Skip to content
Home  → Beds | Single, Double, King Size, Ottoman  → Single Beds

Single Beds

There are really two reasons someone ends up on this page. The first is a child's bedroom: the junior bed has run its course, they're too old for i...
There are really two reasons someone ends up on this page. The first is a child's bedroom: the junior bed has run its course, they're too old for it, and it's time for something that will see them through to adulthood. The second is a spare room: it gets used a handful of times a year, it doesn't need to be a double, and giving over the whole room to a bed that sits empty for eleven months feels like a waste. In both cases, a single is the right-sized answer, and the question is just which frame works best for the room and the people using it.
The frames here are upholstered fabric beds in single size, drawn from the same collection as the rest of our beds range. That means the same headboard styles, the same fabric options, and the same quality of construction available across other sizes. Finance is available on many frames, subject to status, which can be useful even at single bed prices if you're fitting out a full room at once.
We deliver nationally across the UK, with frames typically arriving within 7 to 14 days. Our Manchester showroom is open if you'd like to see frames in person before buying. If you have questions about which frame is right for a particular room or a particular age of child, get in touch before you order.

This collection is empty

View all products

What's in this collection

The single beds here are upholstered fabric frames, covering a range of headboard heights and styles. That includes standard-height headboards and taller 70-inch designs, and both plain panelled and buttoned finishes. The frames available in single size are largely the same as those available in double and king, so if a child is currently in a single and you're thinking ahead to a larger size in a few years, the same frame style will be available to move up to.

For a full picture of the headboard types and base options across the range, the fabric beds collection covers the category in detail, including how headboard height affects room feel and what to consider with ottoman storage bases.

Single bed dimensions and room planning

A UK standard single mattress is 90cm wide and 190cm long. The bed frame itself will typically measure slightly larger than the mattress it holds, so allow a few centimetres either side and at the head and foot when measuring your room.

For comfortable daily use, leave at least 60cm of clear floor space on the accessible side of the bed and at the foot. In a child's room, that clearance matters more than it might seem: a room where the bed leaves no floor space to play on quickly becomes frustrating, and if there's a desk or wardrobe in the room too, the layout needs to work around all of them simultaneously. Sketch out the room on paper before committing, with the bed in the position you're planning and the wardrobe doors drawn open. If it all still works on paper, it'll work in the room.

One point worth noting for children's rooms specifically: check the ceiling height and the wall space above the head of the bed if you're considering a high headboard frame. A 70-inch headboard sits at roughly 180cm from the floor. In a room with a standard ceiling that's usually fine, but in a room with a sloped ceiling or a low window above the bed position, it can be an awkward fit.

Single or small double

A UK small double is 120cm wide and 190cm long, the same length as a single but 30cm wider. The question of which to choose comes up often, particularly for teenagers or for spare rooms where the occasional adult guest might be sleeping.

For children under around ten, a single is generally the right choice. The smaller footprint gives more usable floor space in what is typically a smaller room, and a child doesn't need the extra width. For a teenager, the picture is more nuanced. A standard single at 90cm is fine to sleep in, but a growing teenager who spreads out will notice the width eventually, and if the room can take a small double without compromising on floor space, it's worth considering. A 30cm difference in bed width leaves a child with noticeably more room as they get older, and the room doesn't need to get any bigger to accommodate it.

For a spare room, a small double is usually a more comfortable option for adult guests, but a single is a more honest answer for a room that genuinely isn't very big. A guest who sleeps soundly in a well-chosen single is better off than a guest who spends the night negotiating a small double that leaves no walkable floor around it. If the room is tight, choose the bed size that gives the room breathing space.

The small double beds collection covers that size in full if you want to compare directly.

Spreading the Cost

Finance is available on many of our single beds, subject to status. It's particularly worth knowing about if you're buying a frame and a mattress together, or equipping a child's room from scratch where the bed is one of several purchases at the same time. Details are available on the website and we're happy to talk through options before you order.

Why buy from Shawcross

We're based in Manchester with a physical showroom, and we deliver nationally across the UK. For a child's bedroom in particular, it's sometimes worth seeing a frame in person before buying, especially with taller headboard styles where the proportions relative to the room matter. You're welcome to come in without any obligation, and if you want to confirm whether a specific frame is currently on the showroom floor before making the trip, just give us a call.

We're happy to help with sizing questions, room planning, and anything else that would help you make the right decision before you order.

Single Bed FAQs

What size is a single bed in the UK?

A standard UK single mattress is 90cm wide and 190cm long. That's the mattress size; the overall dimensions of the bed frame will be a little larger, since the frame extends slightly beyond the mattress on all sides. When measuring your room to check whether a single bed will fit, measure for the frame footprint rather than just the mattress.

The single is the smallest standard adult bed size in the UK. Below it sits the small single at 75cm wide, which is less common and typically used for young children or very narrow spaces. Above it is the small double at 120cm wide, which is the next size up and the one most often considered as an alternative when a single feels too narrow for an older child or a guest.

What size room do I need for a single bed?

A single bed frame needs a room wide enough to fit the frame itself plus at least 60cm of clearance on the accessible side and usable space at the foot. As a rough minimum, a bedroom of around 180cm by 250cm can fit a single bed with basic clearance. That's tight. A room of 200cm by 280cm gives more practical comfort with a little floor space to move around.

For a child's room where the bed sits alongside a wardrobe, a desk, and a chest of drawers, the honest advice is to measure everything before buying. Mark out the bed footprint on the floor and then check that the wardrobe doors can open, the desk has usable space in front of it, and there's enough floor between the furniture for a child to actually move around. A room that works on paper will work in practice. A room that only barely works on paper will feel cramped every day.

Is a single bed big enough for a teenager?

It depends on the teenager and how long you're planning ahead. A standard single at 90cm wide is adequate for a younger teenager and most adults can sleep in one without significant discomfort. The constraint tends to emerge as children grow taller and spread out more in their sleep, at which point 90cm can start to feel limiting, particularly for anyone over about 5 foot 10.

If the bedroom is large enough to accommodate a small double without significantly reducing usable floor space, it's worth considering that size instead for a teenager who's already close to adult height. A small double at 120cm is the same length, takes up only 30cm more width, and will remain comfortable for longer. If the room is small and the choice is between a single with breathing space around it or a small double that takes over the room, the single is usually the better experience day to day.

Single or small double: which should I choose?

The honest answer depends on who's sleeping in it and how the room is sized, and neither is universally right.

A single is the better answer for younger children, for rooms where floor space genuinely matters, and for spare bedrooms where the occasional guest can sleep perfectly well in a narrower bed. It's also the lower-cost option, which matters if you're buying for a child who's likely to want a different frame in a few years anyway.

A small double makes sense for older teenagers, for spare rooms that will sometimes host adult guests who would appreciate more space, and for any situation where the room has the width to spare. The extra 30cm over a single is noticeable to an adult sleeping alone, and a small double can be a sensible long-term choice for a room that's likely to be used by different people over time.

If you're unsure, the question to ask is whether the person sleeping in the bed is likely to feel the constraint of a single. A young child won't. A teenager who's nearly full-grown might. An adult guest sleeping in it twice a year will notice the width but probably won't mind for an occasional visit. Think about the room, the person, and how long the choice needs to work.

Do I need a specific mattress for a single bed frame?

Yes, in the sense that you need a mattress sized to fit the frame. A UK single frame takes a standard single mattress, which is 90cm by 190cm. Any single mattress from any UK retailer will fit a single frame from any UK retailer, because the sizing is standardised.

What you don't need to do is buy any particular type or specification of mattress to use with an upholstered fabric frame. Standard sprung, memory foam, and hybrid mattresses all work with a standard slatted or solid-base frame. If you're buying a mattress at the same time as the frame, we carry mattresses alongside our beds, which makes it straightforward to sort both in one go. If you'd like advice on which mattress suits a particular type of sleeper or a particular budget, get in touch before you order.

How does delivery work, and can I see single 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. Single bed frames are delivered in components and assembled in the room, so the width of the frame isn't a factor in getting it through the door. Delivery is typically within 7 to 14 days. If your property has a narrow staircase, a tight landing, or anything else worth flagging in advance, let us know when you order so the delivery team can prepare.

If you'd like to see single bed frames in person before committing, our Manchester showroom is open and you're welcome to come in without any obligation. For a child's bedroom where headboard height and frame proportions matter, seeing it in person can be useful. Give us a call beforehand to check whether a specific frame is currently on the showroom floor.