The Fastest and Simplest Way to Find your Perfect Bed Height

What is bed height?

It's pretty simple: bed height is the height from the floor to the top of your mattress.

Does bed height really matter that much?

Yes.

Here are a couple key reasons the height of your bed should be considered when purchasing a bed frame and a mattress:

1. Aesthetics

Some say higher beds look old fashioned and not as modern as lower beds. This is probably mostly true, but at the end of the day beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it's really just a preference thing.

You can have a look at another blog I wrote about how I believe box spring are unnecessary here. (spoiler: one of the reasons is because I think they look clunky...)

2. Mobility

Probably more important than aesthetics is mobility.

Your own height really determines the height of your bed in terms of mobility. For example, someone who is taller will ideally want a higher bed than someone who is shorter. Why is this? It's simple. It will be harder for a short person to reach up to get into a higher bed, possibly straining their muscles which is never good. For a tall person, if their bed is too low to the ground, getting out of the bed will be the real issue, and since their knees go past their hips, they will need more effort to get out of bed. Struggling to get out of bed everyday is not a fun way to start your day every morning.

Mobility is of course a huge factor when it comes to elderly folks! Getting in and out will only be that much more challenging, so bed height is pretty important.

So what is the fastest and simplest way for me to determine my ideal bed height?

Great question. Now that I've covered what bed height and and why it matters, let's have a look at how to figure out how to find your perfect personalized bed height.

I'll cover exactly how to find the perfect height for your bed in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Get a ruler or a measuring tape. Doesn't matter which.

Step 2: Stand up and measure how far the floor is to the center of your knee.

Step 3: Sit on the edge of your bed.

Time to get your protractor out! I'm kidding.

Take a seat on your bed and put your feet flat on the ground. Do your knees go above your hips? Do they go below? If the answer is no and your legs are at a 90 degree angle, then perfect! You nailed it.

Step 4: You're done.

See how simple that was? The average knee height for adults between 16-24 inches. So let's say you measured yourself from the floor to the center of your kneecap and you've discovered that it's 20 inches. You could try and find a bed frame that is 10 inches and a mattress that is 10 inches to equal 20 inches, which should be the perfect height for you (or any other combination of bedframe and mattress height to equal 20 inches).

Conclusion

Determining what your ideal bed height should be (from the floor to the top of your mattress) is measured by the height of the floor to the middle of your kneecap. If your bed (the frame + the mattress) is the same height of your calf and your hips are pretty parallel to your knees, you've got the perfect height for your bed!