Best Bed Slats
No matter how comfortable your mattress is, it will not provide you with a restful sleep unless you have a solid foundation. Your mattress needs to be placed on either a set of box springs or bed slats. Bed slats are a great alternative to the traditional box spring option because they are cheaper, easy to assemble, easy to ship, and they keep your bed lower to the ground if that’s something you prefer.
Instead of a box spring, you can put your mattress directly on top of the bed slat. Bed slats provide a supportive platform for your mattress to sit on. You most often see bed slats used with platform beds. They are growing in popularity because they are smaller and lighter than traditional box springs.
1. Zinus Deepak Easy Assembly Wood Slat – Editor's Choice
- Design: Wood Slat
- Weight: 37.6 lbs
4. Zinus Annemarie Solid Wood Bed Support Slats
- Design: Fabric Covered Wood
- Weight: 26.2 lbs
5. Mayton Heavy Duty Vertical Mattress Support Slats
- Design: Black Spruce Wood
- Weight: 30.5 lbs
Table Of Contents
- Our Picks for the Best Bed Slats
- 1. Zinus Deepak Easy Assembly Wood Slat
- 2. Zinus Gulzar Easy Assembly Quick Lock 1.6 Inch Bunkie Board
- 3. Classic Brands Xtreme Heavy-Duty Solid Wood Bed Support Slats
- 4. Zinus Annemarie Solid Wood Bed Support Slats
- 5. Mayton Heavy Duty Vertical Mattress Support Wooden Bed Slats/Bunkie Board with Cover
- 6. Zinus MyEuro SmartBase Wooden Slat Mattress Foundation
- What To Look For in a Bed Slat
Essentially, bed slats are a row of wooden or metal planks that run horizontally across your bed frame and they go under the mattress. They are generally spaced 2 to 3 inches apart and are designed to evenly distribute body weight and prevent sinking.
There are two different ways to install bed slats. If you purchase a platform bed, the bed slats are typically already built into the bed frame. The bed slats that come standard in your bed frame may be cheaply constructed or they may break overtime. So, many times people will buy replacement slats. If you have a standard bed frame, you can use bed slats as a support system instead of a box spring.
We have compiled a list of the best bed slats available online to help you narrow down your options.
Our Picks for the Best Bed Slats
We have compiled a list of the six best bed slats that you can buy online. Read on to find the one that best suits your needs.
1. Zinus Deepak Easy Assembly Wood Slat – Editor's Choice
Highlights
- Design: Wood Slat
- Weight: 37.6 lbs
Pros
- Strong and sturdy support.
- Worry free 5-year limited manufacturer warranty
- Compact and convenient packaging.
Cons
- The steel rail in the middle has a slight sag.
- Some users reported that the full size slats are actually smaller than a full size bed.
The Zinus Deepak easy assembly wood slats are our best overall pick for a variety of reasons. This one’s for you if you’re looking for a strong and sturdy foundation for your spring, memory foam, or hybrid mattress that is easy to assemble. This is ideal to use with platform beds, bunk beds and daybeds.
The outer frame is made out of premium steel and has 1.6 inch profile wooden slats. Foam padded tape is added to the steel frame for noise-free use. Non-slip tape on the wooden slats is used to prevent your mattress from moving. It is available in Twin, Full, Queen, or King size.
It is shipped in compact packaging which makes it easy to maneuver in tight interior spaces like the stairs or hallways. Assembly is fast and easy.
2. Zinus Gulzar Easy Assembly Quick Lock 1.6 Inch Bunkie Board
Highlights
- Design: Steel Slat
- Weight: 31 lbs
Pros
- Strong and sturdy steel frame.
- Noise free and non-slip.
- Worry free 5 year limited warranty
Cons
- The sizing may be off, so please measure and order accordingly.
This is an amazingly strong and sturdy steel frame bunkie board that is a bed slat replacement from Zinus. The Gulzar is ideal for use with bunk beds, day beds, and recessed “sit-in” platform bed frames only. This bed slat provides support for spring, hybrid, and memory foam mattresses. It is available in twin, full, queen, and king size.
This is made with quick lock construction for fast and easy assembly. It comes in convenient and compact packing making it easy to maneuver up staircases and hallways. Don’t worry about making noise when you move around in the bed. They have added foam padded tape to the steel frame to make it noise free. Plus, there is non-slip tape on the slats that prevent your mattress from moving all around.
You can feel confident in your purchase as this comes with a worry free five year warranty. Foam padded tape is added to the steel frame for noise free use and non slip tape on the slats prevents your mattress from moving.
3. Classic Brands Xtreme Heavy-Duty Solid Wood Bed Support Slats
Highlights
- Design: Pine
- Weight: 35.5 lbs
Pros
- Strongest wood slats available, made from Southern Yellow Pine.
- Provides support for all mattress types.
- Eliminates the need for link springs.
Cons
- Make sure to measure your bed frame so that the size you ordered will fit properly.
This wood slat from Classic Brands is a heavy duty and solid bet slat to provide you with tons of support. It has been specifically designed to provide support and even weight distribution for your mattress. The wooden slats help to prevent sagging, increasing the longevity of your mattress. You won’t need to fuss with a box spring ever again. It is a great alternative to the standard foundation found on most platform beds. You can also use this as a replacement for your damaged or broken wood slats.
It’s made out of solid Southern Yellow Pine which is known for its superior strength. It is an extremely dense wood that provides superior load-bearing capacity. Southern Yellow Pine is the most sustainable wood in the country. This is the most solid wooden slats that you will find.
This is extremely easy to assemble. It’s literally as simple as unpacking and unrolling. The slats will line up to your bed frame. Once they are securely and evenly spaced, your mattress is ready to go on top. Before you order, make sure that you measure the width inside of your bed frame. There is an instructional video on the description page that you can watch for more details.
Everything ships in one box and the packaging is compact enough to fit through tight hallways and narrow stairwells.
4. Zinus Annemarie Solid Wood Bed Support Slats
Highlights
- Design: Fabric Covered Wood
- Weight: 26.2 lbs
Pros
- Strong and sturdy support.
- Wood is enclosed inside of the fabric.
- Worry-free 5- year warranty.
Cons
- Some users reported issues with sizing and lining this up with their bed frame.
The Zinus Annemarie solid wood bed support slats are attractively encased in fabric. The fabric helps to prevent snags and tears on your mattress. They are uniquely designed to be placed from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed horizontally to offer maximum mattress support. This style will provide you with the best foundation for your spring, memory foam, or hybrid mattress.
These come in a variety of sizes and you get 6 slats for twin, 9 slats for full, 10 slats for Queen, and 12 slats for a King size. No assembly is required. Simply remove the slats from the packaging and place it in your platform bed, bunk bed, or daybed. It’s really that simple!
The slats are shipped directly to your door in compact packing making it easy to move through tight interior spaces like the stairs and hallways.
5. Mayton Heavy Duty Vertical Mattress Support Wooden Bed Slats/Bunkie Board with Cover
Highlights
- Design: Black Spruce Wood
- Weight: 30.5 lbs
Pros
- Made out of Black Spruce wood.
- Vertical slats for maximum support.
Cons
- The slats tend to accordion in towards the center of the bed, leaving gaps at the edges.
These vertical slats from Mayton provide an excellent foundation for any platform bed, bunk bed, or day bed. You place these bed slats vertically from the head of the bed to the foot for maximum support.
They are made out of Black Spruce wood. These slats are heavty duty and can be used directly on the bed frame. This is a great replacement for broken or damaged bed slats. The bed slats are connected together and covered with fabric for easy installation. No assembly is required. Just remove from the packaging and place on your bed frame.
Please make sure that you measure your bed frame before ordering.
6. Zinus MyEuro SmartBase Wooden Slat Mattress Foundation
Highlights
- Design: Steel
- Weight: 26.2 lbs
Pros
- Complete mattress system.
- Replaces your frame and box spring.
- Made out of durable steel.
- Under the bed storage space.
Cons
- Some users reported that the bed felt wobbly.
The Next Generation Bed Frame is a complete mattress support system that replaces both the frame & box spring.
The SmartBase MyEuro Wooden Slat Mattress Foundation by Zinus. eliminates the need for a box spring as your memory foam, spring or latex mattress should be placed directly on the SmartBase.
It is uniquely designed for optimum support and durability. The strong steel structure and wooden slats provide mattress support and stability. There are 14 wooden slats, a center support bar, and seven foldable legs. It also includes plastic caps to protect your floors from scratches.
Foam padded tape has been added to the steel frame for noise-free use. There is a total of 12.5 inches of clearance under the frame for valuable under bed storage.
What To Look For in a Bed Slat
Bed slats have become extremely popular over the past couple years thanks to the rise in demand for platform beds. They are more supportive, comfortable, and convenient as compared to the traditional box spring. Bed slats are more affordable than a standard box spring. Since most of them are made out of wood they are extremely durable and supportive, ensuring that your mattress doesn’t slide around. Since they are so lightweight, assembly is usually a breeze.
As you can see in our roundup, there are a wide variety of bed slats to choose from. Let’s talk about what to look for in a bed slat so that you can be confident in your purchase.
Type of Bed Slat
Bed slats come in metal or wood options. Metal slats are slightly more expensive and do require some assembly. They tend to last longer, have more support for heavier people, and are much more affordable compared to box springs. They can be adjustable to match the dimensions of your bed and most come with a center support down the middle.
A wooden bed slat comes in a series of lateral wooden slats that are attached by some sort of webbing or cords. Installation is super easy as all you do is lay them across the bed frame by unroling them. Some wood slats are exposed where some are wrapped in fabric to prevent snagging and tearing of your mattress. Wood slats are not the best option for a heavy mattress or if you have a lot of weight on top of the bed.
The Slats Spacing
The slat spacing is the most important factor to consider after you select the type of material. The wider the distance between the slats, the greater chance of wearing out your mattress. The salts shouldn’t be any wider than 1.5 – 2.5 inches apart and typically a minimum of 16 slats.
Measure, Measure, Measure!
It is absolutely critical that you take accurate measurements of your bed frame before ordering bed slats. You need to measure the frame without the mattress and linens! Taking proper measurements can save you a lot of time and energy to make sure you are ordering the right size.
There is something for everyone on our list of the best bed slats that are sure to meet your needs. Take all of our tips into consideration so that you can make the best choice when shopping online.