Standard sizes and measuring instructions for fine linens

At Christina Lynn, we stock a wide selection of sizes to accommodate your bedding and bath needs. We also have custom sizes made to order. Below are the standard sizes for beds and pillows. If you need additional information, our staff will be happy to assist you further.

Standard Bed Sizes

Twin -- 39" x 74"
Extra Long Twin -- 39" x 80"
Full (also know as a double) -- 54" x 74"
Queen -- 60" x 80"
Olympic Queen -- 66" x 80"
California King -- 72" x 84"
Eastern or Duel King -- 76" x 80"

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Standard Pillow Sizes

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Standard American Towel Sizes

Wash -- 13" x 13"
Guest (or tip) -- 12" x 18"
Hand -- 16" x 30"
Bath -- 27" x 54"
Sheet -- 35" x 60"
Shower Mat -- 22" x 34"

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Standard European Towel Sizes

Wash -- 12" x 12"
Guest (or tip) -- 15" x 26"
Hand -- 20" x 40"
Bath -- 40" x 60"
Shower -- 28" x 54"
Sheet (or jumbo) -- 55" x 80"
Shower Mat -- 24" x 35"

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Bed-skirt 

Also known as petit-skirt or dust ruffle. Bedskirts fit the exact dimensions of the box spring and fall to the floor. Bed-skirts can come with continuous corners, which have no split at the foot end corners that fit around a frame. Bed-skirts can also come with split corners, which have a split at the corner of the foot of the bed in order to fit around a bed frame. Many bed-skirts today are bed-skirt panels that are pinned onto the top of the box spring, in-between the mattress and box spring, adjusting to various drops up to 22 inches. Finishes for bed-skirts are either tailored (straight drop from the top to bottom of the bed-skirt) with single pleats on either side of the bed and one pleat at the foot, pleated (which have inverted pleats around the sides and foot of the bed), or ruffled (the fabric is gathered in a 2 or 3 to 1 ratio creating the fullness). The bed-skirt drop is measured from the top of the box spring to the floor. The size is exact to your bed size.

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Box spring cover

Made to decorate the box spring in place of a bedskirt. The box spring cover fits the exact dimensions of the box spring. Resembling a fitted sheet, the box spring cover is usually made of decorative fabric and provides a cleaner, more contemporary look. Measurements are the size of the box spring, i.e. twin, full, queen etc.

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Fitted Sheet

Made to fit snugly over the mattress, with stitched gussets at the corners and elastic at the corners or around the entire edge of the fitted sheet. Correctly fitted to the size of the mattress pad, the fitted sheet should not cause the mattress to bow (too short in the gusset), or fit loosely (too long in the gusset). Our fine linen sources make fitted sheets for deep and extra deep mattresses. Traditional European beds use a flat sheet in place of a fitted, with folded and tucked corners wrapped around the mattress. Measurements should include the size of the bed and the depth of the mattress (include any pad or enhancers).

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Flat Sheet

Also called a top sheet. Turn-back, the amount that is folded down at the head of the bed, should be ample (10 to 18 inches) with enough to tuck between the mattress and box spring at the foot of the bed. Our fine linen sources make larger flat sheets to accommodate deep and extra deep mattresses. Most flat sheets have a stitched or attached cuff on the turn-back. This cuff is a stitched or attached band of fabric that finishes the look of the turn-back. Mitered corners on the turn-back are usually made to order. Measurements should included the size of the bed, the depth of the mattress (including any pad or enhancers) and enough extra to tuck between the mattress and box spring on both sides of the bed.

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Duvet Cover

This is the envelope, which the comforter slips in-between. Sleeping duvets should be made of similar sheeting fabric as the fitted sheet, in order to keep comfortable. Duvets made of heavier fabric generally are used for decorative purposes only. Duvets can have button, zipper or envelope closures. Buttonholes or ties can be custom made on the corner of the inside of the duvet cover to help secure the comforter. Duvets can be knife-edge finished or have a flange finish (a stitched band of fabric around the edge of the duvet). Measurements of the duvet depend on the size of the comforter and the height of the mattress.

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Coverlet

Also known as bed covers or quilts. Shorter than a bedspread, the coverlet should fall low enough to cover the mattress or to the bottom edge of the box spring. Coverlets are used over the duvet cover as a decorative finish when the bed is made and is teamed with decorative pillow shams made of the similar or contrasting fabric. Made of heavier fabric than sheeting, coverlets are the updated bedspread solution. Measurements should include the size of the bed and the depth of the mattress (including any pad or enhancers).

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Bedspread

Similar to the coverlet, the bedspread falls all the way to the floor, and usually has a enough length to comfortably cover over a sleeping pillow at the top of the bed. Bedspreads can be made with continuous or split corners. Measurements should include the size of the bed and the length from the top of the mattress to the floor.

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Pillow Shams

Shams can be made of similar sheeting fabric as flat or fitted sheets, and are then used for sleeping on, or they can be made of heavier top-of-the-bed fabric and used for decorative purposes only. Shams differ from cases in that they are stitched around all four sides and have the opening for the pillow in the back rather than side (like a pillowcase). Pillow shams are similar in finish to the duvet cover with having either knife-edge or flanged finishes, but can also be ruffled or pleated around the edges. Many shams have mitered corners on the flange, giving a more tailored look. Measurements are standard, queen, king, European (26" x 26") and boudoir (12" x 16") sizes.

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Pillow Cases

Made of similar sheeting fabric as the flat and fitted sheets, these are open-ended coverings for sleeping pillows. Pillowcases are sold most often by the pair. Some cases have an envelope closure (a piece of fabric on the inside of the case) to cover the pillow from the opening of the case. Pillowcases can also have an attached cuff (several inches wide) which is a stitched band of similar or contrasting fabric. This cuff would be the same as the cuff on the turn-back of the flat sheet. Measurements of the pillowcase are standard, queen and king sizes plus the extra length of the cuff.

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