Transform your bedroom into a cozy sanctuary with these nine bed frames tested by our shopping editors.
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The 9 Best Bed Frames, According to Shopping Experts and Testing
Updated on Sep. 24, 2024
Let’s face it: There are tons of bed frames on the market, which sometimes makes the selection process harder than it needs to be. Should you go with a platform bed or frame only? Perhaps a tufted headboard would look nice. What about a footboard?
Choosing a great bed is about more than just finding the best mattress or best sheets. Your bed is the centerpiece of your bedroom, where you spend approximately 1/3 of your time. It’s also a choice you’ll live with for years, so you’ll want to make sure you pick correctly for your needs and space.
The right bed frame can do so much for your bedroom. It can add storage or make even the smallest bedroom feel like the most luxurious room in your house. You need a bed frame that fits the look you’re going for and is sturdy enough to serve as the foundation of your sleeping spot. Ready to get the process started?
Check out our nine favorite editor-tested bed frames below.
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Best Overall
Benchmade Modern Uncle Sal Bed Frame
Pros:
- Incredibly sturdy
- Easy to vacuum
- White glove delivery
- Over 100 fabric options to choose from
- Excellent customer service
- Durable
Cons:
- Pricey
- Bed frame is custom made, longer wait time for delivery
The Uncle Sal Bed from Benchmade Modern is elegant, simple and comfortable. Its cushioned, upholstered headboard makes sitting up to read or watch TV extra cozy. The symmetrical, clean lines give it a modern feel, and it is customizable with more than 100 fabric options.
“This is an incredibly sturdy bed frame,” says Senior Shopping Editor Caroline Lubinsky. “It does not hit the wall or move at all. Once it is assembled in a spot, I think a tornado would have to hit to make it shake.”
Caroline chose green velvet because it is easy to vacuum and remove any dog fur.
“I love the green velvet! It really adds a cozy but elegant look to the bedroom,” Caroline says. “I think this is a bed frame that I’ll genuinely have the rest of my life.”
The Uncle Sal Bed is a well-made, modern take on a traditional platform bed frame. There are no charging ports, but the headboard is very comfortable to lean against and is flat enough to store things for bedtime.
“I find myself putting my phone, medicine, tissues and other assorted items on the flat space,” Caroline says. “It’s awesome.”
Caroline loved the white-glove delivery service, too. “The bedframe arrived via freight with white-glove delivery service. Two people brought the heavy bed frame up the stairs in pieces (I was pumped they were willing to bring it upstairs into my second-floor condo). Then, they assembled the bed in my desired spot, and all I had to do was move my mattress on top of it. It was an incredibly seamless process,” she says. “It took them less than an hour to assemble the frame, and they even removed all the packaging waste!”
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Most Sturdy
Grandin Road Bodhi Bed
Pros:
- Built to last
- Neutral design and colors to fit in almost any room
- Adds an earthy
- Cozy feel
- Looks and feels high quality
Cons:
- Pricey
- Only comes in two color options
We love the arched silhouette and natural rattan caning on the Grandin Road Bodhi Bed, bringing a warm, boho feel to any bedroom. Nothing was overlooked in the design of this bed frame—it has mixed textures, milled wood details, tapered, hand-carved feet and more.
Senior Shopping Editor Caitlyn Fitzpatrick loves how the Bodhi Bed looks in her guest room. “It’s prominent, but the light color and natural rattan caning add an earthy, cozy feel to it,” she says. “While I got the natural color, it also comes in dark brown for those who want a moodier look.”
Caitlyn notes that while she had to assemble this bed frame after delivery, it was easy to put together. She says it took just under half an hour to assemble with two people. The instructions were clear and simple to follow, and it comes with everything you need as far as hardware and tools.
“This bed frame feels strong and durable but isn’t super bulky,” Caitlyn says. “Everyone who has slept on the Bodhi Bed for an extended period has said it’s very sturdy and had zero issues with movement and squeaky pieces. I would have difficulty believing someone didn’t like this bed frame.”
While the Bohdi Bed is available in two wood finishes, it’s only for queen and king beds. However, if you have a king or queen-size mattress, Caitlyn says, “The natural finish and cool caning details make it work in almost any sleeping space. It’s ideal for someone who wants something simple—but not too simple—that they know they’ll love for years to come.”
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Best Traditional Design
Raymour & Flanigan Lindsay Bed
Pros:
- Sturdy
- Realistic walnut finish
- Storage
- Bench
- Large, padded headboard
- No self-assembly
Cons:
- Small drawers
- Slightly mismatched finish
If you’re looking for a bed frame with a traditional design, the Lindsay Bed has a rich walnut color and brass accents. It also has a storage bench instead of a traditional footboard for additional seating. The button-tufted and padded upholstered headboard elevates the style of this classic platform frame.
“I love it. It looks great. The headboard is high enough that the pillows don’t hide it,” says Product Tester Pamela Bondurant, who picked the bed frame to go with her 1962 walnut dresser. “The bed is sturdy and gorgeous. I love the padded headboard and the padded bench,” she adds.
Pamela notes that the storage bench is great for storing bulky bedding items like blankets and pillows and for sitting on while slipping on shoes. The small drawers at the front of the frame are a bit small for storing pillows and blankets but are deep and would be great for stashing smaller items.
“The bed was delivered by freight. I didn’t know that the delivery team would assemble it. I’m used to assembling my own furniture, but it took the delivery team about 20-30 minutes to assemble the bed,” Pamela says. The delivery team was not very tidy, however.”
Our product tester noticed that the walnut finish on the bench does not match the finish on the bed frame exactly, but it’s hardly noticeable. The bench has a brass-colored metal wrap around the base of the legs that adds a nice touch. Overall, our product tester found the walnut finish pretty realistic.
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Best with Storage
Silk & Snow Bed Frame with Storage
Pros:
- Spacious storage drawer
- Gorgeous, minimalist look
- Very sturdy once assembled properly
- Magnetic closures for drawer
Cons:
- Delivery boxes are heavy
- Assembly takes around 5-6 hours
This bed frame from Silk & Snow has a large storage drawer that rolls underneath the foot for easy access. It’s perfect for maximizing a small space without sacrificing style. It’s entirely upholstered in a woven, neutral fabric. If you opt for this frame, you’ll have your choice between cream, gray and tan upholstery. So, if you want a neutral bed frame that will go with any room as your style shifts, this frame is a smart choice.
Shopping Editor Emily Way tested this bed frame, which required assembly. “The product arrived in my mail room in two big boxes. One was a little thinner and easier to maneuver, but the other was heavy. I needed the assistance of my partner to move them to our apartment. Singles, enlist a friend or movers to get this thing inside if you plan on bringing it upstairs,” she says.
“Everything has to be assembled by hand (or drill, if you have one), including the frame and the storage drawers,” Emily adds. “It wasn’t difficult, but it did take about six hours total for one person to put together. The instructions were clear, but it’s important that you note exactly which way each piece should face and any differences between pieces.” However, Emily has been using this bed for several months and says it’s incredibly sturdy.
This bed frame’s rolling under-bed storage drawer has two separate compartments. The drawer isn’t on a track, but the caster wheels and the bed’s magnetic connections help it stay in place. One thing to note is that it holds quite a bit, but overloading it prevents the magnetic connections from keeping it in place.
“This bed frame is so modern and pretty! I love its clean look,” Emily says. “The headboard is nice and soft, and the neutral color looks great with my minimalist decor. I love that the entire underside of the bed is closed off. This prevents my cats from running amuck under there. Truly a blessing for cat owners — just consider whether your feline can be trusted with a fabric headboard.”
“After choosing this model, I read some reviews and got super worried because folks complained about the sturdiness. I think the fact that it’s assembled by hand explains the wildly different experiences with this bed,” Emily adds. “When assembling, it’s important to take your time and properly tighten every connection. Otherwise, the joints will loosen over time.”
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Most Unique
25Home Cloud Nappa Leather Bed
Pros:
- Quality materials
- Thick and sturdy headboard
- Closely-spaced, thick slats keep bed from sliding or sagging
- Unique, stylish design
Cons:
- Assembly instructions were the worst our product tester has seen
This unique leather bed frame from 25Home is for those who want a stand-out piece to be the center of the bedroom. The Sola Nappa Leather Upholstered Bed has a thick, sloping headboard with contrasting leather colors. It’s elastic and cold-resistant, and its arched silhouette provides back support.
“The quality of the wood, upholstery, thickness and sturdiness of the frame make it feel on the high-end side,” says Product Tester Paul Klawien. “With most of the headboard being leather, it’s easy to vacuum and spot clean.”
This bed frame arrived on a large pallet in three big boxes. Our product tester noted that the instructions were vague, with no written steps and few clear illustrations. They also noted that the order of the steps in the manual didn’t make sense, so they ended up assembling the bed frame in their own way. It took about three hours for two people to put together the bed frame.
“It’s very sturdy and has a unique design style,” Paul says. “The frame doesn’t wobble or shift when getting in and out of bed. It’s a nice size and fills my space well.”
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Best Upholstered
Article Cigar Ankara Ivory Queen Storage Bed
Pros:
- Light, airy feel
- Looks good in a variety of rooms and goes with any style
- Storage space under the bed
- Durable, heavy and stays in place
- Slats remain secure
Cons:
- White fabric components of the bed must be cleaned regularly
- Bed is bulky; not ideal if you're looking to save space
Another fully upholstered bed frame our shopping editors love is the Cigar Birch Storage Bed from Article. Inspired by its sofa counterpart, the Cigar Bed is stubbed-toe-proof and has a concealed drawer for extra storage.
Senior Shopping Editor Daria Smith loves the neutral, minimalist bed frame, which is easy to clean and move. “I vacuum the fabric on the headboard with my Dyson stick vacuum and use the Bissell little green machine to remove stains and have not had issues,” Daria says. “I’ve spilled coffee on the bed frame, and it came right out.”
The Article team set up the bed for Daria upon delivery. However, she disassembled and reassembled the bed when she moved recently, and the process took less than 30 minutes. The two sides of the frame are attached to the bottom of the headboard with screws, and a central beam attaches to the bottom of the headboard for extra support. An extra foot also attaches to the bottom of the central beam. The front piece of the storage drawer is attached with screws, and the drawer simply slides into the bed frame.
Daria describes the bed frame’s overall style as “refined industrial.” While it is pricey, she says it looks high-end and warrants the hefty price tag. The only major issue Daria notes with the bed frame is that the storage drawer underneath occasionally gets knocked loose if run into, which may be something to keep in mind if you have large pets or children running around.
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Best Budget
Mr. Kate Daphne Upholstered Bed
Pros:
- Easy to assemble (professional assembly service also available)
- Multiple sizes and colors available
- Offers a minimalist yet modern and chic aesthetic
- Sturdy
- Affordable
Cons:
- Headboard is only 2 feet tall
- Minimal under-bed storage
If moving to your new digs has left little in the budget for a new bed frame, Editor Madi Koetting loves this affordable one on Amazon. “It’s chic and modern,” Madi says. “I was worried the cream would look more yellow in person, but the color is a true cream color.”
“The assembly process was straightforward. All parts were in one big rectangular box, so my partner and I started by unpacking each individual piece before diving into the assembly,” Madi says. Once that was complete, we began assembling the bed frame, starting with attaching the legs to the base and so on. With two assemblers, it took about two hours to set up. The instructions were very easy to follow! It’s one of the easiest upholstered bedframes I’ve assembled.” An optional assembly service is available if you wish to add it to your purchase instead of assembling the bed frame alone.
Madi says the bed frame is very sturdy and that the velvet upholstery is very easy to wipe clean. “The product listing says dry clean only on the upholstered parts, which I can’t imagine anyone doing,” she says. “Since the material is velvet, I like to lint roll it to dust it off every two weeks.”
“Though some velvet materials show their wear quite quickly, the bed frame’s velvet features are such a low pile that it never shows signs of wear,” Madi adds. “The only thing I’ve noticed is hair will occasionally get caught on the headboard, so then I lint roll it (my hair gets everywhere, to be fair).”
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Best Handcrafted Wood
Avocado Malibu Platform Bed Frame
Pros:
- Constructed of durable, long-lasting solid wood
- Handmade in Los Angeles woodshop
- Classic design that will never go out of style
- Eco-friendly, responsibly harvested maple or walnut wood
- Optional headboard (41 or 46 inches)
- Rounded corners for safety
- In-home delivery and set-up available for added fee
- Contains non-toxic, odor-free, zero-VOC, organic wood stain
Cons:
- Since handmade, takes 6-8 weeks to ship
- Pricey
If you’re looking for a bed frame with a handcrafted wooden headboard, the Malibu Platform Bed Frame is made in Avocado Green’s Los Angeles woodshop using responsibly harvested maple or walnut. The headboard comes in low and high profiles for different mattress thicknesses. Six- or eight-inch legs allow you to raise the bed frame to your desired height.
“I went with the queen bed frame with the optional 41-inch headboard,” says product tester Nancy Snyder. “The frame has a classic style that looks great with any bedroom aesthetic, including that of my guest bedroom.”
The Avocado Green bed frame was delivered to Nancy via white glove delivery and assembly. The delivery team was in an out in under an hour. However, after the delivery team left, Nancy realized the headboard was assembled backward. Fortunately, they kindly sent the crew back out to reassemble.
According to Nancy, this bed frame’s base is sturdy and has rounded corners to protect your shins should you run into it during the night. Cleaning is easy, too; just dust the wooden frame with a damp cloth. “My mattress fits the frame well. However, my mattress sits a little higher on the bed frame, covering more of the headboard than I would prefer,” Nancy adds. “That being said, Avocado Green does recommend specific mattresses based on their two headboard lengths. My mattress would have been better suited with the 46-inch headboard. On the plus side, the mattress does not slide around on the frame, nor do any slats fall out of place.”
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Best Mid-Century Modern
Burrow Chorus Bed
Pros:
- Looks great
- Easy to assemble
- Feels sturdy
- Ships quickly
- Several finishes available
- Legs and headboard are customizable
Cons:
- Some shifting and squeaking when getting into bed
With its tapered legs, wooden frame and clean lines, the Chorus Bed from Burrow definitely has a midcentury modern feel. “I opted for the oak frame with oak wood headboard and tapered legs,” says Shopping Editor Mary Henn. “The bedframe has a timeless look, a blend of midcentury modern meets Scandinavian. It doesn’t seem like it will go out of style soon.”
“The bed was incredibly easy to assemble,” Mary says. “It arrived in a few boxes, and we had to snap the frame into place, crew on the legs, connect the headboard and place the slats. You won’t need tools because the Chorus Bed uses Japanese-inspired joinery and Burrow’s signature hand screws, which turn using your whole hand.”
The Chorus Bed is made with sturdy wood rails and heavy-duty slats. “The bed frame looks and feels like it’s made with quality, sturdy materials. However, I do notice some squeaking when I get into bed,” Mary says. “Despite the minor creaking and movement, I still really like this bed frame. It looks wonderful in my space, and my Heist Nightstands look great next to it.”
This bed frame is relatively low to the ground, about 10 inches sit between the floor and the bottom of the frame, so it’s great for those who don’t like a super high bed. “I’ve been liking the lowness of the bedframe. It makes my bedroom feel larger,” Mary says. “It’d be accessible for many kids and pets who might want to crawl into bed with you.”
What to Consider When Buying a Bed Frame
When looking for the best bed frames, you need to consider more than appearance. Do you want a higher profile bed or one lower to the floor? Will you need to add storage underneath? Are you looking for a headboard soft enough to lean against for watching TV or reading? Today’s consideration is whether you want a more traditional setup with a box spring or the popular platform bed, which uses sturdy slats. Remember that sometimes you need to order the slats separately.
Need a new mattress to go with your bed frame? We tested nine options to find the best mattress in a box.
How We Found the Best Bed Frames
We pulled together nearly 10 of our shopping editors and product testers to try the best bed frames available online right now. Our editors had bed frames shipped to their homes—some of them assembled bed frames, some of them even disassembled and reassembled bed frames, and all of them slept on each bed frame for months to report on how sturdy, comfortable and noisy they were. After months of testing and note-taking, we pulled together our top choices for bed frames to help you shop.
Why You Should Trust Us
At Family Handyman, we test as many products as possible before recommending them to you. We know how expensive bedroom furniture can be and how important it is to invest in quality furniture. That’s why we brought together our team of shopping experts with years of experience shopping, assembling, testing and reviewing furniture and bed frames. This is our most up-to-date list of our favorite, best-tested bed frames.
FAQ
What’s the strongest bed frame type?
Some of the best bed frames are made from wood and steel because they are usually the strongest. Most steel frames hold up to 800 pounds, including the mattress. Make sure the metal is strong and will not squeak every time you move.
How long should a bed frame last?
A wooden bed frame should last at least 10 years or about as long as a mattress. Metal frames—particularly steel—can last up to 20 years.
