Double mattress measurements

Mattress size, don't leave home without it... People often go to a mattress store or shop online without having checked the size of their own mattress, thinking they are all standard, or something like this happens: "Didn't you take the measurement?", "But weren't you supposed to take it?". So, to save your marriage, or at least your evening, grab a tape measure and measure the bed base from outer frame edge to outer frame edge, not just the slats, because the mattress rests on both the frame and the slats. Here's how: how to measure your bed base.

Advice on measuring: measure more than once to be sure. Bed base measurements are never millimetre-perfect: if it measures 161x189, a standard 160x190 mattress will fit just fine.

Once the mattress size is established, it is important to know the appropriate bed size, where the mattress size must match the bed base. Go to the page double bed sizes: bed dimensions generally do not refer to the size of the bed base, but to the overall footprint of the double bed.

We Italians make life complicated in many ways, and mattress sizes on the market are one of them. Especially regarding length, where there are 3 variants (190 cm, 195 cm and 200 cm), in addition to all the available widths. Below are the most common mattress sizes on the market.

Baby cot mattress: 60x120x10 cm

After the crib comes the cot, which measures 60x120 cm (125 or 130 cm in length) and is usually 10 cm high. There is an intermediate size before the single mattress for teenagers and adults, namely 70x140 cm, a typical size in Northern European countries.

Mattresses and pillows for babies

Standard single mattress: 80x190 cm

The first standard adult mattress size, the most commonly used in Italy, with a possible length variant of 200 cm.

80x190 mattresses and accessories

Extra single mattress: 90x190 or 90x200 cm

A comfortable single size, namely 10 cm wider than the standard mattress, available in both 190 cm and 200 cm.

90x200 mattresses and accessories

Small double mattress: 120x190 cm

Usually the mattress size chosen by a single person who has enough space in the room and can therefore afford a more comfortable size. If necessary, it can be used by 2 people, but bear in mind that on a 120 cm wide mattress two people have 60 cm each: especially in summer, it is not ideal.

120x190 mattresses and accessories · Small double beds

French double: 140x190 or 140x200 cm

The first comfortable mattress size for two people is the so-called French small double, although to be fair we should call it a French double, since two people can sleep on it quite comfortably. It is only 20 cm narrower than the classic double, usually chosen by those with limited width in the room.

140x190 mattresses and accessories

Standard double: 160x190 cm

The standard double mattress size is 160x190, used in 90% of cases.

160x190 mattresses and accessories · 160x200

King size: 180x200 cm

The king size mattress is widely used in hotel suites and spacious bedrooms. It gives each of you a full 90 cm of space, essential if little humans frequently invade during the night...

180x200 mattresses and accessories

Standard mattress length

The standard mattress length is 190 cm, an optimal length for those up to 175 cm tall, but if you are lucky enough to be 180 cm or taller, 190 cm is not enough: your feet will hang off unless you sleep on your side in a fetal or semi-fetal position, curled up in a space shorter than your height.

What mattress length should a person who is 180 cm tall choose?

In Italy, the 195 cm length is also available, but 5 cm more than the 190 cm standard is really very little, just two fingers: a person who is 180 cm tall should choose 200 cm rather than 195 cm, as in many cases those 5 cm make a difference in price.

Double mattress width

The 160 cm wide mattress is the most common, a good compromise between comfort and space in a bedroom of traditional dimensions. The 140 cm size should be considered if the room is smaller, while 180 cm is the maximum standard size offered by retailers and therefore easily paired with standard sheets and bedding available on the market.

The average mattress height is between 22 and 26 cm: to ensure proper performance, it must have this thickness (with some exceptions). Generally, pocket-sprung mattresses are between 24 and 28 cm high, traditional spring mattresses between 22 and 26 cm, while memory foam mattresses, without springs, are between 20 and 24 cm. These are average values; in my opinion, mattress height is more of an aesthetic consideration: think, for example, of how a low headboard could be partially hidden by a tall mattress. This is to say that choosing your Best Mattress starting from its height is not recommended.

The tallest mattresses are those with toppers, like in luxury hotels, reaching up to 40 cm: think of the Simmons Constellation Elite, a significant price, certainly, but an undisputed top-of-the-range model when we talk about the best luxury mattresses.

In addition to standard double sizes, there are oversized dimensions beyond the classic 180x200 King size, used especially in the USA and in many hotels:

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