Picture this: you finally purchase that fantastic new mattress you've been shopping for the last several months only to find that those great looking bed sheets that you purchased for it don't fit. There are few things more frustrating than buying a new mattress and a new set of bed sheets (or several) and trying to put them on your new bed only to find that the sheets are a mismatch. And it's not because you bought the wrong size. It's because your mattress is slightly thicker than the standard sheets typically are for that specific size.
Many contemporary mattresses are made slightly thicker than they were even in the recent past. Quilted pillow tops and mattress toppers increase the height of the mattress that will require a bigger, or deeper pocket fitted sheet to fit over the mattress. So if your mattress has a mattress topper or your mattress is over 14" thick, then regular size fitted sheets may not be able to fit. But the solution is easy - deep pocket sheets from Kohl's!
How To Determine the Need for Deep Pocket Sheets
The key to knowing if you need deep pocket sheets is of course knowing the measurement of your mattress. Looking at the mattress isn't enough to determine the sheet size. Instead, measure its complete height or thickness to know just how deep those fitted sheets must be to fit the bed. Since many mattresses billow upwards or pillow at the top, just measuring the side of the mattress may not do. Instead, place a large straightedge on the highest part of the mattress so it sticks beyond the edge of the bed. Press it down, without indenting the mattress, to ensure the straightedge is completely horizontal. Measure the distance from the bottom of the mattress to the straightedge using a tape measure. If the distance is greater than 12 inches, you may need deep-pocket sheets.
Pocket Size on Deep-Pocket Sheets
Some sheet packages show "pocket depth" instead of mattress height. This terminology covers the height or depth of the fitted sheet, but it is a bit trickier than using mattress height to make your purchase. Subtract 2 inches from the pocket depth to determine if the sheets fit your mattress. If the pocket depth is 16, the fitted sheet fits a mattress 14 inches high or less. Avoid purchasing sheets with a pocket depth exactly the same as your mattress height, as the fitted sheet will most likely not fit well, given the added plushness and build of the mattress. The sheet corners are likely to pop off if the pocket depth matches the mattress height.