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A UK king size bed is 60 inches wide by 78 inches long. In metric terms that is 150cm by 200cm, and it is sometimes written as 5ft by 6ft 6in. Those figures refer to the mattress, not the frame, which is an important distinction we will come back to.<\/p>\n
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If you are comparing sizes, a standard UK double sits at 54 inches by 75 inches, so a king gives you six more inches of width and three more inches of length. Six inches sounds modest written down, but shared across two sleepers it changes how the bed feels every night.<\/p>\n
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The 60 by 78 inch figure describes the mattress. The bed frame will always be larger, and how much larger depends entirely on the design. A slim metal frame might add only two inches to each side. A padded fabric bed with a deep side rail can add four to six inches of width, and a tall upholstered headboard can add several inches to the overall length.<\/p>\n
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This is where measuring goes wrong for a lot of people. They check that a king mattress fits the alcove, buy the bed, then discover the frame will not sit flat against both walls. Always work from the external frame dimensions listed on the product page rather than the mattress size alone. When you browse our modern king size fabric beds UK sale<\/a> range, the overall frame measurements are listed alongside the mattress size for exactly this reason.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n UK bedding is usually sold by name rather than by number, but mattresses and frames are frequently listed in centimetres. It helps to hold all three versions in your head:<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/ul>\n n<\/p>\n Small rounding differences are normal. Some manufacturers list a king as 152cm wide because they have converted 5ft precisely. A centimetre either way makes no practical difference to fitted sheets, which are cut with stretch and depth allowance built in.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n A king size bed works comfortably in a bedroom of around 10ft by 12ft or larger. Below that you can still make it fit, but you will be trading circulation space for sleeping space, and that trade is not always worth it.<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n Use these clearances as a working guide:<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/ul>\n n<\/p>\n One side against a wall is fine in a smaller room, as long as the person sleeping there does not mind climbing over. It is a common arrangement in Victorian terraces and loft conversions where the bed has to go under the slope.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n Once a king takes up the centre of the room, the remaining wall space has to work harder. Slim bedside cabinets with drawers hold more than open tables of the same footprint, and a single wide unit sometimes serves better than two narrow ones if the bed sits off centre. Our modern high gloss bedside cabinets UK<\/a> selection includes narrow depths intended for rooms where every inch counts.<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n For clothing, height beats width in a room with a king size bed. Tall wardrobes and stacked storage use vertical space that the bed cannot claim. If you are reworking the whole room, our modern bedroom furniture UK sale<\/a> pages group matching pieces together, which saves the guesswork of trying to pair finishes from different collections.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n Width is the obvious measurement. Access is the one that causes problems. Before ordering, walk the route from your front door to the bedroom and check:<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n n<\/ul>\n n<\/p>\n Most king size beds arrive flat packed in several cartons, which makes access far easier than it sounds. A rigid divan base is a different matter, since it cannot be angled around a tight turn. If your stairs are awkward, a slatted frame that assembles in the room is the more sensible choice.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n Inches of width get all the attention, but mattress depth affects how the finished bed looks and feels. A 20cm mattress sits low inside a deep side rail, which reads as neat and contemporary. A 30cm pocket sprung mattress can sit proud of the rail, which changes the proportions and can leave a headboard looking short.<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n If you already own a deep mattress, check the internal rail height before choosing a frame. A bed described as having a low platform base is usually designed for a shallower mattress.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n Bed names travel badly. A UK king size is 60 by 78 inches. A US king is wider at 76 inches but shorter at 80 inches for length, and a US queen at 60 by 80 inches shares its width with our king while adding two inches of length. European sizing works in centimetres and often uses 160cm by 200cm as a standard double for two people.<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n The practical consequence is bedding. Fitted sheets and duvet covers bought abroad, or from international sellers, may not match a UK king size mattress. Always buy UK sized bedding for a UK sized bed, and check the centimetre measurement on the packaging rather than trusting the name alone.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n A king size makes the clearest difference in three situations: when two adults share the bed every night, when one or both sleepers are restless, and when a pet or a small child joins you in the early hours. It is also worth considering if either sleeper is over six feet tall, though in that case the extra three inches of length may matter more than the width.<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n If your room is genuinely tight, a double with better storage often produces a calmer, more usable bedroom than a king with no space to move. There is no prize for fitting the largest bed possible. We stock a full range of sizes across modern beds UK sale<\/a>, so it is worth comparing footprints on paper before deciding.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n Mark it out. Use masking tape on the carpet to lay out a rectangle 60 inches by 78 inches, then add the frame allowance from the product listing. Live with the tape for a day or two. Open the wardrobe. Walk past it with a laundry basket. You will learn more in two days than from any amount of measuring on paper.<\/p>\n n<\/p>\n This method also settles arguments about which wall the bed should sit against, since it shows immediately where the room feels blocked.<\/p>\n nn<\/p>\n n<\/p>\nConverting Between Inches, Feet and Centimetres<\/h3>\n
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How Much Room Do You Need?<\/h3>\n
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Storage Planning Around a King<\/h3>\n
Getting a King Size Bed Into the Room<\/h3>\n
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Mattress Depth and Overall Height<\/h3>\n
UK King Versus Sizes Used Abroad<\/h3>\n
Is a King Size the Right Choice?<\/h3>\n
A Simple Way to Test the Fit<\/h3>\n
Where to Shop<\/h3>\n