You don’t have to spend big bucks to boost the ambiance in your bedroom—adding a simple platform bed frame can be a game changer. It’s an easy and affordable way to support your mattress, and it will make your bed comfier to climb into and prevent mold from forming underneath. We spent weeks researching and testing bed frames to find our three favorites—each is easy to assemble, sturdy, stylish, and less than $300.
Best for: Those who want a low-profile frame that will last for years and that won’t easily move around or creak, no matter how restless the sleeper (or how vigorous the nocturnal activity).
Why it’s great: The CB2 Simple Black Metal Bed Base has a sturdy frame that’s easy to assemble and a low (9 inches tall), minimalist design that should look great in nearly any style or size bedroom, particularly those with low ceilings. The matte black, all-iron frame lives up to its name, forgoing any extraneous detail in favor of clean lines. The powder coating is thicker and more scratch-resistant than the finish on any other bed we recommend, and the frame looks distinctive and high-end, compared with many budget beds we considered (most of which were wood). And if you later decide you want to add a headboard, CB2 sells a variety of upholstered, wood, and metal headboards specifically designed to attach to the frame, which is great if you like to frequently switch up your decor. No other frame we tested offered so many options.
The CB2 was the simplest bed frame to assemble. With only eight main components, it had fewer parts to keep track of than other, more complicated beds we tested. Piecing together the frame took about only 40 minutes, but the CB2 was also the heaviest bed we assembled (so consider skipping arm day at the gym post-assembly). Still, this army of one was able to move each piece into place without expending too much sweat.
The CB2 frame required only eight bolts to piece it together (it came with a hex wrench to help) and an additional 16 bolts to secure the slats onto the frame and the center beam. Fourteen 2-inch-wide, ¾-inch-thick pine slats are attached to canvas strips, and they unfurled like a rope ladder, making them a little easier to manage than the many individual pieces on some other beds. And of the three beds we recommend, the CB2 had the least space (2½ inches) between the slats, which makes for a very sturdy build.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The most expensive of our three picks, the queen-size CB2 has hovered around our price cap, but if you’re looking for a larger bed, know that the king version is closer to $375. The frame was also very heavy to move, whether assembled or in pieces.
And our sample was missing a washer (the lone instance of a missing part out of all the models we ordered for testing). That didn’t stop us from putting the bed together, but without that washer there’s a greater possibility that the frame could loosen over time. Be sure to inspect all hardware before assembly (something we advise doing with any model).
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