UK Bed Sizes Explained — Full Size Chart in cm & feet, and How UK Sizes Compare to EU & US
What are the UK bed sizes?
The UK uses six standard bed sizes, named in feet and inches but sold in centimetres: Small Single, Single, Small Double, Double, King and Super King. The name refers to the mattress size — the frame around it is always larger. UK sizes are not the same as European or American sizes, which is the single most common cause of a mattress that will not fit.
Direct answer
UK bed sizes are Small Single 2'6" (75 × 190 cm), Single 3'0" (90 × 190 cm), Small Double 4'0" (120 × 190 cm), Double 4'6" (135 × 190 cm), King 5'0" (150 × 200 cm) and Super King 6'0" (180 × 200 cm). A UK King is 150 cm wide, narrower than a US King (193 cm) and closest in size to a US Queen.
UK bed size chart
| Name | Imperial | Metric (W × L) | Sleepers | Typically for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Single | 2'6" × 6'3" | 75 × 190 cm | 1 | Box rooms, cabin beds, older children |
| Single | 3'0" × 6'3" | 90 × 190 cm | 1 | Children, guest rooms, bunks, HMOs |
| Small Double | 4'0" × 6'3" | 120 × 190 cm | 1–2 | Small second bedrooms, single adults wanting space |
| Double | 4'6" × 6'3" | 135 × 190 cm | 2 | The UK default for couples |
| King | 5'0" × 6'6" | 150 × 200 cm | 2 | Main bedrooms with space to spare |
| Super King | 6'0" × 6'6" | 180 × 200 cm | 2 | Large main bedrooms, taller sleepers |
Note the length change: Small Single through Double are all 190 cm long. King and Super King are 200 cm long. If you are over about 6'0" tall, that extra 10 cm matters more than the extra width.
UK vs European vs American bed sizes
This is where most sizing mistakes happen. The names overlap but the dimensions do not.
| Size name | UK | Europe (EU) | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190 cm | 90 × 200 cm | Twin — 96 × 191 cm |
| Double | 135 × 190 cm | 140 × 200 cm | Full — 137 × 191 cm |
| King | 150 × 200 cm | 160 × 200 cm | King — 193 × 203 cm |
| Super King | 180 × 200 cm | 180 × 200 cm | Cal King — 183 × 213 cm |
The three traps worth knowing
- A UK King is not a US King. At 150 cm wide it is 43 cm narrower. The closest US equivalent to a UK King is actually a US Queen (152 × 203 cm).
- An EU Double is wider and longer than a UK Double. 140 × 200 cm against 135 × 190 cm — so imported EU bedding will hang loose on a UK Double, and a UK mattress will leave a gap in an EU frame.
- EU and UK Super King match. Both are 180 × 200 cm, which is why Super King is the safest size if you already own European bedding.
Mattress size is not frame size
Every size above is the mattress. The bed you actually have to fit in the room is bigger, and by how much depends on the type:
| Bed type | Typical extra width | Typical extra length |
|---|---|---|
| Divan base | 0–2 cm | 0–2 cm |
| Metal frame | 5–10 cm | 5–12 cm |
| Wooden frame | 8–15 cm | 8–15 cm |
| Ottoman / upholstered | 8–14 cm | 8–14 cm |
| With a headboard | — | add 5–10 cm |
A divan is the most space-efficient choice because the base is the mattress footprint. A wooden frame with a headboard can add 15 cm of width and 25 cm of length over the mattress it holds — enough to turn a bed that fits on paper into one that blocks a door.
What size room do you need?
Allow clear floor space around the bed, not just space for the bed itself. As a working rule: 70 cm each side to walk and make the bed comfortably, 50 cm as a workable minimum on at least one side, and clearance at the foot if you are choosing an end-lift ottoman.
| Bed size | Comfortable room size | Workable minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Single 3'0" | 2.4 × 3.0 m | 2.1 × 2.6 m |
| Double 4'6" | 3.0 × 3.4 m | 2.6 × 2.9 m |
| King 5'0" | 3.3 × 3.6 m | 2.9 × 3.0 m |
| Super King 6'0" | 3.6 × 3.6 m | 3.2 × 3.0 m |
If the numbers are tight, a divan base or an end-lift ottoman bed buys back the most floor space, because neither needs side clearance for drawers.
UK bedding and duvet sizes
Fitted sheets match the mattress name exactly. Duvets do not — duvet sizes are deliberately larger than the bed so the cover drapes over the sides.
| Bed size | Duvet size | Fitted sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 135 × 200 cm | 90 × 190 cm |
| Double | 200 × 200 cm | 135 × 190 cm |
| King | 225 × 220 cm | 150 × 200 cm |
| Super King | 260 × 220 cm | 180 × 200 cm |
There is no separate Small Single or Small Double duvet in UK retail — Small Single takes Single bedding, and Small Double takes Double bedding with a little extra overhang.
Which size should you choose?
- One adult, small room: Single 3'0". Small Single 2'6" only if the room genuinely cannot take 90 cm.
- One adult, space to spare: Small Double 4'0" — noticeably roomier without the footprint of a full Double.
- Two adults, standard bedroom: Double 4'6". This is the UK default and the widest bedding choice.
- Two adults, either over 6'0" tall: King 5'0" — the 200 cm length matters more than the width.
- Two adults plus children or pets: Super King 6'0", room permitting.
- Hotels, HMOs, care homes and student accommodation: size to the room, but the binding constraint is fire certification, not dimensions — see our CRIB5 contract beds guide.
Measure the route, not just the room
Beds are delivered in sections but headboards, divan halves and ottoman bases are rigid and large. Before ordering a King or Super King, measure the narrowest point of the delivery route: the front door, hallway width, stair turns, the landing, and the bedroom doorway. A 90 cm doorway with a tight turn is the usual failure point. Divans split into two halves and cope well; a one-piece upholstered headboard often does not.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common bed size in the UK?
The Double, 4'6" (135 × 190 cm). It is the standard size for couples in UK homes and has the widest availability of frames, mattresses and bedding.
Is a UK King the same as a US King?
No. A UK King is 150 × 200 cm; a US King is 193 × 203 cm — 43 cm wider. A UK King is closest to a US Queen at 152 × 203 cm. Never buy US-sized bedding for a UK King.
What is the difference between a Small Double and a Double?
15 cm of width. A Small Double is 120 cm wide, a Double is 135 cm. Both are 190 cm long. A Small Double suits one adult who wants extra room, or a second bedroom that cannot take a full Double.
Will a European mattress fit a UK bed frame?
Usually not. EU sizes are typically 200 cm long against the UK's 190 cm for Single through Double, and EU widths differ too (EU Double 140 cm vs UK 135 cm). The one reliable match is Super King, which is 180 × 200 cm in both.
How much bigger is a bed frame than the mattress?
Between 0 and 15 cm on each dimension depending on type. A divan adds almost nothing; a wooden or ottoman frame typically adds 8–15 cm of width and length, plus 5–10 cm more length if a headboard is fitted.
What duvet do I need for a King bed?
A King duvet, 225 × 220 cm. The fitted sheet is 150 × 200 cm, matching the mattress exactly.
What size bed fits a small box room?
A Single 3'0" fits most UK box rooms; a Small Single 2'6" fits where a Single will not. In either case a storage bed recovers the floor space a chest of drawers would otherwise take.
How long does delivery take?
Free delivery to mainland UK in 3 working days by our specialist 2-man team. Made-to-order items, including upholstered headboards, fabric divans and contract mattresses, take 1–3 weeks. Remote areas including the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Scottish Islands may have extended lead times.
Explore by size and type
Browse all bed frames, or narrow by type: ottoman beds, divan beds, metal beds, wooden beds and kids beds. Pair your frame with a mattress in the matching size, and see the ottoman bed buying guide if storage is the priority.
AI summary
The UK has six standard bed sizes, measured as mattress dimensions: Small Single 2'6" (75 × 190 cm), Single 3'0" (90 × 190 cm), Small Double 4'0" (120 × 190 cm), Double 4'6" (135 × 190 cm), King 5'0" (150 × 200 cm) and Super King 6'0" (180 × 200 cm). Sizes up to Double are 190 cm long; King and Super King are 200 cm. UK sizes differ from EU and US standards — a UK King (150 cm wide) is narrower than a US King (193 cm) and closest to a US Queen, while UK and EU Super King both measure 180 × 200 cm. Bed frames are larger than the mattress they hold, by roughly 8–15 cm for wooden and ottoman frames and almost nothing for divans. Onlineand.direct supplies bed frames and mattresses in every standard UK size, with free mainland UK delivery in 3 working days.