UK Bed Sizes: The Full Guide for Bed & Mattress Sizes

• Compact beds with small footprints
• Great for solo sleepers and side sleepers
• Ideal for smaller bedrooms
• Not a ton of room to stretch out
• Not great for couples
• Can make large rooms look small

For single beds, choose duvet and sheets that are at least 125 x 200 cm. You can go bigger by just a few centimetres, but any more than that and your bed will swim in those sheets.

If you have a small bedroom, guest room, office, or dorm room, go with a single bed. They're compact, so they're great for compact spaces.

Got a bigger room? Splurge on a bigger bed. Otherwise, your big room will look really small with a single bed.

Guest rooms, dorms, offices, and children’s bedrooms.

You can easily create more space in even smaller spaces with a small single bed. These are about the same size as single beds, but they’re a little more narrow.

Weight capacity of 250 - 400 pounds (113 - 181 kg).

• Easy to move
• Best for children
• Space-saving
• Affordable
• Good for solo sleepers
• Limited comfort
• Limited lifespan
• Fewer options
• Too small for adults
• Too small for couples

The good news is, the smaller the bed, the smaller the sheets — and smaller sheets are more affordable than bigger ones.

If you've got a small single or you're ready to buy one, make sure you buy sheets or duvet covers that are at least 140 x 200 cm for a comfortable fit.

Small single beds are even more narrow than traditional single beds — but they're the same length.

So they'll fit in (very) small bedrooms, college dorms, and even offices that double as guest rooms.

Couples, people with pets, and solo sleepers who want some more room.

If you need a little more space, but don’t want a ton of extra length, go for the double bed. They’re as long as single beds, but offer a wider sleeping area.

Weight capacity is 500 - 800 pounds (227 - 362 kg).

• Comfortably fit couples
• Great for people with pets that sleep in the bed
• Suitable for medium-sized rooms
• Lots of options
• Good for back- and side-sleepers
• Difficult to move
• Usually too big for small bedrooms
• Same length as single beds
• More expensive
• Limited Privacy

Shopping for sheets or duvets for a double bed? Good news! It's a common size that's easy to find in most stores.

Look for anything that's 241 x 249 cm or just a smidge bigger. Sometimes sheets shrink or don't fit exactly as advertised — so a few centimetres bigger is ok.

Double beds are best for standard-sized bedrooms, or those sized about 3.65 x 3.65 m. Of course, they can fit in larger rooms, but they'll look a little cramped in anything on the smaller size.

Anyone who wants the “sweet spot” between a single and a double.

Small doubles are the same length as singles and doubles, but sit right between the two in terms of width. Double beds are perfect for solo sleepers, and couples who sleep on their sides.

Weight capacity is 500 - 800 pounds (227 - 362 kg).

• Compact size and footprint
• Great for single people
• Best for side sleepers
• Good for small or oddly-shaped rooms
• Easy to move
• Not ideal for couples
• More narrow than regular doubles
• Not as common as double beds
• Limited bedding options
• More expensive

Small doubles are as long as traditional double beds but they're about 15 cm more narrow. As you shop for sheets, duvets, mattress covers, and so on, make sure you buy something that's 170 cm wide, and 200 cm long.

Standard bedrooms are just shy of 4 x 4 m — and a double bed will fit perfectly inside those dimensions.

Small doubles can also fit in bedrooms slightly smaller, but it may be a bit tight.

Couples, solo sleepers, tall people, co-sleeping families, or people with tons of pets.

Experience true luxury with a king-size mattress. These giants take up a ton of space — so you’ll need a big bedroom. But if you’ve got the dimensions, a king is great for pretty much anyone.

Weight capacity of 800 - 1,000 pounds (362 - 453 kg).

• Big enough for families that co-sleep
• Long enough for taller people
• Wide enough for couples
• Ideal for any type of sleeper/sleeping positions
• More attractive than other kinds of beds
• Bigger bed means bigger sheets
• Not ideal for small bedrooms
• More expensive bed frames
• Difficult to assemble
• Difficult to move

Shopping for a king bed or already have one? Make sure you pick up some sheets that are at least 282 x 249 cm. Anything smaller, and it'll be a tough fit.

You can shop for duvets and sheets that are a little bigger. But anything outside of a couple of centimetres and you'll need sheet fasteners to keep them in place.

Large bedrooms are 4.2 X 4.8 m — sometimes a little bigger or a little smaller. But they're large enough to comfortably fit a king-size bed, mattress, and frame. King-size furniture is large — so make sure there's enough room for it all before you buy.

Couples, families that co-sleep, people who want more space, and people who want a more luxurious sleeping experience.

Super king mattresses offer even more width than a traditional king mattress. Are you and your spouse both stomach sleepers? Are you in a family that co-sleeps? Or do you just like tons of extra space? Then a super king might be the right choice if you’ve got a big bedroom.

Weight capacity of 800 - 1,000 pounds (362 - 453 kg).

• LOTS of extra room
• Great for tall people and couples
• More space for stomach and back sleepers
• Look pleasant in large bedrooms
• Can last a lifetime
• Takes up a ton of space
• Bedding is more expensive
• Requires an extra large bedroom
• Hard to move
• Fewer options

If you're upgrading to a super king bed, you've got a ton of extra space to stretch out — and a bigger bed to make.

Super king beds are square, so you'll need square sheets measuring at least 282 x 249 cm. Some bedding measures a few centimetres more and that's ok — some materials shrink a little in the wash.

You're going to need a really big bedroom to fit these really big beds. Super kings are 200cm in both directions or 2 m wide.

That will take up nearly the whole room if you've got a small or standard bedroom. That's why we recommend Super Kings for large and extra-large bedrooms instead.

Kids, small bedrooms, and narrow spaces.

Transition your little one from a little mattress to a bigger one with a starter bed. These are perfect for smaller kids, smaller spaces, and people on a budget.

Weight capacity of 250 pounds (113 kg).

• Transition little kids to bigger beds
• Fit in small, narrow spaces
• Cost-effective
• Easy to move
• Easy to assemble
• Kids outgrow these fast
• Difficult to repurpose
• Only fit children
• Limited storage space
• Can be challenging to find in stores

Starter beds are about the same side as toddler beds, clocking in at 120 x 150 cm. We recommend purchasing duvets, sheets, and other bedding that's about the same size — maybe a few centimetres larger to accommodate shrinkage in the wash.

Starter beds can fit in nearly any room size. But they're perfect for small, narrow spaces and children's bedrooms in particular. If the bed looks a little awkward at first, that's ok. Remember that it's a way to help your child transition from a crib or cot to a "big kid" bed.

Fit for kiddos between two and four, toddler beds don’t take up a ton of space, but offer a ton of space for your little one. Even though toddlers grow up quickly, these are often affordable options to help your child transition to a starter or single bed.

Transition your little one from a little mattress to a bigger one with a starter bed. These are perfect for smaller kids, smaller spaces, and people on a budget.

Weight capacity of 250 pounds (113 kg).

• Budget-friendly
• Fit in small, narrow spaces
• Helps kids transition from cots
• Easy to move
• Easy to assemble
• Kids outgrow these fast
• Difficult to repurpose
• Not ideal for older kids
• Fewer options
• Limited sleeping space

Toddler beds are short and narrow. Bedding for these beds is usually on the smaller size, making it a cost-effective choice for parents on a budget.

Shop for duvets, sheets, and mattress covers that measure at least 120 x 150 cm. Anything smaller and they'll be a tight fit. If you can, opt for brands that have a few centimetres extra to account for shrinkage.

Toddler beds can fit just about anywhere. From small bedrooms to guest rooms to next to a parent's bed.

They're short, narrow, and have a small footprint, making them easy to position in most rooms.

Too big for a cot, or a toddler bed? A shorty bed is great for older toddlers around age four.

Help your child transition to a big kid bed with these short and narrow kids' beds - perfect for small kids, and small bedrooms.

Weight capacity of 250 pounds (113 kg).

• Perfect for kids around four
• Help kids transition to a bigger bed
• Easy to assemble
• Typically lightweight
• Ideal for small bedrooms
• Not versatile
• Only fits toddlers
• Kids outgrow shorty bed fast
• Limited bedding options
• Limited sleeping area

Shorty beds are absolutely perfect for kids around age four. But, bedding for shorty beds can be a challenge since it's such a specific size.

We suggest investing in sheets and other bedding that's 120 x 180 cm (or maybe a few centimetres bigger in each direction).

Shorty beds work well in small and narrow spaces, especially children's bedrooms and nurseries. They don't take up a ton of space, making them easy to position around the room if necessary.

Cots are tiny and best for babies and children younger than two years old.

These mattresses are usually thick and firm, providing a lot of support for your growing child. If your little one is too big for a crib, but not quite ready for a toddler bed, a cot might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

Weight capacity of 250 pounds (113 kg).

• Ideal for babies and small toddlers
• Doesn't take up a lot of space
• Affordable bedding
• Easy to assemble
• Usually lightweight
• Only fits small children
• Kids outgrow cots quickly
• Cot beds are more expensive than cots
• Tough to repurpose
• Can be low-quality

Cot beds are very short and very narrow, measuring 60 x 120 cm in most cases.

Although we don't recommend a ton of bedding for a cot bed since they're designed for babies, Mattress Protectors' target='_self' >mattress protectors or mattress covers are ideal. These can measure 120 x 150 cm as well, or maybe a few centimetres larger.

Cot beds are perfect for a child's nursery or next to a parent's bed. They're small, short, and narrow with a small footprint. So they can fit just about anywhere you want your child to safely sleep.