Have mattress sizes shrunk in the last decade?

usernameusername

We just asked the landlord to buy us a replacement mattress. Old one was IKEA, new one also IKEA. Before ordering, we noticed that the size listed online was 135*190cm, which is smaller than 140*200cm I measured for the frame and old mattress, but got talked into buying that size because "it's just standard, don't worry about it". Lo and behold, the new mattress IS smaller than the old one and we have a 7cm gap between the mattress and frame and I can't lie with my partner in that space comfortably. What's odd is that the old mattress is also IKEA. Have mattresses gone the way of every other product nowadays, with a part of the product you expected to get actually being snatched away through capitalist practices?

Brie

IKEA used to only have european sized mattresses in any of its stores anywhere in the world which was a major headache as you then could only go to them for a bed frame or linen.  Also they didn't deliver at all so a round trip to the nearest store could, in some instances, be hundreds of miles.

They have since changed to local sizing which causes confusion if you are replacing something. 

You will need to complain to whoever gave you the wrong info about it being "standard".

jon81uk

Ikea used to only sell European size mattresses.
Now they sell UK size.

A UK double is 137 x 191 (approx as its converted from inches). So Ikea offering 135cm by 190cm sounds correct.

A European double is 140 x 200cm. Which is what Ikea used to sell.

Ikea do still sell some European mattress but not as many options, but you can get a Hovag 140 x 200cm.

usernameusername

Thanks both. How far back does the UK standard go? Has it changed in the last decade or so? I can't remember ever lying on a mattress this short in the UK before and I've rented many rooms in different cities.

jon81uk

usernameusername said:

Thanks both. How far back does the UK standard go? Has it changed in the last decade or so? I can't remember ever lying on a mattress this short in the UK before and I've rented many rooms in different cities.

Given standard UK sizes are in feet & inches I expect they are very very old.
It was Ikea trying to only sell standard sizes worldwide that caused confusion, which has only got worse now Ikea has changed to selling the size mattress of the country the store is in.

JJ_Egan

Bought both in the last few years , its a question of looking for the size you want .

Emmia

In terms of bedding, the John Lewis extra deep double fitted sheets work perfectly on our european sized mattress. I've not tried extra deep sheets from elsewhere though.

elsien

No. They’ve got bigger, at least in terms of depth, meaning that my new one wouldn’t go up the stairs. 

[Deleted User]

I have just ordered an adjustable bed and the single mattress is 6' 6" long by 3 ' wide

Cornucopia

usernameusername said:

Thanks both. How far back does the UK standard go? Has it changed in the last decade or so? I can't remember ever lying on a mattress this short in the UK before and I've rented many rooms in different cities.

The chain hotels often have Queen- & King- sized beds, which are bigger.

mac.d

You can buy both a standard double (135 x 190cm) and a 140 x 200cm mattress in some of the range available from Ikea (i.e the Morgedal foam or Hovag pocket sprung mattresses). Who talked you into buying the standard one when you'd already measured your bed and discovered it wasn't 'standard'?

Standard UK bed sizes: https://www.dreams.co.uk/bed-mattress-guide/the-mattress-size-guide