Why Is Your Bed Height Important?

Low bed or high bed? Which is better? Here's why you should take your standard bed height into consideration the next time you’re looking to buy a new frame or mattress.

No matter if you’re buying your first bed frame or your third, it’s safe to say that your mattress depth and the height of your new bed are probably the last things on your mind when browsing for a suitable combination.

However, while you might not ever really have considered it, the average height of your bed can actually play a key role in bedroom comfort levels, not to mention how tricky you might find it to get up in the morning as you get older.

So, if you want to learn more about standard bed heights, and how to pick the right bed height for your size and age, take a look at our bed height guide below for all the information you need!

Why does the height of your bed matter?

Despite being a minor point for most bed purchases, understanding the impact of your bed height on how you sleep, and how you interact with your bed in general, could help to transform how comfortable your night’s rest is.

First and foremost, how high your bed is will determine how easy it is for you to get in and out of it. The higher your bed, the easier it will be to get up in the morning, while a lower bed will make it much easier to get in and lie down at night.

This means that what works as one bed height for one person might not be nearly as relaxing for another. For example, if you’re a shorter person, you’ll almost certainly want a lower bed, so you don’t have to haul yourself into it every night. Vice-versa, if you’re a taller-than-average individual, then a higher bed will likely be better suited for your needs.

And, of course, as we get older, we may find that it’s more effort to physically get out of bed in the morning, so selecting a higher bed could make for a much easier morning rise than one that’s lower to the floor.

Does bed height affect sleep?

Although there is no direct scientific evidence to indicate whether or not the average bed height you use can affect the quality of your sleep, if you’re a practitioner of Feng Shui, bed height is certainly something you’ll need to bear in mind.

This is because, in Feng Shui at least, the average bed height is thought to influence how easy it is for energy to flow around your bedroom, with lower beds lacking clear space beneath making it harder for energy to pass through freely – though having a bed that’s too high could also prevent you from feeling grounded.

In other words, like all Feng Shui, your bed height needs to be just right!

How high is a bed supposed to be?

In the UK and Europe, the average height for most beds is around 24 inches from the floor, though you’ll likely find that the standard bed height ranges anywhere from 18 to 36 inches in general in order to accommodate people of all heights.

However, it’s important to note that this height does not include how far up your headboard rests. Instead, this total height is a combined measurement of the base of your bed frame to the top of your mattress to give you an accurate idea of how high off the floor you’ll be when sleeping.

How high should my bed be?

For the most part, how high your bed should be will depend on both your physical height and personal preferences. As we’ve already mentioned, older and taller people may prefer a higher bed to make getting up easier, while a lower bed is ideal for shorter people.

However, as a general rule of thumb, you should look to have a bed height that enables your knees and hips to sit at equal heights when perched at the edge of your mattress. If your knees are above your hips, your bed may be too low, whereas if your knees are below your hips, your bed may be too high.

Naturally, getting a bed that’s the perfect height for you personally isn’t always possible, especially if your partner is a different height. But if this is the case, then it’s best to either find the closest height to your sitting position or meet in the middle with your other half so that neither of you is sat too high or low when getting up.

As an aside, you should also bear in mind that the height of your bed will directly impact how much storage space you have underneath your frame. So, if underbed storage is important to you, then a higher frame might be required.

What can impact the height of your bed?

When it comes to things that can influence the overall height of your bed, there are three key areas that you need to be aware of – bed frame height, bed frame type, and mattress depth.

Starting with bed frame height, it goes without saying that the base measurements of your chosen frame are going to dictate how far off the floor it will sit, so you should note how high your new bed will stand on its own in order to account for the size of your mattress in your final height calculations.

As for bed frame type, while traditional wooden and metal frames might come in similar heights across all brands, dedicated storage beds like divans and ottoman beds, are typically taller to accommodate for the storage space held within.

Finally, how deep your mattress is, and your preferred mattress firmness rating, will ultimately determine just how high off the floor you are when you’re in bed. Therefore, if you prefer a deeper and firmer mattress, then you’ll want to find a lower bed frame to prevent your bed from sitting too high off the ground.

What is a good height for a mattress?

Given that mattresses are made up of layers of varying materials in order to create a supportive sleeping surface, certain types of mattresses are going to be somewhat thicker than others.

For example, an orthopaedic or memory foam mattress will usually have a lot of depth to adequately provide the expected additional comfort and support, while a traditional pocket sprung mattress might be slightly thinner (depending on spring count).

In general, though, the standard height of a mattress is typically between 6 and 7 inches. However, it is certainly possible to find mattresses as deep as 10 to 15 inches, particularly luxury pillow top mattresses that often include a stitched-in comfort layer.

How to increase the height of your bed

At the end of the day, the best way to increase the height of your bed is to invest in either a new frame or a new mattress, depending on which part of your bed set-up you feel needs adjusting to meet your preferred bed height.

But if that’s not something you currently have room for in your budget, then you can raise the height of your bed slightly by adding a thick mattress topper to your current mattress until you can afford to invest in a new one.

With those last points covered, you should have a much better idea of how the height of your bed could impact your sleeping comfort, and what to consider when accounting for bed height in the future.

Naturally, if you’re looking to upgrade your bed with your preferred height in mind, then look no further than the MattressNextDay range for all your mattress and frame needs. And don’t forget to check out our sleep blog and buying guide hub for more helpful guides like this one.