14 best bed frames for a comfy night’s sleep, tried and tested by experts

Score: 96/100

With its tall headboard, this bed frame makes a real statement, but that’s not the only reason it stood out in our tests. In fact, our panellists were impressed from delivery through to bedtime; the customer service was excellent, the bed came with all the necessary tools to build, and the instructions were easy to follow (bar a slight mix-up for one tester), with most of our panel finding it straightforward to put together.

Testers’ mattresses sat neatly on top, and the slatted base supported them well, feeling sturdy at night. The headboard was secure and the storage was a hit – everyone found the ottoman easy to open and close, and liked the depth of the base, which made it easy to pack items in. This design is much more affordable than many ottomans, so it will come as little surprise, then, that everyone would recommend our winner.

Score: 95/100

Bensons takes care of the assembly of this bed frame for you (all our testers found them helpful, and they were in and out within half an hour!). This makes it a savvy pick if you don’t like DIY and have no plans to move in the near future. It comes with the necessary tools and detailed, illustrated instructions if you do need to dismantle it down the line too.

Like our winner, this one impressed our testers with its deep storage, and most found it easy to open and close. The bed frame didn’t creak at all and supported mattresses well, although the divan design meant some slipped away from the headboard a tad over time, rather than remaining securely in place. The sleek headboard was comfortable to sit against and testers praised the bed’s luxe feel. Another one that delivered a panel of happy sleepers.

Score: 93/100

This is our highest scoring divan, and you can opt to add two or four sturdy, smooth moving drawers if you want to make the most of the empty space within. Most testers found the bed relatively easy to build, if a little fiddly, in part down to the tools supplied. They liked the fact the frame has wheels though, which helps when putting it into place.

Mattresses fitted well on top, and everyone found it a comfortable design, especially the headboard. Again, it’s a creak-free buy that earned a big thumbs up from all our panellists.

Score: 92/100

Looking for a bed that feels as good as it looks? This upholstered frame delivers just that – a timeless design paired with solid construction that promises night after night of quality Zs.

Delivery was smooth and stress-free, thanks to courteous couriers and, for most, assembly was a breeze, with all the parts present and well-packed. A solo build is doable but a bit fiddly – a helping hand is recommended. John Lewis also offers an optional £45 installation service, which several panellists rated as “brilliant” for those short on time or less confident with the tools.

Once assembled, the frame felt rock-solid and supportive, with no creaks at night. The headboard earned high praise for its generous height and comfortable cushioning, making this a top pick for both night owls and early birds.

Score: 90/100

This is part of a new, made to order (in the UK) range of beds from Simba, and while they all have the same divan base (with the choice between no, two or four drawers), you can select the headboard and colour that best suits your space. Simba assembled these frames for our panel, providing top customer service and leaving them with tools and instructions should they ever need to dismantle and rebuild it themselves.

Everyone found the mattresses fitted snugly, and the headboard was supportive when sitting up in bed. The drawers were accessible, but some felt they could be sturdier as they were told to be careful putting heavy items in them. But all our testers were impressed with the overall quality and if you want more creative control over your bed frame, this is a good route to go down.

We’ve linked to the Camden, but the range also includes the Hoxton, Didsbury, Wilmslow, Ludlow and Melrose. Below, we've also reviewed the ottoman frames.

Score: 90/100

This minimalist and affordable wooden frame has sprung slats and comes in an array of shades, from black or white to sage green, making it a box ticker for both style and substance. Overall, everyone found the flatpack design easy to build thanks to the clear instructions, but some said the tools provided weren’t the most user friendly. It was also fiddly getting the slats in place.

Testers liked its height, which has ample room for storage underneath, and found their mattresses fitted well and felt supported. Despite its lower price tag, it was sturdy enough for everyone. As it’s wooden, the headboard obviously wasn’t as comfortable as a cushioned design, but in our book, that's the perfect excuse to use some of the money saved on the frame to invest in some statement cushions!

Score: 89/100

REM-Fit's slatted bed frames all share the same reinforced base, but there are three sleek colourways and headboard designs for you to choose from. Whichever one you opt for (here are the Signature and Luxe designs to compare), our testers were impressed with the delivery service; all the slats and components arrive packaged within the headboard, so if you aren’t ready to build it straightaway, or you’re moving house, you can store it neatly.

As for the build, testers found it straightforward thanks to clear instructions. In fact, one told us it was the “easiest bed frame I’ve ever put together!” There’s some room below the frame to store odds and ends, and at nighttime, the bed felt sturdy, and most found the headboard secure. It was also quiet if they moved around. In fact, most of our testers would buy the bed again, declaring it a comfortable choice.

Score: 88/100

With its sumptuous velvet finish and cushioned headboard (perfect for lazy Sunday mornings), this bed frame is bound to bring a hint of hotel luxury to your bedroom – without breaking the bank! But this isn’t a case of style over substance; once assembled, following the fuss-free instructions, the structure felt solid and well-made, with minimal movement and no noise (even for a restless sleeper tossing and turning through the night).

The frame’s height divided our panel – while most found it comfortable to climb in and out of, one panellist found it a little too low. This also doesn’t allow for underbed storage, which is something to consider if you’re short on space. These were minor drawbacks, however, with an impressive 100% of panellists saying they’d continue to use the frame and recommend it to friends and family.

Score: 86/100

The Emma Hybrid Thermosync mattress is one of our favourites, and if you want a matching bed frame, this should serve you well. Testers didn’t receive instructions with their frames, but if that happens with yours, they are available online. This meant it wasn’t the most straightforward process to assemble the ottoman, but everyone was pleased with the finished results.

The high-quality frame was a supportive base for mattresses – everyone found it comfortable and liked the headboard, too. There’s ample storage when you lift up the ottoman, which was also a seamless process for all our panellists. In fact, despite the lack of instructions, everyone would recommend this bed frame to others, and said they’d buy it themselves if they were bed-hunting again in the future. Impressive!

Score: 86/100

Blending style with space-saving practicality, the Origin Storage Ottoman Bed Frame delivers a solid night’s sleep with bonus storage hidden below. On the whole, delivery ran smoothly and assembly was straightforward, thanks to well-packaged parts and handy diagrams, though some testers found it a little fiddly to align parts (so it might be worth having two pairs of hands for the job).

Once built, the bed felt stable and supportive, with no creaks or mattress shifting during use. The ottoman mechanism was easy to lift and lower, with our panel loving the ample storage space beneath (ideal for smaller bedrooms and minimising mess). Despite a few minor niggles with delivery and assembly, feedback was positive overall, and the frame impressed on looks, comfort and everyday usability.

Score: 86/100

These beds are in the same range as the Simba divan frames featured above, which means you can customise the headboard and colour. But given how different the storage mechanism is, we tested the ottoman separately. Everyone praised the amount of storage within the frame and said the bed was generally okay to open and close – although one tester said some force was required to close it, which may not suit everyone.

Our panellists also built the bed themselves, rather than trialling Simba’s delivery service, and found it quick and easy, with detailed instructions included. The bed felt premium and provided a sturdy base for their mattresses. Bedtime was a snuggly affair too, thanks to the comfy, secure headboard.

We’ve linked to the Wilmslow, but the range also includes the Hoxton, Didsbury, Camden, Ludlow and Melrose.

Score: 85/100

DIY novice? Fret not, for this bed frame offers a no-screw, tool-free assembly, with intuitive instructions and diagrams to keep you on the right track while building. Result.

Panellists agreed the bed frame felt sturdy and secure once assembled, with no creaking or mattress movement to guarantee a good night’s sleep. It’s the “perfect” height for getting in and out of bed, and many highlighted how seamlessly it fits into different interiors – especially minimalist or modern spaces. In other words, if you’re looking for a comfortable and classic wood frame that will outlast fleeting trends, make it this.

Score: 81/100

If you’d like an Emma frame but don’t want an ottoman, consider this divan. Most of our testers found it okay to build and liked the quality of the bed frame, which felt sturdy. It was comfortable too, with one panellist noting that it improved the overall support of their existing mattress. Even the headboard felt comfy to lean against.

The drawers were a real hit, with their depth making them ideal for storing spare bedding and towels. But one tester’s frame arrived without knobs, so they had to reorder replacements. That’s a short-term inconvenience, however, for a product that should prove reliable night after night. And this glowing review, from one satisfied tester, may just convince you: “There isn't really anything about this product I didn't like. It is a lovely bed frame.”

Score: 76/100

An affordable option from the ever-reliable IKEA, the Malm Bed Frame offers a sleek design with roomy built-in storage drawers – perfect for keeping your bedroom clutter-free. Delivery was smooth and everything arrived as expected, with easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams to make quick work of assembly (though testers recommend roping in an extra pair of hands to help align parts).

Once assembled, panellists found the bed frame true to its online listing in terms of both colour and size. It supported their mattresses well, offering a stable base with minimal noise for most – though one panellist did report some squeaking from the slats. Another common frustration was the hard, angular corners of the frame — panellists reported bumping shins and knees, particularly in tighter spaces.

It’s not as premium as many on our list, but despite a few drawbacks, the Malm impressed with its durability and clean Scandinavian design, making it a solid contender for guest rooms or more budget-conscious shoppers.