![Pillowtop-mattress](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Pillowtop-mattress.jpg)
Standard bed sizes are based on standard
mattress
A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a lying person. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, conta ...
sizes, which vary from country to country. Bed sizes also vary according to the size and degree of ornamentation of the
bed frame
A bed frame or bedstead is the part of a bed used to position the bed base, the flat part which in turn directly supports the mattress(es). The frame may also stop the matresses from sliding sideways, and it may include means of supporting a c ...
. Dimensions and names vary considerably around the world, with most countries having their own standards and terminology. In addition, two mattresses with the same nominal size may still have slightly different dimensions, due to manufacturing tolerances, amount of padding, and support type. While beds are generally rectangular, more specialized shapes may be obtained by special order, such as circular beds. Mattress sizes may differ from
bedding sizes.
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", "Double", "Queen" or "King" size. Sometimes the naming standards are further divided by adding adjectives such as "Narrow", "Wide", "Extra Wide", "Long", "Extra Long" and so on, which also can vary across national standards.
For example, a ''King size'' bed may measure (in width by length):
* in the UK.
* in New Zealand.
* in Portugal, but is also available in lengths.
* in Indonesia.
* in Singapore and Malaysia.
* in Australia.
* in India.
* in the US.
Because of the growth of
international trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories because there is a need or want of goods or services. (see: World economy)
In most countries, such trade represents a significant ...
and the above potential cause of confusion, bed sizes are becoming more standardized. In most countries, using the
International System of Units
The International System of Units, known by the international abbreviation SI in all languages and sometimes pleonastically as the SI system, is the modern form of the metric system and the world's most widely used system of measurement. E ...
, bed
dimensions
In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a mathematical space (or object) is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus, a line has a dimension of one (1D) because only one coordina ...
most often appear in
centimeter
330px, Different lengths as in respect to the Electromagnetic spectrum, measured by the Metre and its deriveds scales. The Microwave are in-between 1 meter to 1 millimeter.
A centimetre (international spelling) or centimeter (American spellin ...
s, and often only by width and length. In the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
and other regions influenced by the former
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
, dimensions are often in inches.
Europe
![Most common European bed sizes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Most_common_European_bed_sizes.png)
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
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
Today, the most common widths sold by pan European retailers are:
* for single beds.
* for double beds.
Other sizes are also available in some European countries (e.g., ), but the widths listed above are the most common when looking at the European market as a whole, while and (nominal) are more typical in the UK and Ireland.
Today, the length is the most common bed length sold by pan-European retailers. Lengths of are often also available by special order. The longer beds are intended for taller people, and as a rule of thumb long beds may be recommended to people or taller, while beds are recommended for people over tall.
France
In France, single size beds are usually .
The most common sizes for double beds are:
* Valet size
* Queen size
* King size
Italy
In Italy, beds are classified by name and use the term as in "place". Standard sizes are:
* (literally "one place") or ("single"): and
* (literally "1 places") or (literally "priest's bed"):
* (literally "French 1 places"):
* (double, literally "two places") or (literally "matrimonial bed"): and
Northern Europe
These sizes are for Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, 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 .
* Single:
** , mainly for double beds with two separate mattresses.
** , mainly for young peoples beds/ bunk beds and double beds with two separate mattresses.
** , common single bed. Extended variants are typically .
** , new common single bed size.
** , uncommon, often as futon beds that are sold with mattress, slats and frame.
** , common, especially among young people.
* Double:
**
** , common, often with two separate mattresses.
** , most common double bed, often with two separate mattresses.
** , a common extra-wide bed, often with two separate mattresses.
Netherlands
* Single:
** , small single bed.
** , average single bed.
** , average single bed.
** , average single bed.
** , large single bed.
** , large single bed.
** , large single bed.
* Double:
** , small double bed ("twijfelaar").
** , average double bed.
** , average double bed.
** , average double bed.
** , large double bed.
** , large double bed.
** , large double bed.
** , extra large double bed.
** , extra large double bed.
** , extra large double bed.
Portugal
In Portugal, the most common widths for beds are:
* (single): or
* (double):
* Queen size:
* King size:
* Super king size:
Beds are typically or long, but have become more common.
Spain
In Spain, standardized lengths are , with being the most common. Standardized widths are . The most common bed sizes are:
* individual (single):
* (double, literally "matrimonial"):
UK and Ireland
![UKMattressSizes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/UKMattressSizes.svg)
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
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. An industry tra ...
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 ± between the quoted measurements and the size of the mattress itself.
.
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
IKEA (; ) is a Dutch multinational conglomerate based in the Netherlands that designs and sells , kitchen appliances, decoration, home accessories, and various other goods and home services. Started in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA has been t ...
.
The typical length of an IKEA and other European mattresses is , whereas UK lengths vary depending on the width of the mattress, being usually either . In 2015, IKEA started offering beds and mattresses in customary UK sizes alongside their standard European sizes.
North America
![USMattressSizes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/USMattressSizes.svg)
The sizes of mattresses use non-numeric labels such as a "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 60s. Standard mattress depth ranges from the "standard" size of to "high contour" of up to . 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 dimension used by manufacturers or various websites may be half an inch larger or smaller.
Less common sizes include:
There are also a number of specialty sizes for specific use cases:
Bedding
Bedding, also known as bedclothes or bed linen, is the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, protection of the mattress, and decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environm ...
in the United States must state the type of bed it is intended for, in addition to the dimensions in both inches and centimeters.
Oceania
Australia
The following bed sizes are available in Australia.
New Zealand
The following bed sizes are available in New Zealand.
Africa
South Africa
In South Africa, bed sizes have standard lengths of either , with the latter being called ''XL'' variants. XL mattresses have the same widths as their non-XL counterparts. The XL length is recommended for persons over tall.
*Single: wide
*Three-quarter: wide
*Double: wide
*Queen: wide
*King: wide. Equal to the width of two single mattresses.
*Super King: wide. Available in XL length only.
Asia
China
In China, the following sizes are standard:
* Lengths:
* Single bed widths:
* Double bed widths:
In practice, bed sizes are usually categorized by the width. The length is typically , but this may vary. The most common sizes are:
*
*
*
Other bed sizes are available, which are less common however.
Indonesia
In
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, the standard length is always . The following market-standard sizes are commonly available in Indonesia:
; Single:
; Double or twin:
; Queen:
; King:
; Super King:
Japan
Standard Japanese
is spoken natively by about 128 million people, primarily by Japanese people and primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language. Japanese belongs to the Japonic or Japanese- Ryukyuan language family. There have been m ...
bedding sizes are described in the standard ''JIS S 1102:2017 Beds for domestic use'' by the
Japanese Standards Association
is the Japanese industrial standard development organization. JSA promotes standardization and management system in Japan through the following activities:
* Development of national standards ( JIS)
* Support of international standardization act ...
.
Malaysia / Singapore
Standard bed sizes in Malaysia and Singapore
Pakistan
Standard bed sizes in Pakistan.
* Single:
* Single XL:
* Double:
* Double XL:
* Queen:
* King:
* Super King:
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.
See also
*
Infant bed
An infant bed (commonly called a cot in British English, and, in American English, a crib, or far less commonly, stock) is a small bed especially for infants and very young children. Infant beds are a historically recent development intended to c ...
*
Toddler bed A toddler bed is a small bed designed for toddlers. A child grows capable of escaping an infant bed around one and a half or two years of age, at which they are often transitioned to a toddler bed. They become too large for a toddler bed between the ...
*
Bed sheet
A bed sheet is a rectangular piece of cloth used either singly or in a pair as bedding, which is larger in length and width than a mattress, and which is placed immediately above a mattress or bed, but below blankets and other bedding (such as ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bed Size
Beds
Mattresses
Mechanical standards