The great bed size debate

[Laura2592]

I recently started an Instagram for our cottage and have been following a few other hosts who also have one for their Airbnb. Yesterday there was a post where a host decried the lack of "king-size beds in rooms that would fit them" and a exhortation to ALL HOSTS to put in king-size beds (and then a description of the bedding they use themselves.)

So this got me to thinking. We recently replaced a bed but kept it a queen. Both our bedrooms have queen sized beds. We have queen beds in our own home. Arguably we could have king in our cottage upstairs but made a conscious decision to buy the same size beds everywhere in order to make it easier to change out linens.  I figure that anyone who insists on a king will pass our place by and perhaps look for a hotel where they can pick exactly the bed size they want. We tried to get the most comfortable mattresses we could find first and bed size was a distant second in consideration after that.  People seem to really think the beds are comfy and no one has said boo about the size. 

So what say you, fellow hosts? Does size matter? Do you think there should be more king-sized beds in listings? Or is far down on the list of considerations?

[Debra300]

@Sharon683,

Yeah, I probably wouldn't, and don't think that a guest should, complain to a host about the size of a bed if it matched what's in the listing description.  However, it wouldn't be my preference to book a space with a double bed, or a bed pushed up against a wall (I get up frequently during the middle of the night). 

[Christine3607]

Sorry Sharon, but we are a frequent user of Airbnb and we have never once complained about not having a King Bed but absolutely would choose a King over a Queen bed property every time. Just because no one has complained doesn't mean they are OK with a smaller bed. Christine 

[Brad911]

That's probably because couples who want a king size bed are passing over your place. If your occupancy hits your targets, I suppose it doesn't matter from a business perspective, but we don't even consider placed without a king bed unless we are booking late and all the options have dried up.

[Lynnette32]

Not that it matters as one single potential customer but we always end up at a hotel because of the inability to find a rental with a king bed. I'm sure they exist but we can't search by bed size and many don't put it in their listings.

But back to original question, we only get places with king beds. I cannot sleep if I'm crowded, plus it is hotter, so queen beds are too small for my husband and I. We are not obese. I'm willing to pay additional for it too but they're just so hard to find.

If I were to do a rental, I would personally put a king in because couples can always snuggle closer if they choose but you can't make a bed bigger. It would appeal to a much wider consumer base. 

[Maria16177]

I think you may be right. My apartments currently have Queens in the Master En-suites;  the second bedrooms have 2 twins and then there are 2 twin sleeper sofas in the living spaces. When I consider that most of my guests are 2 adult couples with a few children, I think it might make most sense to convert the twin beds in second bedrooms to Kings. That’s an easy enough task. I can always put the twin beds back if it negatively affects our bookings. I wouldn’t convert the Queens as they are attached to walls and other design features have been. built around them. Will look for fuss-free linens!! Thank you for the comments regarding King bed-making. On a very different note for a different thread, the level of damaged linens…. Sigh 

[Julie5028]

King size beds are a must!  

[Andrew2970]

Please provide king beds, hosts!!  As renters we will choose a property with less value just to get a king bed.  We often get excited about a place only to see it has the dealbreaker queen bed.  No person on earth would choose a smaller bed over a larger bed to sleep in.

[Liz232]

100% with you on that!! 

[Samuel1034]

We have an 6 mo. old. It's either we get stuck with a queen and order a bassinet to be delivered or look for a king so can all fit. We're not ordering a bassinet. I don't understand how properties for $500+ per night aren't offering king beds that even a Garden Inn would. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Samuel1034 It is probably a country thing. Many bedrooms in the UK cannot accommodate a US King sized bed.

[Debra300]

@Mike-And-Jane0,

It's more of a house age and room size thing.  My first house was a bungalow in California that was built in 1922.  We were pushing it's limits with a queen size bed.  We moved to a house in Atlanta that was built in 2004, and the main bedroom easily fit a king size and additional furniture.  I've noticed that it's similar experience with our friends and family members in the UK, Europe, Caribbean and Latin America.  Those that live in the more modern buildings have larger beds and furniture than those whose homes are in more historical structures.

[Jaminia0]

We will not stay at a place unless there is a king bed. I wish I could filter by bed size since that is second after location for me.  That’s the main reason I don’t stay at Airbnb, lack of enough king size beds at stays.

[Debra300]

I hear ya.  We prefer a king bed also, but are aware that there are several places in the world that we want or have traveled to where that size bed is not the norm, or even readily available.  When we go to these destinations we focus on the other property amenities.

[Kelley3]

I have 3 apartments that I host an 2 have King size beds and they are very popular. King size allows taller and larger people fell comfortable.  I think I get more rentals because of the King size beds.

[Lance239]

Yes kings are way better for clients and they for sure look for them. You didn’t give it the importance of deserves because in your own home, you sleep on a queen and I can tell you now I will never for the rest of my life ever sleep on a queen bed when a king is available for my own house, so that tells you something and there are millions of me out there