---
title: "Small Double vs Double Bed: Key Differences | BedGuide"
description: "Small Double vs Double bed in the UK: 120 × 190 cm vs 135 × 190 cm, width per person, room space, bedding and which suits one or two sleepers."
url: "https://bedguide.co.uk/compare/small-double-vs-double/"
---

sizing comparison

#  Small Double vs Double

Evergreen URL: /compare/small-double-vs-double

In short

  A UK Small Double is 120 × 190 cm (4ft). A UK Double is 135 × 190 cm (4ft 6). Both are 190 cm long, so only the width changes, by 15 cm. A Small Double suits one adult or a narrow room. A Double suits two people who accept a snug fit.

     Small Double

    Double

This comparison is about UK plan sizes. The Small Double is sometimes called a three-quarter bed. It sits between a Single (90 cm wide) and a Double (135 cm wide).

##
What is the difference between Small Double and Double?

  A UK Small Double is 120 × 190 cm (4ft). A UK Double is 135 × 190 cm (4ft 6). Both are 190 cm long, so only the width changes, by 15 cm. A Small Double suits one adult or a narrow room. A Double suits two people who accept a snug fit.

| Criterion | Small Double | Double |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mattress size | 120 × 190 cm | 135 × 190 cm |
| Shop name | 4ft (sometimes called three-quarter) | 4ft 6 |
| Width per person (two adults) | 60 cm each | 67.5 cm each |
| Length | 190 cm | 190 cm — the same |
| Room width with 50–60 cm walkways on both sides | About 220–240 cm | About 235–255 cm |
| Bedding | Look for Small Double or 120 cm on the label | Look for Double or 135 cm on the label |
| Common mix-up | Some EU mattresses are 120 × 200 cm — 10 cm longer | Not the same as an EU Double (140 × 200 cm) |

##
Who is Small Double for — and who should skip it?

- One adult who wants more room than a Single
- Narrow rooms, box rooms and guest rooms
- Teenagers moving up from a Single

  [Full Small Double guide →](/sizing/small-double-bed-size/)

##
Who is Double for — and who should skip it?

- Two people sharing most nights
- One sleeper who wants the extra 15 cm of width
- You want a standard couple size at 190 cm long

  [Full Double guide →](/sizing/double-bed-size/)

##
Frequently asked questions

###  Is a Small Double big enough for two people?
  It is tight. Two adults get 60 cm each, which is 30 cm less each than a UK Single. Many couples prefer a Double at 135 cm or a King at 150 cm.

###  What is a three-quarter bed?
  In the UK, a three-quarter bed usually means a Small Double: 120 × 190 cm, or 4ft. Always check the centimetres, because names vary between shops.

###  Will Double sheets fit a Small Double?
  Not well. Double sheets are cut for a 135 cm width, so they sit loose on a 120 cm mattress. Small Double sheets give a neat fit.

   **Educational comparison only.**
This comparison does not recommend brands, and payment never changes it.
      Last reviewed 2026-10-21.

  [← All comparisons](/compare/)

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Source: https://bedguide.co.uk/compare/small-double-vs-double/ · BedGuide — independent UK bed guide; paid links are labelled (see /how-we-make-money/). See https://bedguide.co.uk/editorial-policy · Report an error: https://bedguide.co.uk/corrections.