A UK king size bed measures 150cm wide by 200cm long, which is 5ft by 6ft 6in. That is the mattress size, and it is the figure to use when buying sheets, duvets and protectors. The frame around it will be larger, usually by 10cm to 25cm in each direction depending on how thick the sides and headboard are.<\/p>\n
One warning before you go further. A US king is around 193cm by 203cm, which is considerably wider than a UK king and closer to a British super king. American listings, imported bedding and international interiors content all use the same word for a different bed, so always work from the centimetres rather than the label.<\/p>\n
A standard double is 135cm by 190cm. A king adds 15cm of width and 10cm of length. A super king widens again to 180cm while keeping the same 200cm length.<\/p>\n
Those numbers translate into sleeping width per person. On a double, two sleepers get 67.5cm each. On a king they get 75cm each. On a super king they get 90cm each. Seventy five centimetres is roughly the width of a standard single mattress minus a hand span, which is why couples moving up from a double notice the change immediately.<\/p>\n
The extra 10cm of length is often the more welcome improvement. Anyone approaching 6ft finds that a 190cm mattress puts their feet at the very edge, particularly once a tucked duvet pulls the covers tight. At 200cm the problem disappears.<\/p>\n
A king needs a room of roughly 3m by 3.4m to sit comfortably with clear space on both sides. Working from the mattress width of 150cm plus a frame allowance, you are placing an object about 1.6m wide into the room, which leaves around 70cm on each side in a 3m width. Seventy centimetres is enough to walk past, make the bed and stand to open a bedside drawer.<\/p>\n
Length matters as well. With a 200cm mattress and a headboard, the bed occupies about 2.1m of the room’s depth. In a 3.4m room that leaves 1.3m at the foot, which comfortably takes a chest of drawers or a bench.<\/p>\n
If the room is narrower than 3m, consider pushing one side of the bed against a wall. It frees a usable walkway on the other side, though the person sleeping against the wall has to climb over to get out, and changing the sheets becomes more of a job. Our modern king size fabric beds UK<\/a> listings give overall frame dimensions so you can test this on paper first.<\/p>\n People plan with mattress figures and then find the bed does not fit, because the frame is the thing that actually touches the walls. Slim metal frames add little, perhaps 5cm each side. Upholstered frames with padded rails often add 8cm to 12cm each side. Wooden bedsteads with substantial posts can add more, and a footboard extends the length by 5cm to 10cm.<\/p>\n Headboards vary even more. A slim headboard might project 6cm from the wall, while a deeply padded winged design can project 15cm or more, pushing the whole bed further into the room. If you are working to the last few centimetres, add up the frame width, the headboard depth and the footboard, then compare with the wall to wall measurement taken at skirting level rather than higher up.<\/p>\n Timber frames tend to state their outer dimensions clearly, and our king size wooden beds UK<\/a> pages are a good place to see how much a solid frame adds around a 150cm mattress.<\/p>\n UK king duvets measure around 225cm by 220cm, and king pillowcases are roughly 50cm by 90cm, which is the same as standard UK pillowcases in most cases. Fitted sheets are made to 150cm by 200cm, but the depth of the pocket is the detail worth checking.<\/p>\n Mattress depths range from about 18cm on a slim model to 30cm or more on a deep pocket sprung one. A fitted sheet cut for a 25cm mattress will not stay on a 32cm mattress once a topper is added. Read the sheet’s depth rating and add the topper thickness before you buy.<\/p>\n Two duvets on one king bed is worth a mention, since it has become a common arrangement for couples with different temperatures or sleeping habits. Two single duvets side by side on a 150cm mattress works reasonably, though they overlap a little and leave the edges bare. On a super king it works better.<\/p>\n Total bed height is the sum of frame height plus mattress depth. Most people find a top surface between 55cm and 65cm comfortable, because it allows you to sit on the edge with feet flat on the floor. Lower than 50cm and getting up becomes harder, particularly for anyone with stiff knees or hips. Much above 70cm and you climb rather than sit.<\/p>\n This matters more on a king because of the mattress choices available at that size. Deep pocket sprung mattresses of 28cm to 32cm are common, and paired with a tall divan base they can push the surface uncomfortably high. Check both figures together rather than separately.<\/p>\n Bedside furniture should be matched to that final height. A cabinet with its top level with the mattress makes reaching for a glass of water easy in the dark, whereas a low table beside a deep mattress leaves you fumbling. Our modern bedside cabinets UK<\/a> come in a range of heights for exactly this reason.<\/p>\n A king mattress is 150cm wide, which will not turn easily on a tight staircase. Measure the narrowest point of the route, and if it looks marginal, choose a rolled mattress that arrives compressed or a zip and link version that comes as two halves.<\/p>\n Support underneath matters at this width too. A king frame should have a central support rail with legs running down the middle, because 150cm of unsupported slat span will sag over time under two sleepers. If you are buying a frame without one, check whether it can be added. Slat spacing should also stay within the mattress guarantee, which usually means gaps no wider than around 7cm for a foam or pocket sprung mattress.<\/p>\nFrame Footprint Versus Mattress Size<\/h3>\n
Bedding Sizes for a King Bed<\/h3>\n
Mattress Depth, Bed Height and Getting In and Out<\/h3>\n
Delivery and Support Considerations<\/h3>\n