Beds : Sizes Types

Bed & Mattress Sizes

Over the years a number of standard bed sizes have been developed. Unfortunately they're not completely "standard"! As a result choosing and buying the best size for your bedroom can be confusing, as can buying sheets and other bedding for an existing bed. This can be especially important when buying online from another country.

For a start the standards vary around the world. Not only are the names of bed sizes sometimes different but even beds and mattresses with the same name can have different measurements. This can be important when - for example - buying bed linen on-line.

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. Those few inches can make a lot of difference.

Beds are usually labelled according to the dimensions of the mattress - the actual bed might be a little wider and/or longer. Check this when planning you bedroom. Obviously bed linen will be significantly larger than the standard mattress size and again some manufacturers are more generous than others.

The tables below give common interpretations of the "standard" sizes. Use these size charts as a guideline, but always check the exact dimensions before you buy.

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

US Bed & Mattress Sizes

Name	Width	Length	Space per person	Comments
Twin / Single	39"	75"	39" x 75"	Small, so easy to fit in. Often used for guest rooms.
Twin Extra Long	39"	80"	39" x 80"	Bed linen can be hard to find
Full / Double	54"	75"	27" x 75"	Barely wide enough for two adults
Queen	60"	80"	30" x 80"	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"	The King size bed is a good buying option for those who find the Queen too small
California King	72"	84"	36" x 84"	The California King is narrower but longer than a standard King size bed

UK Bed & Mattress Sizes

The range of British bed sizes is smaller than that of the US - and British beds themselves are usually smaller then their US version with the same name.

Name	Width	Length	Space per person	Comments
Single Bed	36"	75"	36" x 75"	Small, so easy to fit in. Often used for guest rooms.
Double Bed	54"	75"	27" x 75"	Barely wide enough for two adults - yet still surprisingly common in the UK
King Bed	60"	78"	30" x 78"	Same width but slightly shorter than the American Queen size
Super King Bed	72"	78"	36" x 78"

Here Be Dreams Home - Bedroom - Bed Sizes

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