Bedspreads
Bedspread size guide for Indian beds
Indian mattress sizes differ from US and UK standards. This guide gives single, double, queen and king dimensions in inches and centimetres, plus how to calculate the drop so a bedspread actually covers the bed.
Most bedspreads that arrive too small were bought against US or UK sizing. Indian bed sizes are not the same as American or British ones - an Indian queen is narrower and shorter than an American queen, and an Indian king is a different shape again.
This guide gives the Indian standards, then the arithmetic for turning a mattress measurement into the bedspread size you actually need.
Indian mattress standards
| Bed | Inches | Centimetres | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 36 x 72 | 91 x 183 | 3 x 6 |
| Single (long) | 36 x 75 | 91 x 190 | 3 x 6.25 |
| Double / Diwan | 48 x 72 | 122 x 183 | 4 x 6 |
| Queen | 60 x 78 | 152 x 198 | 5 x 6.5 |
| King | 72 x 78 | 183 x 198 | 6 x 6.5 |
| King (extra long) | 72 x 84 | 183 x 213 | 6 x 7 |
Two things to note. Indian beds are commonly quoted in feet, and the second number is usually 6 ft or 6.5 ft rather than the 6.67 ft (80 in) standard in the US. Custom-made beds from a local carpenter frequently sit a few inches off any of these - always measure rather than assume.
How Indian sizes compare internationally
| Size name | India | US | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 36 x 72 | 39 x 75 | 36 x 75 |
| Double | 48 x 72 | 54 x 75 | 54 x 75 |
| Queen | 60 x 78 | 60 x 80 | 60 x 78 |
| King | 72 x 78 | 76 x 80 | 72 x 78 |
An imported "queen" bedspread sized for a US bed will be about 2 inches longer than an Indian queen needs - harmless. An imported US "double" is 6 inches wider than an Indian double - which shows, because the drop becomes uneven.
Calculating the size you need
A bedspread must cover the mattress and hang down each side. That hang is called the drop.
Bedspread width = mattress width + (2 x drop)
Bedspread length = mattress length + drop + tuck allowance
Only one drop is added to the length, because the head of the bed sits against a headboard. Add a tuck allowance of 10-12 inches at the foot if you want to tuck the spread under the mattress or fold it over pillows.
Choosing a drop
Measure your mattress height first - Indian mattresses run 5-10 inches, and a bed with a mattress topper can reach 12.
| Look | Drop | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Coverlet | 6-8 in | Sits above the bed frame, shows the base |
| Standard | 10-14 in | Covers the mattress and a little of the frame |
| Full | 15-18 in | Covers mattress and frame, stops above the floor |
| Floor-length | Mattress height + frame height | Skirts to the floor, hides storage drawers |
For a divan or storage bed, a floor-length drop is usually the point - it hides the box. For a bed with decorative wooden legs, a standard drop looks intentional and a floor-length one buries the feature you paid for.
Worked examples
Indian queen, 8 in mattress, standard drop of 12 in, no tuck
- Width: 60 + (2 x 12) = 84 in
- Length: 78 + 12 = 90 in
- Buy: 90 x 90 in, or the nearest size up
Indian king, 10 in mattress, full drop of 16 in, with a 10 in pillow tuck
- Width: 72 + (2 x 16) = 104 in
- Length: 78 + 16 + 10 = 104 in
- Buy: 108 x 108 in
Indian single, 6 in mattress, coverlet drop of 8 in
- Width: 36 + (2 x 8) = 52 in
- Length: 72 + 8 = 80 in
- Buy: 60 x 90 in, the common single bedspread size
Common bedspread sizes sold in India
| Sold as | Typical size (in) | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 60 x 90 | Single and single-long beds, generous drop |
| Double | 90 x 100 | Double beds, standard drop |
| Queen | 90 x 108 | Queen beds, standard to full drop |
| King | 108 x 108 | King beds, standard drop |
| King XL | 120 x 120 | King beds with floor-length drop or high mattresses |
Practical rules
- Measure the mattress, not the bed frame. Frames vary far more than mattresses.
- Measure with the bedding you actually use. A mattress protector plus a topper can add 3 inches of height, which comes straight off your drop.
- When between sizes, size up. Excess fabric drapes; a short bedspread never looks anything but short.
- Allow for shrinkage. Cotton loses 2-3% on first wash. On a 108 in bedspread that is up to 3 inches - real enough to matter if you sized exactly.
- Check both numbers. Many listings quote only one dimension. A "90 inch bedspread" could be 90 x 90 or 90 x 108, and those fit very different beds.
- For twin beds pushed together, treat them as one bed of combined width; two single spreads leave a visible gap down the middle.
Quick answers
- What size bedspread for an Indian queen bed? 90 x 108 inches covers a 60 x 78 in queen with a standard drop.
- Is an Indian king the same as a US king? No. Indian king is 72 x 78 in; US king is 76 x 80 in.
- How much drop should a bedspread have? 10-14 inches for a standard look; more if you want to hide a storage base.
- Can I use a double bedspread on a queen bed? Not well - a queen is 12 inches wider, which removes almost all the drop on both sides.
