Fitted Sheet Too Big? [4 Solutions To Your Problem]

You wake up in the middle of the night with a fitted sheet wrapped around your body. You find yourself laying directly on your mattress, which kind of defeats the purpose of the fitted sheet. You might wonder whether or not you need to buy a new sheet that is the appropriate size, or if there is something else you can do. We've done the work to bring you some solutions.

There are four ways to solve the problem of an oversized fitted sheet. These include:

1. Use sheet suspenders that will stretch underneath the mattress to hold a fitted sheet in place. 
2. Measure the mattress and sheet. Cut the sheet to size. Create pockets and add elastic to the corners.
3. Wash the sheets on a hot cycle, and then dry the sheets on a hot cycle.
4. Measure the mattress and purchase new sheets that will fit snugly on the mattress.

There is no point in using a fitted sheet that comes loose every night when you sleep. You may wonder where you can buy sheet suspenders and what kind you should buy. You may want to try altering the sheet, but you aren't a seamstress and want to know more details about the process. We will discuss the proper way to measure your mattress to buy the correct size sheets. Keep reading to find out more.

What To Do About An Oversized Fitted Sheet?

The following four options are the best ways to solve the problem of an oversized fitted sheet. So, let's explore them:

1. Use Sheet Suspenders

When your fitted sheet is too large, the easiest solution is to get some sheet suspenders that will grasp onto the four corners of the sheet and hold it in place. Make sure to buy sheet suspenders that will work for the size of your mattress. Most of the available sheet suspenders on the market are adjustable and fit all mattress sizes.

Click here to see more on Amazon.

How Else Can You Keep Your Fitted Sheet In Place?

Sheet suspenders aren't the only way to keep your fitted sheet in place. If your sheet is silk, then it might be too slippery to stay in place. Suspenders are one remedy to the problem. You can also place something with a rougher surface underneath the fitted silk sheet to give it something to grip onto. One good option is a flannel sheet. 

2. Adjust The Sheet Size Yourself

If you feel comfortable with sewing, then you can alter the oversized sheet to fit your mattress snugly. This involves measuring the depth and width of the mattress.

To measure the correct depth of the mattress, you should lay something flat, like a yardstick, over the top middle of the mattress so it extends to the edge of the mattress. Then you can measure from the bottom of the mattress to where the yardstick extends. You will cut the sheet to size and add pockets where necessary. 

How Do You Turn A Flat Sheet Into A Fitted Sheet?

The first step is to make sure the sheet is the correct size or larger than your mattress. You will need to measure the width of your mattress and also the depth. The equation is (width + depth) x 2. Use the same equation to measure the length. Now, subtract this number from the length of the sheet. Subtract the other number from the width of the sheet.

Take the smaller of the two numbers and measure a square to cut from each corner that matches this number. Now you have two ends that can be brought together and stitched to create a pocket on all four corners of the sheet.

3. Wash And Dry On Hot Cycles

There is no determined amount of shrinkage you can get by putting your fitted sheet through a hot washer and dryer cycle. Hot water shrinks clothes and sheets over time, but it may not be enough to make the sheet fit snugly if the sheet is much larger than the mattress.

You can try to run the sheets through the hot cycle another time if it needs a little more shrinking. Under normal circumstances, you do not want to wash or dry your sheets on the hot cycle. This may shrink your sheets when you don't want them to be shrunk, and cause them to wear out more quickly.

4. Purchase New Sheets

If the above three options don't work out for you, you can simply purchase new sheets. Sleeping with a fitted sheet that's too big won't be comfortable in the long run. Know what your mattress's dimensions are before you buy your next sheet set to guarantee you get the right size.

This fitted sheet is available in 11 colors and multiple mattress sizes. 

Click here to see this fitted sheet on Amazon.

Not sure where to purchase new sheets? We've got you covered. Here are the Top 40 Stores To Buy Bedsheets Online.

What Depth Fitted Sheet Do You Need?

Regular sheets will fit mattresses up to 14 inches in depth. Anything 14 inches or larger should require deep-pocket sheets. If you have a mattress that has a depth of 16 inches or more, then you may need to get extra-deep pocket sheets. Extra-deep pocket sheets can measure up to 22 inches in depth.

In order to measure depth properly, you will need a yardstick or something flat to lay on the top center of the mattress. Measure from the bottom of the mattress to where the yardstick extends. This determines the depth of the middle section of the mattress, which is always greater than the depth at the edges.

How Do You Choose A Fitted Sheet?

The most important step is determining the size of your mattress. You can look to see an emblem on the mattress that states whether it is a king, queen, full, or twin. Each of these sizes has variations as well.

Alternatively, you can measure your mattress and compare it to this chart to see what kind of mattress you have. You should also measure the depth of your mattress to determine if you need deep-pocket or extra-deep pocket sheets.

How Long Do Bed Sheets Last?

Bed sheets can last six to eight years or more. This depends on the material and how they are washed. You can make your bed sheets last longer by not over-washing them. When you do wash your sheets, you should run them on the cold machine cycle without anything else in the washer, besides pillowcases.

Bed sheets will last much longer if you interchange them with another set of sheets for convenient washing. For even more information on this topic, check out our post, How Long Do Bed Sheets Last? 

In Closing

There are a few ways to make your oversize fitted sheet conform to your mattress. People without sewing experience may prefer to buy sheet suspenders that easily attach to the four corners while stretching on the bottom side of the mattress. These suspenders are adjustable to all sizes of mattresses, so it is very effective in keeping your sheet in place. You may try to shrink the sheets while machine washing and drying on the hottest cycle. This is not the most effective strategy for getting sheets that snugly fit your bed since it is hard to control.

If you know how to sew, then an oversized sheet is just another project for you to handle. Having sewing materials on hand prevents a trip to the store. If you have clothing suspenders, you could try to re-purpose them in the same way that sheet suspenders are used. The best way to get a snug-fitting sheet is to properly measure your mattress and find sheets that match those dimensions specifically!