Bed size refers to the dimensions of a mattress

Mattress

A mattress is a manufactured product to sleep or lie on, consisting of resilient materials and covered with an outer fabric or ticking. In the developed world it is typically part of a bed set and is placed upon a foundation....

 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

Metric system

The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...

 countries are 200 centimetres (78.7 in) long: domestic double beds are either 140 centimetres (55.1 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) but the sizes for other bed

Bed

A bed is a large piece of furniture used as a place to sleep, relax, or engage in sexual relations.Most modern beds consist of a mattress on a bed frame, with the mattress resting either on a solid base, often wooden slats, or a sprung base...

 types tend to vary.

Table of sizes

Mattress size (width × length)

	N. America	Australia	UK/Ireland	Continental Europe Latin America	Japan
Single/twin	39in × 75in 0.97 m × 1.91 m	36in × 75in 0.92 m x 1.87 m	36in × 75in 0.9 m × 1.90 m	35.4in × 79in 0.9 m × 2 m	38in × 77in 0.97 m × 1.95 m
Double/full	54in × 75in 1.37 m × 1.91 m	54in × 75in 1.37 m x 1.87 m	54in × 75in 1.37 m × 1.91 m	55in × 79in 1.4 m × 2.00 m	55in × 77in 1.4 m × 1.95 m
Queen King (UK/Ire.) Wide Double (Japan)	60in × 80in 1.52 m × 2.03 m		60in × 78in 1.5 m × 2 m	63in × 79in 1.6 m × 2 m	61in × 77in 1.54 m × 1.95 m
Olympic Queen Queen (Japan)	66in × 80in 1.68 m × 2.03 m				67in × 77in 1.7 m × 1.95 m
King Super King (UK/Ire.)	76in × 80in 1.93 m × 2.03 m	72in × 80in 1.83 m × 2.03 m	72in × 78in 1.83 m × 1.98 m	75in × 79in 1.90 m × 2 m	76in × 77in 1.94 m × 1.95 m
California King King Long (Japan)	72in × 84in 1.83 m × 2.13 m				76in × 81in 1.94 m × 2.05 m

Note that, for North American and British/Irish beds, the sizes are specified in US customary units

United States customary units

United States customary units are a system of measurements commonly used in the United States. Many U.S. units are virtually identical to their imperial counterparts, but the U.S. customary system developed from English units used in the British Empire before the system of imperial units was...

 or Imperial units and the metric equivalents given are approximate. For Latin America, mainland Europe, and Japan, 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 larger 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

Box-spring

A box-spring is a type of bed base typically consisting of a sturdy wooden frame covered in cloth, and containing springs. Usually the box-spring is placed on top of a wooden or metal bedframe which sits on the floor and acts as a brace. The box-spring is usually the same size as the much softer...

 (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 (two) box springs are (each) identical in size to a twin extra-long. However, two twin extra-long mattresses next to each other add up to 78 inches (198.1 cm) wide instead of the 76 inches (193 cm) width that is standard for an eastern king.

Other North American sizes

Twin extra long: 39 in × 80 in (.99 m × 2.03 m)

This size is common in college dormitories.

Three quarter: 48 in × 75 in (1.22 m × 1.9 m) often (47-48) in × 72 in. sizing varies.

This size is considered obsolete by the major manufacturers.

Super single: 48 in × 84 in (1.22 m × 2.13 m)Typically a waterbed size
Full extra long: 53 in × 80 in
Olympic queen: 66 in × 80 in (1.68 m × 2.03 m) a novelty size by Simmons, discontinued as of January 1, 2007
Eastern king: 76 in × 80 in (1.93 m × 2.03 m)

An alternative name for a North American king

California queen: 60 in × 84 in (1.52 m × 2.13 m)
California king: 72 in × 84 in (1.83 m × 2.13 m)

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 1.9 metres instead of 2.

UK and Ireland sizes

Most modern beds/mattresses sold in the UK and Ireland are constructed using imperial dimensions but are sometimes sold in their (very) approximate metric equivalents.
Toddler bed : (about 70 cm x 140 cm)
Small single : 30" by 72" (about 75 cm x 180 cm)
Standard single : 36" x 75", also sold as 90 cm by 190 cm.
Prince aka small double or three quarter : 48" by 75" (approximately 120 cm x 190 cm). Not widely available
Standard double : 54" x 75", also sold as 135 cm by 190 cm.
King : 60" x 78", also sold as 150 cm by 200 cm.
Super King : 72" x 78", also sold as 180 cm by 200 cm.

Larger sizes are available by special order, such as 'Eastern king' (78 in (198.1 cm) wide), 'Emperor' (84 in (213.4 cm) wide) 'Large Emperor' (215 cm) and 'Caesar' (96 in (243.8 cm) wide).

Mainland European basic sizes [see next] are sold in the UK, notably from IKEA

IKEA

IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...

: these are sometimes known as "IKEA size beds".

Mainland European size beds are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, especially the European King size (160 cm x 200 cm) as contemporary Italian beds & furniture become more popular. It is now relatively easy to buy Euro King mattresses from suppliers like Tempur & Vispring.

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"). In France and Spain, the length of older beds is sometimes 190 centimetres instead of 200.. 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)
Long single: 90 cm × 220 cm (35.4 in × 86.6 in)
Large single: 100 cm × 200 cm (39 in × 79 in)

Ikea

In most countries of mainland Europe, due to its cross-border retail prominence, IKEA

IKEA

IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...

's own sizing is common. Mattress sizes offered are:

80 cm × 200 cm (31 in × 79 in)

90 cm × 200 cm (35 in × 79 in)

140 cm × 200 cm (55 in × 79 in)

160 cm × 200 cm (63 in × 79 in)

With the assumption that two 90 cm wide mattresses may be combined for a

180 cm × 200 cm (71 in × 79 in) bed.

Italy

In Italy, beds are classified by width. Sizes often used are:

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

Netherlands

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

Norway

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 (87 in) length.
To cover the California king size mattress, waterbeds are also sold in Europe with size of 180 cm × 210 cm.
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, and also, on average, people are taller now than they used to be).

Australian sizes

Australian standard mattress sizes.
Single : 92 cm × 188 cm (36 in × 74 in)
Single Extra Long : 92 cm × 203 cm (36 in × 80 in)
King Single : 107 cm × 203 cm (42 in × 80 in)
Double : 138 cm × 188 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)

External links

• What Size Mattress? from The Better Sleep Council