What’s the Best Bed Height?

By Sanchita Sen Certified Sleep Coach

Last Updated On November 9th, 2023
What’s the Best Bed Height?

Key Takeaways

  • Bed Height Matters: The height of your bed can significantly impact your comfort and ease of getting in and out of bed. It’s important to choose the right bed height based on your individual needs and preferences.
  • Determining the Right Bed Height: To find the best bed height for you, stand beside your bed and ensure that the top of your mattress is level with your knees. If your knees are at a 90-degree angle when sitting on the edge of the bed and your feet are flat on the ground, it’s a good height.
  • Consider Various Factors: Factors such as age, mattress thickness, the presence of sleep partners, and personal comfort preferences all play a role in determining the ideal bed height. Balance aesthetics with practicality to ensure your bed is both visually appealing and easy to use.

New bed, new sheets, new colors—picking out bedroom decor is exciting.

We often neglect our new bed’s height, only to later find ourselves struggling to climb on a super-tall bed, or nearly falling into one that’s too low. Improper bed height can make getting in and out of bed difficult and even painful, complicating our nighttime and morning routine.

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In this article, we will discuss how to determine the best bed height for you while also going over how to find a bed the appropriate height.

How to Choose the Best Bed Height

The best bed height varies from person to person because it correlates with how tall you are. If you stand beside your bed, the top of your mattress should be level with your knees.

To measure your bed’s height, hold a tape measure up to the very top of your mattress and pull it to the floor. You can also determine if it is the correct height by simply sitting on the edge of your bed. If your feet are flat on the ground and your knees are at a 90-degree angle, directly aligned with your hips, your bed is a good height.

However, if your knees rest above your hips, your bed is too low and you might need to make your bed taller with a set of risers. Meanwhile, if your feet dangle off the floor, it is too tall.

We select our mattresses based on what feels comfortable. However, we often choose bed frames to match the aesthetic appearance of our room. While there is nothing wrong with maintaining the style of your bedroom, remember bed frames come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so they influence your bed’s height.

Types of Bed Frames

Your bed frame significantly impacts the height of your bed. Therefore, choosing the right frame can result in an appropriate bed height. Let’s take a look at some popular bed bases in today’s market.

Adjustable Bed Frames

Mechanically operated adjustable bed frames are a favorite amongst consumers for their versatility. These revolutionary frames are controlled using a remote or mobile app. Sleepers can adjust the position of their head and feet to optimize comfort, support, and pain relief with just the press of a button. Perhaps most appealing, some are adjustable in height, ensuring getting in and out of bed is comfortable as well.

Platform Bed Frames

Platform beds are low to the ground, standing approximately 18 inches tall with a mattress. They are increasingly popular for their minimalist appearance. They work best for low ceilinged-rooms, lofts, or anyone who wants a more spacious look in their room.

The platform bed’s compact size is a good choice for petite sleepers or anyone without joint or muscle pain. However, these low-profile frames may prove troublesome when paired with mattresses for tall sleepers, elderly sleepers, or people with back, knee, and hip pain because they require crouching into and squatting up from the bed.

Standard Bed Frames

Standing around 25 inches in height, standard bed frames reach a near-knee level for most people. Standard bed frames consist of metal slats, typically requiring box springs or a slatted mattress foundation, both of which will account for approximately 9 inches of the height.

The type of mattress you have determines whether you need box springs or a mattress foundation. Box springs are formed from steel coils encased in a protective wooden frame, making them a good fit for the bouncy coil core of an innerspring mattress.

If you sleep on a latex or memory foam mattress, use a mattress foundation, instead. Hybrid mattresses also pair best with solid and slatted foundations, as well. The inner coils of box springs don’t work with these mattress types because they compress against your bed’s foam layers and deplete them of support.

Antique Bed Frames

Antique bed frames are the tallest you can buy. Antique frames are approximately 36 inches tall with a mattress, making them a good choice for tall people. However, antique beds’ extensive height may be difficult for petite sleepers or people with joint and muscle pain to climb into.

This is not taking into account other issues with antique frames, such as the difficulty of finding a mattress for an antique bed frame.

Amerisleep Bed Frames

All three of our Amerisleep bed bases make getting in and out of bed more comfortable. More importantly, they promote deeper and healthier sleep. Our adjustable beds provide individualized comfort while our strong foundation preserves and prolongs the life of your mattress.

Let’s take a look at the unique features of each Amerisleep frame.

Amerisleep Adjustable Bed+

Amerisleep-Adjustable-Bed-Frame+

The Amerisleep Adjustable Bed+ can stand between 9 and 15 inches tall, thanks to its segmented legs. It’s easily the most luxurious bed frame option we offer, with plenty of bells and whistles for quick relaxation and deeper sleep.

In addition to an adjustable height, head, and foot of the bed, the base also includes the following:

  • A rolling-wave massage feature to relax muscles and improve circulation.
  • USB charging ports on both sides of the bed.
  • Wall glide technology that shifts the mattress back when you raise the head of the bed to ensure your nightstand is at arm’s length.
  • A wireless remote with up and down arrows to lift or lower the head and foot of the bed.
  • A mobile phone app so you can adjust the bed with your smartphone.
  • Smart home capabilities by pairing the base with Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home.

Amerisleep Adjustable Bed

amerisleep adjustable bed

The Amerisleep Adjustable Bed also increases and decreases in height, standing 6 to 10 inches tall. You can use the frame alone or place it on another bed base to make it taller. Like the Bed+ version, this adjustable frame has head and foot articulation, guaranteeing individualized comfort, and a wireless remote.

However, this base is unique because its wireless remote has a preset zero-gravity button. This button places sleepers in a zero-gravity position—a state of pressure-relieving weightlessness. While flat on your back, your head and feet rise slightly above your heart at a 120-degree angle to improve breathing, relieve painful pressure points, increase circulation to reduce swelling, and prevent snoring as well as acid reflux.

Amerisleep Platform Bed

Amerisleep-Platform-Bed-Frame

As mentioned above, box springs are destructive to foam beds. Therefore, we created a sturdy mattress foundation fit to support and preserve foam mattresses.

Our Amerisleep Platform Bed is crafted from durable wood prepared to last decades, with the sides wrapped in neutral gray upholstery. The frame stands 13.5 inches tall and is designed to be used on its own, no additional accessories needed.

The bed frame also takes minimal effort to assemble. It does not require any tools and is ready for use within only a few minutes.

How to Select the Best Bed Frame Height

There are two measurements you should know before selecting a bed frame: the thickness of your mattress and the height of your knees from the floor.

The thickness of your mattress is found by measuring from the lowest seam on your bed to the very top of the mattress, where you lie. Once you have figured this, measure the height of your knees from the floor. Place a tape measure in the center of your knee caps and extend it to the ground.

After taking these measurements, you can begin shopping for a frame. Simply add the thickness of your mattress to the height of the bed frame. If the result is equal or close to the height of your knees, the base is probably the right height for you.

Other Bed Height Factors to Consider

Age, pain, sleep partners, and even mattress thickness make choosing the best bed height complicated. Let’s discuss why each is important to consider before you choose a bed.

Age

  • Elderly sleepers: It is extremely important for older people with mobility issues to use a bed appropriately sized to their height. Getting into a low bed requires crouching or sitting in a slow and controlled manner while rising heavily relies on the hips, knees, and ankles. This can be dangerous and inconvenient for older sleepers with joint or muscle pain. Additionally, you may need to use your arms to lift yourself in and out of a high bed,  which may be impossible for elderly sleepers.
  • Children: Lower beds are the best option for small children two to six years old because they are easy to crawl in and out of. They also prevent detrimental tumbles out of bed. Children slightly older may prefer the elevated sleeping surface of a bunk bed and parents may opt for one to maximize storage space. If you are interested in getting your child a bunk bed, ensure the top bunk is at least 36 inches from the ceiling to prevent painful head bumps each morning.

Mattress Thickness

The height of your bed frame should correlate with the thickness of your mattress. As mentioned above, comfort is most important when shopping for mattresses. However, we use bed frames to enhance the aesthetic of our room. We can also use them to create an appropriately-sized bed.

For instance, if you have a mattress 12 to 14 inches thick, you may shop for a shorter base, such as a platform bed. On the other hand, if you have a thinner mattress less than 10 inches thick, a standard or antique base will more than likely be a good height.

Sleep Partners

More often than not, you and your sleep partner vary in height. The best bed height for you may be the worst for your partner. Luckily, there are a few ways around this conflict.

  • Discuss joint or muscle pain. Consider a bed height fit to meet the needs of the sleeper with joint or muscle pain. For instance, if you experience frequent aches and pains but your partner does not, climbing in and out of bed may not be a problem for them at all.

Bed Height

  • Invest in a bed step. If both you and your sleep partner find getting in and out of bed difficult, choose a bed height to meet the needs of whoever is taller. You can place a step stool on the shorter sleeper’s side to make getting in and out of bed easier.

FAQ

Does bed height affect comfort?

Bed height does not affect comfort while asleep, but it can make getting in and out of bed uncomfortable if you choose the wrong height. Many times, bed height is entirely irrelevant to younger people with strong joints and muscles. However, sleepers with mobility issues caused by arthritis, back pain, hip pain, or fibromyalgia might have more difficulty getting in and out of bed.

Why are antique beds so high off the ground?

Bed frames were once constructed with warmth in mind. Heat rises, while cold drafts migrate downward, so the higher the bed, the warmer your sleep. Therefore, if you live in a particularly cold climate, you may benefit from an antique bed.

What is the standard height for a bed?

The standard bed height is 25 inches. Most people can comfortably sit on the edge of their bed with their feet flat on the floor at this height. We recommend finding a bed that corresponds with your height. The mattress should be level with your knees when standing.

Is it okay to place a mattress on the floor?

Placing a mattress on the floor will not compromise its structural integrity. Still, we don’t recommend it. Not only will this make entering and exiting bed more difficult, but it may also be unhygienic. Dirt, dust, and other allergens accumulate on the ground, making your mattress more susceptible to damage.

Placing your mattress directly on the floor can also lock in moisture and cause mold. The gaps in bed frames allow air to flow freely through to prevent moisture build-up. If you do not have a bed frame, be sure to frequently clean your mattress and air out the bottom of it.

Does mattress height matter?

Mattress height signifies quality and is important to your specific needs as a sleeper. A high-quality mattress will be between 8 and 14 inches thick. Variations in thickness can accommodate different body types and sleeping positions. Therefore, the thickness of your mattress should never be compromised for bed height. Instead, you can create the ideal bed height by choosing a bed frame appropriately sized in relation to your mattress.

Conclusion

If you find yourself dreading the pain that accompanies getting into bed, it’s probably time to evaluate its height and perhaps even consider if you need a new bed foundation.

Tall beds look more comfortable, while low-profile ones are sure to enhance the sleek look of your bedroom. However, appearance does not make a good bed. A high-quality bed should consist of a mattress fit to meet your needs, and a base tall or short enough to ease entrance and exit. Consider your height and the thickness of your mattress before buying a bed frame to ensure crawling into bed is peaceful rather than arduous.


About the author

Sanchita Sen is a full-time writer focusing on the sleep health and mattress industry. She is a former journalist who has written numerous articles on the healthcare sector. Some of the topics she has covered include how to lucid dream, fever dreams, melatonin for sleep, and best gel memory foam mattress. Sanchita holds a Master of Arts in Communications from Convergence Institute of Mass Media and Information Technology Studies. She is also a published author, who seeks inspiration from both real life and the world of fiction.

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