In the UK, a king size bed is 150cm wide by 200cm long, or 5ft by 6ft 6in. That is the mattress measurement, and it is the figure to use when buying bedding. The bed frame that holds it will be larger, typically between 158cm and 175cm wide once the side rails are included, and up to 225cm long once a headboard and footboard are counted.
The distinction between mattress dimensions and frame dimensions is where most planning mistakes happen. A room that fits a 150cm mattress on paper may not fit the frame around it, let alone leave space to walk past.
At 150cm wide, a king gives two sleepers 75cm each. That happens to be the exact width of a small single bed, which is a useful way to picture it. On a standard double at 135cm, each person has 67.5cm, so a king adds a little over 7cm per person.
The length is arguably the bigger gain. At 200cm, a king is 10cm longer than a double, single, or small double, all of which are 190cm. For anyone approaching 6ft or above, that extra length changes how the bed feels far more than the width does. Only king and super king sizes offer 200cm in common UK ranges.
Mattress depth is a separate measurement and varies widely, from around 18cm for a simple foam mattress to 30cm or more for a deep pocket sprung design. Depth affects how high the bed sits and which fitted sheets will stay on, but not the floor space it needs.
Frames add to every dimension, and how much depends on the construction.
A slim metal frame might add only 4cm to 6cm in total width, keeping the external measurement close to 156cm. A simple wooden frame with visible legs typically adds 8cm to 12cm. An upholstered frame with padded side rails commonly adds 15cm to 25cm, taking the external width to 165cm or 175cm.
Length grows at both ends. A strutted headboard adds relatively little, perhaps 6cm to 8cm. A thickly padded headboard adds 10cm to 15cm. Add a footboard or an upholstered foot rail and another 10cm to 20cm goes on. The total length can therefore run from around 210cm for a headboard only frame to 230cm for a fully framed upholstered design.
Height varies too. A low platform frame may put the mattress top at 30cm to 35cm from the floor, while a frame designed for a deep mattress or with storage beneath can reach 55cm or more. If you are replacing a bed and want it to feel familiar, measure the height of your current mattress top before choosing.
This is why full external measurements matter on a product page. Our king size fabric beds UK sale and king size wooden beds UK sale list overall footprint alongside the mattress size, so you can compare a slim design against a padded one honestly.
Work from the frame’s external dimensions, then add walkways. A comfortable walkway is 70cm, workable is 60cm, and 50cm is the practical minimum for a side you rarely use.
For a mid range king frame at roughly 165cm by 215cm, a bedroom of 3m by 3.4m gives you around 67cm on each side and a similar amount at the foot. That is a comfortable arrangement. A room of 3m by 3m still works but the foot end becomes tight. Below 2.8m of width, a king starts to dominate and a double or small double will leave the room more usable.
Two further checks are worth doing. First, mark the frame footprint on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day. It reveals problems that measurements do not, such as a radiator in the walkway or a door that no longer opens fully. Second, check the route in: a 200cm mattress cannot be bent, so it needs to clear the doorway, the stairs, and any turn on the landing.
Bed size names are not international, and this catches people out when buying online from abroad or inheriting furniture. A UK king at 150cm by 200cm differs from beds sold as king elsewhere, which may be wider or shorter. Mixing conventions leaves gaps at the sides of the frame, or a mattress that overhangs.
The safe approach is simple: buy frame, mattress, and bedding all labelled to the same UK size. If a listing gives centimetres, check them against 150cm by 200cm rather than trusting the name alone.
Within the UK range, the full set of sizes is 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.
A king duvet is 225cm by 220cm, which gives a good overhang on a 150cm mattress. Fitted sheets must be UK king, and deep fitted if your mattress exceeds about 25cm.
Pillows deserve a mention because they visibly affect how a king bed looks made. Two standard pillows at 50cm by 75cm total 150cm only if they are pressed together, which they never stay. Either use king size pillowcases at 50cm by 90cm, or run three standard pillows across the width. This is the most common reason a well made king bed still looks unfinished.
Mattress toppers and protectors should also be bought in UK king with attention to depth, or they will ruck up under the sheet.
A 150cm bed changes the scale of everything near it. Narrow bedside cabinets that suited a double can look undersized alongside a king, so slightly wider or taller designs balance the arrangement better. Our bedside cabinets UK sale range includes options in matching finishes so the bed and cabinets read as a single group.
Storage should be planned rather than added later. A raised frame leaves usable space beneath, while a low platform design does not. Where wardrobe space is limited, a modern chest of drawers UK sale at standing height is more practical for everyday clothing than reaching under the bed.
Lighting needs thought too. A single central pendant leaves both sides of a wide bed poorly lit for reading, so a pair of table lamps or wall lights is worth adding. If the foot end walkway allows it, a bench or slim ottoman UK sale gives somewhere to sit and to keep a folded throw. You can shop modern furniture for every room at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
A UK king mattress measures 150cm by 200cm, which is 5ft by 6ft 6in. The frame around it will be larger.
A king is 15cm wider and 10cm longer than a UK double, giving each sleeper 75cm rather than 67.5cm.
It depends on the design. Slim frames sit around 156cm to 162cm wide, while upholstered frames can reach 175cm. Length ranges from about 210cm to 230cm with headboards and footboards.
Usually yes, though the foot end walkway will be tight. Around 3m by 3.4m gives comfortable clearance on all three open sides.
Yes. Use a UK king duvet at 225cm by 220cm, UK king fitted sheets in the right depth, and either king size pillowcases or three pillows to span the width.
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