Bed size guide
Every UK bed size, what room each one needs, and how to work out which will actually fit. It is worth ten minutes before you order.
UK bed sizes at a glance
UK sizes are standard across retailers, so a UK mattress fits a UK frame from anyone. They are not the same as European or American sizes, so imported bedding often will not fit.
| Size | Imperial | Metric | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Single | 2'6" × 6'3" | 75 × 190 cm | One child |
| Single | 3'0" × 6'3" | 90 × 190 cm | One adult |
| Small Double | 4'0" × 6'3" | 120 × 190 cm | One adult generously, two at a squeeze |
| Double | 4'6" × 6'3" | 135 × 190 cm | Two adults |
| King | 5'0" × 6'6" | 150 × 200 cm | Two adults comfortably |
| Super King | 6'0" × 6'6" | 180 × 200 cm | Two adults with room to spare |
Note the length change. Small Single to Double are 6'3" (190 cm) long. King and Super King are 6'6" (200 cm). If you are over about 6'1", that extra 10 cm matters more than the extra width.
What room size do you need?
The space around the bed is the real constraint. Allow roughly 70 cm of clear floor on any side you walk down, and 90 cm if a wardrobe door or drawer opens into it.
| Bed size | Comfortable minimum room | Tight but workable |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 2.1 × 2.6 m | 1.8 × 2.4 m |
| Small Double | 2.6 × 2.6 m | 2.3 × 2.4 m |
| Double | 2.8 × 2.8 m | 2.5 × 2.6 m |
| King | 3.0 × 3.0 m | 2.7 × 2.8 m |
| Super King | 3.4 × 3.2 m | 3.0 × 2.9 m |
Two things people forget. An upholstered frame is wider than its mattress: siderails and wings add 5 to 25 cm each side depending on the design. And an ottoman base needs clear height above it to open at all.
Measuring properly
- The room. Wall to wall at floor level, then again at waist height. Older houses are rarely square.
- The route in. Doorway, hall and stair widths, and the turn at the top of the stairs. Measure the diagonal of any turn, not just the width.
- The ceiling on the landing. Sloped ceilings over a staircase are the most common reason a delivery fails.
- The headboard. Beds arrive flat-packed and the headboard is the largest single piece. If you are unsure it will get through, ask us for its size before you order.
If any measurement is within 5 cm of a doorway or turn, talk to us before ordering. We would far rather help you check than deliver something that cannot get upstairs.
Which size should you choose?
Buying for a child. A Single lasts from toddler to adult and is the more sensible buy. Small Single only makes sense in a genuinely small room.
Sleeping alone. A Small Double is the best value upgrade: noticeably more space than a Single for very little extra floor area.
Sleeping as a couple. A Double gives each person 67.5 cm. If the room takes a King, take the King.
Restless sleeper, or a dog on the bed. Super King, if the room allows.
Bedding
Duvets and fitted sheets use the same UK size names, so a King duvet fits a King bed. Mattress depth is the variable: a deep mattress needs a deep fitted sheet, and most standard sheets stop at around 30 cm.
Every bed we make is available in all six sizes. If you are between two, ask us and we will tell you honestly which fits your room.
Find the bed you’ll keep for years
Choose your frame, size, fabric and colour. Handmade to order in Britain and delivered free to the UK mainland.