Essential Bed Frame in All Sizes

Difficulty

Intermediate

Build your own beautiful and durable wood bed frame in any size. Can be painted or stained any color. Free step by step plans by Ana-White.com

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Essential

I love the simplicity and comfort of a sturdy, well built wood bed frame. But bed frames can easily cost $500-$1000 or more! Why not build your own? For a fraction of this cost, you could have a beautiful, custom solid wood bed frame!

Our DIY Wood Bed Frame Benefits

Sturdy and solid for comfort and long term durability
Easy to adjust in size
Paint or stain any color
No box spring required
No bed skirt required

Video Tutorial for Building this Bed Frame

Here is a video tutorial of me building this bed frame.

Ready to build your own? The free step by step tutorial is below.

Thank you for using my plans, we appreciate the support and trust.

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Dimensions

Dimensions shown in queen size. Can be altered to different mattress sizes and heights.

Preparation

Shopping List

Twin (Mattress measures 38" x 75")

1 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
2 - 2x6 @ 10' long (cut one long frame board and one short frame board from each board)
1 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long or scraps for the corner supports
1 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 6 feet long (adjust to 8' length for extra long twins)
6-7 1x3 @ 6 feet long for bed slats, can use furring strips
50 - 2-1/2" Kreg Screws
1-1/4" brad nails

Full (Mattress measures 54" x 75")

1 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
1 - 2x6 @ 8 feet long (cut shorter frame boards from this board)
1 - 2x6 @ 12 feet long (cut longer frame boards from this board)
1 - 2x4 @ 12 feet long (center supports, corner supports and center leg)
1 - 1x2 @ 10 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 6 feet long
6-7 1x3 @ 10 feet long, bed slats, can use furring strips
50 - 2-1/2" Kreg Screws
1-1/4" brad nails

Queen (Mattress measures 60" x 80")

1 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
1 - 2x6 @ 10 feet long (cut shorter frame boards from this board)
2 - 2x6 @ 8 feet long or stud length
1 - 2x4 @ 12 feet long - center support, corner supports and center leg
1 - 1x2 @ 10 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
6-7 1x3 @ 12 feet long for bed slats
50 - 2-1/2" Kreg Screws
1-1/4" brad nails

Standard King (Mattress measures 76" x 80")

1 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
1 - 2x4 @ 12 feet long - center support, corner supports and center leg
1 - 2x6 @ 12 feet long (cut shorter frame boards from this board)
2 - 2x6 @ 8 feet long
4 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
12 - 14 1x3 @ 8 feet long for the slat system
50 - 2-1/2" Kreg Screws
1-1/4" brad nails

California King (Mattress measures 72" x 84")

1 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
1 - 2x4 @ 12 feet long - center support, corner support and center leg
1 - 2x6 @ 12 feet long (cut shorter frame boards from this board)
2 - 2x6 @ 8 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 6 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
12 - 14 1x3s @ 6 feet long for slat system
50 - 2-1/2" Kreg Screws
1-1/4" brad nails

Cut List

Basic Measurements to Adjust From

LEGS: 4x4 legs cut to 3/4" less than the desired bed frame height. Recommended finished height of beds with mattress is 24"-26"
FRAME TOP/BOTTOM - 2x6 cut to 7" less than the mattress width
FRAME SIDES - 2x6 cut to 7" less than the mattress height
CENTER SUPPORT - 2x4 cut to 4-1/2" less than the mattress height
CORNER SUPPORTS - Same for all sizes, 6-3/4" long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 45 degree bevel
CENTER LEG(S) - Same as 4x4 legs
TOP TRIM TOP/BOTTOM - Same as mattress width - should be cut to fit
TOP TRIM SIDES - Mattress length minus 3" - should be cut to fit
SLATS - Mattress width minus 3" - should be cut to fit

Twin (Mattress measures 38" x 75")

4 - 4x4 @ 12-1/4" - bed legs
2 - 2x6 @ 31" - frame top and bottom
2 - 2x6 @ 68" (for extra long twin (80" mattress length), cut at 73") - frame sides
4 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 6-3/4" - both ends cut at 45 degree bevel, ends perpendicular - corner supports
2 - 1x2 @ 38" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
2 - 1x2 @ 72" - top trim, measure and cut to fit (77" for extra long twin)
Slats cut to 35" long, recommend about 12-14 1x3s, but spacing depends on mattress requirements

Full (Mattress measures 54" x 75")

4 - 4x4 @ 12-1/4" - bed legs
1 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 12-1/4" long - center leg
2 - 2x6 @ 47" - frame top and bottom sides
2 - 2x6 @ 68" - frame sides
1 - 2x4 @ 70-1/2" - center support
4 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 6-3/4" - both ends cut at 45 degree bevel, ends perpendicular - corner supports
2 - 1x2 @ 54" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
2 - 1x2 @ 72" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
Slats cut to 51" long, recommend about 12 1x3s, but spacing depends on mattress requirements

Queen (Mattress measures 60" x 80")

4 - 4x4 @ 12-1/4" - bed legs
1 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 12-1/4" long - center leg
2 - 2x6 @ 53" - frame top and bottom sides
2 - 2x6 @ 73" - frame sides
1 - 2x4 @ 75-1/2" - center support
4 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 6-3/4" - both ends cut at 45 degree bevel, ends perpendicular - corner supports
2 - 1x2 @ 60" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
2 - 1x2 @ 77" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
Slats cut to 57" long, recommend about 12 1x3s, but spacing depends on mattress requirements

Standard King (Mattress measures 76" x 80")

4 - 4x4 @ 12-1/4" - bed legs
1 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 12-1/4" long - center leg
2 - 2x6 @ 69" - frame top and bottom sides
2 - 2x6 @ 73" - frame sides
1 - 2x4 @ 75-1/2" - center support
4 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 6-3/4" - both ends cut at 45 degree bevel, ends perpendicular - corner supports
2 - 1x2 @ 76" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
2 - 1x2 @ 77" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
Slats cut to 73" long, recommend about 12 1x3s, but spacing depends on mattress requirements

California King (Mattress measures 72" x 84")

4 - 4x4 @ 12-1/4" - bed legs
1 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 12-1/4" long - center leg
2 - 2x6 @ 65" - frame top and bottom sides
2 - 2x6 @ 77" - frame sides
1 - 2x4 @ 79-1/2" - center support
4 - 2x4 or 2x6 @ 6-3/4" - both ends cut at 45 degree bevel, ends perpendicular - corner supports
2 - 1x2 @ 72" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
2 - 1x2 @ 81" - top trim, measure and cut to fit
Slats cut to 69" long, recommend about 12 1x3s, but spacing depends on mattress requirements

Tools

General Instructions

Once finished this project becomes very large, especially for the king sizes.

You may wish to cut and prefinish the legs, frame boards and 1x2 top trim first, then assemble everything in the room.

For long term durability and more professional results, I recommend using a pocket hole joinery system for wood joints. Here is a video with tips for using a pocket hole jig:

Instructions

Step 1

Build the "headboard" and "footboard" sections first by attaching the 2x6 top and bottom frame pieces to two 4x4 legs. Use 1x scrap wood to block up the 2x6, so it is inset on the 4x4 legs by 3/4". Two 1-1/2" pocket holes and 2-1/2" pocket hole screws per joint.