A divan is the only bed in the UK where the base matches the mattress exactly. Nothing sticks out. No frame edges, no legs, no sleigh foot stealing 15cm from your room. The number on the size chart is the number on your floor.
That makes divan bed sizes easy to plan around. It also hides a problem. The measurements that decide whether a divan actually works in your bedroom are the ones nobody puts on the product page: how high the base sits, how much space the drawers need to open, and whether the base comes up your stairs in one piece.
This guide covers all of it.
UK divan bed size chart
| Size | cm | ft/in | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small single | 75 x 190 | 2'6" x 6'3" | Box rooms, younger children |
| Single | 90 x 190 | 3'0" x 6'3" | One sleeper, kids, guest rooms |
| Small double | 120 x 190 | 4'0" x 6'3" | One adult with room to spare |
| Double | 135 x 190 | 4'6" x 6'3" | Two adults, the UK standard |
| King | 150 x 200 | 5'0" x 6'6" | Couples, anyone over 6ft |
| Super king | 180 x 200 | 6'0" x 6'6" | Couples who want space |
Notice the length change between double and king. You go from 190cm to 200cm. If you are tall, that extra 10cm does more for your sleep than any amount of width.
Why divan sizes differ from frames
A divan base gets built to the mattress size and sits flush on all four sides. A bed frame gets built around the mattress, so its real footprint is always bigger than its name suggests.
Here is what that means in a small bedroom:
- A double divan takes up 135cm of floor width
- A double bed frame usually takes 145cm to 150cm
- That 15cm gap often decides whether you fit a double or drop to a small double
So the size name on a divan tells you the truth. If you are weighing a divan against one of our upholstered bed frames, check the frame's outer dimensions separately before you compare.
Every divan size explained
Small single (2'6")
75 x 190cm. The narrowest standard size in the UK. It earns its place in box rooms, loft conversions and any room where a 3ft single leaves you sidestepping past the bed.
It also works well as a first proper bed for a child leaving a cot bed. One catch: 2'6" bedding sits in far fewer shops than 3ft, so buy two or three sets up front.
Single (3ft)
90 x 190cm. The default single, and the easiest size to buy bedding for. Fits children, teenagers, guest rooms and adults sleeping solo.
A single divan with two drawers often replaces a chest of drawers entirely in a child's room. Our kids beds use the same standard sizes with softer edge detailing and padded headboards.
Small double (4ft)
120 x 190cm. Some people call it a three-quarter bed. Most people have never heard of it, which is a shame, because it solves a very common problem.
You get 30cm more width than a single while giving up 15cm less floor than a double. That balance suits:
- Spare rooms that double as an office
- Teenagers who have outgrown a single
- Adults in rooms under 2.7m wide
Two people can share one for a weekend. Do not buy it as a long term couple's bed.
Double (4ft6)
135 x 190cm. The most common bed size in Britain, and the cheapest to live with. Every mattress, sheet and duvet gets made in this size.
The weakness is length. At 190cm, anyone around 6ft will feel the end of the bed. If that is you, move up to a king for the length rather than jumping to a super king for the width.
King (5ft)
150 x 200cm. King size has quietly become the size most UK couples want, and the 200cm length explains why. Taller sleepers stretch out properly, and the extra 15cm of width cuts down on disturbing each other.
Plan for a room around 3m x 3.3m so you keep walkways on both sides. Our divan bed range shows how a king looks with standard, tall and wingback headboards.
Super king (6ft)
180 x 200cm. The biggest standard UK size and a full 30cm wider than a king. Couples who share the bed with children or pets get real value from it.
Be honest about your room first. Put a super king in a 3m bedroom and you leave under 60cm on each side, which makes opening a wardrobe awkward. Bedding costs more too, and fewer shops stock it.
How high is a divan bed?
A divan base usually stands 38cm to 46cm off the floor before the mattress goes on. Add a mattress at 20cm to 30cm and you sleep at roughly 58cm to 76cm.
Three reasons to check this:
- Getting in and out. Aim for a sitting height close to the back of your knee, usually 55cm to 65cm. Go higher and you climb in. Go lower and you drop in. This matters most for older sleepers and anyone with a bad back.
- Under-bed storage. A divan sits flush to the floor, so there is no gap underneath. Any storage has to sit inside the base.
- Headboard balance. A tall headboard reads very differently on a low base than on a high base with a deep mattress.
Measure a bed you already find comfortable, then compare. If your divan plus mattress lands much taller, pick a shallower mattress rather than changing the base.
Space your drawers need
This is where divan buying goes wrong. The base fits the room. The drawers do not.
Side drawers need clear floor to pull out. Allow roughly 50cm of unobstructed space on whichever side they open. Foot-end drawers need the same at the end of the bed.
| Storage type | Clearance needed |
|---|---|
| 2 drawers, one side | 50cm on that side |
| 2 drawers, foot end | 50cm at the foot |
| 4 drawers | 50cm on both sides |
| Ottoman lift base | None at the sides |
Run the maths on a double. The bed measures 135cm. Fit four drawers and you now need a working zone of roughly 235cm. Put a wardrobe on one wall of a 2.7m bedroom and that plan falls apart.
Two ways round it:
- Switch to an ottoman bed, which lifts on gas struts and needs no side clearance at all
- Keep two drawers and add an ottoman storage box at the foot of the bed
Room size for each divan
Leave 60cm to 75cm of walkway on any side you walk down. Leave 90cm at the foot if a door swings towards the bed.
| Divan size | Room size |
|---|---|
| Single | 2.1m x 2.7m |
| Small double | 2.4m x 2.7m |
| Double | 2.7m x 3.0m |
| King | 3.0m x 3.3m |
| Super king | 3.3m x 3.6m |
These figures assume the bed sits against one wall with access on the other three sides. Push a bed into a corner and you gain floor space but lose a side. That works fine for a single. It gets annoying with a double. It rarely works with a king if two people sleep in it.
Two-piece bases and stairs
Divan bases from small double upwards arrive as two halves that clip together in the room. Singles and small singles come as one unit.
That helps you enormously on delivery day. A king divan never travels up your stairs as a 150cm object. It travels as two 75cm sections, which clears tight landings and narrow doorways that a rigid frame simply cannot.
Before you order, measure the narrowest point on the route:
- Front door
- Turn on the stairs
- Bedroom door
- Ceiling height above the stairs
Compare that against half the bed width plus base depth, so around 40cm. Most UK homes clear this without trouble.
The headboard causes more problems than the base. Tall and wingback headboards do not flex, so measure them against your stairwell before you choose one.
Picking a headboard
Headboard width follows bed width, so a king divan takes a king headboard. Your choice sits in the height and the shape, and that changes a room more than the bed size does.
- Standard, roughly 100cm to 120cm from the floor. Sits just above your pillows and stays out of the way.
- Tall, roughly 130cm to 150cm. Turns the bed into the focal point. Best in rooms with decent ceiling height.
- Wingback. Adds visual width, so leave a little extra space either side.
Fabric shifts how big the bed feels. Light colours let a large bed recede into the wall. Deep tones push it forward. Order a few fabric swatches and hold them against your wall in daylight before you commit, because screen colours lie.
Measure your room in five minutes
- Measure the room wall to wall at floor level, both directions.
- Mark the bed footprint on the floor with masking tape using the chart above.
- Add the drawer zone, 50cm on the side they open.
- Walk it. Can you reach the window? Does the wardrobe door open fully?
- Measure the delivery route and the narrowest doorway.
If step four feels tight, drop a size or move to ottoman storage before you give up on the bed.
FAQs
What size is a standard divan bed in the UK?
A standard double divan measures 135cm x 190cm, or 4'6" x 6'3". It takes standard double mattresses and bedding.
Is a divan bed the same size as the mattress?
Yes. The base matches the mattress dimensions exactly and sits flush on all four sides. A bed frame extends beyond the mattress, so it takes more floor space.
How high is a divan bed?
The base sits 38cm to 46cm off the floor. Add a mattress of 20cm to 30cm and you sleep at roughly 58cm to 76cm.
What size divan suits a small room?
For a bedroom under 2.7m wide, a small double at 120cm x 190cm is usually the largest size that still leaves you room to walk around.
Do divan beds come in two pieces?
Bases from small double upwards arrive in two halves and join in the room. Single and small single bases come as one piece. This makes divans easier to carry upstairs than rigid bed frames.
How much space do divan drawers need?
Around 50cm of clear floor on the side they open. A four-drawer divan needs that on both sides. Choose an ottoman base if your floor space is tight.
Is a king or super king bigger?
A super king. Both measure 200cm long, but a king is 150cm wide and a super king is 180cm wide.
Can I order a divan in a non-standard size?
Yes. We build every bed to order in our West Yorkshire workshop, so we can make bases and headboards to your measurements. Message us with your room dimensions and we will tell you what works.
Choose your size
Every Bonanza Sleep divan gets handmade to order in the UK. You pick the size, the storage, the fabric and the headboard, and we build it. Delivery comes with two people and goes to the room of your choice.
Browse divan beds
Still choosing between drawers and a lift-up base? Compare the same designs in our ottoman bed range. Not sure about colour? Order fabric swatches and we will post them out.