To measure up for a king size bed, start with the standard UK mattress size of 150 x 200 cm, then find the external dimensions of the frame you like, which will usually be larger. Mark that full footprint on your bedroom floor and check you have roughly 60 cm of clear space on both sides and at the foot. Finally, measure the route from your front door to the bedroom to make sure the bed can get there.<\/p>\n
That is the whole process in a nutshell. The steps below explain each stage in more detail, with tips for awkward rooms and older homes. If you already have a style in mind, our king size wooden beds UK sale<\/a> list full external dimensions for each frame, which you will need for the steps that follow.<\/p>\n In the UK, a king size mattress is 150 cm wide and 200 cm long. A super king is 180 cm wide and 200 cm long. A standard double, for comparison, is 135 cm wide and 190 cm long. European king sizes differ, so always make sure the bed and mattress are UK sized.<\/p>\n The mattress size is only the starting point. Frames add to it. A slim metal frame might add just a few centimetres. A wooden frame with a footboard can add 10 to 15 cm in length. A deep upholstered frame with a padded surround and a tall, thick headboard can add 20 cm or more to both length and width. The product description should list the external dimensions: always use those for planning.<\/p>\n A king size bed becomes the centre of the room, so it helps to think about the whole layout before you measure in detail. Note where wardrobes, chests and dressing tables will sit, and which walls are free. Pieces from our modern bedroom furniture UK<\/a> collections are listed with full dimensions too, so you can include them in your plan.<\/p>\n Most people place the headboard against the longest unbroken wall, opposite or beside the door. This usually gives the best balance of walkways and storage access.<\/p>\n Measure the length and width of the room at floor level, from skirting board to skirting board. In older homes, measure again at a couple of points along each wall, because walls are not always parallel. Use the smallest figure.<\/p>\n Next, map the fixed features. Note the position and width of the door and which way it opens. Mark windows, including the height of the sill from the floor. Record radiators, how far they project and how high they are. Note sockets and light switches, which you will want to reach from bed. If you have a chimney breast, alcoves or a sloping ceiling, measure these too.<\/p>\n Draw a simple floor plan on paper, roughly to scale, with every measurement written on. It does not need to be beautiful, just accurate.<\/p>\n Using the external dimensions of your chosen frame, mark the outline of the bed on the floor with masking tape. Position it exactly where you plan to place the bed. Then live with it for a day or two. Walk around it, open the wardrobe, pull out drawers and imagine getting in and out of bed in the dark.<\/p>\n This simple step reveals problems that numbers on paper can hide: a door that clips the corner of the bed, a drawer that will not fully open, or a walkway that feels tight.<\/p>\n As a guide, aim for around 60 cm of clear space on each side of the bed and at the foot. That is enough to walk comfortably, make the bed and get dressed. If the bed shares a room with a wardrobe that has hinged doors, you will need the door width plus a little extra in front of it. Sliding wardrobes need much less.<\/p>\n In a smaller room, you might accept 50 cm on one side, but try to keep at least one comfortable side for getting in and out.<\/p>\n Bedside cabinets add width to the overall bed wall. A king size bed with two cabinets of 45 cm each needs a wall of at least 240 cm plus the frame overhang, and ideally a little breathing room either side.<\/p>\n The height of your bedside cabinets matters too. They should sit roughly level with the top of the mattress, or slightly above, so you can reach them comfortably. Our bedside cabinets UK sale<\/a> come in a range of widths and heights to suit different frames. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms<\/a>.<\/p>\n Measure the height of anything on the wall where the headboard will go: windowsills, radiators, light switches and sloping ceilings. Compare these with the headboard height of the frame you like. A tall headboard can block light or look awkward under a window, and a radiator behind a headboard can trap heat and dry out wood or fabric.<\/p>\n If you have a sloping ceiling, measure the height at the point where the headboard will sit and where your head will be when sitting up. You need enough room to sit up comfortably without knocking your head.<\/p>\n The final sleeping height combines the frame height and the mattress depth. A deep mattress on a high frame can result in a bed that is tricky to get onto, while a low frame with a thin mattress can be hard to get up from. A comfortable height for most adults has the mattress top roughly at knee height when standing beside the bed.<\/p>\n This step is easy to forget and causes the most delivery day stress. Measure the width and height of your front door, any internal doors on the route and the bedroom door. Measure the width of the staircase, the height clearance above it and any turns or landings. Note anything that narrows the route, such as banisters, radiators in hallways or low beams.<\/p>\n Most king size frames arrive flat packed, so the largest single box is usually the headboard or a side rail. Check its dimensions against your narrowest point. For divan bases, look for a split base option if access is tight.<\/p>\n If your room comfortably passes every test above with space to spare, a super king might be worth considering, especially if you share your bed with a partner, children or pets. At 180 cm wide, it offers noticeably more room. A larger frame can still feel balanced in a generous room, particularly with a low headboard and slim side rails. Remember that super king bedding is larger and heavier to wash, and that bedside cabinets may need to be narrower to keep the bed wall in proportion. Repeat the same measuring steps with the larger dimensions before deciding.<\/p>\nWhat You Will Need<\/h3>\n
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Step One: Know the Key Sizes<\/h3>\n
Step Two: Plan the Room Around the Bed<\/h3>\n
Step Three: Measure the Room Accurately<\/h3>\n
Step Four: Mark the Footprint on the Floor<\/h3>\n
Step Five: Check Clearance Around the Bed<\/h3>\n
Step Six: Allow for Bedside Cabinets<\/h3>\n
Step Seven: Check the Wall Behind the Bed<\/h3>\n
Step Eight: Consider Mattress Height<\/h3>\n
Step Nine: Measure the Delivery Route<\/h3>\n
Should You Consider a Super King?<\/h3>\n