The Best Bed Frames Will Elevate Your Mattress and Your Digs

The best bed frames are, quite literally, the foundation of a good night's sleep. Sleeping on the cushiest, most supportive mattress on the planet won't mean a thing if the structure propping it up is even slightly off-kilter. If it's not properly constructed, the wrong bed frame can unexpectedly break, dropping you to the ground faster than you can say “hit the sack.” Worse, you'll be sleeping to a soundtrack of creaks and squeaks every time you move an inch or flip the pillow over.

Though the best bed frames you can find online have come a long way, shopping for one is still a big leap of faith and a major investment—not exactly the type of thing you can do in your sleep. There’s a lot to consider: how high you want your mattress elevated from the floor, the price point, which starts at several hundred dollars and climbs into the thousands, and oh yeah, that the one you select has style.

You don’t want to muscle that heavy box over the entryway of your home, assemble it, and settle your mattress on top of it only to decide it doesn’t fit the bill. So, how do you go about finding a keeper? Trust our expert testers and buy a sturdy bed frame that's been hand-picked for sleepers with every taste imaginable.

Our Favorite Overall Bed Frame

Thanks to its solid wood construction, two color options, and unbelievably easy setup, the Helix Madison Bed Frame easily snagged the championship belt for best bed frame overall. The Madison was designed with the minimalist in mind, so it should fit right into a neutral bedroom. After extensive testing, we’re also confident this budget-friendly frame is strong and sturdy enough to withstand any between-the-sheets activities.

The Best Bed Frames, at a Glance

Want to skip right to the good part? Dream on about the best beds in all styles.

• Best Bed Frame Overall: Helix Madison Bed Frame
• Best Affordable Bed Frame: Brooklyn Bedding The Frame
• Best Wooden Bed Frame: Avocado City Bed Frame
• Best Upholstered Bed Frame: Saatva Santorini Bed Frame
• Best Platform Bed Frame: Thuma The Frame
• Best Bed Frame With Headboard: Nectar Bed Frame with Headboard
• Most Versatile Bed Frame: Layla Bed Frame
• Best Minimalist Bed Frame: Floyd The Bed Frame

Methodology: We take sleep seriously—and that includes evaluating more than two dozen bed frames with so much rigor that your high school science teacher would applaud our effort. Our expert testers rated each of these products across a handful of factors, like ease of assembly and durability, to determine the best bed frames.

In This Best-of List: We found the best bed frames for every budget, bedroom aesthetic, and mattress size—all backed by insights from our varsity team of sleep testers.

Available in a natural wood finish or a crisp white color, this Helix bed frame has a low-key look that makes it a perfect match for any neutral (or “sad beige” depending on how you slice it) aesthetic. The platform bed frame is made from sturdy Appalachian hardwoods that support up to 1,500 pounds—and it also won’t break the bank, with options starting at under $600. The cherry on top? It’s easy to assemble, even if you don’t have an innate drive to DIY.

Take a deep breath: Building this bed frame won’t leave you in shambles like the IKEA monstrosities of your past. In our testing process, the wooden furniture came together with no screws, nails, or metal hardware; you can just slide each piece into place and call it a day. Not only does this Japanese joinery make construction a lot like assembling a 3D kids puzzle, but it also enhances the frame’s sleek, minimalist appearance.

In addition to its mess-free assembly, our tester loved that Madison’s frame is made of hardwoods—and not flimsy plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Even better, the hardwoods are sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-certified locations and topped off with water-based finishes that are free from VOCs, which can cause headaches and other health issues. The slats are supportive enough that you won’t need to add on a box spring, saving you cash on your new sleep setup—so you’ll have extra to drop on a new set of pillows.

Like everything you can buy online, the frame has some quirks. Our tester noted that the slats don’t lie perfectly flat on top of the center support beam, so you may want to fasten them with Velcro or a heavy-duty adhesive if you find them shifting. The frame isn’t innately compatible with headboards, either, so if you want to dress up your bed, you’ll need to come up with a DIY solution (and do your best Tim the Tool Man cosplay). The bottom line—while our testers say it’s not the fanciest wood bed frame on the market, its simple design and solid, high-quality materials make it well worth the price tag.

This bed frame checks off both the “budget-friendly” and “eco-friendly” boxes; before discounts, you’ll spend just $150 to $175 on the support system, which is constructed from former U.S. railroad tracks. Unlike a lot of metal frames, this rattle-free option has rounded, smooth edges and boasts plastic legs, so you also won’t need to worry about scraping your shins as you sleepily crawl into bed after a late night out.

Our tester loved the no-stress assembly process, noting that all of the pieces easily snapped into place without any tools. (Bonus: There’s even a satisfying, Lego-like “click” sound for the ASMR tingleheads.) From start to finish, the bed frame took less than three minutes to construct—a major win if you struggle to finish lengthy DIY projects. Although the frame meshes well with industrial-style decór, you could make it work with farmhouse or Bohemian styles by adding a bed skirt and headboard; most headboards are compatible with The Frame, according to Brooklyn Bedding.

Just know that you won’t be able to stash your old DVD collection or high school yearbooks under your bed, as the affordable bed frame sits about seven inches off the floor. You’ll also need a box spring, which comes with another credit card charge and raises the height of your bed. (Looking for more budget-friendly sleep picks? Shop the top-rated cheap mattresses.)

Like other bed frames on this list of top contenders, the Avocado City Bed Frame is made from solid wood and supports up to 900 pounds. To help you stay in dreamland, it’s also equipped with noise-reducing features. For example, the ends of the platform’s slats are wrapped in organic cotton to prevent squeaks as you toss and turn. Attention to detail, for the win.

Assembling the City Bed Frame is so quick, you’ll go from construction to binging Netflix in less than half an hour. In our testing, the bed frame took about 30 minutes to set up solo, but it would likely take less than half of that if you recruited a buddy. Since the frame uses finger joints, all you need to do is line up the pieces, insert the pre-attached brackets into the designated holes or metal slots, slide them into place, and press to tighten—no need to keep track of screws or Allen wrenches.

Even though there aren’t any major metal pieces, the wood-based platform frame offers plenty of structure. Our tester felt well-supported while snoozing, thanks to the snapped-into-place wooden slats, which also prevented the bed from swaying and kept sound effects to a minimum. It’s crafted to feel super-sturdy from solid wood sourced from responsibly managed forests, which should help you rest easy. Another fun fact: Just 15% of Avocado’s manufacturing waste ends up in a landfill (the rest is upcycled or recycled), and the company is Climate Neutral Certified, offsetting its emissions by investing in climate change solutions.

The Scandinavian-style furniture is available in two colors—blonde and walnut—with and without a complementary headboard as an add-on purchase. Its main drawback is a lack of under-bed storage space. Our tester (who clocks in at over 6’3”) found the bed sits very low to the ground on the frame; according to the company, clearance under the frame is just 5 inches. The frame is, in total, 11 inches tall, so if you have mobility issues or perpetually creaky knees, you should probably add a box spring to amp up the accessibility.

Whether your style leans maximalist or naturalist, this regal upholstered bed frame is sure to work in your space. It’s available in two buttery-soft velvet finishes and two airy linen upholstery options, which are finely textured yet durable. But it’s not all fashion, and no function: Underneath the high-end fabric lies a kiln-dried wood frame and chrome-finished legs that support 600 pounds—no box spring necessary.

According to our tester, the Santorini Bed Frame functions just as beautifully as it looks. The combination of plywood slats, metal legs, vertical center support, and bolts and brackets at the attachment points make the furniture feel sturdy and long-lasting, they said. Unlike other bed frames, it’s compatible with an adjustable base that elevates the head and feet for supreme comfort—and maybe even a snore-free night for you and your S.O.

There’s no grunt work involved once you press “add to cart,” either. Saatva offers free in-room delivery and setup, which our tester noted as the biggest perk of buying this upholstered bed frame. The low profile (though not as low as the Avocado City Bed Frame) makes it easy to crawl underneath the covers when you can barely keep your eyes open, though it does mean under-bed storage is a non-starter.

IRL, the upholstery feels supremely luxe. It covers both the front and back of the headboard, so if you like to make your own rules, design-wise, your bed doesn’t need to rest against a wall. All to say, if style is your top priority and building furniture sounds like a date with the devil, the Santorini is for you.

With a weight limit of 1,500 pounds, Thuma’s supportive platform bed frame makes ditching the box spring a no-brainer. The wooden slats are lined with durable, sound-reducing felt and lock into place so your mattress won’t slide or squeak during more intimate moments. Available in walnut, natural, espresso, and gray, The Frame is crafted entirely from upcycled rubberwood and coated in a scratch-resistant finish, meaning you’ll never worry about scuffing its legs with the vacuum.

This bed frame is craftsmanship dialed all the way up. Our tester loved the frame’s durable and stylish repurposed wood and its legs, which have rounded edges and cork padding to protect the floor from scrapes. The Japanese joinery was so well-constructed that the set-up experience took just 15 minutes. When our testers lay on the bed, the frame’s slats stayed in place and didn’t create any annoying creaking sounds.

Thanks to its compatibility with Thuma’s Headboard and PillowBoard, you can also upgrade the Frame to absolutely nail your aesthetic. The Headboard connects seamlessly and is designed with the same stain and wood as the bed frame, so there’s no color clashing (unless that’s the look you’re going for). For a softer touch, opt for the foam PillowBoard, which sits between the wall and the bed frame and has interchangeable, washable covers.

While our tester found the unattached pillow part of the PillowBoard felt a bit loose, the new Headboard Cushion model—a hybrid between the Headboard and the PillowBoard—may be the solution, since a powder-coated aluminum plate secures the cushion onto the headboard. Your crusty college-era bed frame could never.

Unlock peak cozy, contemporary vibes with this platform bed frame from Nectar. Affixed to a button-tufted, upholstered headboard, the frame comes in two timeless colors—gray and linen—and scores high marks for durability, thanks to its wood slat foundation, steel frame, and reinforced legs. With a queen size sliding in under $750 before discounts, this is a deal you can’t beat.

According to our tester, the Nectar Bed Frame’s cushy, tufted headboard makes for a comfy backrest (perfect for scrolling GQ in bed), while the upholstered rail edges give it an elevated look—meaning your weekend bed rots just got classier.

But don’t let its polished appearance fool you: The Nectar frame prioritizes substance just as much as style. The furniture can support up to 700 pounds, thanks to its well-designed, multi-material support system—and our tester found it to feel incredibly sturdy, making it a perfect option for couples. In testing, we found minimal shifting and squeaking; with its 15-inch height, you won’t pull a hammy sliding in and out of bed.

When we donned our close-up specs during testing, some elements of the frame look to be made of lower-quality materials. We would have preferred wooden or metal legs over reinforced plastic ones for a more luxurious finish, like what we saw from the Saatva Santorini bed frame. But if you’re shopping on a budget and aren’t too concerned with fine details, this is the best bed frame with a headboard for you.

If you’re notorious for switching up your aesthetic every time the social media tides turn, you’ll want a bed frame that simultaneously says “old money,” “cottagecore,” or “quiet luxury” with just a minor bedding swap. Your solution: Layla’s incredibly versatile bed frame. The bare-bones bed frame is designed with solid, black steel rails that mesh with any look. Its fiberglass-infused legs are tapered for added flair.

Though the frame itself weighs fewer than 50 pounds—good news if you need to carry the box up multiple flights of stairs—it supports up to 2,500 pounds without moving, creaking, or squeaking beneath you. The assembly process is fast and intuitive: The versatile bed frame is made of just five pieces that snap together without any tools.

Online reviewers applaud the frame’s high-quality materials, calling it “super-duty” compared to other metal options on the market, and they also point out that it doesn’t slide on hardwood floors. Just note that the frame sits a little low to the ground, according to some shoppers; it’s just 8 inches tall, so there’s not much room for under-bed storage. Plus, you’ll need a box spring or foundation to use the frame—an added cost to consider.

Floyd’s The Bed Frame checks off all our minimalism boxes: a neutral color palette, natural materials, and clean lines. You can get it with or without an attached headboard, in three types of wood veneer—birch, walnut, and American oak—and with two hardware colors (white and black). But it goes a step further than other understated bed frames by keeping the hardware to a minimum, using a modular design built for easy moving. Plus, the legs are so sleek, the frame looks like it’s floating above the ground from certain angles.

This bed frame excels in both the looks and construction departments. One online reviewer says the frame is “extremely sturdy,” while another notes that there’s “no creaking or movement from the frame.” The reason: The wood veneer-covered panels are constructed with a honeycomb core and birch plywood that are both lightweight and strong, almost like carbon fiber. These panels, combined with the sturdy steel supports, allow the platform frame to hold up to 600 pounds.

An investment in this best minimalist bed frame is also a lifelong one; if you ever want to switch to a smaller or larger mattress, you can just remove or add a panel to make it a perfect fit. On the same token, it was designed with your lifetime of Uhauling in mind. Instead of tiny screws that can easily get lost as you pack, the company uses nylon ratchet straps to secure the panels. Heads up, some buyers say tightening these straps is one of the hardest parts of the assembly process.

Here are the latest pre-discount prices for the best bed frames on this list (all for queen–sized mattresses, FYI). Click the links to check out the latest discounts from each brand.

Hate to break it to you, but some of the quick-hitting furniture reviews on your TikTok feed are based on one—maybe two if you’re lucky—uses. To determine if the hype is worthwhile, our team of sleep experts put each best bed frame contender to the test. We used our thinking caps to understand complicated instruction manuals and did the grunt work of assembling the frames by hand (except when white-glove delivery was included, like with the Saatva Santorini). And we tested different mattresses on the frames and tried our hardest to rock the furniture, searching for any creaks, squeaks, and instability.

After each bed frame was thoroughly tested, our team considered factors like ease of assembly, support level, stability and durability, weight limit, compatibility with a variety of mattresses, materials, and budget. We tested more than two dozen bed frames while keeping these factors at the top of our minds; the best of the litter earned a spot on this exclusive list.

For more deets on how we decided which items were worthy of the best bed frame title, check out our rigorous testing standards.

Before you press “purchase” on any bed frame, double-check that it’s the correct size for your current mattress (and save future-you from a massive headache). Unless the company specifies that its frame can be used with multiple mattress sizes, you’ll want to choose one designed specifically for the bed you own. Otherwise, you might end up with an unstable overhang or an unsightly gap between your mattress and the side rail. (Not that we would know from personal experience or anything.) Here’s what else to consider.

Twin and Twin XL Bed Frames: Chances are, you outgrew the twin bed a long, long time ago—but you may still need a twin bed frame to furnish a guest-room-slash-office or a kid’s room. A twin mattress measures 38 inches by 75 inches, while a twin XL measures 38 inches by 80 inches—crucial extra inches if you don’t want your feet to dangle over the edge of the bed. A twin bed frame should be at least 40 inches wide to allow extra space on either side, and it should be at least 77 to 82 inches long, depending on whether it’s a twin or twin XL mattress.

Full Bed Frame: A full (aka double) mattress typically measures 54 inches by 75 inches, so make sure your chosen “full bed frame” fits a mattress of that size. If you’re planning to sleep solo (or with your pup curled into your waist), you might be able to get away with a full bed frame that supports less weight.

Queen Bed Frame: Queen bed frames should support a mattress that’s roughly 60 inches by 80 inches and enough weight for you and your mattress—and maybe your S.O. and pet. We recommend the Nectar Bed Frame with Headboard for this—it’s sleek, durable, and priced under $750 for a queen bed frame.

King Bed Frame: If you’re looking for a home for your king mattress, seek out a bed frame that’s durable and can support large loads. Your mattress is likely pretty heavy, and with that much bed to spare, you’ll probably have a sleeping partner—possibly even a toddler or two—to account for. A king mattress generally sizes up to 76 inches by 80 inches, so confirm your selected frame is large enough to fit the Titanic bed.

California King Bed Frame: If you’ve got it, flaunt it— “it” meaning acres of square footage in your bedroom. What better way to make use of a huge bedroom than a California king bed frame? These mega mattresses clock in at 72 inches by 84 inches, so your California king bed frame should be at least that (with an extra inch or two on each side).

A lot of bed frames available online either offer shoddy designs, come swathed in upholstery straight out of the ‘80s, use cheap wood veneers, or some combination of the above. But there are quality frames that can elevate your mattress and your bedroom decor simultaneously.

Metal: Generally speaking, the most affordable bed frames are going to be made of metal. Solid metal must be a solid investment, you may think! Well, sorta. Because metal bed frames are designed for portability and deconstruction, they often skimp on bed slats and instead require a box spring, which comes at an added cost. Other downsides: The metal joints mean these frames are often big ol' clankers, just one loose screw away from squeaking if you so much as cough. Still, if you're a renter with low expectations and make moves every year or so, not having to put down roots with a heavy solid wood bed frame is actually pretty smart.

Wood: On the other end of the spectrum, wooden bed frames are the sturdiest options at your fingertips. Find yourself a handsome birch or walnut wood, and you're setting yourself up for some solid construction that'll last you many years. These tend to be much heavier and more expensive than a deconstructible metal frame, so they're something you'll want to buy once you've settled into a place.

FYI: Sometimes brands like to cut corners by using engineered wood. In the product description, look for terms like MDF or particle board, which are cheaper, less-natural-looking wood products made up of wood fibers and a layer of veneer. Not all engineered wood furniture is low-quality, but a solid wood bed will look better and last longer. And if you want to buy a bed frame you can keep in your family for generations, maple, cherry, oak, and ash are known to be the most durable hardwoods for indoor furniture. Rubberwood is another sturdy option that has the added benefit of being eco-friendly (the rubber tree is a fast-growing tree that can be harvested quickly—insert “the more you know” gif here).

Upholstered: Other options are upholstered beds swathed in fabrics like velvet or linen, which can look pretty dated depending on the material, but provide the softest-looking finish if you're jonesing for something cozier than an industrial metal frame.

Headboard: And though the most popular style du jour is a no-frills, Japanese-style wood platform bed, you can also find plenty of modern beds that come with headboards and storage space, or at least the option to add them on.

Another thing to keep in mind is the way the slats, the joinery, or the frame itself has been engineered. This will usually clue you in on the kind of support you'll get. In some instances, the slats are secured into the frame itself, which helps keep everything locked down, but it can also cause creaking as the slats move against the frame. In others, slats fit into designated slots (and aren't attached to the frame itself) or don't use slats at all. If you aren't very DIY-inclined, you may prefer the best bed frames from Thuma, Avocado, or Helix, which are designed to fit together with Japanese joinery so that it's easy to assemble and disassemble as needed—no tools required.

Helix’s Madison Bed Frame reigned supreme as the best bed frame after thorough testing, thanks to its high-quality construction and solid price. But if that exact model doesn’t mesh with your style, the brand offers bed frames crafted with built-in headboards and metal bases. You can even complete your sleep experience with a mattress from the company, one of which we called the best luxury mattress-in-a-box.

You’re least likely to experience earthquake-level wobbling with a solid wood bed frame. They tend to have greater longevity than metal bed frames and create minimal noise, and many support upward of a thousand pounds. They generally have a higher price tag than other options, but you’re sure to get your money’s worth of restful nights.

Generally, you won’t need a box spring with your bed frame if the latter has plenty of slats running between the rails, known as a platform bed frame. Metal frames tend to require box springs more so than wooden varieties, but the price also reflects this; you’ll be able to score a metal frame for a fraction of the price since it uses fewer materials.

Bed frames can run you anywhere from $150 to $1,800, depending on the types of materials used, the size, and the box spring requirement. Solid wood bed frames tend to cost more than metal ones, as do options with attached headboards. The good news: This list offers the best bed frames for practically any budget, style, and mattress size.