What Size Throw Blanket Do I Need? UK Sofa and Bed Guide

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

Throws come in a confusing spread of sizes, from a 100 cm lap piece to a 230 cm bed cover. Each one suits a different chair, sofa or bed.

This guide gives the typical sizes in centimetres, how to measure your own furniture, and which of our throws fit which job.

What size is a standard throw blanket in the UK?

There is no official standard, but most throws sold in the UK measure between 120×150 cm and 150×200 cm, with 130×170 cm the most common all-rounder.

Smaller pieces, around 100–120 cm wide, are lap throws: enough to cover your legs in a reading chair. Anything 200 cm or more on the short side is really a bedspread. The table below shows the usual size bands and what each one is for.

Where it goes	Typical size	Examples from our range
Lap or reading chair	100–120 × 150–170 cm	100×170 cm, 115×160 cm, 120×150 cm
Armchair or two-seater	130×170 to 145×180 cm	130×170 cm, 140×170 cm, 145×180 cm
Three-seater or corner sofa	145×200 to 160×200 cm	150×200 cm, 160×200 cm
Foot of a double or king bed	150×200 cm laid across	150×190 cm, 150×200 cm
Foot of a super king bed	145×230 to 150×240 cm laid across	145×230 cm, 145×240 cm, 150×240 cm
Whole bed cover	200×230 cm	200×230 cm

What size throw goes on a three-seater sofa?

A three-seater sofa usually needs a throw of about 150×200 cm. That is wide enough to drape over one end with a generous fall, or to cover two people sitting side by side.

Most UK three-seaters are roughly 190–220 cm wide, with a seat about 55 cm deep and a back 40–50 cm tall. A 200 cm throw folded lengthways over the back reaches most of the way along, which is the relaxed, lived-in look most people want. On a two-seater of 150–180 cm, a 130×170 cm throw does the same job without swamping it.

For a corner sofa, size for the longest run you want to cover rather than the whole sofa. Our guide on ways to style a throw on a sofa shows how each size sits, and if the throw is changing the look of the room, choosing a throw colour for grey, cream or leather is worth a read too.

What size throw blanket do you need for a bed?

For a bed, the throw is usually laid across the foot, so the long side should be 50–80 cm wider than the mattress: about 200 cm for a double or king and 230–240 cm for a super king.

UK mattresses are 90 cm wide for a single, 135 cm for a double, 150 cm for a king and 180 cm for a super king. A 150×200 cm throw laid across a double leaves about 30 cm hanging on each side, which looks neat. On a super king the same throw barely reaches the edges, so a 145×240 cm or 150×240 cm piece is the better choice. Our full chart of UK bed and duvet sizes has the other dimensions if you need them.

If you want the throw to cover the whole bed rather than a band at the foot, you need something close to bedspread size. Our four-layer cotton muslin throw in its 200×230 cm bed size covers the top of a double or king. There is more on placement and folding in how to put a throw on a bed.

Should you size a throw for the sofa or for the person using it?

Size it for how it will be used: a throw that mostly lives on the sofa as decoration can be smaller, but one you wrap up in needs to be at least 130 cm wide and 170 cm long.

An adult sitting with their feet tucked up needs roughly 130 cm across the body and 160–170 cm from shoulder to toes. Two people sharing need 150 cm or more across. A lap throw of 100–120 cm is right for one person in an armchair but will leave a partner out in the cold on a sofa.

Thickness matters too: a large chunky knit looks bulky folded on a small sofa, while a muslin throw of the same size folds to almost nothing.

Which of our throws come in which sizes?

Most of our throws come in one size of 130–160 cm by 160–200 cm, and a handful come in two or three sizes so you can match the sofa or bed exactly.

• The black and ivory windowpane check in pure wool is a 100×170 cm lap throw for an armchair, £90.90.
• The blanket-stitch soft-touch throw comes in 150×160 cm for the sofa and 150×240 cm for the bed, in six colours, from £40.90.
• The slubby fringed ivory linen cotton throw comes in 145×180 cm and 145×240 cm, from £61.90.
• The oat pure wool throw comes in 120×150 cm, 150×190 cm and 150×220 cm, from £94.90.
• The four-layer cotton muslin throw comes in 120×170 cm and 200×230 cm, from £51.90.

Once the throw is sorted, the same measuring logic applies to the floor. Our guide to rug sizes for a living room uses the sofa as the starting point in the same way.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a lap throw?

A lap throw is usually 100–130 cm wide and 150–170 cm long. That covers one adult from waist to toes in an armchair or reading chair, and folds small enough to sit on the arm of a sofa without looking bulky.

Is 130×170 cm a good size for a throw?

Yes. 130×170 cm is the most versatile throw size: it suits an armchair, a two-seater sofa or one person’s lap, and it can be folded into a band across the foot of a single or small double bed.

What size throw covers two people on a sofa?

Two adults sharing a sofa need a throw at least 150 cm wide, and 200 cm long is more comfortable. A 150×200 cm throw covers both laps with enough left over to tuck around your feet.

What size throw fits a super king bed?

A super king mattress is 180 cm wide, so a throw laid across the foot should be about 230–240 cm long. Sizes such as 145×240 cm or 150×240 cm leave a neat overhang on each side.

Can a throw be too big for a sofa?

Yes. A throw much longer than the sofa is wide ends up bunched or trailing on the floor. As a rule, keep the throw’s long side shorter than the sofa’s width unless you plan to use it on a bed too.

How do I measure my sofa for a throw?

Measure the width from arm to arm and the depth from the front of the seat over the back cushion to the top of the frame. Pick a throw whose long side is about the sofa’s width, or a little shorter.