How Much Is a Double Bed?

The Short Answer

A double bed frame in the UK ranges from the low hundreds for a metal or basic wooden design to several hundred more for an upholstered frame with an ottoman base. Mattresses cover a similar spread, with open coil models at the accessible end and pocket sprung or hybrid construction higher up. Together, a frame and mattress for a double bed usually represents one of the more manageable furniture decisions in a home, since double is the most widely produced size in the UK and competition is broad.

What matters more than a headline figure is understanding what you are paying for. Frame material, construction quality, mattress specification and any storage mechanism account for almost all the variation, and knowing which of those you actually need is what keeps the decision sensible.

Double Bed Dimensions First

Before considering cost, be clear on size. A UK double mattress measures 135cm by 190cm, about 4ft 6in by 6ft 3in. A small double, sometimes called a three quarter bed, is 120cm by 190cm and appears in ranges aimed at compact rooms. The frame will add several centimetres each side, so allow around 143cm to 150cm of overall width.

This matters because a small double costs less than a full double and fits rooms a double cannot, but it also gives two sleepers only 60cm each. If the bed is for one person in a box room, a small double is often the better use of both space and money. For two adults sharing nightly, the full double is the minimum worth considering.

What You Pay For in the Frame

Material sets the baseline. Metal frames use the least material and the simplest construction, which is why they sit at the accessible end and remain popular in rentals and children’s rooms. Solid wood costs more for the timber volume and joinery, and species matters, with oak above pine. Engineered wood with a gloss or veneered finish falls between.

Upholstery adds both material and labour, since a padded frame needs a timber carcass, foam, fabric and hand finishing. Plain weave fabrics cost less than velvet or textured finishes. Faux leather sits above plain fabric, and genuine leather higher again. Our modern double fabric beds UK sale range shows how much variation exists within upholstered designs alone.

Construction details matter for longevity and are worth checking. A centre rail with support legs, properly housed slats and bolted rather than cam locked joints all indicate a frame that will hold up. These features rarely feature in marketing but they determine whether a frame is still solid in ten years.

What You Pay For in the Mattress

Spring type is the biggest factor. Open coil mattresses use one connected spring unit, cost the least and wear fastest, since compression in one area affects the whole surface. Pocket sprung mattresses wrap each spring individually, cost more to make and support two sleepers of different weights far better.

Comfort layers come next. Basic polyester fillings are inexpensive but compress within a few years. Memory foam, latex, wool and cotton cost more and hold their performance longer. Depth follows directly from the amount of material used, so a 28cm mattress contains considerably more than an 18cm one and prices accordingly.

Finishing details such as hand tufting, side stitching and removable covers appear at higher specifications. Our modern mattresses UK sale selection lists spring type and depth for each model, which makes comparing genuinely similar options far easier than reading descriptions.

Storage Bases and the Room Budget

An ottoman or drawer base costs more than a plain frame, but it may remove the need for other furniture. A double ottoman base holds a substantial volume, often enough to absorb spare bedding, luggage and seasonal clothing that would otherwise need a chest of drawers or loft space.

Weigh that properly. If a storage base means the room does not need a second chest, the total spend across the room may be lower even though the bed itself costs more. Drawers suit items reached weekly, ottomans suit items reached monthly. The modern ottoman beds UK sale range shows both configurations at double size.

Costs People Forget

Bedding is the most common oversight, particularly when moving from a single. A double duvet, sheets, protector and pillowcases add up, and two sets are more practical than one. If the mattress is deep, deep fitted sheets are needed rather than standard ones.

Disposal of the old bed is a real cost, since most councils charge for bulky waste collection and mattresses cannot go in household waste. Assembly time is worth considering if you are not confident with flat pack, as a double frame has a fair number of components. Planning these from the outset avoids the sense that the project keeps expanding.

Getting the Best Value

If the total needs splitting, weight it towards the mattress. A pocket sprung mattress on a simple wooden frame will serve you better than an elaborate frame with an open coil mattress, because the mattress determines how you sleep and the frame only determines how the room looks.

Buy the frame for the long term. A plain upholstered or wooden frame in a neutral tone will still suit the room when the walls and bedding change, whereas a strongly styled frame dates faster. Textiles are the inexpensive layer to swap when you want a different feel. Browsing the wider bedroom furniture UK sale section alongside the frames helps you see how pieces sit together, and the full range of contemporary designs is at Furniture in Fashion.

Checking the Room and Access

A double bed needs a room of around 2.6m by 3.2m to work comfortably, allowing the frame footprint plus roughly 70cm of clear space on one side and reasonable access at the foot. In a smaller room, positioning the bed with one long side against a wall preserves the walkway, at the cost of making the bed harder to change.

Measure the delivery route as well as the room. Double frames arrive flat packed and pass through standard doorways easily, but a pocket sprung double mattress is heavy and cannot be folded, so check the narrowest point on the stairs. Rolled foam mattresses are the practical answer in properties with tight turns or loft conversions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a double and a small double bed?

A double measures 135cm by 190cm while a small double is 120cm by 190cm. The small double suits compact rooms and single sleepers, but gives two adults only 60cm each.

Is it worth paying more for a pocket sprung double mattress?

For two people sharing, yes. Independent springs respond to each sleeper separately, which stops movement travelling across the bed and reduces the centre ridge that develops on open coil mattresses.

Do double ottoman beds cost much more than plain frames?

They carry a premium for the gas lift mechanism and reinforced base, but they can replace a chest of drawers, so the cost across the whole room may be similar.

How long should a double bed frame last?

A well made wooden or upholstered frame should give fifteen years or more with occasional bolt tightening. Metal frames vary more, and joints can loosen sooner under daily use.

What size duvet fits a double bed?

A UK double duvet measures 200cm by 200cm, which drapes evenly over a 135cm wide mattress. Check mattress depth before buying fitted sheets, as deeper mattresses need deep sheets.