Bedding size guide: what size do I need?

Bedding sizes are one of those things that look simple until you actually have to choose. Fitted sheets are sized to the mattress, duvet covers to the duvet, pillowcases to the pillow — and a sheet should usually be larger than the mattress, while a fitted sheet has to be exactly right. Add international naming differences (Single, Queen, King, Super King) to the mix and it gets confusing fast. This guide cuts through it: every size you need, with both the UK name and the exact dimensions in cm.

1. Fitted sheets
2. Duvet covers
3. Flat sheets
4. Pillowcases
5. A few buying tips

Fitted sheets

A fitted sheet wraps tightly around your mattress. Match the size to the mattress dimensions exactly — too small and it pops off, too large and it bunches.

Standard depth — fits mattresses up to about 30 cm thick.

Long versions — for mattresses 210 or 220 cm long (typical for taller sleepers).

Duvet covers

A duvet cover should match the size of your duvet, not your mattress. The duvet itself is usually slightly larger than the mattress so it overhangs comfortably.

For more on choosing the right cover, see how to choose the perfect duvet cover size.

Flat sheets

A flat sheet should be larger than your mattress so it tucks in properly on all sides.

Pillowcases

Pillowcases are sized to the pillow, not the bed. The standard sizes:

US sizes: what matches what

American beds are measured in inches and named differently, and the sizes are not identical to European ones. A US Queen is 60 x 80 inches, which comes out at roughly 152 x 203 cm — close to, but not the same as, a European 160 x 200. Because a fitted sheet has to fit exactly, the table below shows which of our sizes is the nearest match and whether it runs a little wider or narrower.

Two things worth knowing if you are ordering from the United States. What Americans call a comforter is what we call a duvet, and the cover that goes over it is the duvet cover. And where a US comforter is often used without a cover, our duvets are made to sit inside one — which is why the duvet and the cover are sold separately.

All our fitted sheets have deep corners, up to about 35 cm or 14 inches, so they also fit the thicker mattresses and toppers that are common in the US.

A few buying tips

• Measure before you buy — especially for older or non-standard mattresses. Mattress thickness matters too: a 30 cm mattress needs a fitted sheet with a deeper pocket.
• Buy the duvet cover slightly bigger if you and a partner are different heights — extra coverage at the foot end avoids the fighting over the duvet issue.
• Don't go bigger on a fitted sheet — it'll never sit right. The size has to match.
• Pillowcases stretch slightly — a standard pillowcase will fit a slightly larger pillow, but not the other way around.

If you're still unsure, the safest approach is to measure your mattress, your duvet, and your pillows directly. A tape measure beats a tag every time. Browse the full bamboo bedding range with all sizes available.