The short answer
US and European mattress sizes use completely different naming conventions and different dimensions. A US Queen is 60 × 80 inches (152 × 203 cm). A European Standard double is 140 × 200 cm (55 × 79 in). A European Super King is 180 × 200 cm (71 × 79 in). The names overlap but the sizes do not.
The biggest mismatches:
- US King (76 × 80 in / 193 × 203 cm) is wider but slightly longer than the European 180 × 200 cm Super King
- UK King (5 ft × 6 ft 6 in / 150 × 200 cm) is much smaller than US King; it is closer to US Queen
- US Twin (38 × 75 in / 97 × 191 cm) has no exact European equivalent
This guide gives the full size chart for both systems and explains how to navigate when shopping across borders.
US mattress sizes
The standard US mattress sizes have been mostly stable since the 1960s:
| Name | Imperial | Metric | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin (Single) | 38 × 75 in | 97 × 191 cm | 1 child or small adult |
| Twin XL | 38 × 80 in | 97 × 203 cm | 1 tall adult |
| Full (Double) | 54 × 75 in | 137 × 191 cm | 1 adult comfortably, 2 cramped |
| Queen | 60 × 80 in | 152 × 203 cm | 2 adults |
| King | 76 × 80 in | 193 × 203 cm | 2 adults with space |
| California King | 72 × 84 in | 183 × 213 cm | 2 tall adults; longer than wide |
The Queen size is the modal American mattress, used in roughly 35 to 40 percent of US bedrooms. The King is the upmarket option, becoming standard in primary suites built since the 2000s.
Note that the Twin XL is the same length as a Queen (80 in), making it suitable for tall adults. Two Twin XL beds pushed together equal a King (76 × 80 in) and are sometimes sold as a “split king” for couples who want different mattresses.
UK mattress sizes
The UK uses different size names from both the US and continental Europe, and the dimensions differ:
| Name | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 3 ft × 6 ft 3 in | 90 × 190 cm |
| Small Double | 4 ft × 6 ft 3 in | 120 × 190 cm |
| Double | 4 ft 6 in × 6 ft 3 in | 135 × 190 cm |
| King | 5 ft × 6 ft 6 in | 150 × 200 cm |
| Super King | 6 ft × 6 ft 6 in | 180 × 200 cm |
| Emperor | 6 ft 6 in × 6 ft 6 in | 200 × 200 cm (variable) |
The UK is a hybrid metric-imperial system: marketing uses feet and inches, but technical specs use centimeters. The lengths cluster around 190 and 200 cm, shorter than US lengths.
The UK King (150 × 200 cm) is smaller than the US Queen (152 × 203 cm). When a British show or movie uses “King size” in dialogue, the bed they mean is closer in size to a US Queen.
Continental European mattress sizes
European mattresses use clean centimeter dimensions, typically in 20 cm increments:
| Width × Length | Common name | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|
| 90 × 200 cm | Single | 1 |
| 100 × 200 cm | Single (XL) | 1 |
| 120 × 200 cm | Small double | 1 to 2 (cramped) |
| 140 × 200 cm | Standard double / Queen (Europe) | 2 |
| 160 × 200 cm | Queen (Europe) / King | 2 |
| 180 × 200 cm | Super King (Europe) | 2 with space |
| 200 × 200 cm | Emperor / Grand King | 2 with significant space |
Continental Europe almost always uses 200 cm length. Some countries (Germany, the Netherlands) use 210 cm for “long” variants for taller sleepers.
The 140 × 200 cm “standard double” in Europe is similar in size to a US Queen, despite being called a different name. The “Queen” name in Europe more often refers to 160 × 200 cm, which is between US Queen (152 × 203 cm) and US King (193 × 203 cm).
Side-by-side comparison
For shopping or comparing across systems:
| US Name | US Size | Closest European Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 97 × 191 cm | European Single (90 × 200 cm) |
| Twin XL | 97 × 203 cm | European Single XL (100 × 200 cm) |
| Full | 137 × 191 cm | Small Double UK (135 × 200 cm) |
| Queen | 152 × 203 cm | European Standard Double (140 × 200 cm) or UK King (150 × 200 cm) |
| King | 193 × 203 cm | European Super King (180 × 200 cm), wider in US, shorter in EU |
| Cal King | 183 × 213 cm | Very rare in Europe; closest is 180 × 210 cm if available |
None of these match exactly. A US Queen is 12 cm wider and 3 cm longer than a UK King. A US King is 13 cm wider but 3 cm shorter than a European Super King. There is no perfect substitution.
For the conversions involved in mattress size measurement, see our mental math meters to feet guide. For converting metric construction dimensions in general (which affect bedroom layout), see convert metric blueprints to feet and inches.
Why the sizes diverged
The US Queen and King sizes emerged in the 1950s and 60s as American suburban housing expanded. Bedroom dimensions in standard American homes (averaging 12 × 12 ft / 3.6 × 3.6 m) accommodated a Queen comfortably. The King was a luxury size for larger primary bedrooms.
European bedroom dimensions were typically smaller, particularly in apartment-dense countries (Italy, France, Spain). European bed sizes evolved to fit smaller rooms, which is why the European widths (140 to 180 cm) are generally narrower than the US equivalents (152 to 193 cm).
The cotton supply chain reinforced these conventions. American cotton looms produced sheet fabrics in standard widths suited to US bed sizes. European looms produced different widths for European beds. By the time international trade in bedding was significant (1980s onward), the sizes were too entrenched to consolidate.
Practical shopping tips
If you are moving between countries:
- Check the bed first, not the bedding. Sheets are easy to buy in the right size when you know the mattress. Mattresses are hard to swap.
- Watch for the “King” naming trap. UK King ≠ US King ≠ European King in different countries. Always check exact cm or inch dimensions.
- Bedding from one country usually does not fit a mattress from another. A US fitted sheet on a European mattress will be loose at the corners and short on the length. Buy bedding in the same country as the mattress.
- Custom sizes are available. Premium retailers will make mattresses in any size on request, useful if you have an unusual existing bed frame.
- Hotel sizes are often “Queen” or “King” in marketing but the actual dimensions vary by region. Always check the specific dimensions if you care.
For more on US-specific size standards in homes, see standard ceiling heights in US homes and standard door heights worldwide. For broader US imperial dimensions in forms and travel, see metric height on US passport and visa forms.
Sources and further reading: