Single Mattress Size Guide for the UAE: 90 and 120 cm

Three dimensions get called a single. 90 x 190 cm is the UK Single, 90 x 200 cm is the EU Single, and 120 x 200 cm is the wide single, sitting between a single and a double.

This guide compares all three. The Mattress Store lists these dimensions across selected models, so check the individual product's size options and availability before ordering rather than assuming every model comes in every size. Confirm the dimensions before you buy: our refund policy states that sales are final, with returns or exchanges considered for manufacturing or supplier defects under the policy's conditions.

The three sizes, side by side

Single vs wide single (120x200): which do you need?

The wide single provides 30 cm more width than a 90 x 200 cm single, with no additional length. Both are 200 cm long.

A 90 cm single suits children, bunk beds, compact guest rooms, staff accommodation and any bed where the floor around it matters more than the sleeping surface.

A 120 cm wide single suits one sleeper who wants more room to spread out, a broader teenager or adult, a guest room you want people to enjoy, or a day bed doubling as seating. Consider it when the bedroom can accommodate the larger footprint.

It is not a double. A UK double is 135 cm, and even that is tight for two adults at 67.5 cm each. At 120 cm, two people would have 60 cm apiece. This guide treats the wide single primarily as a more spacious one-person option.

What each size needs in a room

These are illustrative planning estimates, not fixed requirements. The method is the same either way:

Outside bed frame width + clear side walkway + any additional furniture clearance.

A 90 cm single with a typical frame and one usable walkway of 60 to 70 cm lands somewhere around 160 to 180 cm of wall-to-wall width. A 120 cm wide single on the same basis lands nearer 190 to 210 cm. Both assume one accessible side. Measure your own frame and walkway rather than working from the mattress width alone, and in a second bedroom carrying a desk and a wardrobe, add the clearance those need.

How to pick the right single mattress size in the UAE

Measure the frame internally, at the base. Both dimensions. Frames are usually described by the mattress they take rather than their own outside measurements, so the number on a listing may not be the one you need.

Check who it is for, and for how long. A longer mattress gives a growing child more room. Whether that matters depends on the frame and the room.

Then compare the specifications, not just the size. Look at the chosen model's comfort layers, cover, support system and published details alongside your bedroom conditions. Do not choose on mattress size alone. A pocket spring unit and a latex build behave differently, and the product page sets out what each one contains.

Protect it, especially a child's. Englander's warranty, as one example, excludes stained mattresses from cover, which makes a washable protector worth considering. Warranty conditions vary by manufacturer, so check the terms for the specific mattress. If a single you already own is sound but the surface is too firm, a topper can change the feel without replacing the mattress, though it also changes the finished height.

Bunk beds need the bed manufacturer's instructions first

This is the one case where the mattress specification is not the only constraint.

Follow the bed manufacturer's specified mattress length, width, and maximum thickness. Check the guardrail clearance required above the finished sleeping surface. Do not add a board, topper or alternative foundation unless the complete setup complies with both the bunk bed instructions and the mattress's own support requirements. Where the two conflict, choose a compatible mattress and bed combination rather than improvising a modification.

The finished sleeping height is what the guardrail clearance is measured against, so anything added underneath or on top changes it.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission guidance also advises that children under six should not use the upper bunk. That is a US reference rather than a statement of UAE requirements, and the specific bed's own instructions and warnings remain the authority.

When a simpler mattress may be enough

Match the budget to how the mattress will actually be used.

An occasional guest bed. A simpler model may be sufficient if it provides suitable comfort and fits the frame correctly.

A child's bed. Prioritise the correct dimensions, appropriate support and any bunk-specific limits on thickness. Our range includes mattresses built specifically for children, which is a more useful starting point than choosing on price alone.

An adult's nightly bed, or regularly occupied staff accommodation. Assess suitability for regular use rather than choosing by size or price. A bed slept in every night is doing the same job as any other main mattress, whatever its width.

Delivery and access

Check the packaged dimensions and handling instructions against the lift, doors, stairs and the tightest turn on the route. Some mattresses carry specific handling warnings: the Hotel Collection Euro Top page, for example, advises against bending the mattress because it can damage the coils and layering inside.

For a top bunk, also confirm the clearance needed to position the mattress once it is in the room.

Before you order

1. Measure the frame internally, at the base, both dimensions.

2. Note whether the internal length is 190 cm or 200 cm.

3. Decide between 90 cm and 120 cm of width based on the room as well as the sleeper.

4. For a bunk, follow the bed manufacturer's size, thickness and guardrail requirements.

5. Confirm the base meets the requirements of both the mattress and the bed manufacturer.

6. Buy bedding to the centimetre dimensions, and check the pocket depth.

7. Check the product page for the size options actually offered on that model.

Where to go from here

The single mattress size guide for the UAE reduces to two measurements and one question. Measure the frame internally, note whether it is 190 or 200 cm long, then decide whether the sleeper needs 90 cm of width or 120.

Buy bedding to the centimetre figure rather than the word single. For how the UK, European and American systems compare across every size, see our full UAE mattress size guide.

If you are working with a bunk or an inherited frame, bring the measurements in. Our showrooms list locations across the Emirates, including City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah. To compare first, the single bed mattresses collection carries the dimensions against each model.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a single mattress in the UAE?

Single mattresses are commonly sold at 90 x 200 cm, the European single, and at 90 x 190 cm, the British single. The Mattress Store lists both dimensions on selected models, along with a 120 x 200 cm wide single. Check the size options on the specific product page.

Is 90x190 cm the same as 90x200 cm?

No. They share a width of 90 cm but differ by 10 cm in length. Fitted bedding intended for one may not fit the other correctly, and a 200 cm mattress will not fit inside a frame built for 190 cm. Measure the frame before ordering either.

What is a wide single mattress?

A wide single measures 120 x 200 cm, providing 30 cm more width than a 90 x 200 single with no additional length. It suits one sleeper who wants more room, or a guest room. It is not a double, since two adults would have only 60 cm each.

What size mattress is best for a child in the UAE?

Prioritise the dimensions the frame takes and, for a bunk, the bed manufacturer's size and thickness limits. Where the frame allows it, 90 x 200 cm gives 10 cm more length than 90 x 190 cm. A washable protector is worth considering at this age.