King Size Bed Dimensions UK (150x200cm): Guide

A “king size” mattress in the UK measures 150 by 200 centimetres—exactly. European kings are wider at 160 centimetres, yet retailers often fail to flag the difference on product tags. Getting the dimensions right before you buy saves you from ill-fitting sheets, duvets that hang off the edge, or a frame that looks comically oversized in a modest bedroom.

UK King Size: 150cm x 200cm · Super King Size: 180cm x 200cm · UK Double Size: 135cm x 190cm · UK Queen Size: 120cm x 190cm · European King Example: 160cm x 200cm

What size is a king size bed UK?

The standard UK king size mattress measures 150cm wide by 200cm long (approximately 5ft x 6ft 6in). This is the most widely stocked large bed size in British high street and online retailers, found consistently across major brands like Dreams, Silentnight, and DFS. The dimensions convert to roughly 60 inches by 79 inches for those more familiar with imperial measurements.

Several retailers confirm this standard. Dreams lists the UK King mattress as 150cm x 200cm in their official mattress guide. Happy Beds, Beaumont Brown, and Get Laid Beds all corroborate these exact measurements across multiple product listings. This consensus makes the UK king size one of the most reliably standardized bed dimensions in the market.

Standard dimensions in cm and inches

The width of 150cm (approximately 60 inches) provides each sleeper with about 75cm of personal space when sharing, which most adults find adequate for comfortable movement during the night. The 200cm length accommodates most people up to about 6’3″ without their feet hanging off the edge, though taller individuals may still find themselves pressed against the footboard.

Comparison to other UK sizes

• UK Single: 90cm x 190cm — half the width of a king
• UK Double: 135cm x 190cm — still 15cm narrower than king
• UK Super King: 180cm x 200cm — 30cm wider than king
• UK Emperor: 200cm x 200cm — the largest standard UK size

The stepping pattern between sizes means couples upgrading from a double to a king gain roughly 15cm of width between them, a meaningful difference when two people share the mattress surface.

What is the difference between European King and UK King?

The most significant difference is width. A European king size mattress is typically 160cm wide compared to the UK’s 150cm, while both share the same 200cm length. That 10cm gap sounds modest on paper but translates to noticeably more shoulder room for couples who prefer to sleep close together.

According to Ethical Bedding’s comparison guide, European beds are generally 10cm longer than their UK counterparts, though the king length has standardized at 200cm in both regions for modern production. The continental European standard evolved to accommodate taller populations, particularly in Scandinavia and the Netherlands where average heights exceed UK averages.

UK vs European dimensions

• UK King: 150cm x 200cm
• European King: 160cm x 200cm (IKEA uses this standard)
• European Super King / Grand King: 180cm x 200cm
• European Emperor: 200cm x 200cm

The Get Laid Beds comparison guide notes that IKEA specifically uses the European 160x200cm king size across its UK stores, meaning customers purchasing an IKEA bed frame should source 160cm-wide sheets rather than standard UK king dimensions.

Bedding compatibility issues

This is where the sizing confusion creates real problems. A UK king duvet measures approximately 228cm x 223cm, sized for the 150x200cm mattress. European king sheets need to accommodate the wider 160cm width, and purchasing the wrong size results in either bunched fabric or sheets that don’t stay tucked in properly.

Happy Beds cautions that using a UK-sized mattress on a European-made frame (or vice versa) creates a potential gap where the mattress sits too short within the frame, particularly at the foot end. This cosmetic issue rarely affects sleep quality but frustrates buyers expecting a seamless look.

Is a queen size bigger than a king in the UK?

No — and this is where UK sizing nomenclature frequently misleads shoppers. In the United States, queen size is larger than full/double, but UK retailers use “queen” inconsistently. The most common UK queen size listed by Happy Beds is actually a small double at 120cm x 190cm, which is smaller than a standard UK double at 135cm x 190cm.

Confusing matters further, some UK retailers use “queen” to describe what they call a European king (160x200cm). T3’s mattress size guide notes that nomenclature confusion means the UK Super King is occasionally called Queen in certain retail contexts, particularly for imported European brands.

UK queen vs king sizes

The official UK King at 150x200cm is larger than the small-double “queen” at 120x190cm in every dimension — wider by 30cm and longer by 10cm. This means any shopper searching for “queen size bed UK” should immediately verify the exact centimetre specifications before assuming the size will suit their space.

CotswoldCo and other mid-market retailers often use the queen label for what is effectively a 150x200cm king, which explains why some consumers believe queen and king are equivalent sizes in the UK market. This retailer-specific usage has normalized a misleading term.

Historical sizing notes

Wikipedia’s bed size article records that traditional UK king sizes occasionally appeared as 152x198cm in older standards, predating the modern 150x200cm consensus. This historical variation explains why some vintage bed frames or inherited furniture may not match current standard dimensions, and why measuring your existing frame before shopping for replacement mattresses is essential.

The shift toward 200cm lengths occurred gradually through the 2000s as UK manufacturers adopted continental European production standards, according to Beaumont Brown’s definitive guide. Most new mattresses produced today use the 200cm length rather than the older 190cm or 198cm options.

Is 160×200 king or queen?

The 160cm x 200cm dimension is definitively a European king size, not a queen. In continental Europe, this size serves as the standard large bed, equivalent to what the UK calls a king. It is wider than the UK king (160cm vs 150cm) but shares the same 200cm length.

TechRadar’s international comparison notes that European king at 160x200cm is approximately equal to what US retailers label as a king, though US king is actually larger at 193cm x 203cm. The naming systems across regions do not align cleanly, which is why centimetre measurements matter more than the label.

European context

Within European markets, the 160x200cm size carries no “queen” equivalent. Countries including France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands use “king” for this dimension, with “queen” being a US-derived term that occasionally appears in European retailers targeting English-speaking tourists.

Bed Bath & Beyond’s international conversion guide confirms that 160x200cm aligns more closely with UK king specifications than any UK queen size, reinforcing that this dimension belongs in the king category regardless of what label a retailer applies.

UK equivalents

In the UK market, a 160x200cm mattress would most commonly be labeled as either a king or an “extra large king” by retailers using European sizing. The Cotton Safe mattress guide notes that the term “Euro King” is also applied to this size, particularly in contexts discussing continental imports.

For practical purposes, anyone purchasing a 160x200cm mattress should source European king bedding, not UK king sheets, to ensure proper fit. The 10cm width difference means UK king sheets will be slightly snug and may not tuck securely around the mattress.

Is 200×200 a king size bed?

Yes — but it’s specifically called the UK Eastern King or UK Emperor, not a standard king. This square 200cm x 200cm dimension is larger than both the UK standard king (150x200cm) and the UK Super King (180x200cm), providing equal width and length for those who want maximum sleeping surface.

The Big Bed Company specifically lists the UK Eastern King as 200x200cm, positioning it as their premium offering for customers seeking the largest available standard size. Beaumont Brown’s definitive guide confirms this 200x200cm Emperor size sits above the Super King in the size hierarchy.

UK Eastern King

The Eastern King designation reflects its origins in American sizing, where king beds are traditionally 193cm x 203cm (approximately 76in x 80in). The UK version adapts this square proportions concept while maintaining metric measurements, creating a mattress that measures equally in both directions.

Finding bedding for a 200x200cm mattress requires either Emperor-sized sheets (increasingly available from major retailers) or special ordering. Standard UK king sheets at 228cm x 223cm provide too much length relative to the mattress width, potentially causing aesthetic issues even if they technically cover the surface.

Bedding fit

Beaumont Brown notes that mattress depth also matters for sheet fit — UK and European mattresses typically accommodate 30cm depth for fitted sheets. A 200x200cm mattress with standard depth will work with deep-fitted sheets, but buyers should verify pocket depth specifications before purchasing bedding.

The main practical consideration is frame selection. Many standard king-size bed frames are not designed to accommodate a square 200x200cm mattress, so purchasing both the frame and mattress simultaneously from a retailer offering compatible sizing is the safest approach.

UK, European, and US Bed Size Comparison

Five major size categories — UK single through emperor, plus their European and American counterparts — reveal clear patterns in how different markets prioritize width versus length. The following comparison draws on TechRadar’s international sizing data alongside UK retailer specifications.

The most striking pattern is that US Queen (152x203cm) aligns almost exactly with UK King width but exceeds it in length. Meanwhile, the UK queen as a “small double” is the only size category where UK falls below European equivalents by a significant margin.

Standard Mattress Dimensions and Bedding Guide

Understanding mattress dimensions is only half the equation — bedding sizes differ from the mattress itself. The following specifications table consolidates verified measurements from Beaumont Brown, Happy Beds, and Get Laid Beds.

The duvet dimensions consistently exceed mattress measurements by 20-75cm on each side, ensuring adequate overhang for movement during sleep. For the UK king specifically, the 228x223cm duvet provides roughly 40cm of side overhang and 23cm of foot overhang.

Is 240×220 cm king size?

The 240cm x 220cm dimension is a European duvet size for a king or super king mattress, not a mattress size itself. This duvet fits European king (160x200cm) mattresses, providing approximately 40cm of side overhang and 20cm of foot overhang.

No standard mattress measures exactly 240x220cm. This falls between standard European king (160x200cm mattress, 240x220cm duvet) and European super king (180x200cm mattress, 260x220cm duvet), suggesting either a slightly oversized duvet or a specialty item from a specific manufacturer.

Regional variations

Nectar Sleep’s international guide notes that Swedish mattresses occasionally appear in non-standard sizes like 210x210cm for their “super king variant,” demonstrating that some markets produce mattresses outside typical UK or European standard ranges. However, these remain uncommon in mainstream UK retail.

For most UK shoppers, 240x220cm should be interpreted as a European king duvet rather than a mattress dimension. Matching this duvet to a UK king mattress is incorrect — the UK king duvet at 228x223cm is the appropriate size.

“EU beds are generally 10 cm longer than their