UK beds follow six standard mattress sizes. A small single is 75cm by 190cm. A single is 90cm by 190cm. A small double, also known as a three quarter bed, is 120cm by 190cm. A double is 135cm by 190cm. A king is 150cm by 200cm. A super king is 180cm by 200cm.
Notice the pattern in the lengths. Everything from small single through to double shares the same 190cm length, and only king and super king extend to 200cm. That is the single most useful thing to know about UK bed sizing, because it explains why a wider double does not help a tall sleeper.
Many UK retailers and older listings still use imperial descriptions, and knowing both sets of figures avoids confusion. A small single is 2ft 6in wide. A single is 3ft. A small double is 4ft. A double is 4ft 6in. A king is 5ft. A super king is 6ft.
Lengths are 6ft 3in for sizes up to double, and 6ft 6in for king and super king. So a double is commonly described as 4ft 6in by 6ft 3in, and a king as 5ft by 6ft 6in.
Every figure above refers to the mattress. The frame that holds it adds to both dimensions, and the amount varies considerably by construction.
Metal frames typically add 8cm to 12cm in width and a similar amount in length. Wooden frames add roughly 10cm to 18cm depending on how substantial the rails and legs are. Upholstered fabric frames add the most, often 18cm to 22cm in width, because of padding and internal structure.
Headboards add to length as well. A slim panel headboard might add 5cm, while a deep buttoned upholstered headboard can add 12cm or more. Footboards, where fitted, add a similar amount at the other end. When planning a room, use the stated external frame dimensions rather than the mattress size.
Our modern beds UK sale listings state both mattress size and overall frame dimensions, which makes this comparison straightforward.
A bed’s dimensions only become useful when you add access to them. Allow 60cm of clear floor on each side you use regularly, and 70cm where a wardrobe or cupboard door opens into that space. At the foot, allow 60cm if you need to walk past.
Applying that gives some practical minimums. A single with access on one side works in a room from about 150cm wide. A double with access on both sides wants about 270cm. A king with access on both sides wants about 300cm. A super king really needs 340cm to feel comfortable.
Measure at bed height rather than at the skirting board. Skirting projects 1cm to 2cm and stops frames sitting flush, and in loft rooms with sloping ceilings the available width at 60cm above the floor can be significantly less than at floor level.
Children’s beds usually use the single size at 90cm by 190cm, though shorter cabin beds and toddler beds exist in non standard sizes. Always check whether bedding for a shorter frame is readily available before buying, since non standard sizes limit your choices considerably.
Bunk beds normally use two single mattresses at 90cm by 190cm. The important dimension with bunks is height, not width. Measure from the floor to the ceiling, then check that there is at least 75cm of clearance above the top mattress so the upper sleeper can sit up comfortably. Also account for mattress depth, since a thick mattress on the top bunk raises the sleeper and can reduce the safety margin of the guard rail.
Our modern bunk beds UK sale range lists overall heights so this check is easy to make before ordering.
Duvet sizes follow the bed sizes but are not identical to them. A single duvet is around 135cm by 200cm. A double duvet is around 200cm by 200cm. A king duvet is around 225cm by 220cm. A super king duvet is around 260cm by 220cm.
The generous overhang is deliberate. A duvet sized exactly to the mattress will be pulled off one side or the other during the night. Some couples deliberately buy one size up for extra coverage, which is a preference rather than a fitting requirement.
Fitted sheets match the mattress footprint but also need to suit its depth. Standard depth sheets handle mattresses to about 25cm, deep to about 35cm. Mattress depth is not standardised, so measure rather than assume.
Buying from overseas sellers introduces sizes that look close to UK equivalents but are not. A continental European double is 140cm by 200cm, wider and longer than a UK double. A continental king is often 160cm by 200cm.
American sizes differ again. A US queen is 152cm by 203cm, and a US king is 193cm by 203cm. A US king is wider and shorter than a UK super king, so bedding is not interchangeable.
The practical consequence is simple: if a listing does not clearly state UK sizing, treat the dimensions as unverified and check them in centimetres before ordering either the bed or the bedding.
Once you have the frame dimensions and the clearances, the rest of the room follows from what is left. Write down the remaining wall runs before you shop for anything else.
Bedside cabinets between 35cm and 45cm wide suit most bedrooms without narrowing a walkway. Compare options across our modern bedside cabinets UK sale range with your available gap in mind.
Wardrobes need both wall width and door clearance. A two door hinged wardrobe wants around 100cm of wall plus 60cm in front for the doors. Sliding doors remove the front clearance requirement entirely. Our modern wardrobes UK sale range covers both.
A chest of drawers is often the better use of a short wall than a shallow wardrobe, since drawers use their full depth. See our modern chest of drawers UK options for widths that fit awkward runs.
At Furniture in Fashion we publish dimensions for every bed and every piece of bedroom furniture, and free delivery is available to most UK mainland postcodes.
Small single 75cm by 190cm, single 90cm by 190cm, small double 120cm by 190cm, double 135cm by 190cm, king 150cm by 200cm and super king 180cm by 200cm.
No. Sizes up to double are 190cm long, while king and super king are 200cm long.
Usually 8cm to 22cm wider and a similar amount longer, depending on whether the frame is metal, wooden or upholstered.
No. A UK king is 150cm by 200cm, while continental kings are often 160cm by 200cm. Bedding is not interchangeable.
Around 60cm on each side you use, rising to 70cm where a wardrobe door opens into the space.
Most UK beds are either 190cm or 200cm long. Singles, small doubles and doubles measure…
A king bed in the UK has mattress dimensions of 150cm by 200cm, which is…
A standard size single bed in the UK has a mattress of 90cm by 190cm,…
A queen size bed is approximately 150cm by 200cm, which is 5ft by 6ft 7in…
Double beds are 190cm long in the UK, which is 6ft 3in, and that length…
An American queen size bed measures 152cm by 203cm, or 60in by 80in, while Australia…
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