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Plain answers · Practical guides

Bed & mattress questions, answered

BedGuide Answers answers common UK questions about bed sizes, mattress types, divans, ottomans, firmness, care and TOG ratings — 130 plain-English replies on this hub, each pointing at a full guide. The short answer lives here. The tables and sources live on the guide. Zero affiliate links.

Prefer guides grouped by search topic? Open what people look up — sizes, types, bases, care and company kinds, with three featured pages each.

Good questions to start with

Selected by BedGuide for useful starting points: sizes, type comparisons, lifespan, firmness, bases and care. This is an editorial order, not a search-volume ranking.

  1. 01

    What size mattress do I need?

    Pick mattress size from how many people sleep there, how tall they are, and how much floor space you have. A UK Single is 90 × 190 cm for one person. Couples usually need at least a Double (135 × 190 cm). King (150 × 200 cm) or Super King (180 × 200 cm) gives more width. Leave about 10–15 cm of mattress length beyond the tallest person’s height.

    Full guide · sizing

  2. 02

    How do I choose a mattress?

    Pick a build type first (pocket, hybrid, foam, latex or open coil), then match spring tension or foam support to body mass, then tune surface feel to sleep position. Confirm UK size in centimetres and check the base meets the mattress warranty. Soft/medium/firm labels are not standardised.

    Full guide · mattresses

  3. 03

    What should I know before I buy a mattress?

    Lock UK size in centimetres, confirm base and doorway access, then choose build type and support for your body weight before soft/medium/firm labels. Read trial and warranty small print and plan old-mattress disposal before delivery day.

    Full guide · mattresses

  4. 04

    How long does a mattress last?

    Lifespan depends on core material: many foams last about 6–8 years, pocket sprung and hybrids often 7–10, and latex cores commonly 8–12 under normal use. Sag, broken support, or persistent discomfort with an aged mattress are replacement signals.

    Full guide · care

  5. 05

    Is pocket sprung better than memory foam?

    Neither is always better. Pocket sprung uses in fabric pockets coils for responsive support and airflow paths; memory foam contours slowly with heat-sensitive memory foam. Choose by mechanism — bounce and ventilation versus deep moulding to shape — or consider a hybrid that combines both.

    Full guide · mattresses

  6. 06

    Is spring tension the same as mattress firmness?

    Spring tension is how hard the support unit resists compression and should suit body weight. Comfort firmness is the softness of layers above the springs. A mattress can have firm springs and a soft surface. Confusing the two is a common reason new beds feel wrong.

    Full guide · mattresses

  7. 07

    What size is a 5ft bed in the UK?

    A 5ft bed in the UK is a King: 150 × 200 cm. It is 15 cm wider and 10 cm longer than a 4ft 6 Double. Many EU King frames are nearer 160 × 200 cm.

    Full guide · sizing

  8. 08

    What is the best TOG rating for winter?

    Many UK households use about 13.5 TOG or higher for cold bedrooms, while 10.5 TOG is a common mid option and 4.5 TOG suits warmer rooms. Room temperature and personal preference matter more than one fixed winter number. TOG measures insulation, not fill quality.

    Full guide · bedding

  9. 09

    What size is a double bed in the UK?

    A standard UK Double mattress is typically 135 cm wide by 190 cm long (about 4 ft 6 in × 6 ft 3 in). It is not the same as a common EU/IKEA Double at 140 × 200 cm.

    Full guide · sizing

  10. 10

    What is an orthopaedic mattress?

    In UK retail, orthopaedic usually means a firmer or more supportive mattress marketed for alignment — not a regulated medical device. Check the underlying pocket, foam or hybrid construction and tension. Persistent pain needs clinical advice, not a label.

    Full guide · mattresses

  11. 11

    What mattress is best for side sleepers?

    Side sleepers usually need enough surface give at the shoulder and hip so the spine stays nearer a straight line. Soft to medium pocket, hybrid or foam comfort layers often help; heavier side sleepers may need medium rather than very soft so hips do not drop. Firmness labels mean different things in different shops.

    Full guide · mattresses

  12. 12

    What size is a 4ft 6 bed in the UK?

    A 4ft 6 bed in the UK is a Double: 135 × 190 cm. Two adults sharing it evenly get about 67.5 cm each. That is less width than a 3ft Single gives one person.

    Full guide · sizing

sizing

  • What size mattress do I need?

    Pick mattress size from how many people sleep there, how tall they are, and how much floor space you have. A UK Single is 90 × 190 cm for one person. Couples usually need at least a Double (135 × 190 cm). King (150 × 200 cm) or Super King (180 × 200 cm) gives more width. Leave about 10–15 cm of mattress length beyond the tallest person’s height.

  • What size is a 5ft bed in the UK?

    A 5ft bed in the UK is a King: 150 × 200 cm. It is 15 cm wider and 10 cm longer than a 4ft 6 Double. Many EU King frames are nearer 160 × 200 cm.

  • What size is a double bed in the UK?

    A standard UK Double mattress is typically 135 cm wide by 190 cm long (about 4 ft 6 in × 6 ft 3 in). It is not the same as a common EU/IKEA Double at 140 × 200 cm.

Browse more sizing guides →

mattresses

  • How do I choose a mattress?

    Pick a build type first (pocket, hybrid, foam, latex or open coil), then match spring tension or foam support to body mass, then tune surface feel to sleep position. Confirm UK size in centimetres and check the base meets the mattress warranty. Soft/medium/firm labels are not standardised.

  • What should I know before I buy a mattress?

    Lock UK size in centimetres, confirm base and doorway access, then choose build type and support for your body weight before soft/medium/firm labels. Read trial and warranty small print and plan old-mattress disposal before delivery day.

  • Is pocket sprung better than memory foam?

    Neither is always better. Pocket sprung uses in fabric pockets coils for responsive support and airflow paths; memory foam contours slowly with heat-sensitive memory foam. Choose by mechanism — bounce and ventilation versus deep moulding to shape — or consider a hybrid that combines both.

Browse more mattresses guides →

beds

  • How do I assemble a divan bed?

    Fit the feet, stand the half bases together, join them with linking bolts until the top is flat, add drawers, attach the headboard, then put the mattress on last. Assemble large sizes in the bedroom so the joined base still fits through the door.

  • How do I choose a bed base?

    Decide storage need, then mattress compatibility, then room footprint. Platform-top divans and solid foundations suit most foams and hybrids. Slats need gaps within warranty limits. Ottomans need clearance and strut ratings. Adjustable bases need flex-rated mattresses.

  • What fabric should I choose for a divan bed?

    Choose by fabric family first — plush velvet, crushed velvet, chenille, linen-look or faux leather — then by colourway. Fabric changes texture, sheen and care; it does not change mattress support. Pale colours show marks more; dark piles show lint. Order swatches under your room light when colour accuracy matters.

Browse more beds guides →

bedding

  • What is the best TOG rating for winter?

    Many UK households use about 13.5 TOG or higher for cold bedrooms, while 10.5 TOG is a common mid option and 4.5 TOG suits warmer rooms. Room temperature and personal preference matter more than one fixed winter number. TOG measures insulation, not fill quality.

  • What pillow do side sleepers need?

    Side sleepers usually need higher loft to fill the gap between shoulder and head so the neck stays nearer level with the spine. Exact height depends on shoulder width and how soft the mattress is. Memory foam, latex, down and fibre fills differ in rebound and moulding to shape.

  • What is the difference between percale and sateen sheets?

    Percale is a plain crisp weave; sateen uses float yarns for a smoother, more lustrous surface. Both names describe structure, not fibre quality. Percale often feels airier; sateen can feel silkier and slightly warmer. Thread count alone does not decide which is better.

Browse more bedding guides →

environment

  • How do I sleep cooler at night?

    Cool the room and bedding first: airflow, lower duvet TOG, breathable sheets. Then look at mattress heat behaviour. Cooling pads are optional extras. Gel prints on foam are not air conditioning. Work as a system, not one slogan.

  • How do water-based cooling mattress pads work?

    Active cooling pads circulate temperature-controlled water through channels in a thin pad on the mattress. Heat moves from the sleeper into the fluid loop and is rejected at a bedside control unit. Passive gel pads absorb limited heat without a pump.

care

  • How long does a mattress last?

    Lifespan depends on core material: many foams last about 6–8 years, pocket sprung and hybrids often 7–10, and latex cores commonly 8–12 under normal use. Sag, broken support, or persistent discomfort with an aged mattress are replacement signals.

  • When should I replace my mattress?

    Consider replacement when support is lost — visible sag, springs felt through the surface, edges collapsing, or sleep pain that improves away from home — especially if the mattress is past typical material lifespan bands (often 6–10 years).

  • How can I make my mattress firmer?

    Remove soft toppers first. A solid platform or board over a flexing base can firm the sleep system. You cannot permanently firm a support unit that is too soft for your body mass with sheets alone — that needs a higher-tension mattress.

Browse more care guides →

glossary

  • What TOG duvet do I need?

    TOG measures thermal resistance: higher TOG means more insulation. UK households often use roughly 4.5 TOG for summer, 10.5 TOG as a year-round middle, and 13.5+ TOG for cold rooms — but comfort is personal and room temperature matters more than a single “correct” number.

  • What does TOG rating mean on a duvet?

    TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) measures thermal resistance of a duvet: higher TOG means greater insulation. One TOG equals 0.1 m²·K/W under standard test conditions.

  • What does GSM mean on bedding?

    GSM means grams per square metre. It measures fabric or fibre weight. Higher GSM can feel denser. It does not tell you mattress spring support or overall quality by itself.

health

  • Why does a new mattress smell?

    New foam and adhesives can release a temporary odour called off-gassing as residual compounds leave the polymer. Smell usually fades over days to a few weeks with ventilation. Persistent irritation warrants fresh air and professional health advice if symptoms continue — BedGuide explains the mechanism, not medical risk.

  • How do I reduce dust mites in bedding?

    Use a washable mattress protector, wash sheets and pillowcases often on the hottest safe cycle for that fabric, dry bedding fully, and keep bedroom humidity in check. “Hypoallergenic” mattresses are not a complete plan. This is hygiene literacy, not medical treatment.

  • Do mattresses have dust mites?

    House dust mites commonly inhabit mattresses and bedding where warmth, humidity and shed skin scales coincide. Hypoallergenic covers reduce allergen exposure through barrier fabrics; they rarely sterilise a mattress completely.

Also explore type comparisons , the Beds A–Z , and how these answers are written .