Beds

What size bed should I buy?

There are a few factors you need to consider when choosing a bed size:

• The size of your mattress - Match the bed frame to your existing mattress size to avoid your mattress sliding or bending.
• The size of your room - Ensure the bed fits your space, leaving enough room to move around comfortably.
• Whether or not you sleep with a partner - If you share a bed, you may want to consider upsizing to a double, king size or superking bed.

What are the different bed sizes?

We stock a variety of different bed sizes, ranging from small single beds to superking beds.

Below are all of the mattress sizes we have available, along with their metric and imperial measurements and who they’re best suited for:

What size bed do most adults sleep in?

For adults, the most popular size is a double bed. However, for couples, a double bed may feel cramped, offering only 65.7cm of space per person - which is smaller than a baby’s cot!

A king size bed provides an extra 7.5cm per person, offering more space to spread out while you sleep.

What is the biggest bed size?

The largest bed size in the UK is the superking, measuring 180cm x 200cm (6ft x 6ft 6in). It's the perfect choice for master bedrooms or if your children and pets like to invade your bed in the morning.

How long is a bed?

Most UK beds are 190cm long and vary only in width. The exceptions are king and superking beds, which are 200cm long.

Which bed type should I buy?

We offer a variety of beds here at Mattress Online. We’d like you to consider the following factors so you can find the bed that’s perfect for you.

1. Divan beds vs bed frames

When it comes to beds, you can choose several different styles. The two most common bed types are divans and bed frames.

Divan beds

Divan beds consist of two block bases that clip together. They have a sturdy timber frame and are covered with fabric upholstery.

Aesthetic

All divan beds are upholstered with fabric. They have a very square and traditional feel, but all divan bed models do look very similar.

Assembly

Divan beds offer customisation options such as: headboard style, colour, and storage choices, which bed frames typically do not. They are versatile and come pre-assembled in large parts, such as block bases, headboards, and storage options. This means that they require minimal assembly compared to a bed frame.

Storage

As divan beds have an open wooden frame base, they are often available with a variety of storage options, such as side and end lift ottomans and drawer storage, which we explain more below.

Bed frames

Aesthetic

Bed frames are ideal for style-focused choices, offering a mix of materials, textures, and detailing to match any bedroom aesthetic.

Assembly

Unlike divan beds, bed frames require a lot more self-assembly and arrive with many individual parts and materials for you to build.

Storage

Most bed frames do not include built-in storage options like divan beds. However, they have a certain amount of underbed clearance for storing larger items or storage boxes.

2. The material

The material or finish of a bed can completely change the feel of your bedroom. Perhaps you have a certain aesthetic or look that you’re trying to achieve in your space.

Wooden beds

Wooden beds offer a classic and timeless style to elevate your bedroom. All wooden beds are classed as bed frames, rather than divan beds. This is because the frame of wooden beds is open, rather than enclosed like a divan bed.

They’re perfect if you’re looking for a traditional bed, or maybe if you want to add a more rustic touch to your room. Wooden bed frames make a charming bedroom centrepiece to suit any style.

Fabric beds

If you’re looking to add a luxury statement piece to your bedroom, look no further than our collection of fabric beds. Most fabric beds are classed as divan beds as the base of the bed is encased in fabric, rather than being open.

An upholstered bed makes a stunning addition to any room, whether you’re looking for understated elegance or a bright and colourful option, we have the fabric bed for you.

Metal beds

A metal bed is an ideal option if you love a minimalist-style room. Much like wooden beds, metal beds are described as bed frames rather than divan beds because the bottom half of the framing is open rather than enclosed in fabric.

Whether you’re looking for something simplistic or more elegant, we’ve got a range for you to choose from. Metal beds are also a great budget-friendly option, with some of our single metal beds starting at around £130*.

(Disclaimer: Prices are subject to change.)

*Prices accurate as of 15th March 2024.

The storage options

Underbed storage is incredibly useful and practical in many bedrooms. It offers a larger space to store bulky or out-of-season items without taking up wardrobe or closet space.

Underbed clearance

When we say ‘underbed clearance’, we mean how tall the space between your floor and the base of your bed is.

If your bed frame has a larger underbed clearance, you can fit storage boxes and bigger items under your bed.

Bed frames, rather than divan beds, have a larger underbed clearance. This is because divan beds have an enclosed fabric frame.

Ottoman storage

Ottoman beds provide hidden underbed storage, perfect for storing, bedding, coats, shoes and other out-of-season belongings. This storage space is accessed by lifting the base of the bed up, which is powered by gas-lift hydraulics.

You can often choose between two different ottoman options: a half ottoman and a full ottoman.

• Half ottoman storage - only the lower half of your bed is used as a storage area. When you lift your ottoman storage, only the bottom half of your bed will be raised.
• Full ottoman storage - the entire bed base is used as a storage area. When you lift the ottoman storage, the full bed base will be raised.

Ottoman storage is only available for double, king size and superking beds. This is because the gas-lift hydraulics need the extra width to be able to function properly.

The amount of storage space you have will also be dependent on the size of the bed you choose. For example, a superking ottoman bed will offer more underbed storage space than a double ottoman bed.

With the exception of wooden beds, all ottoman storage options are exclusive to divan beds. This is because the enclosed fabric base makes the perfect container for storage. All of your belongings are out of sight and out of mind this way.

You can learn more about ottoman storage in our ‘What Is an Ottoman Bed?’ advice guide.

Drawer storage

With drawer storage, you can often customise the number of drawers you would like.

Here at Mattress Online, some of our beds are available in a variety of:

• Full-sized drawers - Measure half of the length of your bed.
• Half-sized drawers - Measure a quarter of the length of your bed.

• 2 drawer storage - 1 full-sized drawer on each side of your bed.
• 4 drawer storage - 2 full-sized drawers on each side of your bed.
• 2 full and 2 half drawer storage (also known as continental drawers) - 1 full-sized drawer and 1 half-sized drawer on each side of your bed.
• End drawer - 1 full-sized drawer at the end of your bed.

Drawer storage is only available for a double, king size and superking beds. This is because smaller bed sizes aren’t wide enough to accommodate the length of a full-sized drawer.

The drawer combinations available will differ between bed sizes. Double beds can usually accommodate up to two full-sized drawers, while king size and super king beds can include half-drawers due to their extra length.

As with ottoman storage, drawer storage is a storage solution exclusive to divan beds. The closed-off base is ideal for supporting a sliding drawer system, whereas bed frames are open at the bottom.

You can find out more about the different storage options we have available in our advice guide ‘What Types of Storage Beds are Available?’

4. The colour

Much like the material, the colour of your bed needs to fit the style of your room.

Fabric beds are available in a variety of colours as the fabric can be dyed more easily, but we do offer metal beds and wooden beds in a selection of colours, too.

Here are some of the different bed colours we have available for you to choose from:

Wooden bed colours:

• Pine
• Oak
• White
• Grey
• Black
• Blue
• Pink

Fabric bed colours:

• Light grey
• Dark grey
• Silver
• Beige
• Sandstone
• Teal
• Blue
• Coral
• Pink

Metal bed colours:

• White
• Cream
• Silver
• Black

The base support

When it comes to buying a bed, you have four base options, two for divan beds and two for bed frames:

Divan bed bases:

• Platform top divan bases - These bases are solid with a hard wooden frame covered in fabric upholstery. They offer a supportive base that can make your mattress feel firmer.
• Sprung divan bases - These bases are similar to platform top bases, but include a layer of springs across the top. This makes your mattress feel slightly more cushioned as the springs react to your mattress’ movements. Due to this extra spring layer, sprung divan bases are often more expensive than platform tops.

Bed frame slats:

• Solid bed slats - Solid slats are crafted from solid, sturdy wood and do not bed under the weight of your mattress. They’re an ideal choice if you want your mattress to feel a little firmer.
• Sprung bed slats - Sprung slats are slightly arched and made from flexible wood, such as beech. The curve of these slats bends a little bit more to support the heavier areas of your body when you sleep on your mattress. This gentle support helps your mattress to ease pressure from your joints and makes your mattress feel more cushioned.

So, depending on whether you prefer divan beds or bed frames, there is a firmer and more cushioned bed base for you to choose from.

To learn more about each type of bed base, check out our advice pages below:

• What Is a Platform Top Divan Base?
• What Is a Sprung Divan Base?
• What are Bed Frame Slats?

What is the best bed to buy?

When choosing a bed, it can be hard to decide which is ‘best’. The best bed for you will be one that:

• Fits in with the style of your current bedroom
• Is within your bed buying budget

With that in mind, we’ve narrowed down our beds to:

• The best quality bed
• The most popular bed
• The best-reviewed bed

The best quality bed

Our most premium quality bed here at Mattress Online is our exclusive Novo Contempo TV Bed.

This is a fabric bed with a classic, buttoned detailed headboard that can hold a 43-inch TV in the foot end. You’ll be relaxing in absolute luxury with the built-in surround sound system, headphone outlet and USB ports.

Fully unwind in the comfort of your bed before you sleep, or make your bed a part of your new gaming set-up - the possibilities are endless.

The most popular bed

Our best-selling bed is the Aspire Ottoman Storage Bed*, which is one of our 'Top 5 Recommended Beds for 2024’.

With stylish and timeless upholstery, the Aspire Ottoman would make a great centrepiece in any bedroom. Complete with ottoman storage, this bed not only looks amazing, but it’s super practical too!

*Product sales data acurate as of 15th March 2024.

The best-reviewed bed

Our best-reviewed bed is the Birlea Tetras Metal Bed Frame* with over 70 Feefo reviews and a 4.5 average review rating.

The Birlea Tetras ticks all of the boxes:

• It’s budget-friendly
• It’s stylish
• It has enough underbed clearance to store some of your larger items

*Review scores accurate as of 14th March 2024.

How much are beds?

The price of a bed is dependent on many different factors. Here at Mattress Online, we sell beds that range from just under £100 to just over £3000*.

(Disclaimer: Prices are subject to change.)

*Prices accurate as of 15th March 2024.

How much should you pay for a good bed?

Before deciding on your bed buying budget, there are a few different things you should consider:

• The size of bed you would like - the bigger you would like your bed, the more expensive it will be.
• The storage solutions you would like - the more storage you would like, the more expensive it will be.
• The material you would like - fabric beds and wooden beds tend to be more expensive than metal beds.

Why are beds so expensive?

There are many different factors that contribute to the overall price of a bed. This can include:

• Whether the bed is handmade - Beds that have been handcrafted are designed to be more durable and are often more exclusive as they are made to order.
• The material the bed is made from - Some materials such as wood and different types of fabrics take longer to sustainably source, contributing to a higher price point.
• The size of the bed - Larger beds require more materials in the manufacturing process, which costs more.
• The customisation of the bed - If you have the option to customise elements of your bed, larger storage options and more detailed headboards will cost more to manufacture.
• Whether the bed has been imported or not - Beds that are made in the UK are often more expensive than beds that have been imported as they are not mass-produced and have likely been sourced and crafted entirely in the UK, so you can trust the quality and durability more.

Where should I buy my bed from?

You should buy your bed from Mattress Online. With free delivery to most areas, your new bed can be with you as soon as tomorrow!

With a Trustpilot score of 4.8 and over 62,000 customer service reviews*, excellent service is guaranteed.

(Disclaimer: Business reviews are subject to change.)

*Trustpilot review scores are accurate as of 15th March 2024.

Can you buy a bed without a mattress?

Our beds and bed frames do not come with a mattress.

If you would like a matching bed and mattress, why not take a look at our divan beds and mattress set range?

Can I get a bed delivered the next day?

Yes, if you purchase a bed with Mattress Online, you may be eligible for free next day delivery.

Our free next day delivery service applies to the whole of England and most of Scotland and Wales.

To find out when we can deliver your bed, please read our delivery page for more information, or contact our helpful Customer Service team if you have any questions.