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

Small Double Beds

The spare room in most houses has a version of the same problem. A single feels a bit mean for adult guests. A standard double takes over the room ...
The spare room in most houses has a version of the same problem. A single feels a bit mean for adult guests. A standard double takes over the room and leaves you stepping sideways between the bed and the wardrobe. A small double at 120cm wide sits between those two options and solves the problem that neither size quite manages alone. It gives a guest noticeably more sleeping space than a single, fits into a smaller room than a full double, and still leaves the room feeling like a room rather than a corridor around a bed.
The same logic applies in a teenager's bedroom. A single at 90cm works for a child. Once they're older and taller and increasingly taking up more space in their sleep, the extra 30cm of a small double makes a real difference without demanding a bigger room to put it in. The frames here are upholstered fabric beds in small double size, sitting within the wider beds collection. Finance is available on many frames, subject to status.
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. Get in touch at any stage if you have questions about sizing or room fit before you order.

This collection is empty

View all products

What's in this collection

The small double frames here are upholstered fabric beds, covering a range of headboard heights and styles. That includes both standard-height headboards and taller designs, and both plain panelled and buttoned finishes. The frames available in small double sit within the same family as those available across other sizes in the range, so the headboard styles and base options are consistent rather than limited.

Some frames are available with an ottoman storage base, where the mattress platform lifts on a gas-assist mechanism to reveal a large storage compartment underneath. For a spare bedroom or a teenager's room where under-bed storage is useful, it's worth looking at the ottoman beds collection for more on how the mechanism works and what to consider. For a full picture of what's available across headboard styles and base options, fabric beds covers the range in detail.

What a small double actually gives you

A UK small double mattress is 120cm wide and 190cm long. For a single sleeper, 120cm is generous. It gives you enough width to move around freely without ever really encountering the edge of the bed, which is more than a standard single at 90cm can offer. If you tend to sleep spread out, or if you're a restless sleeper, the extra 30cm over a single is consistently noticeable across a full night.

For a room that's had a single in it and is wondering whether to upgrade, the meaningful question is whether the room can absorb the extra 30cm without becoming awkward. A small double at 120cm needs roughly 240cm of room width to allow comfortable clearance on the accessible side. That's about 15cm less than a standard double needs in the same configuration, which sounds modest but in practice is often the difference between a room that works and one that doesn't.

The other thing a small double does for a spare bedroom is communicate something to guests. A well-chosen small double with a decent headboard and a proper mattress reads as an intentional guest room. A single in the same room reads as a room that happens to have a bed in it.

Single, small double or double: how to decide

The right answer depends on two things: who's sleeping in the bed and what the room can realistically carry.

For a child under around ten, a single is usually the better choice. The smaller footprint leaves more usable floor space in what is typically a smaller room, and a young child doesn't need the extra width. For a teenager, the picture changes. A single at 90cm is adequate but increasingly limiting as they grow, and if the room has space for a small double without significantly eating into the floor, it's a sensible upgrade that will serve them better for longer.

For a spare bedroom, the question is what kind of guest you're most often accommodating. A small double is noticeably more comfortable than a single for an adult sleeping alone, and most spare rooms can accommodate 120cm more easily than the 135cm of a full standard double. If the room genuinely can't take a standard double without the result feeling cramped, a small double is the answer rather than a compromise. If the room is large enough to carry a full double comfortably and you want the flexibility of occasionally fitting two people, a standard double gives you more to work with.

The honest version: a small double is not a budget double. It's the right-sized bed for a specific set of rooms and uses, and in those situations it's a better choice than going either larger or smaller.

Spreading the Cost

Finance is available on many of our small double beds, subject to status. It's worth knowing about if you're equipping a spare room or a teenager's bedroom from scratch, where the bed is likely 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 spare room or a bedroom makeover where you're not sure whether a small double is the right call, it can help to come in and see frames at scale before committing. You're welcome to visit without any obligation. If you'd like to check 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 room planning, size questions, or anything else that would help you get to the right decision before you order.

Small Double Bed FAQs

What size is a small double bed?

A UK small double mattress is 120cm wide and 190cm long. It's the same length as a standard single, which is 190cm, but 30cm wider. It's also 15cm narrower than a standard double, which is 135cm wide. The small double occupies a useful middle position in the UK size ladder: meaningfully wider than a single for a single sleeper, and meaningfully more compact than a standard double for rooms that need to stay manageable.

The frame itself will be a little larger than the mattress on all sides, so always measure for the frame footprint rather than just the mattress dimensions when checking whether the bed will fit your room.

Can two people share a small double?

Technically yes, but it's tight and for regular use it's not comfortable. At 120cm wide, two people sharing a small double have 60cm each, which is less than a standard single gives one person sleeping alone. That's fine for an occasional night, but as a long-term sleeping arrangement for a couple it's the kind of thing you'll notice every morning.

A small double is best understood as a generous single: well-suited to one person who wants room to move, and workable for occasional sharing in a guest context. If you're buying a bed for two people to sleep in regularly, a standard double at 135cm is the practical minimum, and a king at 150cm is considerably more comfortable.

Small double or single: which is right for a teenager?

It depends on the teenager's age and the room. For a younger teenager who's still growing, a small double at 120cm gives noticeably more sleeping space than a single at 90cm without the room needing to be significantly larger. The extra 30cm of width makes a real difference once someone is close to full adult height and sleeping spread out rather than curled up.

If the bedroom can accommodate a small double without reducing usable floor space to the point where the room stops working, it's usually the better choice for anyone over around twelve or thirteen. The room doesn't need to be dramatically bigger to carry it: a small double needs roughly 240cm of room width to allow comfortable clearance on the accessible side, compared to roughly 210cm for a single in the same configuration.

If the room is small and the choice is between a single with floor space around it and a small double that turns the room into a squeeze, the single will be a better daily experience. A room a child can actually move around in matters as much as the width of the bed.

Small double or double: how do I choose?

The 15cm difference between a small double at 120cm and a standard double at 135cm is worth taking seriously rather than treating as marginal. For a single sleeper, a small double gives more than enough room and will feel generous. For two people sharing regularly, a standard double is the more practical choice, and for many couples a king is more comfortable still.

The room dimension is often what makes the decision for you. A standard double in comfortable use needs roughly 255cm of room width to allow clearance on both sides and on the accessible side. A small double needs around 240cm in the same configuration, and if the room is tight that 15cm is often the difference between a room that feels workable and one that doesn't.

For a spare bedroom where the room is compact and guests will usually be sleeping alone, a small double in a room that breathes is a better outcome than a standard double that dominates it. For a master bedroom or a room where two people will sleep regularly, a standard double or larger is the right starting point.

Do I need a specific mattress for a small double frame?

Yes, in the sense that you need a mattress sized to match the frame. A UK small double frame takes a small double mattress, which is 120cm by 190cm. A standard double mattress at 135cm wide will not fit, and neither will a single. The sizing is standardised across UK retailers, so any small double mattress will fit any small double frame.

Beyond the size, there's no requirement for a particular type of mattress. Standard sprung, memory foam, and hybrid mattresses all work with an upholstered fabric frame on a slatted or solid base. If you're buying a mattress at the same time as your frame, we carry mattresses alongside our bed frames. If you'd like a steer on which mattress suits a particular budget or type of sleeper, get in touch before you order.

How does delivery work, and can I see small 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. Small double bed frames are delivered in components and assembled in the room, so the size of the frame doesn't affect access through the door or up the stairs. Delivery is typically within 7 to 14 days. If your property has a narrow staircase, restricted parking, 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 small double frames in person before committing, our Manchester showroom is open and you're welcome to come in without any obligation. For a spare room where you're deciding between sizes or styles, seeing the proportions in person can be a useful final check. Give us a call beforehand to confirm whether a specific frame is currently on the showroom floor.