The 16 pine slats-which measure ½ inch thick and, like the slats on all the beds we recommend, are no more than 3 inches apart-feel as comfortable and supportive as those on any other bed we tested. Each board also has its own leg underneath many other frames we tried had one or two legs in the center, but none provided this much support.Īlthough in our tests the entire process of assembling the bed, including unpacking and cleanup, took over an hour for two people to complete (more about that below), once you’re done you have a comfortable bed frame that looks terrific, doesn’t creak, and is covered by a one-year warranty. If you live in an area where high humidity is commonplace and you have no air conditioning or heating, we recommend that you consider a bed frame with more slats, just to be safe.

Generally we don’t recommend frames that use solid platforms instead of slats because experts have told us that mattresses need airflow in order to keep mold away, but we think the 2 or 3 inches between each pair of boards here provides plenty of ventilation. In contrast, this bed uses four wide, fabric-covered support boards that provide more surface area and possibly more stability for the mattress (BenchMade says this can extend its longevity). Most frames we considered use around 12 to 16 slats (thin boards that run horizontally across the frame) to support a mattress. The stitching is straight and uniform, the frame is secured by heavy-gauge hardware and reinforced steel connectors, and the entire bed is supported by thick wooden legs. The Skinny Fat Bed is one of only two of our picks to come with a lifetime warranty (the other being Thuma’s The Bed), but this frame is so durable, you probably won’t need to take advantage of that coverage.

Heavy duty queen size bed rails