A king bed is bigger than a queen bed. In the sizing system where both names are used, a queen mattress is around 152cm wide by 203cm long, while a king is around 193cm wide by 203cm long. The king is roughly 40cm wider, and both are the same length.
There is an important qualification for anyone shopping in Britain. Queen is not a standard UK size. Our range runs single, small double, double, king and super king, and a UK king mattress is 150cm by 200cm. That means a UK king is almost identical in width to what is sold elsewhere as a queen, which is the root of most of the confusion.
Bed naming grew separately in different markets. In North America and Australia, queen sits between double and king. In the UK, the equivalent step was simply called king, and the wider size above it took the name super king.
So when someone in the UK reads that a king is much larger than a queen, they are reading American figures. Placed side by side, a UK king at 150cm and an American queen at 152cm are practically the same bed. The size that genuinely matches an American king is our super king at 180cm wide, and even then the American version is a little wider and longer.
UK sizes: single 90cm by 190cm, small double 120cm by 190cm, double 135cm by 190cm, king 150cm by 200cm, super king 180cm by 200cm.
Commonly quoted North American sizes: full or double around 137cm by 191cm, queen around 152cm by 203cm, king around 193cm by 203cm, California king around 183cm by 213cm.
Reading the two lists together makes the pattern obvious. UK beds are generally a few centimetres shorter, and the naming shifts by one step. Whenever you are unsure, ignore the name and compare the centimetres.
Width is what a couple notices. In a UK king each sleeper has 75cm, which is 7.5cm more than a standard double gives. In a super king each sleeper has 90cm, exactly the width of a single mattress each. That is the point at which most couples stop being disturbed by the other person moving.
Length matters less often but it is decisive when it applies. Anything up to a double is 190cm long, which is tight for anyone approaching 6ft 3in. King and super king are 200cm, and that extra 10cm is usually enough to stop feet reaching the end of the mattress.
A UK king needs a room of roughly 3m by 3.4m to leave comfortable space on both sides. A super king wants closer to 3.4m by 3.7m, because the frame can reach 190cm wide once upholstery is added. In a typical UK main bedroom of around 3m by 3m, a king works and a super king usually does not.
Mark it out before ordering. Tape the frame footprint onto the floor, then check the door swing, the wardrobe doors and the route to the window. A bed that leaves a 40cm gap on one side will feel permanently awkward however comfortable the mattress is.
At king size, the frame becomes the largest object in the room, so the finish sets the mood. Upholstered designs keep a big bed feeling soft rather than imposing, and low profile versions help in rooms with limited height. Our king size beds UK sale range covers fabric, wooden, metal and high gloss frames in one place, with assembled dimensions listed on each.
Leather and leather effect frames wipe clean easily and suit rooms with a more defined, structured look. You will find those in our modern king size leather beds UK collection. Whichever material you choose, check the headboard height against the wall behind, since sockets and low window sills are the usual obstacles at this size.
Where the room allows it, a super king is the largest standard UK size and gives each sleeper the width of a single mattress. It is the closest UK equivalent to an American king, and it demands a genuinely large room to work.
Our super king size fabric beds UK sale range shows how much floor a bed at that width really occupies, which is worth studying before committing. Bear in mind that bedding at super king size is less widely stocked than king, so it pays to buy a spare set at the same time.
This is where getting the size names wrong becomes expensive. A UK king duvet is around 225cm by 220cm and a fitted sheet is cut for a 150cm by 200cm mattress. Bedding sold as queen abroad is made for a 152cm by 203cm mattress, so a fitted sheet may just about work on a UK king while a duvet will be a slightly different shape.
Bedding sold as king abroad is made for a 193cm wide mattress, so it will be far too wide for a UK king and will hang almost to the floor. If you are buying from an international seller, always check the centimetre measurements printed on the packaging rather than the size name.
Whatever width you choose, depth is a separate decision. Deeper pocket sprung mattresses feel more substantial and sit higher, while a slimmer mattress lowers the bed and can suit a room with a sloping ceiling. Aim for a mattress top around 55cm to 65cm from the floor for comfortable sitting.
Check the depth against the height of the frame side rails so the mattress neither sinks into the frame nor stands proud of it. Depth figures are listed alongside width and length in our mattresses UK sale range, which makes it easy to match a new mattress to a frame you already own. You can see the full bedroom collection at Furniture in Fashion, and we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Queen occasionally appears on UK product listings, usually for imported furniture or for ranges designed with an international catalogue in mind. When it does, treat the name as decoration and read the centimetres underneath it. Some sellers use queen to mean a UK king at 150cm by 200cm, others use it for a genuine 152cm by 203cm mattress, and the two need different bedding.
The risk is buying a frame in one standard and a mattress in another. A 203cm mattress will not sit inside a frame built for 200cm, and a 150cm mattress in a 152cm frame leaves a gap at the sides that a fitted sheet will not hide. Confirm the internal frame dimensions and the mattress dimensions in the same units before ordering either.
Whichever size you settle on, measure the room and the route in. For a king, allow about 3m by 3.4m for comfortable clearance on both sides; for a super king, closer to 3.3m by 3.5m. Then check the narrowest point on the way in, since side rails near 200cm long have to be angled through stair turns and landing doorways.
It is also worth checking the height of the bed once the mattress is in place, because a wider bed with a deep mattress can sit higher than the one it replaces and change how easy it is to get in and out. Around 60cm from the floor to the top of the mattress suits most adults, and a deeper mattress inside a tall frame can exceed that comfortably.
Check the bedding you already own too. Moving up a size means new duvets, sheets and protectors, and that cost is easy to overlook when comparing frame prices. If the mattress is deeper than 25cm, verify the skirt depth on any fitted sheet rather than assuming the size label covers it.
Not as a standard size. UK retailers use single, small double, double, king and super king. Beds advertised as queen in Britain are usually imported or are being described using American terms.
Almost. A UK king is 150cm by 200cm and an American queen is roughly 152cm by 203cm, so the width is very close but the American version is slightly longer.
A super king at 180cm by 200cm is the closest, though an American king is around 193cm wide and a little longer.
A super king is more comfortable because each person gets 90cm of width, but it only works in a large room. In an average UK bedroom, a king is the more practical choice.
A queen fitted sheet is usually close enough in width but may be slightly long. A queen duvet will be a different shape from a UK king duvet, so check the centimetre sizes before buying.
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