US and UK bed sizes differ slightly, except for Double/Full, enough so that if you bring US sheets to put on UK beds or buy UK sheets for a US mattress, the fit may be off just enough to be annoying..

Here is a US v UK bed size chart from information on Wikipedia ¹.

US vs UK Mattress Sizes

Ikea bed sizes may also vary from this as they are European and some have reported the UK bedding doesn’t fit these well either.

The takeaway from this is that you should buy sheets for the mattress origination.

Very often UK beds are only a mattress on a frame without a box spring, but you can also buy mattress and springs sets. With cheaper mattresses, keep in mind that it won’t take long for the padding to flatten to the point where you’ll feel the springs and it’s not very comfortable. I speak from experience.

Pillowcases usually come as “housewife” style, with an end flap inside to contain and cover the pillow. If the case has a valance around the edge, it is called an Oxford style.

Making the British Bed

Typically UK beds are made with just a fitted sheet and the duvet, without a the customary American British word for an apartment. More sheet between. A duvet is similar to a comforter, except that it is two pieces, similar to a pillow having an easily washed pillow case. Duvet covers are removable so therefore easily washed. When it is rarely hot in the UK the flat sheet doesn’t serve much of a purpose, however, one’s toes will easily end up poking out from under the duvet. Especially if you and your spouse/partner battle over the duvet at night. In some European countries, each person gets their own duvet. I’m not sure how the bed is made then.

The biggest challenge of a duvet is actually changing the duvet cover. xxx FAQ me

Duvet TOGS

Duvets have a TOG rating, which is to measure “thermal insulation” appropriate for each season. According to John Lewis ², tog guidelines for duvets are as follows:

• Lightweight summer duvet: 3.0 – 4.5 tog
• Spring/Autumn weight duvet: 7.0 – 10.5 tog
• Winter weight duvet: 12.0 – 13.5 tog

Cribs

In the UK, a crib is called a cot, the cradle is called a crib, and a bassinet is called a Moses basket.

References

1. Bed size – Wikipedia. (2020). Retrieved 24 July 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_size 

2. Basic Bedding Buying Guide – John Lewis. (2023). Retrieved 24 July 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/20080906023826/http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=16