Headboard Height and Size Chart – How to Choose the Right Headboard

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The word headboard is used to refer to the piece of furniture that is attached to the head side of the bed (the side where you keep your pillows). Why do you need a headboard? A headboard serves two purposes: it provides you something to lean against when you sit up in your bed, and also adds to the aesthetics of your bed and overall bedroom design.

Typically, the height of a twin headboard is 14 inches above the top of the mattress. The complete size dimensions of a twin size headboard are approximately 2 in. x 40.5 in. x 38 in. The height of a queen headboard is 28 in. above the mattress, and the dimensions of a queen headboard are 3.5 in. x 61.5 in. x 28 in. A typical king headboard extends 58 in. above the mattress, and its dimensions are 4.2 in. x 80.8 in. x 58 in. Please note, that these measurements are approximate and may vary from design to design.

Sometimes headboards have shelves and drawers in them, which not only gives you extra storage, but also allows you to keep your bed-time essentials close at hand. Some beds come as a single piece with the headboard as part of their structure while other beds such as some platform beds come without a headboard attached to them.

While headboards come standard on most bed frames, buying a bed and headboard separately can be a cheaper option and it also provides more room for creativity.

If you want to revamp the look of your bedroom every now and then, getting a separate bed platform and a headboard is a great option. Any time you feel like re-doing your room, you can simply switch the headboard instead of buying a whole new bed. 

When choosing the right headboard for your bed, it is important to know what the dimensions of a headboard mean and how they will affect the look of your bed and bedroom. the average height of a headboard varies with the size of the bed, ie. headboards of smaller beds are usually shorter than headboards of bigger beds.

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• How does a headboard work?
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How to Choose the Right Headboard Size - Headboard Size Chart?

To choose the right headboard size, you have to match it to the size of your bed. Thinking about the end-to-end width of the headboard, the typical option is to match the width of your headboard to the width of your mattress. It is important to note, however, that sometimes you CAN use a headboard with a longer or narrower width than your bed platform. If such is the case, make sure to center the bed precisely. This will bring symmetry to your room and make your headboard look stylish rather than odd.

As for the height of the headboard, the general rule is to make sure that the height of your headboard is smaller than the length of the bed. This doesn't mean that you have to roam about with a measuring tape; the sizes of headboards and bed platforms have been standardized and given names like queen size and king size. So if you want to make sure that your headboard fits your queen sized bed, all you have to do is look for a headboard that is built for a queen sized platform. Following are some headboards of different sizes along with their prices and links.

We also have a great guide on how to choose the right headboard design and material to match your headboard to your room and bed.

A beautiful upholstered headboard. Upholstered headboards can be found in many sizes. Find this one on Amazon

Headboard Mattress Gap Size

Sometimes there can be a gap between the mattress and the headboard. It is important to check the gap size between the mattress and the headboard, otherwise your pillows will fall down the gap and you'll have to wake up in the middle of the night to fish them out. However, make sure that the gap is less than 4 cm.

In some cases, mattress gap size can be more than just a nuance -- it can also be a hazard, especially if the bed is used by the children. This is so because young children can get their arms or necks stuck in the gap while they sleep.

The gap size is either caused by using a mattress that is too small for the bed platform size you are using or by having a headboard with a design that creates the gap. To avoid the gap, the best option is to use a bed platform and a mattress that are designed for each other. 

If, however, your mattress is slightly smaller than your particular bed frame, you can compensate for that by using a padded and upholstered headboard. Such headboards aid in filling up the gap. However, if the gap size is too large to be compensated by a padded headboard, you should consider buying gap fillers and use them to fill the gap and make your bed safe.

If there's a gap between your mattress and headboard, consider investing in a gap filler. This one is available on Amazon.

Size of Adjustable Headboards

Adjustable headboards come in handy if you're not sure what height of headboard will suit your bedroom. It's also useful to have an adjustable headboard in case you decide to replace your mattress with a thinner or thicker one. 

The typical height range can vary depending on the size of the bed for which the headboard is made. Please note that you can only adjust the height of the headboard and not its other dimensions. Following are a few examples of adjustable headboards that you can find online.

An adjustable, upholstered headboard from Amazon. You can change the height of the headboard and adjust it according to mattress thickness and size that you get. 

What Are Low Headboards and What Is the Size of a Low Headboard?

As the name implies, low headboards are headboards which are shorter in height than standard headboards. Some low headboards may also be adjustable. A low headboard for a twin size bed can have a height of up to 12 inches above the mattress. But this height can vary depending on the size of the bed. As a general rule, when your pillows are leaning against a low headboard, only a few inches of the headboard will appear above the pillows.

The advantage of using a low headboard is that it can make your room look more spacious and minimalistic as compared to using a tall headboard. Low headboards are also ideal if you want to hang a painting or some other wall décor above your bed. Low headboards look great in guest bed rooms.

Related articles:

• How do you choose the right mattress size for a platform bed?

A simple low headboard. Notice how the height of the headboard isn't much higher than the pillows. You can hang some great artwork above the bed with this headboard. Image from Amazon

Can a Full Size Headboard Fit a Queen Size Bed?

A queen size headboard is usually about 6 inches wider than a full size headboard. If you are upgrading to a queen size bed and your headboard is too precious for you to part with, you can use a full size headboard with a queen size bed.

This can easily be done by using adjustable brackets and securing the beloved full size headboard to your new queen sized bed frame. All you need for it will be some nuts and bolts, a wrench and some brackets specifically designed for this purpose. You can easily find such brackets from platforms here.

Note that since the width of the full size headboard will be shorter than queen size headboard so it may not be completely comfortable unless you and your partner lay closer to the center of the bed rather than the edges. 

Are All Headboards Adjustable?

Adjustable headboards are headboards which are designed in a way that their height can be easily adjusted whenever you want. Such headboards often come with metallic legs that can be adjusted up or down, adding or removing height to your headboard.

While adjustability is a very convenient feature, not all headboards come with this feature. The good news is that even without the adjustability feature you can make the headboard look taller or shorter by using a bit of creativity.

How to Make a Headboard Taller?

There are several ways in which you can make your headboard look taller. One simple way is to remove your mattress topper or get a thinner mattress.

However, if you like your mattress the way it is and don't want to change it, there are other ways in which you can make your headboard look taller. If you are using a headboard that touches the floor or whose height starts from the floor, all you need to do is to lift it up from the floor until it reaches the desired height and pin it to the wall behind it. 

You can do this by drilling some holes in the wall and installing some strong wall brackets to hold the headboard up. If the headboard is too heavy or you are raising it too high, make sure to also secure it firmly to the wall from the top side so that it doesn't fall and cause injury. 

If your bed is not against a wall or you just don't want to pin the headboard to the wall, you can also attach it to your bed frame using bed brackets.

How to Make a Headboard Shorter?

If your headboard looks too tall in comparison with the size of the bed and you want it to look shorter, one way to go about it is to use a thicker mattress or add a layer of mattress to your bed. The mattress will hide a part of the headboard, making it look shorter.

If your headboard is pinned to the wall instead of standing on the floor, you can shorten the height of your headboard with just a little effort. All you have to do is to unpin the headboard from the wall, bring it lower until the desired height is reached, and re-pin the headboard to the wall. Whatever option you choose should depend on where the headboard looks the best.

Another way to make your headboard look shorter is to raise the height of your platform bed by using platform-bed-risers.  Raising the height of the platform bed will automatically make the headboard look shorter.

How Do You Find Beds With Big Headboards?

There are several online platforms which sell headboards in a variety of sizes and styles. All the dimensions of the headboard are given along with a picture of the headboard so that customers have a clear idea about what they are buying.

If you are looking for a tall headboard, you can easily find it on platforms like Wayfair, Amazon and Houzz. All you need to do is to use the right keywords in your search. For a headboard with a tall height you can type in the search bar, "tall headboard beds", "extra tall headboard beds", "high headboard beds" and "extra-large headboard beds". 

If you are looking for a headboard that is big in terms of its width you can simply search for "wide" or "extra wide headboards." Following are a few examples of big headboards for different bed sizes.

An exotic blue high headboard on a king sized bed. Image from Amazon

Related articles:

• Canopy beds with tall headboards are amazing for guest bed rooms 
• Need to raise your bed? Take a look at five bed riser alternatives
• Do you already have a headboard that's too short? Take a look at how to raise a headboard to make it work.

Headboard Height and Size Chart: Finding the Right Fit

Choosing the right headboard height can make or break your bedroom’s visual balance. A headboard that’s too short looks lost behind pillows, while one that’s too tall can overwhelm a small room. Use the chart below as a starting point, then adjust based on your ceiling height and mattress thickness.

Standard headboard heights by bed size:

• Twin: 36–42 inches from the floor
• Full: 42–48 inches from the floor
• Queen: 48–54 inches from the floor
• King/Cal King: 50–58 inches from the floor

These measurements assume a standard mattress thickness of 10–14 inches. If you use a thicker mattress - like the Saatva Classic at 14.5 inches - you may want a headboard on the taller end of the range so it extends visibly above your pillows.

Ceiling height matters. In rooms with 8-foot ceilings, keep the headboard under 54 inches total. For rooms with 9–10 foot ceilings, you have more room to go tall and dramatic. Vaulted ceilings can handle oversized headboards up to 70 inches or more.

Proportional tip: The headboard should extend at least 2–4 inches beyond each side of the mattress for a balanced look. For a queen bed at 60 inches wide, aim for a headboard that is 64–68 inches across.

Measure your mattress height from the floor (including the frame and any foundation) before ordering. The visible portion of the headboard above the mattress top should be at least 15–20 inches to create a proper visual anchor in the room.

Getting the Right Setup: Practical Buying Advice

Your bed frame and foundation directly affect mattress performance, longevity, and warranty coverage. Here is what matters most when choosing or upgrading your setup.

Compatibility Checklist

• Weight capacity: Add your mattress weight plus both sleepers. Most budget frames max out at 500 lbs - a queen hybrid mattress alone can weigh 100+ lbs, leaving limited margin for heavier couples.
• Slat spacing: If using a slatted base, slats must be no more than 3 inches apart for proper mattress support. Wider gaps void most mattress warranties.
• Height and proportions: Calculate total bed height (frame + foundation + mattress) before buying. Most people find 24–26 inches from floor to mattress top most comfortable for sitting on the edge.

Mattress and Frame Pairing

The Saatva Classic ($1,779 Queen) is designed to work with any flat, supportive surface - platform beds, box springs, adjustable bases, and slatted frames. This versatility means you do not need a proprietary foundation. Free white-glove delivery includes setup on your existing frame, plus old mattress removal.

Sources & further reading

We reference authoritative health and sleep-science resources to support claims on this page:

• Sleep Foundation - Mattress buying guide
• CDC - Sleep & sleep disorders
• Mayo Clinic - Healthy sleep tips

Frequently asked questions

What is a standard headboard height?

Standard headboard height measures 48-54 inches from the floor for a queen or full. King and Cal King standard height is 50-56 inches. Tall/statement headboards reach 60-72 inches.

How high should a headboard be above the mattress?

18-24 inches above the mattress surface is standard for visual proportion. For tufted or upholstered statement headboards, 28-36 inches above the mattress is typical.

Does headboard height need to match mattress height?

Yes. Taller mattresses (14 inches+) reduce the visible headboard above the sleep surface. Allow at least 18 inches of headboard visible above the mattress for proper visual balance.

What is the height of a King size headboard?

Standard King headboards measure 50-56 inches tall (floor to top). Tall King headboards reach 60-72 inches. Width is typically 78-80 inches to match the King mattress width.

MattressNut Lab: what we actually measured

We do not publish vibes. We publish measured numbers. Here is what landed on our bench for this specific topic.

Method in one paragraph: we used a calibrated Shore OO durometer for firmness, a tri-axial accelerometer seismograph at a controlled 10 lb drop for motion, and an FLIR infrared camera in a 72 F room for heat. Where we report reader data, figures come from our opt-in claim tracker, cleaned monthly.

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