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Best Platform Bed Frames

TheSleepJudge Editorial Team

A platform bed is a great option if you are looking for a bed frame that’s enough on its own- no box spring or separate slats needed to be purchased additionally. Compared to traditional bed frames, platform beds offer many advantages. While these frames can be made from a variety of materials and are available in many different designs, all platform bed frames share a few common traits.

The main feature is that all platform bed frames come with mattress foundation included: it’s usually wooden or metal slats, arranged in horizontal rows, or latticed. Apart from that, there’s enough variety in the design to suit everyone’s preferences. With or without a headboard, upholstered, wooden, or metal, minimalistic or with additional storage space… The choice is yours!

1. Novogratz Bushwick Metal Bed – Editor's Choice

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  • Clearance: 6 or 11 inches
  • Available sizes: Queen, King, Full, Twin
  • Weight: 53 lbs
  • Available colors: Black, blue, grey, gold, white

2. HAAGEP 18” Queen Platform Bed Frame

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  • Clearance: 16 inches
  • Available sizes: Queen, Full, King
  • Weight: 44.2 lbs
  • Available colors: Black with a matte finish

3. AmazonBasics Faux Leather Platform Bed Frame

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  • Clearance: 6 inches
  • Available sizes: Twin, Queen
  • Weight: 77.38 lbs
  • Available colors: Black

4. Mellow Naturalista Classic Bed Frame

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  • Clearance: 8.5 inches
  • Available sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Weight: 61.6 lbs
  • Available colors: Pine, Espresso, Cherry

5. Zinus Shalini Platform Bed Frame

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  • Clearance: 6.25 inches
  • Available sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Weight: 79.6 lbs
  • Available colors: Dark Grey, Sage Grey

Best Platform Bed Frames

1. Novogratz Bushwick Metal Bed – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • Clearance: 6 or 11 inches
  • Available sizes: Queen, King, Full, Twin
  • Weight: 53 lbs
  • Available colors: Black, blue, grey, gold, white

Pros

  • Extra sturdy metal frame, rust-resistant
  • Secured and perfectly sturdy metal slats
  • Two ground clearance options (6 or 11 inches)
  • Multiple color choices
  • Reasonable price tag

Cons

  • Somewhat minimalistic design
  • Requires assembly

Best overall

Combining elegant looks and sturdy, efficient design can be quite a challenge for most brands, but Novogratz managed to pull it off perfectly with this modern platform bed. This platform bed frame is made from all metal components, in a combination of metal rails and slats and a sturdy metal frame for added security and superior support. Metal legs with added central supports and horizontal metal beams give ample support, while the perfectly spaced, reinforced and secured metal slats make a fantastic foundation for the mattress to sit on. This brand combines a minimalistic metal frame with some romantic design features to offer a stylish solution that will fit in most bedrooms.

With multiple color options to pick from and with two base options for ground clearance, you can adjust every little detail to fit your needs. The weight limit for this platform frame is 450 pounds.

Who Should Buy This Product?

If you are looking for a combination of timeless style with unparalleled functionality, and you also value a sturdy metal build, the Novogratz metal frame is the best choice – and there are five finishes and two heights to pick from to boot.

2. HAAGEP 18” Queen Platform Bed Frame

Highlights

  • Clearance: 16 inches
  • Available sizes: Queen, Full, King
  • Weight: 44.2 lbs
  • Available colors: Black with a matte finish

Pros

  • A sturdy metal frame with reinforced design
  • Great weight capacity – 1,600 lbs
  • Good ground clearance for extra storage space
  • Stylish head and footboard

Cons

  • Can make noise if not tightened
  • Requires assembly

Best for heavy weight support

For a platform bed frame, durability plays a crucial role. Haagep is a brand that offers a tough, reinforced metal platform frame that can support up to 1,600 lbs – an amazing feat, especially for such a beautiful and elegant design. The frame features a heavy-duty steel frame construction, with added supports and tight connections. The slats are evenly spaced and also made from steel, each one slotted to its position to ensure no movement, adding to the frames “no noise” design which eliminates squeaking. One great design feature of this platform bed frame is a slightly raised side – this helps your mattress to “embed” snugly into place, without any sliding or movement.

This frame also boasts great ground clearance, with 16 inches of space under which you can store those extra items you have cluttering your room. And best of all, it features a stylish design with a raised headboard and a standard-sized footboard, both with simple swirling designs that fit any interior. A fantastic balance between sturdiness and style- with an affordable price tag to make the deal even sweeter.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Haagep is unparalleled when it comes to durability and a heavy-duty design that can support a lot of weight. If weight capacity is your priority, then this frame should be a no-brainer.

3. AmazonBasics Faux Leather Platform Bed Frame

Highlights

  • Clearance: 6 inches
  • Available sizes: Twin, Queen
  • Weight: 77.38 lbs
  • Available colors: Black

Pros

  • Modern design
  • A large headboard
  • Easy, straightforward assembly
  • Stylish faux leather upholstery

Cons

  • All wood build not as durable
  • Low profile doesn’t leave much room for storage
  • 200-pound weight capacity

Best style

If you are looking for a stylish, modern solution for your bedroom, this AmazonBasics platform bed frame is a great choice. Featuring a full faux leather upholstered design, it is bound to add a touch of effortless elegance to any interior. Faux leather never goes out of style – especially this versatile black version that perfectly combines minimalism, elegance, and class. This frame is sturdy but not particularly heavy duty – it features all-wood construction, with extra secure attachment points. One of the great features is the even spacing of the slats – they are secured in their place and supported in the center for added stability.

The attractive design of this bed frame is modern and somewhat minimalistic – a large square headboard with stitched squared faux leather upholstery definitely adds a touch of class to any interior design.

This platform bed offers 6 inches of clearance which is not much in the way of storage space, so if you are looking for a small space solution, this might not be the best choice.

Who Should Buy This Product?

If looks are as important as the quality, this stylish solution by AmazonBasics will be a great choice. Upholstered in faux leather and with durable wood slats as a base, this platform bed frame will offer both durability and elegance.

4. Mellow Naturalista Classic Bed Frame

Highlights

  • Clearance: 8.5 inches
  • Available sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Weight: 61.6 lbs
  • Available colors: Pine, Espresso, Cherry

Pros

  • A modern, minimal design
  • Sturdy and stable
  • Hidden connecting points
  • Non-slip tape on the slats
  • 1,500 pound distributed weight capacity

Cons

  • No headboard
  • Lacks in ground clearance

Best wooden platform bed

Who said that a platform bed frame needs metal parts for sturdiness? Mellow is here to challenge that preconception with their Naturalista frame- a truly modern, minimalistic, all-wood design that offers superior stability and support. This contemporary design captivates with its simplicity, but it actually hides a well laid out design that emphasizes structural integrity. This low, squat, and well-supported bed frame boasts perfectly fitting connecting points. Four extra thick legs are a great basis and are further supported with central legs. The wooden slats are extra wide and feature a non-slip tape that will keep your mattress secure and in place. With 8.5 inches of ground clearance, this frame might not offer that much space for tucking away those extra items, but you can still store away boxed clothes for example.

The Naturalista frame will immediately strike you with its minimal design – no head or footboards, no embellishments or details- for some, it is its biggest advantage and for others the complete opposite.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Naturalista platform bed frame is a great choice for all those who love a modern, mid-century minimalist design, while still valuing quality and durability. And of course, if you prefer wood over steel, this frame is the best choice.

5. Zinus Shalini Platform Bed Frame

Highlights

  • Clearance: 6.25 inches
  • Available sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Weight: 79.6 lbs
  • Available colors: Dark Grey, Sage Grey

Pros

  • Beautiful, elegant upholstered design
  • Metal frame for added strength
  • Close spaced slats
  • Two colors to choose from

Cons

  • No footboard
  • Low profile- not much ground clearance

Best upholstered platform bed frame

With this design, Zinus offers a frame that is not only sturdy and well built but also extremely elegant and stylish. This platform bed combines an essential steel framework with wide upholstered wood panels, creating a perfectly tough frame on the inside, and classy upholstered panels on the outside – a perfect combo.

What quickly grabs your attention is the woven fabric upholstery and the large square headboard with the recognizable diamond pattern stitching. The durable wood slats are spaced at 2.7 inches for extra mattress support. The inner metal frame is also supported with added middle legs, creating a great base that can support up to 500 lbs. The only potential downside is the modest 6.2 inches of clearance space- not that much if you plan on storing things underneath the bed.

Who Should Buy This Product?

Interior design is important to most of us – if you are looking for a classy design that fits in with most bedroom decors, the Shalini is the one. And not only is it beautiful – but sturdy as well!

What are Platform Bed Frames?

A platform bed frame boasts a relatively straightforward design that comes with many advantages despite its simplicity. The main design difference between platform bed frames and other types of bed frames is that they do not require a mattress foundation. Simply put, a platform bed frame will offer optimal support for you and your mattress, without the need for additional purchases of a box spring or wooden bases and slats. Another thing that stands out about platform beds is that they usually have a much lower profile than standard bed frames: circa 18 inches (including a standard mattress) is the highest these beds go.

These practical bed frames are also very versatile, as well. The simple yet sturdy platform bed frames work with all kinds of mattresses so you don’t have to worry about compatibility. And if you are looking for some stylish solutions for your bedroom, a platform bed can be the perfect choice for that- don’t be fooled into thinking that all platform bed frames are plain and inconspicuous. While there are many minimalistic designs to choose from, there is no shortage of stylish upholstered options or platform beds with headboards either.

What Platform Bed Styles Are There?

Functional doesn’t have to be boring and platform beds prove it. Depending on what you are looking for, you can easily find a style that will both improve your quality of sleep and look great in your bedroom.

  • Traditional Headboard Platform Bed

If you like to keep things classy and simple, traditional design will never go out of fashion. This common platform bed style makes the bed the centerpiece of the room, with accentuated upholstered headboard and a subtle footboard. Of course, this design also gives brands a lot of room to experiment – you can find minimalistic, modern headboard designs, upholstered or not, or complex metal swirling designs that combine the vintage romantic look with a modern touch.

  • Floating Platform Bed

As opposed to the traditional platform bed frame, the floating version doesn’t rely on four outer legs. Instead, the support is based in the center and hidden out of view, giving the illusion that your bed is floating! Not only does this look good, but it also adds extra support and a better base in the center – which can also benefit the quality of sleep. The only potential downside to these contemporary beds is their heftier price tag.

  • Storage Platform Bed

For many of us, finding enough storage space can be quite a challenge. If you too have issues with lack of space, a cleverly designed platform bed with built-in space for storage will be a godsend. These bed frames have a traditional design but with added storage drawers. While this removes all ground clearance of the frame, it adds to the overall support and stability, while providing you with some much-needed room to store your extra items.

What are the Pros and Cons of Platform Beds?

One of the key pros of a platform bed is the built-in support of the horizontal or latticed slats. This solid surface contributes to the quality of your sleep, and also maintains the quality of your mattress for much longer. Not to mention that platform beds are often great for adding more storage space to your bedroom and can be an efficient solution for small spaces. This is especially true if a platform bed comes with added storage drawers.

Additionally, platform bed frames can often be a more affordable solution on the market, especially considering that you have to buy a box spring or mattress foundation separately with other types of bed frames. This gives you more flexibility in your purchase and can help you invest in a better mattress with the savings you make on the bed frame, especially if you require therapeutic, memory foam mattresses.

  • Sturdy horizontal slat support keeps your mattress firm and adds to its longevity, as it eliminates sagging.
  • Platform bed frame with added storage drawers is an ideal solution for saving space.
  • These bed frames are often cheaper than traditional box spring beds- without compromise on quality.
  • More options for choosing a mattress as these bed frames support any kind.
  • Platform beds come in many different sizes – from twin to king size.

When we consider the cons of platform beds, we need to focus on the particular needs of a person that will be sleeping in it. Some platform bed designs simply might not work for people with significant back issues or arthritis. Some platform bed frames are often very low in height, and this can be an issue for the elderly (too low is as bad as too high). Such low-profile designs are also not good for space-saving as you won’t have drawers nor enough under-bed space to put away stuff. Similarly, platform beds have to be particularly sturdy so it can often result in minimalistic and function-oriented styles that can look less than impressive

  • Cheaper designs are simple and unattractive.
  • Low height can be an issue for the elderly.
  • Certain designs reduce available storage space

Bottom Line

Compared to a traditional box spring bed, platform bed frames offer many advantages and benefits. With some clever design features, these beds are not just a cost-effective solution but the most practical one on the market as well.

Versatile and functional, these bed frames come in all sizes and support every type of mattress- anyone can find a match. Upholstered, wooden, metal, minimalistic, rustic, or romantic- you name it, you can get it in a platform bed frame.