How High Should a Bed Be?

Bed height is easy to overlook, but you feel it every day. It decides how easily you sit down on the edge of the bed and stand back up, how much storage fits underneath, how well the bed suits the room and how deep your fitted sheets need to be. This guide explains what bed height is, how to find the right height for you, how a mattress, base and topper add up, and how different bed frames change the final number.

There's no single "correct" bed height, because it depends on your body, who shares the bed and how you use the room. The good news is that it's easy to test and easy to adjust, and the sections below show you how.

What Is Bed Height?

Bed height is the total height of your bed from the floor to the top of your mattress. It adds together everything in the stack: the bed frame or base, a foundation if you use one, the mattress and any mattress topper.

An average bed for an average adult is often said to be about 25 inches tall, but plenty of comfortable beds are lower. What suits you mostly comes down to the length of your lower legs, which is why the range runs from about 16 inches for some people to 25 inches or a little more for others.

How to measure your bed height

1. Measure from the floor

   Hold a tape measure straight up beside the bed and read the height at the top edge of the mattress, including any topper.

2. Check a few spots

   Measure at the head, middle and foot on both sides. Floors and older mattresses aren't always even.

3. Measure yourself sitting

   Sit on a chair with your feet flat and your knees bent at about a right angle. The distance from the floor to the back of your knee is a good target for the top of your mattress.

4. Do the edge test

   Sit on the edge of the bed. If your feet rest flat and your knees are about level with your hips, the height suits you. If your knees rise well above your hips, the bed is low; if your feet dangle, it's high.

Why Does Bed Height Matter So Much?

Bed height affects a few everyday parts of life in the bedroom:

Getting in and out of bed

You sit down on your bed and stand up from it at least twice a day. A very low bed takes more effort to stand up from, because you start with your knees bent sharply and have to push up further. A very high bed can leave your feet dangling, so you have to climb up or slide down. A bed at the right height lets you sit and stand smoothly, with your feet on the floor.

That matters even more as we get older, or for anyone whose mobility is limited, because a height that's slightly off becomes more noticeable. If that's you, get advice from your doctor or an occupational therapist on the height that's easiest for you.

Comfort and peace of mind

For young children, a low bed is easy to climb in and out of on their own, and it's a short distance down if they roll toward the edge. For restless sleepers and anyone who gets up in the night, a bed at a comfortable height makes those trips easier. A lower bed won't remove every risk, but a height that suits the sleeper makes everyday use simpler.

Bedroom decor

Most of us want our bedroom to feel like a calm place to come home to, and the bed is the biggest piece of furniture in it. Your bed's height shapes the look of the whole room. A low platform bed suits a minimal, modern room and makes a small room feel more open. A taller bed with a headboard and footboard looks more traditional and works well in a large room or under high ceilings.

Storage space

The space under the bed is useful storage, especially in a small home. Taller beds leave room underneath for boxes, suitcases and storage bins, while low beds leave little or none. For example, Turmerry's Wooden Bed Frame has about 8 inches of clearance under the rails, and the Platform Base lets you add leg sections for more space below.

If you live in a small apartment, every bit of storage counts, so a slightly taller bed can save you a dresser or a closet shelf.

What Is the Best Bed Height for You?

Bed height is a personal choice. Around 25 inches is often called the "standard" bed height, but it won't suit everyone. Start with the edge test, then think through the factors below.

As a rough starting point, here's where many people end up by height. Your own leg length, your mattress feel and the sit test matter more than this chart.

Knees at about 90 degrees

The angle of your knees when you sit on the edge of the bed is the best guide to the right height. Your knees should be bent at about 90 degrees, level with your hips, with your feet flat on the floor.

If your knees sit well above or below that angle and it feels awkward to sit down or stand up, keep adjusting until it feels natural.

Body height

The taller you are, the harder it is to get up from a low bed. Likewise, the shorter you are, the more a tall bed feels like a climb. Use your own sitting knee height as the target, not the average.

Body weight

Some heavier sleepers find it harder to get onto a tall bed, and also sink further into the mattress when they sit, so the height they feel is lower than the height they measure. Test the height sitting on the edge, and choose a mattress with firm support so the edge holds you up. Turmerry's 12-inch Bigg+ Natural Latex Mattress is made for sleepers over about 230 lbs.

Age

Young children usually do best on a low bed they can climb into by themselves. As we get older, many of us find a bed that's too low or too high harder to use. Many older adults prefer a bed where they can sit with their feet flat and stand up without a big push, which is the same edge test, just more important.

Health and mobility

If a health condition, an injury or surgery affects how you move, the right bed height can make getting in and out of bed easier. Because everyone's needs are different, ask your doctor or an occupational therapist what height suits you, then choose a base with adjustable legs so you can match it.

Sleep partner

If you share the bed, your partner's height matters too.

You probably aren't the same height, so you may need to compromise. Do the edge test together, and if the difference is large, set the bed to suit whoever finds getting up harder. A small step stool on one side can help the shorter partner on a taller bed.

Bedroom

A tall, traditional bed can overwhelm a minimal, modern room, and a very low bed can look lost in a large, formal one. Choose a height that suits your bedroom's style as well as your body.

Room size matters too. A tall bed takes up more visual space in a small room, but it gives you storage underneath, which a small apartment may need. A low bed makes the room feel bigger, but you'll need storage elsewhere.

Bed Height for Kids, Older Adults and Other Situations

Some situations call for a little more thought. These are comfort and convenience guidelines, not medical advice.

Bed Height Math: Frame + Mattress + Topper

To predict your bed height before you buy, add the height of the surface your mattress sits on, the mattress thickness and any topper. Here are some examples using Turmerry bases, mattresses and toppers. They're approximate, so measure once the bed is set up.

Turmerry mattress thicknesses

• 7 Zone Organic Latex Mattress: 7, 10 or 12 inches.
• Organic Latex Hybrid Mattress: 11 inches.
• Bigg+ Natural Latex Mattress: 12 inches.
• Organic Kids Mattress: 7 inches.

Going from a 7-inch to a 12-inch mattress raises your bed by 5 inches, so it's worth choosing the mattress and the base together. Our 8-inch vs. 10-inch mattress guide compares two common thicknesses.

Toppers add height too

A topper adds its full thickness to your bed. A 10-inch mattress with a 3-inch topper is 13 inches tall, which also means your fitted sheets need a deeper pocket. Turmerry's latex toppers come in 2, 3 and 4 inch options; our topper thickness guide helps you choose.

Bed Frame Types: How Does Each One Affect Your Bed's Height?

A bed frame or base is the lowest part of the bed. It lifts the mattress off the floor and supports it. Frame types vary a lot in height, so it helps to know roughly where each one puts you before you buy. Our guide to bed frame types covers support and style in more detail.

1. Platform Bed Frames

Platform beds look modern, sit low to the ground and have a built-in solid or slatted deck, so they don't need a box spring. Some, like Turmerry's Platform Base, have stackable legs so you can choose a lower or taller setup.

2. Adjustable Bed Frames

An adjustable bed frame raises the head and foot of the bed with a remote, so you can sit up to read or watch TV, or lie flat to sleep. It's a comfort feature: if you're buying one for a health reason, ask your doctor which positions suit you. Turmerry's adjustable bases, the A2, A3 and A4, have a 4-inch profile and 12-inch stackable legs, so you can remove leg sections for a lower bed. Our adjustable bed sizes guide compares them.

3. Traditional Bed Frames

Traditional beds have a classic design with a headboard, footboard and side rails. Many are built to hold a box spring or foundation on the rails, which lifts the bed to an average or taller height. For a latex mattress, use close slats or a solid foundation instead of a box spring.

4. Antique Bed Frames

Antique beds have a vintage design with carved wood or detailed metalwork. They often have a tall profile and sit well above the ground, and older beds may have been made for mattress sizes that differ slightly from today's, so measure carefully.

5. Upholstered Bed Frames

Upholstered beds have frames padded and covered with fabric or leather, often with a soft headboard to lean on. They usually sit lower and closer to the ground.

6. Futons

Futons have a sofa-like design that folds out into a bed. Most have a low profile and work well in small rooms, studios and guest rooms.

7. Canopy and Poster Bed Frames

Canopy and poster beds have four tall posts that can hold a canopy or curtains. They make the bed the focal point of the room and give it a romantic, luxurious look. Their mattress height varies by design, so check the height of the deck or rails as well as the posts.

How to Raise or Lower Your Bed

If your bed is too low or too high, you can usually fix it without buying a whole new bed:

Finding the Right Bed Height

The best bed height is the one that lets you sit on the edge with your feet flat and your knees about level with your hips, which for most adults is somewhere around 16 to 25 inches to the top of the mattress. Add up your base, mattress and topper before you buy, and choose a base with adjustable legs if you want room to fine-tune. Our bed frame size chart helps you plan the rest of the room.

Turmerry's latex mattresses come in 7, 10 and 12 inch builds (plus the 11-inch Latex Hybrid). Most are separate layers inside a zippered organic cotton cover, so you can unzip it, see the layers and swap one if the feel isn't right. Every mattress comes with a 120-night trial (try it for at least 30 nights), and most orders ship the same business day from Charlotte, NC, with free shipping in the contiguous US.

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Related blog posts:

1. Mattress Thickness Guide

2. Mattress Firmness Scale

3. Mattress Glossary

4. Bed Frame Sizes

Disclaimer: What is said in this article has been referenced from multiple sources and is intended only for educational and informational purposes. Please note that no content in this article is a substitute for professional advice from a qualified doctor or healthcare provider. Always consult an experienced doctor with any concerns you may have regarding a health condition or treatment, and never disregard any medical suggestions or delay in seeking treatment because of something you read here.