Metal Bed Frames

Why choose a metal bed frame?

Metal carries load through a thinner section than wood, so a metal frame gives you the same support with less bulk in the room. It also will not split at the bolt holes, which is where wooden rails eventually fail after a few moves. The trade is noise: metal joints move against each other and that is what a squeak is.

What sizes are here?

This collection is queen, king and California king. The frames measure 81 to 93 inches long and 61 to 84 inches wide, with the spread coming from headboard thickness and rail design rather than from mattress size. A queen mattress is 60 by 80 inches, a king 76 by 80, and a California king 72 by 84, so check the frame footprint against the room rather than the mattress.

How do you put a metal bed frame together?

Lay out every part before you start and identify the head rail, foot rail and two side rails. Bolt the side rails to the head and foot loosely, with every bolt started by hand, then square the frame on the floor and only then tighten. Tightening as you go is what leaves a frame out of square. Fit the centre support and its legs before dropping in the slats.

How do you stop a metal bed frame squeaking?

A squeak is almost always metal moving on metal at a joint, not the mattress. Work through the bolts and tighten every one, since a single loose bolt lets the whole frame flex. If it still sounds, put a washer or a strip of felt between the rail and the bracket to break the contact, and check the centre leg is actually touching the floor and taking weight.

Headboards and materials

Headboards run 28 to 78 inches high, so this collection covers everything from a low platform to a tall four poster. Many pair a metal frame with an upholstered headboard in velvet, boucle, chenille or corduroy, and some use rattan or solid wood. Height matters against the wall behind it: measure to the window sill before choosing anything over about 50 inches. Construction: engineered wood and MDF inside some upholstered headboards.

Taking one apart to move

Metal frames come apart in reverse order and travel flat, which is one of their practical advantages over a solid wood bed. Strip the slats first, then the centre support, then loosen all the rail bolts before removing any of them so the frame does not bind. Bag the bolts and tape the bag to a rail, because replacement hardware is rarely a standard size.

Do you need a box spring?

Not with a slatted platform frame, which supports a foam, hybrid or latex mattress directly. Check the slat spacing before ordering: gaps wider than roughly three inches let a foam mattress sag between the slats and will shorten its life. A box spring is only needed on an open rail frame with no slat deck.