Double bed sizes: 140, 160, 180 or 200 cm wide?
For two people, 160×200 cm is the balanced choice; 140 suits small rooms, 180 and 200 give real space. Plus how much room you need around the bed.
In short: For two people, 160×200 cm is the balanced choice: each of you gets about 80 cm of width and the bed still fits most bedrooms. 140×200 works for a couple in a small room or for one person who wants space, 180×200 for restless sleepers, and 200×200 if children regularly end up in your bed. A bed's size is its mattress size; the frame is a few cm larger, so check the outer dimensions on each product page.
Names like "double", "queen" and "king" mean different things in different countries, and even within one shop. The only reliable language is centimetres. Below are the standard European sizes, who each one suits, and how to check whether it fits your room.
What 160×200 actually means
A bed's size is the size of the mattress it takes. A 160×200 bed holds a mattress 160 cm wide and 200 cm long; the first number is always the width.
Two practical consequences follow. If you already have a good mattress, choose the bed to match it and you're done. And when you plan the room, don't use 160×200: use the outer dimensions of the frame (more on that below).
Standard sizes and who they suit
All standard sizes are 200 cm long; only the width changes. For reference, 90 cm is the width of a single bed. The "space per person" column shows what each of you gets when two people share.
| Mattress (cm) | Space per person, for two | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 90×200 | – | children, teenagers, guest rooms with two beds |
| 120×200 | 60 cm (tight) | one person who wants room, guest rooms, older children |
| 140×200 | 70 cm | a couple in a small room; one person who wants lots of space |
| 160×200 | 80 cm | most couples |
| 180×200 | 90 cm | couples who move a lot or keep different hours |
| 200×200 | 100 cm | families whose children climb in at night; anyone who wants a square bed |
At 140 cm, each of you has less width than a single bed. Some couples are fine with that; for others it's the reason they wake up at night. If you're in a 140 now and short of space, 160 usually solves it. If one of you turns over a lot or sleeps spread out, 180 is worth it.
At Massif, each step up in width adds a surcharge to the frame, and the steps above 160 are smaller than those below it. A wider mattress costs more too, so budget for both. Current prices for every size are on the product pages, and the guide to what a solid wood bed costs breaks the total down.
The outer dimensions are larger than the mattress
The frame surrounds the mattress, so the bed takes up a few extra cm in both width and length. The headboard adds its own depth, and on some models the side rails sit slightly proud. Floating bedside tables attached to the bed add width on each side.
There's no single figure that applies to every bed; it varies by model. Each product page lists the outer dimensions, and those are the numbers to plan with. On floating beds the base is set back under the frame, so what matters for walking space is the outline of the frame, not the base.
How much room you need
A common planning rule: leave around 60 cm clear along the sides you walk past and at the foot of the bed. You can manage with less, but you'll be squeezing through. If there's a wardrobe with hinged doors or a chest of drawers nearby, allow for the doors or drawers fully open plus room to stand in front of them.
A quick check for room width, with access from both sides:
| Mattress | Minimum room width (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 140×200 | 140 + 2×60 = 260 cm, plus the frame |
| 160×200 | 160 + 2×60 = 280 cm, plus the frame |
| 180×200 | 180 + 2×60 = 300 cm, plus the frame |
| 200×200 | 200 + 2×60 = 320 cm, plus the frame |
For length, add up 200 cm, the headboard, the frame and 60 cm at the foot. Then check what a floor plan doesn't show: a door that swings towards the bed, a radiator, a low window, where the sockets are.
The most reliable test is masking tape. Mark the bed's outer outline on the floor and live with it for a day or two. You'll soon know whether you can walk round it or keep catching the corner.
120 and 90 cm: children's rooms and guest rooms
A 90×200 bed is plenty for a child and leaves floor space for play. A teenager, or an adult who sleeps alone and wants room, is comfortable in 120×200, which fits rooms where a double would be too much. For two adults, 120 is tight: fine now and then, not every night.
In a guest room, two 90×200 beds are the flexible option. Keep them apart for two friends or push them together for a couple. Side by side they make 180 cm, though there's a join down the middle.
Length: 200 cm is standard, not compulsory
A common rule is for the mattress to be about 15–20 cm longer than the tallest person sleeping on it, leaving room for the pillow and your feet. For most people 200 cm is enough. If you're very tall, or you already own a mattress in a non-standard size, Massif makes custom sizes on request via WhatsApp, priced for your configuration.
Deciding, step by step
- Measure the room and subtract the walking space you need.
- Check the outer dimensions of the model you like on its product page in the bed collection.
- Start from the mattress. If you're keeping your current one, the bed takes its size. If you're buying new, the guide on choosing a mattress helps you pick the type.
- Think a few years ahead. A solid wood bed lasts; if a baby or a dog is on the way, 180 may be the calmer choice.
Beds built with mortise-and-tenon joints come apart into pieces, so a 180 or 200 cm frame goes up a narrow staircase as easily as a small one. Assembly takes about 15 minutes with no special tools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put two 90 cm mattresses in a 180 cm bed?
Yes. Two 90×200 mattresses fill a 180×200 bed exactly, and each sleeper can choose their own firmness. The downside is the join in the middle, which you'll notice if you sleep close together.
What size is a king-size bed?
It depends on the country: the same name covers different widths in the UK, the rest of Europe and the US. Always go by the mattress dimensions in centimetres rather than the label.
Can I order a 150×200 or 160×190 bed?
Massif makes custom sizes on request. Send us the mattress size and the model you're interested in on WhatsApp and we'll price that configuration.
Is a bigger bed harder to move house with?
The frame can be taken apart and reassembled as often as you like, so it travels in pieces. The awkward part is the mattress, which is large and heavy at 180 or 200 cm whatever bed it sits in.