Are you planning an outdoor excursion where you and your posse are going to sleep under the stars? If so, you might want to pack a sleeping bag, unless you don’t mind sharing the outdoors with bears and other murderous beasts. So, what sleeping bag sizes are there?
The standard sleeping bag size—the one that will work for most adults—is a rectangular sleeping bag that measures 78 inches long and 58 inches wide when zipped. However, you might want to consider the different sizes made for children, women, and men.
Below, I’ll describe the typical sizes for different age groups and genders and how to size a sleeping bag. I’ll also go into detail about the various types of sleeping bags to choose from.
Sleeping Bag Size Chart
One quick look at your sporting supplies store and you’ll come across sleeping bags of various sizes. For the most part, children, women, and men would make do with the following sleeping bag sizes:
Children: 60 inches long, 48 inches wide at the shoulders, and 26 inches wide at the hips.
Women: 72 inches long, 55 inches wide at the shoulders, and 55 inches wide at the hips.
Men: 78 inches long, 35 inches wide at the shoulders, and 32 inches wide at the hips.
However, if you’re interested in the various sleeping bag sizes, you’ll find the dimensions of various models for different age and gender groups down below.
For Kids
| Sleeping Bag | Length | Shoulder Width | Hip Width |
| Core Youth | 60 in. | 40 in. | 40 in. |
| TETON Sports Celsius | 66 in. | 26 in. | 26 in. |
| Coleman | 60 in. | 26 in. | 26 in. |
| Kelty Kids CloudLoft | 60 in. | 40 in. | 26 in. |
| AceCamp | 64 in. | 26 in. | 26 in. |
| Big Agnes | 60 in. | 48 in. | 26 in. |
| Coleman Fun 45 | 75 in. | 33 in. | 33 in. |
| Happy Nappers | 54 in. | 20 in. | 20 in. |
For Women
| Sleeping Bag | Length | Shoulder Width | Hip Width |
| 3 Seasons | 78 in. | 53 in. | 53 in. |
| Sierra Designs | 72 in. | 50 in. | 45 in. |
| Big Agnes | 70 in. | 66 in. | 54 in. |
| Western Mountaineering | 66 in. | 63 in. | 56 in. |
| Nemo Disco | 80 in. | 64 in. | 69 in. |
For Men
| Sleeping Bag | Length | Shoulder Width | Hip Width |
| Kelty Cosmic | 84 in. | 60 in. | 48 in. |
| Coleman Green Valley | 75 in. | 33 in. | 33 in. |
| Oaskys | 86.6 in. | 29.5 in. | 29.5 in. |
| Jeaouia | 86.6 in. | 31.5 in. | 31.5 in. |
| Coleman 0°F | 75 in. | 33 in. | 33 in. |
| Nemo Forte | 78 in. | 45 in. | 45 in. |
| Farland | 86.6 in. | 33.5 in. | 33.5 in. |
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag Size
Choosing the right sleeping bag size is a simple matter of measuring your height and shoulder width. However, you can also find sleeping bags that will fit snugly against your hips, but I’ll go into the various sleeping bag types later on.
The right sleeping bag size should not be one that is exactly your height. For instance, if you’re a 6-foot-tall person, you should look for a sleeping bag that is at least 6 feet 8 inches. That way, there will be enough wiggle room for your head and toes to readjust your sleeping position.
In addition, you should find a sleeping bag that is at least a few inches wider than the widest part of your body—e.g., the shoulders or stomach.
Finally, what you should realize is that the width mentioned on sleeping bag labels might refer to its unzipped width. You might have to divide it in half to get a rough estimate of whether or not it will zip up to cover your entire body.
Types of Sleeping Bags
There are 3 sleeping bag types to choose from—rectangular, mummy, and semi-rectangular.
Rectangular Sleeping Bags
A rectangular sleeping bag does not have tapered sides. Instead, from the head portion to the feet, the sleeping bag will have a consistent width. This design allows for a bit of air circulation inside the bag, so you don’t end up sweating during summertime camping trips.
However, because the sleeping bag will have tons of air space when zipped up, its compressed size will be slightly larger than the other sleeping bag types.
Mummy Sleeping Bags
A mummy sleeping bag looks somewhat like a sarcophagus—it starts wide at the top and tapers toward the bottom. When looking at mummy sleeping bags, you should keep 3 figures in mind: the overall length, the shoulder width, and the hip width.
Mummy sleeping bags are designed to cuddle your whole body, so you’ll remain in place the entire time you’re fast asleep. The downside is that it doesn’t allow for much movement unless you bring the zipper down.
When trekking through mountain ranges in the winter, you’ll be glad that your mummy sleeping bag is there to insulate your body through the night.
Semi-Rectangular Sleeping Bags
A semi-rectangular sleeping bag is somewhat of a hybrid between rectangular and mummy sleeping bags. What sets this sleeping bag apart from mummies is that the torse region is tapered inward before extending out around the hip area. There should also be several inches of space around the arm and leg areas, which allows you to move around slightly.
This sleeping bag is mainly designed for camping in cold climates, but it doesn’t heat up as much as mummy sleeping bags during the summer.
Are There Plus-Sized Sleeping Bags?
Yes, there are. Whether you’re wide at the hips or are freakishly tall, you can easily find a sleeping bag that will cover your entire body.
Plus-sized sleeping bags will typically range from 80 to 96 inches in length and measure 60 to 68 inches wide. If you can’t find a sleeping bag online, the best thing you can do is reach out to a local supplier and see whether or not they can get one custom-made.
The same type of sleeping bags—rectangular, mummy, and semi-rectangular—are also available for plus-sized folks. However, you will have a much easier time finding rectangular sleeping bags than you will the other types.
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