You have purchased a new queen-sized bed but only have full-sized sheets. Will these sheets fit your new bed? As you might know, full sheets are made for a smaller bed, but is there a way you can get them to fit a queen bed?
In some cases, full sheets can fit a queen bed. There are a couple of ways to get these smaller sheets to fit on your queen bed, including:
- Use a flat full-sized sheet as it will allow more flexibility than a fitted sheet
- Get rid of mattress pads or any other extra protectors on top of your bed.
- Use sheet straps to keep your full sheets firmly secure onto your mattress
- If you opt for a full size fitted sheet, consider making adjustments to it by sewing
Table of Contents
What is the difference between full and queen bedding?
If you have ever tried fitting a full sheet (especially a fitted one) onto a queen bed, you’ll have likely discovered that mattresses come in different sizes, and the sheets are not interchangeable.
A standard full-size mattress is typically 53 inches wide and 75 inches long. A queen bed, on the contrary, measures 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Therefore, as you can tell, there’s a noticeable difference between the two that will make it difficult to interchangeable bedding. A full fitted sheet is an inch wider than a full-size mattress, whereas the dimensions of a queen fitted sheet are the same as that of a queen mattress.
On average, a full flat sheet is approximately 87 inches wide and 102 inches long. A duvet cover for a full-size mattress will measure about 93 inches wide and 96 inches long, while a full bed skirt will be around 53 inches wide and 75 inches long.
On the other hand, the average queen flat sheet is 92 inches wide and 102 inches long. The duvet cover is slightly wider, at approximately 93 inches wide and 96 inches long, and a queen bed skirt is around 60 inches wide and 80 inches long on average.
Fitting full sheets on a queen bed
Some full bed sheets can be stretched to fit a queen bed, and this is especially likely if you’re using a full flat sheet with deep pockets designed to wrap around tall beds.
On the other hand, full-fitted sheets are much harder to fit on a queen bed. You can try getting someone to help you: each of you should grab two opposite corners of the sheet and try stretching it over the mattress. You might find it easier to use jersey sheets as they are stretchier than pure cotton or linen sheets. If the fitted sheet turns out to be too small, you might find it easier to use two full flat sheets instead – tuck one of the sheets on all four sides as the fitted sheet, and leave the other one loose on top to serve as the flat sheet. Make sure that the corners of the bottom sheet are crisp and tidy; if possible, try making hospital corners to give them a neater appearance.
In addition to using full flat sheets on your queen bed, here are some other fitting strategies that may work for you:
1. Sheet straps
If you cannot get your full-size sheets to stay in place on their own on your queen-size mattress, it might be worth trying sheet straps as a remedy. Also known as sheet suspenders, these adjustable straps feature clips at the end to help affix sheets to the corners of a mattress.
Using sheet straps will help prevent sheets from slipping off the mattress, plus they will give you more material to work with. If you opt to buy sheet straps, most of them typically come in a package of four, which will effectively cover the whole bed.
- Stable Triangle Design: a triple protection design to keep your Mattress Sheet Stays tidy all the time.
2. Get rid of mattress pads
Another solution that might allow you to use full sheets on a queen bed involves removing anything extra on the top of your bed, including mattress pads or protectors. This will create more room, and you will have more space to fit your sheets. As previously mentioned, a queen-sized bed is bigger than a full-sized one, and the little bit of extra space resulting from removing excess bedding might be just what you need to get your full-size sheets to fit properly.
3. Make sewing adjustments to your sheets
You can also try making adjustments to your full sheets by sewing. To pull this off, sew a square from each sheet corner and then sew the edges of the squares together. That way, you’ll make a casing and will also be able to add elastic around the edges.
What size sheets can fit a queen bed?
While most queen-sized mattresses measure 60 inches by 80 inches, there are some non-standard queen bed sizes in existence. They include:
1. The Olympic queen
At 66 inches wide and 80 inches long, the Olympic queen is 6 inches longer than the standard queen mattress. They are also known as expanded queen beds.
2. The California queen
This type of queen bed is 60 inches wide and 84 inches long. Ideally, you’ll want to look for fitted sheets with the same dimensions as the bed. However, the duvet cover and flat sheets can be the classic queen size.
3. The half queen
The half queen, sometimes known as the split queen, has the same measurements as a standard queen, but the mattress is split into two parts. Therefore, the dimensions are 30 inches wide and 80 inches long for each one.
What is the depth of a queen mattress?
Queen mattresses are unique because they don’t have a standard depth, and they typically range anywhere from 7 to 16 inches in depth. This quirk can sometimes present a challenge if you want to use a fitted sheet on a queen bed. If the sheet is not deep enough, it will likely slip and slide off or constantly bunch up and become uncomfortable when you’re in bed. For the best experience, consider specifically buying deep pocket fitted queen-size sheets.
Using queen sheets on a full-size bed
You may be able to get away with using full sheets on a queen bed, but can queen-size sheets be successfully used on a full bed? The most straightforward answer is yes, you should be able to fit queen sheets on a full bed. However, because queen-sized sheets are wider and longer, you will need to find a way to manage the excess material.
1. Tuck in the excess material
The easiest way to manage the excess material is simply to tuck it in. To get started, line the top of the queen sheet up as far as you want it to go toward the head of the full-size bed, and then tuck in the excess fabric on the foot and sides of the bed.
2. Use elastic sheet straps
Fitted sheets are made to fit over the corners of a mattress snugly. However, when using a queen sheet on a full bed, the fit will be sloppy. To prevent this, use elastic sheet straps to keep the sheet from sliding off. Clip each corner of the sheet to grip them firmly under the mattress. This will result in a neat, snug fit.
3. Adjusting the sheet size by sewing
If you don’t mind a bit of sewing, consider adjusting the size of your queen sheet to fit your full-size bed by following the steps below:
- Lay the queen-sized sheet on the full-size bed with the elastic edges hanging equally over the four sides.
- Pull the loose fabric in your direction to create an overlap of around 6-inches in the middle of the sheet’s length. To ensure accuracy, use a tape measure when creating the overlap. Pin the fabric after measuring.
- To adjust the width, pull the sheet bottom to create a 5-inches overlap, again using a tape measure to get accurate measurements.
- Sew the overlapped fabric across the length on a sewing machine, taking care to remove pins. Do this for the overlapped width fabric as well.
Other mattress sizes and corresponding bedding size
Other than queen and full mattress sizes, here are other classic mattress sizes and their corresponding bedding dimensions:
1. Twin
This is the smallest bed size. It is designed to comfortably accommodate one sleeper. The average size of a twin mattress is 38 inches wide and 75 inches long. Depending on the brand and bedding material, the dimensions of the bedding may vary, but here are some rough estimates:
- Fitted sheet – 39 inches wide and 75 inches long
- Flat sheet – 66 inches wide and 96 inches long
- Duvet cover – 72 inches wide and 96 inches long
- Bed skirt – 38 inches wide and 75 inches long
2. Twin XL
These mattresses are slightly longer than the twin varieties, but the width is the same. The fitted sheets for a Twin XL are typically 39 inches wide and 80 inches long – the same length as the mattress but an inch wider. Flat sheets for this mattress size are 66 inches wide and 96 inches long, whereas duvets and bed skirts are 72 inches by 96 inches and 38 inches by 80 inches, respectively.
3. King
This spacious mattress is ideal for snuggling in with your partner, a pet or two, and/or a child. The mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. Fitted king sheets are approximately the same size as the mattress to ensure a snug fit. Bed skirts are also the same size, whereas flat sheets and duvet covers are approximately 102 inches by 112 inches and 96 inches by 109 inches, respectively.
4. California King
A California King mattress is around 72 inches wide and 84 inches long and requires a fitted sheet and bed skirt of roughly the same size. The flat sheet and duvet dimensions can be the same as a king bed.
Considerations to keep in mind when shopping for sheets
Other than size, there are several other factors to consider before investing in new bedsheets. They include:
1. Fabric
Some of the most commonly used materials in sheets include:
– Linen
Linen is a breathable fabric that easily wicks away moisture. This makes them particularly comfortable on sweltering days due to their superior temperature regulation qualities. The quality of the linen is highly variable depending on where the fabric was manufactured.
– Cotton
Cotton is a perennially popular fabric choice for sheets, thanks to its durability, softness, and hypoallergenic properties. There are different types of cotton sheets available on the market, such as Egyptian cotton, which is a lustrous variety that has extra-long fibers. As a result, his type of cotton is smoother and more comfortable than the standard.
– Silk
Silk sheets are synonymous with luxury and with good reason. They are irresistibly smooth and feel cool against the skin. They are also an ideal choice for skin conditions or allergies.
– Polyester
Polyester sheets are highly resistant to stains, wrinkling, and shrinking, making them relatively easy to care for. However, because polyester is a synthetic fiber, it doesn’t absorb sweat effectively, making it less than ideal for regulating body temperature.
– Bamboo rayon
Rayon is a cellulose fiber made of bamboo. It has temperature regulating properties thanks to its absorbent weave that effectively wicks away sweat, keeping you dry and comfortable at night.
2. Patterned or plain?
Whether you go for a patterned or plain bed sheet depends on your preferences. Patterned bed sheets are great for adding a quirky element to the bedroom. Checks and prints are great for those who want a bold look, while self-woven stripes are less conspicuous. Plain bed sheets work incredibly well with any bedroom design and can be paired with a patterned bed set for an elegant look.
3. Thread count and weave
Sheets with a higher thread count are smoother, denser, and more durable than lower thread count fabrics. However, they take longer to dry and iron than their counterparts. In addition to thread count, you’ll also want to keep in mind the weave of a bed sheet when shopping. A percale weave is lightweight and crisp, while a sateen weave is smoother but less durable than the former.
Final thoughts
With a little bit of effort and shrewdness, you might be able to get your full sheets to fit on a queen bed. Otherwise, you might need to get out your sewing machine to adjust the sheet edges or find the better-suited queen-size sheets.
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Last update on 2023-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
