--- title: "UK Headboard Strut Centres" description: "How to measure UK divan headboard strut centres in centimetres — 15 cm in from each side is trade practice, not a law." url: "https://bedguide.co.uk/beds/headboard-strut-centres/" category: "beds" primary_entity: "UK headboard strut centres" date_published: 2026-08-28 date_modified: 2026-08-28 --- # UK Headboard Strut Centres > UK headboard strut centres are the hole-to-hole gap at the head of a divan. Many trade notes put each socket about 15 cm (6 in) in from the side. That is trade practice, not a British Standard. Metric mattress widths and imperial furniture widths differ by a centimetre or two. Measure your sockets. Then match the board. Structural components: headboard struts, divan sockets, bolts and washers, spacer blocks. Key facts: - Centre to centre: Measure first — Your sockets beat any shop table. - Common inset: ~15 cm — Many UK notes put each hole 6 in from the side. Not a law. - Imperial vs metric: Two width lines — Furniture inches and NBF centimetres are not the same drawing. - No sockets: Floor-standing — Those boards sit on the floor. Centres do not apply. Sources: - [The Headboard Workshop — finding the right size](https://www.theheadboardworkshop.co.uk/blog/advice/4595-finding-the-right-size-headboard-for-your-bed) — Trade fitting note. UK divan sockets are described as 6 inches in from each side. Not a British Standard. Checked 2026-08-28. - [Jane Clayton — how to fit a headboard](https://www.janeclayton.com/uk/advice/how-to-fit-a-headboard/) — Fitting steps. Locates the two fixing bolts 15 cm / 6 in from each side. Tells you to check the foot end if you cannot find them. Checked 2026-08-28. - [National Bed Federation — regulations and standards](https://www.bedfed.org.uk/resources/regulations-standards/) — Mattress plan sizes in centimetres, with a ±20 mm making spread. That is the mattress, not a strut law. Checked 2026-08-28. ## What are headboard strut centres? Strut centres are the gap between the two bolt sockets at the **head** of a [divan](/beds/divan-platform-vs-sprung) or a frame that takes a strutted board. You measure **centre of hole to centre of hole**. That number is not the width of the headboard. A King board is still about 150 cm wide. The sockets sit in from each side. There is no British Standard for this gap. The National Bed Federation publishes mattress plan sizes and fire rules. It does not publish a strut table. That note was checked on 28 August 2026. ## How do I measure my sockets? 1. Stand at the head end. If you find no holes, the base may be the wrong way round — Jane Clayton’s fitting note says to check the foot. That page was checked on 28 August 2026. 2. Feel for two threaded inserts. Fabric often covers them. 3. Measure centre to centre in millimetres. 4. Write the bed’s mattress width too — 90, 120, 135, 150 or 180 cm. Then read [how to attach a headboard](/beds/attach-a-headboard) for bolts, height slots and spacer blocks. Floor-standing boards sit on the floor. Wall-mounted boards fix to the wall. Those two types ignore divan sockets. See [headboard types](/beds/headboards). ## Why do shop millimetre tables disagree with NBF sizes? Many UK makers describe the same idea as **6 inches (about 15 cm) in from each side**. The Headboard Workshop and Jane Clayton both use that inset. Those pages were checked on 28 August 2026. It is trade practice. If a base is a true imperial width, minus 15 cm each side, you get one set of centres. NBF mattress labels use 90, 120, 135, 150 and 180 cm. Imperial furniture widths (3 ft, 4 ft, 4 ft 6, 5 ft, 6 ft) are not the same drawing. The two lines can differ by about 1–2 cm. | UK name | NBF mattress width | If *your* sockets sit 15 cm in from each edge | Imperial-minus-12-inch shop tables often show | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 3ft Single | 90 cm | about 60 cm | 610 mm | | 4ft Small Double | 120 cm | about 90 cm | 915 mm | | 4ft 6 Double | 135 cm | about 105 cm | 1067 mm | | 5ft King | 150 cm | about 120 cm | 1219 mm | | 6ft Super King | 180 cm | about 150 cm | 1524 mm | The last column is what some headboard shops print from old inch widths. It is **not** a law. Bespoke bases, EU 140 or 160 cm frames, and ottomans can sit somewhere else. Measure. NBF making spread on a mattress is plus or minus 20 mm. That can explain a tight sheet. It cannot explain a Super King board on a King divan. ## What if the centres do not match? - Buy a board made for your size, or one with long slotted struts that can slide. - Use a floor-standing board that does not need the sockets. - Wall-mount, if the wall and the tenancy allow it. - Do not bend metal struts to force a 30 cm miss. Spacer blocks push a board away from a thick mattress. They do not change centre spacing. See [attach a headboard](/beds/attach-a-headboard). EU and IKEA extra widths (80 × 200, 140 × 200, 160 × 200) need their own measure. See [UK vs EU sizes](/sizing/uk-vs-eu-sizes). ## Related BedGuide entries - [How to attach a headboard](/beds/attach-a-headboard) - [Headboard types](/beds/headboards) - [UK standard bed sizes](/sizing/uk-standard-bed-sizes) - [UK vs EU sizes](/sizing/uk-vs-eu-sizes) - [Assemble a divan](/beds/assemble-a-divan-bed) ## Frequently asked questions ### What are standard UK headboard strut centres? There is no British Standard number. Many UK fitting notes put each socket about 15 cm (6 in) in from the side of a standard-width divan. Measure hole centre to hole centre on your base before you buy a board. ### How do I measure headboard strut centres? At the head end, find the two threaded sockets. Measure from the centre of one hole to the centre of the other, in millimetres. Feel through the fabric if the holes are covered. Check you are at the head, not the foot. ### Why do shop tables not match 90 cm and 150 cm? Many furniture tables use old imperial bed widths minus 12 inches. NBF mattress labels use 90, 120, 135, 150 and 180 cm. The two lines can differ by 1–2 cm. Your sockets win. ### Can I fit a King headboard to a Super King divan? Not if you need the struts to hit the sockets. The centres will not line up. Use a matching width, a floor-standing board, or a wall mount. Do not bend struts to force a miss. --- Source: https://bedguide.co.uk/beds/headboard-strut-centres/ · BedGuide — educational encyclopedia, no affiliate commission. Facts checked against official sources where possible; see https://bedguide.co.uk/editorial-policy. Report an error: https://bedguide.co.uk/corrections.