Are Bed Risers Safe: Everything You Need To Know

Whether you need some additional storage space, or you’re looking to improve your bed alignment and sleep quality, bed risers seem to be the best and most affordable solution. Bed risers are super affordable, accessible, and they can be easily installed.

Almost every bed riser can withstand heavy weights and provide furniture elevation anywhere between 3 and 8 inches. They act as support, installed directly under the furniture. When it comes to beds, in particular, bed risers are placed under each of the legs, elevating the bed and providing additional storage space right under the bed.

But, all benefits aside, one cannot help but wonder; are bed risers safe? One would be right to assume that there is a slipping or sliding risk when using bed risers right under the bed. So, before you go on and purchase bed risers, it is essential to do your homework and check whether such a product is completely safe for your family and you. Therefore, without further ado, let’s get right into this!

Types of Bed Risers

Before we get into the safety question, we first need to distinguish between different types of bed risers. There is a great variety of these products, which vary in materials they’re made from, sturdiness, durability, or even installation. So, when buying a bed riser, it is important to know which type of product will suit your needs the best. Therefore, here are the main, common bed riser types you should know about;

• Stackable bed risers – you can stack these bed risers onto each other when you’re not using them. These allow you for easier storage as they take less space. They’re pretty easy to install as well; all you have to do is place the bed riser under each of the legs of your bed, and that’s it.

Because of the broad base, stackable bed risers can fit the legs of almost any bed. In regards to safety, these are considered to be a safe, reliable bed elevation option.

• Adjustable bed risers – in case you need to raise or lower the height of your bed, or other furniture, you will probably opt for adjustable bed risers. These bed risers come, instead of 4, in 8 pieces.

Each piece has an additional piece, which you can place on top of the base to increase the elevation and the height of the bed, and vice versa. The base has a broad bottom, which makes it stable and secure. Adjustable bed risers are generally made of hard plastic and are heavy-duty products.

• Screw-in bed risers – in case the regular bed legs aren’t really doing much for the height of the bed, you can easily replace them with screw-in bed risers. You just need to unscrew the original bed legs and screw in the bed risers. In no time your bed will be elevated between 3 and 8 inches, depending on your needs and preferences. To suit your bed frame, you can opt for sleek plastic or traditional wooden bed risers.

Are Bed Risers Safe?

In order to discuss the safety of bed risers, we need to take a few things into consideration; the type of the bed frames as well as the elevation height you’re going for, bed weight, bed height, and so much more.

Types of Bed Frames

• Bunk beds – because bunk beds are pretty tall and generally less steady than regular (close-to-ground) beds, we’d say bed risers aren’t really the safest bed elevation option in this case. Unless the bed risers are made out of metal or solid wood, we wouldn’t recommend additional bed elevation. If the foundation of the bunk bed isn’t stable, which in case of bed rises wouldn’t be, then the top bed wouldn’t be a secure place to sleep on.
• Platform beds – because they’re close to the ground, platform beds are the ideal candidates for bed risers. In this case, bed risers are completely safe, since there is no risk of slipping or sliding due to bed height or weight. Stackable or adjustable bed risers would be ideal for platform beds so long everything fits the size and weight of the bed, as well as the weight capacity.

Types of Bed Risers

We would say that all bed risers are completely safe so long you consider the type of bed frame as well as the weight capacity of both the bed risers and the bed itself. Bed risers can support anywhere between 600 lbs up to 2200 lbs, which is almost a ton, while. The weight is generally evenly distributed between the 4 legs, which ensures proper stability and reliability of the bed risers.

Also, it is essential to mention that the majority of bed risers, especially the plastic ones, come with anti-slip padded foam, both on top and the bottom of the bed risers. This ensures the bed doesn’t slide away, or that the bed riser slips under the bed. Because of this anti-slip design, bed risers are extremely safe, even for the biggest (supportable) weights out there.

When Are Bed Risers Unsafe?

Bed risers, although considered to be very safe, can be unsafe in certain situations. Let’s take a look at the most common cases where the bed risers pose a risk;

• The bed isn’t properly installed – failing to correctly set up the bed frame can make it unstable. As a result, the unstable bed frame can compromise the bed risers and make them unstable as well. This can make the overall bed security questionable, and potentially cause serious issues or incidents upon getting in or out of bed.
• The weight capacity is extended – bed risers, just like beds or bed frames, have a limited weight capacity. If that capacity is crossed, whether on the bed or the bed risers, then there’s a risk of instability of the bed risers or even a risk of bed frame breaking. Keep in mind that the bed risers do not only support the weight of your bed, but also your weight, your partner’s weight, as well as the weight of the mattress, and all the bedding.
• The floor is uneven – in order for the bed risers to be stable and reliable, they need to be placed onto an even floor surface. If the floor is uneven, then the weight distribution between each of the bed risers will be uneven as well. As a result, the support won’t be stable, and you could experience things like tilting or wobbling of the bed at best.

Things to Consider When Purchasing Bed Risers

Here are some of the main things you should keep in mind when purchasing bed risers

• The weight capacity – the weight limit of bed risers is essential information to keep in mind. Standard bed risers can support between 600lbs and 2200 lbs, including the weight of the bed (frame and mattress), your weight, your partner’s weight as well as the weight of the bedding. If you cross the weight limit, you’re risking bed instability or even frame breaking.
• The bed height – when buying bed risers, people generally opt for those that provide the highest elevation. However, that might not be the ideal way to deal with things. Consider the fact that your bed is already elevated from the ground. By adding, for example, bed risers of 6 inches, your bed might be too tall, and of course, too unstable for you to sleep on. Tall beds are also inconvenient to get in or out of, especially if you’re dealing with a physical health issue.
• The width of legs – in order to get the best support and stability, you need to opt for proper bed risers by considering bed legs’ width. For example, platform beds have wider legs, which means you need to get bed risers with wider fitting tops. In case you have a bed frame with wheels, you need to buy special bed risers with rectangular fitting tops.
• The bed size – always keep in mind that the bigger the bed, the more bed risers it will require. A standard, queen-size bed, can be properly elevated with 4 bed risers, one for each bed leg. However, knig size beds (or mattresses, to be more specific), require 6 bed risers for leg and center support. Otherwise, without the center support, the bed will break in the middle due to the discrepancy between the size and the elevation of the bed.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, our quick bed risers guide was helpful. When purchasing bed risers it is essential to do your homework, check your bed type, weight capacity, as well as the type and weight capacity of the very bed risers. It is also essential to check whether the floor under the bed is even, or whether the bed was properly installed in the first place. If all of this is in order, then you won’t be having trouble finding the right bed risers that will fit your needs and preferences.

Also Read:

• 4 Ways to Make Your Bed Higher
• Is It Good To Sleep With Head Elevated?