The Best Platform Bed Frames (& The Lowdown On This Low-Profile Option)

This modern design also has a soft side — the headboard is upholstered, and it has horizontal grooves to stop your pillows from slipping down. (I would love this feature in a bed! It’d be especially handy if you prefer pillows that are less firm.) The bed is made from both solid and engineered wood and is available in sizes ranging from twin to king. One happy reviewer wrote, “This bed is perfect! The headboard is cushioned just enough to be comfortable sitting against, but it’s really sturdy. I highly recommend it.”

This platform bed brings the homey feel of a vintage metal frame, but its solid, clean lines prevent it from feeling old-fashioned or fussy. It’s available in both full and queen sizes, and reviewers note that it’s easy to assemble — even the mom who enlisted her 9-year-old to help! (That could have been either a fun learning experience or a disaster…) One satisfied customer wrote, “We were looking for an affordable frame with a simple look. This was what she found and it looks great, we are able to slide bins under the bed for extra storage. … We put it together in less than an hour.”

A splurge when compared to the other platform beds on this list, this modern West Elm bed has a lot going for it: It’s constructed from natural woods, has a 10-year-warranty, and was made in the U.S.A. The bed is available in walnut and birch (the walnut is FSC®-certified) in twin, queen, and king sizes and can be ordered with or without the headboard. The legs are powder-coated steel for strong support. The product description mentions that “minimal assembly [is] required” and points out that no tools are needed. Note that an underbed drawer is available for this bed — it holds up to 80 pounds!

This headboard-less design is constructed from real acacia wood with an ebony finish. Unlike some other platform bed frames, this one has 10.5” of space underneath the bed, which is just right for most under-bed storage containers and boxes. The velvet padding and non-slip surface on the slats are supposed to muffle noise and keep the mattress in place, but all bets are off if your kids use it as a trampoline. The bed is available in twin, full, queen, and king sizes and has a five-year warranty. One reviewer noted, “If you are looking for a platform, this is it! It looks amazing, the quality is amazing, it is a very easy setup process, and it is so so so sturdy! This may be the best platform for the price!”

In addition to its contemporary, luxe-feeling design, this bed from Amazon Basics is giving me modern, upscale-hotel vibes. (Now you just need your partner to bring you room service — OK, and also for your kids to go to their grandparents’ house.) The faux leather upholstery is not only cheaper than the real thing and easy to clean, but it’s also, of course, cruelty-free. The bed is available in twin and queen sizes. Reviewers note that the bed frame is easy to put together, and one wrote, “This has so far been the easiest piece of furniture to assemble, by far. … Been sleeping on it now for about a month and no squeaking or creaking, it doesn’t slide, and the dimensions are exactly as promised.”

This bed has a bit of an unusual design — it’s inspired by wingback chairs — which could be perfect if you have a run-of-the-mill bedroom setup and want your bed to be the focal point. It’s also toddler-approved with its lack of sharp edges. And if you’re looking for bright colors (not typically a bed feature, but why not?), you’re in luck — in addition to light gray and dark gray, you can choose burnt orange, light yellow, or peacock green. (You could really have some fun picking out coordinating bedding…) The bed is available in full, queen, and king sizes. One of the more colorful (ha) reviews reads, “While shopping for a new bed frame, I just about shit myself in excitement when I saw a teal one for sale at a reasonable price.” 

If you’re looking for a bed with a simple, modern design (and one without a headboard), this could be a winner. Pretend you live in a downtown loft without actually living in a downtown loft (or reminisce about one from your pre-mom life?). The design also makes it stable and sturdy, as does the material — it’s made from steel. Fun fact: Alwyn Home won a Good Design Award for this bed. One customer noted, “I wish there was an option to put 10 stars because this is an amazing product!! Strong and sturdy and took my fiancé and I maybe 10 minutes to set it up. What I LOVE is the sticky sides on the bars to keep our mattress from sliding.” 

The navy upholstery on this bed is a pretty medium-blue with a texture that kind of looks like denim in the closeup photo, but not enough to actually look like a denim bed, which may be a … niche preference. (My son has a denim-ish bed skirt, but he’s 10.) The tufted buttons on the headboard give it a classic touch, and the internal steel framework provides stability. It’s higher than the typical platform bed, in case that’s your preference, and it has a five-year warranty. The sizes available are full, queen, and king. This reviewer, like many others, noted that it was easy to assemble: “I could have easily put this together all by myself. … I love the design, I love the color. I love how sturdy it is.”

This is described as a “sleigh bed,” but it may not look like any sleigh bed you’ve seen. If it’s possible for furniture to look retro and futuristic at the same time, this would be it. This may be a “love it or hate it” sort of design — but if you’re in the “love it” camp, read on. This bed has a solid wood frame, which is nice, as is the lack of sharp edges, which is great if you often have little ones toddling around your bedroom. It’s available in full, queen, and king sizes; also comes in both black and white faux leather; and has a five-year parts replacement plan. One reviewer shared, “It’s quiet; doesn’t squeak when my husband or I get up. And I love the angled back, you can sit up in the bed comfortably. With our previous bed, pillows would always fall down in the gap between the mattress and the backboard.”

Most platform bed frames are pretty modern-looking, so this one’s a nice alternative for those who aren’t big fans of more contemporary designs. The headboard is relatively ornate, with tufted and silver buttons and a border that reminds me a bit of scrollwork. It’s also taller than many platform bed headboards. The bed is available in full, queen, and king sizes. You have to smile at the description shared by this reviewer: “Love this bed. Looks like an exquisitely grand throne for all sizes and genders. My 6’2” 18-year-old son … sleeping on it was proof of its sturdiness and adequate size. The bed frame didn’t budge or make a sound any of the multiple times he (non-gently) flopped down onto it.” (I want a throne!)

The design of this platform bed isn’t something you see every day, with its industrial feel that comes from the combination of the brown metal (that looks a bit textured), rivets, and solid-looking structure. (You might love it; you might hate it.) The faux-wood headboard is water-resistant and treated to resist scratches, and the 11” space under the bed provides room for storage. Note that the company will replace parts for free within five years of purchase. Reviewers, including this customer, say it’s easy to put together: “I like that it was extremely easy to build. All the parts were there and it’s pretty sturdy. The headboard is beautiful in my opinion and it’s good for what it’s worth.”

This bed is made from solid wood (acacia, hence the name), so it’s a little pricier than a lot of the platform beds listed here. The options for finishes are “chocolate” and “caramel” (and now I’m hungry). With its two wide horizontal pieces, the headboard has a bit more interest than a solid design. And with a maximum weight capacity of 800 lbs., the bed frame is stronger and sturdier than many platform bed frames, so no worries if you end up with a few kids and pets on there in addition to you and your partner. This reviewer is one of the many happy customers: “Very easy to assemble. … Everything was packaged well and some nice surprises were included. This is a good looking sturdy bed.” (Now I’m curious… What are these surprises?!)