How to Make Bed Frame Slats

Bed with slats installed.

Bed slats are used to span from one side of the bed frame to the other. Slats are evenly spaced (generally a minimum of 5 boards) from the head board to the foot board. Wider beds may have double slats with a support beam in the middle of the bed running from the head to the foot board. The box spring is placed on top of the bed slats.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 1x4-inch birch boards
• Table saw

Instructions

1. Measure the distance between the side rails of the bed. The side rails are the wood boards that attach to the head and foot board. The bottom of the side rail has a wooden lip toward the inside of the bed. This lip is what slats rest on.

2. Measure just above the wood lip. Measure in several locations for older beds as you may have different widths. Subtract 1/4-inch from each measurement.

3. Cut wooden slats out of birch 1x4-inch boards. Birch is flexible and strong. Do not use inferior woods as they will snap under pressure or bed movement. Cut at least 5 slat boards. You may need more if your bed carries a lot of weight.

4. Position the slats evenly spaced from the head board to the foot board. The slat should just fit between the side rails. If they are tight they will squeak and if they are loose they will fall out when weight is placed on the bed.

Tips & Warnings

• For older beds with side rails that bow outward, consider screwing eye-screws facing inward about mid-point on the side bed frames and attaching a bungie cord to the eye-screws. This will pull the bow inward but still allow for flexing of the bed.

References

• Wood Gears: Building A Bed