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Thinking of getting bed risers instead of swapping out your bed frame? While a good set of bed risers may help elevate the height of your bed for ease of use, not all of them are made of the same quality. Before you go about making a purchase, let’s find out whether bed risers are indeed safe enough for use.
Are bed risers safe to use?
There are a lot of different types of bed risers and pretty much most of them are safe to use.
Usually used to increase the height of a bed as well as to add extra under-bed storage space, a bed riser is a piece of hardware usually made from either steel, wood or plastic that’s placed beneath each leg of a bed frame. The main two types of bed risers are stackable bed risers, adjustable bed risers and screw-in bed risers.
They come in different shapes (circular, square, etc.) and sizes to fit every individual bed frame but sometimes bed risers can compromise your bed’s safety, especially when they’re used incorrectly.
When bed risers are unsafe
There are a lot of reasons when bed risers can be deemed unsafe but thankfully, they are easy to rectify.
Before you even think of using a bed riser, you need to make sure of a few things: the evenness of your bedroom floor, the exact measurements of your bed’s legs as well as the correct type and size of bed risers you need.
If you don’t, then these are usually the causes of bed risers being unsafe.
Uneven floor
Not all floors are even which is usually the case in houses built prior to the 1940s that feature heavy, wooden floors. While this may add charm to the overall look of a room, using bed risers on uneven floors can cause bed frames to wobble which can potentially be hazardous. It does not matter whether you use the best bed risers available on the market, using them on uneven floors is more disadvantageous than beneficial.
If you really need to add height to your bed for health reasons, you might want to look into getting an adjustable bed base instead. Adjustable beds are a great option for those who suffer from sleep apnea and other health conditions. Just make sure your mattress is also adjustable.
Incorrect installation
Installing bed risers incorrectly are definitely unsafe. Make sure the screws are on tight if you are using screw-in bed risers and that you follow installation instructions to a T. An instruction manual is usually included with every purchase of bed risers.
This is also why we do not recommend DIY bed risers (well, unless you’re a professional carpenter or woodworker).
Wrong size
Using the wrong size bed risers can also be potentially unsafe. First of all, they won’t fit if they’re too small which means you then have to go through the hassle of returning and exchanging. And if they’re too big for your bed’s legs, they could make your bed topple over with you in it and that is definitely not a good thing.
Always make sure to take your bed’s leg measurements before purchasing any type of bed risers.
Too much weight on the bed riser
Always remember that weight of your entire bed – which includes you, any sleeping partner you might have, the mattress and any type of bedding you may use – will sit on top of the bed risers. Each brand and type of bed riser has a limited weight capacity which is usually indicated on the packaging.
Putting too much weight on the bed risers or going over the recommended weight limit will not only cause your bed risers to break (yes, even solid wood bed risers) but can cause damage to your bed frame as well. And if you’re using tall bed risers, that raises the risk exponentially.
Bed riser safety for different frame types
Whether you can use a bed riser or not depends on the type of bed frame you have which also leads to bed riser safety. Not all bed frames can work with bed risers and not all bed frames need them.
Platform beds
The lack of under-bed clearance makes platform beds incompatible with bed risers. If you need to raise the height of your platform bed, you should look into getting a thicker mattress like the Nolah Evolution 15 which can add 15 inches to your bed height.
Bunk beds
The use of bed risers with bunk beds are not recommended and could be very dangerous, especially when little kids are involved.
A bunk bed is already a tall enough bed and do not usually need the help of bed risers. Some bunk beds even come with built-in drawers, or higher under bed clearance for additional storage space should you need them.
Using bed risers with bunk beds – even heavy duty bed risers – are neither practical nor safe since bunk beds are already pretty tall. And no, not even guard rails can help you if your whole bed topples over.
Loft beds
Same with bunk beds, loft beds do not need the additional height from bed risers since they are already a taller type of bed frame. Most loft beds already come with built-in storage space such as shelves and drawers. Some even come with a built-in desk.
Adding to a loft bed’s height with the use of bed risers, as with bunk beds, would be dangerous and impractical.
Types of bed risers
There are three different types of bed risers and they can be made from either plastic, metal or solid wood.
There are no wrong or right bed risers as long as they are made from sturdy materials and they fit your bed frames perfectly. The choice of which type of bed frame would be best for your bed frame is entirely up to you.
Adjustable bed risers
Adjustable bed risers are a set of bed risers that are height-adjustable. Adjustable bed risers are usually made from heavy duty plastic which makes them more flexible and easier to adjust. Some brands of plastic adjustable risers feature anti-skid bottoms for added stability and safety. These type of bed risers are best for really low-lying bed frames.
Stackable bed risers
Another type of height-adjustable bed risers are stackable bed risers. Typically made from wood or plastic, stackable bed risers are a type of bed risers that can be stacked on top of each other so you can change the height of your bed whenever you want to. Both adjustable and stackable bed risers are best for really low-lying frames.
Screw-in bed risers
Screw-in bed risers are bed risers which can be screwed onto the legs of a bed. Probably the safest bed risers since they won’t budge whatsoever once they’re on, screw-in bed risers can be made from either metal or solid wood but never plastic. These type of bed risers come in different heights but you have to choose them in-store and once they’re on, the height cannot be adjusted. Screw-in risers can work with both low-lying and mid-height bed frames.
How to choose bed risers
First and foremost, choose a set of risers that can not only fit your bed’s legs but ones that match your bed frame too. For instance, if you’ve got a wooden bed frame, opt for bed risers made out of wood and if you’ve got a metal bed frame, choose metal risers.
Weight capacity
As we’ve mentioned previously, most brands of bed risers come with a weight limit. These are usually indicated on the package. Before you purchase bed risers, make sure to take extra care in calculating the entire weight of your bed (bed frame, mattress and bedding) while also taking into consideration your weight as well as that of your partner’s (if you share a bed).
Bed height
The main purpose of getting bed risers is to elevate the height of your bed as well as adding a little bit of additional under bed storage space. If you’ve already got a tall bed, there really is no use in adding bed risers. In the same vein, most platform beds do not normally have enough under bed clearance for you to be able to add bed risers in. Low-lying to mid-level frames are the best candidates for the use of a bed riser.
Leg width
Measuring your bed legs are imperative for you to be able to choose the correct and corresponding size of risers. As we’ve mentioned, loose fitting bed risers can potentially be unsafe for both you and your bed frame.
Bed size
Bed risers are safe to use with most bed sizes. Most bed risers also indicate what bed sizes they’re best for on the packaging. But as rule of thumb, taller bed risers are best for smaller bed sizes such as Twin to Full sized beds while mid-length bed risers are best for bigger bed sizes such as Kings and Queens.
FAQs
It usually depends on the type of bed riser but most brands of bed risers can hold up to 1000 lbs. of combined weight. Always check the packaging before buying bed risers to confirm the recommended weight limit.
Bed risers that are well-made and made from premium, sturdy materials are designed to hold a lot of weight and would not typically break easily. Always make sure to buy good quality risers to ensure both comfort and safety.
Good quality plastic bed risers are generally safe and are designed to not break easily.
Conclusion
If you choose to add bed risers to your bed frame, make sure to buy good quality, premium risers to ensure both safety and comfortability.
There are a wide variety of safe bed risers available on the market that will suit your preferences, needs and budget.
Next step: Read our guide to the best bed frame for a heavy person. If you’re overweight then you need a frame that has extra weight capacity. We tested every brand on this list to make sure that they are capable of safely handling excess weight.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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