What Is a Three Quarter Bed Size?

A three quarter bed in the UK measures 120cm x 190cm, which is 4ft by 6ft 3in. It is also sold as a small double, and the two names describe exactly the same size. The width sits between a single at 90cm and a standard double at 135cm, which is where the three quarter name comes from: roughly three quarters of the way to a full double.

It is the size most people overlook when planning a bedroom, and often the one that solves the problem. Where a double will not fit without losing the walkway, a three quarter gains 30cm of width over a single while keeping the room usable.

Where the Three Quarter Size Fits

Set against the standard UK ladder, the position is clear. Single is 90cm x 190cm, three quarter or small double is 120cm x 190cm, standard double is 135cm x 190cm, king is 150cm x 200cm and super king is 180cm x 200cm.

Note that the length is the same as a single at 190cm, not the 200cm of a double or king. That matters for taller sleepers, since 190cm accommodates someone up to around 175cm comfortably once you allow for a pillow. Above that, the extra 10cm of a full double becomes worth having.

The 15cm difference between a three quarter and a double sounds trivial on paper but often decides whether a room works. In a small back bedroom of 2.4m width, a double with access on one side leaves a 105cm walkway, while a three quarter leaves 120cm. That difference is the space a wardrobe door needs to open.

Frame width, as always, exceeds mattress width. Expect an external width of 130cm to 145cm depending on how substantial the side rails and posts are.

Who a Three Quarter Bed Suits

Single sleepers who find a single bed restrictive get the most from this size. The 30cm gain over a single is immediately noticeable, particularly for anyone who moves in their sleep or reads in bed.

Teenagers are a natural fit. A three quarter carries them from childhood into adulthood without needing replacing, and it still leaves floor space for a desk in a bedroom that has to double as a study area.

Guest rooms are another strong use. A three quarter takes two people at a push for a night or two, while leaving enough floor area for the room to serve other purposes for the rest of the year. In a home office that occasionally becomes a spare room, this is usually the sensible compromise.

Couples sleeping on a three quarter full time get 60cm each, which is tight. It works for some, but if it is your permanent arrangement and the room can take a double, the extra 7.5cm each is worth having.

Room Planning for a Three Quarter Bed

The advantage of this size is how much floor it leaves behind. Allow the usual 60cm to 75cm of walkway on each side you use, and a three quarter with one side against a wall needs about 1.9m of room width. With access on both sides, allow around 2.5m.

Depth is where 190cm helps. A three quarter frame typically runs 200cm to 210cm externally, which is 10cm to 15cm shorter than a double or king frame. In small rooms where the bed has to sit along the shorter wall, that saving can be decisive.

Loft conversions and box rooms are where this size proves itself. Under a sloping ceiling, a narrower bed can be pushed further towards the low side while still giving standing headroom where you get in and out. Placing it side on under the slope rather than head on often gains more usable room than people expect.

Bay windows and awkward alcoves suit a three quarter too. Where a double would need the bay to be part of the footprint, a three quarter can often sit clear of it, leaving the window as a seat or a place for a chair.

Mattresses and Bedding for This Size

Three quarter bedding is sold as small double in most UK shops, so search under that name for fitted sheets and duvet covers. Fitted sheets are cut for 120cm x 190cm, and duvets are typically 200cm x 200cm, which is the same square duvet as a standard double in many ranges.

The range of mattresses in this size is smaller than for singles, doubles and kings, but it covers all the main constructions. Pocket sprung, open coil, memory foam, latex and hybrid models are all available. Our modern mattresses UK sale range lists depth and tension for each, which is what you need to check.

Because the size is less common, it is worth confirming mattress availability before committing to a frame. Buying frame and mattress together avoids the situation where you have a bed with nothing to put on it.

Mattress depth deserves a look as well. Deep mattresses over 25cm need deep fitted sheets, and small double deep sheets are less widely stocked than double ones.

Frame Styles in the Small Double Size

Most frame styles are available in this size, though the selection is narrower than for doubles. Our modern small double fabric beds UK sale range covers upholstered designs, and fabric works particularly well in a smaller room because it absorbs sound and softens hard surfaces.

Wooden frames suit period properties and children’s rooms, where the durability matters. Metal frames have the slimmest profile of all, which counts in a genuinely tight room, and they are the lightest to shift when you want to redecorate.

For guest rooms, a divan base with a separate headboard keeps the visual footprint minimal and gives you the option of an ottoman or drawer base underneath.

Storage is often the reason people choose this size in the first place, since the floor saved can go towards a wardrobe. Ottoman bases in a three quarter give a useful 120cm x 190cm cavity, and drawer bases split it into pull out sections.

Furnishing Around a Three Quarter Bed

The whole point of this size is the space it releases, so it makes sense to use it. A 120cm bed plus one 40cm bedside cabinet needs 160cm of wall, which usually leaves room for a wardrobe on the same run.

Where the room doubles as a study, a compact desk becomes possible. Our modern computer desks UK sale range includes narrow and corner designs that fit alongside a small double without crowding the walkway.

For clothing, a tall narrow chest is more efficient than a wide low one in a small room. Our modern chest of drawers UK sale collection includes upright designs suited to a short wall run.

Sliding wardrobe doors are worth serious consideration in any room where a bed sits close to the wardrobe, since hinged doors need up to 60cm of clear floor. Our sliding wardrobes UK sale range removes that conflict entirely.

To compare this size directly against a single and a double, browse the full modern beds UK sale collection. At Furniture in Fashion you can shop modern furniture across every room, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dimensions of a three quarter bed?
120cm x 190cm, which is 4ft by 6ft 3in. It is also called a small double.

Is a three quarter bed the same as a small double?
Yes. The two names describe the same 120cm x 190cm size in the UK.

Can two adults sleep on a three quarter bed?
It gives 60cm each, which works for occasional use and guest rooms but is tight for two people every night.

What bedding fits a three quarter bed?
Look for small double bedding, cut for 120cm x 190cm. Single and double sheets will not fit correctly.

Is a three quarter bed shorter than a double?
Yes, by 10cm. A three quarter is 190cm long against a standard double at 200cm.