How to Build a Bed Frame

Quality, sturdy bed frames are expensive. If you're handy with some tools and have plenty of time and patience, you can craft your own for a fraction of the price. Whether you want something incredibly basic or something stylish, you can build your own bed frame at home.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Plenty of high quality wood
• Screws
• Bedrail Hangers
• Lag bolts (if bedrail hangers are unavailable)
• Veneered plywood

1. Decide what type of bed you'd like. The simplest form is a basic box that lies on the floor. This can be made easily without many materials and little woodworking expertise. You can also make a traditional 4 post bed, which should be made of higher quality wood.

2. 

   The basic box

   Measure your mattress. The outer dimensions of the box should be just a hair smaller than this, to avoid hitting your legs against the edge when you get out of bed. Cut two side edges and two end edges. Because you'll need to clamp them, it's best to cut the end pieces to fit between the edge pieces (see image).

3. 

   With wood glue, such as Gorilla Glue, secure these pieces together. Use a large clamp to hold them in place.

4. 

   Once the glue has dried, sink two to three heavy duty screws into each corner of the box.

5. 

   If you're making a full size or above bed, you should place one, or more depending upon your preference, support beams inside the box. These can be attached with just screws.

6. You should have a very study frame. Cut a sheet of veneered plywood to size and attach it to the top of the frame.

7. The 4 Post bed

   Again, you'll need to measure your mattress. Taking into account the size of the square posts, cut the edge pieces to size. When you put the pieces together, the total length and width of the interior should be slightly larger than your mattress. Cut the bed posts to the height of your choosing.

8. Attach the bedrail hangers to the posts, one on each side that will be attached to a rail (two for each post). Attach the matching side of the bedrail hanger to the end of each edge piece.

9. Cut a groove in three (or more) blocks to function as holders for support beams. The groove should be the width of the pieces of wood you plan to use for a slat. Attach these support blocks at equidistant points on long edges of the frame.

10. Hang the frame edges on the posts, by joining the bedrail hangers.

11. Lay the support beams in the blocks. Lay the plywood on top of the support beams. Your mattress should fit nicely on top of the frame!

Tips & Warnings

• Check out the articles in the resources for some great, real life, step by step photos of building a bed frame.

Resources

• WikiHow - Build a Wood Bed Frame
• SenTex - Build a Bed Frame