Best Wooden Bed Frames: What to Look For and Where to Buy

A well-designed wooden bed frame is a great starting point for more elegant bedroom decor. If you’re currently happy with your mattress and just need the frame itself, take a look through our picks for the best wooden bed frames and you’ll find something to love, whatever your style.

Our top picks for the best wooden bed frames

What to consider when buying wooden bed frames

Materials

“Wooden bed frames offer excellent variety and quality support,” says Byron Golub, vice president of product and merchandising at Saatva. “Wooden bed frames are a popular choice for their sturdiness and durability. Depending on the type of wood and finish, they can give a modern style a more rustic feel. However, they can require more maintenance due to the risk of scuffs and marks.”

In terms of which wood to go for, birch, oak, acacia, rubberwood, walnut, beech, and pine are all popular options, but be aware that pine is more likely to show dents and scratches than the others. The most affordable bed frames often feature composite materials (a blend of wood fibers, plastic, or other materials) or particle board (made from wood chips and resin, or other materials). These are lightweight, but have shorter lifespans compared to solid wood.

Weight limits

As you might expect, although wooden bed frames are sturdy, they’re not as strong as metal bed frames. If you’re planning on buying a bed for a larger person who may require a little more structural support under them (or would like an adjustable bed frame), metal might be the way to go.

Ease of assembly

“One downside to wooden bed frames is that they can be pretty heavy, like any large piece of furniture,” says Golub. Because of this, you want to be sure you’re buying a bed that’s either delivered and assembled for you, or one that you’re confident you’re able to put together with the help at hand (partner, roommate, highly optimistic small children, etc.). Bed frames with storage often are the most difficult to assemble.

The best places to buy wooden bed frames

“Many mattress manufacturers have made it easy to shop for wooden bed frames that support the mattress you buy,” says Golub. “Not only does this help with seamless delivery and installation, it helps to ensure that your mattress has the best support throughout its lifespan.”

“Explore options at popular furniture retailers for a variety of styles and budgets,” advises Mariya Snisar, head of interior design at Renowell. “Online platforms like Amazon offer a wide selection, and checking customer reviews helps gauge product satisfaction. Local stores may provide unique choices, but make sure you take your time to make comparisons to find the best fit for your needs.”

How we chose the best wooden bed frames

Our selections were made through a mix of personal experience, expert input, and diligent research, particularly in terms of customer reviews, to check that the majority of purchasers were happy with their beds.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What type of wood should you look for when purchasing a wooden bed frame?

“Choosing the best wooden bed frame ultimately comes down to factors such as craftsmanship, quality of wood, and design and engineering,” says Golub. “Different types of wood have their own benefits, drawbacks, appearances, and costs, so consider which option works best with your room and how they complement other wooden items in your bedroom, like the bedside tables or nightstands.”

“The quality of the material is also important,” he continues. “Solid hardwood is very sturdy, but a wooden frame with inferior construction might not hold up as well, so it’s essential to check which hardware and joinery system is used. Thankfully, most beds today are engineered with support systems that can accommodate any mattress, but it's always worth a second look.”

Do wooden beds break easily?

Not if you follow the above advice when choosing a bed! “Wooden beds are popular not only for their timeless aesthetic but also for their durability,” says Golub. “The quality of the wood plays a factor in its longevity as well as the engineering and construction.”

Do you need a boxspring with a bed frame?

“It's possible that you may not need a boxspring, depending on your bed or mattress,” says Golub. “You should be fine if you own a wooden bed with a foundation with slats less than four inches apart. However, some mattresses require a specific type of surface or slats that are a certain distance apart. If that's the case, you may need to cover the wooden slats of your platform bed with plywood before placing your mattress on top.”

Is pine wood good for bed frames?

While pine is strong and generally inexpensive, it can dent a little too easily, so it tends to be used as a secondary or internal material, hidden safely out of sight.