The Best Bed Frames
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There comes a pivotal time in every adult's life when they finally upgrade from hand-me-downs. A bed frame might seem like something you can go without, but not only can they upgrade the look of your room, they can also help your mattress last longer. We've put a few frames through their paces over the years, and these are the best bed frames we've tested. Just know that the prices we've listed are for the queen-size version.
Be sure to check out our other sleep guides, including the Best Mattresses, Best Organic Mattresses, Best Bedsheets, and Best Sleep Gadgets for more.
Updated October 2024: We've added the Saatva Adjustable Base and ensured pricing and accuracy throughout.
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- Photograph: Amazon
Easy to Move
Zinus Abel Metal PlatformAfter years of building Ikea bed frames that were never the same after I broke them down for a move, I switched to the Zinus Abel Metal Platform Bed. There’s a lot I love about this bed frame that I’ve dragged to three different apartments in Southern California: It breaks down into a pile of metal rods (plus the two rectangle end pieces that don’t come apart), making it super easy to move, and it’s just as sturdy after rebuilding it multiple times. The only thing that didn’t survive the moves was the double-sided tape that held my mattress in place, but I don’t mind pushing the mattress back occasionally. It’s also high enough to have plenty of storage underneath—or cat tunnels, in my case. —Nena Farrell
- Photograph: Thuma
Best Upgrade
Thuma Wooden Bed Frame (No Tools Required)I've owned Thuma's The Bed for three years now, and it feels as good as new. You don't need a single tool to assemble this wooden bed frame. The company uses traditional Japanese joinery techniques, and it took me about 15 minutes to put the whole thing together. That means disassembly and reassembly when I had to move was so easy—there are but two thumb screws at the top and bottom edges of the frame, which you can hand-screw in once everything else is in place.
More surprising is how sturdy it is. I've gone through so many bed frames before the Thuma, and after a year or two, there's usually a broken slat or bent metal rod here and there. Or the slats keep falling down, so you have to do that thing where you pull the mattress over your head as you try to shove them back in place (just me?). It doesn't creak and never slides around. The foam Pillowboard is an additional expense, but it's comfy. Thuma has since added a wood headboard, which is pricier, but that's what I'll probably upgrade to next, since it completes the look. A part of the problem is how expensive this whole bed frame is (the price has jumped since I first purchased it), but if it helps, the Thuma is made from repurposed wood, and it's UL GreenGuard Gold Certified, meeting low chemical emissions. —Julian Chokkattu
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Budget Bed Frame
AmazonBasics Heavy Duty Bed Frame (18-inch)I was broker than broke when I got my first apartment 10 years ago. This cheap bed frame from Amazon is still being circulated among my younger family members. It's as simple as simple gets, but the steel construction means the frame is durable. The 18-inch model leaves a cavernous space beneath the bed that can accommodate several tote-style storage containers—which could be a blessing or a curse depending on the usual state of your bedroom floor. Just keep in mind that there is no edge whatsoever. This thing is basically a table for your mattress. —Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: KD Frames
A Simple and Cheap Wood Frame
KD Frames Nomad Platform BedIf you don't like the metal frames from Zinus or AmazonBasics, this might be up your alley. I've put together two Nomad beds from KD Frames, and I know I've got a few more in me. This simple, sturdy bed frame is made in Athens, Georgia, from tulip poplar. Tulip poplar looks like pine, but it's hardwood, and the twin size of this bed can support 600 pounds. The Nomad has clean lines and comes unfinished, meaning you can easily stain it to fit your other furniture. Best of all, it costs about $200 and can be set up in about 20 minutes. —Martin Cizmar
- Photograph: Awara
A Fabric-Covered Bed Frame
Awara Platform BedIf you prefer the look of fabric covers, the Awara Platform Bed will be a good fit. It's simple to assemble, and the pieces are easy to move. The spruce slats are all attached together, so once you have the four frame pieces assembled, simply roll the slats out and they'll attach via hook-and-loop closures to the frame itself. The frame's height is nice too. It's elevated just enough to make your bed look refined, but not so much that you'll end up losing things underneath your mattress. —Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Nest Bedding
Another No-Tools-Required Frame
Nest Bedding Woodland Platform BedMattress maker Nest has a new line of frames, including the Woodland platform, which is made from ash in Arizona. The design is not quite as elegant as the Thuma, but the result is similar: You can take this bed apart or put it back together in less than 10 minutes with no tools. That's thanks to a system where metal hooks and latches are affixed to the corners of each part of the frame. Put the hooks into the latches, then just roll the slats out on top and you're done. The ease of assembly is impressive even next to the Ikea beds I've put together, but the frame feels a lot sturdier. —Martin Cizmar
- Photograph: Puffy
A Bed Frame and Headboard Combo
Puffy Sterling Bed FrameThe Puffy Sterling Bed Frame is gorgeous. The padded fabric headboard and footboard are sturdy, and the slats are supportive. They're also part of the frame itself, not attached separately. The result is a completely silent platform for your mattress.
This does make assembly less intuitive than the other bed frames in this guide—it took some trial and error for my partner and I to figure it out. A word of caution: Make sure you have plenty of room to walk around the bed. The corners jut out at the perfect height for you to bang your knee or shins into them. I've got the bruises to prove it. (Some corner protectors might help.)
- Photograph: Molly Higgins
An Adjustable Bed Frame
Saatva Adjustable BaseThis adjustable base is from the makers of one of our favorite mattresses you can buy online and one of our favorite mattresses for side sleepers. It runs on electricity to move the hydraulic-like motors below, which raise both the head and foot area of the bed. It comes with a wireless Bluetooth-enabled remote with buttons to adjust the head and foot portion of the bed up and down, a built-in flashlight, and a button to bring the frame down to a flat level.
The Legget & Platt app (available for iOS only) can act as a remote as well—a huge sigh of relief for a generally scatterbrained person like myself who's prone to losing things. In the app, you name your bed, make the same adjustments, and save your favorite positions so you can easily go back to them. The bed frame is sleek—not bulky at all—and is around 13 inches off the ground, making extra storage space underneath that I didn’t have before. The legs are virtually invisible, although the zero-clearance design allows the base to be used without the legs if using platform bases.
The adjustable frame rises in half-inch increments from 13 to 18 inches from the original base, and the motor is fairly quiet. The base works with mattresses designed to flex, without shifting inside materials or weakening the structure, and is compatible with nearly all Saatva mattresses. For non-Saatva mattresses, check with the manufacturer to ensure it's compatible with an adjustable base.
Saatva provides a 10-year warranty as well as free in-room delivery and setup, and the men were done in less than 15 minutes, even putting my old mattress back on for me. I often work in my bed and use pillows to prop me up, and this took away the need to be surrounded by a dozen or so of my favorite body pillows. This customizable frame would work great for those with mobility issues or health issues like acid reflux, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, or sciatica (among other things). This bougie bed base isn’t completely necessary for me, but it’s a fun luxury to have. —Molly Higgins
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