Bed size names do not travel. A UK king is narrower than a US queen. A US king is wider than a UK super king. And "queen" means one thing in America, something else in Britain and something else again in a German furniture catalogue. If you are buying a frame in one country and a mattress or bedding in another, the names will let you down and only the numbers will save you.
This guide puts British, American and European sizes side by side in centimetres, inches and feet, then covers the four traps that cause the most returns.
Last reviewed September 2026. Prices, pack sizes and availability change, so confirm the current price on the product page before ordering.
UK bed sizes
All figures are mattress dimensions, rounded to the nearest tenth of an inch.
| Size | Imperial | Centimetres | Inches | Feet and inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small single | 2ft6 | 75 x 190 | 29.5 x 74.8 | 2'6" x 6'3" |
| Single | 3ft | 90 x 190 | 35.4 x 74.8 | 2'11" x 6'3" |
| Three-quarter | 3ft6 | 107 x 190 | 42.1 x 74.8 | 3'6" x 6'3" |
| Small double | 4ft | 120 x 190 | 47.2 x 74.8 | 3'11" x 6'3" |
| Double | 4ft6 | 135 x 190 | 53.1 x 74.8 | 4'5" x 6'3" |
| King | 5ft | 150 x 200 | 59.1 x 78.7 | 4'11" x 6'7" |
| Super king | 6ft | 180 x 200 | 70.9 x 78.7 | 5'11" x 6'7" |
US bed sizes and their closest UK match
| US size | Inches | Centimetres | Closest UK size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38 x 75 | 96.5 x 190.5 | Single, 6.5cm wider |
| Twin XL | 38 x 80 | 96.5 x 203 | No UK equivalent |
| Full / Double | 54 x 75 | 137 x 190.5 | Double, almost identical |
| Queen | 60 x 80 | 152 x 203 | King, 2cm wider and 3cm longer |
| King (Eastern) | 76 x 80 | 193 x 203 | Wider than a super king |
| California King | 72 x 84 | 183 x 213 | Super king width, 13cm longer |
The single most useful line in that table: a US queen is roughly a UK king, not a UK queen. If you have seen a bed described as queen size on an American site and assumed it sat between a double and a king, it sits at king.
European and continental bed sizes
Continental sizes are metric and almost always 200cm long. Widths come in round numbers rather than imperial conversions.
| Continental size | Centimetres | Inches | Usually called |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 x 200 | 35.4 x 78.7 | Einzelbett, lit simple |
| Double | 140 x 200 | 55.1 x 78.7 | The standard EU double |
| Queen | 160 x 200 | 63.0 x 78.7 | EU queen |
| King | 180 x 200 | 70.9 x 78.7 | EU king, same as UK super king |
| Emperor | 200 x 200 | 78.7 x 78.7 | Grand lit |
The four traps
1. Queen means three different things
In the US, queen is 152 x 203cm and sits one step below king. In the UK, some retailers use queen loosely for the 4ft small double at 120 x 190cm, which is a full 32cm narrower. In continental Europe, queen usually means 160 x 200cm. If a listing says queen, find the centimetres before you believe it.
2. King is where the biggest gap sits
A UK king is 150cm wide. A US king is 193cm wide. That is 43cm, the width of a small child, and it is why American bedding labelled king will swim on a British king bed. UK super king at 180cm is still 13cm narrower than a US king.
3. Length changes three times
UK singles and doubles are 190cm. UK kings and continental beds are 200cm. US beds in the larger sizes are 203cm. So a bed is either 1.90m, 2.00m or 2.03m long depending on where it was made, and a fitted sheet cut for one will not sit properly on another.
4. Bedding is cut to the country, not the size
Duvets follow the same pattern. A UK king duvet is 225 x 220cm. A US king comforter is typically 264 x 234cm. Buy the frame and the bedding in the same market wherever you can, and if you cannot, order bedding to the centimetre rather than the name.
Quick conversions people look for
- 90 x 190cm is a UK 3ft single, 2'11" x 6'3"
- 135 x 190cm is a UK 4ft6 double, 4'5" x 6'3"
- 150 x 200cm is a UK 5ft king, 4'11" x 6'7", or about 4.9ft x 6.6ft
- 180 x 200cm is a UK 6ft super king, 5'11" x 6'7"
- A bed is 1.9m or 2.0m long in the UK, depending on size
- A 5ft bed is a king in the UK, not a double
- Standard bed height is 55 to 65cm from floor to the top of the mattress
The oversized UK names: emperor, Caesar and super Caesar
Above super king, British makers use names that are not standardised at all. Expect variation of 10cm or more between makers.
- Emperor is usually 200 x 200cm, roughly 6'6" x 6'6", though some makers build it 200 x 220cm
- Caesar is around 244 x 200cm, roughly 8ft x 6'6"
- Super Caesar is around 270 x 200cm, roughly 9ft x 6'6"
None of these are stocked sizes. The mattress, the base, the slats and the bedding all become bespoke, and replacing any one part years later means going back to the original maker. If you want the largest bed you can buy off the shelf in Britain, that is the 6ft super king.
Buying across borders
If you are importing a frame, or bringing a bed with you when you move, work in centimetres from the start and check three things: the mattress dimensions the frame is built for, the external frame dimensions for the room, and whether replacement mattresses in that size are sold where you now live. The third one is the question people forget, and it is the one that hurts in five years when the mattress needs replacing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a UK king the same as a US king?
No, and the gap is large. A UK king is 150 x 200cm. A US king is 193 x 203cm, about 43cm wider.
What is a US queen in UK terms?
A US queen at 152 x 203cm is closest to a UK king at 150 x 200cm. It is not a UK queen or a double.
What is 150 x 200cm in feet?
About 4 feet 11 inches by 6 feet 7 inches, or roughly 4.9ft x 6.6ft. That is a UK king.
How long is a bed in metres?
UK singles, small doubles and doubles are 1.9m. UK kings, super kings and continental beds are 2.0m. Larger US sizes are 2.03m.
What is the largest bed size in the UK?
Super king at 180 x 200cm is the largest standard size. Emperor, Caesar and super Caesar go bigger but are bespoke and not standardised.
Is a 3/4 bed a real size?
Yes, 107 x 190cm, sometimes called 3ft6. It is a genuine UK size but rare enough that bedding and mattresses are hard to find.
Are UK and EU bed sizes interchangeable?
Only at one point: a UK super king and an EU king are both 180 x 200cm. Everything else differs in width, length or both.
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Shop UK sizes
Everything we sell is built to UK mattress sizes, so British bedding fits without adjustment.
- Upholstered 4ft6 double in velvet with storage — 135 x 190cm
- 4ft6 double velvet frame with adjustable petal headboard — 135 x 190cm
- Double ottoman bed with hydraulic storage — 135 x 190cm
- Upholstered 3ft single with pull-out trundle — 90 x 190cm, twice over
- Wooden 3ft single storage bed with guardrail — 90 x 190cm
See the full furniture range. UK delivery is free on orders over 100 pounds.
