How to Convert European Bedding Measurements to US Bedding Sizes

Descriptions such as "king" or "queen" are not legally defined.

The United States and Europe vary in their definitions of bed sizes. Continental Europe differs from the United Kingdom and Ireland too, so a standard "European" bed size does not exist. Additionally, there are no legal definitions to accompany descriptions such as "king" or "twin," so the names of U.S. and European bed sizes are unreliable. This means that bedding, sold to match bed sizes, also differs in size and names. Once metric measurements are converted to customary units, however, bedding may be compared using the length and width as guides.

Instructions

1. Convert the European bed measurements from centimeters to feet and inches. Divide by 2.54, the number of centimeters equivalent to one inch, and then divide the number of inches by 12 to convert to feet. Express the remainder as inches. The result is a European bed size converted into feet and inches.

   For example, the smallest standard European single bed measures 80 cm by 190 cm. Dividing by 2.54 gives dimensions of roughly 31 by 75 inches. Dividing by 12 and keeping the remainder as inches yields a size of 2 feet 7 inches by 6 feet 3 inches. Bedding for a European single bed will, therefore, probably fit a bed that's 2 feet 9 inches by 6 feet 3 inches.

2. Familiarize yourself with the standard bed and bedding sizes used in the United States, concentrating on the dimensions rather than the names. The standard sizes are:

   Single/twin: 3 feet 3 inches by 6 feet 3 inches
   Full: 4 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 3 inches
   Full extra long: 4 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 8 inches
   Queen: 5 feet by 6 feet 8 inches
   Olympic queen: 5 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 8 inches
   King: 6 feet 4 inches by 6 feet 8 inches
   California king: 6 feet by 7 feet

3. Match the converted European dimensions with those of the standard U.S. bed sizes. The U.S. equivalent is the size most closely matching the converted European one. For example, a duvet designed for a European 90 cm by 190 cm -- 2 feet 11 inches by 6 feet 3 inches -- bed is the nearest equivalent of a duvet designed for a U.S. single/twin bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Europe consists of many countries with different traditions, cultures and climates. Bedding sizes vary considerably from country to country.

• Exact size conversions are usually impossible. When ordering European bedding, it is best to give the dimensions you require, in metric units, rather than to specify a generic name such as "double."

References

• National Bed Federation: NBF Guidelines: Standard Bed Sizes
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement
• Bed Sizes: European Bed Sizes
• Bed Sizes: North American Bed Sizes