Mattress Sizes in South Africa: Dimensions in Centimetres and Custom Sizes

Mattress sizes in South Africa: five standard widths, two lengths of 188cm and 200cm, and foam cut to fit anything the chart doesn’t cover.

Mattress sizes in South Africa follow five common widths: single, three-quarter, double, queen and king. The standard length is 188cm, and most sizes also come in an extra-length (XL) version of 200cm. A single is 92cm wide and a king is 183cm, the same as two singles side by side. That chart covers the bedroom, but not the caravan bed with a corner cut around the door, the V-berth in a boat’s bow or the sleeper bunk in a truck cab. This guide gives you the sizes in centimetres, how to choose one, and how to measure for a mattress cut from foam.

Contents

• Bed sizes in cm: the South African mattress sizes chart
• Standard and extra-length mattresses
• Choosing a size for the room and the sleepers
• Odd and custom mattress sizes
• How to measure for a custom foam mattress
• Ordering your mattress from Kehls
• Resources
• FAQ

Bed sizes in cm: the South African mattress sizes chart

A mattress label tells you the name of a size. The tape measure tells you if it fits. The chart below sets out the common mattress sizes in South Africa in centimetres.

Standard widths and lengths, including the three-quarter mattress size

King size mattress dimensions are 183 x 188cm, or 183 x 200cm as a king XL. The super king, at 200 x 200cm, only comes in the extra length and needs a large room.

Myth: a queen is a queen wherever you buy it. Reality: exact widths can differ by a centimetre or two between makers, as Hirsch’s points out. Imports add another twist: Which? lists 150 x 200cm as the standard UK king, which here sits closer to a queen XL. Measure the base before you trust the label.

Standard and extra-length mattresses

Tall sleepers find out about mattress length at 2am, when their feet hang off the end. A standard South African mattress is 188cm long and the extra-length version is 200cm, the length usually suggested for anyone taller than 183cm (6ft). Your pillow takes up part of that length too.

Key takeaway: extra length adds 12cm at the foot. The width stays the same.

An XL mattress needs an XL base. On a standard base it overhangs the foot by 12cm, and a standard mattress on an XL base leaves a 12cm gap. We stock Snooze Me foam mattresses in single, three-quarter, double and queen, plus contractor and taxi mattresses, so our foam mattresses range is the place to start.

Choosing a size for the room and the sleepers

Work out how much bed the room can take before you think about comfort.

Room space around the bed

Each step up in width costs floor space. A queen is 60cm wider than a single, and a king is another 31cm wider than a queen. In a small second bedroom, that can be the difference between a wardrobe door that opens and one that doesn’t.

Mark the bed’s outline on the floor with masking tape, then open every door and drawer that faces it. Measure the headboard on its own too: its width comes from the base and frame, not the mattress, and it often decides if the bed fits between two bedside tables.

One sleeper or two

For two sleepers, the width each person gets is what counts. A double gives each sleeper about 68cm, a queen about 76cm and a king about 91cm, close to a single each.

That’s why the split king exists. Two 92cm singles side by side make 184cm, within a centimetre of a 183cm king. Each sleeper picks their own feel, and two smaller mattresses are easier to carry up a narrow staircase. If you can’t agree on feel either, our guide to foam mattress vs spring mattress will help you choose each side.

Scenario snapshot: a couple tape out a king XL in their main bedroom and find the built-in cupboard doors catch the corner. A queen XL is 31cm narrower, clears the doors and keeps the 200cm length the taller partner needs.

Odd and custom mattress sizes

The five standard mattress sizes in South Africa are made for bedrooms. In vehicles and boats, the bed is built around a wheel arch, a hull or a cab wall, so the mattress has to follow the space instead of a chart. Foam suits these jobs because it can be cut at an angle, tapered or curved, which is why most odd shapes end up as a custom size mattress. We offer foam cut to size at our Cape Town, George and Pinetown branches.

Caravan and camper mattresses

A caravan mattress rarely has four square corners. The corner cut, an angled or rounded corner that clears a door, cupboard or wheel arch, is the detail most people forget to measure. Many caravan beds also double as seating by day, so the foam is often made in two or three sections.

Scenario snapshot: a Garden Route family’s caravan bed has flattened foam and a cut corner where the door swings in. They lay newspaper on the platform, trace the corner, mark the door side and photograph the template with a tape measure in shot.

Boat and bunk mattresses

Boats are the trickiest shape. A V-berth tapers towards the bow, and the hull curves, so the top edge can be wider than the base. Bunks bring a safety rule instead: the mattress must sit low enough for the bunk rail to stand well above it. Thinner foam sheets, cut to size, work well for both.

Taxi and truck cab mattresses

A sleeper bunk behind the seats of a truck cab is narrow, often has a notched or sloped back wall, and has to stay put over long distances. Taxi layouts vary just as much, which is why we stock taxi mattresses alongside foam cut to order. For a motor trimmer fitting out a cab, the platform you measure is the only size that counts.

How to measure for a custom foam mattress

Myth: measure the old mattress. Reality: old foam compresses and bows with use, so it ends up smaller or out of square. Measure the base or platform instead.

1. Width at both ends: measure across the head and the foot, because vehicle and boat platforms are often not square.
2. Length on both sides: measure the left and right edges, plus the centre line on tapered shapes.
3. Corners and cut-outs: note every corner cut, curve and notch. For anything that isn’t square, trace a paper or cardboard template of the platform.
4. Height limits: measure the space above the platform, such as a bunk rail, a lid that must close, a seat back or the headroom in a cab. This sets the mattress thickness.
5. A photo with the tape in shot: one photo from above answers most questions at the counter.

Bring your measurements, template and photo to your nearest Kehls branch, or WhatsApp them to the branch. To compare the foam itself before you visit, browse our upholstery foam range.

Ordering your mattress from Kehls

Kehls has supplied upholsterers, motor trimmers and the public since 1970. If the job includes a headboard or seating in matching fabric, start with free samples from our upholstery fabric range, sold by the metre and cut to size.

Pop in-store at your nearest Kehls branch in Maitland, Pinetown or George, WhatsApp the branch, or get in touch online with your measurements and a photo. Whatever the shape, mattress sizes in South Africa start with a tape measure, and we’ll help you match the right foam to the space. We offer free delivery in and around Cape Town, Monday to Friday.

Resources

1. Wikipedia, Bed size: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_size
2. Which?, UK mattress sizes: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/mattresses/article/uk-mattress-sizes-bed-mattress-size-guide-aDx4r9b4T99o
3. Hirsch’s, Choosing bed sizes: https://blog.hirschs.co.za/2025/08/19/choosing-bed-sizes-finding-your-perfect-fit/

Frequently asked questions by customers

What are the four sizes of mattresses?

South Africa uses five common sizes rather than four: single (92cm), three-quarter (107cm), double (137cm), queen (152cm) and king (183cm). All are 188cm long as standard, and most also come in a 200cm extra length. Exact widths can differ slightly between makers, so measure the base before buying.

What size bed is 150 x 200cm?

A 150 x 200cm bed is close to a South African queen XL, which measures 152 x 200cm. In the UK, 150 x 200cm is sold as a standard king, so imported beds often use it. A 152cm mattress can be a tight fit on a 150cm base, so check the base measurement before ordering.

Is a king size bed two singles?

Almost. A South African single is 92cm wide and a king is 183cm, so two singles side by side come within a centimetre of a king. That’s why split-king sets exist. Check that both singles match in height and length so there is no step or gap between them.

What size bed is 180 x 200cm?

A 180 x 200cm bed is closest to a king XL, the nearest match among mattress sizes in South Africa at 183 x 200cm. European king and super king bases are often 180cm wide, so a local king can overhang by a few centimetres. Measure the base itself before ordering.