Nightstand Height Calculator

The short answer

A nightstand’s top should sit about level with the top of the mattress, within 2 in above or below it. Most beds put the mattress top about 24 to 25 in from the floor, and most nightstands are made 24 to 28 in tall. For the width, a queen bed takes about 18 to 28 in and a king about 22 to 32 in, as long as it fits the space beside the bed with a little room to the bed. Set it 2 to 6 in from the bed.

Beds vary more than nightstands do. A low platform bed and a tall bed on a box spring take very different nightstands, which is why the calculator starts from your own mattress height.

How to measure

1. The top of the mattress: with the bedding off, measure from the floor to the top of the mattress, or of the topper if you use one.
2. The space beside the bed: measure from the side of the bed frame to the wall, or to the dresser, door or window trim next to it. If the two sides differ, measure the narrower one.
3. The bed size: the mattress size, twin to California king.

How to use the calculator

1. Choose the bed size and enter the two measurements.
2. Read the result: the nightstand height and width to look for, how far from the bed to set it and where a lamp shade should start. Every common height is listed as Fits, Tight or Doesn’t fit, with how far it sits above or below the mattress.
3. Save or share it. Copy link keeps your numbers in the address, and the link to the comforter size calculator carries your bed size.

How we calculate

The heights and widths below are a starting point. Your own reach from bed decides the rest.

• Height: level with the mattress top, within 2 in. A common height Fits within 2 in and is Tight within 4 in.
• Common heights: 20 to 32 in, from low platform beds up to tall beds.
• Width: by bed size, 14 to 22 in for a twin, 18 to 24 in for a full, 18 to 28 in for a queen and 22 to 32 in for a king. Twin XL follows twin and California king follows king.
• Space beside the bed: the widest nightstand that still leaves 4 in to the bed. With only 2 in, the width is Tight. When even the narrowest for your bed doesn’t fit, the calculator suggests a narrow nightstand from 10 in (small-bedroom nightstands run 10 to 15 in), or a wall-mounted shelf.
• Walkway: getting in and out of bed takes 24 to 30 in beside it, and the side you get in from deserves the most room. The calculator flags a side with less than that. The nightstand sits at the head, so it doesn’t take that space.
• Lamp: the bottom of the shade about 20 in above the mattress, around chin level when you sit up in bed.

Worked examples

Worked example

A queen bed 25 in high, with 30 in beside it

What we know

• Bed: queen, mattress top 25 in from the floor
• Space beside the bed: 30 in

How it works out

1. Height: 25 in ± 2 in = 23 to 27 in.
2. Width: 18 to 28 in suits a queen bed; 30 in − 4 in to the bed = 26 in at most, so 18 to 26 in.
3. Lamp: 25 in + 20 in = the bottom of the shade at 45 in.

For a queen bed with the mattress top 25 in from the floor, look for a nightstand 23 to 27 in tall, within 2 in of the mattress. 24 in and 26 in are the common heights in that range. Make it 18 to 26 in wide, which leaves at least 4 in to the bed in the 30 in beside it. Set it 2 to 6 in from the bed. For a lamp, put the bottom of the shade about 45 in from the floor, 20 in above the mattress.

Worked example

A low platform bed, full size, 18 in high

What we know

• Bed: full, mattress top 18 in from the floor
• Space beside the bed: 24 in

How it works out

1. Height: 18 in ± 2 in = 16 to 20 in.
2. Width: 18 to 24 in suits a full bed; 24 in − 4 in to the bed = 20 in at most, so 18 to 20 in.
3. Lamp: 18 in + 20 in = the bottom of the shade at 38 in.

For a full bed with the mattress top 18 in from the floor, look for a nightstand 16 to 20 in tall, within 2 in of the mattress. 20 in is the common height in that range. Make it 18 to 20 in wide, which leaves at least 4 in to the bed in the 24 in beside it. Set it 2 to 6 in from the bed. For a lamp, put the bottom of the shade about 38 in from the floor, 20 in above the mattress.

Worked example

A tall king bed on a box spring, 32 in high

What we know

• Bed: king, mattress top 32 in from the floor
• Space beside the bed: 36 in

How it works out

1. Height: 32 in ± 2 in = 30 to 34 in.
2. Width: 22 to 32 in suits a king bed; 36 in − 4 in to the bed = 32 in at most, so 22 to 32 in.
3. Lamp: 32 in + 20 in = the bottom of the shade at 52 in.

For a king bed with the mattress top 32 in from the floor, look for a nightstand 30 to 34 in tall, within 2 in of the mattress. 30 in and 32 in are the common heights in that range. Make it 22 to 32 in wide, which leaves at least 4 in to the bed in the 36 in beside it. Set it 2 to 6 in from the bed. For a lamp, put the bottom of the shade about 52 in from the floor, 20 in above the mattress.

Nightstand height by bed height

The nightstand height for common mattress heights, and the common nightstand heights that fit.

Nightstand width by bed size

The widths that suit each bed, and the space beside the bed the narrowest one needs with 4 in to the bed.

Low beds, tall beds and small rooms

A low platform bed puts the mattress top well under most nightstands: at 18 in, look for one 16 to 20 in tall, and expect fewer to choose from. A tall bed on a box spring goes the other way: at 32 in, 30 to 34 in. When nothing in the shops matches, a wall-mounted shelf at mattress height works at any height and leaves the floor clear.

In a small bedroom, the space beside the bed decides more than the bed does. If the room is tighter on one side, put a nightstand on the wider side and a shelf on the other. The bed size calculator shows how much walkway each bed size leaves in your room.

Before you buy

Check the height on the product page against your mattress, not your old nightstand, and remember that a new mattress or topper changes it. A nightstand with drawers hides more; an open shelf looks lighter.