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A three quarter bed is 48 inches wide by 75 inches long. In centimetres that is 120cm by 190cm, and in feet and inches it is 4ft by 6ft 3in. In the UK this size is sold as a small double, and the two terms describe the same mattress.
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The name comes from the proportion. It is roughly three quarters of the width of an older style double bed, which historically measured around 4ft 6in. The name stuck even as bed manufacturing standardised, which is why you will still hear it in older houses and second hand listings.
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Comparing widths makes the gap clear:
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So a three quarter bed gives you a full 12 inches more than a single while asking for six inches less than a double. That six inches is often the difference between a room that works and a room where you shuffle sideways past the bed.
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Length is worth noting too. At 75 inches, a three quarter bed matches a standard single and double for length. It is a width upgrade, not a length upgrade, so it will not help a sleeper over six feet tall.
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If you have inherited a three quarter bed in an older house, measure it before buying anything. Before UK sizing settled, three quarter beds were made at a range of widths, commonly anywhere from 42 to 48 inches, and lengths were often shorter than today at around 72 inches.
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An antique frame will frequently need a made to measure mattress rather than a standard small double. The tell is usually the length: if the internal frame measures nearer 72 inches than 75, it predates modern sizing. Take the internal measurement of the frame, corner to corner, rather than measuring the old mattress, which may have compressed or spread over decades.
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Three quarter beds earn their place in specific situations rather than being a general purpose choice. They work particularly well in:
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The guest room case is the strongest. A single feels mean for a visiting couple, but a double can dominate a room you use twice a year. A small double resolves that without redesigning the space around occasional visitors.
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This is the practical drawback, and it is worth knowing before you buy. Small double bedding is available in the UK but the choice is narrower than for single, double or king. You will find fitted sheets and mattress protectors readily enough, since they are cut to size, but printed duvet cover ranges are more limited.
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Most people solve it the same way: use a small double fitted sheet with a standard double duvet and cover. A double duvet at 200cm by 200cm gives generous overhang on a 120cm mattress, which looks intentional rather than oversized. It also means you can shop the full range of duvet covers rather than the small double subsection.
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The gain from choosing a three quarter bed only pays off if you spend the recovered space well. Aim for:
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In a narrow room, pushing the bed lengthways against one wall changes the room completely. It creates a single circulation route instead of two, which usually feels calmer than a bed floating in the middle with cramped gaps on both sides.
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Rooms that suit three quarter beds are rarely generous elsewhere. The bed itself can help: frames with drawers in the base, or ottoman designs that lift, replace a chest of drawers you may not have room for. Our modern small double fabric beds UK sale collection includes storage designs sized specifically for 120cm mattresses.
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For the rest of the room, think narrow and tall. A slim two door wardrobe placed on the shortest wall keeps the floor readable, and our modern 2 door wardrobes UK sale options include shallower depths that suit smaller rooms better than full depth units.
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Bedside space is the other pinch point. When there is only room for a narrow cabinet on one side, choose one with a drawer rather than an open shelf, since closed storage keeps a small room looking tidier. Our modern wooden bedside cabinets UK range covers the narrower widths that fit alongside a small double.
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Proportion matters more at smaller sizes. A very tall or heavily buttoned headboard can overwhelm a 120cm wide bed, particularly in a room with a low ceiling. Lower profile headboards, slatted timber frames and simple upholstered panels tend to sit better.
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Leg height is worth a thought as well. A frame raised on visible legs shows floor underneath, which makes a small room read as larger. A base that sits flush to the carpet feels more solid but takes up more visual weight. Neither is wrong, but in a box room the raised option usually wins.
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Two measurements, taken carefully, prevent almost every problem:
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First, the overall frame footprint from the product listing, not the mattress size. A small double frame often measures around 127cm to 132cm wide once side rails are included.
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Second, the access route. Doorways, stair turns and landing width. Flat packed frames handle awkward access easily, while rigid bases do not.
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If you are furnishing the room from scratch, it is often simpler to work from a coordinated set so finishes match without cross referencing. Our modern bedroom furniture sets UK sale pages group beds with matching cabinets and drawers.
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We list small double beds across fabric, wood, metal and high gloss finishes, with mattress and frame dimensions given on every product page. You can shop modern furniture across every room at Furniture in Fashion, and we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
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Width and length are fixed by the standard, but depth is a choice, and at 120cm it changes the proportions noticeably. A shallow mattress of 18cm to 20cm keeps the bed low, which suits a room with a sloping ceiling or a low window sill. A deeper mattress of 25cm or more raises the sleeping surface, which is easier to get out of but can make a small double look bulkier than the room can carry.
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Check fitted sheet depth as well. Small double sheets are typically cut for mattresses up to around 25cm to 30cm, so a very deep mattress may need deep fill sheets, which are harder to find at this size than at double or king.
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A 120cm span needs proper support even though it is narrower than a double. Sprung slats spaced no more than around 7cm apart give the mattress even support, and many small double frames include a central rail with a supporting leg. If a frame lacks one, the mattress will tend to dip through the middle over time.
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Base type also affects storage. A slatted frame leaves usable space beneath for boxes and cases, while a solid platform blocks it entirely unless the design includes drawers. In a box room, that clearance is often the difference between having somewhere to store luggage and not.
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Small doubles turn up frequently in second hand listings, often described as three quarter beds. Before buying one, ask for the internal frame measurement rather than the size name, and check the length as carefully as the width.
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Also check the slat condition. Slats are cheap to replace, but the fixings that hold them into the side rails are not always available for older frames. A frame with intact rails and broken slats is worth having. A frame with damaged rail housings usually is not.
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Forty eight inches wide by 75 inches long, which is 120cm by 190cm, or 4ft by 6ft 3in.
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Yes. In the UK the two names describe the same 120cm by 190cm mattress size.
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Comfortably enough for occasional use, such as a guest room. For everyday sharing, most couples prefer at least a standard double.
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Small double fitted sheets, usually paired with a standard double duvet and cover, which gives a generous overhang.
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Older three quarter beds were made before UK sizing standardised, so widths and lengths vary. Antique frames often need a made to measure mattress.
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