Shorty Mattresses

A shorty mattress is 75 x 175cm. That's 15cm narrower and 15cm shorter than a standard UK single, and it's the size fitted to shorty beds, shorty bunks and shorty mid sleepers.

It sounds like a small difference and it isn't. In a box room, 15cm off the length of the bed is often what decides whether the room works.

Shorty mattress size

SizeMetricImperialShorty75 x 175cm2ft6 x 5ft9Small single75 x 190cm2ft6 x 6ft3Single90 x 190cm3ft x 6ft3

Also called a short mattress or a shortie. All describe 75 x 175cm.

The mistake to avoid: a shorty bed needs a shorty mattress. A standard single is 15cm too long and 15cm too wide, and it won't fit. A small single is the right width but still 15cm too long.

It's an easy error to make, because "single" covers three different sizes in British bedding and only one of them fits a shorty frame. Measure the internal dimensions of your bed frame if you're not certain.

Our shorty mattresses

All four are made in the UK and arrive vacuum packed and rolled.

TrundleEase 10 — Shorty

Built at 10cm for trundles and pull-out beds, so it clears the frame above when it slides away. A standard mattress won't fit a trundle regardless of length.

British Made High-Density Shorty Mattress

High-density foam, firm and hard-wearing. Good for a younger child and for beds that get occasional use.

ComfortSleep 15 — Shorty

Reflex foam at 15cm, so it works on a shorty bunk or mid sleeper where the guard rail depth limit applies. Firm, supportive and the lightest in the range, which matters when you're rotating it or lifting it onto a top bunk.

MemoryDream 15 — Shorty

Memory foam over a reflex base at 15cm. Contours to the body and stays quiet, which matters on a shorty bunk where someone sleeps below.

Note on PocketRest 15: our pocket sprung mattress isn't available in shorty. If you want springs in a shorty size, the High-Density Shorty is the firmer option.

Which depth?

BedDepthChooseShorty bed, no guard railsAnyAny of the fourShorty bunk or mid sleeper with rails15cm maximumComfortSleep 15 or MemoryDream 15Shorty trundle or pull-outAround 10cmTrundleEase 10

On any bed with guard rails, depth is a safety figure rather than a preference. Rails are designed to sit a set height above the mattress surface, and a deeper mattress reduces that clearance. The exact maximum is on your bed's product page.

Buying for a bunk, high sleeper or mid sleeper in a standard single size rather than shorty? See our bunk bed mattress range, built at 15cm in every size.

Looking for a shorty bed rather than a mattress?

Shorty beds, shorty bunks, shorty mid sleepers and shorty daybeds are all in a separate collection.

Browse shorty beds →

Firmness for a shorty mattress

Shorty beds are usually bought for younger children, and firmer is the safer choice at that age, not softer. A mattress that gives too much lets the hips sink and the spine curve, and it doesn't support a body that's still developing.

Medium to medium-firm suits most children. The High-Density Shorty and ComfortSleep 15 are the firmer options; MemoryDream 15 has more give.

Shorty Mattresses: Common Questions

What size is a shorty mattress?

75 x 175cm, or 2ft6 x 5ft9.

Is a shorty mattress the same as a small single?

No. Both are 75cm wide, but a shorty is 175cm long and a small single is 190cm. A small single won't fit a shorty frame.

Will a standard single mattress fit a shorty bed?

No. A standard single is 90 x 190cm, which is 15cm too wide and 15cm too long.

What age is a shorty bed for?

Shorty beds suit children until they get close to 165cm tall, which for most is somewhere around eight or nine. Once there's less than 10cm between the top of their head and the end of the mattress, you've roughly a year left in it.

What depth shorty mattress do I need?

On a shorty bed with no guard rails, any depth. On a shorty bunk or mid sleeper with rails, 15cm maximum. On a trundle, around 10cm.

Do you have a pocket sprung shorty mattress?

Not currently. PocketRest 15 starts at standard single. The High-Density Shorty is our firmer shorty option.

What's the best shorty mattress for a child?

ComfortSleep 15 for most children, MemoryDream 15 if they prefer a softer feel, the High-Density Shorty for a firmer option, and TrundleEase 10 if it's going on a pull-out.

Is a shorty mattress worth it, or should I go straight to a single?

If the room takes a standard single, go straight to it and save yourself a purchase. A shorty is for rooms where a 190cm bed genuinely doesn't fit.

Not sure which size you need? See our kids' bed size guide, or browse the full kids' mattress range.