A standard UK double bed measures 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, which converts to 135cm by 190cm. That is the size used across the British furniture trade, so any double frame and any double mattress sold here should match those dimensions. In feet, a double is 4ft 6in wide by 6ft 3in long, which is where the common trade shorthand of a 4ft 6in bed comes from.
It is worth knowing that the American full or double size measures 54 inches by 75 inches as well in width, but American full mattresses are usually 54 by 75 inches too, making this one of the few sizes that happens to line up closely between the two markets. The British small double, by contrast, measures 48 inches by 75 inches, or 120cm by 190cm, and is often mistaken for a standard double online.
British bedding and frames are specified in centimetres, while many older homes, tape measures and DIY habits still work in inches. Having both to hand avoids errors when you are measuring an alcove or a doorway.
A UK double mattress is 54in by 75in, or 135cm by 190cm. A UK small double is 48in by 75in, or 120cm by 190cm. A UK single is 36in by 75in, or 90cm by 190cm. A UK king size is 60in by 79in, or 150cm by 200cm. A UK super king is 72in by 79in, or 180cm by 200cm.
Note that the frame is always larger than the mattress. A double frame typically measures between 57in and 62in wide externally depending on the thickness of the side rails and whether the frame is upholstered. Upholstered frames with padded rails add the most, sometimes as much as four inches on each side. Always work from the external frame dimensions given on the product page when checking whether a bed fits a space, not the mattress size.
Split between two sleepers, 54 inches gives each person 27 inches of width. A standard single mattress is 36 inches wide, so each half of a double is nine inches narrower than a single bed. That comparison surprises most people and explains why couples who feel cramped in a double are not imagining it.
Length is the other consideration. At 75 inches, a double suits anyone up to around 6ft 1in comfortably. Above that height, feet reach the end of the mattress and the extra four inches offered by a king or super king at 79 inches becomes genuinely useful. Length, not width, is often the limiting factor for taller sleepers.
None of this makes a double the wrong choice. It remains the most practical size for the majority of British bedrooms, and it is the size that leaves room for bedside furniture, a chest of drawers and a clear route to the window. It is simply worth going in with accurate expectations.
To use a double bed properly you need walking space around it. Allow at least 24 inches on each side you will use, and 28 inches at the foot if that space is a route to a door, window or ensuite. Add the full opening depth of any drawer, which on a typical chest is 18 to 22 inches.
Working in inches, a double frame at around 60 inches wide with 24 inches either side needs a wall to wall span of 108 inches, which is nine feet. Lengthways, a 79 inch frame with 28 inches at the foot needs 107 inches. That gives a working minimum of roughly nine feet by nine feet for a comfortably arranged double bedroom, though a double will physically fit in less if it sits against a wall on one side.
Do not forget the route in. Measure the doorway, the turn at the top of the stairs and any low ceiling on the landing. Frames that arrive flat packed avoid most access problems, but headboards on assembled frames and rolled mattresses have their own dimensions to check.
The external footprint varies more than people expect between frame styles, so the style you choose affects whether the bed fits. Slim profile wooden frames keep the external width close to 57 inches. Deep upholstered frames with wide padded rails can reach 62 inches or more. In a nine foot room that difference decides whether both bedside cabinets fit.
Storage frames are the other decision. Ottoman bases lift to give access to the full area under the mattress, which is around 28 square feet of storage in a double. Drawer bases give quicker access but need clear floor space in front to pull the drawers out, which is not always available in a narrow room. Our modern double fabric beds UK sale range lists external frame dimensions alongside the mattress size for exactly this reason.
If you prefer timber, the double wooden beds UK sale selection covers oak, walnut and painted finishes in the same 135cm by 190cm standard, so mattress and bedding compatibility is never in question.
Width and length are only two of the three dimensions. Mattress depth ranges from around 6 inches for a basic foam model to 14 inches or more for a deep pocket sprung or hybrid build. Depth changes the finished height of the bed, how easy it is to get in and out, and whether your fitted sheets reach the corners.
A comfortable mattress top height for most adults is between 22 and 26 inches from the floor, measured to the sleeping surface. Combine the frame height with the mattress depth to check this before ordering. A low platform frame with a shallow mattress can sit uncomfortably close to the floor, while a tall divan with a deep mattress can feel like climbing.
Depth also affects headboard proportions. A deep mattress eats into the visible height of a low headboard, so a 14 inch mattress on a frame with a 20 inch headboard leaves very little board showing above the pillows. Choose from our modern mattresses UK sale range with the frame height in mind rather than in isolation.
UK double bedding is made for 135cm by 190cm, so buy double rather than full or queen. A double duvet in Britain measures 78in by 78in, which drapes well on a 54 inch bed without dragging on the floor. Some couples prefer a king duvet on a double bed for extra overhang, which works but can look bulky in a small room.
Fitted sheets need a wall depth that clears your mattress. A 14 inch mattress needs a sheet with a 15 or 16 inch wall to sit securely, otherwise the corners lift during the night. Sheet packaging usually gives this figure in centimetres, so 40cm corresponds to roughly 16 inches.
You can see the full range of British sizes together at Furniture in Fashion, which makes it easier to compare a double against a small double or king before committing. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
A UK double is 54 inches by 75 inches, which is 4ft 6in by 6ft 3in, or 135cm by 190cm in metric.
No. A small double measures 48 inches by 75 inches, six inches narrower than a standard double. Bedding and mattresses are not interchangeable between the two.
Allow 24 inches on each side you use and around 28 inches at the foot if it is a walkway, plus the opening depth of any drawers or wardrobe doors.
Comfortably, yes. A 10ft by 10ft room takes a double frame with walking space on both sides and room for bedside cabinets and a chest of drawers.
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