# So whats with bed sizes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827 "2004-02-12T13:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sico)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/1 "2004-02-12T13:13:07Z")
I’m talking about the so called ‘king size’ and ‘queen size’ beds, since when did royalty become a form of meassurement? how did the royals somehow insert themselves into the metric system? I think they should throw the entire metric system out the window and introduce the monarchy system. You can give people directions by telling them to go a few kings down the road, turn right for a few queens then take a dutchess to the right. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/2 "2004-02-12T13:30:22Z")
To give a serious answer to a silly question, “King size” has meant “large” since the invention of soap, since it was often used to indicate a bigger than usual box. Since a king size bed is two double beds pushed together, it was probably developed first and the term used like all other “king size” descriptions in advertising. Later, when a word was needed to describe something bigger than a double but smaller than a king, “queen size” was coined. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/3 "2004-02-12T13:44:00Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Since a king size bed is two double beds pushed together Approximately, two _single_ beds, pushed together, extra long. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/4 "2004-02-12T13:49:20Z")
And [condoms](http://www.januarymagazine.com/artcult/getiton.html) have only KING size. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/5 "2004-02-12T13:56:13Z")
So, I guess this is the size thread. > [@don't ask](#): > > And [condoms](http://www.januarymagazine.com/artcult/getiton.html) have only KING size. Your link says “Condoms come in a variety of sizes: Large, Extra Large, King Size, Jumbo, Colossal, Mammoth, Gargantuan, Humongous, and John Dillinger.” ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/6 "2004-02-12T14:04:10Z")
The King comes in the Queen size, or the monarchy dies out. Hey, didya know California has their own King? California King is another size, other than standard King. Yeah, I know…you’re really shocked that California did something different. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/7 "2004-02-12T14:18:58Z")
I know you’re talking about bed sizes **Philster** but everybody might not. Do they have California Queens? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-with-bed-sizes/228827/8 "2004-02-12T14:37:22Z")
To the best of my knowledge, their is no California Queen (except for those seen on some popular make-over shows, and Will and Grace). However, before someone jumps in to remind us how smart they are: Bedding can be custom made, so you could take a regular queen dimensions and have one custom made to be as wide but longer head to toe (a la Cal King). I’ve seen heart shaped mattresses and round mattresses, and Shaq (LA Lakers) has a bed built for eight. Yes…eight. Would you believe I’m home waiting for my new King size bed and other bedroom furniture? I am.