Anyone who’s crossed an ocean and tried to order a queen bed knows the feeling: what fits in New York might not fit in Dublin. The width of a queen bed changes depending on whether you’re in the US, the UK, Ireland, or continental Europe, and those regional quirks can mean the difference between a seamless purchase and a costly mismatch. Here’s exactly how the measurements stack up, with the hard numbers and sources you need.

4 related posts

Queen bed width (US standard): 60 inches (152 cm) ·
Queen bed length (US standard): 80 inches (203 cm) ·
European queen width: 5 ft 2 in (160 cm) ·
Queen vs double width difference: +6 inches (+15 cm)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
The upshot

A US traveler who books a “king” in Dublin expecting 76 inches of width will find a bed that’s actually 60 inches — the same width as the queen they left at home. That’s a 16-inch mismatch, enough to turn a couple’s sleep into a shoulder-jostling night.

Queen bed width: regional standards compared
Region Width (inches) Width (cm) Length (inches) Length (cm) Common name used
United States 60 152 80 203 Queen
United Kingdom 60 150 78 200 King
Ireland 60 152 78 198 King
Continental Europe 63 160 79 200 Queen

Four regions, one pattern: the word “queen” is a trap across borders. Travelers and online shoppers face a real risk of ordering the wrong size.

What is the width of a queen bed?

The most widely referenced standard is the US queen: 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, according to the Nectar Sleep international mattress size guide (a specialist industry resource for cross-border comparisons). That’s 152.4 cm by 203.2 cm, giving a surface area of 33.33 square feet — enough room for two average-sized adults to sleep without excessive contact.

Queen bed width in inches

  • US queen: 60 inches (Nectar Sleep)
  • European queen: 63 inches (160 cm) (Nectar Sleep)
  • Irish/UK “queen” (if labelled as such): typically 60 inches (Dochara travel guide)

Queen bed width in centimeters

  • US queen: 152 cm (Nectar Sleep)
  • European queen: 160 cm (Nectar Sleep)
  • Irish queen: 152 cm (Dochara)

Queen bed width in feet

  • US queen: 5 ft 0 in (Nectar Sleep)
  • European queen: 5 ft 3 in (Nectar Sleep)
  • Irish queen: 5 ft 0 in (Dochara)

The implication: at 63 inches wide, the European queen gives you an extra 3 inches of shoulder room compared to the US version. That’s not trivial — it’s the difference between a partner’s arm hitting your face and a comfortable night.

How wide is a queen bed in cm?

Because many European mattress guides skip names like “queen” and list dimensions directly in centimeters, it helps to know the exact numbers. FloBeds (a US-based mattress retailer with international sizing expertise) notes that continental European sizes are often specified in cm rather than by name, so a buyer may see “160×200” on a product page and need to know that’s the local equivalent of a queen.

US queen bed cm

  • Width: 152 cm (Nectar Sleep)
  • Length: 203 cm (Nectar Sleep)

European queen bed cm

  • Width: 160 cm (Nectar Sleep)
  • Length: 200 cm (Nectar Sleep)

Irish queen bed cm

  • Width: 152 cm (Dochara)
  • Length: 198 cm (Dochara)

The pattern: US and Irish queen widths are identical at 152 cm, but Irish queen length is 198 cm — 5 cm shorter than the US version. That matters for taller sleepers who need legroom.

Is a queen larger than a double?

Yes, and the difference is measurable in both width and length. A standard double (sometimes called a full) is 54 inches wide by 75 inches long, according to Get Laid Beds (a UK bed manufacturer that compares US and UK sizing). That’s 6 inches narrower than a US queen — or about the width of a medium-sized pillow.

Queen vs double bed dimensions

Bed size Width (inches) Width (cm) Length (inches) Length (cm)
US double (full) 54 137 75 191
US queen 60 152 80 203
UK double 54 135 75 190
UK king 60 150 78 200

The trade-off: upgrading from a US double to a queen adds 6 inches of width and 5 inches of length. For a couple, that extra width is enough to stop elbow-to-elbow contact; for a solo sleeper, it allows sprawling.

What are the dimensions of a queen size bed in Ireland?

Irish bed sizing follows a mix of UK traditions and its own conventions, and the term “queen” is applied inconsistently. According to Dochara (an Irish travel guide that documents bed-size differences for tourists), what is called a queen in Ireland is most commonly 5 ft 0 in wide by 6 ft 8 in long (152 cm × 203 cm). That’s dimensionally identical to a US queen in width, though Irish lengths sometimes drop to 198 cm.

Irish queen bed width

  • Typically 5 ft 0 in (152 cm) (Dochara)
  • Some retailers list 150 cm width (DFI Beds Ireland)

Irish queen bed length

  • Typically 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) (Dochara)
  • Some guides list 198 cm (Dochara)

Irish bed size standards

  • Irish double: 54 inches wide x 75-78 inches long (Dochara)
  • Irish king (often same as UK king): 60 x 78 inches (Nectar Sleep)
  • Irish super king: 72 x 78 inches (Nectar Sleep)
What to watch

A US traveler booking a hotel room in Dublin that lists a “king” bed will get a 60-inch-wide mattress — the same width as a US queen. That 16-inch difference from a US king (76 inches) is enough to make a couple feel cramped.

The catch: Irish bed sizes aren’t legally standardized the way US sizes are, according to the Dochara travel guide. “Queen” in one Irish retailer might mean 152 cm, while another uses 150 cm. If you’re buying from an Irish store, always check the exact centimeter dimensions before ordering.

Queen bed sizes in Ireland are not standard. These measure 5’0″ wide and 6’8″ long.

— Caseys Furniture (Ireland), bed size guide

A European queen-size bed size is 5 foot 2 inches x 6 foot 6 inches (5’2″ x 6’6″), equivalent to 160cm x 200cm.

— Happy Beds (UK mattress retailer), European queen size description
If you’re looking for a UK size 11 in EU, you can find that information at UK size 11 in EU.

The term ‘Queen’ is primarily used in North America, where it refers to a mattress measuring 152 cm × 203 cm.

— DFI Beds (Ireland), mattress size explanation

A US queen is almost identical in size to what is called a king size in Ireland.

— Dochara (Irish travel guide), bed size comparison for tourists

Confirmed facts

  • US queen width: 60 inches (152 cm) (Nectar Sleep)
  • European queen width: 160 cm (Nectar Sleep)
  • Irish queen width: 152 cm (Dochara)
  • Double width is 54 inches (137 cm) (Get Laid Beds)
  • US king width is 76 inches (Dochara)

What’s unclear

  • Whether “queen” in Ireland is officially standardized (Dochara)
  • The German bed method has limited authoritative sources (Wikiwand)
  • Some European guides list queen at 152×200 cm, not 160×200 cm (Wikiwand)
Bottom line: The width of a queen bed is 60 inches (152 cm) in the US and Ireland, but 63 inches (160 cm) in continental Europe. US travelers and online shoppers: the bed you call “king” in Ireland or the UK is actually a US queen in width. Check the centimeter measurement — not the name — before you buy.

Related reading: Hot Water Cylinder NZ: Sizing, Costs, Lifespan & Replacement · Kids Shoe Size Chart: UK EU US by Age & cm Guide

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org

To avoid ordering the wrong size, consult a guide like US, UK and Irish queen bed dimensions for precise measurements in each region.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the width of a queen bed in the UK?

The UK doesn’t commonly use the term “queen” for a mattress. The closest equivalent is a UK king, which is 60 inches wide (150 cm) by 78 inches long (200 cm), according to Nectar Sleep. That’s the same width as a US queen but 2 inches shorter.

How wide is a double bed?

A standard US double (full) bed is 54 inches wide (137 cm) and 75 inches long (191 cm), according to Get Laid Beds. A UK double is 54 inches wide (135 cm) and 75 inches long (190 cm).

What is the width of a king bed?

A US king bed is 76 inches wide (193 cm) and 80 inches long (203 cm), according to Dochara. A UK king is 60 inches wide (150 cm) and 78 inches long (200 cm), according to Nectar Sleep.

Is a queen bed wide enough for two people?

A US queen at 60 inches wide gives each sleeper about 30 inches of personal space. That’s wide enough for two average-sized adults, but those who spread out or toss and turn may find it snug. Nectar Sleep notes it’s the most popular mattress size in America.

What is the standard queen bed width in Europe?

The most common continental European queen size is 160 cm wide by 200 cm long (about 63 x 79 inches), according to Nectar Sleep. That’s about 3 inches wider than a US queen.

How do I measure my bed width?

Measure from the left edge of the mattress to the right edge, using a tape measure across the center of the bed. Do not include the bed frame or headboard. For accuracy, the FloBeds guide recommends measuring at the midpoint to avoid variations caused by rounded corners.

Is a queen bed bigger than a king?

No. A US king is 16 inches wider than a US queen (76 vs. 60 inches), according to Dochara. However, in Ireland and the UK, a “king” is the same width as a US queen, so regional naming causes confusion.

For anyone buying a bed across borders, the choice is clear: ignore the name, read the centimeter label, or risk sleeping on a mattress that’s 3 inches too narrow or 5 cm too short. For US travelers to Ireland or the UK, that “king” in the hotel room is a queen-sized letdown waiting to happen.