There are a few things to consider when you’re buying a double bed or mattress – not least what size you should opt for. When you’re buying a bed for two adults then there are a number of things that you need to consider.

Small double bed or standard size?

We’d recommend to choose one that is at least 10cm longer than the tallest person. There’s nothing worse that trying to sleep with your feet to be dangling over the end of the mattress or having to curl up your legs.

A standard UK double bed is 190cm (6ft 3”) in length, so anyone taller than 5ft 11” (180cm) should really go for one that is 200cm (6ft 6”) in length. A UK king size bed is 200cm long, as is a superking size –  so either of these options would be best.

If you’re a particularly tall person, some manufacturers manufacturers make beds that are 215cm (7ft 0”) in length.

Will my double bed be wide enough?

Most of couples in the UK sleep in a standard double size bed, which is only 135cm (4ft 6”) wide. This provides each user with just 67.5cm or about 2ft 3” of space each which is less than a baby has in a cot! A standard double bed may be a bit of a squeeze for two people. With so little room to move, you’re more likely to disturb your partner every time you change position, resulting in a poor night’s sleep. However, some couples prefer to sleep in close proximity to each other, claiming that it improves intimacy compared to sleeping in a much bigger bed where you literally have to go searching for your partner!

Although the diagram above shows two people sharing a small double (120cm or 4ft wide) bed, we would only suggest this size as an occasional bed for two people. This size would be more suitable for a single user, especially with UK studies showing that we’re getting bigger and heavier due to our diet and lifestyles!