Size guide
UK or European?
Five centimetres here, ten there. Here is how to work out which bed you have, and which sheets will fit it.
You buy a beautiful fitted sheet, stretch it over the mattress, and the corners will not quite reach, or it bags at the end. Nine times out of ten the culprit is the same: a European-size bed.
For years, beds from IKEA and other European brands came in European sizes, which are slightly longer and a little wider than UK standard sizes. According to Ideal Home, IKEA now sells its main UK bed and mattress range in standard UK sizes, but European sizes are still sold for some frames, such as day beds, bunk beds and sofa beds. And many of us are still sleeping on an older European bed.
In short
- UK and European sizes differ by a few centimetres in width and up to 10cm in length.
- Most new IKEA beds in the UK are now standard UK sizes, but older and some specialist frames are European.
- Measure your mattress, including its depth, before you buy.
- Sheet Story fitted sheets are made for UK sizes with a 41cm deep pocket.
UK and European sizes, side by side
| Size | UK mattress | European mattress |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190cm | 90 × 200cm |
| Small double | 120 × 190cm | Not a standard EU size |
| Double | 135 × 190cm | 140 × 200cm |
| King | 150 × 200cm | 160 × 200cm (often sold as EU king) |
| Super king | 180 × 200cm | 180 × 200cm |
UK sizes are taken from our own UK bedding size guide. European single and double sizes are as listed by Ideal Home; European king sizing varies by brand, so always measure.
Measure first. It takes two minutes and saves a return.
How to tell which bed you have
Check the label
Most mattresses carry a sewn-in label with the size in centimetres. 140 × 200cm or 160 × 200cm means European.
Measure width and length
Measure the top of the mattress, edge to edge. A double that measures about 140cm wide and 200cm long is European.
Measure the depth too
Thick mattresses and toppers need deep pockets. Our guide to measuring your mattress shows you how.
Check the frame's age
An IKEA frame bought several years ago is more likely to be European than one bought recently.
Which Sheet Story size fits?
Our fitted sheets are cut for UK mattresses: the double measures 137 × 192cm, the king 152 × 202cm and the super king 182 × 202cm, each with a 41cm deep pocket.
UK mattress, any size
Choose your usual UK size. The 41cm pocket holds deep mattresses and toppers neatly.
European super king (180 × 200cm)
The same as a UK super king, so a Sheet Story super king fitted sheet fits as normal.
European double (140 × 200cm)
Our double (137 × 192cm) will be too small. A king (152 × 202cm) is the closest fit, with a little extra width to tuck in.
European king (160 × 200cm)
Between our king (152cm wide) and super king (182cm wide). Measure carefully, or contact us before ordering.
Duvet covers are far more forgiving than fitted sheets. Duvets in the UK follow UK duvet sizes whatever the bed, so choose your duvet cover to match your duvet, not your mattress.
Sheet Story
Find your fit
Every Sheet Story fitted sheet has a 41cm deep pocket and wide elastic, from cot bed to super king. Free UK delivery on orders over £80.
Shop fitted sheets →Questions we are often asked
Are IKEA beds UK sizes?
IKEA's main bed and mattress range in the UK is now sold in standard UK sizes, according to Ideal Home. Some day beds, bunk beds and sofa beds, and many older IKEA beds, are European sizes.
Will a UK double fitted sheet fit a 140 × 200cm mattress?
Usually not. A UK double is 135 × 190cm, so it is too short and slightly too narrow for a European double. A UK king is a closer fit.
Is a European super king the same as a UK super king?
Yes. Both are 180 × 200cm, so UK super king sheets fit.
Do I need a different duvet cover for a European bed?
Not necessarily. Match your duvet cover to the size of your duvet rather than your mattress.
Sources
Every bed tells a Sheet Story
