How to choose a bed frame in the UK: sizes, prices and delivery

What is the best way to choose a bed frame?

The best bed frame is the one that fits your mattress, your room and your access route, not just the one that looks right online. Start with the mattress size in cm, then check the overall frame size, headboard height and whether you need under-bed storage. In a UK flat or house, delivery access can be as important as the style itself.

If you want a simple buying shortcut, choose a sturdy frame in the exact mattress size, leave at least 60 cm of clear space on the main side you use to get in and out, and make sure the headboard will clear your stairwell or lift. If you are ordering from Özbay Furniture London, you can also ask for made-to-measure sizing or a video call to see designs before you buy. Browse our bed frames if you want to compare styles first.

For a standard UK home, the most common mistake is buying by room width alone and forgetting that the frame is wider and longer than the mattress. Another common error is not measuring the route into the bedroom. A bed frame may be perfect on paper and still be impossible to bring upstairs if the hallway turns are too tight.

• Measure the mattress size in cm first.
• Check room space, not just the bed's footprint.
• Measure doors, stairs and lift before you order.
• Decide whether you need storage under the bed.

Which bed frame sizes should UK shoppers know?

UK bed frame sizes are usually sold to match mattress sizes: small single, single, small double, double, king and super king. In cm, the mattress sizes commonly used are 75 x 190 cm for a small single, 90 x 190 cm for a single, 120 x 190 cm for a small double, 135 x 190 cm for a double, 150 x 200 cm for a king and 180 x 200 cm for a super king. The actual frame will be larger because of side rails, feet and headboard.

As a rough planning guide, a double bed frame can take up around 145 to 155 cm in width and 200 to 215 cm in length once the frame is included, while a king may need around 160 to 170 cm in width. If you live in a typical London bedroom, a small double can often feel easier to place than a full double because it leaves more movement space. That matters if you also need wardrobes or chests of drawers in the room.

If you are unsure, measure the wall where the bed will sit, then mark the bed footprint on the floor with tape. This helps you see whether bedside tables will still fit and whether drawers can open fully. It is a simple step, but it prevents a lot of mistakes.

• Small single: 75 x 190 cm mattress

What materials are bed frames made from?

The main materials are wood, upholstered fabric and metal. Wooden bed frames are usually chosen for a classic look and can suit both simple and more decorative rooms. Upholstered bed frames feel softer visually and work well if you want a padded headboard for reading in bed.

Metal bed frames are often lighter in appearance and can be easier to move, but they are not always the quietest option and may suit a more minimal style. Upholstered frames need fabric choice as well as shape choice, so think about wear, cleaning and colour. If you want coordinated bedroom furniture, you can also look at our bedroom ranges to keep the finish consistent with wardrobes and storage pieces.

At Özbay Furniture London, the wider collection is made in Türkiye by workshops with 40 years of experience, and many designs can be ordered in a custom size, fabric or colour. The final price is confirmed before production, which is useful if you want a specific look that matches the rest of your home. Just remember that a fabric outside the colour card is made to order and cannot be cancelled or refunded, although it stays fully guaranteed. Every upholstered sofa, armchair and bed sold in the UK must carry a permanent fire-safety label under the

How much does a bed frame cost in the UK?

Realistic UK prices vary a lot by material, size and whether the design includes storage or upholstery. As a general guide, a basic metal or simple wooden bed frame can start around £150 to £300, while a better-finished upholstered frame often sits around £300 to £700. Custom-made or large statement frames can be higher than that.

Delivery and assembly also affect the final cost. With Özbay Furniture London, delivery to the door is free anywhere in Greater London, while delivery elsewhere in England, Scotland and Wales is quoted on WhatsApp. If you want help with installation, the paid extras are set out clearly: sofa installation is £50, bedroom set installation is £200, dining room installation is £150, carry-in is £100 with a lift or £250 without a lift for a full 3+3+1 set, and upstairs carry is £150 per set.

A good way to budget is to separate the bed frame price from the access and assembly cost. A frame that looks cheap online can become expensive if it needs a difficult carry or extra installation work. If you are comparing against other upholstered furniture, it can help to review styles such as the Dublin sofa set or the Valore bedroom set to understand the price level of the wider range.

What delivery details should you check before ordering a bed frame?

Before you pay, measure the doors, hallway turns, stairs and lift. This is not optional if the bed frame needs to pass through a tight route, because furniture that does not fit through cannot be cancelled or refunded. That rule matters for any large item, especially in older UK homes and flats.

Delivery timing also matters. In-stock designs typically arrive in 3 to 5 weeks, while made-to-order and bespoke pieces usually take 6 to 8 weeks. If your move-in date is fixed, ask for the lead time before you confirm the order so that the bedroom is ready when the frame arrives.

If you are outside Greater London, delivery to England, Scotland and Wales is quoted on WhatsApp. Orders are reserved for 48 hours while a transfer arrives, and payment is currently by Western Union, with card payment coming soon. For a general consumer-rights reference on delivery and cancellations, see Which?'s guide to online shopping rights.

• Measure doors, hallways, stairs and lift first.
• Confirm whether the frame is in stock or made to order.

Which bed frame mistakes do UK buyers make most often?

The biggest mistake is buying a bed frame before checking the access route. People often measure the room but forget the narrow landing, stair bend or lift size, and that can make delivery impossible. Another common problem is choosing a frame that is too large for the room once bedside tables are added.

A second mistake is choosing a fabric or finish without checking how it will be used. If you want a family room or a guest room that gets frequent use, think about cleaning and day-to-day wear as much as the colour. With made-to-order work, it is also important to approve the size and fabric before production starts, because the final price is confirmed in advance.

If you want to compare styles before you decide, our corner sofas page shows how custom sizing works in another part of the range, and the same idea applies to bedroom furniture. A well-measured bed frame should fit the room, the route into the room and the way you actually use the space.

How do custom bed frames and made-to-measure orders work?

Custom bed frames are useful if your room is awkwardly shaped, your ceiling is low, or you want a specific upholstered finish. Özbay Furniture London can make many designs to measure in a custom size, fabric or colour, and the price is confirmed before production starts. That is helpful if you want the bed to match other pieces in the bedroom.

This route is best when you already know your dimensions and have checked the access route carefully. A custom frame is not the place to guess, because the wrong size can cause problems at delivery and cannot simply be cancelled if it will not fit through your home. If you need a matching set, the Regnum bedroom set and Napoli bedroom set are useful starting points for seeing the wider bedroom style.

The practical benefit of made-to-measure is that you can solve a space problem instead of working around it. The trade-off is that you need to allow enough time, usually 6 to 8 weeks for made-to-order and bespoke pieces. For families and flat owners alike, that timeline is often worth planning around.

What should you do before you place the order?

Before you order, write down the mattress size, the desired frame size, the room width and the access measurements. Then check whether you need delivery only, delivery plus carry-in, or installation as well. If you are unsure, ask for a WhatsApp quote and a video call so you can see the design and discuss the route into your home.

It is also worth deciding whether you need a bedroom set rather than a single item. Sometimes a frame, wardrobe and chest of drawers work out more coherently when they are chosen together. If that is your plan, you can look at our wardrobes and chests of drawers to keep the scale and finish aligned.

For most UK buyers, the right order of decisions is simple: measure first, choose the size second, then compare material and delivery. That keeps the process practical and reduces the chance of costly surprises. A good bed frame should suit the room now and still make sense when the bed is in place.