How High Should a Bed Be? Ideal Heights for Comfort & Safety

How high should a bed be?

For most adults, the ideal bed height is 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) from the floor to the top of the mattress. This is roughly “knee height,” which makes sitting down and standing up feel natural and reduces strain on the knees and hips.

If you want one simple rule: choose a height that lets you sit on the edge with feet flat on the floor and knees near a 90° bend. That position is the quickest real-world test of a comfortable bed height.

A practical way to find your best height in 3 minutes

Step 1: Measure your knee height

Stand barefoot against a wall and measure from the floor to the top of your kneecap. For many adults, this lands around 19–21 inches (48–53 cm), but individual proportions vary.

Step 2: Target mattress-top height

Aim for the top of the mattress to be within ±1 inch (±2.5 cm) of your knee height. This range typically supports an easy “sit-stand” motion without feeling like you’re dropping down or climbing up.

Step 3: Do the sit test

• Sit on the edge: feet should rest flat, not dangling.
• Knees should be near 90° (slightly above or below is fine).
• Standing up should feel smooth without needing to “rock” forward several times.

Recommended bed heights by user and use-case

The “right” height depends on who uses the bed and what matters most—easy access, safety, under-bed storage, or child/pet considerations.

What “bed height” should measure (and the common mistake)

When deciding how high a bed should be, measure from the floor to the top surface of the mattress, not the top of the frame. The mattress is what your body actually interacts with when you sit and stand.

Example: why the same frame can feel “too high”

A frame that sits 12 inches off the floor can feel very different depending on mattress thickness. With a 14-inch mattress, the mattress top is about 26 inches—often too tall for shorter sleepers. With an 8-inch mattress, the top is about 20 inches—often ideal.

How mattress, base, and frame change the final height

The final mattress-top height is the sum of three parts: the bed frame height + the foundation (if any) + the mattress thickness. A small change in one component can push your bed outside the comfortable knee-height zone.

• Thicker mattresses (12–16 in) can quickly make beds feel high, especially on standard-height frames.
• Box springs and foundations commonly add 5–9 in (13–23 cm); many people overlook this.
• Platform beds often eliminate the foundation, keeping height closer to the target range.
• Bed risers can add 3–8 in (8–20 cm), which helps storage but may reduce ease of entry.

Quick calculation

If your knee-height target is 22 inches and your mattress is 12 inches thick, your frame + base combined should be about 10 inches to land near your ideal.

Comfort and safety checks (especially for seniors and kids)

Signs the bed is too high

• Feet dangle when sitting on the edge, increasing pressure behind the thighs.
• You slide down to get off the bed rather than standing up smoothly.
• Getting in feels like climbing; getting out feels unstable at night.

Signs the bed is too low

• You “drop” into the bed and need momentum or hands to stand back up.
• Knees bend sharply above 90° when sitting, stressing joints over time.
• Nighttime exits feel effortful, especially if you wake stiff or sore.

Special note for children

For toddlers and young children, a lower bed height (often 12–18 inches) can reduce fall risk and improve independence. If the mattress-top is higher, consider guardrails and a stable step stool.

How to adjust bed height without buying a new bed

If your current setup doesn’t match your knee-height target, small changes can make a big difference.

1. Swap the foundation: replacing a thick box spring with a low-profile foundation can reduce height by 2–5 inches (5–13 cm).
2. Change mattress thickness: moving from a 14-inch to a 10-inch mattress can drop the mattress-top by 4 inches (10 cm) immediately.
3. Modify the frame: some platform beds allow lower slat positions, or you can use a frame designed for a “low profile.”
4. Use risers carefully: they are best for storage needs, but verify stability and avoid making the bed so high that feet dangle when seated.

Conclusion

To answer “how high should a bed be” in the most practical way: set the top of the mattress to about knee height—typically 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) for adults. Confirm it with the sit test: feet flat, knees near 90°, and an easy stand-up motion. If your bed feels too high or too low, adjusting the foundation, mattress thickness, or frame height is often enough to reach a comfortable and safer setup.