A single mattress is 90 x 190cm. It's the most common mattress size in Britain, the size most children move into around age six, and the one that fits single beds, bunk beds, high sleepers, cabin beds and day beds.
As a UK kids' bed specialist, single is the size we sell more of than any other. Our range covers depths from 10cm to 28cm, and which depth you need depends entirely on the bed it's going on.
Single mattress size: 90 x 190cm
Written asMeans90 x 190cm90cm wide, 190cm long190 x 90cmThe same thing, length first3ft x 6ft3The imperial equivalentUK singleThe standard British single
All four describe the same mattress. If you've measured a bed frame and got 90 by 190, this is your size.
Sizes close to it, and how to tell them apart
SizeDimensionsDifferenceShorty75 x 175cm15cm narrower, 15cm shorterSmall single75 x 190cm15cm narrower, same lengthSingle90 x 190cm—Continental single90 x 200cmSame width, 10cm longer
Continental is the one that catches people out. European and Scandinavian bed frames are often 200cm long, and a 190cm mattress leaves a 10cm gap at the end. Uncomfortable on any bed, and an entrapment risk on a raised one.
Measure the internal dimensions of the frame where the mattress sits, not the outside. Every bed we sell states the mattress size it needs on its product page.
For shorter beds see shorty mattresses at 75 x 175cm, and for wider see small double at 120 x 190cm.
What a single mattress fits
On any bed with guard rails, depth is a safety figure rather than a comfort preference. Rails are designed to sit a set height above the mattress surface, and a deeper mattress reduces that clearance. Most single mattresses on the high street are 20cm or more.
Buying for a bunk, high sleeper or trundle specifically? Everything in our bunk bed mattress range is built to the right depth.
Single mattresses for children
For a child roughly six to twelve on a normal bed frame.
ComfortSleep 15
Reflex foam. Firm and supportive, and the most affordable in the range. The one most families start with.
MemoryDream 15
Memory foam over a reflex base. Contours to the body and stays quiet, which suits a restless sleeper.
PocketRest 15
Pocket springs, so more airflow. The choice for a child who sleeps hot.
Guardian Orthopaedic Sprung Mattress
Firmer sprung support in the traditional orthopaedic style.
Florence Memory Sprung Mattress
Springs with a memory foam layer over the top.
Pippa Pocket Sprung Mattress
Individually pocketed springs for more targeted support.
Single mattresses for teenagers
Requirements change from about thirteen. A heavier, taller body benefits from more depth, and a teenager notices the difference in a way a seven-year-old won't.
Provided the bed has no guard rails, go deeper. It's one of the genuine advantages of moving a teenager to a floor-level bed.
MemoryTeen 18
Deeper memory foam, built specifically for a teenage body. Our most popular teenage mattress.
QuiltRest 23 — quilted, 23cm
OrthoSupport 24 — firmer orthopaedic support, 24cm
MemorySupport 25 — memory foam, 25cm
PocketBalance 26 — pocket sprung, 26cm
NaturalLoft 27 — natural fillings, 27cm
VitalRest 28 — our deepest, 28cm
One thing to check on a tall teenager. A 190cm mattress comfortably suits someone up to about 180cm. Beyond that, a continental single at 90 x 200cm gives 10cm more length for no extra width. Worth doing before they outgrow the bed rather than after.
The deeper mattresses above are the same specification as an adult mattress, just in a single size. They suit an older teenager moving up from a children's mattress, a spare room, or an adult in a single bed, so there's no need to look elsewhere once a child outgrows the 15cm range.
Single mattresses for guest rooms and sleepovers
For a bed that gets used occasionally rather than nightly, there's little point paying for depth nobody will notice.
ComfortSleep 15 is the sensible choice: firm, supportive and the best value in the range. It's also the lightest, which matters more than people expect. A lighter mattress is easier to rotate every few months, easier to strip and remake, and considerably easier to get onto a top bunk or into a loft room.
For a trundle or pull-out, TrundleEase 10 is the only one that fits, since it's built at 10cm to clear the frame above. Note that it's a full-size 90 x 190cm mattress; only the depth is reduced.
Firm, medium or soft?
FeelSuitsIn our rangeFirmYounger children, anyone who prefers support over giveComfortSleep 15, Guardian Orthopaedic, OrthoSupport 24Medium-firmMost children and teenagersMemoryDream 15, PocketRest 15, MemoryTeen 18MediumOlder teenagers and adultsQuiltRest 23, MemorySupport 25, PocketBalance 26
For a growing child, firmer is the safer choice, 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. Too firm creates pressure points at the shoulder and hip, so medium to medium-firm is the sensible middle.
The old advice about very hard mattresses, or putting a board underneath, has long been superseded. Supportive is the aim, not hard.
Which type?
TypeFeelBest forReflex foamFirm, supportiveYounger children, guest beds, tighter budgetsMemory foamContouring, quietRestless sleepers, most children and teenagersPocket sprungTraditional, some bounceAnyone who sleeps hotOpen coilFirmer, more affordableOccasional and guest useOrthopaedicExtra firmWhere firmer support is wantedNatural fillingsBreathable, temperature regulatingSensitive sleepers, all-year comfort
Browse by type: pocket sprung, memory foam, open coil.
Allergies
If your child has asthma, eczema or a dust mite allergy, what you can wash matters more than the mattress material. Most allergens accumulate in the top few centimetres, so a washable cover and a machine-washable protector do more than anything else.
Beyond that, breathability helps: a mattress that moves moisture away rather than holding it stays fresher between washes, and pocket sprung constructions allow more airflow than solid foam.
See our hypoallergenic mattresses and the Bamboo Mattress Protector, which is breathable rather than plastic-backed so it doesn't trap heat.
When to replace it
Children's mattresses typically last five to seven years, but most get replaced for a different reason than wear.
- They've outgrown the size. Once there's less than 10cm between the top of their head and the end of the mattress, you've roughly a year left.
- A dip that doesn't recover within a minute or two of getting up.
- Springs you can feel through the surface.
- Staining or a smell that survives a proper clean.
- They say it's uncomfortable. Children rarely complain about a bed unless something's genuinely wrong with it.
More in our guide to how often to change a mattress.
Making it last
- Use a protector from day one. The single biggest factor in how long a child's mattress survives.
- Rotate head to toe every three months. Most children's mattresses are single-sided, so rotate rather than flip unless the label says otherwise.
- Vacuum monthly with the upholstery attachment.
- Air it regularly. Pull the bedding back for an hour before making the bed.
- Check the bed base. A broken slat or sagging base ruins a new mattress within months, and it's often the real cause when one seems to have failed early.
- Allow 24 to 48 hours for a rolled mattress to fully expand.
Single Mattresses: Common Questions
What size is a single mattress?
90 x 190cm, or 3ft x 6ft3. Also written as 190 x 90cm.
Is 90 x 190cm a UK single?
Yes, it's the standard UK single mattress size.
Is 90 x 190 the same as 90 x 200?
No. 90 x 200cm is a continental single, 10cm longer. A 190cm mattress in a 200cm frame leaves a gap at the end.
What's the difference between a single and a small single?
Width. A single is 90cm, a small single is 75cm. Both are 190cm long.
What's the best single mattress for a child?
Medium to medium-firm. ComfortSleep 15 for a younger child, MemoryDream 15 for a restless sleeper, PocketRest 15 for one who sleeps hot.
What's the best single mattress for a teenager?
Something deeper, provided the bed has no guard rails. MemoryTeen 18 is built for a teenage body, and the full depth range goes to 28cm.
How firm should a child's mattress be?
Medium to medium-firm. Firmer is the safer error, because a mattress that's too soft doesn't support a developing spine.
What depth single mattress do I need?
On a normal bed frame, whatever's comfortable. On a bunk, high sleeper, mid sleeper or cabin bed with guard rails, 15 or 16cm maximum. On a trundle, around 10cm.
Do you have a firm 90 x 190 mattress?
Yes. ComfortSleep 15 in reflex foam, Guardian Orthopaedic in springs, and OrthoSupport 24 for a deeper firm option.
Do you have a soft 90 x 190 mattress?
Our softer options are the deeper memory foam ones, MemorySupport 25 and QuiltRest 23. For a child we'd suggest medium-firm rather than soft.
Will a single mattress fit a bunk bed?
The size will. Check the depth: most bunks take a maximum of 15 or 16cm. See our bunk bed mattresses.
Is memory foam suitable for children?
Yes, on a bed appropriate for their age. Choose a breathable one, since foam retains more heat than sprung.
How do I measure for a mattress?
Measure the internal dimensions of the bed frame where the mattress sits, not the outside of the frame. If it comes to 90 by 190, this is your size.
How long does a children's single mattress last?
Five to seven years, though most are replaced because the child has outgrown the size rather than because the mattress has worn out.
Browse the full kids' mattress range, or read the kids' mattress guide for every size and depth.
