How to Measure a Bed (Frame, Mattress, and Room Fit)
Bed sizes vary wildly between countries, and so do mattresses. Three measurements that prevent ordering the wrong bed for your room or your existing mattress.
A UK king is smaller than a US king. A US queen is bigger than a UK king. A European 160×200 cm is between them. Before you buy a bed online, measure your room and your existing mattress (if you're keeping it) to avoid a country-mismatch problem.
Por que medir isto
- Avoid buying a bed frame that doesn't fit the mattress
- Confirm room has clearance for the bed + bedside tables
- Plan headboard height vs window sill or wall art
- Check stairwell + doorway clearance for delivery
O que você precisa
- iPhone with Ruler AR
- Length and Height modes
- Existing mattress dimensions (or sticker on the side)
Passo a passo
- Mattress width and length. If keeping the mattress: tap each edge with Length mode. Mattress sizes are standardised in country: US Twin 99×191, US Full 137×191, US Queen 152×203, US King 198×203. UK Single 90×190, UK Double 137×190, UK King 152×200. European: 90, 140, 160, 180 × 200 are standard.
- Bed footprint (mattress + frame). Bed frames typically add 5-15 cm in each direction beyond the mattress. Brass and four-poster frames add more. Measure the frame separately if you have its spec, or budget +10 cm each side.
- Bed height (mattress + frame). Floor to top of mattress when made. Affects headboard height and how you climb in. Standard: 50-60 cm. Platform beds: 30-40 cm. Tall beds with storage drawers: 60-75 cm.
- Room clearance for bed + bedside tables. Bed width + 2× bedside table width = total room footprint. Allow 60 cm minimum on each side for table + walking space. So a queen + two tables needs ~270 cm of wall space.
- Doorway and stairwell delivery. Beds usually ship in pieces (mattress separate, frame disassembled) but mattresses are often single-piece. Measure your door, stairwell, and corridors for the mattress, not the frame.
Dicas
- Bunky boards and bed risers can change mattress height by 10-20 cm, adjust if you have low ceilings
- Adjustable bed frames need 5-10 cm of clearance behind for tilting
- King-size mattresses sometimes ship in two halves zip-locked together, measure each half
Erros comuns
- Ordering a bed frame based on country naming (UK king ≠ US king)
- Not measuring room for bedside tables, fancy bed but no room for water glass
- Forgetting headboard height clearance, affects wall art or window placement
Perguntas frequentes
Is a UK king the same as a US king?
No. UK king is 152×200 cm. US king is 198×203 cm. They are very different. Always measure your existing mattress.
How much room do I need around a bed?
60 cm minimum on each side for walking and bedside tables. 90 cm preferred. Less than 60 cm: bedside tables won't fit; bed feels cramped.
Can my mattress fit through my doorway?
Mattresses can flex slightly but not fold. Standard interior doors (~80 cm) accommodate twin/full mattresses. Queens (152 cm) and kings (198 cm) need wider doors or removed-door tricks.