Measuring a bedside table beside a bed
Posted by Me&Co Furniture

Bedside Table Height: Measure First, Stay Within 2 Inches

Choose a bedside table whose top sits level with your mattress, or within about 2 inches (5 cm) above or below it. Most tables start in the 24–28 inch (60–70 cm) range, and anything past 30–32 inches (76–81 cm) counts as tall. Your mattress thickness and bed frame decide which number in that range is right for you, so measure before you buy.

TL;DR:

  • Measure the mattress with its topper, protector, and sheets in place, then repeat the arm reach test with someone lying in bed to account for compression.
  • Platform beds may need low tables or shelves, while raised frames and box springs often call for a taller table or risers.
  • Measure the actual tabletop, not the listed overall height, because a thick top or raised lip can shift the usable surface by about an inch.
  • For a single bed, allow about 30–40 cm of width; doubles and queens suit 40–50 cm, while depth typically ranges from 30–45 cm.
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Table of Contents

What are the standard bedside table heights?

Before you pull out a tape measure, it helps to know the shape of the market. Designers put the average bedside table between 24 and 28 inches, which is roughly 60–70 cm. Use these labels to shortlist options, then confirm against your own bed.

  • Low: under 24 inches (under 60 cm). These suit platform beds and low frames, where the mattress top sits close to the floor.
  • Standard: 24–28 inches (60–70 cm). This is the range most bedrooms use, and it fits a typical frame with a medium mattress.
  • High: 28–30 inches (70–76 cm). A good match for raised frames, box springs and thicker mattresses.
  • Tall: over about 30–32 inches (76–81 cm). Designers call anything above that tall, and it only works when your sleeping surface is unusually high.

Think of the standard band as a starting point, not a rule. Two beds with the same frame can have mattress tops several inches apart, and that gap is exactly why a table that looks right in a showroom can feel awkward at home. A small-print exception worth knowing: a table can be the “right” height on paper and still feel wrong if the top is thick or the mattress is soft and sinks under you. We cover usable surface height further down.

A quick conversion reminder, since specs come in both systems: 1 inch equals 2.54 cm. So 26 inches is about 66 cm, and 2 inches is about 5 cm. If a product page lists centimeters only, divide by 2.54 to see the inches.

How do you measure your mattress and pick the right table height?

You only need a tape measure. The goal is to find the height of your fully dressed mattress. A South African retail guide on bedside table sizing suggests taking measurements in centimeters and keeping the table within about 5 cm of the mattress top, which matches the rule we gave up top.

  1. Make the bed the way you sleep on it, with mattress topper, protector and fitted sheet in place.
  2. Place the end of the tape on the floor beside the bed, where the table will stand.
  3. Run the tape straight up to the top of the mattress and note the number in both cm and inches.
  4. Aim for a table top that matches that number, or lands within 2 inches (5 cm) above or below it. The Daily Home Advisor states the same standard: measure floor to the top of the dressed mattress and match the table to it.
  5. Do the arm-rest test. Lie down in your usual sleeping position and let your arm rest naturally toward the table. Your hand should land on the surface without you lifting your shoulder or rolling onto your side.
  6. Check what has to live on top: your lamp, phone charger, glasses and any medication. If the surface feels crowded or the lamp shade clips your pillow, think about width and depth too.

For a worked example, say your mattress top sits at 62 cm (about 24.4 inches). A table between 57 and 67 cm (roughly 22.4 to 26.4 inches) keeps you inside the comfortable window. Say instead you sleep on a tall frame and measure 75 cm (about 29.5 inches). Your shopping range moves up to 70–80 cm, which is outside the standard band entirely.

Pro Tip: Measure with a person lying on the bed, not an empty one. A soft mattress can compress under weight, and your arm-rest test only tells the truth when the mattress is occupied.

Which bed types change the right bedside table height?

Standard advice assumes a standard bed. Many real bedrooms don’t have one, and the fix is usually simple once you spot the exception.

  • Platform and low beds: These sit close to the floor, so a 24–28 inch table can tower over the mattress. Look for a lower table or a floating shelf mounted at the right height.
  • High frames and box springs: A frame plus box spring raises the sleeping surface well past what a typical table reaches. Choose a taller table in the high band, or consider risers under the legs of a standard table to close the gap.
  • Thick pillow-tops and toppers: A deep mattress with a topper can increase the overall sleeping-surface height. Always measure with everything on, as in the steps above, rather than trusting the listed mattress thickness.
  • When to go taller or wall-mounted: If no standard table lines up with your bed, a taller bedside or a wall-mounted shelf gives you exact height control. We have gathered related layout thinking in our guide to smart bedroom furniture ideas for small homes.

There is a comfort reason to care about the bed itself, not just the table. A controlled biomechanical study of getting into and out of beds found that ingress and egress were least difficult and most stable at medium bed heights of 51–66 cm, while lower or higher beds felt harder and less stable. That research looked at hospital beds, so treat it as supporting evidence rather than a bedroom rule. Still, it points the same way as our advice: a medium-height sleeping surface is easier on your body, and a table at that same level is easy to reach from it.

What width and depth should a bedside table have?

Height gets the attention, but a table that fits the height and not the room is still a poor buy. Use these ranges as a practical guide.

  • Width for a single bed: around 30–40 cm. Narrow tables keep the walkway clear and still hold a lamp and a glass.
  • Width for a double or queen bed: around 40–50 cm, which gives you room for a lamp, a book and a charger without stacking.
  • Depth: roughly 30–45 cm is the range a retail sizing guide gives. Measure the gap between the bed and the wall or door swing, then subtract a comfortable walking space before you commit.
  • Distance from the bed: keep the table close enough to reach from your pillow, with its edge roughly flush with or slightly behind the mattress edge so you don’t catch your shins.
  • Outlets and headboard: note where your nearest outlet sits before you buy, and line the table top up with the headboard so cables can reach without stretching across the floor.

If floor space is tight, a narrow design is worth a look. Our Mason Narrow Bedside Table and Avery Bedside Table show how slim a bedside piece can be while keeping a usable top. For anyone who relies on lamps or chargers during power cuts, our piece on bedside pedestals for load-shedding homes explains why surface space matters.

If a bedside cabinet will double as pet furniture, such as a side table that hides a litter box, the sizing logic changes. The side table litter box guide walks through measuring about 1.5 times your cat, which is a useful reminder that the inside of a cabinet can matter as much as the top.

How do materials and installation change the usable height?

The number printed on a product page is usually the overall height. What you touch every night is the usable tabletop surface, so measure to that. A thick solid top, a lip or a raised edge can shift the real surface by an inch or so, and that is enough to break the 2-inch rule if you’re already at the edge of it.

Mounting changes things too. A floating, wall-mounted table can let you set the height, which may solve the platform-bed and tall-frame problems. It also keeps the floor line unbroken, which makes small rooms feel larger. The catch is hardware: use fixings rated for the load you plan to put on the shelf, and fix into studs or the appropriate wall anchors for your wall type. Check what your wall is made of before you drill.

Long-term fit depends on build quality as well. Look for sound hardware and corrosion resistance, because a loose or rusting joint slowly changes how level the top sits. This is one reason we build with materials and hardware designed for durability. A table that stays square is a table that stays at the height you chose.

Finally, give the table a visual role as well as a practical one. Designers treat a nightstand as a boundary that should complement the rest of the room rather than match it exactly. Pick the height for comfort first, then let finish and style follow.

How do materials and installation change the usable height? — overview diagram

Our take: measure first, then choose the table

Most bedside tables get chosen by looks and returned because of height. We think the order should be reversed. Measure your fully dressed mattress, find your number, and shop within about 5 cm of it. That one habit removes most of the guesswork, whether you buy from us or anywhere else.

We build our bedroom furniture locally, with assembly instructions to guide you through the job. Check our site for warranty and delivery details. Those aren’t the whole story of a good table, but they take the stress out of the part that comes after the measuring.

If your numbers fall outside the usual ranges, or you’re unsure how a thick topper changes things, talk to our customer service team. We would rather help you get the height right before you order than have you fight with a table that sits wrong beside your pillow.

— Hishaam

Where can you find bedside tables that match your measurements?

Mecofurniture

Once you have your mattress number and your width and depth limits, the next step is easy: browse our bedroom furniture collection and compare listed heights against your target. You’ll find bedside pieces alongside beds, wardrobes and chests of drawers, so you can keep a whole room consistent. If your wardrobe or storage needs more thought, our wardrobes and cabinets ranges sit nearby.

What you get with us is practical: locally manufactured furniture and easy assembly. Check our site for warranty and delivery details. If you’re furnishing more than the bedroom, our living room furniture, office and study and TV units ranges follow the same standards, and our tables collection covers side and coffee options. For children’s rooms, start from our kids furniture range.

Your next step: measure your dressed mattress, write down the number, then browse the bedroom collection or contact our customer service team for sizing help.

FAQ

How high should a table be from the floor?

For a bedside table, the answer depends on your mattress rather than a fixed number. Aim for the top to sit level with your mattress or within about 2 inches (5 cm) of it, which for most beds lands in the 24–28 inch (60–70 cm) range.

Trends lean toward pieces that complement the room instead of matching the bed exactly, plus floating tables that keep the floor line clear in small spaces. Whatever the style, height still comes first, so choose your finish after you’ve confirmed the measurement.

Should bedside tables be the same height as the bed?

Close to it, yes. The top of the table should sit level with the top of your mattress or within about 2 inches (5 cm) above or below it, so you can reach it without sitting up. Matching the frame itself matters less than matching the mattress surface.

Is 70cm too high for a bed?

Not necessarily. A sleeping surface of 70 cm sits just above the 51–66 cm range a biomechanical study found easiest for getting in and out, so it is workable but on the high side. If yours is 70 cm, pair it with a taller table and check that you can still sit down and stand up comfortably.

Sources

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