The 10 Best Platform Beds for Your Bedroom
Who needs a box spring when you can opt for a simpler platform?
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Traditional bed frames with box springs are no longer necessary to provide your mattress with firm support to extend its life. Platform beds’ slatted surfaces now work just as well, even with memory foam mattresses, to prevent sagging—and they’re usually more affordable and easier to set up than traditional bed frames. Discover some of the best platform beds of all materials, designs, and sizes below.
Platform Beds vs Box Springs
Traditionally, a box spring was necessary to support your mattress in a wooden or metal bed frame. They’re typically filled with metal springs or a metal grid and wrapped in fabric, which helped extend the life of thinner, innerspring mattresses. But nowadays, platform beds consist of wood or metal slats built right into the bed frame itself, making a box spring unnecessary to provide adequate support to modern mattresses, which are increasingly made out of memory foam or a hybrid design.
When shopping for a platform bed, you should ideally consider beds that have wood or metal slats no more than three inches apart from one another to prevent your mattress from sagging between them. If your mattress has a warranty, check to make sure slats a certain distance apart won’t void the warranty. Some platform beds have lattice designs for extra support. Platform beds are often known for being low profile in comparison to higher box springs, but you can still find plenty of taller options that make getting into and out of bed easier—and have more space for under-bed storage.
Speaking of storage, keep in mind all of the accessories you may want to add to your bed frame, such as under-bed drawers or headboards and footboards. Some platform beds have these included, while others offer compatible options that allow you to mix and match, but may increase the price of your frame.
How We Selected
We researched ten expert sources that have written reviews of the best platform beds, including trusted publications like Good Housekeeping, Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, and Sleep Foundation. All of the platform beds we chose have been vetted by hundreds and thousands of reviews by consumers on retail sites like Amazon. When selecting these beds, we took into account the ease of assembly, quality of construction and materials, color and finish options, size options, and how many additional accessories the brand may offer to complete your bed’s setup.
Zinus Zinus Shalini Upholstered Platform Bed Frame
Pros
- 5-year warranty
- Includes upholstered headboard
Cons
- Slats are 3.2 inches apart on queen/king sizes
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood, steel, fabric
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
It’s easy to spend thousands when shopping for a complete new bed set, but this sub-$300 platform bed (for a Queen size) by Zinus can help you save. With an average of 4.8 stars from over 36,000 reviews on Amazon, it’s safe to say that this bed frame has satisfied most buyers thanks to its quality, sturdiness, and ease of assembly. Built with a steel framework covered with foam padding, this bed also comes with solid wooden slats and an upholstered headboard, so you won’t have to buy one separately.
Pros
- Includes headboard with removable cover
- No-tools needed assembly
Cons
- Headboard doesn’t secure to frame
- Pricey
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood, fabric
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, Cali king
Thuma’s The Bed stands out with its Japanese craftsmanship, in which the corners of the bed frame easily slot together with no tools or metal hardware needed. The solid wood bed comes in Walnut or Natural wood finishes, and Thume’s headboard, the PillowBoard, is available in dark charcoal or light linen—and the cover can be removed for washing. Despite being low profile, this frame still offers nine inches of clearance for under-bed storage.
DHP DHP Rose Linen Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed
DHP DHP Rose Linen Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed
Pros
- Includes storage drawers and upholstered headboard
Cons
- Thin wooden slats
Key Specs
• Materials: Fabric, wood, metal
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
If you like to use your bed for storage of extra linens and clothing, then it might be most convenient and cost-effective to opt for a bed with built-in storage draws like the DHP Rose. We like that it also comes with an upholstered headboard, as well as plenty of color and size options to suit your bedroom’s needs.
Mellow Mellow Naturalista Classic Wood Platform Bed
Mellow Mellow Naturalista Classic Wood Platform Bed
Pros
- Non-slip tape included
- Many size and finish options
Cons
- Lightweight build may shift
- Some report issues with durability
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
Whether you prefer the look of black, pine, espresso, or cherry wood finish, the Mellow Naturalista is a great wooden bed frame with a simple, mid-century modern style. The frame is 3.5 inches of solid wood and about a foot high. Though the mattress sits on top of the frame, Mellow has included nonslip tape that you can attach to the slats to prevent your mattress from sliding.
Floyd Home Floyd Home The Bed Frame
Floyd Home Floyd Home The Bed Frame
Pros
- Durable birch plywood and steel construction
- Optional headboard and storage drawers
Cons
- Expensive with additions
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood, steel, nylon
• Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king
It can be a pain to have to shop for a new bed frame whenever you want to upgrade to a larger mattress size. But Floyd Home has resolved this issue with its modular bed frame, which is constructed with birch plywood platforms that can be expanded to a king or reduced down to a twin bed from the full/queen configuration. Floyd also offers an optional headboard and under-bed storage drawers, which help utilize the narrow 6-inch under-bed clearance of this low profile frame.
Nectar Nectar Platform Bed
Pros
- Solid wood design
Cons
- Limited wood finishes and sizes
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
Nectar also makes a quality, simple wood bed frame in a classic modern style that’ll suit many homes’ décor. The solid wood is 10 inches high, which allows for 8.5 inches of storage space underneath. Unfortunately, it comes in white, black, or Golden Oak colors only and is not available in twin or California King sizes.
Zinus Zinus Suzanne 37-Inch Metal and Wood Platform Bed
Pros
- Slats under 3 inches apart
- Footboard, shelf, and canopy options
Cons
- Only 7 inches of storage clearance
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood, steel
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
If you’re looking for a bed frame with an industrial style, the Zinus Suzanne combines wood and metal for a sleek look. Zinus offers plenty of customizable options, including the Chestnut Brown or Grey Wash finishes, twin through king sizes, and additions like a footboard, canopy, and shelf with built-in USB ports. Like other Zinus beds, it has a 5-year warranty and is easy to assemble with all the tools you need included.
Pros
- Sustainable and sturdy wooden frame
- Easy to assemble and move
- Optional headboard and shelves
Cons
- Expensive
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Avocado is known for making eco-friendly, organic mattresses, but it’s also expanded its sustainable designs to include bed frames as well. The City bed frame is the brand’s more affordable option, which is still made from sustainably harvested timber in a non-toxic brown or clear blonde finish. The frame is easy to assemble and take apart thanks to Avocado’s patented interlocking corner design—and it has a limited 10-year warranty. Plus, Avocado offers an optional headboard as well as shelves and a book nook that attach to the side of the frame.
Zinus Zinus 14-Inch SmartBase Foundation
Pros
- Many size options
- Affordable and easy to move
Cons
- Mattress may slide
Key Specs
• Materials: Steel
• Sizes: Narrow twin, twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
The Zinus SmartBase is one of the most popular, highly rated, and affordable platform bed frame options with nearly 100,000 positive reviews on Amazon. This platform frame has a lattice design, with alloy steel that’s sturdier than more expensive wood slat options. Because it’s two feet high, you’ll have plenty of under-bed storage space—though you may want a bed skirt to over the not-so-attractive steel tubing. Another perk is how easy it is to set up and fold down, especially for those who move frequently. And you can’t beat Zinus’s size options, from Narrow Twin to Cali King, plus headboard brackets and bed skirt options.
Casper Casper Repose Bed Frame
Casper Casper Repose Bed Frame
Pros
- Several headboard options
- Softened edges
Cons
- Pricey with headboard
Key Specs
• Materials: Wood, fabric
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
Most bed frames with optional headboards may include only one or two options, but Casper allows you to mix and match your bed frame with two headboard styles in three color options. Choose between a wood headboard in a light or dark oak, or an upholstered one in pink, grey, or navy. Unfortunately, it can get pricey with the headboard, but just the simple platform frame offers a quality, solid oak design with softened edges.
Paige Szmodis is an editor for Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics, who researches and writes home, tech, and outdoor product reviews and news.
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