Floor Bed Sizes: Crib, Twin, Double or Queen? A Canadian Guide
Floor beds are sold as crib, twin, double and queen, but the size name is the least precise number on the page. Two other numbers decide whether a bed works in your room: the mattress it takes, and the space the frame fills once it is built. They are not the same, and on house beds there is a third number, the height of the roof.
We sell floor beds and mattresses, so read this critically. We have tried to write the guide we would want to read, including when a smaller bed is the better answer.
The four sizes at a glance
The four mattress sizes drawn to the same scale. The frame around each one is larger again.
| Size | Mattress it takes | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Crib | About 27 to 28 x 51 to 52 in | Moving the crib mattress you already own down to floor level. Nothing new to buy for the transition. |
| Twin | 38 to 39 x 75 in | The standard single bed. The smallest footprint that takes a full length mattress. |
| Double / Full | 53 to 54 x 75 in | Room for a parent to lie down alongside at bedtime. |
| Queen | 60 x 80 in | The most space, in a bigger room. Check the frame size before anything else. |
Measure the frame, not the mattress
A twin mattress is 75 inches long, but the twin frames we carry run 76.9 to 78 inches long and around 41 inches wide. Queen frames reach 82 inches long and more than 62 inches wide. Rails, headboards and gates all add to the footprint, and it is the footprint you walk around every night.
Then check the height. A floor bed with rails can be 12 to 30 inches tall, and a house bed has a roof. The ARY Classic house bed stands 68 inches in Twin, 76 inches in Double and 80 inches in Queen, so a sloped ceiling or a low window can decide the size for you.
The 53 inch double
A standard double or full mattress is 54 x 75 inches. Some floor beds are cut slightly narrower. The Dream Raft Double has a sleeping area of 75 x 53 inches, and the ARY Mattress Double is made at 53 x 75 inches to match the frames it is built for. If you are bringing your own mattress, buy to the sleeping area on the product page, not to the size name.
Every floor bed we carry, by size
| Bed | Size | Overall footprint | Height | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapiens Child Floor Bed with Rails | Crib | 53.5 x 29.13 in | 12.25 in | Takes your crib mattress, 4 to 6 in thick. Made in Vancouver. |
| Dream Raft Floor Bed | Twin | 77.2 x 41 in | 17 in | Rails on all four sides, removable gate. |
| Little Dreamer Floor Bed | Twin | 77.2 x 41 in | 30 in fence | Fence all the way round with a locking gate. |
| ARY Classic House Bed | Twin | 77.5 x 40.5 in | 68 in to the roof | Rails on the front and both ends; only the front rail comes off. |
| KAI House Bed | Twin | 78 x 41 in | 56 in to the roof, 22 in rails | Rails the whole way round, gate at one end. |
| Sapiens Child Floor Bed | Twin | 76.9 x 41.45 in | 16.9 in | Open sides, curved headboard. Made in Vancouver. |
| Dream Raft Floor Bed | Double | 77.2 x 57 in | 17 in | Sleeping area 75 x 53 in. |
| Little Dreamer Floor Bed | Double | 76.8 x 56.6 in | 30 in fence | Locking gate, fits either side. |
| ARY Classic House Bed | Double | 77.6 x 56 in | 76 in to the roof | Sleeping area 75 x 54 in. |
| Sapiens Child Floor Bed | Full / Double | 76.6 x 56.3 in | 16.9 in | Takes a 54 x 75 in mattress. Made in Vancouver. |
| Dream Raft Floor Bed | Queen | 82 x 62.6 in | 17 in | Sleeping area 80 x 60 in. |
| Little Dreamer Floor Bed | Queen | 82 x 62.5 in | 30 in fence | Natural finish only in Queen. |
| ARY Classic House Bed | Queen | 82.3 x 62.2 in | 80 in to the roof | Sleeping area 80 x 60 in. |
All figures are as published on each product page. Sapiens Child also make rail and shelf versions of their beds, with their own dimensions on each page.
None of the floor beds we carry needs a box spring; the slats hold the mattress directly. The ARY Mattress is 6 inches deep and comes in Twin (38 x 75 in), Double (53 x 75 in) and Queen (60 x 80 in), with a waterproof cover and a pillow in the box. Each frame lists the mattress thickness it is designed for, so check that before pairing a mattress of your own.
How to choose
- Measure the wall and the walkway. Tape out the overall footprint, not the mattress, and leave room to walk past and to open doors and drawers.
- Check the height. Fence height for a bed with rails, roof height for a house bed.
- Decide who else will lie in it. If you want to lie alongside at bedtime, a double gives you the room. If not, a twin keeps the floor free.
- Match the mattress to the sleeping area. Use the number on the product page, especially for doubles.
- Read the manual for placement. Every manufacturer sets out clearances and age guidance for their own bed, and that comes first.
If you are still deciding when to make the move, our guide on moving from a crib to a floor bed covers the safety side, and preparing the room covers the rest of the space.
The short version: choose the size by the room and by who will lie in it, measure the frame rather than the mattress, and buy the mattress to the sleeping area on the page.
Common questions
Is a full the same as a double?
Yes. In Canada the two names usually describe the same 54 x 75 inch mattress. Some floor beds are cut a little narrower, which is why the sleeping area on the product page is the number to trust.
Will my crib mattress fit a floor bed?
Only a crib size frame. The Sapiens Child crib floor bed takes a mattress of about 27 to 28 by 51 to 52 inches, 4 to 6 inches thick.
Do I need a box spring?
Not for any floor bed we carry. Slats are included and hold the mattress directly.
Do you ship floor beds across Canada?
Yes. Delivery times and any regional exceptions are in our shipping policy.
Where to start
Browse our beds and floor beds, or the Canadian made beds and mattresses.
Send us the measurements of the room at hello@truelittlenorth.com and we will tell you which size fits before you order.
True Little North is a small family business in Toronto. We choose everything we sell the same way we choose things for our own children's rooms.
Leave a comment