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.

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.

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.

Independent UK bed & mattress guide

UK bed sizes, mattresses and bases, explained simply.

Understand the bed before you buy one. BedGuide explains UK bed sizes, mattress types, bed bases and bedding in plain English. We sell nothing. We take no commission and rank no brands.

Check UK bed sizes Choose a mattress Find your bed type

What are the standard UK bed sizes?

UK mattress sizes are measured in centimetres. A Single is 90 × 190 cm. A Double is 135 × 190 cm. A King is 150 × 200 cm. A Super King is 180 × 200 cm. Sizes can differ by about 2 cm between makers, so check the label.

UK sizes are not the same as EU or US sizes. A UK King is narrower than many EU Kings. Leave about 50–60 cm of walking space beside the bed.

Standard UK mattress sizes in centimetres, feet and inches
UK size	Feet	Centimetres	Inches	Usually for
Small Single	2ft 6	75 × 190 cm	30 × 75 in	Children and small rooms
Single	3ft	90 × 190 cm	35 × 75 in	One sleeper
Small Double	4ft	120 × 190 cm	47 × 75 in	One adult who wants more room
Double	4ft 6	135 × 190 cm	53 × 75 in	Two adults (about 67 cm each)
King	5ft	150 × 200 cm	59 × 79 in	Two adults, 10 cm longer than a Double
Super King	6ft	180 × 200 cm	71 × 79 in	Two adults who want the most space
Emperor	6ft 6	200 × 200 cm	79 × 79 in	Very large rooms; size varies by maker

Where to start

Buying a bed or mattress? Decide in this order.

Most regrets come from choosing the look first. Start with size and build. Leave colour and fabric until last.

Choosing a mattress

Pick the build first. Then support, feel and size.
Choosing a bed

Measure the room. Then pick a base that fits how you store things.
1. 1. UK bed types compared
2. 2. How to choose a bed base
3. 3. Divan vs ottoman
4. 4. Measure your bedroom
Looking after it

Simple care makes a mattress feel better for longer.

How support works

How a mattress works: layers, springs and feel.

Shops mix up two things. Support is how the core holds you up. Feel is how soft the top is. We split them so you can judge the build, not the slogan.

Neat mattress with turned-down sheets on an upholstered bed in soft daylight

What is inside

A cover, comfort layers and a support core. That is every mattress.
What’s inside a mattress →
Tension vs feel

Why “firm” on a label can mean a firm spring or a firm top.
Spring tension explained →
Pocket sprung

Springs sewn into fabric bags, so each one moves on its own.
Pocket sprung mattresses →

Bed styles

Chesterfield and buttoned beds: the look, then the mechanics.

A deep-buttoned frame is furniture first. The mattress and base still follow their own rules. Learn the style, then check the build.

Chesterfield & buttoned beds All UK bed types

Deep-buttoned Chesterfield-style bed in crushed velvet in an elegant bedroom

Tall plush velvet headboard showing fabric texture in soft daylight

Fabrics

Bed fabrics: velvet, chenille and linen-look.

Fabric changes how light sits on a headboard and how easy it is to clean. It does not change how the springs feel. Keep those choices separate.

Bed fabrics & colour names

How beds are built

Headboards, divan bases and upholstery.

A platform-top divan feels firmer than a sprung-edge one. Struts, buttons and fill weight also change feel and lifespan. These guides show you what to look for.

Upholstered divan bed with matching headboard in a calm cream bedroom

Design explorer

Try bed styles, sizes and storage — and learn as you go.

Switch between Chesterfield, divan, ottoman, sleigh and more. See how much floor space each one needs. There are no prices and no checkout.

Open the design explorer

In the room

Plan the bedroom around the bed.

Photos help you picture scale. The guides do the hard work on sizes, bases and warranties.

Kept up to date

Explore the guide library

Sizes, mattress types, bases, care and company kinds — grouped the way people search. No brand scores.

People type

Quick answers

Short answers to common bed and mattress questions — each opens a full simple guide.

Browse all answers →

Why trust BedGuide

Independent, sourced and dated.

Every guide is desk research from official sources, such as GOV.UK, the British Standards Institution and the National Bed Federation. Each page shows its sources and when it was last checked.

No commission We earn nothing when you buy. Company links are for reference only.
No rankings We explain how beds work. We never score brands or products.
Named editor Kaiser Khan checks sources and dates.
Public fixes Read our editorial policy and corrections log.