What mattress size do I need?
Short answer
Standard sizes in Argentina are: single (80×190), wide single (100×190), double (140×190), queen (160×200) and king (200×200). For two adults, queen is the sweet spot: 80 cm each plus 10 cm more length. A double leaves only 70 cm each, which is narrow for sleeping well.
Choosing the mattress size looks like the easy part of the purchase, and it’s where most people end up regretting their decision: almost always for going too small to save a little money or a few centimetres.
Standard sizes in Argentina
| Name | Size | For |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 80 × 190 cm | A child, or an adult in a tight space |
| Wide single | 100 × 190 cm | One adult, comfortably |
| Double | 140 × 190 cm | Two adults, tight |
| Queen | 160 × 200 cm | Two adults, comfortable |
| King | 200 × 200 cm | Two adults + children or pets |
The calculation almost nobody does
Divide the width by two and the problem appears instantly:
- Double (140 cm): 70 cm per person
- Queen (160 cm): 80 cm per person
- King (200 cm): 100 cm per person
An adult lying on their back with relaxed arms occupies close to 60 cm. At 70 cm, every movement from the other person transfers across and you end up sleeping on the edge. At 80 cm, there’s real margin.
So if you sleep as a couple every night and the room allows it, queen is the right call. It’s the change that most improves sleep per peso spent.
Length matters too
Single and double sizes are 190 cm long. If either of you is over 1.80 m, that 190 comes up short: you sleep with your feet against the edge or diagonally. Queen and king come in 200 cm, and those 10 extra centimetres are felt far more than you’d expect.
Before buying: measure the room
This is the step people skip and the one that generates returns.
- Measure the clear width of the room, wall to wall.
- Subtract the mattress width.
- Split what’s left between the sides you get into bed from. You need at least 60 cm on each side to walk past and make the bed comfortably.
- Check the wardrobe door opens with the bed in place. That’s the classic oversight.
Example: 3 m wide room, 1.60 m queen → 1.40 m spare, i.e. 70 cm per side. Comfortable. Same room with a 2 m king → 1 m spare, i.e. 50 cm per side. Doable, but you’ll be brushing past furniture every day.
And don’t forget the base
The mattress has to match the base. If you already have a double base and buy a queen mattress, it won’t sit properly: the mattress overhangs 10 cm each side and deforms at the edges. Changing size almost always means changing the base too, and that cost belongs in the budget from the start.
Same with bedding: double sheets won’t fit a queen. Add a new sheet set to the budget.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between a double and a queen?
Twenty centimetres of width and ten of length, which in practice you feel enormously. A double is 140 cm wide, so each person gets 70 cm: less than an adult occupies sleeping comfortably with relaxed arms. A queen is 160 cm, meaning 80 cm each, and adds 10 cm of length (200 instead of 190), which matters if either of you is over 1.80 m. If you sleep as a couple every night and the room allows it, going from double to queen is the cheapest sleep upgrade there is.
How much space do I need around the bed?
Ideally leave at least 60 cm clear on each side you get into the bed from, and around 70 cm if you also have to open a wardrobe or get past a door. That margin is what lets you make the bed without acrobatics and walk past at night without bruising a shin. A 160 cm queen in a 3-metre-wide room leaves 70 cm each side: perfect. The same queen in a 2.50 m room leaves 45 cm each side, which is tight but liveable as long as the door doesn't open right there.
Are sizes the same across all brands?
Generally yes, but check the exact figures before buying sheets or a base. Argentine sizes are fairly standardised, though some brands vary by a few centimetres, and imported sizes (especially those labelled king or super king) can differ. The critical point is compatibility between mattress and base: if the mattress is 5 cm wider, it won't sit properly. Always compare the published centimetres, not the commercial name.
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