The Bed and Mattress Size Guide
Standard UK Bed and Mattress Sizes
It’s important to make sure the length and width of your mattress matches your bed frame. It’s also necessary to make sure the size you choose matches your room and how many people it’s catering for. To help, check out our comprehensive guide below to UK bed and mattress sizes:
What size is a super king bed and mattress?
Standard super king beds and mattresses are 180cm wide and 200cm long. In imperial dimensions, this equals 6 feet in width and 6 feet 6 inches in length. As the largest bed and mattress size available, they provide an unbeatable amount of space. If your family all like to squeeze in together on Sunday mornings or you just value a lot of space, super king is the ideal choice.
Best for: 2 persons and those who value space.
What size is a king size bed and mattress?
In metric dimensions, a standard king size bed and mattress is 150cm wide and 200cm long. This is equal to 5 feet wide and 6 feet 6 inches long in imperial measurements. King size beds are longer than doubles, making them perfect for taller people who need extra leg room.
Best for: 2 persons and those taller than 190cm.
What size is a double bed and mattress?
A standard double bed and mattress is 135cm wide and 190cm. In imperial dimensions, this is equal to 4 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet 3 inches long. As the most common size for a bed and mattress, they’re ideal for two people, especially when bedroom space is at a premium.
Best for: 2 persons and small to average sized bedrooms.
What size is a small double bed and mattress?
In metric dimensions, a small double bed and mattress is 120cm wide and 190cm long. This is equal to 4 feet wide and 6 feet 3 inches long. They’re most suited to one person but can accommodate two adults if necessary. If your bedroom is smaller than average, small doubles are ideal, especially if you choose a divan or ottoman base which maximises storage.
Best for: 1 person and small bedrooms.
What size is a single bed and mattress?
A single bed and mattress is 90cm wide and 190cm long. In imperial dimensions, this is equal to 3 feet wide and 6 feet 3 inches long. As the name suggests, they are ideal for one person. They’re also great for children as they account for all growth spurts from toddler right through to teen.
Best for: 1 person
What size is a small single bed and mattress?
Small single bed and mattresses are 75cm wide and 190cm long. In imperial dimensions, this is equal to 2 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet 3 inches long. Small singles are designed to fit narrower kids' bed frames and guest beds. They are ideal for saving space and for spare rooms.
Best for: Young kids, small rooms and guest beds.
What size is a toddler bed and mattress?
A standard toddler bed and mattress is 70cm wide and 140cm long. In imperial dimensions, this is equal to 2 feet 3 inches wide and 4 feet 6 inches long. They are ideal for kids aged between one and three, especially those who need a little help changing from a cot to a single bed.
Best for: Toddlers and kids’ character beds.
What size is a cot mattress?
A standard cot mattress is 60cm wide and 120 cm long. In imperial measurements, this is equal to 23 inches wide by 47 inches long. As the name suggests, these mattresses are used for babies who sleep in a cot. They’re usually 10cm deep and are firmer than adult mattresses. This helps your babies development, ensuring they are aligned during sleep, helping them grow properly.
Best for: Babies and toddlers who haven’t yet transitioned to a bed.
Mattress Size Vs. Bed Frame Size
When buying a new bed, you’ll want to ensure it fits in your room comfortably. Therefore, it’s worth knowing which types of beds and bed frames tend to have larger dimensions.
Your mattress size should always correspond with the bed size you buy. For example, if you have a double bed frame, you should get a double mattress. While a double mattress measures 190 x 135cm, it’s impossible to give an exact double bed size. This is because each style will vary, and some designs have headboards and footboards adding to the overall size of the bed. Kids beds have a recommended mattress size to fit the bed frame, whether that be toddler, single or euro single.
Bed frame size according to style
The dimensions of your bed will differ depending on which style of bed frame you choose:
Divan beds without a headboard will have the same dimensions as your mattress as it will sit flush on top of the divan base.
Wooden bed frames are usually a few centimetres bigger than your mattress around each side.
Upholstered bed frame dimensions differ hugely depending on whether they have a sleigh shape, the amount of detail and the fabric.
Always check the dimensions of the bed before purchasing to ensure it fits in the room with enough space to move around the sides.
Your Ultimate Guide to Mattress Sizes and Bed Dimensions
Before buying a new mattress, there are many factors to consider, such as material, firmness, and cost — but the first decision you’ll always have to make is size. Most mattresses are available in Twin, Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes with some stores offering crib and Twin XL sizes too.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab consists of bedding experts who evaluate mattresses, sheets, and pillows for your perfect bed. Our pros explain the differences between standard mattress sizes to make it easier than ever to find your dream bed. While these are the standard dimensions, sometimes there will be slight differences brand to brand. It’s always best to confirm the specific dimensions of the mattress before buying.
What are the differences between mattress sizes?
Crib
27” x 52”
Best for babies and toddlers, crib mattresses are designed to fit perfectly in a standard crib, suitable until toddlerhood. They’re available as a foam or innerspring mattress like adult mattresses, but tend to be firmer for safety reasons.
Twin
39” x 75”
Once your child graduates from a crib, they’ll likely move to a “big kid bed,” where you’ll need a Twin mattress. Best for kids or other single sleepers, a Twin is also the best mattress size for bunk beds too.
Twin XL
39” x 80"
A bit longer than a twin, a Twin XL mattress is typically found in college dorms and is best for tall children, teenagers, or other solo sleepers. As it’s five inches longer than a standard Twin mattress, it gives more room for taller teenagers to spread out. Note that Twin XL mattresses are less widely available than other sizes, but many brands offer Twin XL mattress toppers to help make dorm mattresses more comfortable.
Full
54” x 75”
A Full mattress is the first size that can accommodate couples. While it’ll offer a lot of space for single sleepers, couples will be a bit more cramped. It’s a popular choice for young adults or smaller guest bedrooms.
Queen
60” x 80”
Queen is the most popular mattress size on the market, as it’s perfect for couples. It offers ample space to spread out and allow kids and pets to sneak onto the bed sometimes.
King
76” x 80”
For a big family or lots of pets, a king size bed can accommodate a huge crew. With a king mattress, couples each get about the width of a twin mattress to spread out and sleep comfortably. A King is best for couples who grew out of a Queen mattress or families who want space to all snuggle in bed.
California King
72” x 84”
Four inches thinner than a King mattress, California King mattresses add those four inches to the length, making this the longest mattress style available, perfect for taller couples with kids or pets. Note that this style is usually the most expensive.
How to find your perfect mattress size
Overall, a quality mattress can last for over a decade, so we recommend investing in a mattress you love. While it’ll ultimately come down to personal preference, the following are some considerations to make before deciding which mattress size is best for your needs:
Room size: Measuring out the space where your bed will go is a great way to make sure the mattress will fit nicely with the rest of your bedroom furniture. To have room for nightstands and to avoid having a cramped space, it’s best to leave about two feet of space on each side and the end of the bed.
Sleeping partners: If you share the bed with a partner, both of you will have to agree on the best size. Couples usually start with a Queen size mattress, but if you're sharing the bed with pets or kids, you might want to size up, especially if you both prefer having more space and legroom.
Height: If you’re very tall and still want ample legroom, a California King has the longest length. If you are under 6’5”, a Queen or King size should provide enough length to sleep comfortably.
Cost: Mattresses are a pricey purchase and only get more expensive the bigger they get. Remember that sheets also increase in price for bigger mattresses!
Bed Sizes UK: Bed and Mattress Size Guides
What Size Bed Should You Choose?
There are so many things to consider when you’re buying a bed or mattress – not least what size you should opt for.
If you’re buying a bed for two adults then there are a number of things that you need to consider.
Length of Bed
Firstly, the length. It is advisable to buy one that is at least 10cm longer than the tallest person. The last thing you want is for your feet to be dangling over the end of the mattress or having to curl your legs up.
The length of a standard UK double bed is only 190cm (6ft 3”), so anyone taller than 5ft 11” (180cm) should really opt for one that is 200cm (6ft 6”) in length. A UK king size bed measures 200cm in length, as does a superking size, so either of these options would be preferable.
If you’re a particularly tall person, some bed manufacturers make products that are 215cm (7ft 0”) in length.
Width of bed
The majority of British couples still sleep in a standard double size bed which is only 135cm (4ft 6”) wide. This provides each user with just 67.5cm or about 2ft 3” of space each which is less than we give a baby in a cot! It’s certainly very cosy for two people and with so little room to move, you’re more likely to disturb your partner every time you change position, resulting in a poor night’s sleep. However, some couples prefer to sleep in close proximity to each other, claiming that it improves intimacy compared to sleeping in a much bigger bed where you literally have to go searching for your partner!
Although the illustration above shows two people sharing a small double (120cm or 4ft wide) bed, we would only suggest this size as an occasional bed for two people. This size would be more suitable for a single user, especially with UK studies showing that we’re getting bigger and heavier due to our diet and sedentary lifestyles!
So with partner disturbance a major cause of poor sleep, buying a bigger bed should result in a better night’s sleep. When trying out a bed for size, lie next to your partner on your backs and put your hands behind your head with your elbows sticking out. If your elbows don’t touch your partners’ then you have enough space to sleep comfortably.
The number of couples sleeping in separate beds is on the increase. In the Sleep Council’s Great British Bedtime Report from 2017, 12% said they slept apart compared to only 8% in 2013. Nearly a quarter of couples also reported sleeping apart at least some of the time. If you’re one of those who prefer to sleep in your own bed but still wish to be in the same room as your partner, the most popular option is the standard single bed which measures 90cm or 3ft wide, giving you plenty of room to get comfortable.
If you have a large bedroom, you could consider buying two single beds or even opt for a zip and link set where the two beds can be joined together to form a super king size. Having said that, many modern houses tend to have smaller bedrooms as the demand for 4 or 5 bedroomed properties results in a squeeze on room sizes upstairs. So, for many couples, a super king size bed is out of the question.
Ready to take the plunge? Read our Bed Buyers’ Guide for tips on shopping for your new bed.
Here are just ten reasons why a bigger bed is better:
Because a standard double bed (135cm/4ft 6in) gives each person just 2ft 3in of space – less than a baby in a cot. Now how squeezed is that?
Ergonomic studies show that couples sleep better in a bigger bed. Before the trials only 15% said they would buy a larger than standard bed. Afterwards 50% said they would. (Ergonomic pilot study by the National Bed Federation, 1995.)
Because you spend a third of your life in bed – by the time we are 50 we’ll each have spent some 16 years in bed. If you are going to spend all that time there, why take the trip to dreamland in tourist class when you can go first class?
Because it doesn’t necessarily cost a whole heap more to move up a size. Over seven years, every £100 spent on a new bed costs just 3.9p per night.
Because 16 other countries can’t be wrong! That’s how many boast bigger average bed sizes than Britain. Top of the league are Belgium, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Finland and Switzerland where most people sleep in a roomy 160cm by 200cm bed. By contrast we Brits still buy more 135cm by 190cm beds.
Because you spend as much as you can afford on the best possible house, holiday, car, kitchen, TV and sound system. So why so stingy when it comes to buying a bigger bed?
Because you wouldn’t want to get left behind! Although two-thirds of us still opt for the standard size, larger beds are becoming ever more popular among those with the bedroom space to take one: 33% of double divan and bedstead sales are now 5ft (king-size) or larger. (GfK NOP Consumer Scope Beds and Mattresses Market Monitor, December 2010).
Because the average person wriggles and turns some 60 to 70 times a night – so you want to put as much space between you and your mate as possible to reduce the disturbance factor.
Because you may not be as young as you were – or as slim! A 2014 report from the World Health Organisation said that 28.1% of adults in the UK were classified as obese in which case the ‘two in a 4 ft 6ins scenario’ could be putting a severe strain on your relationship.
Because once you’ve slept in a king-size, you’ll never want to be a second-class sleeper again!