A three quarter bed measures 120cm wide by 190cm long, which is 4ft by 6ft 3in in imperial. In the UK it is sold under the name small double, and occasionally as a queen single. It sits exactly between a standard single at 90cm and a full double at 135cm, giving 30cm more width than a single without demanding the floor space of a double.
That middle position is precisely why the size exists. It solves the problem of a room that feels wasteful with a single and cramped with a double, which describes a large proportion of second bedrooms in British housing.
The three quarter label is historical. Older beds were commonly described in relation to a four foot six double, so a four foot wide bed became roughly three quarters of that width. The term has largely been replaced by small double in current UK retail, but it persists in older houses, antique frames and among people who grew up with it.
You may also see 3ft 6in beds described as three quarter in some contexts, particularly in Ireland and in vintage furniture listings. If you are buying secondhand, measure rather than trust the description, since the difference between 105cm and 120cm affects every sheet you own.
Set against the standard range, the small double sits clearly in the gap. Single beds are 90cm by 190cm. Small doubles are 120cm by 190cm. Doubles are 135cm by 190cm. King size beds are 150cm by 200cm, and super kings are 180cm by 200cm.
Note that the length stays at 190cm from single through to double. Only when you move up to king does the mattress get longer, at 200cm. So a small double gives a taller sleeper no extra legroom over a single, which is worth knowing if height rather than width is the issue.
Small doubles come into their own in three specific situations. The first is a second bedroom of around 2.4m by 3m, where a double leaves almost no walkway but a single looks lost. The second is a teenager’s room, where a single starts to feel childish but floor space is still needed for a desk and storage. The third is a guest room that occasionally sleeps two but is not the primary spare room.
They also work well in period properties with chimney breasts. The 120cm width often fits neatly into an alcove beside a breast where a 135cm double will not, and that placement frees the rest of the room entirely.
Our range of modern small double fabric beds UK sale includes low profile headboards specifically for rooms with sloping ceilings or shallow alcoves.
For a single sleeper, a small double is genuinely generous. You can lie diagonally, spread out, and keep a book or laptop beside you without anything falling off the edge. Most adults who move from a single to a small double find it a significant improvement.
For two adults, it is tighter. Each person gets 60cm of width, which is less than a standard single mattress each. It works for occasional use, for a guest room, or for couples who genuinely prefer sleeping close. For nightly long term use by two adults, a double or king will serve better.
Mattress choice makes a difference at this width. A pocket sprung or hybrid mattress reduces the roll together effect that makes narrower beds feel more crowded than they are. Our modern mattresses UK sale selection includes small double options across all the main constructions.
This is the one practical drawback. Small double bedding is stocked by most UK retailers but the range is narrower than for singles, doubles and kings. Fitted sheets are the item to plan for, since they must match the size exactly.
Duvets are more flexible. A double duvet at 200cm by 200cm works well on a small double, giving generous overhang on both sides. Some people prefer a single duvet each in a small double, which removes the tug of war entirely and works surprisingly well.
Mattress protectors and toppers are available in small double, though again in fewer designs. Order two if you find one you like, because ranges change.
A small double frame with mattress occupies roughly 125cm by 195cm once the frame is accounted for, though upholstered designs add more. In a 2.4m wide room, placing the bed against one long wall leaves about 115cm of clear floor, which is enough for a walkway and a slim chest of drawers.
Wardrobe doors are the usual constraint. A hinged door needs roughly its own width in clear space, so a 60cm door needs 60cm of floor. If that pushes the bed too close to the opposite wall, sliding doors solve it, and our modern sliding wardrobes UK range is designed for rooms with exactly this problem.
Bedside space is often the compromise. A single narrow cabinet on the access side, or a wall mounted shelf, keeps the walkway usable. There is no rule that says a bed needs two matching tables when the room genuinely cannot take them.
Second bedrooms usually carry more storage pressure than main bedrooms, since they absorb the household overflow. A small double with an ottoman lift up base or built in drawers recovers most of that floor area.
Ottoman bases give the largest single cavity and suit bulky items like spare duvets, suitcases and seasonal bedding. Drawer bases are easier to use daily and better for clothing, though they need clear floor in front to open. Choose based on what you will actually store: bulk and infrequent access favours an ottoman, daily access favours drawers. Our modern ottoman beds UK sale range includes small double sizes across both fabric and wooden finishes.
In a smaller bedroom, the frame’s visual weight matters as much as its footprint. Beds with slim side rails and legs that lift the base off the floor read as lighter, because you can see floor continuing underneath. Solid divan bases look heavier but offer more storage.
Headboard height is worth thinking about too. A tall headboard draws the eye upward and can make a low ceilinged room feel taller, but in a room with a window close to the bed it may block light. Low profile designs suit alcoves and loft conversions.
You can compare the full range of frame styles and finishes in one place at Furniture in Fashion, where every small double listing states both the mattress size and the external frame dimensions.
Yes. Both names describe a mattress measuring 120cm by 190cm, or 4ft by 6ft 3in. Small double is the term used by most current UK retailers.
Yes, though each person has 60cm of width, which is narrower than a single mattress each. It suits guest rooms and occasional use better than long term nightly sharing.
Fitted sheets must be small double specific, since a double sheet will be too loose. A double duvet works well and gives generous overhang, so only the sheets and protectors need matching to the exact size.
A room of around 2.4m by 3m works, allowing the bed along one wall with a clear walkway and space for a chest of drawers. Wardrobe door swing is usually the limiting factor.
No. Both are 190cm long. The small double only adds width, so if legroom is the issue you would need to look at a king size at 200cm instead.
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