For a three-seater sofa, choose a throw about two metres long: 140 × 200 cm or 150 × 215 cm. For a double bed (135 × 190 cm), a 140 × 200 cm throw laid across the foot of the bed hangs just over 30 cm down each side; for a king or super king, the 150 × 215 cm throw is the one that reaches. Our smallest size, 130 × 170 cm, suits an armchair, a two-seater sofa or a single bed.
It helps to know what a throw is for before you measure. Blanket sizes in the UK follow the bed: a bed blanket is cut to cover the mattress and hang down the sides. A throw is smaller and more flexible. On a bed it goes across the foot or over your side of the duvet; on a sofa it hangs over the back or an arm until someone pulls it round their shoulders. None of our sizes will cover a double bed down to the floor, and that isn't what they are for. Below you'll find the standard UK mattress sizes, our three throw sizes with their weights, and what each one fits.
UK mattress sizes and the throw that fits
The simplest way to put a throw on a bed is as a runner: it lies across the foot of the bed, its long side running from one edge of the mattress to the other. So the length of the throw is what matters. The overhang below is how far the throw hangs down each side, measured from the edge of the mattress.
| Bed | Mattress | Our throw across the foot | Overhang each side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190 cm | 130 × 170 cm | about 40 cm |
| Small double | 120 × 190 cm | 140 × 200 cm | about 40 cm |
| Double | 135 × 190 cm | 140 × 200 cm | just over 30 cm |
| King | 150 × 200 cm | 150 × 215 cm | just over 30 cm |
| Super king | 180 × 200 cm | 150 × 215 cm | under 20 cm |
On a super king, even a 215 cm throw only just covers the edge of a deep mattress, so think of it as a band across the top rather than something that hangs down to the base. Our 140 × 200 cm throws include their fringes in the length, so the woven part stops a little short and the fringes make up the rest.
Our three throw sizes at a glance
Weight tells you as much as size. A heavier throw hangs straighter, stays put on the back of a sofa and feels more substantial over your legs; a lighter one folds smaller and is easier to carry from room to room.
| Size | Material and weight | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 130 × 170 cm | Merino, double-sided, 890 g | An armchair, a two-seater sofa, one person curled up, a runner on a single bed |
| 140 × 200 cm, including fringes | Merino in patterns, 730 g; cashmere-merino (90% merino wool, 10% cashmere), 655 g; cotton-blend, 940 g | A two- or three-seater sofa, a runner on a small double or double bed, wrapping up one tall adult |
| 150 × 215 cm | Merino, double-sided, 1,450 g | A three-seater or corner sofa, king and super king beds, two people sharing, a top layer on a single bed |
The material decides the rest. Merino (80% merino wool, 20% nylon) comes in all three sizes and in the widest choice of colours, from £49.90; you can see them all among our merino throws. The cotton-blend (50% cotton, 30% polyester, 20% acrylic, £21.90–32.90) can be hand washed at 30 °C, which makes it the practical choice for a sofa shared with children or a dog. The cashmere-merino, with 10% cashmere, is the softest of the three (£84.90–89.90). All of them are woven in our family's own mill in Ukraine.
What size throw for a sofa
Measure the sofa from the outside of one arm to the outside of the other, then think about how the throw will be used. Folded over an arm, almost any size works. Draped over the back, a throw tends to look deliberate when it covers at least half the width of the sofa. And if it is there to be used rather than looked at, the size that matters is the person underneath it.
- Armchair or snuggler: 130 × 170 cm covers one person from shoulders to feet and folds neatly over the arm.
- Two-seater sofa: 130 × 170 cm for one person; 140 × 200 cm if two of you share it or you like to stretch out.
- Three-seater sofa: 140 × 200 cm or 150 × 215 cm. Three-seaters vary, but many are around two metres wide, so either size hangs across most of the back. The 150 × 215 cm covers the most ground and is the one for two people under one throw.
- Corner sofa: 150 × 215 cm along the longer side, or two smaller throws, one on each section. Two usually look neater than one stretched round the corner.
- Covering the seats: to protect the seat cushions from one arm to the other, match the throw's length to the width between the arms, not to the whole sofa.
A simple rule if you like to lie down under a throw: choose one at least as long as you are tall. Then you can tuck it under your feet and still pull it up to your chin.
What size throw for a double bed, a king or a single
On a bed, a throw does one of two jobs: it lies across the foot of the bed as a band of colour, or it goes over the duvet as an extra layer on a cold night.
- Double (135 × 190 cm): 140 × 200 cm across the foot hangs just over 30 cm down each side. For a deeper drop, the 150 × 215 cm gives about 40 cm.
- King (150 × 200 cm): 150 × 215 cm, with just over 30 cm each side. A 140 × 200 cm works too, with about 25 cm each side.
- Super king (180 × 200 cm): 150 × 215 cm is the only one of our sizes long enough to reach over both edges.
- Single (90 × 190 cm): here a throw can cover the whole top of the bed. The 150 × 215 cm, laid lengthways, hangs about 30 cm down each side and leaves about 25 cm to fold back at the pillow end. The 130 × 170 cm makes a neat runner.
For the classic runner look, fold the throw lengthways in half or in thirds before you lay it across the bed. Folded in half, a 150 × 215 cm throw becomes a band about 75 cm deep that still reaches the full 215 cm across the bed; folded in thirds, about 50 cm deep. Thirds also put three layers of wool over your feet, which is no bad thing in January.
How to measure before you order
- Measure the width you want to cover: the mattress from side to side, or the sofa from arm to arm.
- Decide how far the throw should hang down each side. On a bed, 25–40 cm looks intended; on the back of a sofa, 20–30 cm is plenty.
- Add twice that overhang to the width. The result is the throw length you need.
- Check the other dimension too: the throw's width against the depth you want to cover, such as a sofa seat or the foot of the bed.
- Allow for fringes: on our 140 × 200 cm throws they are part of the 200 cm.
A worked example: a double mattress is 135 cm wide. With 30 cm hanging down each side, you need 135 + 30 + 30 = 195 cm, so a 200 cm throw fits. UK delivery is free from our warehouse in Coventry, and if the size turns out wrong for your room, you have 30 days to return it.
FAQ
What size is a throw in the UK?
There is no fixed standard. In size, throws sit between a lap blanket and a bedspread; ours come in 130 × 170 cm, 140 × 200 cm and 150 × 215 cm. Blankets meant to cover a whole bed are larger and are sized to the mattress.
What size throw for a double bed?
140 × 200 cm. Laid across the foot of a double bed, it hangs just over 30 cm down each side. Choose 150 × 215 cm if you would like it to hang lower.
What size throw for a 3-seater sofa?
140 × 200 cm or 150 × 215 cm. The larger size covers more of the back and is the one to choose if two people will share it.
Can a throw be used as a bedspread?
On a single bed, yes: a 150 × 215 cm throw covers the top and hangs about 30 cm down each side. On a double or larger bed, use it as a runner or an extra layer instead. You can compare all throws by size and material.
