Sizes7 min read
King vs super king: which bed size should you choose?
Thirty centimetres sounds like a small difference. In bed, it is the difference between sharing a small single each and having a full single each. Here is how to decide whether your room, and your budget, should make the jump.
In this guide
Key takeaways
- A UK super king is 180 × 200 cm, 30 cm wider than a 150 × 200 cm king. Both are the same length.
- Shared between two, a king gives each sleeper 75 cm (a small single). A super king gives 90 cm each (a full single).
- Allow about 3.0 × 3.0 m of room for a king and 3.4 × 3.2 m for a super king.
- At Bedline the step up usually adds around £30 to an upholstered frame, and the ottoman base costs the same in both sizes.
- If the room is tight, a king with space to walk round it beats a super king you have to squeeze past.
King vs super king: the sizes side by side
UK bed sizes are standard, so these figures apply to any UK mattress and any UK frame. They are not the same as European or American sizes, which is why imported bedding often fits badly.
| King | Super king | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 150 cm (5 ft) | 180 cm (6 ft) |
| Length | 200 cm (6 ft 6 in) | 200 cm (6 ft 6 in) |
| Width per person (two sleepers) | 75 cm | 90 cm |
| Comfortable room size | About 3.0 × 3.0 m | About 3.4 × 3.2 m |
| Tight but workable | 2.7 × 2.8 m | 3.0 × 2.9 m |
Remember that a bed frame is bigger than its mattress. Siderails, padding and wings add roughly 5 to 25 cm on each side, depending on the design, and the headboard adds depth at the top. A winged super king can be well over two metres wide.
- wider than a king
- +30 cm
- more sleeping area
- +20%
- difference in length
- 0 cm
What the extra 30 cm actually buys you
The easiest way to picture it is in single beds. A UK small single is 75 cm wide and a single is 90 cm. Two people in a king each get the width of a small single; two people in a super king each get the width of a full single. That is the whole argument for the bigger bed, and for a lot of couples it is a strong one.
It matters most if:
- One of you moves a lot in your sleep, or you sleep at different times. More width means less disturbance.
- A child or a dog regularly ends up in the bed.
- Either of you runs warm. A little space between you makes a noticeable difference on summer nights.
- You are both broad-shouldered, or one of you sleeps on your side with your elbows out.
What it does not buy is length. Kings and super kings are both 200 cm long, 10 cm longer than a double. If you are tall, the king already gives you the extra length; the super king only adds width.
Will a super king fit your bedroom?
The bed is rarely the problem. The space around it is. You want roughly 70 cm of clear floor on any side you walk down, and 90 cm where a wardrobe door or drawer opens into the walkway.
Measure the room at floor level
Wall to wall in both directions, then again at waist height. Older houses are rarely square, and skirting boards and radiators eat into the space.
Add the frame, not just the mattress
For a super king, start from 180 cm and add 10 to 50 cm for the frame, depending on the design. Winged and sleigh frames take the most.
Subtract the walkways
Take off 70 cm for each side you walk down, and 90 cm where a door or drawer opens. What is left is the widest bed the room can take comfortably.
Check the route in
Measure the front door, hall, stairs and the turn at the top. The headboard is the largest single piece, and on a super king it is over 1.8 m wide.
In practice, most UK main bedrooms of around 3.5 × 3.5 m take a super king comfortably. Rooms nearer 3 × 3 m usually suit a king better, especially once you add bedside tables. Our bed size guide has the room sizes for every UK bed.
How much more does a super king cost?
Less than most people expect for the frame, more than they expect for everything that goes on it.
| Item | Typical extra for super king |
|---|---|
| Upholstered or divan bed frame | Around £30 (from £20 to £90 depending on the frame) |
| TV bed frame | Around £80 |
| Gas-lift ottoman base | Nothing: £219 in both sizes |
| Mattress added with your bed | £60 to £70 more, depending on the mattress |
| Bedding | Super king sets usually cost a little more, with slightly less choice in shops |
The ottoman point is worth dwelling on. Because the gas-lift base costs the same in both sizes, a super king ottoman gives you 20% more storage under the mattress for no extra on the base. If storage is part of the reason you are buying, that tips the maths towards the bigger bed.
Popular in super king
Prices shown are for the super king frame.
WingedChoose fabric and size
WingedChoose fabric and size
TV liftChoose fabric and sizeWhen a king is the better choice
King or super king at a glance
Choose a king if
- Your room is under about 3.2 m in either direction
- The stairs or landing are tight
- You want to keep frame, mattress and bedding costs down
- You mainly need the extra length over a double
Choose a super king if
- Your room is around 3.4 × 3.2 m or larger
- You want a single bed’s width each (90 cm)
- You want 20% more ottoman storage for the same base price
- Either of you is a restless or light sleeper
Choose the king if your room is under about 3.2 m in either direction, if you need space for bedside tables and a wardrobe, or if the route into the room is tight. A bed you can walk round easily makes the whole room feel bigger and calmer, which is worth more than 30 cm you only notice at night.
Choose the super king if the room takes it comfortably and either of you is a light sleeper. It is one of the few upgrades in a bedroom you notice every single night.
Does the frame style change the answer?
Yes, more than people realise. A plain upholstered frame adds only a few centimetres to the mattress size. A winged bed adds width at the head end, and a sleigh bed adds length at both ends because the head and foot scroll outwards. If your room is borderline, a slim panelled or plain frame in super king can take less floor than a winged king.
For TV beds, the bigger footboard is a genuine advantage: the lift lives in the footboard, so a super king TV bed leaves more room for a larger screen. Our TV beds take a screen of up to 60 inches; send us your TV model and we will confirm it fits.
The verdict
If your bedroom is around 3.4 × 3.2 m or larger and two of you share the bed, a super king is the better buy: each of you gets a single bed's width, and at Bedline it usually costs only about £30 more on the frame. In a room nearer 3 × 3 m, choose a king and keep the space to walk round it.
Questions people ask
How much bigger is a super king than a king?
A UK super king is 30 cm wider than a king: 180 cm against 150 cm. Both are 200 cm long.
Is a super king the same as two singles?
It is the same width: a UK super king is 180 cm wide, like two 90 cm singles side by side. It is longer, though: 200 cm against 190 cm for a single.
What size room do I need for a super king bed?
Allow about 3.4 × 3.2 m to walk round a super king comfortably. About 3.0 × 2.9 m is workable if no wardrobe door or drawer opens into the walkway.
Is a super king worth it over a king?
For two adults in a room that takes it comfortably, usually yes: each of you gets 90 cm instead of 75 cm. In a smaller room, a king with space around it is the better choice.
Are UK and European super kings the same size?
A UK super king is 180 × 200 cm, which matches the common European 180 × 200 cm size. UK kings (150 × 200 cm) differ from the common European 160 × 200 cm, so check bedding labels.
About Bedline
Bedline makes upholstered beds, ottoman beds and TV beds to order in Britain, in six UK sizes and 72 colours, and delivers them free to the UK mainland. Our guides are written by the team who help customers choose their beds every day on WhatsApp, so they answer the questions we are actually asked.
