How Wide is a King Size Bed? Feet, Meters, Ireland Sizes

If you’ve ever booked a hotel room overseas and ended up with a mattress that felt inexplicably tighter, bed size labels are almost certainly to blame. A “King” in Ireland is not the same beast as a “King” in the United States — the difference is roughly 43 centimetres in width. This guide lays out exactly how wide a king size bed is, in both metric and imperial measurements, with clear comparisons across regions and retailers.

Irish King width: 150 cm (5 ft) · US King width: 193 cm (76 in) · IKEA Ireland King: 150 × 200 cm · Irish Double: 137 cm (4 ft 6 in)

How Wide is a King Size Bed in Feet?

The answer depends entirely on which king you’re talking about. In Ireland, a standard king size bed measures 5 feet (60 inches) wide — that’s 150 centimetres for those working in metric. Across the Atlantic, the US King is a different proposition entirely, spanning 6 feet 4 inches (76 inches or 193 centimetres) across its width.

Standard measurements

• Irish King: 5 ft × 6 ft 6 in (150 × 200 cm)
• US King: 6 ft 4 in × 6 ft 8 in (193 × 203 cm)
• UK King: identical to Irish standard at 150 × 200 cm

Ireland vs US standards

This 16-inch gap between the two standards catches many travellers off guard. According to Dochara travel guide covering Irish bed sizes, US visitors expecting the generous spread of an American King often find themselves with a bed that feels noticeably narrower. The Irish King is closer in width to a US Queen — a fact that DFI Beds sizing guide for Irish customers explicitly warns about.

The implication: sizing confusion isn’t just academic — it has real consequences for hotel guests, furniture buyers, and anyone shipping bedding internationally.

How Wide is a King Size Bed in Meters?

Working in metric, the picture is straightforward. The Irish standard King is exactly 1.5 metres wide, making it easy to calculate whether it fits a given room layout. The US King, at 1.93 metres, requires noticeably more breathing room — and significantly more width in any doorframe it needs to pass through.

Metric conversions

• Irish King: 1.50 m × 2.00 m
• US King: 1.93 m × 2.03 m
• Irish Super King: 1.83 m × 2.00 m
• European King (IKEA): 1.60 m × 2.00 m

Regional variations

European King sizes vary by country, but Ireland sticks to its own standard rather than the broader European norm. EasyRest European bed size comparison notes that the European King — approximately 160 × 200 cm — is closest in width to the US Queen. In Ireland, however, the actual European King width of 160 cm is not widely stocked; IKEA Ireland’s official mattress guide confirms the retailer stocks only standard Irish sizes domestically.

The pattern: Ireland’s metric sizing is clean and consistent, but it sits in a narrower band than US standards — a deliberate design choice that prioritises bedroom space efficiency over maximum sleeping width.

What Size is a King Size Bed in Ireland?

In Ireland, the standard King is 150 cm wide and 200 cm long. That’s 5 feet by 6 feet 6 inches in imperial measurements. This size has been the dominant standard for couples in Ireland for decades, and it matches the UK specification exactly. The DFI Beds sizing guide for Irish customers stresses that Irish customers should not assume the Irish King is equivalent to its American namesake.

Dimensions in cm

• Irish King: 150 cm × 200 cm
• Irish Super King: 180–183 cm × 200 cm
• Irish Double: 137 cm × 190–200 cm

Comparison to double

The step up from a Double to a King adds 13 cm in width (from 137 cm to 150 cm) — a meaningful difference for couples who share a bed. Discovering Ireland bed size guide confirms the Irish King approximates a US Queen in width, making it a comfortable mid-range option for couples without the full width of an American King.

What this means: a couple moving from a Double to a King gains roughly 13 centimetres of personal sleeping space — not a dramatic upgrade, but enough to stop elbows bumping over the midline.

How Wide is a King Size Bed at IKEA?

IKEA Ireland sells King size mattresses at exactly the Irish standard: 150 × 200 cm (5′ × 6’6″). The retailer’s official mattress guide lists this as the standard King dimension, with no deviation from the broader Irish market norm. IKEA Ireland’s official mattress size guide explicitly states the company does not stock European mattress sizes in its Irish stores.

IKEA specific sizes

• King: 150 × 200 cm (standard Irish)
• Super King: 180 × 200 cm (IKEA Ireland)
• European King: 160 × 200 cm (not stocked in Ireland)
• Single: 90 × 190–200 cm (standard vs European)

Mattress and frame

IKEA bed frames sold in Ireland are designed to match these mattress dimensions exactly. According to IKEA Ireland’s frame guide for the Irish market, frames align precisely with 150 × 200 cm King mattresses — no additional clearance beyond standard fitting tolerances.

The trade-off: IKEA Ireland offers reliable, consistent sizing within the Irish standard but provides no path to a wider European King — customers wanting 160 cm width must look elsewhere or accept the 10 cm shortfall.

King Size Bed Frame Dimensions

A bed frame’s internal dimensions should match the mattress it holds. For a standard Irish King, that means 150 × 200 cm of usable space. Frames typically add a few centimetres of clearance around the mattress for easy insertion, but the core measurement stays consistent with mattress sizes.

Frame vs mattress

The critical distinction: mattress dimensions and frame dimensions are not always identical. Some manufacturers build frames with slightly larger internals to accommodate mattress swelling or to allow for fitted sheet placement. GetLaidBeds UK bed retailer comparison guide, emphasises that frame sizing should always be verified against the specific mattress model planned for use.

Ireland standards

In Ireland, the frame market largely follows mattress sizing conventions. Most retail frames come in standard sizes: Single (90 cm), Double (137 cm), King (150 cm), Super King (180 cm). Off-spec frames — those deliberately oversized — are uncommon in the Irish market, according to retailer listings reviewed.

The implication: for most Irish buyers, frame width will match mattress width exactly. The exception is custom or imported frames, where dimensional mismatches become more likely.

King Size Bed Comparison: Ireland, UK, US, and IKEA

Three major king size standards dominate the English-speaking world, and they don’t align. Understanding the exact width differences matters whether you’re furnishing a rental property, importing furniture, or simply comparing hotel rooms.

The takeaway: no standard Irish bed matches the full width of a US King. The Irish Super King comes closest at 180–183 cm, still 10–13 cm short. Foxford bedlinen designer guide to US sizing, an Irish bedlinen designer, notes that UK King bedding can still work on an American Queen due to their near-identical widths — but the reverse (Irish King on US King frame) requires a significant size gap.

The catch: travellers who assume a “King” designation means the same width everywhere will consistently end up with a narrower bed than expected in Ireland.

Confirmed Facts and Common Rumours

What Experts Say

“This is where the most confusion starts to pop up with bed size. What is described as a Queen Size in the US is almost identical in size to what’s described as King Size in Ireland.”

— Dochara Guide (Travel Expert)

“At IKEA Ireland, we sell only standard mattress sizes… We do not stock European mattress sizes.”

— IKEA Ireland (Official Retailer)

“US King size bed dimensions are significantly larger than the UK King, so should not be confused.”

— GetLaidBeds (Bed Retail Expert)

Related reading: 25 cm to inches · 40 Fahrenheit to Celsius

In Ireland, Irelands 150×200 cm king measures just 150 cm wide—far narrower than the 193 cm US king—ideal for compact master bedrooms with fitted frames.

Frequently asked questions