Buying bedding online is easy until one question comes up: which size do I actually need? South African bed sizes are not the same as UK or US sizes, and a duvet that is too small for the bed is the most common reason linen gets returned. This guide lists the exact dimensions, in centimetres, of every size Linon sells, so you can match duvet covers, inners, sheets and pillowcases to your beds with confidence.
- Bed and mattress sizes
- Duvet covers and inners
- Fitted sheets
- Flat sheets
- Pillowcases
- Protectors
- Tips for hotels
South African bed and mattress sizes
Start with the mattress. Standard length mattresses in South Africa are 188 to 190cm long; extra length mattresses are 200cm. Width is what gives the size its name.
| Bed size | Mattress width | Standard length | Extra length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 91cm | 190cm | 200cm |
| Three Quarter | 107cm | 190cm | 200cm |
| Double | 137cm | 190cm | 200cm |
| Queen | 152cm | 190cm | 200cm |
| King | 183cm | 190cm | 200cm |
| Super King | 200cm | 200cm | 200cm |
Duvet cover and duvet inner sizes
Duvet covers and duvet inners are sold in matching sizes, so a Queen cover takes a Queen inner. The duvet is always wider than the mattress so that it drapes over the sides of the bed. Our covers close with a flap at the foot end rather than buttons or a zip, which is faster to change and lasts longer in a commercial laundry.
| Size | Duvet cover and inner | Fits mattress width |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 130 x 200cm | 91cm |
| Three Quarter | 150 x 200cm | 107cm |
| Double | 200 x 200cm | 137cm |
| Queen | 230 x 200cm | 152cm |
| King | 230 x 220cm | 183cm |
| Super King | 260 x 230cm | 200cm |
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What size is a queen duvet cover in South Africa?
A South African queen duvet cover measures 230 x 200cm (230cm wide, 200cm long). It fits a 152cm queen mattress with roughly 39cm of overhang on each side. A queen duvet inner is the same 230 x 200cm.
Double or queen: what is the difference?
Thirty centimetres of width. A double duvet is 200 x 200cm for a 137cm mattress; a queen is 230 x 200cm for a 152cm mattress. Two people sharing a double bed often move up to a queen duvet, and many guest houses do the same.
What size duvet for a king bed?
A king duvet cover and inner is 230 x 220cm. The king is longer (220cm) as well as wider than the queen, so a queen inner will not fill a king cover. For a 200cm wide super king mattress, choose the 260 x 230cm super king.
Can I use a bigger duvet than my bed size?
Yes, and hotels often do. Sizing up one size, for example a king duvet on a queen bed, gives a fuller, more luxurious drape over the sides of the bed. Just keep the cover and the inner the same size as each other.
Fitted sheet sizes: standard length and extra length
Fitted sheets must match the mattress length as well as the width. Measure your mattress before ordering: if it is 200cm long you need extra length. All Linon fitted sheets are fully elasticated around the edge and cut with a 35cm wall to fit mattresses up to 35cm deep.
| Size | Standard length fitted sheet | Extra length fitted sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 91 x 190 x 35cm | 92 x 200 x 35cm |
| Three Quarter | 107 x 190 x 35cm | 107 x 200 x 35cm |
| Double | 137 x 190 x 35cm | 137 x 200 x 35cm |
| Queen | 152 x 190 x 35cm | 152 x 200 x 35cm |
| King | 183 x 190 x 35cm | 183 x 200 x 35cm |
Flat sheet sizes
A flat sheet (top sheet) does not need to match the mattress length exactly, but it does need enough width and length to tuck in. Our flat sheets are cut generously so they work for standard and extra length beds and allow for hotel-style triple sheeting.
| Size | Flat sheet (width x length) |
|---|---|
| Three Quarter | 180 x 270cm |
| Double | 230 x 270cm |
| Queen | 250 x 270cm |
| King | 270 x 270cm |
Pillowcase sizes
| Pillowcase | Size | Fits pillow |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 45 x 70cm | Standard pillow (45 x 70cm) |
| King | 50 x 90cm | King pillow (50 x 90cm) |
| Continental | 75 x 75cm | Continental (square) pillow |
Standard pillowcases suit single to queen beds with two pillows side by side. King pillowcases are the usual choice on king and super king beds. Continental pillows sit behind the sleeping pillows for a layered hotel look.
Mattress and pillow protector sizes
Protectors follow the same sizing as fitted sheets: match the mattress width and choose standard or extra length to match the mattress length. Pillow protectors come in standard and king to match the pillow.
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Sizing tips for hotels, lodges and guest houses
- Standardise on extra length. If your rooms have a mix of 190cm and 200cm mattresses, extra length fitted sheets fit both and let housekeeping work from one linen stock.
- Keep covers and inners in matching sizes. Label shelves by size in the linen room so a queen cover never leaves with a double inner.
- Size up the duvet for a premium look. A king duvet on a queen bed gives the deep overhang guests associate with luxury hotels.
- Order par stock of three. One set on the bed, one in the laundry, one on the shelf. That is the hospitality standard and it is why our hospitality price list is structured for bulk.
Still unsure? Send us your mattress measurements and we will tell you exactly what to order.
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