices, and thread counts all across the Internet so she can make sure she is getting the best deal.

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Amy Pollick
By Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick, a talented content writer and editor, brings her diverse writing background to her work at HomeQuestionsAnswered. With experience in various roles and numerous articles under her belt, she crafts compelling content that informs and engages readers across various platforms on topics of all levels of complexity.
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Discussion Comments
By anon999730 — On Mar 04, 2018

What kind of bed takes a sheet 70x200?

By anon998476 — On Jun 17, 2017

I have a king size waterbed and have been using two flat sheets for years. If you tuck the bottom sheet in real good it will stay on until you change the bed. The problem is nowadays, they only sell sheet sets in the stores and a fitted sheet is useless on a water bed, so I am constantly looking for flat sheets in good shape at thrift stores and garage sales.

By anon973569 — On Oct 12, 2014

Your dimensions are correct for the mattress size top surface plane area, but not for the sheet, which must have at least another 21 to 24 inches to fit around the depth of the mattress body, allow for movement ease and tuck under the mattress and over the covers.

By anon339372 — On Jun 22, 2013

Which corner does the tag go in on a king fitted sheet?

By anon332889 — On May 01, 2013

I cannot find twin size sheets that are wide enough to really tuck in. Any suggestions?

By SarahSon — On Apr 11, 2012

@bagley79 - I agree with you on the higher thread count. I buy queen size bed sheets for my bed and my guest bed, and like to buy as high of a thread count as I can afford.

I remember reading somewhere than once you get over 500 thread count, there is not much difference in the quality or softness. I don't know if that is true, but use that as a rule of thumb when I am buying new sheets.

My favorite sheets are a soft Egyptian cotton that keep getting softer all the time. I have tried satin sheets, but feel like I am slipping all over the place.

By golf07 — On Apr 10, 2012

Has anybody else had trouble finding many options for California king bed sheets? We have a California king mattress, but sometimes I use a regular king size sheet size if I can't find what I want in the California king size.

I can get the sheets on the bed, but they really don't fit as well as the California king size does. Even if I stretch the sheet as far as I can, there is always one side that doesn't completely fit under the bed.

If I had known it was so much harder to find this size of sheets, I probably would have just gone with a regular king size mattress.

By julies — On Apr 09, 2012

It seems like the fitted sheet is the one that is most important when it comes to specific sheet sizes. I noticed if I have a pillow-top mattress I have a harder time getting my sheets to fit and stay on the bed.

Because the pillow-top mattress can be bulky, it takes up more space and there isn't enough room to keep the sheets tucked in.

We have a king size bed and I have to use California king instead of regular king size bed sheets if I want the sheets to stay on the bed the way they are supposed to.

By bagley79 — On Apr 09, 2012

I have found the best prices and selection on king size sheet sets from online retailers. Usually you can get some good prices on sales and close-out sheet sets.

I always like to keep more than one set of sheets on hand. In the winter I keep flannel sheets on our bed, and like crisp, cotton sheets during the summer.

Once I began buying a higher thread count of sheet sets, I have never gone back down to a lower count. I always buy at least a 500 thread count when I am buying sheets for our beds.

They are so much softer and feel much better than those than only have 200-300 thread count. It also seems like the more you wash them, the softer they get.

By anon128485 — On Nov 19, 2010

Thank you for the link to tempurpedic. I needed double extra long sheets and couldn't find them anywhere.

By WaterHopper — On Jul 14, 2010

@GrumpyGuppy: I have a full size waterbed and I use queen size regular sheets on it. They don't fit perfectly but they are fine. Always buy one size up and you should be okay.

By GrumpyGuppy — On Jul 14, 2010

Can you use regular sheets on a waterbed? I have a waterbed and the sheets are so expensive.

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