What Are the Sizes of King Size Beds?

Two Sizes, Same Length

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The UK has two king size beds. A standard king measures 150cm wide by 200cm long. A super king measures 180cm wide by 200cm long. Both use the same 200cm length, so choosing between them is a decision about width alone.

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In imperial terms:

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• King: 5ft x 6ft 6in, or 60 inches x 78 inches

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• Super king: 6ft x 6ft 6in, or 72 inches x 78 inches

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Some manufacturers round the metric figures slightly, listing a king as 152cm or a super king as 183cm. A centimetre either way makes no practical difference to bedding, which is cut with stretch and depth allowance.

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What the Extra 30cm Buys You

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Split between two sleepers, a king gives 75cm each and a super king gives 90cm each. Ninety centimetres per person is the width of a full single bed, which is a useful way to picture it: a super king is effectively two singles side by side.

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That matters in specific circumstances. If one sleeper is restless, if a child regularly appears in the small hours, or if a dog claims the foot of the bed, the extra width does real work. If neither of those applies, a king usually delivers enough space while leaving the room more usable.

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Frame Footprint Is the Number That Matters

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Mattress dimensions are standardised. Frames are not. Expect the following overall widths:

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King size frames:

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• Metal frames: around 155cm to 158cm

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• Wooden slatted frames: around 158cm to 162cm

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• Upholstered fabric or leather beds: around 160cm to 168cm

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Super king frames:

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• Metal frames: around 185cm to 188cm

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• Wooden slatted frames: around 188cm to 192cm

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• Upholstered designs: around 190cm to 198cm

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Length grows too. A tall padded headboard can push a 200cm mattress into a 208cm to 214cm overall footprint, and a footboard adds more again. Our modern super king size fabric beds UK sale listings show overall frame dimensions on every product page, which is the figure to measure against your wall to wall space.

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Room Sizes That Suit Each

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These are working guides rather than rules, based on leaving sensible clearance:

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King size: around 3m by 3.6m, or 10ft by 12ft, allows walking space on both sides plus room for bedside cabinets. In a room narrower than 2.9m, one side will need to sit against a wall.

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Super king: around 3.4m by 3.6m, or 11ft by 12ft, as a minimum for both sides to remain usable. Below that the bed dominates and wardrobe access becomes the problem.

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Clearances worth protecting in either case:

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• 60cm minimum on any side you walk down, 75cm if two people pass

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• 75cm in front of hinged wardrobe doors

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• 60cm at the foot if that is a route through the room

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• Enough beside the bed for a cabinet level with the mattress top

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Divan, Slatted or Ottoman

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Beyond width, king beds come in construction types that affect both storage and delivery.

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Divan bases are usually split into two halves for a king or super king, which makes them easier to carry than a single rigid base, and they often include drawers. Slatted frames flat pack into manageable cartons and assemble in the room, which is the most forgiving option for awkward stairs. Ottoman frames lift the whole mattress platform on gas struts to reveal full footprint storage underneath, which at super king size is a considerable volume.

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Ottoman designs do need clearance above and in front to open, so check the ceiling height and think about whether a window sits directly behind the headboard.

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Mattress Depth and Bed Height

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Width is fixed by the size you choose. Depth is not, and it changes how the bed looks and feels.

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A 20cm mattress sits neatly inside a deep side rail, giving a low contemporary profile. A 28cm to 32cm pocket sprung mattress raises the sleeping surface, which is easier to get out of but can leave a headboard looking short and may sit above the rail entirely.

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If you already own a deep mattress, check the internal rail height before choosing a frame. If you want the mattress to sit flush, look for frames that state a platform or low rail design.

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King Sizing Overseas

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King means different things in different markets, which matters if you are buying imported furniture or bedding.

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• American king: roughly 193cm x 203cm, wider than a UK super king

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• American California king: roughly 183cm x 213cm, narrower but longer

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• American queen: roughly 152cm x 203cm, close to a UK king in width

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• European double: commonly 160cm x 200cm, between our king and super king

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The practical consequence is bedding. A UK king duvet cover is typically 225cm by 220cm and a super king cover around 260cm by 220cm. Fitted sheets are the strictest fit of all, since they are cut to exact mattress dimensions. Always buy UK sized bedding for a UK sized mattress and check the centimetre figure on the packaging.

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Getting a Large Bed Into the Room

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Access defeats more large bed purchases than room size does. Before ordering, walk the route and note:

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• The narrowest doorway, including the frame and any door stop

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• The turn at the top of the stairs and any newel post

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• Ceiling height over the stairs if the landing is tight

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• Whether the headboard is one fixed piece or bolts on separately

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A one piece super king headboard can be nearly two metres wide, which is often the single largest item in the delivery. If your stairs turn tightly, a frame with a bolt on headboard is far easier to manage. Our modern super king size wooden beds UK sale range includes flat packed designs that assemble in the room.

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Furnishing Around a King or Super King

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A large bed changes what the rest of the room can hold. Two principles help.

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First, go narrow and tall for storage. A slim wardrobe placed on the shortest wall preserves the readable floor, and sliding doors remove the clearance problem entirely when a bed sits close by. Our modern sliding wardrobes UK sale range is worth comparing on that basis.

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Second, choose bedside furniture that earns its footprint. A cabinet with two drawers holds far more than an open table of the same width, and a matching pair keeps a wide bed looking balanced. Our modern bedside cabinets UK sale selection covers narrow widths for tight gaps.

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If the whole room is being replanned, our modern bedroom collections UK pages group coordinating pieces with consistent proportions, which suits a room already carrying a large bed.

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Which Size Should You Choose?

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Choose a standard king if your bedroom is around 3m by 3.6m, you want proper walking space on both sides, and you still need wardrobes and cabinets to fit comfortably. It is the size most UK couples end up with, and for good reason.

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Choose a super king if the room is genuinely large, if the bed is shared with children or pets most nights, or if either sleeper needs the extra width for comfort or mobility reasons.

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The most reliable test is masking tape. Mark both footprints on the floor, add the frame allowance from the listing, and live with them for a day. It settles the question faster than any amount of arithmetic.

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Shopping With Us

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We stock king and super king beds in fabric, leather, wood, metal and high gloss finishes, with storage and non storage options and full dimensions on every listing. You can shop modern furniture for the whole home at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

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Base Support at Large Widths

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Both king sizes place real demands on the base. Sprung slats should sit no more than around 7cm apart, and a central support rail is essential rather than optional at these widths. Super king frames usually carry two central legs rather than one, which is a good indicator that the frame has been engineered for the span rather than simply widened.

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Divan bases distribute load across the whole platform and are supplied in linked halves at both sizes, which also eases delivery through narrow staircases.

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Sheet Depth Allowance

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Fitted sheets are cut to a width, a length and a depth. Standard king and super king fitted sheets usually allow for mattresses up to around 25cm to 30cm deep. Deeper mattresses need deep fill sheets, which cover up to roughly 40cm.

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At super king size in particular, getting this right matters, because the corners are further apart and a sheet that is marginally short will lift at the first turn in the night.

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Two Singles Zipped Together

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There is a third route to a large bed that is worth knowing about. Two long single mattresses at 90cm by 200cm placed side by side give a total width of 180cm, which is exactly a super king footprint.

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The advantage is that each sleeper can choose a different firmness, which is useful where two people have genuinely different preferences. Super king bedding fits the combined surface, and a zip and link mattress set is designed for exactly this arrangement. The trade off is a seam down the middle, which some sleepers notice and others never do.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What sizes do king size beds come in?

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In the UK there are two: king at 150cm by 200cm and super king at 180cm by 200cm.

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Is a super king longer than a king?

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No. Both are 200cm long. The super king is 30cm wider, at 180cm against 150cm.

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What room size do I need for a super king bed?

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Around 3.4m by 3.6m to keep walking space on both sides and allow wardrobe doors to open.

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Do king and super king beds use the same bedding?

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No. They need separate sizes. A king duvet cover is usually around 225cm by 220cm and a super king around 260cm by 220cm.

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How wide is a king size bed frame?

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Typically 155cm to 168cm overall, depending on the design. Always check the frame footprint rather than the 150cm mattress width.

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