In the UK, a king bed measures 150cm x 200cm, or 5ft x 6ft 6in. If you are reading a listing from overseas the number will be different: a US king is around 193cm x 203cm, a European king is commonly 160cm x 200cm, and an Australian king is 183cm x 203cm. The word king is not a fixed measurement, it is a regional label, and that single fact explains most of the confusion around it.
So when someone asks what dimensions a king bed is, the honest answer starts with a question: which market is the bed sold in? For anything bought in Britain, 150cm x 200cm is the number that matters.
Laid out plainly, the differences are easy to see.
The UK king is the narrowest of the group. That is worth knowing if you have slept in a hotel abroad, loved the bed, and come home expecting the same. What you probably slept in was closer to a UK super king at 180cm x 200cm.
Bedding is where this catches people out most often. A US king fitted sheet will be far too wide for a UK king mattress, and a European king duvet will overhang differently. If you buy linen while travelling or from an international seller, check the centimetre measurements printed on the packaging rather than trusting the size name.
The 150cm x 200cm figure always refers to the mattress. Bed frames add to it on every side.
Expect a UK king frame to occupy roughly 158cm to 172cm in width and 205cm to 220cm in length. The variation comes from three things: the thickness of the side rails, the depth of any footboard, and how far a padded headboard projects from the wall. Upholstered and winged designs sit at the deeper end of that range, while slim metal or minimal wooden frames sit at the narrower end.
There is a third dimension people rarely consider: height. Frame height plus mattress depth determines how easy the bed is to get in and out of. A total height of around 55cm to 65cm from floor to mattress top suits most adults. Very low platform beds look striking but can be awkward for anyone with stiff knees, while a deep mattress on a tall divan can end up higher than a chair. If in doubt, sit on your current bed and measure the height, then compare.
Product listings across our king size fabric beds UK sale and other bed ranges give overall frame dimensions alongside the mattress size, so you can plan properly rather than guess.
Work backwards from clearance rather than forwards from the bed. Decide how much space you need to move, then see whether a king fits what is left.
As a working rule, allow 60cm to 70cm on any side you walk down, and 90cm in front of a wardrobe so the doors open fully with someone standing there. For a king placed centrally against one wall, that means a room of around 3m x 3.4m works comfortably. Push it against a side wall and you can manage in less, though only one person will have easy access.
Two details specific to British houses are worth flagging. First, chimney breasts. Many UK bedrooms have one, and it often sits on the wall you would naturally put the bed against, leaving two shallow alcoves. A 150cm bed rarely fits neatly into an alcove, so the bed usually has to project past the chimney breast. Measure the alcove depth before assuming.
Second, radiators. A bed pushed against a radiator blocks heat and can damage upholstery over time. Leave a gap of at least 10cm, and factor that into your plan.
The gap between them is 30cm of width, all of it useful. A super king at 180cm gives each person 90cm, which is the width of a single bed. That is genuinely transformative for light sleepers or couples with different routines.
The cost is floor space. A super king frame can approach 200cm in width once you add the surround, which in a 3m wide room leaves very little either side. It also limits your bedside furniture options to narrow pieces, and it makes the bed the unarguable focus of the room, which not every space can carry.
My honest view is that a king is the right choice for most UK main bedrooms, and a super king is the right choice for a large bedroom where the bed can sit centrally with generous space all round. If you are torn, tape both footprints onto the floor and walk between them.
A 150cm mattress spans a long way unsupported, so what sits beneath it matters more than at smaller sizes.
Divan bases for king mattresses should have a centre rail with its own legs. Slatted frames should include a central support beam running head to foot, with legs down to the floor. Slat spacing is the other thing to check: gaps wider than about 7cm to 8cm allow the mattress to sink between them and can invalidate a mattress guarantee.
Sprung slats add a little give and suit pocket sprung mattresses well. Solid platform tops give firmer, more uniform support and work with memory foam or hybrid mattresses. Neither is better in the abstract, but do match the base to the mattress rather than mixing at random.
A king bed covers three square metres of floor, which is a lot of space to leave empty. Ottoman bases at this size hold a substantial amount, easily whole duvet sets, spare pillows and seasonal clothing. Side opening mechanisms need less clearance at the foot of the bed, which is often the deciding factor in a room that is only just big enough.
Drawer bases are the alternative and give quicker daily access, though the drawers need floor clearance to open and cannot be used if the bed sits tight against furniture. If under bed storage is not practical, look at wardrobes and modern chest of drawers UK sale options that go tall rather than wide, since vertical storage costs less floor area.
Measure the route, not just the room. The pinch points in a typical UK home are the front door, the turn on the stairs, and the bedroom doorway. Note the narrowest width and the tightest turning space.
Flat packed frames arrive in sections and are rarely the problem. Sprung mattresses at king size are heavy, wide and cannot flex, so they are the real test. A rolled mattress solves this almost entirely and is worth choosing purely on access grounds in a narrow terrace or a flat with a tight stairwell.
Larger surfaces need more layers or they look sparse. Use a king duvet at 225cm x 220cm, not a double, or the sides will not hang properly. Two king pillows for sleeping, two square cushions in front, and one throw folded across the lower third is a proportion that works reliably without becoming fussy.
If the wall behind the bed is plain, a tall headboard does more for the room than any amount of cushions. Explore the full bedroom range at Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
150cm wide by 200cm long, which is 5ft by 6ft 6in. This refers to the mattress, not the frame.
Bed size names are regional standards, not international measurements. A US king is roughly 193cm wide compared with 150cm for a UK king, closer to a UK super king.
Allow 60cm to 70cm of clear space on any side you walk down. A room of around 3m x 3.4m suits a king bed placed centrally against one wall.
Yes. Use a base with a centre rail and central legs, or a slatted frame with a central support beam, otherwise the mattress can dip along its middle over time.
A UK king duvet is typically 225cm x 220cm. A double duvet is too narrow and will not hang correctly over the sides.
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