Bed sizes in hotels – what you know and what you thought you knew!

You’re visiting a foreign country and decide to stay in a hotel. Not a bad idea at all. You ask to see their bedroom availability as well as their prices. You look down the list and find that a single bed, alone in one room, is not an option. You’re frustrated but the receptionist explains that most people end up wanting twin beds or a king size bed anyway so single beds are not available.

This is the dilemma that is faced by many tourists or travellers when visiting other countries. It cannot be stressed enough that different countries have different bed size standards which also translates into certain hotels not carrying certain bed sizes.

Here in this article, we’ll help you clarify certain misconceptions about hotel bed sizes as well as the difference between Britain’s standard sizes compared to other countries to ensure that when travelling across the globe, you’re never left unsatisfied!

British standard bed sizes

Single (twin beds) – Single beds measure a length of 190cm and a width of 90cm. They are most suitable for young children and teenagers.

Double – Double beds measure a length of 190cm and a width of 135cm. They are commonly used by adults, especially couples.

King – King beds measure a length of 200cm and a width of 150cm. They are perfect for couples who prefer more room as well as for taller individuals. Check out our range of bestselling Ottoman storage beds that come in a range of sizes here.

And now we’ll compare and contrast the British bed sizes to the European ones which are as follows:

European standard bed sizes

Single (twin beds) – In Europe single beds measure a length of 200 cm and a width of 90cm. Although their width is the same as British single beds, their added 10cm in length can really be the difference between a tall person sleeping comfortable or having to cramp up their longer frame to fit in the bed.

Double – European doubles have a length of 200 cm and a width of 140 cm. Both their length and their width are bigger than the British standard double.

King – European king size beds have a length of 200 cm and a width of 160 cm. Compared to their British counterparts, these beds are surprisingly similar in length and width, however, just like with every other bed, Europeans might be slightly surprised when visiting to find the bed and mattresses slightly smaller.

American standard bed sizes

Single (twin beds) – American singles bed are made to a length of 190 cm and a width of 90 cm. Whilst the same size as the British standard, Europe surpasses them in width by 10 cm.

Double – American doubles have a length of 190 cm and a width of 135 cm, making them the exact same as the British standard but significantly smaller than the European double bed size.

King – The American King comes in at a length of 200 cm and a width of 150 cm, again making British and American sizes the same but leaving the European king as the ruler of them in which has a width of 160 cm unlike the other two.

What you want VS what you get

Below are some common occurrences when booking hotel rooms and beds in other countries. Make sure you confirm with hotel staff that the bed really is exactly as you want it.

You ask for a double bed but get two single beds put together instead. This is quite common in Europe in what some refer to as a ‘French double’ bed. Speak to hotel management if this occurs. Perhaps you’re on holiday with someone and don’t literally want to share a bed.

Usually, staff will be more than happy to split the two beds or offer another appropriate alternative.

If you stumble upon a hotel that advertises king-size beds then it is probably just a queen bed with queen-size measurements; however, In the United States this type of bed can measure 193 cm x 203 cm.

Although standard beds sizes can be expected, some hotels have custom made bed sizes. It’s worth checking in advance to ensure that the bed fully meets you needs, right down to what mattresses they use (if you want!).