A double bed width in the UK is 135cm, equivalent to 4ft 6in. That measurement describes the mattress, and it is the number that determines which bedding fits and which mattress will sit correctly in the frame. Frame width is a separate figure, generally 140cm to 155cm depending on construction.<\/p>\n
Two adjacent sizes are commonly mistaken for a double. The small double is 120cm wide, and the king size is 150cm wide. Both are sold alongside doubles and both look similar in photographs, so checking the stated width in centimetres is the only reliable way to know what you are buying.<\/p>\n
Length is fairly forgiving. A 190cm double suits most adults, and the difference between 190cm and 200cm only matters above roughly 185cm of height. Width, by contrast, is felt every night by anyone sharing a bed.<\/p>\n
At 135cm, two sleepers have 67.5cm each. That is narrower than the 90cm each person would have in a single bed. Most couples adapt to it, but it explains why the sensation of being cramped in a double is a genuine dimensional fact rather than a matter of preference.<\/p>\n
Width also governs the room. Every centimetre of bed width comes out of walking space, drawer clearance and wardrobe access. In a typical British second bedroom, the width of the bed you choose determines whether the rest of the furniture can function.<\/p>\n
The external width of a double frame varies more than most people expect. Divan bases sit close to the mattress, adding almost nothing. Slim wooden bedsteads with narrow rails add around 5cm in total. Metal frames add a similar amount.<\/p>\n
Upholstered frames add the most. Padded side rails of 6cm to 8cm each side push the external width to 150cm or beyond, which equals a slim king frame. If your recess measures 145cm, an upholstered double will not fit even though the mattress is only 135cm.<\/p>\n
Winged and surround headboards extend wider again, sometimes by 10cm each side. Where the bed sits between a wall and a chimney breast, or inside an alcove, measure at headboard height as well as at base height. Product listings in our modern double high gloss beds UK sale<\/a> range give the widest point so you can check this before ordering.<\/p>\n Start with the external frame width, then add clearance. Sixty centimetres of walking space on each side you use is the working minimum. A 145cm frame with access on both sides therefore needs 265cm of wall to wall width.<\/p>\n Where the room is narrower, one side of the bed can sit against a wall, bringing the requirement down to around 205cm. The trade off is that making the bed and cleaning behind it become awkward, and only one person has easy access at night.<\/p>\n Drawer and wardrobe clearance must be counted separately, not shared with the walkway. A chest of drawers needs 45cm to 55cm of clear floor in front, and a hinged wardrobe door needs its full swing. Sliding wardrobe doors avoid that problem entirely, which is why our sliding wardrobes UK sale<\/a> range suits rooms where a double bed leaves little room to spare.<\/p>\n Consider a small double at 120cm when the room cannot accommodate a double plus proper clearance, or when the bed is mainly for one person with occasional sharing. The 15cm saving frequently decides whether bedside cabinets fit on both sides.<\/p>\n Consider a king at 150cm when the room has the span and the sleepers need the width. Each person gains 7.5cm, and the length increases to 200cm, which helps taller sleepers. The extra 15cm of bed comes straight out of the room, so it only makes sense where walking space and storage access survive intact.<\/p>\n Consider two singles at 90cm each when sleeping needs differ significantly. Side by side they measure 180cm, the same as a super king, and each person can have their own mattress firmness. Linking bars and a shared topper reduce the join if you want the option of one large surface.<\/p>\n In rooms where the bed width consumes most of the floor, building storage into the bed changes the arithmetic. A double ottoman base gives access to around 2.5 square metres under the mattress, which is enough for bedding, luggage and out of season clothing.<\/p>\n Drawer bases are quicker to use day to day but need clear floor in front to open, which is exactly what a tight room lacks. Side opening ottomans need less clearance than end opening ones, so check the opening direction against your layout.<\/p>\n If you would rather keep the bed simple, a blanket box at the foot adds storage without widening the bed and gives somewhere to sit while dressing. Our modern blanket box UK sale<\/a> range works well in rooms where a chest of drawers cannot fit.<\/p>\n Buy a 135cm by 190cm mattress for a British double frame. A 137cm mattress, which is the exact conversion of 4ft 6in, will be slightly too wide and can bow at the edges. An American full mattress is close but not identical, and the difference shows in how the fitted sheets sit.<\/p>\n Depth is independent of width but affects everything else. A deeper mattress raises the sleeping surface, reduces the visible height of the headboard, and demands a fitted sheet with a deeper wall. Aim for a sleeping surface 55cm to 65cm from the floor and check that your sheets have a wall depth greater than the mattress.<\/p>\n Double duvets measure 200cm by 200cm in the UK, which gives even overhang on a 135cm bed. You can compare mattress depths and matching frame heights across our mattresses UK sale<\/a> range, and view the full size ladder together at Furniture in Fashion<\/a>.<\/p>\n We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.<\/p>\n Measure the room at floor level and again at 60cm height, since skirting boards, pipe boxing and window sills change the usable width. Note the position of radiators, sockets and the door swing on a floor plan before choosing.<\/p>\n Mark the external frame footprint on the floor with masking tape and leave it for a day or two. Walk the route, open the wardrobe, pull out the drawers. This simple test catches problems that no amount of measuring on paper reveals, and it takes ten minutes.<\/p>\n The mattress is 135cm wide, or 4ft 6in. The frame is usually 140cm to 155cm wide externally depending on the construction.<\/p>\n It gives each person 67.5cm, which is narrower than a single mattress each. Most couples manage comfortably, though light sleepers often prefer a king at 75cm each.<\/p>\n A small double is 120cm, so 15cm narrower than a double. It gives each sleeper 60cm and often frees the clearance needed for bedside furniture.<\/p>\n Yes. Padded rails can add 6cm to 8cm on each side, taking the external width to 150cm or more, which is the same footprint as a slim king frame.<\/p>\n No. A 150cm mattress will overhang a 135cm frame at both sides, leaving the edges unsupported. Match the mattress to the frame size exactly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A UK double bed width is 135cm, or 4ft 6in, and this guide explains why that single figure decides both how the bed sleeps and whether the room works. We look at what 67.5cm per person really means next to a 90cm single mattress, how…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":57948,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[5701,5739,5706,1313],"class_list":["post-57947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bedroom-furniture","tag-bed-dimensions","tag-double-bed-width","tag-small-double-bed","tag-storage-beds"],"acf":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Planning the Room Around 135cm<\/h3>\n
When to Choose a Different Width<\/h3>\n
Storage Beds and Recovered Floor Space<\/h3>\n
Mattress Fit and Bedding<\/h3>\n
Getting the Measuring Right First Time<\/h3>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n
What is the width of a double bed in the UK?<\/h3>\n
Is a double bed wide enough for two adults?<\/h3>\n
How much narrower is a small double?<\/h3>\n
Do upholstered double beds take more space?<\/h3>\n
Can I put a king mattress on a double frame?<\/h3>\n