A standard double bed in the UK is 135cm wide, which is 4ft 6in or 54 inches. That figure refers to the mattress. The frame around it is wider, usually 140cm to 150cm externally depending on how the side rails are built, and an upholstered frame with deep padded rails can reach 155cm.
The distinction matters because people measure a wall recess, find 140cm of space, and assume a double will fit. It might not. Always work from the external frame width quoted on the product page, not the mattress width implied by the size name.
Different constructions add different amounts. A slim wooden bedstead with 2.5cm rails adds around 5cm in total. A metal frame with tubular rails adds a similar amount. A divan base sits almost flush with the mattress and adds very little, sometimes nothing at all.
Upholstered frames are the outliers. Padded side rails are often 6cm to 8cm thick each side, which takes the external width to 150cm or more. That is the same external footprint as a slim king size frame, and it catches people out when they choose an upholstered double for a tight space.
Headboard width follows the frame, and on some designs the headboard is wider still, with side wings or a padded surround extending beyond the rails. If the bed is going into a recess or between a wall and a chimney breast, measure the headboard as well as the base.
Divided between two people, 135cm gives each sleeper 67.5cm of width. A standard single mattress is 90cm wide, so each half of a double is 22.5cm narrower than a single bed. That is the single most useful fact when deciding whether a double is enough.
For couples who sleep still and do not mind proximity, 67.5cm each is workable and has been for generations. For couples where one person moves frequently, or where a child or dog joins part of the night, the width becomes the limiting factor on sleep quality rather than the mattress itself.
The step up to a king adds 7.5cm per person and a super king adds 22.5cm per person, taking each sleeper to a full single width. Whether that is worth the floor space depends entirely on the room, and in most British second bedrooms it is not.
Where 135cm plus clearance will not fit, the small double at 120cm is the sensible fallback. Sometimes called a three quarter bed, it gives two sleepers 60cm each, which is tight but usable for occasional sharing, and it is generous for one person.
The 15cm saving sounds minor but it often decides whether a bedside cabinet fits on both sides, or whether a wardrobe door can open fully. In narrow Victorian and Edwardian second bedrooms it is frequently the difference between a room that works and one that does not.
Bedding is the practical drawback. Small double fitted sheets are less widely stocked than double, though double duvets work well on a small double with slightly more overhang. Check availability before committing if you like to change bedding often.
To use a double bed properly, allow 60cm of clear walking space on each side you will use. With a 145cm external frame that means a wall to wall span of 265cm for access on both sides. If one side sits against a wall, 205cm is enough, though making the bed becomes awkward.
Add drawer clearance. A chest of drawers opposite the bed needs 45cm to 55cm of clear floor in front of it, and that space cannot overlap the walking route. Wardrobe doors need their full swing, which on a 60cm door is 60cm of clear floor.
Lengthways, a double frame is around 195cm to 205cm long. Allow 70cm at the foot if that space is a route to a window, ensuite or wardrobe, giving a working room length of around 275cm.
Where clearance is genuinely tight, storage in the bed itself removes the need for a chest of drawers and reclaims the floor in front of it. Our ottoman beds UK sale range lifts to give access to the whole mattress footprint, which suits rooms where drawers cannot open fully.
In a tight room, favour a slim profile frame on legs. The narrower external width buys you clearance, and visible legs let light travel across the floor, which makes the room read as larger. Low headboards keep sightlines open under sloping ceilings.
In a room with space to spare, the external width matters less and you can choose on appearance. A tall upholstered headboard gives a plain wall a focal point and makes sitting up to read comfortable. Wooden frames bring warmth and age well. High gloss finishes bounce light around darker rooms.
Bedside furniture should be proportionate. Beside a 135cm bed, cabinets of 40cm to 50cm width look balanced, and a top surface level with or just below the mattress top reads as deliberate. Our modern double fabric beds UK sale range and the double wooden beds UK sale selection both list external dimensions so you can plan the whole wall rather than just the bed.
At 135cm, a centre support rail is worth having. It is not always essential on a double, but a frame with a centre rail and its own leg keeps the slats from flexing along the middle, which is where a dip develops first when two people share.
Pocket sprung mattresses suit shared doubles better than open coil because each spring works independently and movement transfers less across the bed. That matters more at 135cm than it would at 180cm, precisely because the sleepers are closer together.
Depth affects height and bedding. A 25cm to 30cm mattress on a mid height frame puts the sleeping surface around 60cm from the floor, which most adults find comfortable to sit on. Match your fitted sheet wall depth to the mattress depth, and compare options across our modern mattresses UK sale range.
UK double bedding is cut for 135cm by 190cm. A double duvet measures 200cm by 200cm, which gives even overhang on both sides. Some couples prefer a king duvet on a double for extra coverage, which works but can look heavy in a small room.
Do not substitute an American full or queen set. A full is close on width but the fitted sheet corners rarely sit right, and a queen is too large. Buy British double bedding for a British double bed.
You can compare a double against a small double and a king in one place at Furniture in Fashion before deciding. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
The mattress is 135cm wide, which is 4ft 6in or 54 inches. The frame is typically 140cm to 150cm wide externally.
Each sleeper gets 67.5cm, which is 22.5cm narrower than a standard 90cm single mattress.
A small double is 120cm, so 15cm narrower than a double. That gives each sleeper 60cm and often frees enough clearance for bedside cabinets in a narrow room.
Around 265cm wall to wall for walking space on both sides, or 205cm if one side sits against a wall. Add drawer and wardrobe door clearance separately.
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