How to Replace a Sleigh Bed Footboard – Step by Step

Sleigh bed designs are easily distinguishable from other bed frames due to their stylish headboards and footboards which are artistically curved and shaped into a sled or sleigh. When determining how to replace a sleigh bed footboard, make sure you choose one that matches the style and color of the headboard and bed frame so it doesn’t look out of place. You might also choose to repaint the footboard before attaching it to the bed if you can find a style-match but not a color-match. 

To replace a sleigh bed footboard, first remove the bolts from the footboard brackets, then remove the footboard, replace it with the new footboard, and tighten the new footboard into the existing brackets with the bolts. 

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If you’re wondering whether your sleigh bed needs a box spring or if you can get rid of it and use a low-profile footboard, read our article.

What Is a Sleigh Bed Footboard?

A sleigh bed footboard is the board at the end of the bed. Sleigh bed footboards tend to be tall and include stylish curved or scrolled elements which mimic the shape of a sled. 

Traditional sleigh bed footboards offer a classic appearance. They include a really tall board which has a scrolled top. However, modern sleigh beds may include shorter footboards with some more gentle scrolling. They tend to have cleaner lines than their traditional counterparts which look more ornate. Choose a more modern sleigh bed footboard for a smaller room since the traditional footboard is tall and may not fit comfortably in a short or small room. 

We’ve covered several sleigh bed ideas and sleigh bed styles in our articles to inspire you to choose a new style of footboard for your sleigh bed.  

Notice the scrolled footboard on this sleigh bed is tall and ornate. This is a more traditional design. Image from Amazon.

How to Replace a Sleigh Bed Footboard

Materials needed to replace a sleigh bed footboard include a wrench, bolts, nuts and washers.

Below is a summary of all the material needed to replace a sleigh bed footboard:

Material	Why You Need It	Amazon Product	Price
Wrench	Use the wrench to tighten the nuts and the bolts so the footboard is well-attached to the rails. An adjustable wrench will allow you to work with any bolts and nuts.	Olympia Tools Adjustable Wrench	$15
Bolts, nuts and washers kit	Bolts are used to attach the brackets on the footboard. Nuts and washers help prevent the bolts from loosening over time. Generally you will have these from your previous footboard.	Bolts, Nuts, and Washer Kit	$11
Brackets	Brackets hold the footboard and the rails. You probably have these already from your old footboard.	Kings Brand Footboard Brackets	$25

To replace a sleigh bed footboard, remove everything off the bed frame, identify the footboard brackets, loosen the bolts from the footboard, remove the footboard, attach a new footboard to the sleigh bed, and then retighten the bolts. 

The instructions below provide general steps to replace a sleigh bed footboard. You can find more information on this video or in your manufacturer’s instructions. Here’s an example. 

1. Remove Everything off the Bed Frame 

Remove the bedding, pillows, and the mattress off the bed. If your sleigh bed is supported with a box spring you need to remove it as well. Have enough room around and place a plastic sheet or something else on the floor so nothing will get dirty.

2. Identify the Footboard Brackets

Find the brackets that attach the footboard to the bed rails at the right and the left of the footboard. Get the right wrench size or adjust it (if the wrench is adjustable) to the size of the nuts. If you are also replacing the sleigh bed rails, you might want to read our guide.

Footboard brackets are attached to the frame or to the bed rails. They use bolts to attach to a footboard. Image from Wayfair.

3. Loosen the Bolts from the Footboard

Hold the footboard in place so it won’t fall off suddenly during this step. Preferably let someone else hold it. Loosen up the nuts using the wrench, then loosen the bolt and remove it. The washers will come off easily. Repeat this step with all the bolts.

4. Remove the Footboard

Place all the brackets, bolts, washers, and nuts in a safe place so you can reuse them with the new footboard. Place the old footboard away from the bed frame using someone else’s help as the sleigh bed footboard can be quite heavy. Most sleigh bed footboards are made of solid wood, which will weigh several pounds.

5. Attach The New Footboard to the Sleigh Bed

Align the bottom holes in the legs of the new footboard with the slots in the bed frame brackets. Slide a washer onto a bolt and insert the bolt through a slot in the bed frame bracket and into the hole on the leg of the footboard. Slide a nut onto the other side of the bolt and tighten it and the bolt with a wrench. You may need another wrench to hold the bolt in place while loosening the nut because it might move along with the nut. Repeat the process with all the bolts until the footboard is completely attached. Place the mattress and bedding back on.

You may also be interested in learning how to disassemble a sleigh bed entirely. Make sure to take a look at our related article to find out.

Where to Find a Sleigh Bed Footboard Replacement

In general, the original sleigh bed footboard will come along with a bed. 

To match the style of the bed, the best place to find a sleigh bed footboard replacement is from the manufacturer of the bed. Alternatively, use websites like Amazon or Wayfair that have a wide variety of sleigh bed footboards and headboards.

ThomasNet also has a large set of sleigh bed suppliers  that you can contact for customized footboard solutions that match your bed’s headboard.  check for sleigh bed replacements or for a footboard customized for you.

How to Determine Footboard Dimensions

Sleigh bed footboards can have a lot of different features. They can include curves and scrolls, extra wood for the width of the footboard, thicker or thinner feet, and more. 

To determine sleigh bed footboard dimensions for a replacement footboard, measure the height, width, and depth of the existing footboard. Also measure the location where the bolts and brackets attach the footboard to the bed. All of these dimensions must be matched in the new footboard in order to maintain the look of the sleigh bed.

In general the width of the footboard will match the width of the headboard. However, the height and depth of the footboard will likely be different. 

These dimensions from Pilgrim City, a manufacturer of sleigh beds, shows that the width, depth, and height of the sleigh bed footboard are the most important. However, when buying a third-party sleigh bed footboard, you also have to pay attention to the height of the holes for the bolts and brackets. Ask your manufacturer for the dimensions of your existing sleigh bed footboard and try to match them to your new footboard. Image from PilgrimFurniture. 

Make sure to also take a look at our sleigh bed height guide to find the right fit for your room and your needs. Also, we’ve found some tips to choose sleigh bed mattress heights we’d like to share, so check those out as well.

Here are some of the important measurements you’ll need to take. The most important dimensions are those that will help you match the location of the brackets on your new sleigh bed footboard and your old sleigh bed footboard. Original image from Overstock.

If you’re still in the market for a sleigh bed, you’re definitely going to want to take a look at our definitive guide to sleigh bed pros and cons as well as our complete guide that answers the simple question, what is a sleigh bed?

If you’re interested in learning how to decorate your bedroom with your sleigh bed, make sure to take a look at our related article explaining our favorite sleigh bed comforter ideas with tips and tricks on how to decorate the sleigh bed too.

Also, if you think a sleigh bed is too big for your room, make sure to take a look at these 6 tips to use sleigh beds in a small apartment and our guide to lift up storage sleigh bed varieties and their benefits too. And finally, when you’re done with your sleigh bed entirely, make sure to read our article describing 5 methods to turn a sleigh bed into a bench.