Will a King Bed Fit Up My Stairs? How to Measure Your Home Before Ordering

One of the most common things people think about when buying a new bed is whether it will fit in the bedroom.

But there is another question that is just as important:

Will the bed actually make it into the bedroom?

A King, Super King or California King bed may fit perfectly once it is in place, but narrow staircases, tight corners, low ceilings and small doorways can make access much more difficult.

The good news is that most access problems can be identified before delivery.

A few careful measurements can save a great deal of frustration later.

Here is what to check before ordering a larger bed.

Start With the Final Bedroom

Before thinking about stairs and doorways, make sure the bed itself comfortably fits the room.

In New Zealand, our mattress sizes are approximately:

• Single – 910 × 1900mm

• King Single – 1060 × 2030mm

• Double – 1370 × 1900mm

• Queen – 1520 × 2030mm

• King – 1670 × 2030mm

• Super King – 1820 × 2030mm

• California King – 2030 × 2030mm

The mattress dimensions are only part of the overall space required.

You should also allow room for:

• the bed base

• bedside tables

• drawers if choosing a drawer base

• walking space

• wardrobe doors

• bedroom doors

• a headboard if required

A bed that technically fits the room may still feel too large if there is very little space left around it.

Measure the Entire Delivery Route

When checking whether a bed will fit into your home, imagine the journey from the delivery vehicle all the way to the final bedroom.

Measure every potentially tight area along the route.

This includes:

• front or garage doors

• hallways

• internal doorways

• staircases

• stair landings

• corners

• low ceilings

• ceiling lights

• handrails

• upstairs hallways

• the final bedroom doorway

The narrowest point is often the one that determines whether the bed can get through.

How Wide Does a Doorway Need to Be for a Mattress?

There is no single doorway width that guarantees every mattress will fit.

Mattresses can usually be manoeuvred on their side, which means the full mattress width does not necessarily have to pass through the doorway horizontally.

For example, a King mattress is 1670mm wide, but it would generally be turned onto its side while being carried through a door.

What matters is the combination of:

• doorway width

• doorway height

• mattress depth

• available turning space

• the area immediately before and after the doorway

A standard doorway may be wide enough for the mattress itself but become difficult if there is a wall or tight corner directly behind it.

This is why simply measuring the door opening is not enough.

Measure the Doorway Properly

Measure the clear opening rather than the width of the door frame.

The door itself can reduce the usable space.

Take three measurements:

1. Width
Measure from the narrowest point on one side of the opening to the other.

2. Height
Measure from the floor to the lowest part of the frame.

3. Space around the doorway
Look at whether there is enough room to rotate or angle the mattress before entering.

Pay particular attention if the doorway is at the end of a narrow hallway.

Will a King Bed Fit Up My Stairs?

Often, yes.

But the width of the staircase is only one part of the equation.

The most difficult point is frequently the turn at the top or bottom of the stairs.

Check:

• staircase width

• ceiling height

• handrail position

• stair angle

• landings

• turns

• walls opposite the stairs

• upstairs hallway width

Straight staircases are usually much easier than narrow staircases with a 90-degree or 180-degree turn.

How to Measure a Staircase for a Mattress

Start by measuring the clear width between the wall and the handrail.

Then measure the ceiling height above the staircase.

After that, look closely at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Ask:

Could a large mattress be stood upright here?

Is there enough room to rotate it around the corner?

Is there a wall directly opposite the staircase?

Does the ceiling drop lower over the landing?

The mattress may comfortably fit on the staircase itself but become impossible to turn at the landing.

This is particularly important with Super King and California King mattresses.

How Do You Get a Super King Mattress Upstairs?

A Super King mattress measures approximately 1820 × 2030mm.

Because of its size, it normally needs to be carried on its side and carefully manoeuvred through the home.

A small amount of natural mattress flexibility can sometimes help during delivery.

However, a mattress should never be sharply folded or forced around an unsuitable corner.

Before ordering a Super King for an upstairs room, pay particular attention to:

• stair landings

• low ceilings

• tight hallway corners

• bedroom doorway location

• narrow staircases

If you are uncertain, take photographs and measurements before placing the order.

It is much easier to resolve an access issue before the bed has been manufactured and delivered.

What About a California King?

A California King is approximately 2030 × 2030mm.

That means it is effectively square and considerably larger than a standard King.

For larger homes and master bedrooms, a California King can create an exceptionally spacious bed.

However, access needs to be considered carefully.

The mattress itself is large, although the base is supplied in separate sections.

In homes with narrow stairs or tight upper-floor access, mattress access is usually the more important consideration.

The Mattress and Base Are Different Access Problems

Customers sometimes assume that if the mattress can fit upstairs, the base will fit too.

Not necessarily.

A mattress has some flexibility.

A bed base does not.

Bases have a rigid frame, so they cannot normally be bent or flexed around corners.

For this reason, base configuration is particularly important in homes with difficult access.

What Is a Split Bed Base?

A split base is simply a bed base manufactured in two separate sections instead of one large piece.

Once the sections reach the bedroom, they are positioned together underneath the mattress.

The sleeping surface remains one complete mattress.

The main advantage is that two smaller base sections are much easier to:

• carry through doorways

• manoeuvre around corners

• take upstairs

• transport through narrow hallways

Which Luxury Orthopaedic Bed Bases Are Split?

Our larger bed bases are supplied in sections to make them easier to transport and install.

Our standard configuration is:

• Single – one-piece base

• King Single – one-piece base

• Double – one-piece base

• Queen – one-piece base

• King – two-piece base

• Super King – two-piece base

• California King – two-piece base

A split Queen base is also available where access requires it.

This can be particularly useful in older homes, townhouses, apartments and properties with tight staircases.

When Should You Consider a Split Queen Base?

A standard Queen base is a reasonably large rigid object.

In many homes it fits without difficulty.

However, a split Queen may be worth considering if the bedroom is upstairs and access includes:

• a narrow staircase

• a tight landing

• a sharp hallway turn

• a small internal doorway

• limited ceiling clearance

If there is any doubt, it is better to assess access before the bed is manufactured.

Does a Split Base Mean a Split Mattress?

No.

A split base and split mattress are two different things.

You can have:

One complete mattress sitting on a two-piece base.

In fact, this is how our King, Super King and California King bed bases are normally supplied.

A split base is primarily about making the bed easier to transport and install.

What About Zipped Mattresses?

For some larger bed configurations, we also offer zipped mattress options.

These are different from a split base.

A zipped mattress is manufactured in separate mattress sections that connect together using a concealed zip.

Zipped mattress options are available in:

• King

• Super King

• California King

This can provide additional flexibility where access is especially difficult or where the bed needs to be configured differently for accommodation or other purposes.

Both sides must be manufactured in the same comfort level.

Can You Bend a Mattress to Get It Upstairs?

Mattresses have some natural flexibility, but they should not be sharply folded.

How much a mattress can safely flex depends on its construction.

Pocket spring mattresses should be treated carefully during delivery because excessive bending or forcing can damage the internal components.

A mattress should never be forced through an opening that is clearly too small.

If access looks questionable, measure first.

Can You Take a Bed Through a Window or Balcony?

In some difficult-access properties, specialist movers may consider alternative access.

However, this is not a normal delivery method and may require specialist lifting equipment.

Do not assume that a balcony, window or exterior lift will automatically solve an access problem.

Any unusual delivery method should be discussed before ordering.

Don't Forget the Headboard

Headboards are another large rigid item that customers sometimes forget to measure for.

Our headboards are made as one piece.

This means you should check access carefully if the bedroom is upstairs or reached through narrow corridors.

A large Super King or California King headboard may be more difficult to manoeuvre than the split bed base underneath it.

When measuring access, include the headboard in your planning rather than checking only the mattress.

Drawer Bases Need Additional Bedroom Clearance

If you choose a drawer base, also check the usable space beside the finished bed.

There needs to be enough clearance to fully open the drawers.

Think about:

• bedside tables

• bedroom walls

• wardrobes

• other furniture

• door swing

A drawer base can add extremely useful storage, but only if the drawers remain practical once the bed is installed.

How to Measure Your Home Before Buying a Bed

Before ordering, we recommend checking the following:

Bedroom

Measure:

• room width

• room length

• final bed position

• walking space

• bedside table space

• wardrobe clearance

• drawer clearance if required

Doorways

Measure:

• clear width

• clear height

• turning space before and after the doorway

Hallways

Measure:

• narrowest width

• ceiling height

• sharp corners

Staircase

Measure:

• clear stair width

• height above stairs

• landing dimensions

• turning space

• wall clearance

• upstairs hallway

Final Bedroom Door

This is easily forgotten.

A mattress might make it all the way upstairs and still struggle with the final turn into the bedroom.

Older Homes Need Extra Attention

New Zealand has many villas, cottages, bungalows and older two-storey homes with:

• narrow hallways

• steep staircases

• unusual doorway sizes

• low ceilings

• tight turns

Large modern beds were not necessarily considered when these homes were built.

That does not mean you cannot have a King or Super King bed.

It simply means access should be considered early.

Apartments and Townhouses

Modern homes can create access challenges too.

Townhouses often have relatively narrow internal staircases.

Apartments may require beds to pass through:

• building entrances

• lifts

• corridors

• fire doors

• apartment doors

If the bed needs to go into a lift, check both the lift dimensions and the door opening.

A mattress may fit inside diagonally even if it does not fit flat, but this should be established before delivery.

What If You're Not Sure?

If access looks tight, take photographs.

Useful photos include:

• the bottom of the staircase

• the staircase itself

• the landing

• the top of the stairs

• the hallway

• the bedroom doorway

Include measurements where possible.

A few minutes spent checking access beforehand can prevent a much more difficult situation on delivery day.

The Biggest Bed Is Not Always the Best Bed

It can be tempting to buy the largest mattress that fits inside the bedroom.

But access, movement and everyday practicality matter too.

A well-proportioned King in a room with comfortable walking space will usually feel more luxurious than an oversized bed that makes the room difficult to use.

Consider the entire journey:

Front door → hallway → stairs → landing → bedroom door → final position.

If the bed can comfortably complete that journey, you're in a much better position to enjoy it once it arrives.

Choosing the Right Bed for Difficult Access

For homes with limited access, there are several ways to make things easier.

These may include:

• choosing a split bed base

• selecting a split Queen base where required

• considering a zipped mattress in larger sizes

• avoiding an oversized headboard

• carefully measuring stairs and landings

• discussing difficult access before ordering

Our King, Super King and California King bases are already supplied in two sections, while a split Queen base can be arranged where required.

If you're unsure whether a bed will fit into your home, speak with us before ordering.

A little planning beforehand is far easier than discovering the problem when the bed arrives at the front door.