Do You Need Bed Risers? How to Raise the Height of a Bed Frame

Bed risers are blocks made from plastic, wood or metal that slot under a bed frame's legs to raise the height by 5 to 15 cm, giving you more under-bed storage, easier access, or better airflow. You may not need them at all if your bed base is already raised (like most Koala bed bases), but they're useful for tight-clearance frames or where you want more room to slide storage boxes underneath. Below we cover who benefits, the safest ways to raise a bed, how risers compare to levellers, and how to pick the right ones.

Key Takeaways

• Bed risers raise a bed frame by 5 to 15 cm using stackable plastic, wood or metal blocks under each leg.

• Not every bed needs risers: raised-platform bed bases (like most in our Koala range) already give you under-bed clearance for storage boxes.

• Bed risers and bed levellers do different jobs: risers raise the whole bed evenly; levellers correct one wobbly leg on an uneven floor.

• Weight capacity matters most for safety: check the set's rated capacity (typically 200 to 450 kg total) and never exceed it.

• On carpet, risers can settle unevenly over time; on hard floors, they're more stable but can slide without rubber grips.

Do You Actually Need Bed Risers?

You need bed risers only if your bed frame is too low for your specific use case, whether that's under-bed storage, easier access, or better airflow. Not every bed benefits. If your current bed base already sits at a mattress-top height of 45 to 60 cm off the floor and gives you 20 to 30 cm of usable under-bed clearance, adding risers may not solve a real problem.

Bed risers make sense when:

• You need more under-bed storage. Your current clearance is under 20 cm and you want to fit taller storage boxes, suitcases or bins.

• The bed is too low for you to get in and out of comfortably. Standing up from a low bed puts more load on knees and lower back; raising the bed by 10 to 15 cm reduces the effort.

• The frame sits directly on the floor with no legs. Some platform beds have no legs; risers give you clearance for airflow and cleaning underneath.

• You want more airflow in humid climates. Higher clearance underneath reduces the mould risk of trapped moisture in tropical or coastal bedrooms.

Bed risers don't make sense when:

• Your bed base already has 20 to 30 cm of under-bed clearance. Adding more may make the bed too tall to sit on comfortably.

• The bed frame isn't rated for extra height. Some frames become unstable when raised because the leg geometry wasn't designed for it.

• You're in a rental and the bed came with the property. Risers can void some short-term rental furniture terms.

Our bed frames collection is designed with under-bed clearance already built in, so most Koala bed base owners don't need risers. If you're building the bed from scratch and want more height than risers can deliver, choosing a taller bed base is usually a cleaner long-term option than stacking risers.

Ways to Raise the Height of a Bed Frame

You can raise a bed frame's height in three main ways: adding bed risers under existing legs, swapping to longer legs or leg extenders, or replacing the bed base entirely with a taller design. Each has different trade-offs on stability, cost and effort.

Bed Risers

Bed risers are the fastest and cheapest way to raise a bed. They come in plastic, wood or metal, typically add 5 to 15 cm of height per riser, and can be stacked for more (though stacked risers reduce stability). Most sets include four risers, one under each leg, and slot under existing feet without tools.

Best for: renters, temporary solutions, or bed frames with well-rated legs that can handle the extra height.

Downsides: less stable than a purpose-designed taller bed base, especially on carpet where they can sink or shift over time.

Bed Legs & Leg Extenders

Bed leg extenders screw into or replace the existing bed legs. They're more stable than risers because they become part of the frame's leg structure, and typically add 5 to 20 cm of height. Some designs are adjustable within a range; others come at fixed heights.

Best for: bed frames with removable or replaceable legs (many modern bed bases), sleepers who want the height gain to feel permanent and stable.

Downsides: only works if your bed frame's legs are removable and standard-thread; not all frames support leg replacement.

Choosing a Taller Bed Base

The most stable long-term option is choosing a bed base that already sits at the height you want. A taller bed base is engineered as a single unit, so structural stability, weight distribution and warranty coverage all account for the full-height design. It's more expensive upfront than a set of risers, but easier to move, quieter over time, and doesn't have the "raised on blocks" look that risers can introduce.

For a raised, warranty-covered bed base, our wooden bed frames range covers 5 designs (single to king) with generous under-bed clearance already built in. The Kirribilli Bed Base and Paddington Bed Base sit in the mid-height range with clean lines; the Balmain Bed Base and Brunswick Bed Base are lower-profile if you want a modest raise rather than a full-height frame.

Bed Risers vs Bed Levellers, What's the Difference (Comparison Table)

Bed risers and bed levellers look similar but do different jobs. Risers raise all four legs by the same amount to lift the whole bed; levellers adjust one or two legs to correct a wobble on an uneven floor. Using one when you actually need the other doesn't fix the problem and can make stability worse. The table below covers the differences.

If your bed rocks slightly on one corner but sits fine on the other three, you need a leveller. If you want the whole bed higher for storage or access, you need risers. Some bed base designs (including ours) come with built-in adjustable feet that handle both jobs within a small range.

Are Bed Risers Safe? Weight Limits & Stability

Bed risers are safe if you match the weight rating to your bed's total load (mattress + bed base + sleepers + any additional weight on the bed) and choose the right material for your floor type. The main safety failure mode is exceeding the weight rating, which can cause plastic risers to crack and drop the bed suddenly.

Safety considerations:

• Weight capacity. Check the total rating for the set (usually 200 to 450 kg). Add up mattress weight (15 to 40 kg), bed base weight (30 to 80 kg), and expected sleeper weight (150 to 200 kg for two adults) to check the load. Stay well below the maximum.

• Material choice. Solid timber and metal risers are stronger than hollow plastic. For heavier setups (hybrid mattress + two adults), avoid the thinnest plastic risers.

• Stacking limits. Most manufacturers advise against stacking risers because it multiplies wobble. If your set is stackable, follow the maximum stack limit exactly.

• Floor surface. On hard floors (timber, tile, laminate), use risers with rubber grips or non-slip pads. On carpet, look for wider bases that spread load and don't sink into the pile.

• Corner load balance. Ensure all four risers sit fully under the leg with no overhang. A partially-supported leg can tip suddenly.

• Check every 3 to 6 months. Give the bed a firm push at each corner and re-seat any risers that have shifted. Longer-term, replace risers that look cracked, warped or discoloured.

How to Choose the Right Bed Risers

Choose bed risers by first measuring the current bed leg base (width and shape), calculating the total load, deciding how much height you want to add, and then matching those to a product that fits. Standard bed legs are usually round or square, 4 to 8 cm across, so most risers accommodate common leg sizes.

Practical decision steps:

• Measure your bed legs. Note the shape (round, square, rectangular) and the base dimensions.

• Calculate total weight. Mattress + bed base + expected sleeper weight, then check the riser set's rating.

• Decide target height. How much extra clearance do you actually need? 5 to 8 cm handles most storage-box upgrades; 10 to 15 cm handles knee-height access improvements.

• Match material to floor. Wood or metal for hard floors; wide-base plastic or metal on carpet.

• Check base grip. Look for rubber grips, felt pads or textured bases to prevent sliding on hard floors.

If risers feel like a temporary fix for something a proper bed base would solve better, consider whether it's time to upgrade the frame. Our timber bed frames collection is designed with the right under-bed clearance built in, so you get the height benefits without the stability trade-offs of stacking risers under an underspec frame.

Explore Our Bed Base Range for Under-Bed Clearance

Our bed bases are already raised on legs with usable under-bed clearance, so most owners never need risers. Explore our range:

• Bed base: the complete range of Koala bed bases in Australian sizes single to king, all tool-free with generous under-bed clearance.
• Warm ash slat bed base: the Kirribilli Bed Base, mid-height design with clean lines and natural timber finish.
• Fabric-upholstered lower-profile bed base: the Balmain Bed Base, a lower-profile alternative with clip-on floating bedside table option.
• Upholstered bed base with soft headboard: the Paddington Bed Base, mid-height with a plush upholstered headboard.
• Compact modern bed base: the Brunswick Bed Base, sized to fit smaller Australian bedrooms.