Bedding and Towel Size Guide
Everything we sell is listed in centimetres, on every product page, piece by piece. This guide is the wider picture: what each bed size actually measures, how American sizing compares to the European beds common in Lebanon, and what the numbers on a towel label mean.
If you only read one thing, read the next section. It is the reason most bedding gets returned.
American sizes on a European bed
Our bedding follows American sizing, because that is where these brands are made. Many beds in Lebanon follow European sizing. The names overlap, the measurements do not, and a European King is narrower than an American King by more than 30 centimetres.
So before you order, measure your mattress. Then use this table.
| If your bed is | It measures | Order this size | How it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Single | 90 x 200 cm | Twin XL | A little loose in width, correct length |
| European Double | 140 x 200 cm | Queen | Loose in width, correct length. Full is the right width but 9 cm too short. |
| European King | 160 x 200 cm | Queen | Snug. The deep pocket elastic takes up the difference. |
| European Grand King | 180 x 200 cm | King | A little loose in width, correct length |
Honest caveat. These are the closest matches, not exact ones. Fitted sheets are cut larger than the mattress and the elastic has real give, so a close match sits fine in practice. Flat sheets and comforters are generous by design, so they are far more forgiving than fitted sheets. If you are between two sizes on a fitted sheet, size up.
American mattress sizes
| Size | Mattress | Usually for |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 97 x 191 cm | A child's room or a single bed |
| Twin XL | 97 x 203 cm | A taller single sleeper, student rooms |
| Full, also called Double | 137 x 191 cm | One adult with room to spread out |
| Queen | 152 x 203 cm | Two adults, the most common size |
| King | 193 x 203 cm | Two adults with generous space |
| California King | 183 x 213 cm | Narrower and longer than a King |
| Split King | Two Twin XL mattresses side by side | Adjustable bases, or two firmness preferences |
Sheet sets
A sheet set is sold by the size of your mattress. What changes between sets is how many pieces are in the box.
| Set | What is inside |
|---|---|
| 4 piece | 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases |
| 6 piece | 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 4 pillowcases |
| Split King | 1 King flat sheet, 2 Twin XL fitted sheets, 4 King pillowcases |
Measure your mattress depth
Measure from the top of the mattress down to where it meets the base. Most of our fitted sheets are deep pocket and fit up to 46 to 51 cm, which covers almost any mattress, including one with a topper on it. Depth is the measurement people forget, and it is the one that makes a fitted sheet pop off in the night.
Does thread count matter
Less than the label suggests. Thread count is threads per square inch, and past roughly 400 the gains are small. Weave matters more. Percale is a plain weave, cool and crisp, the hotel sheet feeling. Sateen has more threads on the surface, so it is smoother and warmer to the touch with a slight sheen. In Lebanese summers percale is usually the better call.
Comforters
A comforter is filled and finished on both sides. It is used exactly as it comes, with no cover needed. Comforters are cut wider than the mattress so they drape over the sides, which is why the numbers below are larger than the mattress sizes above.
| Bed size | Comforter, approximate |
|---|---|
| Twin | 168 x 218 cm |
| Twin XL | 172 x 233 cm |
| Full | 223 x 233 cm |
| Queen | 233 x 243 cm |
| King | 269 x 243 cm |
| California King | 249 x 239 cm |
Shams
A sham is the decorative pillow cover that matches the comforter. It slips over a pillow you already own, usually with an opening at the back rather than a zip. Standard shams measure 51 x 66 cm and come with Twin XL, Full and Queen sets. King shams measure 51 x 91 cm and come with King and California King sets.
Duvets
The words duvet and comforter get used interchangeably, which causes most of the confusion in this category. Here is the difference.
| Piece | What it is |
|---|---|
| Comforter | Filled and finished on both sides. Ready to use, no cover needed. |
| Duvet insert | The filled inner layer, plain and usually white. Goes inside a cover. |
| Duvet cover | The washable outer layer, sold empty. Slips over an insert. |
If you want to change the look of your bed without buying new filling, buy an insert once and swap covers. If you would rather not deal with covers at all, buy a comforter. There is a fuller answer, including which is easier to live with day to day, in duvet vs comforter.
| Bed size | Duvet, approximate |
|---|---|
| Full or Queen | 233 x 233 cm to 249 x 239 cm |
| King or California King | 264 x 249 cm to 289 x 249 cm |
Towels
| Type | Typical size | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Face or wash towel | 30 x 30 cm to 34 x 34 cm | Face, hands, daily washing |
| Hand towel | 40 x 66 cm to 50 x 85 cm | Beside the basin, guest bathrooms |
| Bath towel | 74 x 134 cm to 76 x 137 cm | After a shower or bath |
What GSM means
GSM is grams per square metre, the weight of the cotton. It tells you more about a towel than the price does. Higher means thicker and more absorbent, but also slower to dry, which matters in a humid bathroom.
| Weight | Feel |
|---|---|
| 300 to 450 GSM | Light and dries quickly. Good for the gym, the beach and guest use. |
| 450 to 600 GSM | Everyday bathroom weight. Soft with solid absorbency. |
| 600 to 950 GSM | Thick hotel weight. The plushest and most absorbent, takes longer to dry. |
Weight also decides how quickly a towel dries out between showers, which is the single biggest reason towels start to smell. If that is the problem you are trying to solve, read why towels start to smell and what actually fixes it.
Throws, blankets and pillows
| Type | Typical size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Accent throw | 127 x 152 cm | Draped over a sofa or the end of a bed |
| Oversized throw | 152 x 178 cm | Wrapping around one person comfortably |
| Twin blanket | 173 x 229 cm | Covering a single bed |
| Full or Queen blanket | 229 x 229 cm | Covering a double or Queen bed |
| King blanket | 229 x 269 cm | Covering a King bed |
| Square accent pillow | 45 x 45 cm | Sofa and bed layering |
| Large square pillow | 51 x 51 cm | A fuller look on a large sofa |
| Lumbar pillow | 36 x 51 cm to 38 x 56 cm | Lower back support, a front layer on a bed |
How to measure your mattress
Strip the bed first, then take three measurements. Width across the top, from edge to edge. Length from head to foot. Depth from the top surface down to where the mattress meets the base, including a topper if you use one, because the fitted sheet has to clear it.
Write the three numbers down and compare them to the tables above. It takes two minutes and it is the difference between bedding that fits and bedding that goes back in the box.
Still not sure
Send us your three measurements through the contact page and we will tell you which size to order. We would rather answer a question than process a return.
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Sheet sets · Comforter sets · Duvets and quilts · Towels · Throws and blankets · Pillows
