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Double & Queen Beds

A UK double bed is 135cm wide. That sounds like plenty until you do the maths: split two ways, that's 67.5cm per person, which is actually less tha...
A UK double bed is 135cm wide. That sounds like plenty until you do the maths: split two ways, that's 67.5cm per person, which is actually less than a single bed gives one person. It doesn't mean a double is the wrong choice. Most couples sleep in doubles perfectly happily, and in the typical UK bedroom it's the size that makes the most sense. But it's worth knowing what you're getting before you commit, particularly if one of you moves around at night.
The frames in this collection are upholstered fabric beds in double and queen sizes, sitting within the broader beds collection alongside other sizes. The style options here include high headboard designs that make a proper statement in a master bedroom, as well as more understated frames where the bed is part of the room rather than the focal point of it. If storage is on your list, ottoman beds that lift to reveal under-bed storage are well suited to a couple's bedroom where wardrobe space tends to be under pressure. Finance is available on many of our double beds, subject to status.
We deliver nationally across the UK, with most double bed frames arriving within 7 to 14 days. Our Manchester showroom carries a selection of frames if you'd like to see headboard heights and fabric options in person. Get in touch at any stage if you'd like any guidance before you order.

What's in this collection

The frames here are upholstered fabric beds in double and queen sizes, covering a range of headboard styles from high, statement designs to more contained profiles. Several frames are available in fabric finishes including velvet, which is worth considering if the master bedroom aesthetic is a priority. Velvet beds have their own collection page if you'd like to browse specifically in that finish, along with honest detail on what velvet asks of you in a bedroom used daily.

The collection focuses on the size rather than the frame type, so if you've already decided on a specific type such as ottoman storage you may want to browse that collection directly and filter to double size there.

How much space does a double give two people?

Honestly, less than most people expect. The 135cm width gives each person roughly the same as a large armchair, which works fine when you're both still and sleeping in the same position. It becomes more noticeable when one person moves around at night, runs warm, or has significantly different sleep patterns to the other. None of this is unusual, and it doesn't make a double the wrong choice. It just means the decision deserves a moment's thought rather than defaulting to it because it's the standard couple's size.

The people who sleep well in a double are usually those who naturally gravitate toward each other in sleep, or those where one partner's sleep doesn't particularly disturb the other. If you've shared a double before and it worked, it'll work here. If you've always felt slightly pinched, the question worth asking is whether the room could take a king before you commit to another double.

Planning the room around a double bed

A 135cm wide frame needs a room that can carry it without the bed dominating everything. The standard guidance is to allow at least 60cm of clearance on each side of the bed that you'll be getting in and out from, which puts the minimum comfortable room width at around 260cm for a double with access on both sides. If one side is against a wall, you can reduce that, but getting out of bed from one side only gets frustrating quickly, particularly if the person on the wall side has to climb over.

Length matters too. A standard double frame is 190cm long, and you'll want space at the foot of the bed to move around, open wardrobe doors, and reach a chest of drawers without feeling cramped. In a room that's genuinely tight in one direction, a double frame with a high headboard adds further height at the wall end, which is worth accounting for in rooms with radiators or low windowsills behind the bed.

Spreading the Cost

Finance is available on many of our double bed frames, subject to status. If you're buying a frame and a mattress together, spreading the cost across both makes sense rather than treating the mattress as a separate budget problem. Details of the available finance options are on the website. Get in touch before ordering if you'd like to understand what's available before you commit.

Why buy from Shawcross

We're a Manchester-based furniture retailer with a physical showroom. For a double bed in a master bedroom, headboard height and fabric quality are both worth seeing in person. A 70-inch headboard looks very different in a room than it does in a product photograph, and for the bed that anchors the most-used room in the house, it's worth getting right. Come in without any obligation and see how the frames actually sit.

We deliver nationally across the UK and we're happy to talk through size, style, or room fit at any point before you order.

Double & Queen Bed FAQs

Is a double bed big enough for two people?

It depends on the two people. A double is 135cm wide, which works out at 67.5cm per person. To put that in context, a standard single bed is 90cm wide, so each person in a double has noticeably less width than they'd have sleeping alone in a single. That's a real difference, particularly if one of you tends to sleep spread out, runs warm, or is a lighter sleeper disturbed by movement.

That said, most couples in the UK sleep in doubles and sleep fine. If you're both reasonably compact sleepers and you've shared a double before without feeling cramped, another double will be comfortable. The size also suits the majority of UK bedrooms better than a king does. A king requires meaningfully more floor space, and in a room that's only just large enough for a double, the extra 15cm of bed width costs you clearance on each side that you'll miss more than you gain from the extra space in the bed.

The honest question to ask is whether the room could reasonably take a king. If it can, and budget allows, a king is noticeably more comfortable for two people over time. If the room is standard-sized or the budget is a constraint, a double is a perfectly sensible choice and the size that most couples settle on for good reason.

What's the difference between a double and a queen bed?

In UK sizing, the terms are largely interchangeable. A double is 135cm wide, and where retailers use the term "queen," they typically mean the same 135cm dimension. Queen is more commonly used in the US, where it refers to a 153cm width that sits between a US double and a US king. When you see "double & queen" in a UK furniture collection, it's generally referring to the same size under two names, not two different widths.

If you're buying a frame from a UK retailer, assume double and queen are the same. If you're sourcing a mattress separately or buying from an international brand, it's worth confirming the exact dimensions before ordering, as a US queen mattress will not fit a UK double frame.

How big does the room need to be for a double bed?

A double frame is typically 135cm wide and 190cm long. For comfortable use, allow at least 60cm of clearance on each accessible side, which puts the practical minimum room width at around 260cm for a double with walking space on both sides. At the foot of the bed, 90cm or more gives you room to move freely, open drawers, and reach a wardrobe without the room feeling like an obstacle course.

If the bedroom is narrow and one side of the bed will sit close to a wall, think carefully about which partner ends up on the wall side long term. It's the kind of thing that seems minor at the planning stage and becomes a daily irritation after six months.

Should I go double or king?

If the room can take a king and the budget stretches to it, a king is a meaningfully better size for two people. The 15cm difference in width, from 135cm to 150cm, adds 7.5cm per person, which sounds modest but makes a noticeable difference in practice, particularly over a long night. If either of you is a restless sleeper, runs warm, or is taller than average, you'll feel the extra space.

The constraint is usually the room. A king in a room that was comfortable with a double will have noticeably less clearance on each side, and in a smaller bedroom the trade-off isn't always worth it. Measure carefully: mark out the king footprint on the floor before you decide. If the room still works with 50cm or more of clearance on each side, the king is the better long-term choice. If it feels tight on paper, a well-chosen double in a room that breathes around it is the more liveable option.

Do I need to buy a new mattress when I buy a new bed frame?

Not necessarily. If your existing mattress is in good condition and is the right size for the new frame, it can move across without issue. UK double mattresses are standardised at 135cm by 190cm, so they fit any UK double frame.

That said, if the mattress is more than seven or eight years old, or if it's showing visible signs of wear such as sagging, uneven surface, or loss of support, buying a new frame is a good moment to replace it. A good frame won't improve the performance of a worn-out mattress, and the two are worth assessing together rather than assuming the mattress is still doing its job. We carry mattresses if you'd like to look at both at the same time.

How does delivery work, and can I see double beds in person first?

We deliver nationally across the UK. Once your order is placed you'll receive a confirmation, and we'll be in touch closer to the time to arrange a delivery date that suits you. Double bed frames are delivered in components and assembled in the room, which makes access through hallways and staircases much more straightforward than moving a fully assembled frame. Delivery is typically within 7 to 14 days. If there's anything about your property worth flagging in advance, such as a narrow staircase or restricted parking, let us know when you order.

If you'd like to see frames in person before committing, our Manchester showroom is open and you're welcome to visit without any obligation. Headboard height in particular is worth seeing at scale before you decide, and it's the kind of thing a showroom visit settles in minutes. Give us a call beforehand if you'd like to check whether a specific frame is currently on the floor.