by Bed risers are supports installed under the legs of the bed to lift the bed up. This can be useful if you want to create storage space under the bed, or if you just want to elevate your bed for health or aesthetic reasons. No matter for what reason one buys bed risers, it’s fair to ask, are bed risers safe?
Bed risers are safe because they have a broader and more stable base than the actual legs of a bed. Choose the right kind of bed riser based on the design of your bed frame and the weight capacity you require.
Although bed risers are generally safe, if used incorrectly they may cause accidents. The following are some such scenarios:
- If the leg of the bed is incorrectly fit into the bed riser.
- If the surface on which the bed risers are placed is uneven, thus causing an imbalance.
- If the bed risers you are using are too large/loose for your bed’s legs.
- If the bed risers aren’t designed to bear as much weight as you put on them.
To make sure that your bed risers are safe, you should take note of the above and take care to buy bed risers suitable for YOUR bed. Please note that bed risers can be made of different types of materials like plastic, rubber, wood, metal, or a combination of these materials. The weight-bearing capacity of each type of bed risers can vary with the material it is made from as well as how they are installed and the way they operate.
In this guide, we’ll cover the different types of bed risers so that you can make an informed choice when purchasing risers for your bed. Additionally, we’ll provide some tips and tricks to add stability to your bed risers. You may also be interested to find out how you can raise the height of a headboard.
Plastic bed risers with a broad base giving a slight rise to the bed. Image Source: Amazon.Different Types of Bed Risers
Bed risers can be made of different materials (e.g. plastic, rubber, wood, metal, or a combination of these materials), and can be designed for different beds. When purchasing bed risers, it’s important to note the weight-bearing capacity as well as the material they’re made from.
Different types of bed risers include screw in bed risers, stackable bed risers, and adjustable bed risers. Bed risers materials also vary. Plastic, rubber, wood, metal, or a combination of these materials can be used to create different types of bed risers.
Another way to classify bed risers is by how they’re installed and the way they operate. The safest bed risers for your bed will be those designed to the specific weight of your bed. Also the sturdier the material the bed riser is made of, the safer it will be.
Here are some different types of bed risers that you might want to consider for your bed:
Screw-In Bed Risers
Screw-in bed risers are designed to screw directly into a bed frame and replace its legs. They are safe if they are installed properly.
This will make sure that the bed is not shaky and that the risers are secured nicely. However, it is important to note that when you attach the bed risers directly to the frame, they will only add a limited height to your bed. You can calculate the additional height by subtracting the height of your existing bed legs from the length of the screw in bed risers.
You can find screw-in bed risers easily on Amazon. While, they can be made of steel, wood, or plastic, we recommend you that if you are going for more height, use a sturdy material like steel and go for the bed risers that have as broad a base as possible.
Screw-in bed risers made of wood. Image Source: Amazon.Stackable Bed Risers
Stackable Bed risers can be stacked together when not in use. These bed risers usually have a broad base and thus provide a stable foundation. Stackable bed risers are used by placing one under each bed leg.
To use stackable bed risers safely, make sure your bed legs fit snugly into the depression in the stackable bed riser. This will increase the stability and safety of your bed legs.
The most common materials for these bed risers are plastic and rubber. When buying plastic stackable bed risers, make sure that the plastic is sturdy enough to bear the weight of the bed and the weight that has to be put on top of the bed. If the plastic is not sturdy enough, it can break and cause accidents that can damage your bed frame or even injure you.
Stackable bed risers most commonly raise the height of your bed by about two inches, but they can be found in different sizes that raise your bed higher. An important factor that should be considered when buying stackable bed risers is the thickness of your bed legs. The thicker the bed legs, the less pressure it will put on the riser, lowering the likelihood of any accidents. However, if your bed legs are too thin it might be wise to use some other kind of bed risers, for example, screw-in bed risers.
| Bed Riser Name (from Amazon) | Height | Price |
| DuraCasa 2” Risers | 2 inches | ~$25 |
| HomeIt Adjustable 3,5,8 Risers | 3-8 inches | ~$18 |
| Whitmor 6” Risers | 6 inches | ~$10 |
A set of 4 stackable bed risers in black. Image Source: Amazon.Adjustable Bed Risers
Adjustable bed risers are those that come with two or more height options. When you buy adjustable bed risers with two height options you will get a set of 8 pieces rather than 4 pieces. 4 of these pieces will be the base pieces (with a broad base) and the other four will be the top pieces that can be fitted on to the base pieces if you decide to give additional height to your bed.
Plastic adjustable bed risers are the most affordable type of bed risers but they have a higher risk of collapsing compared to other materials. To avoid accidents due to collapsing of the bed riser make sure that the plastic is heavy duty and is capable of bearing heavy weights.
| Bed Riser Name (from Amazon) | Height | Price |
| HomeIt Adjustable 3,5,8 Risers | 3-8 inches | ~$18 |
| Utopia Bedding 3,5,8 adjustable risers | 3-8 inches | ~$17 |
An 8 piece set of adjustable bed risers in black. These can raise your bed 3,5, or 8 inches. Image Source: Amazon.Once you’ve chosen your bed risers, take a look at our comprehensive guide to bed skirt uses, tips, and tricks to conceal the storage space you’ve created.
Are Stackable Bed Risers Safe?
Stackable bed risers are safe if they are made of heavy-duty plastic or some other material that has more weight-bearing capacity. Low-density plastic has a high risk of cracking and breaking.
Stackable bed risers are usually made of plastic and plastic has a higher risk of collapsing than other materials. Use high-density plastics like these Utopic bed risers with 10,000 lb weight capacity.
Another thing to consider for stackable bed risers is the width of bed legs that are to be placed in them to lift the bed. If the legs are too thin, it can be a problem as thin legs will put increased pressure on the bed risers. Moreover, if the legs are also long and are not fitted tightly into the bed risers, the structure can become wobbly and if you sit on the bed with force or hop onto it, it can cause the leg or bed riser to slip, causing accidents. It is best to use non-slip bed risers to be on the safe side.
Bed Riser Safety for Different Beds
Tall bed risers for a dorm bed. Image Source: Dormco.Bed risers that may be safe for one bed are not necessarily safe for another. Factors like the build, weight, and height of the bed can play an important role in determining what bed risers will be more suitable.
Bunk Beds
Bed risers can safely be used with bunk beds if you size them appropriately. Use metallic or solid wood bed risers with large insets to support your bunk bedposts.
As bunk beds are much higher than normal beds, they require a sturdy foundation more than other beds. If for some reason you want to add height to your bunk bed, we recommend you to use bed risers that have a broad base and a high weight-bearing capacity. These large bed risers should fit into your bunk bed posts without a problem because they have 5.5-inch insets.
The broad base will give more stability to the structure. If the original legs of the bunk board are not very broad, make sure that they fit snugly in the bed riser. If there are gaps, consider stuffing them or adding velcro to make sure that the legs fit firmly in the bed risers and don’t slip. This will also make sure that the structure remains stable.
While it might be okay to add a lot of height to regular beds, we don’t recommend adding too much height to the bunk bed as it can cause the bed to become unstable and therefore more prone to accidents.
Although screw-in bed risers are often the more aesthetic option due to their design, we advise you to choose bed risers with broader bases for your bunk bed, like stackable bed risers. We’ve written a guide on how to make a loft bed taller as well!
Platform Beds
To safely use bed risers with platform beds, determine what weight capacity your bed risers will need and choose solid wood or steel bed risers.
Platform beds are much lower in height than bunk beds and therefore some of the concerns that we have with the use of bed risers for bunk beds, are not such a big issue with platform beds. If you want to go for options that are both sturdy and aesthetically pleasant we advise you to buy screw-in bed risers like these ones made of solid materials.
However, if you want cheaper options and aesthetics are not much of a concern for you, you can choose to add stackable plastic bed risers under your platform bed. Adjustable bed risers should also work. Here’s a guide to raising platform beds with bed risers.
Other Bed Types
No matter what type of bed you have, it is important to take some moments to analyze factors like the structure, weight, weight-bearing capacity, and the design of the bed before making a decision about the bed risers that will suit the bed.
When buying the bed risers, make sure to read all their properties carefully and also take some time to read customer reviews on that product if you are making an online purchase.
Are 12-Inch-Tall Bed Risers Safe?
Some bed risers can add as much as 12 inches to the height of your bed. This much height can be helpful in small rooms with limited storage capacity, such as dorm rooms.
12-inch-tall bed risers are safe if the bed risers are broad enough to support the bed and if they are used under platform beds or adjustable beds. Do not use 12-inch-tall bed risers with bunk beds or loft beds.
Using such tall bed risers under tall beds like bunk beds and loft beds is not a safe option but you can use these risers with other bed types like platform beds. A very important thing to consider when using tall bed risers is the distribution of the weight of the bed on the bed risers. The more the area of contact between the bed riser and the bed frame, the better support they will give and the more weight they’ll be able to bear.
You might enjoy our article on bed riser alternatives.
How to Make Bed Risers More Sturdy?
If you have already bought bed risers for your bed and wish to make them more sturdy, here are some tips:
- Add z non-slip rubber mat underneath the risers. This step will keep your bed risers from slipping, giving them a better grip on the floor and thus preventing accidents. You can use the non-slip rubber with all kinds of bed risers including screw-in and stackable ones.
- Make sure that the risers are screwed in tightly.
- If you are using two-piece adjustable bed risers, consider gluing the top part to the bottom part. This will ensure that the two parts are attached to each other securely.
- Make sure the bed legs fit snugly into the risers. If there are any gaps you can either fill them tightly with rubber or you can use cement. However, please note that this may destroy the aesthetic value of the legs of the bed.
Should You Fill Bed Risers With Cement?
You can fill the bed risers with cement to firmly secure the legs and make them more sturdy. However, not all bed risers can be filled like this. Ask the manufacturer if this technique is appropriate for their product.
You can use existing bed risers as a mold to make cement bed risers of your own. All you have to do is to grease the inside of a bed riser or an appropriately shaped container with the mold release spray. Then add cement in it and mix it as instructed on the cement pack. Use something to make space for the leg of the bed and let the cement dry.
You should make sure that the container is placed such that the surface of the cement is level. After the cement is dry you can take it out of the container, paint it with your desired color, and use it as a bed riser.
Although filling bed risers with cement or making bed risers out of the cement is an option, we suggest you go for some company made bed risers that are suitable for your bed. You may also be interested to see these three simple ways to raise a boxspring.