Bed size

Standard bed sizes are based on mattress dimensions, which vary from country to country. Bed sizes may also vary depending on the design and ornamentation of the bed frame. Dimensions and terminology differ worldwide, as most countries maintain their own standards. In addition, two mattresses with the same nominal size may have slightly different dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances, padding, and support type. Mattress and bedding sizes may not always correspond.

Nomenclature

Naming standards on different bed sizes and their corresponding actual measurements can vary across national standards. Examples of such nomenclature are names like "Single", "Full" or "Double", "Queen" or "King" size. Sometimes the naming standards are further divided by adding adjectives such as "Narrow", "Long", "Extra Long", "Wide", "Extra Wide", and so on, which also can vary across national standards.

For example, a King size bed may measure (in width by length):

• 152cm ×198cm (60in ×78in) in the UK.
• 165cm ×203cm (65in ×80in) in New Zealand.
• 180cm ×190cm (71in ×75in) in Portugal, but is also available in 195 and 200cm (77 and 79in) lengths.
• 180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in) in Indonesia.
• 183cm ×191cm (72in ×75in) in Singapore and Malaysia.
• 183cm ×203cm (72in ×80in) in Australia.
• 183cm ×216cm (72in ×85in) in India.
• 193cm ×202cm (76in ×80in) in the US.

Because of the growth of international trade and the above potential cause of confusion, bed sizes are becoming more standardized. In most countries, using the International System of Units, bed dimensions most often appear in centimeters, and often only by width and length. In the United States, Canada and other regions influenced by the former British Empire, dimensions are often in inches.

Africa

South Africa

In South Africa, bed sizes have standard lengths of either 188 or 200cm (74 or 79in), with the latter being called "XL" variants. XL mattresses have the same widths as their non-XL counterparts. The 200cm (79in) XL length is recommended for persons over 183cm (6ft) tall.

• Single: 92cm (36in) wide
• Three-quarter: 107cm (42in) wide
• Double: 137cm (54in) wide
• Queen: 152cm (60in) wide
• King: 183cm (72in) wide. Equal to the width of two single mattresses.
• Super king: 200cm (79in) wide. Available in XL length only.

Europe

Europe may traditionally have had more variations in national bed size standards than any other part of the world, but in the recent years a few sizes have become more common than others. Bed sizes are defined in centimeters in all European countries, although supplementary Imperial equivalents are sometimes shown in the United Kingdom.

Today, the most common widths sold by pan European retailers are:

• 90,100 and 120cm (35,39 and 47in) for single beds.
• 160,180 and 200cm (63,71 and 79in) for double beds.

Other sizes are also available in some European countries (e.g., 80 or 140cm (31 or 55in)), but the widths listed above are the most common when looking at the European market as a whole, while 135cm (53in) and 150cm (59in) (nominal) are more typical in the UK and Ireland.

Today, the 200cm (79in) length is the most common bed length sold by pan-European retailers. Lengths of 210 or 220cm (83 or 87in) are often also available by special order. The longer beds are intended for taller people, and as a rule of thumb 210-centimeter-long (83in) beds may be recommended for people 190cm (75in) or taller, while 220cm (87in) beds are recommended for people over 200cm (79in) tall.

France

In France, single size beds are usually:

• 90cm ×190cm (35in ×75in)
• or 90cm ×200cm (35in ×79in).

The most common sizes for double beds are:

• Valet size 140cm ×190cm (55in ×75in)
• Queen size 160cm ×200cm (63in ×79in)
• King size 180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in)

Italy

In Italy, beds are classified by name and use the term piazza as in "place". Standard sizes are:

• una piazza (literally "one place") or singolo ("single"): 80cm ×190cm (31in ×75in) and 90cm ×190cm (35in ×75in)
• una piazza e mezza (literally "1+1⁄2 places") or Letto da prete (literally "priest's bed"): 120cm ×190cm (47in ×75in)
• piazza e mezza francese (literally "French 1+1⁄2 places"): 140cm ×190cm (55in ×75in)
• due piazze (double, literally "two places") or letto matrimoniale (literally "matrimonial bed"): 160cm ×190cm (63in ×75in) and 180cm ×190cm (71in ×75in)

Northern Europe

These sizes are for Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. There are some variations between different countries, but these are the most common sizes. Until the 1980s the most common mattress length was 190cm (75in).

• Single: 70cm ×200cm (28in ×79in), uncommon, mainly for double beds with two separate mattresses. 80cm ×200cm (31in ×79in), mainly for young people's beds/ bunk beds and double beds with two separate mattresses. 90cm ×200cm (35in ×79in), common single bed. Extended variants are typically 210cm (83in). 100cm ×200cm (39in ×79in), larger single bed size. 120cm ×200cm (47in ×79in), uncommon, mainly for teen beds.
• Small Double: 140cm ×200cm (55in ×79in), common, especially among young people and/or single households.
• Double: 160cm ×200cm (63in ×79in), common, often with two separate mattresses. 180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in), most common double bed, often with two separate mattresses. 200cm ×200cm (79in ×79in), a common extra-wide bed, often with two separate mattresses. 210cm ×210cm (83in ×83in), a common extra-wide bed, often with two separate mattresses.

Netherlands

Sizes listed refer to mattress sizes.

• Single: 80cm ×200cm (31in ×79in), small single bed. 90cm ×200cm (35in ×79in), average single bed. 90cm ×210cm (35in ×83in), tall, average single bed. 90cm ×220cm (35in ×87in), extra tall, average single bed. 100cm ×200cm (39in ×79in), large single bed. 100cm ×210cm (39in ×83in), tall, large single bed. 100cm ×220cm (39in ×87in), extra tall, large single bed.
• Double: 120cm ×200cm (47in ×79in), small double bed ("twijfelaar"). 140cm ×200cm (55in ×79in), average double bed. 160cm ×200cm (63in ×79in), large double bed. 160cm ×210cm (63in ×83in), tall, large double bed. 160cm ×220cm (63in ×87in), extra tall, large double bed. 180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in), extra large double bed ("Lits Jumeaux"). 180cm ×210cm (71in ×83in), tall, extra large double bed. 180cm ×220cm (71in ×87in), extra tall, extra large double bed. 200cm ×200cm (79in ×79in), extra wide double bed. 200cm ×210cm (79in ×83in), tall, extra wide double bed. 200cm ×220cm (79in ×87in), extra tall, extra wide double bed.

Portugal

In Portugal, the most common widths for beds are:

• solteiro (single): 80cm (31in) or 90cm (35in)
• casal (double): 140cm (55in)
• Queen size: 160cm (63in)
• King size: 180cm (71in)
• Super king size: 200cm (79in)

Beds are typically 190cm (75in) or 195cm (77in) long, but 200cm (79in) have become more common.

Spain

In Spain, standardized lengths are 180,190 and 200cm (71,75 and 79in), with 190cm (75in) being the most common. Standardized widths are 80,90,105,120,135,150 or 180cm (31,35,41,47,53,59 or 71in). The most common bed sizes are:

• individual (single): 90cm (35in)
• matrimonio (Spanish) or matrimoni (Catalan) (double, literally "matrimonial"): 135 or 150cm (53 or 59in)

UK and Ireland

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, beds are measured according to the size of mattress they hold, not the dimensions of the bed frame itself; bed frame sizes are not standardized and may differ between manufacturers. Listed below are the typical bed sizes from the National Bed Federation, which is the trade association for the majority of British and Irish bed manufacturers and their suppliers. Most NBF manufacturers use designs dimensioned in feet and inches with the metric indicators not being exact equivalents. There can legally be a tolerance of up to ±2cm (0.8in) between the quoted measurements and the size of the mattress itself.

*Also known as a "three-quarter" or "four-foot" bed.

Some UK retailers may have a "queen" size which refers to one of the above standard sizes, but there is inconsistency around which size specifically, with both the small double and super king being prevalent.

As well as customary UK sizes, some common European sizes can be found in the UK from imports and IKEA. The typical length of an IKEA and other European mattresses is 200cm (79in), whereas UK lengths vary depending on the width of the mattress, being usually either 191 or 198cm (75 or 78in). In 2015, IKEA started offering beds and mattresses in customary UK sizes alongside their standard European sizes.

Adjustable beds or electric adjustable bed sizes differ from the standard bed size. The length of these beds differs from a standard size because the beds need to bend. So they are 200 centimetres (79in) in length rather than 191 centimetres (75in). King size and super king size are normally two 75 centimetres (30in) or two 90 centimetres (35in) adjacent beds.[bettersourceneeded]

Turkey

In Turkey, single size beds are usually 90cm ×190cm (35in ×75in); long single size 90cm ×200cm (35in ×79in); large single size 100cm ×200cm (39in ×79in).

There is also an intermediate size used for one and a half people[clarification needed] in Turkey: 120cm ×200cm (47in ×79in).

The most common sizes for double beds are: small double size 140cm ×190cm (55in ×75in); young size 140cm ×200cm (55in ×79in); double size 150cm ×200cm (59in ×79in); double size 160cm ×200cm (63in ×79in); double large size 180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in); double XL size 200cm ×200cm (79in ×79in).

Asia

China

In China, the following sizes are standard:

• Lengths: 190,195,200,210cm (75,77,79,83in)
• Single bed widths: 80,90,100,110,120cm (31,35,39,43,47in)
• Double bed widths: 135,140,150,180cm (53,55,59,71in)

In practice, bed sizes are usually categorized by the width. The length is typically 200cm (79in), but this may vary. The most common sizes are:[citation needed]

• 120cm ×200cm (47in ×79in)
• 150cm ×200cm (59in ×79in)
• 180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in)

Other bed sizes are available, which are less common however.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, the standard length is always 200cm (79in). The following market-standard sizes are commonly available in Indonesia:

Single

90cm ×200cm (35in ×79in)

Double or twin

120cm ×200cm (47in ×79in)

Queen

160cm ×200cm (63in ×79in)

King

180cm ×200cm (71in ×79in)

Super king

200cm ×200cm (79in ×79in)

Japan

Standard Japanese bedding sizes are described in the standard JIS S 1102:2017 Beds for domestic use by the Japanese Standards Association.

Malaysia

Standard bed sizes in Malaysia

Pakistan

Standard bed sizes in Pakistan include Single, Queen 1, Queen 2, and King

• Single: 107cm ×198cm (42in ×78in)
• Queen 1: 152cm ×198cm (60in ×78in)
• Queen 2: 168cm ×198cm (66in ×78in)
• King: 183cm ×198cm (72in ×78in)

Singapore

Standard bed sizes in Singapore

Taiwan

There are five common bed sizes in Taiwan, locally known as 3 footer, 3.5 footer, 5 footer, 6 footer and 7 footer. They are also known as Taiwanese small single, twin, full, queen and king respectively.

However, American beds are also popular in Taiwan. Bedroom furniture and bedding of U.S. standard sizes can be purchased in major cities there. In addition, American sizes also include the .

Oceania

Australia

The following bed sizes are available in Australia.

New Zealand

The following bed sizes are available in New Zealand.[citation needed]

North America

The sizes of mattresses use non-numeric labels such as "king" or "full", but are defined in inches. Historically, most beds were "twins" or "doubles", but in the mid-1940s, larger mattresses were introduced by manufacturers. These were later standardized as "queen" and "king", and first made a significant impact on the market in the 1950s and 1960s. Standard mattress depth ranges from the "standard" size of 9in (23cm) to "high contour" of up to 13in (33cm). Below are the standard ISPA widths and heights in the United States and Canada.

While the dimensions are specified to the half-inch below, the actual dimensions used by manufacturers or various websites may be half an inch larger or smaller.

While many furniture websites claim that David Bergeson invented the California King bed size in Concord, California, to accommodate his long legs and short arms in 1982, the International Sleep Products Association has proven that it was developed in the 1920s for Hollywood celebrities, thus predating the standard king bed size.

Less common sizes

Less common sizes include:

There are also a number of specialty sizes for specific use cases. In addition, there are Florida King and Texas King sizes.

Bedding in the United States must state the type of bed it is intended for, in addition to the dimensions in both inches and centimeters.

In addition to the horizontal dimensions of beds, another aspect of bed size is the vertical height of the bed. This is particularly relevant for bunk beds, loft beds, Murphy beds, and canopy beds, which require more vertical space than other beds.

For both bunk beds and loft beds, it is generally recommended that there be at least 40 inches (1 meter) of vertical space between the top of the mattress and the ceiling. This allows the average-sized adult to sit up comfortably in bed.

For vertical Murphy beds that fold up against the wall, the ceiling height must accommodate the full length of the Murphy bed's wall frame.

For canopy beds, there needs to be suitable clearance between the top of the canopy point and the ceiling.

See also

• Bed sheet
• Infant bed
• Toddler bed

External links

• Media related toBedsat Wikimedia Commons
• Media related toMattressesat Wikimedia Commons