Selecting the right bed size

Selecting the correct bed size for you and your partner is critical to getting a good and restful night's sleep. Most beds and mattresses come in both standard and non standard sizes, so there are plenty of options.

Remember, getting the correct bed size is just as important as getting the right type of mattress.

Standard bed and mattress sizes

In the UK and the USA standard bed sizes are - single, double, king size and super king size. King and super king have extra length as well as additional width. Some manufacturers will also offer a queen sizes.

Bed height

Bed height is something that most people fail to consider but beds do vary in height quite considerably. The frame or divan combined with the thickness of the mattress all effect the total height. If you would feel uncomfortable sleeping on a high bed, be aware of this when choosing what to buy.

Getting the right size

There is one important guide that you should always be aware of when buying a new bed and it is this –

Always buy the biggest bed that you can afford and that will fit in your bedroom.

The bigger the bed, the more manoeuvring room you will have and, if there are two of you, you are less likely to disturb or be disturbed by your partner.

What this means is that –

• If you sleep alone, do not buy a single bed if you have room for a double bed.
• If you sleep with a partner, do not buy a double bed if you have room for a king or super-king size bed.

Why is bed size so important – width

There are a number of important reasons for selecting the biggest bed that your room and budget can accommodate and they all relate to maximising the amount of room that you have for moving and adjusting your sleeping position. More space equals a better night's sleep. So how should you use this approach to select a bed.

A typical single bed is quite small (narrow). This means that it does not allow you to roll over from your back to your front without having to lift your body in order to do so. The result is that you will tend to wake up whenever you adjust your sleeping position. This disrupts your sleep.

Although most people are not aware of it, a standard double bed is not twice the size of a single bed. In fact it is considerably less wide than two single beds pushed together. The result is that two people sleeping in a double bed will actually have less room each than a single person sleeping in a standard single bed. This is far from good.

Bed length

Very few people think about the length of a bed and most are unaware that larger king and super-king sized beds are not only wider, but also longer than single and double size beds. This extra length equates to about 3 inches, which may not seem like a lot, but in reality it is very significant for a taller person.

Some single bed manufacturers also acknowledge the importance of bed length and offer their products in extra long (i.e. 3 inches longer than standard).

See this bed and mattress sizes for standard bed and mattress formats.