British beds come in six widely available sizes. A small single measures 75cm by 190cm. A single measures 90cm by 190cm. A small double measures 120cm by 190cm. A double measures 135cm by 190cm. A king size measures 150cm by 200cm. A super king measures 180cm by 200cm. Anything larger, usually described as an emperor, is made to order and needs specialist bedding.<\/p>\n
Those six figures cover almost every bed sold in the UK, and the trade uses them consistently. Note that length steps up from 190cm to 200cm between double and king, which is often more useful to taller sleepers than the extra width.<\/p>\n
Many British homes, tape measures and conversations still work in imperial, and the trade shorthand reflects it. A single is a 3ft bed. A small double is a 4ft bed. A double is a 4ft 6in bed. A king is a 5ft bed. A super king is a 6ft bed.<\/p>\n
In inches, a single is 35in by 75in, a small double 47in by 75in, a double 54in by 75in, a king 60in by 79in, and a super king 72in by 79in. Keeping both systems in mind helps when you are measuring an alcove with an old steel tape or reading a listing that quotes only one.<\/p>\n
The imperial names explain the odd looking metric figures. 4ft 6in converts to 137cm, but the trade settled on 135cm, and 5ft converts to 152cm while the standard is 150cm. Those small roundings are why foreign sizes named in inches never quite match British ones.<\/p>\n
Width per person is the figure that predicts comfort. On a small double, two sleepers have 60cm each. On a standard double, 67.5cm each. On a king, 75cm each. On a super king, 90cm each, which equals the full width of a single mattress per person.<\/p>\n
Comparing those numbers against a 90cm single is instructive: two adults sharing a double each have less width than a child sleeping alone in a single. That is not an argument against doubles, which suit most British bedrooms, but it does explain why couples often feel the step up to a king more than the ten centimetre difference suggests.<\/p>\n
Length is simpler. 190cm suits sleepers up to around 185cm tall. 200cm suits up to around 195cm. If height is your constraint, the jump from a 190cm double to a 200cm king solves it, and no amount of extra width will.<\/p>\n
Frames are always larger than mattresses. Allow 5cm to 15cm of extra width for the frame depending on rail construction, with slim wooden frames at the low end and deeply upholstered frames at the high end. Add the headboard depth to the length.<\/p>\n
Then add clearance. Leave 60cm of walking space on every side you intend to use, and 70cm at the foot if that space is a route to a door, window or ensuite. Include the full opening depth of any drawer, typically 45cm to 55cm, and the swing of any wardrobe door.<\/p>\n
Working from those rules, a single needs a room from around 2m by 2.4m, a double from around 2.7m by 2.8m, a king from around 2.8m by 2.8m with storage on the remaining walls, and a super king from around 3.1m by 2.8m. Those are working minimums rather than comfortable targets.<\/p>\n
Access is the other constraint. Measure the doorway, stair turn and landing before ordering a super king mattress, since 180cm of pocket sprung mattress does not flex. Flat packed frames and rolled or split mattresses solve most access problems. Our modern beds UK sale<\/a> range lists external frame dimensions on every product page so you can check this properly.<\/p>\n Main bedrooms usually justify the largest size the room can carry while keeping wardrobe access. If you have to choose between a wider bed and usable storage, storage generally wins, since a cluttered room undoes the benefit of the extra sleeping width.<\/p>\n Second bedrooms often work best with a double, which suits guests as couples or individuals. Where the room is narrow, a small double at 120cm is a sensible compromise: wide enough for two at a push, comfortable for one, and 15cm narrower than a double.<\/p>\n Children’s rooms start with a single and stay there until height forces a change. Teenagers frequently outgrow 190cm of length before they need more width, which is when a small double or a king earns its place. Our childrens beds UK sale<\/a> range covers singles, bunks and cabin frames with storage built in.<\/p>\n Guest rooms that double as studies benefit from a sofa bed or a pull out guest bed, since the floor area is needed during the day. A modern sofa beds UK sale<\/a> option gives a proper double sleeping surface at night without permanently claiming the room.<\/p>\n Support requirements change with width. Any bed of king width or above needs a centre rail with its own leg, and larger super kings sometimes have two. Without it, slats flex in the middle and a dip develops along the centre line of the mattress within a couple of years.<\/p>\n Mattress depth is independent of size and ranges from roughly 15cm to 30cm across all widths. Depth affects the finished height, how the bed looks against the headboard, and which fitted sheets will stay on. Aim for a sleeping surface between 55cm and 65cm from the floor for most adults.<\/p>\n Divan bases and bedsteads both come in the full size range but behave differently. Divans give more storage and fewer joints to loosen. Bedsteads let air circulate and offer more choice of headboard style. Whichever you choose, the mattress must match the British size exactly, and you can compare depths across our mattresses UK sale<\/a> range.<\/p>\n Duvet sizes follow bed sizes but are not the same numbers. A single duvet is 135cm by 200cm. A double is 200cm by 200cm. A king is 225cm by 220cm. A super king is 260cm by 220cm. Small double beds usually take double bedding, and small singles take single bedding with some excess.<\/p>\n Fitted sheets need a wall depth greater than the mattress depth. A 28cm mattress needs at least a 30cm wall, or the corners lift during the night. This is the most common bedding mistake and it has nothing to do with the width of the bed.<\/p>\nChoosing Sizes for Different Rooms<\/h3>\n
Mattress and Base Details That Vary by Size<\/h3>\n
Bedding by Size<\/h3>\n