Bed Sizes

Standards

Various standard bed sizes have been developed and emerged over the years. Unfortunately they're not completely "standard"! Choosing and buying the best size for your bedroom can be confusing, as can buying the right sheets and other bedding for your chosen size of mattress. This can be especially important if you plan to buy bed linen etc online from another country - standard sizes are interpreted very differently in the US and the UK.

Variations

Bed size standards vary around the world. Not only are the names of the standard sizes sometimes different but even beds and mattresses with the same name can have different measurements in different countries. For example a standard British King is smaller than a standard American Queen! Don't rely on the name alone when buying, always check the exact dimensions and make sure you know what you're getting.

Even within a single country different manufacturers interpret the "standard" bed sizes differently. Some might shave a couple of inches off to reduce cost, others add a little for comfort. A few inches can make a lot of difference in bed.

Beds are usually labelled according to the dimensions of the mattress - the actual measurements of the bed itself might be a little wider and/or longer. Check this when planning you bedroom furniture layout, don't just rely on the mattress measurement. Obviously bed linen will be significantly larger than the standard mattress size and again some manufacturers are more generous than others.

Measurement Tables

The tables below give common interpretations of the "standard" bed sizes. Use these size charts as a guideline, but always check the exact dimensions before you buy. At the end of the day "standard" is best considered as a starting point - a guide rather than a hard and fast rule.

There are two measurement charts on this page: US Bed Sizes and UK Bed Sizes.

 

List of US Bed & Mattress Sizes Name Width Length Space per person Comments Twin / Single 39" 75" 39" x 75" (1 sleeper) Small, so easy to fit in. Often used for guest rooms. Twin Extra Long 39" 80" 39" x 80" (1 sleeper) Bed linen can be hard to find Full / Double 54" 75" 27" x 75" (2 sleepers) Barely wide enough for two adults Queen 60" 80" 30" x 80" (2 sleepers) The Queen size bed is the most popular choice for two adults, but is still too small for some King 76" 80" 38" x 80" (2 sleepers) The King size bed is a good buying option for those who find the Queen too small California King 72" 84" 36" x 84" (2 sleepers) The California King is narrower but longer than a standard King size bed

 

List of UK Bed & Mattress Sizes The range of standard British bed sizes is smaller than that of the US - and British beds themselves usually have smaller dimensions than their US version with the same name. Name Width Length Space per person Comments Single 36" 75" 36" x 75" (1 sleeper) Small, so easy to fit in. Often used for guest rooms. Double 54" 75" 27" x 75" (2 sleepers) Barely wide enough for two adults - yet still surprisingly common here in the UK King 60" 78" 30" x 78" (2 sleepers) Same width but slightly shorter than the American Queen size Super King 72" 78" 36" x 78" (2 sleepers)