How to Make a Bed Frame Taller | Height Options That Work

Raise a bed frame using risers under each leg, a taller foundation, or adjustable legs, matched to the frame’s design and weight limit.

If your bed sits lower than you’d like, whether for easier get-in-and-out or to fit storage bins underneath, the fix is usually straightforward. How to make a bed frame taller comes down to three main routes: bed risers, a taller base or foundation, or adjustable legs. Which one fits depends on your frame’s leg shape, its weight rating, and whether the design allows height changes at all. Here’s what to check before you buy anything and how to do each method safely.

Bed Risers: The Simplest Fix

Bed risers are blocks that sit under each leg to add height without altering the frame itself. They come in plastic, wood, and metal, and most add somewhere between two and eight inches, depending on the product. This is the most common method because it’s cheap, reversible, and needs no tools.

The trade-off: risers only work when the leg shape matches the cup or slot on top. Round, square, and caster-style feet each need a different riser design. If your bed has wheels, look for raisers with recessed wells that fully capture the caster so the bed can’t roll or slip off. Angled or unusually shaped legs are a poor fit and can slide free.

Steps that work for any riser install:

• Strip the bedding and, if possible, lift the mattress off to cut the weight you’re working against.
• Raise one corner at a time and slide the riser directly under the leg or caster.
• Repeat on all four corners, keeping every riser the same height so the frame stays level.
• Set the bed back down and check that each leg sits fully seated and the frame doesn’t wobble.

Lifting one corner of an assembled bed by yourself strains your back and risks dropping the frame.

Adjustable Legs and Taller Foundations

Many modern bed frames, especially platform styles, ship with legs that screw in and out. If yours has threaded receivers, you may be able to swap in longer legs rated for the same load. Check that the thread size and diameter match the manufacturer’s receiver, and that the new leg’s weight capacity covers the frame, mattress, and everyone who sleeps on it.

Adjustable bases with modular legs often offer multiple height settings. The official documentation for those systems requires all legs to be set to the same height for stability, so measure twice and tighten every peg securely before testing the frame for level.

A third route is replacing the foundation. Box springs come in standard and low-profile heights; swapping a low-profile foundation for a full-height one raises the bed a few inches without touching the frame at all. Measure your current foundation’s height, then compare it to the replacement before you buy.

What Not to Do and When to Skip It

Some height methods are genuinely unsafe, and knowing them saves you from a collapsed frame or a trip to urgent care. Never stack risers on top of risers to chase extra inches — that’s how frames tip. Blocking mechanical parts on an adjustable base, like the motor arms or power cords, can damage the unit or create a pinch hazard; skip risers entirely on adjustable bases unless the manufacturer explicitly allows them.

If your frame wasn’t meant to be raised, adding height can stress joints past their rated load. When in doubt, the safer play is a taller replacement frame built for the height you want.

If you’re shopping because your current frame simply isn’t tall enough, a frame designed for taller sleepers often solves the problem outright — see this roundup of the best bed for a tall man for models with generous height and length.

FAQs

How much height do bed risers actually add?

Most risers add between two and eight inches, depending on the product you choose. The height is set by the riser’s own dimensions, so check the listing before buying. If you need more than that, a taller foundation or a new frame is the safer route than stacking multiple risers.

Can I use bed risers on an adjustable base?

Usually not. Risers that block the base’s motor arms, lifting mechanism, or power components can damage the unit and create a safety hazard. Check your adjustable base’s manual for explicit permission before adding any height device; many manufacturers void the warranty if you do.

Will risers work with caster wheels on my bed?

Yes, but only with the right product. You need risers with a recessed well that fully captures the caster wheel so it can’t slide or roll off. Standard flat-top risers won’t hold a wheel securely. Measure the wheel diameter first and match it to the well size.