How to Lower the Mattress on a Bed Frame

Lowering the mattress height can help small children get into their beds.

Bed frames are constructed in various ways. On some, the mattress and box spring rest on wooden rails screwed into the inside bed rails. Others have a metal framing that bolts to the frame rails. In some cases, there is no way to move the railing from the bed rails, so drastic measures are required to lower the height of the mattress in the bed frame.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Drill
• Drill bit set
• Screwdriver
• Flat wood saw
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Remove the bedding, mattress and box spring from the bed frame and place them off to the side.

2. Inspect the inside of the frame rails. If the frame rails have wooden strips attached to the side to hold the box spring in place, inspect the strips for screws. If the wooden strips have screws, remove them with a screwdriver and place the strips off to the side. If the wooden rails do not have screws, they are likely glued in place using dowel pins. You cannot remove the wooden rails. If this is your case, skip to Step 6. If the frame rails have a metal frame attached for holding the box spring, remove the screws or bolts that hold the frame rail in place and set the bolts off to the side.

3. Measure down from each mounting hole with a tape measure and place a mark on the inside of the frame rail. For example, if you want to lower the mattress five inches, place the mark five inches inches below the hole. You are limited only by the width of the frame rail in how far you can lower the mattress in the bed frame.

4. Drill pilot holes approximately half the diameter of the screws or bolts used to hold the box spring rails in place.

5. Place the wooden rails or the metal frame against the frame rails and line up the rail with the new holes. Secure the rail or frame to the bed frame with the original screws or bolts.

6. Measure up the legs of the bed with a tape measure and place a line that marks the distance you want to lower the mattress. For example, if you want to lower the height of the mattress five inches, place a mark on each leg that is five inches from the floor. Cut the legs off at the mark with a flat wood saw and then remove any rough edges with sandpaper. This applies only to beds with wooden frames from which you cannot remove the box spring rails.

7. Place the box spring, mattress and bedding back onto the bed frame.