Having a sturdy bed frame makes a difference in caring for your mattress and even your sleep quality, as poorly constructed options may wobble or creak with every movement. A wooden style brings a cozy, natural aesthetic to any bedroom while providing a solid foundation. The best wooden bed frames have strong slats that are close enough in distance to properly support your mattress and are made with quality materials that stand the test of time. Our top choice is the Thuma Classic Bed Frame, a premium, hand-crafted pick that features sustainably sourced materials and a tool-free setup.
The best wooden bed frames offer effortless assembly and long-lasting, high-quality materials.
illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
While many wooden bed frames lean toward traditional design, plenty offer modern versatility and functionality, standing out amid the sea of options available online. Below are our editors’ top choices, including bed frames they and our team have personally tested at home.
Those who prefer an effortless setup without tools
Individuals who want choice of colors and fabric
Skip if:
You prefer more under-bed storage space (it has nine inches)
The Thuma Classic Bed is widely recognized as a top-favorite among editors at Forbes Vetted, making it an easy choice as the best wooden bed frame. Not a handyman? No problem—you don’t need any tools to assemble the Thuma bed frame. Its 100% upcycled rubberwood pieces securely latch together using the Japanese joinery technique. Its slats unroll into place for a sturdy center and feature noise-reducing technology to prevent creaks. It sits low to the ground, but it’s compatible with Thuma’s underbed storage drawers to function as a storage bed.
“The Thuma bed is the sturdiest frame I’ve ever owned,” says our tester. “After a month of sleeping on it, I haven’t felt it budge or wobble once.” She also notes that it’s squeak-free every time she sits or lies on it, and adds, “I sleep soundly through the night now and love the look of it in my bedroom.” You can also bundle it with a headboard, cushion board and more. See more in our full Thuma Bed review.
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A Mid-Century Modern-Inspired Look With Added Function
West Elm
West Elm Mid-Century Storage Bed (Queen)
Material: Solid wood with eucalyptus legs | Headboard: Yes |Trial: 30 nights | Warranty: Optional 3-year Allstate protection plan
Best for:
Those who want a frame that comes with under-bed storage drawers
People who want an attached headboard included
Eco-conscious shoppers
Skip if:
You have a twin or California king bed
You prefer more color options
West Elm is a premium furniture retailer and its Mid-Century Storage Bed blends luxury with functionality. The kiln-dried wood frame is FSC-certified, meaning the wood is sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests. The wood has what the brand calls an “acorn finish,” and the frame is fitted with four pull-out drawers (two on each side) and a lofty headboard. You can store everything from linens and clothing to pillows and blankets underneath your bed to maximize space. With the West Elm bed frame comes white glove delivery (so they set it up for you) and cost is calculated at checkout—it is $279 if I were to ship it to my home in northern California.
Best Wooden Bed Frame With A Headboard
Enjoy A Natural Frame You Can Personalize
Silk & Snow
Silk & Snow Wooden Bed Frame (Queen)
Material: Acacia or rubberwood | Headboard: Yes | Trial: 30 nights |Warranty: 5 years
Best for:
Those who want a variety of stains, materials and sizes to pick from
Sleepers who want a high-end, handmade option
People who want easy assembly
Skip if:
You’d like more under-bed space (it has eight inches)
You can purchase the Silk & Snow Platform Bed on its own or bundle it with one of four headboard options: solid wood, rattan, cushioned or upholstered wood. The cushioned and upholstered options come in four fabric choices, all of which are removable and washable. The frame is available in either a richly colored acacia or light rubberwood, both sustainably sourced from Southeast Asia—though the rattan headboard is offered exclusively in blonde rubberwood. Like the Thuma Classic Bed Frame, the Silk & Snow frame features Japanese joinery for nearly effortless assembly. It also shares a low-profile design, offering eight inches of under-bed clearance compared to the Thuma’s nine.
Best Low-Profile Wooden Bed Frame
A Quality Pick With A Modest, Simple Design
Article
Article Basi Queen Bed Frame (Queen)
Materials: Rubberwood, pine, MDF and oak veneer |Headboard: No |Trial: 30 nights |Warranty: 1 year
Best for:
People who’d like a range of colors to pick from
Value shoppers
Those who want a traditional, classic look
Skip if:
You want more under-bed storage space (6-inch clearance)
You have a California king bed
For the best wooden bed frame with a low-profile design, the Basi Oak Bed Frame from Article is a beautifully crafted pick with a 12-inch height. I used it as the frame in my primary bedroom for three years, and it kept me perfectly supported, stayed quiet and only took my partner and I 30 minutes to assemble (though the brand says it takes 60 minutes on average). With five color stains and four standard sizes available, this simple, minimalist bed frame can fit in almost any room. I purchased the rust velvet headboard with matching floating shelves that double as nightstands for a mid-century-modern, bohemian-chic style.
Best Sustainable Wooden Bed Frame
Handcrafted With Solid Salvaged Wood
Avocado
Avocado Natural Wood Bed Frame (Queen)
Materials: Douglas fir | Headboard: Yes | Trial: 30 nights | Warranty: 10 years
Best for:
People who prefer sustainably sourced materials
Those who want a variety of sizes
Individuals who seek a frame with tool-free assembly
Skip if:
You want the option to return it without paying a 20% restocking fee
The Avocado’s Natural Wood Bed Frame has a clean and blockish design with an antique, aged look and is handmade in the brand’s Los Angeles factory with wood reclaimed from 50- to 100-year-old California buildings. The entire manufacturing process, down to sourcing and transportation, adheres to strict third-party guidelines that guarantee sustainability and responsible forestry. The tool-free assembly is designed to be swift and painless, but the downside is if you decide to return the frame, Avocado charges a 20% restocking fee—unless you exchange it for an item of equal or greater value.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted mattress and sleep writers, contributors and editors have written hundreds of articles dedicated to the topic of sleep and stay on top of the latest happenings within the sleep space.
Author of this story McKenzie Dillon, Forbes Vetted mattress and sleep editor, is a certified sleep science coach and has been writing in the health and wellness space for over five years.
Bridget Chapman is the senior mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted and a certified sleep science coach. She’s tested hundreds of mattresses and sleep products, including bed frames.
We spoke with Andrea Sinkin, professional interior designer and owner of Andrea Sinkin Design, on the qualities to look for in a wooden bed frame and tips to consider while you’re shopping.
How We Chose The Best Wooden Bed Frames
To select the best wooden bed frames and their superlatives for our roundup, we used our own collective experience with bed frames and top-rated brands in the industry, expert advice and considered feedback from verified customers.
We used insights from Dillon and our team who have tested different models listed in our roundup.
We focused on important specs, including ease of assembly, trial and warranty period and quality of materials.
We made a point of including wooden bed frames with and without headboards and storage options in varying price ranges.
We read through hundreds of customer reviews to see what people like—and don’t like—and only included wooden bed frames with a 4-star rating or higher.
What To Consider When Choosing The Best Wooden Bed Frames
A bed frame supports the weight of you and your mattress and can help tie a bedroom together, so it pays to devote some time and research to your purchase.
Wood Type
Not all wooden bed frames are built alike—the type of wood used helps determine quality, longevity and durability. “My preferred vendors and partners look towards quality hardwoods like maple, oak, mahogany, cherry and walnut,” says Andrea Sinkin, interior designer and owner of of Andrea Sinkin Design. “Softwoods like fir, cedar or spruce are easier to cut and work with, but aren’t as high-grade as hardwoods.”
Style
Not only can a wooden bed frame use different materials and stains, but you can find one to fit almost any function or style. Some wooden bed frames come with under-bed drawers or cubbies within the headboard for extra storage space, while others have a simple, minimalistic look with just the essentials: legs, slats and a support structure. You can also find wooden bed frames with footboards and headboards conveniently attached, which Sinkin recommends so you can comfortably lean back when lying with pillows. She also suggests diversifying the materials in your bedroom to avoid a wooden-heavy look that throws off its balance, and to opt out of matching wooden sets.
Assembly
The least satisfying part about a new bed frame is having to assemble it. The fewer screws, tools and washers, the better. For a hassle-free setup, consider a wooden bed frame like the Thuma or the Silk & Snow; both use Japanese joinery, a building technique that requires zero tools. You can also often pay an additional fee for white glove delivery, which means a team of professionals set up your bed frame for you.
Weight Capacity
The most supportive bed frames can hold up to 1,200 pounds or more, while others aren’t as sturdy and support up to 600 pounds (including your mattress). Keep a bed frame’s weight capacity in mind when you’re shopping for a mattress—and vice versa—so you don’t overload it. For reference, the average queen-size mattress weighs around 100 pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Thuma’s popularity can be credited to its ease of assembly, quality workmanship, sustainable sourcing and options for versatility in terms of design, fabric and color.
Walnut, oak, cherry, ash and other hardwoods make for sturdy and durable wooden bed frames. While softwoods like cedar and pine are lightweight, they’re not as durable in the long run.
With proper maintenance and care, Sinkin says a quality wooden bed frame can last around 25 years or more. Hardwoods like walnut, oak and cherry tend to last longer than softwood bed frames that are made from pine or cedar, which may last five to ten years.
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