A king size bed in the UK measures 150cm wide by 200cm long, which is 5ft by 6ft 6in. That is 15cm wider and 10cm longer than a standard double, and it is the size most couples move up to when a double starts to feel restrictive.
Above it sits the super king at 180cm by 200cm. Below it sits the double at 135cm by 190cm. The king is the middle of those three, and for many British bedrooms it is the largest size that fits with proper walkways.
As always, the frame is wider than the mattress. A king frame typically measures between 155cm and 168cm externally, depending on how substantial the side rails and headboard uprights are.
Most attention goes to the width, but the length change from 190cm to 200cm is often what decides whether a king fits a room.
Ten extra centimetres of length can be the difference between a bed that clears a chimney breast and one that does not, or between a walkway at the foot of the bed and no walkway at all. It also matters for anyone over about six feet tall, where a 190cm mattress leaves the feet at the very edge.
Measure the depth of the room from the headboard wall to the opposite wall, subtract the 200cm mattress plus the frame allowance, and see what remains. If it is under 60cm you will not be able to cross the foot of the bed comfortably.
A king bed with access on both sides needs a room around 3m by 3.2m to feel comfortable. That accommodates the frame plus walkways of roughly 60cm to 70cm each side and space at the foot.
In a slightly smaller room, a king can still work with narrower walkways of around 50cm, though bedside furniture becomes difficult and making the bed is harder. Below that, a double is usually the better choice, because a king in a room that cannot take it makes the whole space feel cramped.
Wardrobe doors are the detail most often missed. A hinged wardrobe door needs its full swing clear of the bed frame, which can require 60cm or more. Sliding doors avoid the problem entirely and are worth considering in a room where a king only just fits. Our modern sliding wardrobes UK sale range suits exactly this situation.
Per person, a double gives around 67cm each, a king gives 75cm each, and a super king gives 90cm each. Those figures make the comparison concrete.
Moving from a double to a king gives each sleeper roughly the width of a cot mattress more space, which is why the upgrade is so often described as transformative rather than incremental. It also adds 10cm of length, which helps taller sleepers.
Moving from a king to a super king adds another 15cm each. That is worthwhile where the room genuinely has the floor area, but a super king in a room sized for a king removes the walkways and makes bedside furniture impossible. Room first, size second.
Our modern king size fabric beds UK sale listings give external dimensions for each design, which is what you need for the comparison rather than the mattress size alone.
UK king size bedding is well stocked and straightforward. A king duvet measures 225cm by 220cm and gives an even overhang on a 150cm mattress. Fitted king sheets are cut to 150cm by 200cm, with skirt depths varying by brand.
Pillow arrangement is where a king differs. Two standard pillows at 50cm by 75cm leave a gap in the centre of a 150cm bed. Either use king size pillowcases at 50cm by 90cm, or add square continental pillows behind standard ones to fill the headboard width.
Some couples use two single duvets on a king instead of one large one, which suits partners with very different temperature preferences. On a 150cm mattress each single duvet at 135cm wide gives generous coverage with a slight overlap in the middle.
A wider mattress makes mattress construction more important, not less. Pocket sprung mattresses respond independently across their width, so movement on one side is less noticeable on the other. This matters more on a shared bed than any other single specification.
Firmness can be harder to agree on a king because both sleepers are on one surface. Zoned mattresses with different support across the width exist for this reason, and two zip together singles at 75cm each provide the same 150cm total with fully independent firmness.
Depth affects the finished height and the look. A deep mattress on a divan base can put the sleeping surface above 65cm, which feels generous but can look tall in a room with a low ceiling. Check the depth against your frame’s side rail height so the mattress does not sit proud of the frame.
King is well served across every material.
Fabric frames suit a king particularly well, because the larger headboard becomes a genuine focal point in the room and the padding makes sitting up comfortable. Look for a tight weave and, ideally, removable covers.
Wooden king frames bring grain and warmth, and a solid timber frame with good bracing stays quiet under two sleepers. Our modern king size wooden beds UK range includes both slim contemporary profiles and heavier designs.
Metal frames add the least to the mattress width, which helps when the king only just fits the room. High gloss frames reflect light in a darker room, and leather effect frames wipe clean easily.
On any king frame, check for a centre support rail with at least one floor leg. On a bed this wide, that rail is what prevents sagging and creaking over the years.
The area beneath a king bed is around 3 square metres, the largest single storage space available in most bedrooms.
Ottoman lift up bases in king size hold a great deal, though the platform is heavier than on smaller sizes, so strut quality and correct assembly matter more. Check the recommended mattress weight range before choosing a deep mattress.
Drawer bases give easier daily access without lifting. On a king, four drawer configurations with two per side are common, and they suit bedding and folded clothing in regular use.
Where the base offers no storage, the room usually has space for proper wardrobes given it is large enough for a king in the first place. Matching finishes across bed and storage keeps a large bedroom looking settled rather than assembled piece by piece.
A king bed dominates a room visually, so the surrounding pieces need to be in proportion. Two matching bedside cabinets either side reinforce the symmetry and stop the bed looking like it has been pushed to one side.
A rug that extends beyond the bed on three sides grounds the arrangement better than a small rug centred at the foot. Aim for at least 60cm of rug visible along each side.
A bench or a blanket box at the foot of the bed fills what can otherwise be a large empty stretch of floor, and it gives somewhere to sit and put on shoes. Check you still have circulation space in front of it before adding one.
A king mattress is the largest single item most people bring into a bedroom. Rolled mattresses compress into a manageable package and expand once unwrapped, which solves almost every access problem.
Frames vary. Flat packed king frames pass through normal access easily. Pre assembled headboards on a king are large and often will not clear a tight stair turn, so check the packaging dimensions rather than the assembled dimensions. Divan bases split into two halves for the same reason.
Measure the narrowest point on the full route including the stair turn and the landing. At Furniture in Fashion we list packaging sizes alongside product dimensions, and we deliver free to most UK mainland postcodes.
150cm wide by 200cm long, which is 5ft by 6ft 6in. Frames typically measure between 155cm and 168cm externally.
No. A US king is around 193cm by 203cm, closer to a UK super king. Bedding bought abroad will not fit a UK king properly.
Around 3m by 3.2m allows a king with comfortable walkways on both sides and space at the foot. Smaller rooms can take one with narrower access, though bedside furniture becomes difficult.
No. A double duvet at 200cm by 200cm is too narrow for a 150cm mattress and leaves the sides exposed. Use king bedding at 225cm by 220cm.
For two sleepers, yes, provided the room takes it with proper access. A king gives each person around 75cm rather than 67cm, plus 10cm of extra length.
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