Double mattresses

What size is a double mattress?

A UK double mattress measures 135 x 190 cm, or 4ft6 x 6ft3, so you'll also see it listed as a 4ft6 mattress. It's 15 cm wider than a small double, and a king is 15 cm wider again and 10 cm longer.

Is a double mattress big enough for two adults?

A double mattress fits two adults, but each gets 67.5 cm of width, which is less than the 70 cm of a toddler's cot bed mattress. Many couples sleep well on one, particularly if neither partner is tall or restless.

A double also suits one adult who likes room to spread out, a couple in a smaller bedroom, and guest rooms. Consider stepping up to a king size mattress if:

• either of you is taller than about 175 to 180 cm, since a king is 10 cm longer;
• one of you moves a lot in the night, or you go to bed at different times;
• a child often climbs in, or you'd simply like 75 cm each rather than 67.5 cm.

If the bed is only for you and the room is small, a small double mattress is 15 cm narrower and still gives one adult plenty of space.

Will a European double fit a UK double bed?

A European double mattress won't fit a UK double bed: at 140 x 200 cm it's 5 cm wider and 10 cm longer than a 135 x 190 cm frame. A UK double in a European frame doesn't work well either, because it leaves gaps at the side and the foot.

Beds from IKEA and other European brands often take 140 x 200 cm, but not always, so measure inside the frame. An American full, at about 137 x 191 cm, is close to a UK double but not identical, so buy sheets labelled for a UK double. If your frame is 140 x 200 cm, you need one of our European double mattresses.

Which double mattress is best for couples?

For couples, pocket sprung and memory foam double mattresses both limit how much one person's movement disturbs the other better than open coil does. With only 67.5 cm each, that matters more on a double than on a bigger bed.

• Memory foam doubles: pass on very little movement and mould to each of you, but can feel warmer than springs.
• Pocket sprung doubles: each spring responds on its own and air moves through, which suits couples who sleep warm or need firmer support.
• Hybrids: pocket springs with a foam layer on top, a sensible middle ground if the two of you like different feels.

For firmness, medium is a fair compromise if you sleep in different positions. If one of you is much heavier, lean firmer, so the heavier side doesn't sink and roll you both towards the middle.

Will a double mattress fit up narrow stairs?

A rolled double mattress is the easy choice for narrow stairs, because it arrives compressed and vacuum packed in a box. A double delivered flat is 135 x 190 cm, so measure the tightest turn on your stairs and landing before you order one.

Unbox a rolled mattress soon after it arrives. You can sleep on it after a few hours, and it reaches full shape within 24 to 72 hours. Flat doubles come fully wrapped and are ready straight away. Each mattress page says which way it arrives; browse rolled mattresses if access is tight, and see the delivery page for details.

If you're torn between a double and a king, measure the room as well as the bed: a king needs 15 cm more width and 10 cm more length, plus space to walk round. Our team can help through the contact page.

Written by the Mattress Town team. Last updated 9 October 2026.