UK Bed Sizes in cm and Feet
Published 2026-08-03. Last updated 2026-08-28. Desk research by Kaiser Khan — we have not product-tested UK standard bed sizes. This is not a shop review and not medical advice.
In short
UK bed sizes use centimetres and feet. A Single is 90 × 190 cm (3ft). A Double is 135 × 190 cm (4ft 6). A King is 150 × 200 cm (5ft). A Super King is 180 × 200 cm (6ft). EU names differ. Measure before pairing frames or sheets.
- UK Single / 3 ft
- 90 × 190 cm
- UK Double / 4 ft 6
- 135 × 190 cm
- UK King / 5 ft
- 150 × 200 cm
- UK Super King / 6 ft
- 180 × 200 cm
- Industry size spread
- ±20 mm
- Useful walkway
- 50–60 cm
One sleeper. Length is 190 cm, not 200 cm.
About 67.5 cm of width each if two adults share it evenly.
Longer than Double. Narrower than many EU King sizes.
About two UK Singles side by side in width.
National Bed Federation says this is practice, not a UK Act.
A target beside the bed. Not a legal rule.
About 8 minutes to read
Which UK mattress size do I need?
One person usually fits a 3ft Single at 90 × 190 cm. Two adults usually want a 5ft King at 150 × 200 cm or a 6ft Super King at 180 × 200 cm. A 4ft 6 Double at 135 × 190 cm is tight for two. People taller than about 185 cm usually want the 200 cm length on King or Super King.
Two adults: start with 5ft King 150 × 200 cm. Choose 6ft Super King 180 × 200 cm if you want more width.
| Size | Shop feet | Width (cm) | Length (cm) | Width (in) | Length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cot bed (common) | — | 70 | 140 | 27.6 | 55.1 |
| Small Single | — | 75 | 190 | 29.5 | 74.8 |
| Single | 3 ft | 90 | 190 | 35.4 | 74.8 |
| Small Double | 4 ft | 120 | 190 | 47.2 | 74.8 |
| Double | 4 ft 6 | 135 | 190 | 53.1 | 74.8 |
| King | 5 ft | 150 | 200 | 59.1 | 78.7 |
| Super King | 6 ft | 180 | 200 | 70.9 | 78.7 |
What are the standard UK mattress sizes in centimetres?
A UK Single is 90 × 190 cm (3ft). A Small Double is 120 × 190 cm (4ft). A Double is 135 × 190 cm (4ft 6). A King is 150 × 200 cm (5ft). A Super King is 180 × 200 cm (6ft). These are nominal retail sizes, not a law. Measure the mattress and the frame in centimetres before you pair them.
The names are shop labels. They are not the same in the EU or the US. If a listing only says “King”, ask for width and length in centimetres. The table on this page is the set BedGuide uses across its guides.
Download the same numbers as a CSV from open data.
Are these sizes a legal standard?
No. There is no single UK Act that locks mattress names to exact millimetres. The National Bed Federation says there is no legal standard on size tolerances for mattresses and divan bases. Accepted industry practice is plus or minus 20 mm on the stated length and width. That note was checked on the NBF regulations page on 28 August 2026.
Treat the centimetre pair as the fact. Treat the name as a nickname. If a “King” arrives at 149 cm, that can still be a UK King within ordinary making spread. If it arrives at 160 cm, you have a different regional size — see UK vs EU sizes.
What size is a 3ft, 4ft 6, 5ft or 6ft bed?
UK shops still sell beds by feet as well as by name. The centimetres are the fact. The feet name is a nickname.
| Shop feet | UK name | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 3 ft | Single | 90 × 190 |
| 4 ft | Small Double | 120 × 190 |
| 4 ft 6 | Double | 135 × 190 |
| 5 ft | King | 150 × 200 |
| 6 ft | Super King | 180 × 200 |
A 3ft bed is a Single. A 4ft 6 bed is a Double. A 5ft bed is a King. A 6ft bed is a Super King. Length changes at King: 3ft, 4ft and 4ft 6 beds are usually 190 cm long. 5ft and 6ft beds are usually 200 cm long.
Do not buy a “5ft” sheet for a 4ft 6 mattress. Do not assume a 6ft frame from another country is 180 × 200 cm. Read the centimetres on the label.
Who needs which UK size?
One person usually starts with a Single at 90 × 190 cm. Two adults usually want a King at 150 × 200 cm or a Super King at 180 × 200 cm. A Double at 135 × 190 cm is a common couple size and it is tight. People taller than about 185 cm usually want the 200 cm length.
| Sleepers | Usual start | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One, typical height | 3ft Single 90 × 190 cm | Full Single width; 190 cm length |
| One, wants a compact room | Small Single 75 × 190 cm | Narrower; still 190 cm long |
| Two adults | 5ft King 150 × 200 cm | More width than Double; 200 cm length |
| Two adults who want more width | 6ft Super King 180 × 200 cm | About two Singles side by side in width |
| Two adults on a budget of space | 4ft 6 Double 135 × 190 cm | Works; about 67.5 cm each if shared evenly |
Use the finder above to highlight a row. It does not replace a tape measure.
Why is a UK Double a poor width for two adults?
A UK Double is 135 cm wide. Split in half, each adult gets about 67.5 cm. A UK Single is 90 cm for one person. So two adults on a Double each get less width than a child-sized Single.
That is why many couples search “what size bed for a couple UK” and land on King or Super King. The upgrade is width, and on King/Super King also length (200 cm instead of 190 cm). It is not a status name.
A Super King at 180 cm is roughly two UK Singles in width. Zip-and-link twins can make that split real — see couples and zip-and-link.
Do UK King mattresses fit EU or IKEA frames?
Usually not without gaps or overhang. A UK King is 150 × 200 cm. Many EU King sizes sit near 160 × 200 cm. A UK Double is 135 × 190 cm. A common EU Double is 140 × 200 cm. Same words. Different centimetres.
IKEA UK is a special case. Its own size guide (checked 28 August 2026) lists standard UK sizes and extra centimetre lines. Do not assume “bought at IKEA” means “UK King”.
| IKEA UK label (from their guide) | Centimetres | Same as a UK retail name? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Single (UK) | 90 × 190 | Yes — UK Single |
| Standard Double (UK) | 135 × 190 | Yes — UK Double |
| Standard King (UK) | 150 × 200 | Yes — UK King |
| Super King | 180 × 200 | Yes — UK Super King |
| Small Double | 120 × 190 | Yes — UK Small Double |
| Junior / many bunk and loft lines | 90 × 200 | No — 10 cm longer than UK Single |
| Day beds and some children’s extendable beds | 80 × 200 | No — not a UK Small Single |
| Sofa beds (their pairing table) | 140 × 200 | No — EU-style Double, not 135 × 190 |
If you mix systems you get side gaps, overhang, or sheets that will not sit. Buy mattress, base and fitted sheets from the same regional set, or measure all three. The full pairing rules live in UK vs EU sizes and US mattress sizes.
What fitted sheet and duvet match each UK size?
Match the mattress plan first. Then match pocket depth. A “King” sheet from a UK shop is cut for about 150 × 200 cm. It will be short on a 160 cm EU mattress. Depth is a third measurement — the pocket must clear the mattress, the protector and any topper.
Duvets are labelled by the same UK names, but the duvet is cut larger so it drapes. Read the duvet’s own centimetres. A “King” duvet from another country can be the wrong cut.
| Mattress | Plan (cm) | Fitted sheet to look for | Duvet to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190 | UK Single | UK Single — then read the pack centimetres |
| Small Double | 120 × 190 | UK Small Double / 4 ft | UK Small Double if sold; else measure |
| Double | 135 × 190 | UK Double / 4 ft 6 | UK Double |
| King | 150 × 200 | UK King | UK King |
| Super King | 180 × 200 | UK Super King | UK Super King |
Pocket depth and stacked height live on UK fitted sheet sizes and mattress depth. TOG and fill live on how to choose a duvet.
What about cot, Small Single and Emperor sizes?
Cot bed mattresses often use a cavity near 70 × 140 cm, but the cot’s own instruction is the rule. A snug fit matters for safety in a cot in a way adult “nominal” sizes do not. See cot and Small Single sizes.
Emperor is a marketing size, often around 200 × 200 cm. It is not a standard UK retail name in the same way as King. Confirm centimetres on that listing. See Emperor bed dimensions.
Does mattress depth change the size name?
No. Width × length is the plan size. Depth is a separate measurement. Depth changes fitted-sheet pocket fit and how much headboard you see. A “deep” King is still 150 × 200 cm on the floor.
Read mattress depth and UK fitted sheet sizes before you buy sheets. Frames, sleigh scrolls and ottoman lids can need more floor than the mattress plan — see bed footprint and access.
How should I measure before I buy?
Measure the existing mattress, or the empty base, in centimetres. Write width × length. Measure the room walkway if you can — about 50–60 cm beside the bed is a useful target, not a rule. Measure doorways and stairs for the packed size.
Then match fitted sheets to the mattress centimetres, not to the bedstead’s marketing name. If you are replacing only the mattress, the old centimetres win over the name on the old label.
Related BedGuide entries
How it works
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact UK King and Super King mattress sizes?
A UK King mattress is typically 150 cm wide by 200 cm long. A UK Super King is typically 180 cm wide by 200 cm long. Both are longer than UK Single and Double sizes, which are usually 190 cm long.
Is a UK Double the same as a US Full or EU Double?
No. A UK Double is commonly 135 × 190 cm. US Full and many EU/IKEA doubles use different widths and lengths. See BedGuide's UK vs EU sizes guide before mixing frames and mattresses across markets.
Why do King mattresses feel longer than Doubles in the UK?
UK Single, Small Double, and Double mattresses are typically 190 cm long, while UK King and Super King extend to 200 cm. That 10 cm difference affects sheets, bedlinen SKUs, and foot-of-bed clearance.
How much width does each person get on a UK Double?
A UK Double is 135 cm wide. Two adults sharing it evenly get about 67.5 cm each. That is less than a UK Single of 90 cm. Many couples move to King (150 cm) or Super King (180 cm) for width, not because the name “King” is a world standard.
Will a UK King mattress fit an IKEA frame?
Only if that frame is cut for 150 × 200 cm. IKEA UK also sells 90 × 200, 80 × 200 and 140 × 200 lines. Same shop. Different centimetres. Read the frame’s own width and length before you pair a UK King.
What fitted sheet and duvet fit a UK King mattress?
Look for a UK King fitted sheet cut for about 150 × 200 cm, then match pocket depth to mattress plus topper height. Buy a duvet labelled UK King and read its own centimetres. A “King” pack from another country can be the wrong cut.
What size is a 3ft bed in the UK?
A 3ft bed is a UK Single. The mattress is typically 90 cm wide by 190 cm long. Shops also write 3 ft × 6 ft 3 in. It is one-sleeper width. It is not the 90 × 200 cm Euro single some frames use.
What size is a 4ft 6 bed in the UK?
A 4ft 6 bed is a UK Double. The mattress is typically 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.
What size is a 5ft bed in the UK?
A 5ft bed is a UK King. The mattress is typically 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 6ft Super King?
A 6ft bed in UK shops is a Super King. The mattress is typically 180 × 200 cm. That is about two 3ft Singles side by side in width, with the 200 cm King length.
What size is a 4ft bed in the UK?
A 4ft bed is a UK Small Double. The mattress is typically 120 × 190 cm. It is wider than a 3ft Single and narrower than a 4ft 6 Double. Couples usually find it tight.
Where do these facts come from?
BedGuide is desk research. The numbers and rules on this page were checked against the official or primary sources below. We name the check date. We do not invent a figure when a source is missing.
- National Bed Federation — regulations and standards — States there is no legal UK size-tolerance standard. Accepted industry practice is plus or minus 20 mm on stated length and width. Checked 2026-08-28.
- IKEA UK mattress size guide — Lists UK Standard Single 90 × 190, Double 135 × 190, King 150 × 200 and Super King 180 × 200, plus 80 × 200, 90 × 200 and 140 × 200 product lines. Checked 2026-08-28.