Tool
Throw Blanket Size and Bedding Size Guide
Throw blanket size isn't standard: a throw is sized to whatever it's covering, so the finished size on the label is the number to check. For bed bedding, start from the mattress. This guide gives the standard US mattress sizes, the pocket depth a fitted sheet needs and the smallest comforter, duvet, blanket or throw that covers your bed.
Queen mattress: 60″ × 80″ (152 × 203 cm)
- Fitted sheet
- Label made for a 60 × 80 in mattress — add your mattress depth to get the pocket depth.
- Flat sheet, comforter, duvet or blanket
- Add your mattress depth (or how far you want it to hang) to get the smallest finished size.
| Size | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38 × 75 | 97 × 191 |
| Twin XL | 38 × 80 | 97 × 203 |
| Full | 53 × 75 | 135 × 191 |
| Queen | 60 × 80 | 152 × 203 |
| King | 76 × 80 | 193 × 203 |
| California King | 72 × 84 | 183 × 213 |
How it works
Mattress sizes are the published standard US sizes; your own tape measure wins if it differs. A fitted sheet needs a pocket at least as deep as the mattress. Anything that lies on top needs the mattress width plus twice the overhang, and the length plus one overhang at the foot. US labeling rules require bedding labels to state the finished size, and sheets to state the mattress size they’re made for, so you can compare the numbers before you buy. Makers’ own size charts are on their sites; we don’t copy them here.
- Twin mattress (width × length)
- 38–75 in [1]
- Twin XL mattress (width × length)
- 38–80 in [1]
- Full mattress (width × length)
- 53–75 in [1]
- Queen mattress (width × length)
- 60–80 in [1]
- King mattress (width × length)
- 76–80 in [1]
- California King mattress (width × length)
- 72–84 in [1]
- Label rule example: twin flat sheet for a 39 × 75 in mattress, finished size
- 66–96 in [2]
- Label rule example: standard pillow
- 20–26 in [2]
- Label rule example: standard pillowcase, finished size
- 20–30 in [2]
- Centimeters in an inch
- 2.54 cm [2]
Start with the mattress, then read the label
Here's the rule. Bedding is sized to a mattress, and US labels say which one. Under the uniform labeling regulation published by NIST, fitted sheets state the size of the mattress they're made for, flat sheets state the mattress size and the finished size, pillowcases state the pillow size and the finished size, and blankets, comforters, quilts and throws state their finished size. Every number you need is on the package.
Housekeeping rule: measure the mattress first. Width, length and depth, with any topper on it. Then the calculator above does the rest.
How the calculator works
- Mattress size. The standard US sizes from the Better Sleep Council, or your own measurements.
- Fitted sheet. The pocket depth needs to be at least as deep as your mattress. A pocket that's too shallow pops off at the corners. That's the whole problem with most fitted sheets.
- Flat sheet, comforter, duvet, blanket or throw. The finished size needs to be at least the mattress width plus twice the overhang, and the mattress length plus one overhang at the foot. The head end sits at the headboard, under the pillows.
- Label check. Type in a finished size from a label and the guide shows how far it hangs over each side and the foot of your mattress.
Size options: how far should it hang?
There's no single right answer, just three common choices:
- To the bottom of the mattress. Overhang = mattress depth. Neat, and it's the guide's default.
- Past the mattress. Add the box spring or frame height to the overhang if you want it to cover that too.
- Tucked in. For a flat sheet, add a few inches on each side for the tuck, and measure how much you like to fold under.
Throw blankets are sized to you, not the bed
A throw doesn't have to cover a mattress, so it doesn't come in bed sizes the way a comforter does. Pick by what you'll cover: a couch seat, your lap and feet, or the foot of a bed. Then compare that with the finished size on the label. If you want a throw to cover the top of a bed like a coverlet, run its finished size through the label check.
Margo's label maker
Every shelf in the archive is labeled by bed size: twin, full, queen, king. Dev once found a shelf labeled "Dev — do not touch". The point stands. When the sizes are on the shelf, nobody puts a full sheet on a queen bed at 10 p.m.
Makers' size charts
Makers publish their own size charts, and they don't all match. We don't copy them here. When you're looking at a specific comforter or sheet set, read that listing's size chart or the label on the package, and run the finished size through the label check.
Tuck it in.
Related
Questions people ask
What size throw blanket should I get?
Measure what you want it to cover, then compare that with the finished size on the label. For a couch, measure the seat or your lap-to-toes length when you sit. For the foot of a bed, use the bed width. For a person, use your height if you want to pull it up to your shoulders. Throws come in many sizes, and US labels state the finished size, so the comparison is quick.
What are the standard mattress sizes?
The Better Sleep Council lists Twin 38 × 75 inches, Twin XL 38 × 80, Full 53 × 75, Queen 60 × 80, King 76 × 80 and California King 72 × 84. Mattresses vary a little by maker, so measure yours if the fit matters.
What size comforter do I need for a queen bed?
For a 60 × 80-inch queen, add twice the overhang you want to the width and one overhang to the length. To cover a 12-inch-deep mattress down to its bottom edge, that's at least 84 × 92 inches. For a 14-inch mattress it's at least 88 × 94 inches. The calculator does it for any depth.
What size duvet cover do I need?
The one that matches your duvet insert. Read the finished size on the insert's label and look for a cover with the same finished size. A cover much bigger than the insert lets it bunch up; a smaller one won't close.
What are standard pillow sizes?
The example in the US labeling rule is a standard pillow of 20 × 26 inches with a standard pillowcase of 20 × 30 inches. Other pillow sizes vary by maker, and the pillowcase label states the size of pillow it's made for, so match the two labels.
How do I know what size sheets to buy?
Fitted sheet labels state the mattress size they fit, and flat sheet labels state the mattress size plus the finished size of the sheet. Match the mattress size to yours, then check the fitted sheet's pocket depth against your mattress depth, topper included.
Sources
- Mattress Sizes — Better Sleep Council (International Sleep Products Association) — accessed 2026-10-27
- NIST Handbook 130 (2026), Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation §10.9.2 Textiles — accessed 2026-10-27