Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King: A No-Nonsense Bed Size Guide for Couples
Bed size is one of those decisions people get wrong quietly — nobody complains until they've lived with it for six months. Here's a straight comparison to help two people actually sleep comfortably.
The sizes, in order
- Single (3ft): one person only — not viable for couples.
- Small double (4ft): technically fits two, but each person gets roughly the width of a single bed. Workable short-term, tight long-term.
- Double (4ft6): the most common choice for couples, and the minimum most sleep experts recommend for two adults.
- King (5ft): a noticeable step up — each person effectively gets their own single bed's width of space.
- Super king (6ft): the most room available, ideal if either of you moves around a lot in your sleep, or you co-sleep with children or pets.
What actually matters for couples
Room size aside, the biggest factor is sleep style. If one or both of you shift positions often, wake up when the other moves, or share the bed with a child or dog most nights, go up a size from what you'd choose alone. If you sleep still and the room is small, a double is genuinely fine for most couples.
Don't forget the room
A super king needs roughly 3.4m x 3.4m of usable floor space once you account for wardrobes and walking room — measure before you fall in love with one. If you're tight on space but still want the extra width, our ottoman storage beds let you reclaim wardrobe space elsewhere in the room.
Mattress and bedding sizing
Every size step up also means different sheets, duvets, and mattress protectors — factor that into your budget when upgrading. Our size chart below shows exact dimensions for each.
Shop by size: Double, King, Super King. For exact measurements, see our full UK Bed and Mattress Size Guide.