Bed size

Bed size refers to the dimensions of a mattress and the names by which standard sizes are called. Beds themselves vary widely in size according to the degree of ornamentation but are sold according to the size of mattress they take. The dimensions and names vary considerably around the world, with most countries having their own standards and terminology.

Modern sizes in metric system countries are 200 centimetres (79 in) long: domestic double beds are either 140 centimetres (55 in) or 160 centimetres (63 in) wide. The traditional double size standard among English speaking countries, based on the imperial measurement is 4'6" by 6'3" (54 by 75 inches (137 by 191 cm)) but the sizes for other bed types tend to vary.

Table of sizes

*Mattress size (width × length)*
	N. America^[1]	Australia	UK/Ireland	Continental Europe/Latin America
Single/twin	39 in × 75 in 99 cm × 191 cm	92 cm x 187 cm 36 in × 74 in	36 in × 75 in 90 cm × 190 cm (sic).^[2]	90 cm × 200 cm 35.4 in × 79 in
Full/double	54 in × 75 in 137 cm × 191 cm	137 cm x 187 cm 54 in × 74 in	54 in × 75 in 135 cm × 190 cm (sic).^[2]	140 cm × 200 cm 55 in × 79 in
(N. Amer./Aus) Queen (UK/Ire.) King	60 in × 80 in 152 cm × 203 cm		60 in × 78 in 150 cm × 200 cm (sic).^[2]	160 cm × 200 cm 63 in × 79 in
(N. Amer./Aus) King (UK/Ire.) Super King	76 in × 80 in 198 cm × 203 cm (California king) 72 in × 84 in 180 cm × 210 cm	183 cm × 203 cm 72 in × 80 in	72 in × 80 in 180 cm × 200 cm (sic).^[2]	200 cm × 200 cm 79 in × 79 in

Note that, for North American and British/Irish beds, the sizes are specified in US customary units (imperial) and the metric equivalents given are approximate. For Latin America and mainland Europe, the sizes are specified in metric and the imperial equivalents given are approximate.

Standard sizes in the United States and Canada

Modern manufacturing conventions have resulted in a limited number of standard sizes of commercial bedding for mattresses and box springs. Imported beds vary by country of origin as per the table above.

These dimensions are for the mattress—the actual bed frame will be a little bigger in order to fully encompass and support the mattress. The thickness of the mattress may vary considerably.

A king-sized bed may have a king-sized box spring (bed base), or two smaller box-springs under a king-sized mattress. It is a common misconception that on a North American standard or eastern king, the box springs are identical in size to a twin extra-long; however, twin extra-long mattresses next to each other add up to 78 inches (200 cm) wide instead of the 76-inch (190 cm) width that is standard for an eastern king.

Other North American sizes

Twin extra long: 39 in × 80 in (99 cm × 203 cm); This size is common in college dormitories.
Three quarter: 48 in × 75 in (122 cm × 190 cm) often (47-48) in × 72 in. sizing varies.; This size is considered obsolete by the major manufacturers.
Super single: 48 in × 84 in (122 cm × 213 cm)
Full extra long: 53 in × 80 in
Olympic queen: 60 in × 88 in (168 cm × 223 cm) a novelty size by Simmons
California queen: 60 in × 84 in (152 cm × 213 cm)
Eastern king: 76 in × 80 in (193 cm × 203 cm); An alternative name for a North American king
California king: 72 in × 84 in (183 cm × 213 cm); A common size on the west coast, also called a western king, West Coast king, Cal king, or WC king.
Other

In Mexico, the length of older beds is sometimes 190 centimetres instead of 200.^{[citation needed]}

UK and Ireland sizes

Most modern beds/mattresses sold in the UK and Ireland are constructed using imperial dimensions^[2] but are sometimes sold in their (very) approximate metric equivalents.^[3]

Small single: 2'6 by 6' (about 75 cm x 180 cm)
Standard single: 3' x 6'3", also sold as 90 cm by 190 cm.^[2]
Prince aka small double or three quarter: 4' by 6'3" (approximately 120 cm x 190 cm). Not widely available
Standard double: 4'6" x 6'3", also sold as 135 cm by 190 cm.^[2]
King (also sold as Queen in UK): 5' x 6'6", also sold as 150 cm by 200 cm.^[2]
Super King: 6' x 6'6", also sold as 180 cm by 200 cm.^[2]

Larger sizes are available by special order, such as 'Eastern king' (78 in (200 cm) wide), 'Emperor' (84 in (210 cm) wide) and 'Caesar' (96 in (240 cm) wide).

Mainland European basic sizes [see next] are sold in the UK, notably from IKEA: these are sometimes known as "IKEA size beds".^[4]

Mainland European sizes

Modern mainland Europe practice is to refer to a bed by explicit width or size ("80 cm bed" or "80 × 200 cm bed").^{[citation needed]} Other sizes found include:

Extra small single: 75 cm × 200 cm (30 in × 79 in)
Small single: 80 cm × 200 cm (31 in × 79 in)
Large single: 100 cm × 200 cm (39 in × 79 in)

In France and Spain, the length of older beds is sometimes 190 centimetres instead of 200.^{[citation needed]}

In Italy, beds are classified by width:

Una piazza or Singolo: 80–90 cm (31–35 in) wide
Una piazza e mezza: 120 cm (47 in) wide
Piazza francese: 140 cm (55 in) wide
Due piazze or Matrimoniale: 160–180 cm (63–71 in) wide
Tre piazze or Osimano: 200–400 cm (79–157 in) wide

Most mattress sizes in the Netherlands are also available in extra long, meaning 220 cm instead of 200 cm.

In the Scandinavian countries, standards vary from one country to another. In Norway, these sizes are used:

Small single: 75 cm × 200 cm (30 in × 79 in)
Single: 90 cm × 200 cm (35 in × 79 in)
Large single: 120 cm × 200 cm (47 in × 79 in)
Queen: 150 cm × 200 cm (60 in × 79 in — equal to two small single mattresses)
King: 180 cm × 200 cm (71 in × 79 in — equal to two single mattresses)

Beds/mattresses are often available also in extra long (220 cm or 87 in length). Some older beds are only 190 cm (75 in) long, while antique beds often are even shorter (since they in older times often slept in a reclined position rather than the close to supine position which is common today^{[citation needed]}, and also, on average, people are taller now than they used to be).

Australian sizes

Australian mattress sizes are not formally standardised, and therefore vary slightly between manufacturers.

Single: 92 cm × 187 cm (36 in × 74 in)
Single Extra Long: 92 cm × 203 cm (36 in × 80 in)
King Single: 106 cm × 203 cm (42 in × 80 in)
Double: 137 cm × 187 cm (54 in × 74 in)
Queen: 153 cm × 203 cm (60 in × 80 in)
King: 183 cm × 203 cm (72 in × 80 in)

New Zealand sizes

The following bed sizes are available in New Zealand:

Single: 90 cm × 190 cm (35 in × 72 in)
Long single: 90 cm × 203 cm (35 in × 80 in)
King single: 105 cm × 203 cm (41 in × 80 in)
Double: 135 cm × 190 cm (53 in × 72 in)
Queen: 152 cm × 203 cm (60 in × 80 in)
King: 165 cm × 203 cm (65 in × 80 in)
Super king: 180 cm × 203 cm (71 in × 80 in)
Californian king: 200 cm × 203 cm (79 in × 80 in)

References

^ Canadian and US Mattress Sizes
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ NBF Guidelines: Standard Bed Sizes– National Bed Federation (UK)
^ Mattresses at John Lewis John Lewis
^ Odd size beds.co.uk. "Ikea/ European Size Mattresses". Retrieved 2010-08-10.

External links

What Size Mattress? from The Better Sleep Council

[1] Canadian and US Mattress Sizes

[NBF-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ NBF Guidelines: Standard Bed Sizes– National Bed Federation (UK)

[3] Mattresses at John Lewis John Lewis

[4] Odd size beds.co.uk. "Ikea/ European Size Mattresses". Retrieved 2010-08-10.

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