A king size bed in the UK has a mattress measuring 150cm wide by 200cm long, which is roughly 5ft by 6ft 6in. It sits between a double at 135cm by 190cm and a super king at 180cm by 200cm. The important detail is that a king is both wider and longer than a double, adding 15cm of width and 10cm of length, and it is the smallest UK size to reach the 200cm length.
The frame adds to those measurements. Depending on the design, expect an overall footprint of around 158cm to 165cm wide, with more again if the headboard is deeply padded. When you are measuring a room, work from the frame dimensions rather than the mattress figures.
Read the UK sizes in order and the position becomes clear: single 90cm by 190cm, small double 120cm by 190cm, double 135cm by 190cm, king 150cm by 200cm, super king 180cm by 200cm. Every size up to double shares the same 190cm length, so a taller sleeper gains nothing by moving from a single to a double.
That makes king the first size that helps anyone over about six feet. For two adults, the width matters just as much: a double gives each person 67.5cm, which is less than a single bed’s width each, while a king gives 75cm each. It is a modest difference on paper and a noticeable one in practice, particularly if one person moves in their sleep.
This is where confusion often starts. A UK king is 150cm by 200cm. An American king, sometimes called Eastern king, is 193cm by 203cm, which is closer to a UK super king. A European king varies by country but is commonly 160cm by 200cm.
The consequence is that bedding is not interchangeable. American king sheets will be far too large for a UK king mattress, and a European 160cm fitted sheet will be loose. If you buy bedding online from an international seller, check the centimetre measurements rather than trusting the size name. The same applies to imported frames, which may be built to European dimensions and will not take a UK king mattress properly.
A king bed works comfortably in a room of around 3m by 3.5m, which allows the frame footprint plus roughly 70cm of clear space on both sides. You can fit a king into a smaller room, but at some point you lose the ability to walk past the bed or open a wardrobe door fully, and the room stops functioning.
Think about what else the room holds. A king bed with two bedside cabinets uses about 2.3m of wall width, so a 3m wall leaves little either side. If the room also needs a wardrobe, sliding doors avoid the clearance that hinged doors require. Marking the footprint on the floor with masking tape and living with it for a few days is a reliable test.
Upholstered fabric frames are the most common choice at king size, partly because padding softens the visual mass of a wide bed and partly because the headboard is comfortable to sit against for reading. Our modern king size fabric beds UK sale range covers low profile designs for smaller rooms and taller headboards for rooms with height to spare.
Wooden frames bring grain and warmth, and they age well. At king width, a substantial timber section looks better proportioned than a slim one. The king size wooden beds UK collection ranges from slatted headboards to solid panels. Leather frames wipe clean and suit a more formal room, while high gloss finishes reflect light in bedrooms that get little natural daylight. Metal frames remain the slimmest in profile, which helps where every centimetre counts.
King mattresses are widely stocked, so choice is broad across pocket sprung, memory foam, hybrid and latex construction. At 150cm width, independent support matters: pocket springs respond to each sleeper separately rather than transferring movement across the bed, which is the main reason they suit shared beds better than open coil units.
Bedding is straightforward at this size. A UK king duvet measures 225cm by 220cm, and fitted sheets are made to 150cm by 200cm. Check depth as well as size, since mattresses of 28cm or more need deep fitted sheets. If you are moving up from a double, remember that the entire bedding set needs replacing, and buying two sets from the start is more practical than one.
The area under a king bed is a significant volume, and in a room without much storage it is worth using. Ottoman bases lift on gas struts to reveal a full length cavity, which comfortably holds spare bedding, suitcases and out of season clothing. Drawer bases hold less but open without moving the mattress.
Where the room is short on wardrobe space, pairing a storage base with a slim chest keeps clothing manageable. The modern high gloss chest of drawers UK sale range works well in this role because the reflective finish keeps a full room feeling lighter. Browse the wider selection of contemporary designs at Furniture in Fashion if you are planning the whole room at once.
King suits couples sharing nightly, taller sleepers, and anyone who finds a double restrictive. It is the size most people move to when a double stops working, and in a reasonably sized main bedroom it is usually the sensible ceiling. Super king is better if the room is genuinely large and you want single bed width each.
It is the wrong choice in a room under about 2.8m in either direction, where the bed leaves no usable space, and in a room that doubles as a workspace or dressing area. In those cases a double frees up 15cm of width, which is often exactly what a desk or wardrobe needs.
No. A UK king is 150cm by 200cm while a US king is 193cm by 203cm, which is closer to a UK super king. Bedding from one will not fit the other.
A king adds 15cm in width and 10cm in length, giving each of two sleepers 75cm rather than 67.5cm. It is also the smallest UK size to reach the 200cm length.
A UK king duvet measures 225cm by 220cm. That gives an even drape on both sides of a 150cm mattress without pooling on the floor.
It can fit in a room around 3m by 3.5m and still leave usable space. Smaller than that and you lose walkway width or the ability to open wardrobe doors fully.
Most do, which makes access much easier since no single component is as wide as the assembled bed. Divan bases at king size are often supplied in two halves for the same reason.
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