Double sofa beds: what size you actually sleep on

A comfortable corner sofa in a bright and airy living room with neutral decor and a plush rug.

"Double sofa bed" is one of the most searched phrases in furniture, and one of the least precise. Shops use "double" for anything from a narrow pull-out to a bed bigger than a king size. The number that actually tells you how well someone will sleep is the sleeping area, width and length in centimetres, and every sofa bed in our range lists it on its product page. This guide shows how those numbers compare with real bed sizes, which of our sofa beds sleep biggest, and what to check before you choose.

How big is a double bed in the UK?

Standard UK mattress sizes give you something to compare a sofa bed against:

  • Small double: 120 x 190 cm
  • Double: 135 x 190 cm
  • King: 150 x 200 cm

Most sofa beds sold as "double" sit close to small double width. That is comfortable for one adult and fine for two people for the odd night, but narrower than the double most couples sleep in at home. Length matters too: a sleeping area of 200 cm is longer than a standard double, which tall guests will appreciate.

How our corner sofa beds measure up

Most of our corner sofa beds open to a sleeping area about two metres long and around 120 cm wide, small double width with more length than a standard bed:

These pull out from under the seat, and the chaise stays in place as part of the bed. The Florida also has a storage compartment under the chaise, handy for keeping the guest bedding in the sofa itself.

Electric sofa beds

Our electric sofa beds are 3 seaters that open at the press of a button, so there is no pulling or lifting. Their sleeping areas are a little shorter than the corners:

Because they are 3 seaters rather than corners, they take less floor space when closed, which suits a smaller living room or a study that doubles as a guest room.

The biggest sleeping areas: U shape sofa beds

If you want genuine room for two, the U shape sofa beds open far wider than any standard double bed:

They need a large room, with space for the bed to open in front, but nothing else in our range sleeps two adults as comfortably. Our guide to U shaped sofa beds covers the space they need.

A modern three seater sofa in a cosy study room setting with minimalistic decor and an open doorway.
A spacious living room highlighting ample empty floor space in front of a modern sofa.

Corner sofa bed or electric sofa bed?

Choose a corner sofa bed if the sofa is your main living room seating and the bed is for guests: you get more seats, a chaise to stretch out on, and a longer sleeping area. Choose an electric sofa bed if floor space is tight or the bed will be opened often, because it takes less room closed and opens without effort. If someone will sleep on it every night, read our guide to sofa beds for everyday use first.

Five checks before you buy

  1. Sleeping area against the sleepers. Compare the width in cm with your own bed at home.
  2. Open footprint. Measure the floor with the bed out, and leave room to walk round it.
  3. The route in. Check doors, hallway and stairs with our measuring guide.
  4. How often it opens. Occasional guests and nightly use need different things.
  5. Where the bedding goes. A storage chaise or a nearby cupboard saves carrying duvets about.

Our sofa beds run from around £700 to £1,400. Any order can be split into 3 payments, or over 6 or 12 months on orders of £1,000 or more, subject to eligibility.

Questions people ask

Are there sofa beds that are actually comfortable?

Comfort depends mostly on how you will use it. Check the sleeping area in cm against the people sleeping on it, and for nightly use read our everyday sofa bed guide before choosing.

Which double sofa bed suits a small space?

An electric 3 seater sofa bed takes less floor space when closed than a corner sofa bed, while still opening to a sleeping area of around 188 to 218 cm long.

How wide is a double sofa bed?

There is no fixed size. Most of our corner sofa beds sleep on an area about 200 cm long and around 120 cm wide, which is small double width. A standard UK double bed is 135 cm wide.

Which sofa bed is big enough for two adults?

For two adults every night, look for a sleeping area at least as wide as a standard double (135 cm). Our U shape sofa beds open much wider than that.

Delivery is to the room of your choice, free on orders of £499 or more, and usually arrives within a week (5 to 14 days). Every sofa comes with a 12 month guarantee. See all our sofa beds, or send us your room measurements on WhatsApp on 07418 613890 and we will suggest the ones that fit.

Written by Owen and Will, who spent three years collecting and refurbishing sofas around Bristol before starting Sofa Renewals. We use AI tools to help draft and check our guides; every fact about our sofas comes from our own product data.

Shop the range: Corner sofa beds · Electric extending sofas