How to Measure Bed Size

We’ve all been there—you fall in love with a bed online, place the order, and when it finally arrives, it won’t fit through the door. Or worse, it barely squeezes through every hallway and corner, only to find it dominates your bedroom or doesn’t fit at all.

At Gone2Sleep, we want to make sure your new bed fits perfectly into your home and your life. That’s why we’ve created this easy-to-follow bed measuring guide. Whether you’re choosing your first bed, upgrading to a king, or moving house, this guide will help you make a smart, stress-free purchase.

How to Tell If a Bed Will Fit in a Room

Before you hit “checkout”, it’s important to think about more than just bed style and comfort—you need to know if it will physically fit into your home. Use the following checks to avoid any delivery disasters:

• Measure doorways, staircases, hallways, and ceilings for clearance
• Look out for tight corners or low-hanging light fixtures
• Check if the bed arrives flat-packed or pre-assembled
• For ottoman or storage beds, ensure drawers or lift mechanisms have room to open
• Consider elevators (if applicable) for flats or apartments

Taking time to do these checks now will save a lot of hassle later on.

How to Choose the Right Bed Size

Choosing a bed isn’t just about colour or headboard design—it’s about picking the right size for your space. A king-size bed in a tiny room will leave you feeling cramped, while a single bed in a large room might look lost.

Here’s how to pick the right bed frame size for your bedroom:

• Measure your room first (length, width, and ceiling height)
• Visualise the bed in your space using masking tape on the floor
• Allow for clearance around all sides (we’ll cover exact measurements below)

Explore our bed size guide to discover which beds will work best for your space.

What Is the Standard Size of a UK Bedroom?

There’s no official “standard” bedroom size in the UK, but most rooms will meet a minimum of 7ft x 10ft (70 sq. ft). This size will comfortably fit a single bed, which is also the legal minimum for a space to be called a bedroom.

Of course, many bedrooms are larger than this, so understanding bedroom-to-bed-size compatibility is key when shopping.

Recommended Bedroom Sizes by Bed Type

To help you decide which bed size will work best in your room, here’s a handy guide:

These dimensions ensure you have enough room to move around the bed, open doors and drawers, and avoid a cluttered look.

How Much Space Do You Need Around a Bed?

There’s no strict rule, but here are some good guidelines:

• Ideally, allow at least 60 cm of walking space on each side
• For storage beds, consider how far drawers extend
• For ottoman beds, ensure there’s room to lift the bed safely
• For TV beds, check the extra length needed for the built-in mechanism

Bonus tip: If you’re considering bunk beds or high-sleepers for children, make sure there’s enough clearance between the top bunk and the ceiling for safe entry and exit.

How to Measure Bed Size

Want to know your current bed size or measure for a new one? Here’s how:

1. Length: Measure from the top (headboard) to the bottom (footboard) of the bed frame
2. Width: Measure side to side across the widest part
3. Height: Measure from the floor to the top of the headboard
4. Underbed clearance: Measure from the floor to the base of the frame
5. Storage considerations: If your bed has drawers or lifts, measure drawer depth when extended

Planning to upgrade? Be sure your new bed’s full measurements (including headboard and storage mechanisms) fit your space.

UK Bed Size Chart

Here’s a quick reference for all standard UK bed sizes sold at Gone2Sleep:

Need help choosing? Explore our [bed size comparison guide] for more insight.

Will It Fit Upstairs?

Many of our beds are delivered flat-packed, making stairs less of an issue. But if you’re ordering assembled furniture, do the following:

• Measure the width of your staircase (from wall to handrail)
• Check turning points on landings and corners
• Note the height of the bannisters in case you need to lift the bed over
• If using a lift, measure door height, width, and depth

Knowing these details will help you avoid nasty surprises on delivery day.

How Wide Do Doorways Need to Be?

For items that can’t be turned in tight spaces, your doorway needs to be at least 10 cm wider than your bed’s smallest dimension (either width or height).

Additional considerations:

• Divan beds with drawers may need up to 31 cm extra clearance
• Measure the diagonal space in tight hallways
• Remember: Gone2Sleep delivery teams cannot remove windows or doors

If the bed can’t get in through a standard route, it’s your responsibility to ensure safe access.

How to Get a Bed Through a Door

For pre-assembled beds or if you’re moving house and keeping your bed intact:

1. Measure your door height and width
2. Measure the headboard and footboard—they’re often taller
3. Check the diagonal length of the doorway (top left to bottom right)
4. Compare it to the diagonal of your bed—tilting may help manoeuvre large pieces

If the headboard is taller than your doorframe, you may need to disassemble the bed to avoid damage.

Final Thoughts

Measuring might not be the most exciting part of buying a new bed, but it’s definitely the most important. With a bit of planning and the help of this bed measuring guide, you can avoid delivery-day surprises and enjoy your perfect sleep space right away.

Ready to find the bed that fits your home and your lifestyle?

Browse our full collection of beds or reach out to our team—we’re happy to help you measure and make the right choice.