How to Measure Up for Wooden Double Beds: A Simple Sizing Guide

To measure up for a wooden double bed, start with the room: record its length, width and any obstacles. Then add the external frame size, not just the 135 by 190 centimetre mattress size, and leave around 60 to 70 centimetres of walking space on each side you use and at the foot. Finally, check the route the bed will take through your home, including doorways, stairs and landings. With these figures in hand, you can choose a frame with confidence.

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Our collection of wooden double beds UK sale lists external dimensions for every frame, which makes this process much easier. It is also worth thinking about the surrounding modern bedroom furniture UK pieces at the same time, because a bed that fits on its own can still crowd a room once bedside tables and a wardrobe are added.

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What You Need Before You Start

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Gather a few simple tools before measuring:

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• A metal tape measure, ideally five metres or longer.

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• A notebook or your phone for recording measurements.

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• Masking tape for marking the floor.

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• A second person to hold the other end of the tape.

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Record everything in centimetres. Product dimensions are usually given in centimetres, and working in the same unit avoids conversion mistakes.

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Step One: Measure the Room

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Measure the full length and width of the room, wall to wall, at floor level. Skirting boards can take a couple of centimetres off usable space, so measure from the face of the skirting rather than the wall above it.

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Next, sketch a simple plan and mark the position of:

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• The door, and the arc it sweeps as it opens.

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• Windows, including sill height and any radiators beneath them.

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• Radiators on other walls, noting how far they project.

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• Chimney breasts, alcoves or built in cupboards.

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• Plug sockets and light switches, especially where bedside lamps will go.

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This sketch becomes your reference for everything that follows.

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Step Two: Understand Double Bed Dimensions

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A UK double mattress measures 135 by 190 centimetres. The frame is always larger. A minimal wooden frame may add only a few centimetres to each side. A frame with a thick headboard, a footboard, a sleigh shape or chunky corner posts can add 20 centimetres or more to the length and 10 centimetres or more to the width.

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Always look for the external dimensions on the product listing. These are usually given as width, length and height. Width is the measurement across the bed from side to side. Length runs from the back of the headboard to the front of the footboard or foot rail.

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Check the headboard height as well. In rooms with low windows, sloping ceilings or wall lights already fitted, a tall headboard may not sit where you want it.

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Step Three: Allow Space to Move

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A bed needs room around it to be usable. As a general guide:

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• Allow 60 to 70 centimetres along each side you use to get in and out and to make the bed.

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• Allow at least 60 centimetres at the foot if you need to walk past.

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• Allow more where furniture opens towards the bed, such as wardrobe doors or drawers.

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If the bed sits in a corner with one side against a wall, you only need clearance on the open side. This is common in smaller second bedrooms and can make a double fit where it otherwise would not. Bear in mind that making the bed is harder when one side is against a wall.

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Step Four: Plan for Bedside Furniture

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Bedside tables add width to the overall footprint. Most are between 40 and 50 centimetres wide, so a pair can add up to a metre to the space the bed area needs. Check that there is still room to move once they are in place.

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Height matters too. A bedside table that sits roughly level with the top of the mattress is easiest to reach from bed. Measure the frame height plus the depth of your mattress to find this figure. Our range of bedside cabinets UK includes compact options for tighter spaces, with dimensions listed for each design.

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Step Five: Account for the Mattress Depth

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The height of the sleeping surface depends on the frame and the mattress together. Deep mattresses can add significantly to the overall height. Check the recommended mattress depth for the frame, and consider how high the finished bed will be against windowsills, headboard height and bedside tables.

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If you are buying a new mattress, make sure it is UK double size, not a European size, which is usually 140 by 200 centimetres and will not fit. Our double mattresses UK sale are sized to suit UK frames.

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Step Six: Mark It Out on the Floor

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Using masking tape, mark the external frame dimensions on the floor exactly where the bed will go. Add the outline of bedside tables too. Then walk around it. Open the door, the wardrobe and any drawers. Stand where you would to make the bed.

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This simple exercise reveals problems that are hard to spot on paper. You may find the door catches the corner of the frame, or that a wardrobe door will not open fully. Adjust the position, or reconsider the frame size, before ordering.

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Step Seven: Check the Delivery Route

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The bed must reach the room. Measure every point it will pass through:

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• Front door width and height.

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• Hallway width, especially at corners.

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• Staircase width and any turns or half landings.

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• Headroom above the stairs.

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• The bedroom door itself.

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Most wooden double beds arrive in sections, with the headboard as the largest piece. Compare its dimensions with the narrowest point on your route. In older terraced houses with tight, turning stairs, this step is particularly important.

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Step Eight: Decide on the Final Position

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With the floor marked and the delivery route confirmed, consider where the bed will look and work best. In most rooms, the headboard sits against the wall opposite or adjacent to the door, so the bed is visible but not directly in the path as you walk in. Centring the bed on a wall gives balanced access to both sides and makes bedside tables easier to place.

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Think about light as well. Positioning the bed so you are not facing a bright window first thing in the morning can make a real difference to sleep. Equally, placing the headboard directly under a window can cause draughts and block a radiator, so check the room’s features before settling on a layout.

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Finally, check the plug sockets. Bedside lamps, phone chargers and alarm clocks all need power. If sockets fall behind the headboard, you may need extension leads or a slight change of position. It is far easier to adjust the plan now than after the bed is assembled.

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Measuring Awkward Rooms

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Many UK homes have features that make measuring less straightforward.

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Sloping ceilings

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In loft rooms, measure the height of the wall where the slope begins and how far the slope extends into the room. Compare this with the headboard height and the height of the bed when you sit up in it. A low frame with a modest headboard usually works best, positioned on the tallest wall where possible.

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Chimney breasts and alcoves

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Period homes often have a chimney breast projecting into the room. Measure the depth of the projection and the width of each alcove. A bed centred on the chimney breast can look very settled, with the alcoves holding bedside tables or shelving.

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Bay windows

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Measure across the main wall rather than into the bay. The bay is rarely a good place for the bed but makes a pleasant spot for a chair or dressing table.

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Common Measuring Mistakes

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• Using mattress size instead of frame size: The frame is always larger.

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• Forgetting door swing: A door that opens inwards takes up space beside the bed.

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• Ignoring radiators: They project from the wall and may sit where you planned the headboard.

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• Measuring above the skirting: Usable floor space is slightly less.

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• Overlooking other furniture: Wardrobes, chests and dressing tables all need clearance too.

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For a closer look at bedside heights and widths, our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms sets out the figures in more detail. If a chest of drawers needs to share the room, our guide to standard chest of drawers dimensions in the UK gives typical sizes to include in your plan.

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When a Double Will Not Fit

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If the measurements show that a standard double is too large, a small double measures 120 by 190 centimetres and saves 15 centimetres in width. That can be enough to create a comfortable walkway. Alternatively, a frame with minimal overhang, no footboard and a slim headboard can save valuable centimetres without reducing the mattress size.

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Once you have your figures, you can browse frames knowing exactly what will work. Explore our full range of beds and bedroom furniture at Furniture in Fashion.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How much space do I need around a double bed?

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Allow around 60 to 70 centimetres on each side you use and at least 60 centimetres at the foot if you need to walk past.

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What size room is needed for a double bed?

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It depends on the frame, but a room of roughly 2.7 by 3 metres can usually take a double with walkways. Always measure the specific frame.

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Is the bed frame bigger than the mattress?

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Yes. Frames add width and length for rails, headboards and footboards. Check the external dimensions listed for each frame.

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Will a European double mattress fit a UK double bed?

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No. European doubles are usually 140 by 200 centimetres, which is too large for a UK double frame designed for 135 by 190 centimetres.