Skip to main content. Home Guides Home Home Improvement Troubleshoot, Fix and Repair The Standard Height of a Bed and Mattress From the Floor A bed high off the floor is easier to clean under. While mattress lengths and widths are standardized, how high your bed sits off the floor is not. The depth of your mattress and box springs combine with the height of the bed frame to determine the height of your bed from the floor. Standard Dimensions Typical mattress pocket depths vary from 8 to 18 inches, and box springs usually measure 8 to 12 inches deep. “Bunkie boards” allow for a lower bed height, since they measure only 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. Standard bed frames raise box springs and mattresses 7 1/2 inches off the floor. Different Bed Heights The average bed height today is about 25 inches. At this height, your feet can reach the floor when you're seated on the edge of the mattress. Built 36 inches off the floor, an antique bed is quite high, while a modern platform bed is typically only about 18 inches high.
Benefits of Various Bed Heights Higher beds may provide more storage room, assuming a taller-than-standard bed frame contributes to the height. Lower beds have a more modern look and may provide the aesthetic you like. Lower beds are also appropriate for children since they are easier to climb into and offer a shorter distance to fall if the child rolls out of bed. Older people sometimes like higher beds since they're easier to get in and out of. /Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionWhen choosing a new bed, it’s easy to prioritise its comfort and design and ignore something as mundane as the height of a bed. However, contrary to popular belief, bed height is actually pretty important. The height of your mattress, in addition to your bed frame, can contribute significantly to the look and even function of your bedroom, not to mention your overall comfort when getting up every morning. Whether your bed resembles the 20 mattresses in Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, or consists of a measly mattress on the floor, its height can significantly affect you.
Possibly the most important justification behind the significance of bed height, is that it affects your comfort and well-being on a daily basis. How easy it is to get in and out of the bed is obviously dependent on said bed’s height. You don’t want to strain your legs having to scramble out of a really low bed. At the same time, you don’t want to have to hurdle your way into bed every night. Sleep experts say in general, the average person usually needs a bed with a height of 25 inches (including bed frame and mattress). However, this could differ with each individual, dependent on their height or age. Read More: 40 Simple Bedroom Design Ideas To Improve Your Life Bed height should correlate with your height and adjust accordingly if you’re fairly short or tall. Most mattresses are 16 to 24 inches from the floor, to judge which end of the spectrum your bed should be, sit at the edge of the bed. If your feet are flat against the floor and your knees are in a straight line with the hips, your bed is the right height.
If your knees are above the hips, the bed is too low and if your feet can’t reach the floor comfortably, the bed is too high.If you live with a partner who is gifted with a height that unfortunately is far taller than yours, or that falls a tad short, then you have a couple options. A tall bed (with a handy step that blends nicely in the bedroom décor) can give you a sense of opulence and regality whereas a short bed can make you feel grounded. The Japanese have been fans of low beds for centuries, in fact they’ve gone as far as creating the ‘Shikibuton’, a traditional bed that almost becomes the floor, it’s meant to connect the spirit to nature, but be careful if you have a bad back! Your age is also likely to affect the bed height you’re after. An older person needs a bed that they can easily get in and out of without straining their body. A bed that is too low will be a struggle for joints, whereas a bed that is too high will require jumping onto the mattress each evening.
If this applies to you, correlate the bed height to your height to ensure maximum comfort. Related: Choosing Your Child’s First Bed For children however, bed height and ease of getting in or out doesn’t seem to be the priority. If, like a lot of children, your child is adamant to get a bunk bed, do not fret. Bunk beds are an easy way of appeasing your child and saving space. The ideal height of a bunk bed is dependent on the floor to ceiling space you have available. It seems obvious, but if you’ve got quite low ceilings, you’ll want a low bunk bed to ensure your kids don’t hit their heads during every wake up call. The average height to leave between the top of their mattress and ceiling should be roughly 36 inches, but again if your child’s a little taller, there should be more room. For more information on bunk bed dimensions, it’s worth taking a look at House Plans Helper. Depending on your chosen bed frame, your mattress should comply. If you’re after an extra thick mattress for comfort, opt for a shorter bed frame.
Vice versa if you fancy a tall bed frame with lots of storage space underneath, a thinner mattress is best idea. Related: How To Prevent Back Pain in Bed According to Feng Shui expert Sally Painter, the height of your bed can determine the quality of your sleep, and therefore your mood, by the levels of chi permitted. Chi is an ancient Chinese term which can be translated as energy. She suggests the chi energy needs to be able to flow around your bed. Too short a bed can block this flow of energy, preventing you from good night’s sleep. Whereas too high a bed can leave you vulnerable to high levels of energy and a restless night. She states ‘the key is to go for a happy medium without blocking the space underneath your bed’, so to avoid getting out of the wrong side of bed in the morning, choose a bed that’s the right height. Related: Sleep Better With These Simple Feng Shui Bedroom Tips Finally, bed height is important because it can affect the overall look of your bedroom.