Mattresses
Best Full Size Mattresses
Quick answer
The EGOHOME Full Size Memory Foam Mattress is our top pick among full size mattresses at $179.99, a 10 inch build with CertiPUR-US certified foam and a manufacturer-described cooling feature.
The EGOHOME Full Size Memory Foam Mattress is our top pick among full size mattresses at $179.99, a 10 inch full with a medium firm feel as the maker describes it, CertiPUR-US certified foam and a manufacturer-described cooling feature. A full mattress is 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, which works well for one sleeper but is genuinely tight for two, a point we do not gloss over below. Only 5 mattresses in this catalog are true full size, all listed in the tiers below, plus one honest note about when a queen is simply the better buy.
On this page
- What are the exact dimensions of a full mattress?
- How does a full compare on size to a twin XL and a queen?
- Which full mattress costs the least?
- Which full mattress adds a cooling feature or a medium firm feel?
- Should two adults just buy a queen instead of a full?
- How do the 5 true full mattresses compare on specs?
What are the exact dimensions of a full mattress?
A standard full mattress measures 54 inches wide by 75 inches long. That is 6 inches narrower than a queen at 60 inches and 5 inches shorter, since a full shares its 75 inch length with a standard twin rather than the 80 inch length of a queen, king or twin XL. Full is sometimes called a double, an older term for the same 54 by 75 inch footprint.
Here is the honest part: for two adults, a full gives each sleeper only about 27 inches of width by the commonly cited convention, noticeably less than a queen's roughly 30 inches each or a king's roughly 38 inches each. That 27 inches is narrower than a standard twin bed. A full can absolutely work for two smaller adults or a couple who do not mind close quarters, but anyone who has felt cramped on a queen already will feel more cramped on a full, and a queen is generally the better buy for two adults if the room and budget allow it.
Full remains a strong choice for a single sleeper who wants more shoulder room than a twin XL but does not need queen-sized width, and for a guest room, a teenager's room, or a smaller apartment bedroom where a queen would not comfortably fit. At 75 inches long, the same length as a twin, a full suits sleepers up to roughly 69 to 71 inches tall by the usual 4 to 6 inch convention.
How does a full compare on size to a twin XL and a queen?
| Size | Width | Length | Common fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin XL | 38 in | 80 in | One sleeper, more length than a full |
| Full | 54 in | 75 in | One sleeper, or two adults at about 27 in each |
| Queen | 60 in | 80 in | Two adults at about 30 in each, more length than full |
Industry standard
These are standard published dimensions, the same across manufacturers.
Which full mattress costs the least?
The two lowest-priced true full mattresses in this catalog, both hybrids under $180.
Neo Sleep Full Size 10 Inch Hybrid Pocket Spring Mattress
$162.98A 10 inch full hybrid at $162.98, the least expensive full in this catalog.
Best for: Tightest full-size budgets, such as a guest room refresh
Check price on Amazon
Novilla Full Size Mattress
$177.99A 12 inch full hybrid with CertiPUR-US certified foam, at $177.99.
Best for: Shoppers who want a hybrid coil base with certified foam at a low price
Check price on AmazonWhich full mattress adds a cooling feature or a medium firm feel?
Both picks add a specific feature over the Beginner tier while staying under $240.
EGOHOME Full Size Memory Foam Mattress
$179.99A 10 inch full with a medium firm feel as the maker describes it, CertiPUR-US certified foam and a cooling feature, at $179.99.
Best for: Shoppers who want the most published features on a full
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Novilla Full Size Mattress
$239.99A 10 inch full with a manufacturer-described cooling gel feature, at $239.99.
Best for: Shoppers who specifically want a cooling gel layer
Check price on AmazonShould two adults just buy a queen instead of a full?
The thickest true full in this catalog, and an honest alternative for couples who would rather have the width.
Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress
$239.99A 12 inch full memory foam mattress at $239.99, the thickest full size mattress in this catalog.
Best for: A single sleeper who wants the deepest full-size profile available here
Check price on Amazon
EGOHOME Queen Mattress 12 Inch
$249.99Not a full: this queen at $249.99 gives each of two sleepers about 30 inches of width instead of the roughly 27 inches a full provides, worth the step up for any couple sharing the bed if the room and budget allow it.
Best for: Couples who keep feeling cramped and would rather size up than settle for a full
Check price on AmazonWho should not buy this tier: Anyone who specifically needs the smaller 54 by 75 inch full footprint for a compact bedroom, a single sleeper, or a frame built for full only; the queen upgrade pick above only makes sense when two adults share the bed and the room has the extra 6 inches of width plus walking clearance to spare.
How do the 5 true full mattresses compare on specs?
| Spec | Neo Sleep Full Size 10 Inch Hybrid Pocket Spring Mattress | EGOHOME Full Size Memory Foam Mattress | Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $162.98 | $179.99 | $239.99 |
| Size | Full | Full | Full |
| Thickness | 10 in | 10 in | 12 in |
| Construction | Hybrid | Memory foam | Memory foam |
| Feel | - | Medium firm | - |
| Cooling | - | Manufacturer describes a cooling feature | - |
| CertiPUR-US foam | - | Yes | - |
A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure for this product. We do not estimate it.
How we chose
We did not test any of these mattresses in person. Picks are researched from each manufacturer's own published thickness, stated firmness and price, plus the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. This catalog has only 5 mattresses built in the true full size, all covered in the tiers above; the Expert tier's second pick is a queen, marked clearly as a size upgrade rather than a full, offered honestly for couples who would be better served by the wider size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the actual size of a full mattress?
A standard full mattress measures 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, the same length as a twin but 16 inches wider. It is 6 inches narrower and 5 inches shorter than a queen. Full is sometimes labeled "double" on older furniture and bedding, referring to the same 54 by 75 inch footprint used throughout this catalog.
Is a full mattress big enough for two adults?
It can work, but it is genuinely tight. By the commonly cited convention, two sleepers on a full get only about 27 inches of width each, less than a standard twin bed's own width and noticeably less than a queen's roughly 30 inches each. A full suits two smaller adults or a couple who do not mind close quarters; most couples end up happier on a queen if the room allows it.
What is the difference between a full and a double mattress?
Nothing. "Double" is an older term for the same 54 by 75 inch mattress that is now more commonly called "full" in the US market. The two terms describe an identical size, so a double bed frame and a full mattress are interchangeable, though it is still worth confirming exact dimensions on any older frame before buying.
Who is a full mattress actually a good fit for?
A full works well for a single sleeper who wants more shoulder room than a twin XL without needing the extra cost or space of a queen, and for guest rooms, teenagers' rooms or smaller apartment bedrooms. It is 5 inches shorter than a twin XL, queen or king, so a sleeper taller than about 69 to 71 inches may find the length limiting.
How much more does a queen cost compared to a full for the extra width?
In this catalog, full and queen mattresses overlap significantly in price, and some queens cost about the same as the pricier full-size picks. Comparing the EGOHOME Full Size Memory Foam Mattress against a similarly specced queen is a reasonable way to judge whether the extra 6 inches of width and 5 inches of length are worth the difference for a specific budget.
How to read the numbers on this page. Standard mattress and bedding dimensions are industry-wide and the same across manufacturers. Guidance like replacement intervals, firmness by body weight and walking clearance is convention rather than a measured standard, and every table here says which it is. Where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it out instead of estimating. This is not medical advice: a mattress is not a treatment for a medical condition, and persistent pain is a reason to see a clinician.