Bed riser quick picks
Most versatile bed risers: Utopia Bedding Adjustable Bed Risers
Bed risers with USB charger: Honey-Can-Do Bed Risers With Power Outlet and USB
Stylish bed risers: Mercer41 Hanscom Bed Risers
Bed risers for under-bed storage: DormCo Suprima Ultimate Height Bed Risers
Bed risers are an easy and typically affordable way to lift your bed higher off the floor to make use of the space under it that might otherwise be wasted. “Beds typically take up a lot of floor space, so a handy trick that allows you to raise your bed height and use the space underneath as storage can only be a good thing,” says professional organizer Anita Fortes of A Neater Life. This is particularly convenient for small bedrooms where storage space is extra sparse.
These handy little contraptions are not only good at creating extra space for storing blankets and other items, but they can also serve as a mobility aid. “By reducing the distance from a standing or sitting position, they make it easier for people with mobility problems to transition to and from the bed,” Fortes says. “They can also be used to elevate other pieces of furniture, like desks, shelving units, sofas and chairs.”
How to choose the right bed risers
There are several different types of bed risers (or bed lifts) available to buy to suit all needs and budgets. “Bed risers come in wood, metal and plastic in varying heights and strength capabilities,” says Heidi Solomon, interior designer and founder of professional organizing services company Posh Boston. The two biggest deciding factors for which bed risers you ultimately settle on, according to Solomon, are how strong and how high you need them to be.
You’ll also need to make sure they are compatible with your bed’s legs. “To optimally support each bed, risers are designed to accommodate round or square legs,” Solomon says. Other than their weight capacity, maximum height and compatibility with your bed, other aspects to consider when shopping for bed risers are their general shape, material, whether they have any extra features (like USB connectivity or adjustable height) and their price.
To put together our list of the best bed risers for every need and budget, we tapped three professional organizers for their expert tips and recommendations.
Best bed risers
These practical plastic bed risers might be basic, aesthetically speaking, but they are durable, reasonably priced and available in five different colors to blend in with your bedroom furniture and overall decor. They’re one of Fortes’ favorite bed risers: She calls them a “good value” and tells us that “the pack contains eight risers in two heights, offering flexible height adjustment when used in combination.” These have a total weight capacity of up to 1,300 pounds and can lift your bed 3, 5 or 8 inches off the floor.
We love a good multipurpose product that can make our lives easier. Jamie Hord, professional organizer and the founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, loves these bed risers from Honey-Can-Do because “they not only lift the bed to give added storage space, they also come with a USB port for an additional charging station.” In addition to two USB slots, one riser in the set also has two built-in power outlets so you can make sure that all your important bedside devices — phones, tablets, alarm clocks, sound machines, you name it — have plenty of juice at all times.
Looking for bed risers that match your bedroom’s decor scheme? Although we found that stylish bed riser options are quite limited, Solomon recommends these gold Mercer41 bed risers. They can lift beds 3.5 inches higher and effortlessly add a touch of glam to any bedroom with their shiny and reflective surface. They’re designed for metal bed frames and have a weight capacity of 300 pounds each.
For maximum bedroom organization, these DormCo bed risers will lift your twin or twin XL bed a whopping 20 inches — imagine what you could do with all that extra storage space! If your bedroom (or dorm room) is smaller than you’d like, and you quite like the idea of a tall bed, these are the risers to go for. They’re made from extra-strong carbon steel for square, wooden bed frames and come in white, black or pink.
Some people might need heavy-duty bed risers — especially if you have a heavy mattress. Both Solomon and Fortes recommend these risers from iPrimio. With a capacity of up to 9,000 pounds, according to the brand, these sturdy risers give a 5-inch lift and include anti-skid foam pads that grip and protect the floor. Solomon says that they’re the best for those who want something sturdier. They’re also available in a pack of six, as many heavier beds tend to have additional supportive legs.
You may be worried about using risers if your bed has caster wheels, but these heavy-duty lifts have been designed exactly for this purpose. With specially shaped slots for the wheels to fit into securely, these anti-slip 3-inch risers will not only keep your bed steady, but they will also keep the floor underneath protected. They come in packs of either four, six or eight, and if you stack them, they’ll give your bed a total lift of 6 inches.
If you’re concerned about bed risers being an eyesore, Fortes and Solomon recommend these Honey-Can-Do bed lifts that blend in nicely with wooden bed frames or wooden floors. You can get them in either dark cherry wood or lighter maple wood, and they have a total weight capacity of 1,200 pounds. “These are a good match for wooden bed frames, have a nice design and add an additional 3.5 inches in height,” Fortes says. Plus, if you need extra height, you can stack these risers on top of each other.
If you're looking for bed risers for metal frames, this set from Tech Team can give you plenty of under-bed storage space by lifting your frame 5 more inches off the floor. They have a steel mounting stud designed to fit inside the bed’s metal legs, providing extra support and stability. They come with two different-sized adapters that make them compatible with both 1/2-inch- and 3/8-inch-diameter bed legs. Six risers come in each pack and they can hold up to 900 pounds total in weight.
Adding up to 5.25 inches to your bed’s height, these affordable bed risers from Home-it are made from durable plastic and can support up to 1,200 pounds in total. They have a square hole for the bed frame’s legs but can also accommodate thinner, round legs as they each have a 1-inch lip to keep the bed securely in place. They’re available in either black or white and, when they’re not in use, they nest into each other for easy storage.