Hotel extra beds: folding, rollaway and the right mattress thickness
An extra bed is the cheapest way to raise the usable capacity of a room: it turns a double into a triple with no building work. The difference between a good and a bad one is obvious to the guest on the first night.
This article covers sizes, mattress thickness and frame types — and how quickly the investment in a third bed pays for itself.
Extra beds are among the hotel room amenities with the fastest payback. The full range is in folding extra beds.
Which size?
- 80 × 200 cm — the most common hotel standard, comfortable for an adult guest,
- 90 × 200 cm — the comfortable option for larger rooms and apartments,
- 80 × 193 cm — a compact choice where space to unfold is limited.
Measure not just the open bed but the folded footprint — that is what determines whether it fits in your store room or in the room's wardrobe.
Mattress thickness decides the review
- up to 8 cm — only suitable for a short emergency night or for children,
- 10–13 cm — the real hotel standard; the guest does not wake up with a sore back,
- above 14 cm — comfort close to a normal bed, with more weight and cost.
If you sell the extra bed as a full third bed, plan for at least 10 cm. Below that, complaints are routine.
Folding or rollaway frame?
A folding bed halves in size and stores in a wardrobe or store room. It suits hotels where the extra bed is used occasionally.
A rollaway bed on castors moves between rooms and is faster to set up. It pays off where housekeeping builds extra beds daily. Check for brakes on the castors — without them the bed drifts on wooden floors.
What to buy alongside
An extra bed is not finished without bedding. Plan for a mattress protector in the matching size, a duvet and a pillow. In practice it helps to keep a complete set in a closed bag right next to the bed in storage.
When does it pay for itself?
With a third-bed supplement in the usual range, a quality extra bed typically pays for itself in 15–25 sold nights. For family and seasonal destinations that means payback within a single season.
Bed size and room equipment requirements follow the rules of the Hotelstars Union classification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best extra bed size for a hotel?
80 × 200 cm. It is comfortable for an adult and fits most rooms.
What mattress thickness is enough?
At least 10 cm for a full third bed. Thinner mattresses are an emergency solution only.
Folding or rollaway?
Folding for occasional use and easy storage; rollaway where extra beds are set up daily.
Does an extra bed need a mattress protector?
Yes. It significantly extends mattress life and is necessary for hygiene.
How many extra beds should we keep?
Usually one per 8–10 rooms; plan for a higher ratio in family destinations.
We will advise on extra beds
At Hotelroom.center you will find folding and rollaway extra beds in hotel quality, including dust covers. Send us your room count and the typical number of extra beds per season — we will recommend a model and quote it with bedding included.
