Bed Sizes

Beds come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Most countries have a standard set of four sizes of mattresses. While the Double size appears to be standard among English speaking countries, based on the imperial measurement of 4 ft 6 in by 6 ft 3 in, the sizes for other bed types tend to vary. The European sizes differ; they are based on the metric system.

A king-sized bed differs from the other sizes in implementation, as it is not common to have a king-sized box spring; rather, two smaller box-springs are used under a king-sized mattress. On a U.S. Standard or “Eastern” King, the box springs are identical in size to a Twin Extra-Long.

Standard sizes

Modern manufacturing conventions have resulted in a limited number of standard sizes of commercial bedding for mattresses and box springs. They vary by country of origin.

	U.S.[3]	Australia[4]	UK[5]	Europe
Twin / Single	39 × 75 in 97 × 191 cm	36 × 75 in 91 × 191 cm		35 × 79 in 90 × 200 cm
Double / Full	54 × 75 in 137 × 191 cm			55 × 79 in 140 × 200 cm
Queen (UK King)	60 × 80 in 152 × 203 cm		60 × 78 in 152 × 198 cm	63 × 79 in 160 × 200 cm
King (UK Super King)	76 × 80 in 193 × 203 cm	72 × 80 in 183 × 203 cm	72 × 78 in 183 × 198 cm	71 × 79 in 180 × 200 cm

The sizes in the UK, other than the Double, vary compared to the U.S. sizes, being generally smaller. The U.S. Queen corresponds to UK King and King to Super King. The European or continental basic sizes are similar to the UK but have a set length of 2 metres. The denominations Queen, King and Super King are not used in continental Europe, and Double refers to 140cm or any higher width. Instead of these US/UK denominations, the bed width is given in centimeters.

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.

Historically^{[attribution needed]}, Single referred to a bed size that was half the width of a Double, that is, approximately the width of one pillow. In Western nations, such beds have become quite rare, with a Twin bed becoming the standard for one-person sleeping.^{[citation needed]} Without another common use for the term Single and with the term Double being widely used, Single has come to be another term for a twin bed in these places.

Portable cots are generally the size of original single beds.^{[citation needed]}

Other U.S. sizes

Twin Extra Long

38 × 80 in (0.99 × 2.03 m)

This size is fairly popular in college dormitories.

Three Quarter

48 × 75 in (1.22 × 1.90 m) often (47-48) X 72 in. sizing varies.

This size is considered obsolete by the major manufacturers.

Super Single

48 × 84 in (1.22 × 2.13 m)

Olympic Queen

66 × 80 in (1.68 × 2.03 m) a novelty size by Simmons

California Queen

60 × 84 in (1.52 × 2.13 m)

Eastern King

76 x 80 in (1.93 x 2.03 m)

An alternate name for a U.S. King.

California King

72 × 84 in (1.83 × 2.13 m)

A common size on the West Coast of the United States, also called a Western King, West Coast King, or WC King.

Long King

72 x 104 in (1.83 m × 2.64m)^{[citation needed]}

Other UK sizes

Small Single

30 × 75 in (0.76 × 1.91 m)

Super Single

42 × 75 in (1.07 × 1.91 m)

Small Double / Three Quarter

48 × 75 in (1.22 × 1.91 m)

Normal Double

54 x 75 in (1.37 x 1.91 m)

Other European sizes

Modern continental 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

0.75 × 2 m (30 × 79 in)

Small Single

0.8 × 2 m (31 × 79 in)

Large Single

1 × 2 m (39 × 79 in)

In France, the length of older beds is sometimes 1.9 m instead of 2 m.^{[citation needed]}

Other Australian sizes

Single Extra Long

0.92 x 2.03 m (36 in by 80 in)

King Single

1.06 × 2.03 m (41 × 80 in)

Other New Zealand sizes

The following bed sizes are available in New Zealand:^[6]

Long Single

0.90 × 2.03 m (35 × 80 in)

King Single

1.05 × 2.03 m (41 × 80 in)

Long Double

1.35 × 2.03 m (53 × 80 in)

King

1.65 × 2.03 m (65 × 80 in)

Super King

1.80 × 2.03 m (71 × 80 in)

Californian King

2.00 × 2.03 m (79 × 80 in)

Beds

A bed (listen) is a piece of furniture or location primarily used as a place to sleep.To make beds more comfortable, the top layer is frequently a mattress. Originally these were bags of straw for most people and filled with feathers for the wealthy.^{[citation needed]} Eventually new fillings such as cotton and artificial fillers became common. In modern times most mattresses use springs, solid foam, latex, water, or air.

The second layer is the box spring. The box spring or “divan” is a large mattress-sized box containing wood and springs that provide additional support and suspension for the mattress.

The third layer is the bed frame. The bed frame lifts the mattress/mattress-box spring off the ground.

A dust ruffle, bed skirt, or valance sheet may be used to make the bed frame match the rest of the bedding.

For greater head support, most people use a pillow, placed at the top of a mattress. Also used is some form of covering blanket to provide warmth to the sleeper, often bed sheets, a quilt, or a duvet.

Also, some people prefer to dispense with the box spring and bed frame, and replace it with a platform bed style. This is more common in the European region.