Short answer
Order a fitted sheet by the centimetres of the mattress, not the name of the bed: an Irish single (90 x 190) takes a 90 x 200 sheet, a double (135 x 190) takes 140 x 200, a king (150 x 200) takes 160 x 200 and a super king (180 x 200) takes 180 x 200. Then match the corner depth to the mattress height, topper included if it stays on: 30 cm corners for a mattress up to 30 cm high, which is most of them; 40 cm corners for a deep, pillow-top or topped mattress; 15 cm corners for a sheet that goes over the topper alone. The corner must be at least the mattress height and can be up to about 10 cm more.
A fitted sheet is the simplest thing on the bed and the one that goes wrong most often. The bed is called a double, so a double sheet is bought, and it pings off the corner at two in the morning because the mattress is a 140 cm European double with a topper on it, 36 cm high, and the sheet was cut for 135 x 190 and 25 cm. None of the words on the packet were wrong. They were just not measurements.
We sell fitted sheets made in the Netherlands by Dreamhouse, Primaviera Deluxe and Sleeptime, in woven cotton, cotton satin, two weights of jersey, flannel, velvet and teddy fleece, from 70 x 200 to 200 x 220 cm, with corner depths of 15, 25, 30 and 40 cm. Because the Dutch sizes are cut in round centimetres, they fit Irish, UK and European mattresses as long as you order by the number. This guide gives you the numbers: which sheet size fits which Irish bed, which corner depth your mattress needs, how to measure it in a minute, and which fabric does what.
In this article
- What size fitted sheet do I need? Irish bed names in centimetres
- Does a fitted sheet need to be bigger than the mattress?
- How deep should a fitted sheet be? Corner depth explained
- How to measure a mattress for a fitted sheet
- Which fabric: cotton, jersey, satin, flannel, velvet or teddy?
- Fitted sheets for toppers, boxspring beds and adjustable beds
- How to put a fitted sheet on so it stays on
- Which fitted sheet for which bed
- Frequently asked questions
What size fitted sheet do I need? Irish bed names in centimetres
Irish and UK beds are sold by name; the sheets we cut are sold by centimetre. The table converts one to the other. The middle column is the mattress you actually have; the right-hand column is the size to choose from the drop-down on our product pages, where every option reads width x length (L) x corner depth (D).
| Bed name | Mattress (cm) | Also sold as | Fitted sheet to order | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cot bed | 60 x 120 | Toddler bed 70 x 140 | See our children’s bedding guide | |
| Small single | 75 x 190 | 2 ft 6 | Single 80 x 200 | 5 cm spare width, 10 cm spare length |
| Single | 90 x 190 | 3 ft | Single 90 x 200 | 10 cm spare length tucks under |
| EU single | 90 x 200 | IKEA, Emma, most boxsprings | Single 90 x 200 | Exact |
| Long single | 90 x 210 or 220 | Extra long single | Single 90 x 220 | Exact or 10 cm spare |
| Large single | 100 x 200 | EU large single | Jersey Single 80/100 x 200 or 220 | Jersey stretches to 100 cm |
| Small double | 120 x 190 | 4 ft, three-quarter | Small Double (EU) 120 x 200 | 10 cm spare length |
| Double | 135 x 190 | 4 ft 6 | Double 140 x 200 | 5 cm spare width, 10 cm spare length |
| EU double | 140 x 200 | French bed, IKEA double | Double 140 x 200 | Exact |
| King | 150 x 200 | 5 ft | King 160 x 200 | 10 cm spare width; choose woven cotton or satin |
| EU queen | 160 x 200 | Most boxspring and brand mattresses | King 160 x 200 (or 160 x 220) | Exact |
| Super king | 180 x 200 | 6 ft; EU double, Lits-jumeaux | Super King 180 x 200 (or 180 x 220) | Exact |
| Emperor | 200 x 200 | EU 200 x 200 | Jersey Super King 190/200 x 200/220 or Flannel 200 x 200/220 | Exact in jersey and flannel |
| Extra-long super king | 200 x 220 | Hotel size | Super King 200 x 220 | Exact |
The dashed outline shows where a sheet is cut wider than the Irish mattress. Five or ten centimetres of spare width goes under the mattress and is never seen.
Two of these rows catch people out. The first is the Irish king at 150 x 200: almost nobody in Europe cuts a 150 wide fitted sheet in 200 cm length, so the 160 x 200 is the size to order, and it fits well because the elastic takes up the difference. The second is the super king, which at 180 x 200 is the same in Dublin, Dusseldorf and Delft, so it is the one size where the names never cause trouble. For the full map of Irish, UK and European mattress, duvet and pillow sizes, our bed sizes chart has all of them on one page.
Plain-weave T144 cotton, elasticated all round, washes at 40 degrees and tumble dries. Single narrow 70 x 200 through 80, 90, 120, 140, 160 and 180 cm widths up to super king 200 x 220 cm, all with 30 cm corners. The sheet for most Irish beds up to 30 cm high. Designs and sizes shown are subject to availability.
Does a fitted sheet need to be bigger than the mattress?
No, and this is the question Google gets asked most about fitted sheets, so it is worth being precise. A fitted sheet is cut to the mattress size plus the corner depth plus a hem for the elastic. Buy the size that matches the mattress and the sheet will pull tight across the top with the spare fabric tucked underneath. Bigger than the mattress is tolerable up to a point; smaller is not tolerable at all.
| Sheet compared with mattress | What happens | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Width or length smaller than the mattress | Corners do not reach under; sheet lifts off during the night | Never |
| Exact size | Flat top, corners grip the underside | Best |
| 5 to 10 cm wider or longer | Elastic pulls the spare fabric under the mattress; top stays flat | Fine, the normal Irish-to-EU case |
| 15 to 20 cm bigger | Loose fabric on top that creases; corners sit under the mattress but slide about | Avoid, or use jersey |
| Corner shallower than the mattress height | The classic cause of a sheet that comes off | Never |
| Corner 2 to 10 cm deeper than the mattress | Spare depth tucks under and holds | Best |
Jersey changes the arithmetic a little. A knitted jersey sheet is cut closer to size and relies on stretch, so one size covers a range: our single jersey is labelled 80/100 x 200 because the same sheet fits both. The flip side is that jersey has less to spare, so for the Irish king on a 160 sheet, woven cotton or satin is the better choice.
How deep should a fitted sheet be? Corner depth explained
Corner depth, pocket depth, skirt or drop: four names for the same thing, the height of the fabric that goes down the side of the mattress before the elastic turns under. Irish and UK shops sell three vague grades: standard, which is usually 25 to 30 cm; deep, 30 to 35 cm; and extra deep, 38 to 40 cm. We skip the words and print the number on every size label, because the number is what you need to compare with your mattress.
Corner depth is measured on the sheet from the top seam to the hem, so a 30 cm corner covers a 30 cm mattress with the elastic hem turning under.
| Mattress height | Typical mattress | Corner depth needed | In our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 to 12 cm | Mattress topper on its own | 15 cm (topper sheet) | Cotton, satin, double jersey topper sheets; split-topper versions |
| 12 to 22 cm | Slim foam, rolled, bunk, sofa bed, caravan | 25 or 30 cm | Any 30 cm sheet; jersey topper sheet in 25 cm for singles |
| 20 to 28 cm | Standard sprung or foam mattress (most Irish beds) | 30 cm | Cotton, satin, single jersey, flannel, velvet, teddy |
| 28 to 38 cm | Deep, pillow-top or hybrid mattress | 40 cm | Double jersey 220 gsm, every size |
| 28 to 40 cm | Mattress with its topper left on | 40 cm, or sheet them separately | Double jersey 220 gsm; or topper sheet 15 cm plus mattress sheet 30 cm |
| Over 40 cm | Very deep mattress plus thick topper | Sheet the topper separately | Topper sheet 15 cm over the topper; 30 or 40 cm sheet or protector on the mattress |
The rule is simple: the corner must be at least as deep as the mattress, and anything up to about 10 cm deeper is a good fit. Deeper is better than shallower, every time. A 40 cm sheet on a 24 cm mattress works, with 16 cm folded under; a 30 cm sheet on a 32 cm mattress does not, and you will know by morning. Where the mattress is right on the limit, take the next depth up, unless the sheet is jersey, which will stretch the two or three centimetres.
Heavy stretch cotton jersey with 40 cm corners, for deep and pillow-top mattresses and for a mattress with its topper left on. Single 80/100 x 220, double 140 x 200/220, king and super king 160/180 x 200/220 and super king 190/200 x 220/230, in 9 colours. Designs and sizes shown are subject to availability.
How to measure a mattress for a fitted sheet
You need three numbers and a tape measure. Do not measure the bed frame, which is always wider and longer than the mattress inside it, and do not trust the size in the mattress listing if the mattress has a topper on it or has been on the bed for years.
- Width. Across the sleeping surface, edge to edge, at the middle. Round to the nearest 5 cm. 89 is 90, 152 is 150, 137 is 135.
- Length. Head to foot across the top. Irish singles, small doubles and doubles are usually 190; kings, super kings and anything European are 200; long singles and some boxsprings are 210 or 220.
- Height. Down the side, from the top edge of whatever layer the sheet will cover to the bottom edge of the mattress. If a topper stays on the bed and one sheet goes over everything, measure topper and mattress together. If the topper gets its own sheet, measure them separately. On a pillow-top, measure at the thickest point.
- Compare. Our size labels read width x length (L) x corner depth (D). Pick the width that is equal to or up to 10 cm more than yours, the length that is equal or up to 10 cm more, and the depth that is equal to or more than your height.
Write the three numbers in the notes on your phone. They do not change, and they answer every bedding question you will have for the next decade, including the mattress protector that goes under the sheet and needs the same corner depth.
Which fabric: cotton, jersey, satin, flannel, velvet or teddy?
Once the size and depth are right, fabric is about feel, season and how forgiving you need the sheet to be. These are the seven we sell, with the corner depths each one comes in.
| Fabric | Weight | Feels like | Corner depth | Sizes | From | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% cotton | T144 plain weave | Crisp, cool, hotel-plain | 30 cm | 70 x 200 to 200 x 220 | €12.95 | Every bed up to 30 cm high; the widest size run; 8 colours |
| Single jersey | 135 gsm knit | Soft T-shirt cotton, light stretch | 30 cm | 80/100 x 200 to 190/200 x 200/220 | €9.95 | In-between sizes, children’s beds, anyone who hates ironing |
| Double jersey | 220 gsm knit | Heavy, dense, warm stretch | 40 cm | 80/100 x 220 to 190/200 x 220/230 | €24.95 | Deep and pillow-top mattresses, mattress plus topper; 9 colours |
| Cotton satin | T210 sateen | Smooth with a soft sheen | 30 cm | 70 x 200 to 200 x 220, 12 sizes | €17.50 | Boxspring and brand mattresses in EU sizes; 10 colours |
| Flannel | 160 gsm brushed cotton | Warm, matt, soft both sides | 30 cm | 90 x 200/210 to 200 x 200/220 | €12.95 | Winter; the one range cut in 200 x 200 |
| Velvet | 200 gsm polyester | Plush, short pile | 30 cm | 90 x 200 to 180 x 200 | €20.95 | Winter, a cold room, a bed that is also a sofa |
| Teddy fleece | 200 gsm polyester | Curly, very warm | 30 cm | 140 x 200 to 180 x 200 (single not in stock right now) | €24.95 | The coldest nights; matches our teddy duvet covers |
If you are choosing between the two jerseys: the 135 gsm single jersey is the everyday one, thin enough to dry on a radiator overnight, and the 220 gsm double jersey is a different product, almost a thin blanket, and the only sheet in our range with 40 cm corners. For the winter fabrics, the brushed cotton, flannelette and teddy guide compares them properly; the short version is that flannel is cotton and breathes, velvet and teddy are polyester and hold more warmth.
Reactive-dyed cotton sateen with a soft sheen, in 10 colours and 12 sizes from single narrow 70 x 200 to super king 200 x 220, including 180 x 210 and 90 x 220 lengths. 30 cm corners; a matching 15 cm topper and split-topper version exists for boxspring beds. Designs and sizes shown are subject to availability.
Fitted sheets for toppers, boxspring beds and adjustable beds
A topper changes the sum. A 25 cm mattress with an 8 cm topper is a 33 cm stack, and a 30 cm sheet that fitted perfectly last year now comes off. There are two ways to deal with it, and both are right; they just suit different beds.
| Set-up | How the bed is made | Sheets you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| One sheet over everything | Topper sits on the mattress, one deep fitted sheet over both | Double jersey 40 cm in the mattress size | Thin toppers up to 8 cm; anyone who wants one sheet to wash |
| Topper dressed separately | Topper gets a 15 cm topper sheet; mattress underneath gets a 30 cm sheet or a protector | Topper sheet 15 cm plus a mattress sheet or protector | Boxspring beds (this is how they are made up), thick toppers, hot sleepers who change the top layer often |
| Split topper on an adjustable bed | Two topper halves move with the head and foot sections | Split-topper sheet, 15 cm, slit down the top third | Adjustable boxsprings and electric beds, double to super king |
| Two single mattresses as one bed | Two 80 or 90 cm mattresses side by side | One 160 or 180 wide sheet if heights match, or two singles plus a topper and topper sheet | Guest rooms, zip-and-link beds |
A boxspring bed, which is now the most common bed sold in the Netherlands and Germany and increasingly in Ireland, is a sprung base, a mattress and a topper. The usual way to make it up is a topper sheet with 15 cm corners over the topper, so the sheet can come off without disturbing the mattress, and a molton protector over the mattress itself. Our 100% cotton, cotton satin and double jersey ranges each have a topper version and a split-topper version, in double 140 x 200 up to super king 200 x 220 and lengths of 200, 210 and 220 cm.
Shallow 15 cm corners cut for a mattress topper, in 100% cotton, cotton satin and double jersey, plus split-topper versions slit for adjustable and boxspring beds. Double 140 to super king 200 x 220; the double jersey version has 40 cm corners for the whole stack. Designs and sizes shown are subject to availability.
How to put a fitted sheet on so it stays on
Even the right size can be put on wrong. Four things make the difference.
- Find the corner with the label. On our sheets the care label is sewn into one corner seam. Put that corner at the bottom left of the bed, as you stand at the foot; the sheet is then the right way round, long side along the long side.
- Do the diagonal corners first. Top left, then bottom right, pulling the sheet tight across the diagonal. The last two corners go on with far less fight than when you work round the bed in a circle.
- Tuck the spare under, do not leave it at the side. If the sheet is a size wider than the mattress, lift the mattress edge and push the spare fabric flat underneath. It cannot slide back out from there.
- Give it something to grip. A smooth mattress cover under a smooth sateen sheet is a skating rink. A thin molton mattress protector between them stops the sheet migrating and protects the mattress at the same time.
Brushed both sides, 160 gsm, 100% cotton, 30 cm corners, single 90 x 200/210 to super king 200 x 200/220 in 4 colours. Velvet and teddy fleece fitted sheets from Sleeptime cover single to 180 x 200 with the same 30 cm corners. Designs and sizes shown are subject to availability.
Which fitted sheet for which bed
| Your bed | Order | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Irish single, 90 x 190, 22 cm | Single 90 x 200, 30 cm, cotton or single jersey | Length tucks under; 30 cm covers up to 30 cm |
| Irish double, 135 x 190, 25 cm | Double 140 x 200, 30 cm, cotton or satin | Spare 5 cm width and 10 cm length tuck under |
| Irish king, 150 x 200, 28 cm | King 160 x 200, 30 cm, cotton or satin | Only 10 cm spare; woven fabric keeps it flat |
| Irish super king, 180 x 200, 30 cm | Super King 180 x 200, 30 cm, any fabric | Exact size; 30 cm is the limit, so measure carefully |
| Super king, 180 x 200, 34 cm pillow-top | Double jersey 160/180 x 200/220, 40 cm | The only 40 cm option; stretches to fit |
| EU boxspring 160 x 200 with 8 cm topper | Satin or cotton topper sheet 160 x 200, 15 cm, plus a protector on the mattress | How a boxspring is made up |
| Adjustable bed with split topper, 180 x 200 | Split-topper sheet 180 x 200, 15 cm | Slit lets both halves move |
| Child’s bed, 70 x 140 or 90 x 200 | Single 90 x 200 cotton or jersey; cot and toddler sizes in the children’s guide | Jersey forgives odd sizes |
| Two singles together, 2 x 90 x 200 | Super King 180 x 200 jersey if heights match | One sheet, no ridge |
If your mattress does not appear here, the three measurements and the depth chart above will place it. And if a size we cut is not in stock on the day, the product page says so plainly rather than letting you order it; the fitted sheets collection can be filtered by size, fabric and colour, and the corner depth is printed in every size label so you can check it before you add to basket.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fitted sheet need to be bigger than the mattress?
No. Order the sheet in the mattress size, or the next size up in our list if the exact width is not made. A woven cotton or satin sheet copes with 5 to 10 cm of spare width, because the elastic pulls it under the mattress; 20 cm or more leaves loose fabric on top. A sheet that is smaller than the mattress will not stay on, so never size down. In depth, the corner must be at least the mattress height and up to about 10 cm more.
What size fitted sheet do I need for a king size bed in Ireland?
An Irish or UK king mattress is 150 x 200 cm. Order our King 160 x 200 cm size: the extra 10 cm of width tucks under and the length is exact. If the mattress is 160 x 200 cm (a European queen, common with Emma, IKEA and most boxspring beds) the same 160 x 200 sheet is an exact fit. Check the corner depth as well: 30 cm for a mattress up to 30 cm high, 40 cm for a deeper one or a mattress with a topper.
What is the difference between a deep and an extra deep fitted sheet?
Shops use the words loosely, which is why we print the measurement instead. A standard fitted sheet in Ireland has corners of 25 to 30 cm; deep usually means 30 to 35 cm; extra deep means 38 to 40 cm. Our woven cotton, satin, single jersey, flannel, velvet and teddy sheets all have 30 cm corners, and the double jersey 220 gsm has 40 cm corners on every size. Measure the mattress and pick the number, not the word.
Will a 30 cm fitted sheet fit a 25 cm mattress?
Yes, comfortably. Five centimetres of spare depth is what you want: it is the part that tucks under the mattress and holds the sheet on. The same 30 cm sheet fits anything from about 18 cm to 30 cm high. It is a 32 cm mattress that is the problem, because the corner stops 2 cm short of the underside and the sheet lifts off during the night; that mattress needs the 40 cm sheet.
What depth is a standard fitted sheet?
Most fitted sheets sold in Ireland and the UK have corners between 25 and 30 cm, and that suits the standard mattress, which is 20 to 28 cm high. Mattresses have been getting thicker, and a pillow-top, a hybrid with a tall base layer, or any mattress with a topper on it is often 32 to 38 cm, which is where a 40 cm corner comes in.
Do I need a special fitted sheet for a mattress topper?
It depends on how you make the bed. If one sheet goes over topper and mattress together, measure both as one and you will usually need 40 cm corners. If you prefer to dress the topper on its own, which keeps it from sliding and is how boxspring beds are made up, use a topper fitted sheet with 15 cm corners over the topper and a normal 30 cm sheet, or just a mattress protector, on the mattress underneath. Split toppers on adjustable beds take a split-topper sheet that is slit down the middle of the top third.
What size fitted sheet fits a 180 x 200 mattress?
A super king fitted sheet, 180 x 200 cm. In Ireland and the UK this size is called super king; in Germany and the Netherlands the same 180 x 200 is simply a double or a Lits-jumeaux. Our cotton, satin, flannel, velvet and teddy ranges all come in 180 x 200 with 30 cm corners, and the double jersey covers it with 40 cm corners. For a 180 x 220 mattress take the 180 x 220 size in cotton or satin.
What size sheet do I need for two single beds pushed together?
Two 90 x 200 singles make a 180 x 200 surface, so a super king 180 x 200 fitted sheet goes over both, as long as the two mattresses are the same height. A stretchy jersey sheet is the most forgiving here. If the mattresses are different heights, or one is a 190 and one a 200, keep two single sheets and bridge the gap with a mattress topper and a topper sheet instead. Two 80 x 200 singles make 160 x 200 and take our King 160 x 200 sheet.
Why does my fitted sheet keep coming off the mattress?
Nine times out of ten the corner is too shallow for the mattress, often because a topper was added after the sheets were bought. Measure the height again and go up a depth. The other causes are a sheet that is a size too small, elastic only at the four corners rather than all the way round (all of ours are elasticated all round), and a very smooth mattress cover under a smooth sheet, which a thin molton mattress protector fixes by giving the sheet something to grip.
Can I use a 160 x 200 fitted sheet on a 150 x 200 mattress?
Yes, and for an Irish king that is what we recommend, because 150 cm wide fitted sheets in 200 cm length are rare. The elastic takes up the 10 cm of spare width under the mattress and the sheet lies flat on top. Choose woven cotton or satin rather than jersey for this; jersey is cut closer to size and relies on stretch, so it has less to spare.
Where to go next
Measure width, length and height, order by the centimetres, and pick the corner depth that is equal to or a little more than the mattress height. Cotton or satin with 30 cm corners for most Irish beds; double jersey with 40 cm corners for deep, pillow-top and topped mattresses; 15 cm topper sheets for boxspring and adjustable beds.
Prices and availability shown are correct at the time of writing and change with stock. Corner depths are taken from each product page; if your mattress is close to a limit, the product page is the figure to trust.
