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Single Mattresses

A single mattress gets replaced less often than it should. Whether it's in a spare room that only gets used a few times a year, a first flat where ...
A single mattress gets replaced less often than it should. Whether it's in a spare room that only gets used a few times a year, a first flat where the budget was tight when it was bought, or a child's bedroom where other things always felt more pressing, the single tends to stay past its best because the discomfort is easy to put up with or easy not to think about. It shouldn't take a guest mentioning a bad night's sleep to prompt the decision.
The single mattresses here cover pocket spring and memory foam constructions in the standard 90cm x 190cm UK single size. They sit within the full mattresses collection where you can also compare other sizes. All are delivered across the UK in 7 to 14 days.
Finance is available on many mattresses, subject to status. If you have questions about which option suits your situation, give us a call or come into the Manchester showroom.

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What's in this collection

The single mattresses here include pocket spring and memory foam options, with some combining both constructions in a hybrid format.

Pocket spring mattresses use individually wrapped coils that move and respond independently. This makes them adaptable across different body weights and sleeping positions, and the open spring structure allows air to circulate, which keeps the sleeping temperature consistent. For a child's room where the mattress will be used every night for several years, pocket spring is a reliable choice across a wide range of ages and sizes.

Memory foam compresses under body heat and weight to distribute pressure more evenly, which reduces load at the shoulders and hips. It suits side sleepers particularly well. Some mattresses here combine a pocket spring base with a memory foam comfort layer, giving pressure relief at the surface while retaining the airflow and support of a spring structure underneath. For a growing child who moves around during the night, a hybrid often provides a good balance.

Who a single mattress suits

The single is primarily a children's and guest room size. For a child from around school age through to the early teens, a single gives a proper sleeping surface without taking over the room. It works well in bedrooms where space matters, particularly where there's also a desk, wardrobe and the general accumulation of a child's belongings to accommodate.

For a single bed frame, the mattress sits at 90cm wide, which is comfortable for one person sleeping alone at most ages. The length at 190cm works for most people up to around 185cm, so for younger children and average-height adults it's completely adequate. Where it starts to feel limiting is for taller teenagers, or for a child who's growing fast and likely to need a new bed within a couple of years regardless. In that situation, a small double is often worth considering from the outset rather than replacing the single again in short order.

For a spare or guest bedroom, a single works well where the room is compact or where guests are typically one person rather than a couple. It's also a practical size for a bunk bed, which is a specific scenario worth noting below.

Single dimensions and practical fit

A UK single mattress is 90cm wide and 190cm long. This is the standard across all manufacturers, and any single mattress will fit any single base. The assembled bed once the frame is included typically measures around 95 to 100cm wide.

For room planning, a single bed fits comfortably in even a modestly sized child's bedroom, leaving room for furniture and floor space to play. As a guide, a room of around 2.2m x 2.8m or larger handles a single bed without feeling cramped.

Single mattresses and bunk beds are a common pairing and generally straightforward, with one thing to check: the depth of the mattress. Bunk beds have a safety rail around the upper bunk, and if the mattress is very deep it can sit above or close to the top of the rail, which reduces the effectiveness of that rail. Most standard bunk beds are designed for mattresses up to around 15 to 17cm in depth. Check the mattress depth listed in the product specification alongside the bunk bed's rail height before ordering, particularly for the upper bunk.

Spreading the Cost

Finance is available on many of our single mattresses, subject to status. It's worth knowing about even for what might seem like a smaller purchase. A child spends more hours in bed proportionally than an adult, and the quality of a mattress tends to affect how long it remains comfortable and supportive. Choosing a better-specified mattress for a child's room and spreading the cost is often the more practical approach than replacing a cheaper one sooner.

Why buy from Shawcross

We're a Manchester-based retailer with a showroom and we deliver nationally across the UK. If you're not sure which construction type or firmness level suits a child at a particular age, or whether a single or small double makes more sense for your situation, we're happy to talk it through. Give us a call or come into the showroom.

Single Mattress FAQs

What are the dimensions of a single mattress?

A UK single mattress is 90cm wide and 190cm long. This is standard across all manufacturers, so any single mattress will fit any single base regardless of brand. The size is sometimes described as a three-foot bed, referring to the approximate width in imperial measurements.

The next size up is a small double at 120cm wide and the same 190cm length. The width difference of 30cm is the only real distinction between the two; the length is identical. If you're choosing between the two for a bedroom, the question is usually whether the room can accommodate the extra width and whether the person sleeping in it would benefit from having it.

Should I buy a single or small double for my child or teenager?

It depends on the age, the room, and how long you want the mattress to last.

For younger children, a single is usually the right call. The room tends to be smaller, the child fits the 90cm width without difficulty, and the lower cost reflects a stage of life where tastes and needs change quickly. There's no practical reason to put a ten-year-old in a small double.

For teenagers, the calculation shifts. A 15 or 16-year-old in a single is using a mattress that's 90cm wide at a point when they're close to or already at adult height. A small double mattress at 120cm gives them a proper sleeping surface that doesn't need replacing when they leave home or move to a flat share. If the bedroom can carry the additional 30cm in width, the small double is often the better investment for a teenager.

The length is the same on both, so if the primary concern is a child approaching 185cm or taller, going to a double mattress at 135 x 190cm might be worth considering instead, particularly if the room is large enough.

Is it worth spending more on a child's mattress?

The honest answer is yes, and possibly more than most people expect. Children spend proportionally more hours in bed than adults, particularly younger children who may sleep ten hours or more a night. A mattress that supports a growing body properly matters, and a poorly specified mattress that becomes uncomfortable or loses its support after a couple of years ends up costing more to replace than a better one bought upfront.

That said, spending more doesn't mean buying the most expensive option available. A mid-range pocket spring with a reasonable spring count will serve a child well for years and represents better long-term value than a budget mattress that needs replacing in eighteen months. Where premium memory foam and high spring counts make more sense is in a main adult bedroom where the requirements and the nightly use are at the other end of the spectrum. For a child's room, a solid mid-range mattress is usually the sweet spot.

Do single mattresses fit bunk beds?

In terms of size, yes. A standard single mattress at 90 x 190cm is the size bunk beds are designed for, and this applies across all bunk bed designs.

The one thing to check is mattress depth. Bunk beds have a safety rail around the upper bunk that's designed to prevent someone rolling out during the night. If the mattress is too deep, it sits above the top of the rail, which reduces how much protection that rail actually provides. Most standard bunk beds are designed for mattresses up to around 15 to 17cm deep. Before ordering, check the mattress depth listed in the product specification and compare it against the rail height on your bunk bed. This matters specifically for the upper bunk. For the lower bunk it's less critical, though an unusually deep mattress can make the upper bunk harder to climb into.

What firmness is best for a child?

For most children, a medium firmness is a good starting point. Children tend to be lighter than adults, which means they don't compress a mattress as deeply, and a mattress that feels medium to a child might feel quite firm to a heavier adult. Very soft mattresses that allow significant sinking are generally less suitable for children, particularly younger ones, where proper spinal support during sleep matters as the body is still developing.

For school-age children who sleep in a variety of positions, a medium-firmness pocket spring handles most situations well. As children move into their teens and approach adult weight and height, the same firmness considerations that apply to adults start to become more relevant: side sleepers often do better on a slightly softer surface, back sleepers tend to prefer more support. If a teenager has a consistent sleeping position and has started to notice discomfort in the mornings, it's worth treating the firmness question more carefully at that point.

How does delivery work, and can I see mattresses 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 mattresses are delivered in 7 to 14 days. They arrive in protective packaging and the delivery team will bring them into your home. If there's anything about the property worth noting in advance, such as a narrow staircase or a tight turn at the top of the stairs, let us know when you order.

If you'd like to see mattresses in person before committing, our Manchester showroom carries a selection and you're welcome to come in without any obligation. Give us a call beforehand to check what's currently on the showroom floor.