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What is your preferred sleeping position?
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Side Sleeper
Needs pressure relief
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Back Sleeper
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Stomach Sleeper
Needs firm surface
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Do you have any pain or health concerns?
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Back Pain
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Sleep Hot
Need cooling mattress
What size mattress do you need?
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Single
90ร—190 cm
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Double
135ร—190 cm
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King
150ร—200 cm
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Super King
180ร—200 cm
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ยฃ400โ€“ยฃ800 / $500โ€“$1000
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ยฃ800+ / $1000+
What type of mattress do you prefer?
Each type has unique benefits.
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Memory Foam
Contouring, pressure relief
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Pocket Sprung
Bounce, good airflow
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Hybrid
Foam + springs combo
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Latex / Organic
Natural, eco-friendly

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Complete Mattress Guide 2025 โ€“ Double Mattress Sizes, Types & Best Picks for UK, USA & Europe
Perfect Mattress for Your Sleep

Everything You Need to Know About
Choosing the Perfect Mattress

Double mattress sizes, memory foam vs spring, firmness guide, and the best picks for side sleepers, couples & children โ€” for UK, USA & Europe.

10 min read Expert Reviewed UK ยท USA ยท Europe Free Mattress Finder Tool

Buying a mattress is one of the most important purchases you'll make โ€” and yet most people spend less time choosing one than they do picking a sofa. A good mattress can transform your sleep, reduce back pain, and genuinely improve your daily energy levels. A poor one can do the opposite for years.

This guide cuts through the noise. Whether you're shopping for a double mattress, a small double for a compact room, or trying to decode the difference between memory foam and pocket springs, you'll find clear, honest answers below โ€” plus our free Mattress Finder Tool to match you with the right choice in minutes.

What Size is a Double Mattress?

One of the most common questions we receive is: "What are the dimensions of a double bed mattress?" The answer varies slightly by country, which causes no end of confusion when shopping online. Here is a definitive breakdown.

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UK Standard

Double Mattress

135 ร— 190 cm
4ft 6in ร— 6ft 3in โ€” the UK's most popular size for couples & solo sleepers
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Small Double

120 ร— 190 cm
4ft ร— 6ft 3in โ€” perfect for guest rooms or smaller bedrooms
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Full / Double

137 ร— 191 cm
54in ร— 75in โ€” US equivalent of the double; slightly narrower than UK
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European Double

140 ร— 200 cm
Standard across France, Germany & Spain โ€” 10cm longer than UK
Quick Answer A standard UK double mattress measures 135 cm wide ร— 190 cm long (4ft 6in ร— 6ft 3in). A small double mattress is 120 ร— 190 cm. US and European doubles differ slightly โ€” always check dimensions before buying, especially when ordering a double bed with mattress as a set.

All Standard Mattress Sizes Explained

Understanding all the sizes helps you plan properly โ€” particularly if you're measuring your bedroom, buying a new bed frame, or ordering a mattress topper for a double.

Size Name UK Dimensions US Equivalent Best For
Single90 ร— 190 cmTwin (99 ร— 191 cm)Children, small rooms
Small Double120 ร— 190 cmโ€”Guest rooms, studio flats
Double135 ร— 190 cmFull (137 ร— 191 cm)Couples, solo adults
King150 ร— 200 cmQueen (153 ร— 203 cm)Couples wanting more space
Super King180 ร— 200 cmKing (193 ร— 203 cm)Generous space, larger rooms
Emperor (EU)200 ร— 200 cmCalifornia King (183 ร— 213 cm)Luxury, spacious bedrooms
Room Size Tip For a double mattress (135 ร— 190 cm), your bedroom should ideally be at least 3m ร— 3.5m to allow comfortable movement around the bed. For a king, aim for at least 3.5m ร— 4m.

Memory Foam vs Spring Mattress โ€” Which is Better?

This is the great mattress debate, and the honest answer is: it depends on you. Both types have real strengths. The best choice comes down to how you sleep, your body type, and your priorities.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam was originally developed by NASA and is made from viscoelastic material that contours precisely to the shape of your body. It responds to heat and pressure, creating a "sinking in" sensation that many sleepers find deeply comfortable.

โœฆ Pros

  • Excellent pressure relief โ€” ideal for joint pain
  • Minimal motion transfer (great for couples)
  • Contours perfectly to body shape
  • Hypoallergenic โ€” resists dust mites
  • Silent โ€” no creaking or noise

โœฆ Cons

  • Can retain heat (look for gel-infused foam)
  • Slower to respond when changing positions
  • May feel too soft for stomach sleepers
  • Heavier and harder to move
  • Off-gassing smell when new

Spring (Pocket Sprung) Mattresses

Pocket spring mattresses contain individually wrapped coil springs. Each spring moves independently, which means the mattress responds locally to pressure rather than across the whole surface โ€” a significant improvement over older open-coil designs.

โœฆ Pros

  • Better airflow โ€” naturally cooler to sleep on
  • More responsive โ€” easy to change position
  • Firmer, more supportive feel
  • Wide range of firmness options
  • Often more affordable at entry level

โœฆ Cons

  • More motion transfer than foam
  • Springs can squeak over time
  • Less precise pressure point relief
  • Heavier to flip and maintain
  • Quality varies hugely by spring count
Our Verdict For most people, a hybrid mattress (pocket springs with a memory foam comfort layer on top) gives you the best of both worlds โ€” the support and breathability of springs, with the pressure relief and body-contouring of foam. This is now the most popular mattress category in the UK.

Mattress Firmness Guide

Firmness is rated on a scale from 1 (very soft) to 10 (very firm), though most brands use descriptive terms. Your ideal firmness depends primarily on your sleeping position and body weight.

Soft (2โ€“3)
Side sleepers, lighter frames under 65kg
Medium Soft (4)
Side sleepers, average weight
Medium (5โ€“6)
Combination sleepers, most body types
Medium Firm (7)
Back sleepers, heavier frames
Firm (8โ€“10)
Stomach sleepers, back pain sufferers needing spinal support
Sleep PositionRecommended FirmnessWhy
Side SleeperSoft to Medium (3โ€“5)Cushions hips and shoulders, keeps spine aligned
Back SleeperMedium to Firm (5โ€“7)Supports lumbar curve without sinking
Stomach SleeperFirm (7โ€“9)Prevents hips sinking, which strains the lower back
Combination SleeperMedium (5โ€“6)Balances support and pressure relief for movement

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is the most common position โ€” and it places the most pressure on the shoulders and hips. If you wake up with a numb shoulder or sore hip, your mattress is almost certainly too firm for your sleeping style.

Side sleepers need a mattress that cushions the shoulder and hip while still keeping the spine in a neutral, straight line. A mattress that is too firm will leave gaps at the waist and create uneven pressure; one that is too soft will cause the shoulder to sink too deep and the spine to curve.

What to Look For

Choose a medium or medium-soft mattress (firmness 3โ€“5) with a generous comfort layer of memory foam or latex on top. Look for a mattress with a spring count of at least 1,000 in a double size, and a comfort layer of at least 3โ€“4cm of foam. Hybrid designs perform particularly well for side sleepers because the springs provide underlying support while the foam layer cushions pressure points precisely.

Best Mattress for Couples

Sharing a bed adds complexity to the buying decision. Two people rarely have identical sleep preferences, and one partner's movement can disturb the other all night long.

The most important feature for couples is low motion transfer. Memory foam and pocket spring hybrids excel here, because each pocket spring (and each foam cell) responds independently โ€” meaning you won't feel every time your partner rolls over. Open-coil spring mattresses are the worst offenders for motion transfer and are best avoided for shared beds.

If you and your partner have significantly different firmness preferences, consider a zip-and-link mattress โ€” two mattresses of different firmness zipped together as one โ€” or a dual-tension pocket spring mattress where each side has a different spring tension. A super king (180 ร— 200 cm) is the recommended size for couples who want genuine space to sleep undisturbed.

Best Mattress for Children

Children's mattresses are often overlooked, but they matter enormously. A growing child spends more hours sleeping per day than an adult, and a supportive mattress aids proper spinal development.

For children under 12, opt for a medium-firm mattress rather than a soft one. Children are lighter and don't need as much cushioning as adults, and a firmer surface promotes better posture. Avoid very soft memory foam for young children. Pocket spring mattresses with a thin comfort layer are an excellent choice.

Look for mattresses with removable, washable covers โ€” accidents happen. Hypoallergenic materials (natural latex, tightly woven fabrics) are also worth prioritising for children prone to allergies or asthma. A single mattress (90 ร— 190 cm) works well until the teenage years, when a small double may be worth considering.

How to Choose the Right Mattress: A Step-by-Step Guide

With hundreds of options available, the process can feel overwhelming. Break it down into five clear steps:

Step 1 โ€” Know Your Budget

A quality double mattress starts at around ยฃ300โ€“ยฃ500 in the UK, $400โ€“$700 in the US, and โ‚ฌ350โ€“โ‚ฌ600 in Europe. Mid-range options (ยฃ500โ€“ยฃ1,200) represent the sweet spot for most buyers, offering good materials and construction without diminishing returns. Anything under ยฃ250 is likely to use low-density foam or open coils that will deteriorate quickly.

Step 2 โ€” Identify Your Sleep Position

As covered in the firmness guide above, your sleeping position is the single most important factor in choosing firmness. If you sleep in multiple positions, choose medium (5โ€“6) as your default.

Step 3 โ€” Consider Health Conditions

Back pain sufferers generally benefit from medium-firm support with good lumbar support. Hip or shoulder pain responds best to pressure-relieving foam. If you run hot at night, look for gel memory foam or natural latex, both of which sleep cooler than standard foam.

Step 4 โ€” Measure Your Room and Bed Frame

Always measure twice. Double-check that your bed frame matches standard dimensions if you're buying them separately. A double mattress (135 ร— 190 cm in the UK) will not fit a European double frame (140 ร— 200 cm) without an unsightly gap.

Step 5 โ€” Use a Trial Period

Your body takes 2โ€“4 weeks to fully adjust to a new mattress. Most reputable UK and US brands now offer a 100-night trial period. Don't buy a mattress from any brand that doesn't offer at least a 60-night in-home trial โ€” you simply cannot judge comfort from a five-minute showroom test.

Do You Need a Mattress Topper for Your Double?

A mattress topper double is a layer of material โ€” foam, latex, wool, or feather โ€” placed on top of your existing mattress to alter its feel. It is not a replacement for a worn-out mattress, but it can meaningfully extend the life of a good one or fine-tune the comfort level.

Consider a topper if: your mattress is slightly too firm and you want to add softness; you're a side sleeper who needs extra cushioning on the shoulders and hips; or you share a bed and want to add a softer layer without replacing the whole mattress. A 3โ€“4cm memory foam topper or a natural wool topper are the most popular choices for double beds in the UK.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact measurements of a double mattress in the UK?
A standard UK double mattress is 135 cm wide ร— 190 cm long (4 feet 6 inches ร— 6 feet 3 inches). A small double mattress is slightly narrower at 120 ร— 190 cm (4ft ร— 6ft 3in). These differ from the US Full/Double (137 ร— 191 cm) and European Double (140 ร— 200 cm), so always verify dimensions when purchasing frames and bedding separately.
How big is a double mattress โ€” is it big enough for two people?
A double mattress (135 ร— 190 cm) gives each person roughly 67.5 cm of width โ€” about the width of a single mattress shared. It is workable for two people but can feel cramped, especially if either person moves a lot during sleep. For couples who prioritise sleep quality, a king size (150 ร— 200 cm) or larger is strongly recommended.
What size is a small double mattress?
A small double mattress measures 120 cm ร— 190 cm (4ft ร— 6ft 3in). It is narrower than a standard double (135 cm) but the same length. It's a popular choice for guest bedrooms, studio apartments, or teenagers who want more sleeping space than a single without taking up as much room as a full double.
Is memory foam or spring better for back pain?
Most physiotherapists recommend a medium-firm mattress for back pain โ€” not too soft that the hips sink, not so firm that pressure points are unrelieved. In practice, a hybrid mattress (pocket springs with a memory foam comfort layer) tends to perform best: the springs provide consistent lumbar support while the foam layer relieves pressure at the hips and shoulders.
How long should a mattress last?
A quality mattress should last 8โ€“10 years with proper care. Signs that it's time to replace yours include visible sagging or indentations deeper than 2โ€“3 cm, consistently waking up with aches you didn't have before, or noticeably better sleep when away from home. Rotating your mattress every 3โ€“6 months significantly extends its lifespan.
Do I need a mattress topper for my double bed?
A double mattress topper (120 ร— 190 cm for small double, or 135 ร— 190 cm for standard double) is useful if you want to adjust the feel of an existing mattress, add a layer of pressure relief, or protect a new mattress. It is not a substitute for a worn-out mattress. A 3โ€“4cm memory foam or wool topper is the most popular choice for UK double beds.