Gas Springs on Ottoman Bed Bases: Ratings, Pairs and Matching Them to Mattress Weight

Two figures decide how an ottoman bed base lifts: the number of gas springs, and their rating in newtons. Both are easy to state precisely, and both are worth checking on any supplier’s spec sheet before you order.

Why every size ships with two gas springs, not one

Every size in our range, including the one-piece Single frame, is fitted with two gas springs rather than one. A single, centrally-placed gas spring would lift a panel unevenly — two springs, one on each side of the lifting point, give a level, controlled lift regardless of frame width. This applies as much to Single as it does to the two-piece sizes, even though Single’s frame and slat bed are both one continuous piece rather than a left-right pair.

Rating by size: 500N to 1200N and what sets the figure

The rating in newtons is set by how much weight the gas springs have to lift — which scales with the size and construction of the frame, not with an arbitrary size tier. Across the range:

• Single: two 500N gas springs
• Small Double: two 800N gas springs
• Double: two 900N gas springs
• King and Super King: two 1000N gas springs
• Emperor: two 1200N gas springs, the strongest standard rating in the range

The full breakdown with dimensions and pricing for all six sizes is below. As frame size and weight increase, so does the standard gas spring rating — Emperor, the largest and heaviest frame, also carries the highest standard rating.

Dense pocket-sprung mattresses and the 1350N/1450N option

Standard ratings are matched to typical mattress weights for each size. At the larger end of the range — Super King and Emperor in particular — a dense pocket-sprung mattress can weigh 30 kg or more, which is worth flagging before you order rather than after. For these cases, 1350N and 1450N gas springs are available as an upgrade from the standard rating, quoted individually rather than listed as a fixed price.

What to tell us at the enquiry stage so the rating is right

If you know the mattress weight — or the mattress type, if you don’t have an exact figure — mention it when you send your enquiry. That’s enough for us to confirm whether the standard rating for the size is right or whether a heavier variant makes sense. This is also worth doing routinely for Emperor orders, since Emperor isn’t a standardised UK mattress size and mattresses sold under that name vary — see the note on Emperor sizing on that product page.

Terminology: gas springs, not struts — and why spec sheets disagree

“Gas spring” and “gas strut” describe the same component — a sealed cylinder that uses compressed gas to assist a controlled lift. We use “gas spring” consistently because it’s the more precise term for how the part functions, but don’t be thrown if another supplier’s spec sheet uses “strut” instead; it isn’t a different or lesser part, just different terminology for the same mechanism. What does matter when comparing suppliers is the two figures above: how many gas springs are fitted, and their rating in newtons. If a spec sheet gives you neither, ask before you order.