Mattress and bed FAQs

A UK double is 135 × 190cm (4'6" × 6'3"). A king is 150 × 200cm and a super king 180 × 200cm. These are the standard sizes published by the National Bed Federation — but names aren't fully standardised, so always check the measurements. See our size guide with scale drawings.

Not exactly. Many frames sold in the UK, including most IKEA bunk and loft beds, take EU sizes such as 90 × 200cm or 140 × 200cm. A UK single is 90 × 190cm, so it would leave a 10cm gap at the foot of a 90 × 200cm frame. Measure the inside of the frame and buy the size it was designed for.

It depends on your weight, build and how you sleep. The National Bed Federation says heavier people generally need a firmer tension and back sleepers may like a firmer feel than side sleepers. There's no industry standard for firmness ratings, so one brand's medium may feel like another's firm. Read our firmness guide.

Not necessarily. The National Bed Federation says it's now generally accepted that a hard bed isn't automatically better for a bad back, and that a supportive, comfortable mattress is the best option. It also notes that "orthopaedic" is a loosely used term, not a professional rating. If you have back pain, speak to your GP or a physiotherapist.

No. Cheap Mattress Sale is a comparison and advice site. We don't take orders, payments or deliveries — the buttons on product pages take you to the maker or a retailer, and you buy from them on their terms. We may earn a commission from some of those links; see our affiliate disclosure.

Mattress prices change often and differ by size and retailer, so a price on this site could quickly be wrong. We only show prices on our deals page, where each deal shows the retailer and the date we checked it, and deals are removed when they end. Always check the price on the retailer's site before you buy.

From the maker's own UK product pages (or a major UK retailer's), checked on the date shown on each product. If we couldn't confirm something — such as a trial length or firmness — we leave it out rather than guess. More on how we check products.

There's no fixed lifespan. The National Bed Federation suggests checking your mattress if you've had it for more than seven to 10 years, or sooner if you're sleeping badly, waking with aches, or it sags or feels lumpy. See how long mattresses last.

Follow the maker's care instructions. If there aren't any, the National Bed Federation suggests rotating a one-sided (non-turn) mattress weekly for the first three months and then monthly, and alternating between rotating and flipping a two-sided mattress on the same schedule.

The National Bed Federation suggests replacing pillows at least every two or three years — sooner if they've lost their height or become lumpy, discoloured or misshapen.

The National Bed Federation says the smell from a new vacuum-packed or rolled foam mattress is harmless to health and will disappear, though it can take up to a week. Airing the room helps. See our bed-in-a-box guide.

Citizens Advice explains that you usually get a 14-day cooling-off period when you buy something you haven't seen in person, unless it's bespoke or made to measure. There are exceptions, such as items with a broken hygiene seal, and the seller must tell you before you buy if there's no cooling-off period. Many sellers also offer longer home trials with their own conditions — check them before ordering.

Look for a label or listing stating that the mattress meets BS 7177, the British Standard for the ignition resistance of mattresses, divans and bed bases. Since 30 October 2025 shops no longer need to attach a display (swing) label to new furniture. See our fire safety guide.

The National Bed Federation says children under six are not advised to use the top bunk, and IKEA says the upper bed of its bunk and loft beds is not suitable for children under six. Look for bunk beds that meet BS EN 747 with guard rails on both sides of the top bunk. More in our children's bed safety guide.

Ask whoever delivers your new mattress whether they offer take-back and recycling, check your council's bulky waste collection or recycling centre, or use a licensed private collector. Avoid unlicensed "man with a van" collectors — fly-tipped mattresses are a crime. See our disposal guide.