Hammock Size Guide

Hammock lifestyle outdoors
Size Guide

Hammock Size Guide

Single, Double, King — exact bed widths, hanging distances, and the sizing mistake most buyers make.

Quick answer
Camping / one personSingle (48–52") — lightweight, compact, keeps weight down on trail.
Backyard solo useDouble (55–60") — room to go diagonal. The right choice for most buyers.
Two people regularlyDouble or King — two adults fit in a double, king gives more room to spread out.
Maximum comfort soloKing (65"+) — as much fabric as possible for the diagonal position.
Not sureGo Double. Nobody ever regrets going bigger. Most single buyers wish they had.
⚠️
The most common sizing mistake
"Double" doesn't mean two people. It means more fabric — specifically, a wider bed that gives you room to lie at a diagonal. Most people who buy a single for solo use end up wishing they'd gone double. The extra width is what makes the diagonal position comfortable.
📐
Single vs. Double vs. King
Single

48–52"

Bed width

Right for camping where weight matters. For backyard use, most people find it limiting after a few uses — the diagonal position works but leaves less margin.

~10–12 ft hanging distance Best for: camping, kids
King / Family

65"+"

Bed width

Two adults lying flat, or maximum solo stretch-out room. Needs 15+ ft of hanging space. The pick when you want the most generous, luxurious setup possible.

15+ ft hanging distance Best for: two adults, family use
10–12'Single
Hanging distance
12–15'Double
Hanging distance
15'+King / Family
Hanging distance
Always size up when in doubt. A hammock that's slightly too large is always better than one that's slightly too small.
Comfort

Size directly affects comfort

A hammock that's too narrow makes the diagonal position harder and less effective. Width is one of the first things we evaluate — enough fabric to lie across comfortably is non-negotiable for any hammock we carry.

💡
Why size and lying position are connected

More width = better diagonal.

This is why sizing up matters so much. The diagonal position — shifting your body 20–30° off-center — is what makes any hammock comfortable. A wider hammock gives you more room to shift, more fabric to flatten out, and more support when you're lying across it.

A single-width hammock technically supports the diagonal position, but a double makes it effortless. A king makes it feel like lying on a flat surface.

Bigger hammock = better diagonal = more comfortable.
WRONG — straight ❌ Spine curves. Uncomfortable. RIGHT — diagonal ~25° ✓ Flat and even. Much more comfortable. 20–30° off-center — works on every size
Materials

Size and material both matter

A king-size hammock in low-grade polyester won't feel as good as a well-made double. Size matters — but so does the material it's made from. Both inform how it feels in use.

Overall Value

Getting the size right is part of the value

A hammock that's the wrong size for how you use it never delivers what it should. Sizing up is almost always the better call — the extra few dollars is worth it.

🏕️
Camping sizes — different rules apply

For camping, the calculation flips — weight and packed size matter more than width. Most backpackers prefer a single or narrow double; the extra width of a king isn't worth the extra ounces on trail.

Camping size quick reference

Ultralight backpackingSingle or narrow double. Under 1 lb is achievable. Packed size is priority.
Car camping / base campDouble. Weight less critical, comfort matters more. Can also use a sleeping bag hammock.
Cold weather overnightSize up. More fabric = easier to layer an underquilt below and a sleeping bag above.
Two-person campingTwo singles — two separate hammocks is almost always the better sleeping setup than one large one.

"Every buyer who's gone back and forth between single and double has landed on the same answer: go double."

— Hammocks.com
🏆
Our picks by size
Our Promise

Our Promise

Every pick below is verified active in our catalog. We carry each size because they genuinely serve different use cases — here's what we'd recommend at each one.

Browse by size or explore the full hammock catalog.

Browse all hammocks →