Quick Answer: Yes, a full mattress is the same as a double mattress. Both measure exactly 137 cm wide by 190 cm long (54" x 75"). The terms are completely interchangeable. "Full" is the common retail term in North America; "double" is the traditional term used more often in Canada and in British-influenced naming. Same bed, two names.
In This Guide
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Confirmed: Full and Double Are Identical
There is no technical difference between a full mattress and a double mattress. They are the same product referred to by two different names. A full mattress will fit a double bed frame. Double sheets will fit a full mattress. The dimensions are identical in every respect.
| Name | Width | Length | Identical? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 137 cm (54") | 190 cm (75") | Yes |
| Double | 137 cm (54") | 190 cm (75") | Yes |
If you've been shopping on two different websites, one listing "full" and one listing "double", and wondering if they're different sizes, they're not. You're comparing the same size.
Why Does It Have Two Names?
The "double" name is the original. For much of the 20th century, beds came in two practical civilian sizes: single and double. Double referred to the fact it was approximately double the width of a single bed, originally called a "double bed" for two people.
As queen and king sizes became popular from the 1960s onward, North American retailers started marketing the old "double" as a "full" bed, meaning a full adult-sized bed, as distinct from the smaller twin/single. The new name caught on in the US more rapidly than in Canada, where "double" remained common in everyday speech and retail catalogues.
Today, both terms appear across Canadian retailers, bedding manufacturers, and mattress brands. It causes consistent confusion, and the answer is always the same: they're the same size.
Practical Shopping Implications
What Full = Double Means When You Shop
- Bed frames: A full mattress fits a double frame; a double mattress fits a full frame. The dimensions are identical.
- Sheets and bedding: Full sheets fit double mattresses and vice versa. Always verify the actual cm dimensions if ordering online to confirm.
- Mattress protectors and toppers: Same, both labels describe identical dimensions. Confirm cm dimensions when ordering.
- Price comparison: When comparing a "full" from one retailer with a "double" from another, you're comparing the same size. Compare construction and materials, not names.
Note on UK Sizing
If ordering bedding from a UK retailer, be aware that UK "double" (135 x 190 cm) is 2 cm narrower than the North American full/double (137 x 190 cm). This is only relevant for online orders from UK-based suppliers; Canadian retailers use the 137 cm standard.
Full/Double vs Queen: Which Should You Choose?
Now that the naming question is settled, the more useful question is whether the full/double size is right for your situation.
At 137 x 190 cm, the full/double is 16 cm narrower and 13 cm shorter than a queen. For a single adult or teenager, it provides comfortable sleeping room. For two adults sharing regularly, most people find the queen (153 x 203 cm) meaningfully more comfortable, each person gets about 8 cm more width, and the extra length helps taller sleepers.
Full/Double and Queen Mattresses at Mattress Miracle
We carry both double and queen sizes across our Restonic lineup at our showroom at 441½ West Street in Brantford. Our Restonic ComfortCare Double uses 980 individually wrapped coils, real support for a teenager's room or guest bedroom. The Queen steps up to 1,222 coils and is our most recommended option for couples. Call Brad at (519) 770-0001 to check current stock, or stop by any day of the week and try both sizes in person.
Shop: Browse All Mattresses
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Talia, Showroom Specialist: "Full and double are the same mattress. It's one of those retail terminology quirks that confuses customers constantly. They'll ask if we carry 'full' and 'double' thinking they need to decide, same size, different label. North American manufacturers use both terms interchangeably. When we quote a price, we quote by actual dimensions to avoid any confusion."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a full bed the same as a double bed?
Yes. A full bed and a double bed are exactly the same size: 137 cm wide by 190 cm long (54" x 75"). The terms are completely interchangeable in Canada. A full mattress fits a double frame; double sheets fit a full mattress.
Can I use full-size sheets on a double mattress?
Yes, because full and double are the same size. Full-size fitted sheets will fit a double mattress correctly. There is no size difference between the two.
Is a double mattress bigger than a full?
No. Double and full are identical sizes. Neither is bigger than the other, they're the same dimensions with different names.
Does Mattress Miracle carry double/full mattresses?
Yes. We carry the Restonic ComfortCare in double (full) at our Brantford showroom at 441½ West Street. Call (519) 770-0001 to check availability or come in to try it alongside the queen for comparison.
Sources
- National Sleep Foundation. (2022). Mattress sizes and dimensions. sleepfoundation.org. sleepfoundation.org
- Jacobson, B.H., Boolani, A., & Smith, D.B. (2009). Changes in back pain, sleep quality, and perceived stress after introduction of new bedding systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 8(1), 1–8. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.002
- Radwan, A., Fess, P., James, D., Murphy, J., et al. (2015). Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment. Sleep Health, 1(4), 257–267. doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2015.08.001
8 min read
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle, 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON, (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.
If you're sizing up your next mattress purchase, come in and see the options in person. We carry double and queen sizes and will help you figure out which works best for your room and your needs.
Related Reading
- Full Mattress vs Double: Are They the Same?
- Full Size vs Queen: Which Should You Choose?
- Full Size vs Double: A Closer Look
- Full/Double Mattress Canada: When It's the Right Choice
- Simmons Mattress Canada: Full Brand Guide (Beautyrest, Black, and Beyond)
Sources
- Jacobson, B. H. et al. (2008). "Grouped comparisons of sleep quality for new and personal bedding systems." Applied Ergonomics, 39(2), 247-254. PubMed 17662962.
- Radwan, A. et al. (2015). "Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment." Sleep Health, 1(4), 257-267. PubMed 29073401.
- Kovacs, F. M. et al. (2003). "Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain." The Lancet, 362(9396), 1599-1604. PubMed 14630439.