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What Is The Best Nightstand Size for a King Bed? (Explained)

If you can’t reach out for that glass of water or alarm clock on top of your nightstand, it only means that your nightstand is either too tall or too short for your bed.

What’s the point of having a nightstand if doesn’t serve its purpose, right?

The point to think about is, what is the best size for a nightstand? If you have a kind sized bed, should the nightstand also be the same size?

What is the best nightstand size for a king bed?

The best nightstand size for a king bed would be in the width range of 20 to 40 inches, while the height should be no more than 25 to 30 inches.  There is no final size that could be labeled as the best one but ideally 2 to 5 inches more or less than the mattress height is great.

One of the most important factors when it comes to finding a compatible nightstand is getting the correct dimensions of it. It must be coordinated in size to your bed and other furniture in the bedroom.

The nightstand that you place beside you be cannot be too big not too small in comparison to your bed height and overall size. Not only does it ruin the aesthetics of your bedroom, but it also makes other furniture look disproportionate.

Further, when you want to reach out your hand to either get a glass of water or stop your alarm clock in the morning, a nightstand that is too tall or too short would only make that difficult for you.

While there are several compact sizes for smaller and medium sized beds, it can become quite a challenge to imagine what size of nightstand would look good with a king bed.

How wide and tall should a nightstand be for a king bed?

In terms of height, a king bed’s height can vary slightly. Even then, the height of the nightstand has to be in the range of 25 to 30 inches on average.

Yet, for few California king beds that are enormous in size and have a dimension of 72 inches wide and 84 inches in length, you might need a taller nightstand. 35 inches depth is suitable in that case.

About the height of the nightstand, you must also remember that the mattress on the bed is at least 30 to 34 inches off the ground. In that case, the suitable nightstand must be at least 26 to 28 inches in height.

Even though the width of the nightstand is more dependent on the room dimension and position, it is most compatible if the width of the nightstand is about 30 inches on average.

Still, if your room is more spacious and you want a larger, chest style nightstand, you can choose nightstands up to 40 inches wide.

How wide and tall should the nightstand be for a queen bed?

Just like a king size bed, the height and width of a nightstand should be compatible with the queen bed. Queen beds, on average, are slightly smaller than king beds and have a dimension of 5 feet by 6 feet.

If the nightstand is too small compared to the enormous queen bed, it would be difficult for you to use it to its great potential. Moreover, the look of your bed set will also be ruined.

For 5 feet by 6 feet queen bed, the width of the nightstand should be about 30 to 40 inches. For the height, it should be 5 inches higher than the mattress or 5 inches lower than the height of the mattress.

How to choose the right size nightstand?

Step 1: First things first, make a plan. In this plan, you’ll draft out how many nightstands you need, what material and color to choose, and what style to consider.

Be sure to know what you will use the nightstand for and what decorative pieces you plan to keep on top. Also, make a do list of measurements to take.

Step 2: If you are decorating the room from scratch, have a room layout with you. AT this stage, you’ll need a measuring tape. Measure out the bed’s width and length.

More importantly, measure out the height of the bed from the ground to the top surface of the mattress. Also, take one height measurement without the mattress thickness.

Step 3: Measure the length and width of the space you plan to keep on the nightstand. If any side is against a wall, make sure there is enough space to fit the stand in a way that it does not look congested.

Step 4: The height of the nightstand should be 2 inches to 5 inches height or lower than the mattress height. Make a final calculation of the height, width, and length of the nightstand and note it down.

What is the average height of a nightstand? 

The average height of a nightstand is from 24 inches to 28 inches. This is because the average height of any standard bed is 25 inches if measured from the ground to the top of the mattress.

What is the average width of a nightstand? 

The average width of a nightstand for a standard sized bed should be 20 inches. The depth of such a nightstand should be 20 inches as well. However, if the bed is bigger, the nightstand can be up to 40 inches in width.

What size nightstand for a platform bed?

Most platform beds will be 18 inches in height, with a mattress on top. If you want a nightstand that is shorter than the bed, a 15 to 16 inches elevation would be a good match.

If you prefer a slightly taller nightstand, a 20 to 22 inches high nightstand would be appropriate.

As a rule of thumb, experts advise that your nightstand should be either a few inches higher or lower than your bed plus mattress height. Platform beds are low in height compared to other types of beds. Moreover, platform beds don’t have bed springs either.

Should the nightstand be higher than a bed?

The nightstand does not necessarily have to be higher than the bed, but a taller nightstand is easy to reach out than a shorter one. If it is tall, it should be no more than 2 to 5 inches higher than the top of the mattress.

Should nightstands be lower than a bed?

The nightstand can be higher or lower than a bed. If it is lower, it should be no more than 2 to 3 inches lowers than the bedside table. However, lower nightstands are more difficult to reach than slightly taller ones.

How to pair nightstands with the bed?

Pairing the nightstand with the bed is not a tricky task. As long as you have got the correct size of the nightstand that fits the designated space, you can play around with textures and colors all you like.

If you want a unified look for your bedroom, like an all-metal, all wood, or an all-white aesthetic, then you can choose to match the nightstand color and style with your bed frame.

If you love more functional looks and want some pop of colors and different textures, a mismatched nightstand can be a great idea. For instance, for a wooden bed, go for a nightstand that has a glass surface or metal legs.

As designers often advise, making your nightstand match exactly to your bed makes your room look dull and uninteresting.

How much should a big nightstand cost?

The cost of nightstands varies greatly. Although the height or overall size of the nightstand may have an impact on the price, the material of the furniture certainly affects the price much more. The design can also increase the cost if there are intricate details involved.

Nightstands can cost from $180 to $650 depending on the material they are made of. A bigger sized nightstand made with metals will cost less than a cabinet style nightstand made with the finest quality wood. A large sized bachelor’s chest nightstand can also cost at least $1000.

A marble topped nightstand can cost up to $350 while the average cost of a big farmhouse nightstand can be around $300.  Moreover, if you are going for cross legged end tables, whether solid wood or brass, you might have to pay about $320 or more depending on the size.

Besides, the most expensive big nightstands are the ones that are more traditional in style and use stone, marble, or solid wood. Some of the nightstands are made with rare materials and can be as expensive as $600 to $1000.

Nightstands with open or more airy aesthetics are more affordable, as the glass top ones.

Whether it is a king size bed, queen sized bed, or any conventional bed, the overall size of your nightstand will affect both its usage and appeal.

A good nightstand will be few inches taller or shorter than the bed itself, and the width of it should be complementary to the size of the room and bed.