Double Bed Buying Guide | Small Double & Double Beds for Kids, Teens & Adults
A double bed can be a practical choice for an older child, a teenager, or a guest room – giving far more room to stretch out than a standard single. See also our earlier article, The Benefits of a Large Double Bed for Children.
Double children's beds come in several different sizes and styles, from compact small doubles to full-width ottoman storage beds, and choosing the right one depends on your child's age, the size of the room, and how much storage you need.
This guide explains the different double bed sizes and styles available, who they suit, and what to check before buying.
What Counts as a Double Bed?
"Double bed" covers a range of sizes, and it's easy to assume they're all the same width. They aren't.
The three sizes you'll most commonly see are:
- Small double – typically 120 × 190cm
- UK double – typically 135 × 190cm
- European double – typically 140 × 200cm
Our Children's Bed Size Guide covers all of these sizes, plus single and toddler sizes, in full – it's worth checking if you're not sure which size a particular bed uses.
Always check the individual product specification before ordering a mattress, as dimensions vary between manufacturers.
Small Double vs Double vs European Double
The difference between the three sizes can make a real difference to how a bedroom feels, so it's worth understanding before you choose.
Small Double – 120 × 190cm
A small double is the most compact of the three. It offers noticeably more width than a single bed without taking up as much floor space as a full double, which makes it a popular choice for older children and teenagers moving up from a single bed.
UK Double – 135 × 190cm
A standard UK double gives a good amount of extra width and can comfortably remain suitable well into adulthood, so it's a sensible option if you want the bed to last.
European Double – 140 × 200cm
European doubles are slightly wider and 10cm longer than a UK double. This size is common on beds manufactured in continental Europe, so always check which size a bed is designed for before buying a mattress or bedding.
Why Choose a Double Bed for a Child or Teenager?
A double bed can offer several advantages over a single bed, particularly as children get older:
- More room to stretch out and sleep comfortably
- Fewer disturbed nights as your child grows taller
- A bed that can remain suitable well into the teenage years and beyond
- A more grown-up feel for older children and teenagers
- Room for reading, relaxing or watching television in bed
A double bed is generally best suited to older children, teenagers, guest rooms or larger bedrooms, rather than very young children who are unlikely to need the extra space yet.
Double Beds with Storage
Many of our double beds include built-in storage, which is particularly useful given how much floor space a double bed takes up. Our Beds with Storage Buying Guide covers the full range of storage options available across all bed types.
On double beds, storage typically comes in one of two forms:
Storage Drawers
Pull-out drawers built into the base of the bed, ideal for bedding, clothes or toys that you want to access regularly.
Ottoman & Lift-Up Storage
The entire mattress base lifts up on a hydraulic mechanism to reveal a large storage compartment underneath – useful for bulkier items like spare bedding, luggage or seasonal clothes.
Our Double Beds with Storage & Ottoman Beds collection brings together both styles, including drawer and cubby-hole designs and hydraulic ottoman bases.
Double Beds for Teenagers
A double bed is often one of the most practical choices for a teenager's bedroom, particularly where the room is large enough to accommodate one.
Reasons a double works well for teenagers include:
- Extra space as they finish growing
- A more adult feel to the bedroom
- A bed that won't need replacing again before they leave home
- Built-in storage to help keep a teenager's bedroom organised
See our Teenager Beds collection for the wider range of beds suited to this age group, or our Best Bed for Small Bedrooms guide if space is tight.
Double Beds for Adults & Guests
Because a double bed can comfortably support an adult, it's a genuinely useful option beyond the teenage years – whether that's a child who has grown up and stayed in the same bed, or a spare room that occasionally needs to sleep a guest.
A double bed can work well:
- As a long-term bed that continues to suit a child into adulthood
- In a spare room or guest room
- Where visiting family or friends need somewhere comfortable to stay
- In multi-purpose rooms that double as an occasional guest bedroom
If you specifically need a bed for overnight guests rather than everyday use, it's also worth comparing a day bed with a trundle – see our Beds with Sleepover Beds guide – as this can be a more space-efficient option when the room is used for other things most of the time.
Double Bed vs Single Bed
Choosing between a single and a double bed usually comes down to age, bedroom size and how long you want the bed to last.
Choose a single bed if:
- Your child is younger
- The bedroom is on the smaller side
- You want the widest possible choice of styles, including bunk, mid sleeper and high sleeper designs
- Budget is a priority
Choose a double bed if:
- Your child is older or a teenager
- The bedroom has enough space to accommodate one comfortably
- You want a bed that will still suit them as an adult
- The room may also need to sleep a guest from time to time
Our Single Beds collection and Children's Bed Buying Guide cover the full range of single bed styles if a double isn't the right fit yet.
Double Beds in Bunk Beds & Gaming Beds
A double-width mattress isn't only found in standalone double beds – it also appears as the lower bed in some of our triple bunk beds, and as the base of some high sleeper gaming beds.
For example, some triple bunk bed designs pair a single top bunk with a double bed underneath, giving a family bunk that sleeps three without needing a double and a single bed as separate pieces of furniture. See our Best Bunk Beds Buying Guide for more on these family and triple sleeper designs.
Small double mattresses also appear on some high sleeper gaming beds, where the extra width underneath suits a desk, wardrobe and sofa bed setup. Our Best Gaming Beds guide and Gaming Beds & Desks collection cover these in more detail.
What Mattress Does a Double Bed Need?
Always check the individual product specification, as the exact size can vary between small double, UK double and European double. Our Children's Mattress Buying Guide explains mattress types and depths across every bed size in more detail.
Common double mattress sizes include:
- 120 × 190cm (small double)
- 135 × 190cm (UK double)
- 140 × 200cm (European double)
Our Double Mattresses collection includes pocket sprung options in these sizes. Never assume a double mattress from one bed will fit another – always match the mattress to the bed's specified dimensions and maximum depth.
What Size Room Do You Need for a Double Bed?
A double bed naturally takes up considerably more floor space than a single, so it's worth measuring carefully before ordering.
As well as the bed's overall footprint, allow enough room to:
- Walk comfortably around the bed
- Open any storage drawers fully
- Raise an ottoman lid fully, if applicable
- Change bedding without the bed being against a wall on every side
- Access wardrobes, windows and radiators nearby
If floor space is limited, our Best Bed for Small Bedrooms guide compares double beds against space-saving alternatives such as high sleepers and mid sleepers.
What Should You Check Before Buying a Double Bed?
Before ordering, check:
- Whether it's a small double, UK double or European double
- The exact mattress dimensions required
- Whether a mattress is included or needs to be bought separately
- The overall bed dimensions, not just the mattress size
- Whether storage drawers or an ottoman base are included
- How much clearance drawers or an ottoman lid need
- Available floor space around the bed
- Whether assembly is included or needs to be added at checkout
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is a double bed suitable for?
There's no fixed minimum age, but a double bed is generally best suited to older children and teenagers rather than very young children, who are unlikely to need the extra width yet.
What's the difference between a small double and a double bed?
A small double typically measures 120 × 190cm, while a standard UK double measures 135 × 190cm. A small double is a useful middle step between a single and a full double where space is limited.
Do double beds need a special mattress?
Yes – double mattresses are wider than single mattresses and come in several sizes (small double, UK double and European double), so always check the bed's specification before buying a replacement mattress.
Can a double bed have storage underneath?
Many double beds include storage drawers or a lift-up ottoman base, which can be particularly useful given how much floor space a double bed takes up. See our Double Beds with Storage collection.
Is a double bed suitable for adults as well as children?
Yes – most double beds are suitable for adult use, which makes them a practical choice for a bed that needs to last well into the teenage years, or for a guest room.
Double Bed Buying Checklist
Before buying your double bed:
- Have you checked whether it's a small double, UK double or European double?
- Is a mattress included, or does one need to be bought separately?
- Does the room have enough floor space?
- Is storage required – drawers or an ottoman base?
- Can drawers or the ottoman lid open fully?
- Is the bed intended for a child, teenager, adult or guest use?
- Do you need home assembly adding at checkout?
- Does the bed fit around existing furniture, doors and windows?
Our Recommendations
Best for an Older Child or Teenager Moving Up from a Single
A small double offers a noticeable step up in space without taking over the whole room.
Best for Storage
A double bed with drawers or an ottoman base makes the most of the floor space a double bed uses.
Best for a Guest Room
A standard UK or European double gives visiting family and friends a genuinely comfortable place to stay.
Best for the Long Term
A double bed is one of the few children's bed styles that can comfortably remain in use well into adulthood.
Final Thoughts
A double bed can be a practical, long-lasting choice for an older child, a teenager, or a guest room – provided the bedroom has enough space to accommodate one comfortably.
Start by checking which size you actually need – small double, UK double or European double – then think about whether storage would be useful given the extra floor space a double bed takes up. If the bed also needs to work for overnight guests, built-in storage or an ottoman base can help it earn its keep the rest of the time.
For more on the benefits of moving to a larger bed, see our earlier article, The Benefits of a Large Double Bed for Children.
Continue Your Research
If you're still deciding, these related guides can help: