What’s the Best Bed Size for Airbnb?

Guests usually don’t have any special requests regarding the bed size, so this decision is pretty much all on you. However, since buying a new bed happens only once in a full moon (and it costs quite a lot), it is a decision that requires deep thinking and sound reasoning. 

If you’re looking for the best bed size for Airbnb, we have a thorough guide prepared just for you!

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bed Size for Airbnb

The one-size-fits-all rule doesn’t apply to bed size for short-term rentals. There is a lot to think about if you want to make a wise decision and choose a size that will be right for your vacation property.

The main factors you should consider before buying a bed are: 

Type of Guest – The key question to answer is who will be sleeping in that bed. If your guests are luxury-seekers, a king-sized bed is the best choice. Twin beds are best for hosting groups where each person prefers their own bed. For multiple-bedroom listings, you can combine, for example, a king for the master bedroom, have one room with twin beds, and another room with a queen or full bed. If the most frequent guests are families, you can have space-saving bunk beds in the kids’ room.

Guest Comfort – If one of the main selling points for your rental is comfort, you should go with a king-size bed. You can mention it in the listing which can be a tipping point for guests who want maximum comfort during their vacation.

Size of the Room – Ironically, cramming a big bed in a small room just for the sake of comfort will end up creating an uncomfortable situation for your guests. Once the bed is in the bedroom, you should be able to fit nightstands on each side, and the guests should have enough room to freely move around. If you want to increase your rental’s sleeping capacity and don’t have enough room for an extra bed in a bedroom, you can offer an air mattress or sofa bed.

Cost – Budget can be a prevailing factor when buying beds. You need to consider the cost of not only the bed frame and the mattress, but also the mattress topper, mattress protector, sheets, duvet and its cover, and all accompanying items which will need to be in the same size. King-size beds and bedding are the most expensive, so if your wallet can’t handle it, the next best thing is a queen bed. 

Laundry – The bigger the bed is, the more laundry cycles there will be to do. Before making your purchase, determine whether your washer and dryer can handle that responsibility. 

What Are the Standard Bed Sizes and Their Dimensions?

A good start when choosing the bed is knowing the dimensions of standard bed sizes and the size of the room they require. To pick the right bed size, you can measure the room and follow the chart below generously provided by SweetNight:

SweetNight Bed Size Dimensions Chart 

For quick reference, , here are those dimensions again:

• California King Size Mattress – 72″ X 84″
• King Size Mattress – 76″ X 80″
• Queen Size Mattress – 60″ X 80″
• Full Size Mattress – 54″ X 75″
• Twin Size Mattress – 38″ X 75″
• Twin Extra Long Mattress (better for adults) – 38″ X 80″

If you’re looking for the best mattress for Airbnb, but you’re overwhelmed with choices, you can check out our top pick, the SweetNight Twilight Hybrid Mattress. It provides superior comfort and is one of the best-reviewed mattresses online. A good alternative is the SweetNight Dreamy Hybrid Mattress.

The Best Bed Size for Airbnb Based on Type of Guest

The type of guests that come into your rental (or your target vacation rental audience) is a determining factor in any Airbnb decision. So, we’ve decided to match these types of guests with the best bed size:

Twin Bed – Best for toddlers, kids, teens, and overall single sleepers

Twin Extra-Long Bed – Best for single sleeping adults and taller teenagers

Bunk Bed – Best for kids in rooms with limited space

Full Bed – Best for single adults or couples (for a guest room or room with a smaller space)

Queen Size – Best for couples or single adults when you want to provide them with extra comfort and room to sprawl

King Size – Best for couples when you want to provide them with luxurious sleeping space

California King Size – Best for taller individuals, couples for a more spacious sleep experience, or families with smaller children since the kids might join them in bed

King vs Queen: The Ultimate Airbnb Bed Size Dilemma

If you have space for either a king- or queen-size bed in the bedroom, you might be debating about which of the two is a better choice for Airbnb. While the king-size bed may give that luxury hotel feel, and it can be a marketing point in your listing, we suggest going with a queen-size bed.

The rationale behind this decision is simple: changing out the linens takes much longer for a king-size bed than for a queen one. There’ll be a lot of walking around the bed and struggling while changing the duvet cover when it comes to a king-size bed, while you can do a queen bed in about 10-15 minutes.

Linens for a king-size bed are much more expensive than for a queen bed. The bedding for a queen-size bed also takes up less storage room, and you’ll be able to fit more laundry in the washing machine because they aren’t as bulky as king-size linens. 

However, if your rental is all about comfort and luxury, then a king-size bed is definitely a winner.

Should I Have the Same Bed Size in Different Rooms in My Airbnb?

If you have the option to go with one size for all the bedrooms, the easiest decision would be to buy the same size for all rooms, simply because it will be easier to change out the linens. Even if you end up without spare bedding, you can always borrow one from the other bed (so you won’t need as many backups).

Unless you want to do that whole ‘main bedroom–king-size bed, guest bedroom–queen (or full) size bed’ type of arrangement, going for queen- beds all around is a safe decision.

Can Airbnb Guests Filter Their Search Based on Bed Size?

Airbnb doesn’t currently have a feature for guests to filter the listings based on bed size, so guests searching for a bigger bed can’t find your listing based on that criterion alone. 

How a bigger bed does help is that it looks better in photos, and you can note in your listing description that the bedroom has a king-size bed for ultimate comfort. Guests may also mention that you have a king-size bed in their reviews. 

Final Thoughts

You can find the right size bed for your Airbnb easily. Just follow these guidelines and bear in mind the listed key factors. Don’t forget that in addition to picking out the perfect bed size for your space and your type of guests, a comfy mattress, pillows, and linens are also a necessity for a good night’s sleep.

Written by The Floorspace Team

This article was written as a collaborative effort by multiple members of the Floorspace team. We're a group of internet marketers and designers, with a wide range of experience marketing and managing short-term rentals.