European Bed Sizes: How They Compare to US Mattresses

That beautiful platform bed you found from an overseas maker might arrive and leave a gap of several inches around your American mattress. European bed sizes are measured in centimeters and follow a different logic than US sizes, with most continental mattresses running 200 cm long (about 78.7 inches) and widths that step up in neat 20 cm increments. A European “double” at 140 x 200 cm is narrower than a US full, and a continental king at 180 x 200 cm is a few inches narrower than a US king.

Those small differences matter because frames, fitted sheets and duvet covers are cut to exact dimensions. A frame built for 160 x 200 cm will not take a 60 x 80 inch US queen without a gap at the sides and a mattress hanging off the foot. We walk through continental and UK sizes, how each one lines up against twin, full, queen and king, and what to do if you are importing a frame, moving abroad or buying European bedding for an American bed.

European Bed Sizes in Centimeters and Inches

Continental Europe, including countries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic region, uses metric sizes based on width and length in centimeters. Lengths of 200 cm are standard, with 190 cm and 210 to 220 cm versions available in some markets. Widths are the main variable.

Names are loose across Europe. A store in one country may call 160 x 200 a double, while another calls it a queen. Always shop by the centimeter measurement rather than the label, and you will avoid most mismatches.

UK Bed Sizes Are Their Own System

The United Kingdom and Ireland historically used imperial measurements and still sell beds that do not match continental sizes. UK mattresses are generally 190 cm long for single and double sizes, which is shorter than both EU and US standards.

• UK single: 90 x 190 cm (about 35 x 75 inches)
• UK small double: 120 x 190 cm (about 48 x 75 inches)
• UK double: 135 x 190 cm (about 54 x 75 inches)
• UK king: 150 x 200 cm (about 60 x 78 inches)
• UK super king: 180 x 200 cm (about 72 x 78 inches)

Notice that a UK king is close in width to a US queen, and a UK super king lines up with a continental king. It is easy to see how bedding bought in London can confuse a buyer in Chicago.

How European Sizes Compare to US Mattresses

US mattresses are measured in inches, and most adult sizes are 75 or 80 inches long. Side by side with European bed sizes, the closest matches look like this.

The biggest surprise for most people is the king. A continental king is almost exactly a California king in width but shorter. Many European couples who want a US king’s width push two 90 x 200 cm singles together on one frame, which gives 180 cm total and allows separate firmness on each side.

Why Imported Frames and Bedding Don’t Fit

A gap of 1 to 3 inches sounds minor until you live with it. A mattress that is too small for a frame slides around, leaves a gap that traps pillows and can let slats show. A mattress that is too large will not sit inside a frame with raised side rails at all.

Frames

European frames are often built with inset slats and side rails that fit snugly around the mattress. A 160 x 200 cm frame has an interior of about 63 x 78.7 inches. A US queen at 60 x 80 inches will be 3 inches loose in width and about 1.3 inches too long, so it either rests on the footboard or overhangs.

Fitted sheets

Fitted sheets have the least tolerance. A sheet cut for 140 x 200 cm stretched over a 54 x 75 inch US full will bunch at the foot because the US mattress is almost 4 inches shorter. Deep pockets and elastic help, but the fit is never quite crisp.

Duvets and covers

Continental duvets are commonly sold in sizes like 135 x 200, 155 x 220 and 200 x 200 cm, and many European households use two single duvets on a double bed instead of one shared cover. If you bring a duvet cover home, buy the duvet insert in the same metric size so the corners line up.

How to Measure Before You Buy

If you are importing a frame, buying a mattress for a European frame you already own or shopping for linens abroad, measuring first saves expensive returns.

1. Measure the frame interior. Run the tape between the inside faces of the side rails and from headboard to footboard. Write it down in both centimeters and inches.
2. Measure the mattress. Measure width and length across the middle of the top surface, not the bulging seams. Record the height too.
3. Compare against the chart. Find the nominal size closest to your measurements and note the difference in each direction.
4. Allow a small margin. A mattress should be 0.5 to 1 inch smaller than the frame interior so you can tuck sheets. More than 2 inches of gap usually looks and feels loose.
5. Check slat spacing. Many mattress warranties require slats no more than about 3 inches apart. European frames sometimes use flexible sprung slats that work differently from US foundations.

Options When Sizes Don’t Match

If you already own a European frame and want to use it in the US, the cleanest solution is to buy a mattress in the matching metric size. Several online mattress sellers and specialty shops in the US offer European sizes, though selection is smaller and shipping can cost more.

When that is not practical, a few workarounds help. Foam spacers or a padded frame insert can fill a 2 to 3 inch side gap. A custom-cut foam mattress can match any dimension. For bedding, look for sheet sets sold in metric sizes, or buy a slightly larger US set and accept a looser fit. Moving the other direction, an American mattress in Europe will be hard to dress with local sheets, so it often makes sense to sell it and start over with local sizes.

Bedroom Planning With Metric Beds

European beds can feel smaller in a room because many frames are low and minimal, but their footprint is similar to US beds. Plan for at least 24 to 30 inches of walking clearance on both sides and at the foot. A 180 x 200 cm king with a slim frame needs a room roughly 11 x 12 feet to feel comfortable, the same as a US queen with nightstands. Low platform frames also put the mattress closer to the floor, so pick a floor surface that is easy to clean underneath and add a rug that extends 18 to 24 inches beyond each side of the bed.

General Cost Considerations

Buying a metric mattress in the US usually costs somewhat more than an equivalent US size because of limited supply and shipping. Imported frames can carry significant freight charges and long lead times. Bedding in European sizes is typically comparable in price to US bedding if you buy from a seller that stocks it, but expect fewer color and fabric choices. Factor these costs in before falling for a frame that will need a specialty mattress for as long as you own it.