The word headboard is used to refer to the piece of furniture that is attached to the head side of the bed (the side where you keep your pillows). Why do you need a headboard? A headboard serves two purposes: it provides you something to lean against when you sit up in your bed, and also adds to the aesthetics of your bed and overall bedroom design.
Typically, the height of a twin headboard is 14 inches above the top of the mattress. The complete size dimensions of a twin size headboard are approximately 2 in. x 40.5 in. x 38 in. The height of a queen headboard is 28 in. above the mattress, and the dimensions of a queen headboard are 3.5 in. x 61.5 in. x 28 in. A typical king headboard extends 58 in. above the mattress, and its dimensions are 4.2 in. x 80.8 in. x 58 in. Please note, that these measurements are approximate and may vary from design to design.
Sometimes headboards have shelves and drawers in them, which not only gives you extra storage, but also allows you to keep your bed-time essentials close at hand. Some beds come as a single piece with the headboard as part of their structure while other beds such as some platform beds come without a headboard attached to them.
While headboards come standard on most bed frames, buying a bed and headboard separately can be a cheaper option and it also provides more room for creativity.
If you want to revamp the look of your bedroom every now and then, getting a separate bed platform and a headboard is a great option. Any time you feel like re-doing your room, you can simply switch the headboard instead of buying a whole new bed.
When choosing the right headboard for your bed, it is important to know what the dimensions of a headboard mean and how they will affect the look of your bed and bedroom. It is important to note that the average height of a headboard varies with the size of the bed, ie. headboards of smaller beds are usually shorter than headboards of bigger beds.
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- How to attach a headboard – a step-by-step guide
How to Choose the Right Headboard Size – Headboard Size Chart?
To choose the right headboard size, you have to match it to the size of your bed. Thinking about the end-to-end width of the headboard, the typical option is to match the width of your headboard to the width of your mattress. It is important to note, however, that sometimes you CAN use a headboard with a longer or narrower width than your bed platform. If such is the case, make sure to center the bed precisely. This will bring symmetry to your room and make your headboard look stylish rather than odd.
As for the height of the headboard, the general rule is to make sure that the height of your headboard is smaller than the length of the bed. This doesn’t mean that you have to roam about with a measuring tape; the sizes of headboards and bed platforms have been standardized and given names like queen size and king size. So if you want to make sure that your headboard fits your queen sized bed, all you have to do is look for a headboard that is built for a queen sized platform. Following are some headboards of different sizes along with their prices and links.
We also have a great guide on how to choose the right headboard design and material to match your headboard to your room and bed.
| Product Name & Link from Amazon | Headboard Size | What Frame Size is it designed for? | Price |
| Modway Lily Tufted Headboard | 3.5 x 61.5 x 28 inches | Queen | ~$115 |
| Dorel Living Winsted Linen Headboard | 4.2 x 80.8 x 58 inches | King | ~$200 |
| Modway Serena Metal Headboard | 2 x 40.5 x 38 inches | Twin | ~$55 |
| Modway Serena Rustic Steel Headboard | 2 x 57 x 40.5 inches | Full | ~$70 |
A beautiful upholstered headboard. Upholstered headboards can be found in many sizes. Find this one on AmazonHeadboard Mattress Gap Size
Sometimes there can be a gap between the mattress and the headboard. It is important to check the gap size between the mattress and the headboard, otherwise your pillows will fall down the gap and you’ll have to wake up in the middle of the night to fish them out. However, make sure that the gap is less than 4 cm.
In some cases, mattress gap size can be more than just a nuance — it can also be a hazard, especially if the bed is used by the children. This is so because young children can get their arms or necks stuck in the gap while they sleep.
The gap size is either caused by using a mattress that is too small for the bed platform size you are using or by having a headboard with a design that creates the gap. To avoid the gap, the best option is to use a bed platform and a mattress that are designed for each other.
If, however, your mattress is slightly smaller than your particular bed frame, you can compensate for that by using a padded and upholstered headboard. Such headboards aid in filling up the gap. However, if the gap size is too large to be compensated by a padded headboard, you should consider buying gap fillers and use them to fill the gap and make your bed safe.
If there’s a gap between your mattress and headboard, consider investing in a gap filler. This one is available on Amazon.Size of Adjustable Headboards
Adjustable headboards come in handy if you’re not sure what height of headboard will suit your bedroom. It’s also useful to have an adjustable headboard in case you decide to replace your mattress with a thinner or thicker one.
The typical height range can vary depending on the size of the bed for which the headboard is made. Please note that you can only adjust the height of the headboard and not its other dimensions. Following are a few examples of adjustable headboards that you can find online.
| Product Name & Link from Amazon | Headboard Size | Height Range | Price |
| LUCID Mid-Rise Upholstered Headboard | King | 34” to 45.5” | ~$175 |
| HOME BI Adjustable Headboard | Queen | 53.94” to 61.81” | ~$190 |
| Modway Laura Vegan Headboard | Twin | 41” to 46” | ~$75 |
An adjustable, upholstered headboard from Amazon. You can change the height of the headboard and adjust it according to mattress thickness and size that you get.What Are Low Headboards and What Is the Size of a Low Headboard?
As the name implies, low headboards are headboards which are shorter in height than standard headboards. Some low headboards may also be adjustable. A low headboard for a twin size bed can have a height of up to 12 inches above the mattress. But this height can vary depending on the size of the bed. As a general rule, when your pillows are leaning against a low headboard, only a few inches of the headboard will appear above the pillows.
The advantage of using a low headboard is that it can make your room look more spacious and minimalistic as compared to using a tall headboard. Low headboards are also ideal if you want to hang a painting or some other wall décor above your bed. Low headboards look great in guest bed rooms.
Related articles:
- How do you choose the right mattress size for a platform bed?
A simple low headboard. Notice how the height of the headboard isn’t much higher than the pillows. You can hang some great artwork above the bed with this headboard. Image from AmazonCan a Full Size Headboard Fit a Queen Size Bed?
A queen size headboard is usually about 6 inches wider than a full size headboard. If you are upgrading to a queen size bed and your headboard is too precious for you to part with, you can use a full size headboard with a queen size bed.
This can easily be done by using adjustable brackets and securing the beloved full size headboard to your new queen sized bed frame. All you need for it will be some nuts and bolts, a wrench and some brackets specifically designed for this purpose. You can easily find such brackets from platforms here.
Note that since the width of the full size headboard will be shorter than queen size headboard so it may not be completely comfortable unless you and your partner lay closer to the center of the bed rather than the edges.
Are All Headboards Adjustable?
Adjustable headboards are headboards which are designed in a way that their height can be easily adjusted whenever you want. Such headboards often come with metallic legs that can be adjusted up or down, adding or removing height to your headboard.
While adjustability is a very convenient feature, not all headboards come with this feature. The good news is that even without the adjustability feature you can make the headboard look taller or shorter by using a bit of creativity.
How to Make a Headboard Taller?
There are several ways in which you can make your headboard look taller. One simple way is to remove your mattress topper or get a thinner mattress.
However, if you like your mattress the way it is and don’t want to change it, there are other ways in which you can make your headboard look taller. If you are using a headboard that touches the floor or whose height starts from the floor, all you need to do is to lift it up from the floor until it reaches the desired height and pin it to the wall behind it.
You can do this by drilling some holes in the wall and installing some strong wall brackets to hold the headboard up. If the headboard is too heavy or you are raising it too high, make sure to also secure it firmly to the wall from the top side so that it doesn’t fall and cause injury.
If your bed is not against a wall or you just don’t want to pin the headboard to the wall, you can also attach it to your bed frame using bed brackets.
How to Make a Headboard Shorter?
If your headboard looks too tall in comparison with the size of the bed and you want it to look shorter, one way to go about it is to use a thicker mattress or add a layer of mattress to your bed. The mattress will hide a part of the headboard, making it look shorter.
If your headboard is pinned to the wall instead of standing on the floor, you can shorten the height of your headboard with just a little effort. All you have to do is to unpin the headboard from the wall, bring it lower until the desired height is reached, and re-pin the headboard to the wall. Whatever option you choose should depend on where the headboard looks the best.
Another way to make your headboard look shorter is to raise the height of your platform bed by using platform-bed-risers. Raising the height of the platform bed will automatically make the headboard look shorter.
How Do You Find Beds With Big Headboards?
There are several online platforms which sell headboards in a variety of sizes and styles. All the dimensions of the headboard are given along with a picture of the headboard so that customers have a clear idea about what they are buying.
If you are looking for a tall headboard, you can easily find it on platforms like Wayfair, Amazon and Houzz. All you need to do is to use the right keywords in your search. For a headboard with a tall height you can type in the search bar, “tall headboard beds”, “extra tall headboard beds”, “high headboard beds” and “extra-large headboard beds”.
If you are looking for a headboard that is big in terms of its width you can simply search for “wide” or “extra wide headboards.” Following are a few examples of big headboards for different bed sizes.
| Product Name & Link from Amazon | Bed Size | Headboard Size | Price |
| Furniture of America Bed with High Panel Headboard | King | 65 inches high | ~$740 |
| Baxton Studio Hirst Platform Bed | Queen | 58.2 inches high | ~$500 |
| Modway Sovereign Headboard | Twin | 64.5 inches high | ~$125 |
An exotic blue high headboard on a king sized bed. Image from AmazonRelated articles:
- Canopy beds with tall headboards are amazing for guest bed rooms
- Need to raise your bed? Take a look at five bed riser alternatives
- Do you already have a headboard that’s too short? Take a look at how to raise a headboard to make it work.
FAQs
How much higher than the bed should the headboard be? ›
How High Should A Headboard Be Above The Mattress? The height of the headboard above the mattress is a case of personal preference in most cases, but standard heights tend to vary from around 14” above the top of the mattress to 29” or more. The wider the bed, the higher the headboard typically is.
What is the standard height of bed headboard? ›Headboard heights
A headboard's height is as crucial as its width. The height of a standard headboard is 14 inches for twin beds, 28 inches in case of queen mattresses, 58 inches for both king and California king beds.
Your headboard should be the width of your frame or 3 to 4 inches wider. This is why you can't really mix sizes, so for example, a twin headboard should be used with a twin platform bed. Frame-mounted headboards are used with all types of beds, such as platform beds, four-poster beds, sleigh beds, or bunk beds.
Does a tall headboard make the room look bigger? ›A tall headboard in a small bedroom will instantly draw your eye upwards, thus making the room appear bigger. If you are not keen on a headboard that is too tall, you can always add a piece of artwork above it as it will achieve the same eye-drawing effect, perhaps even more so!
Is the headboard supposed to touch the ground? ›No, a headboard should not touch the floor. If it does, it will be difficult to clean and may damage the floor over time. In addition, a headboard that is too low will not offer the right level of support. Make sure to measure the height of your bed frame before you purchase a headboard.
Is it better to have your bed high or low? ›A bed that is too low can block the flow of chi, and a bed that is too high can create a buildup of energy and cause restlessness in the night. According to feng shui experts, the best bet is a medium-height bed with a clear and open space underneath.
Does a high bed or low bed make a room look bigger? ›By keeping things low to the ground, you are creating more space above, which keeps the wall cleaner and ceiling seem higher. The bedroom pictured here has smaller ceiling, but by keeping the bed on the ground, it makes the bedroom look and feel much bigger.
How do you know if your bed is too high? ›Finding the right bed height for your height
Preferably your feet should be flat against the floor and your knees in line with your hips. However, if your knees are above your hips, the bed may be too low for you. If your knees are below your hips, or your feet can't reach the floor, the bed is too high.
The bedside lamp should be 28″-30″ tall.
Your lamps should look large enough to handle the bed and nightstands. It should be substantial. If you have a tall headboard, aim for the top of the lamp to cascade down slightly from the headboard.
Measuring the Headboard Height
The traditional size for a singe bed is 67 cms in height. A double or king size headboard is 75 cms - 100 cms. Either way, first measure from the top of the mattress upward to the height you want. Then, measure the depth of the mattress.
What is the average height of a queen headboard? ›
Queen headboards range from 60 inches wide to 63 inches wide on average and have an average height of 48 inches. The size of the queen headboard one chooses often depends more on your stylistic preferences than room or sleep space considerations.
Can a headboard be bigger than the bed? ›Extra wide headboards can be up to twice as wide as your bed – perhaps even wider if you are doing a full headboard wall! A good rule of thumb is to extend the headboard to take in at least the extra width of your nightstands or bedside tables.
What is the current trend in headboards? ›'Headboards are once again becoming popular, with big, bold shapes in bright colors and patterned fabrics being a go-to choice. It's all about creating a focal point and making a real statement and an upholstered headboard will really allow you to show off your personality, whilst being comfortable and practical too. '
Is a high or low headboard better in a small room? ›However, just because a room is small, that doesn't mean the ceiling is low; if the ceiling is tall in a small room, you want to mitigate the poor proportions, and using taller furniture – or even a tall headboard – can do this. That said, if your room has a low ceiling, a low bed is your best choice.
Are tall headboards in Style 2022? ›"We are seeing more and more clients opting for headboards with taller, curved silhouettes pairing them with rich patterns and colours to anchor their interior design scheme around." "Organic shapes such as curved and rounded silhouettes and scalloped designs are definitely going to prove popular as we go into 2023.
What is the benefit of floor standing headboard? ›The main reason is stability. By fixing directly to the divan base, standing headboards increase the structural integrity of the bed. This means that a new floor standing headboard is sturdier than a strutted headboard and can give new life to an older divan bed.
Do bedbugs live in headboards? ›Headboards – Bed bugs can hide behind them, on the wall, and, if the headboard is wood, there can be cracks where they squeeze in. Eggs, fecal matter, nymphs, and shed skins can also be found there.
What does a free standing headboard mean? ›As the name suggests, a floor standing headboard is a separate headboard unit that stands directly on the floor behind the bed frame. They are independent of the bed but can also be attached to the divan base like strutted headboards, using the same fixtures.
What position should you face your bed? ›According to ancient traditions like vastu shastra, the best direction to sleep in is toward the south. This theory is also supported by some recent research . This means that when you lie in bed, your head is pointed south , and your feet are pointed north.
How high should a bed be for an elderly person? ›Ideal Bed Height for Elderly People
But a rough ballpark figure for safe bed height is between 18” to 23”; approximately the same height as a chair.
Where should you not put your bed? ›
- No Beds Under Beams. Don't hang anything massive above your bed because this creates “heavy” energy. ...
- No Slats Above you. ...
- Never Let your Bed Face a Door. ...
- Beds Beside a Wall Are a No-No. ...
- A Bed Near a Mirror. ...
- A Window On the Bed's Top Most.
A lower bed is minimalist in appearance and delivers a timeless style. Because it's so low to the ground, it makes the room seem more spacious. Typically, a low bed is less bulky and, of course, allows for easy assembly. Another aesthetically pleasing benefit to a lower bed is that you don't need a bed skirt.
Are beds closer to the floor better? ›This can help minimize back and neck pain. Being near the floor gives you access to cooler air that can feel good and do wonders for your sleep. An increase in body temperature accounts for a lot of restless sleeping and waking in the middle of the night.
Should the head of the bed be higher than the foot? ›Elevating your feet improves blood circulation and prevents swelling in the feet, while sleeping with your head elevated improves breathing and prevents snoring. You can also do both with an adjustable bed, creating a sleeping position where your centre of gravity is pushed onto your core.
Is it good to sleep with your bed elevated? ›Many benefits are tied to elevated sleeping, including reduced acid reflux, improved heart health, and better circulation, which can improve restless leg syndrome symptoms. In our article, we review how sleeping on an incline can alleviate the symptoms disorders and medical problems that affect sleep.
Is 30 inches too high for a bed? ›High for a Lot of Reasons
Such bedding styles allow for storage, are easiest on bad backs in terms of getting in and out of the bed and when making the bed. A comfortable total-bed maximum height is 33 inches.
A bed that is too low can block the flow of chi, and a bed that is too high can create a buildup of energy and cause restlessness in the night. According to feng shui experts, the best bet is a medium-height bed with a clear and open space underneath.
What is the best height for an upholstered headboard? ›Standard headboard height ranges from 14″ above the top of the mattress (for a short, twin-sized headboard) to 29″ or more (for a tall, king- or queen-sized headboard). Extra tall headboards can be as tall as you want, with the general rule that the headboard isn't taller than the bed is long.
Where do you measure a headboard from? ›Measuring the bed width
To measure for a bespoke headboard, simply use a measuring tape to determine the bed width across the base rather than the mattress.
Queen headboards range from 60 inches wide to 63 inches wide on average and have an average height of 48 inches. The size of the queen headboard one chooses often depends more on your stylistic preferences than room or sleep space considerations.
Why do people like low beds? ›
A lower bed is minimalist in appearance and delivers a timeless style. Because it's so low to the ground, it makes the room seem more spacious. Typically, a low bed is less bulky and, of course, allows for easy assembly. Another aesthetically pleasing benefit to a lower bed is that you don't need a bed skirt.
What happens if your bed is too high? ›If the bed is too high off the ground, the feet will dangle above the ground. This will make it difficult to get into bed without a stool or other type of platform.
Should there be a gap between mattress and headboard? ›The gap between a mattress and a headboard is not always a design flaw, as a small gap makes it easier for you to change their sheets. While this gap is an intentional part of bed design, it can be really annoying if you sleep close to the headboard and lose your pillows to the gap.
Do low or high beds make a room look bigger? ›By keeping things low to the ground, you are creating more space above, which keeps the wall cleaner and ceiling seem higher. The bedroom pictured here has smaller ceiling, but by keeping the bed on the ground, it makes the bedroom look and feel much bigger.
How tall should lamp be next to headboard? ›If your bedside table is the same height as the top of your mattress, ideally your bedside lamp will be the same height again (for a standard bed height, that's around 18–36 inches).
Are headboards outdated? ›Short answer is: no, headboards are far from outdated. They've got a long lifespan and will have a place in our homes for years to come. From a stylistic perspective, it all comes down to the look and feel you want to have in your room and choosing a headboard that compliments your vision.