Steel Bed Frames: What They Are, What They Do, And Where You Can Find One

Low Profile Frame vs Low Profile Foundation

May 4, 2012
bed framesIn the Bedroom

Need a ladder to get into your bed?

Is there anything you can do? Of course there is. When there is a need manufacturers fill it and lowering the height of a mattress and boxspring or sometimes called foundation to a more normal reasonable height is a very doable request. These manufacturers build low profile frames and low profile foundations which can lower the bed as much as 8 1/2 inches. Today we put them up against one another the Low Profile Frame vs Low Profile Foundation and the pros and cons of each.

Low Profile Frame vs Low Profile Foundation Browse our Low Profile Frames

How tall do beds normally sit?

The typical free standing metal bed frame that a foundation sits upon is 7 1/2 inches tall. Add to that a 9 inch box foundation plus a 13 inch thick mattress and the overall height is 29 1/2 inches from the floor to the mattress top. Beds that have wood side rails that hook into headboards and footboard more often than not are even taller since they typically sit higher than a free standing metal frame at 9 inches or more of the floor. So what about a low profile frame and low profile foundation can they help?

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Low Profile Frame

Low profile frames can free stand and even bolt up to a headboard, and there are even models that a footboard can be added. Other frame models can hook in and replace wood side rails at the same time lowering the support system of the bed. There is typically an average loss of clearance under the bed of about 3 1/2 inches making storage under the bed less possible especially with free standing frames that bolt up. The advantage to all of these Low profile metal bed frames is that they are very inexpensive compared to boxsprings. They can also be easily shipped UPS or FedEx or picked up in a car.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Low Profile Foundation or Boxspring

Low Profile Foundations or Box Springs are the base support system that sits directly under the mattress. These are nifty little inventions that solve the problem of mattress sets sitting way to high. The average low boy foundation sits 4-5 inches lower than it does at its traditional or normal bed height. The down fall to these bases is that cost can be quite a bit more than a low profile bed frame. They are much more expensive to have shipped and rarely fit in anything but a large vehicle like a pickup truck.

Need to really lower the bed a lot?

We recommend using both the low profile frame and the low boy foundation it is a combination that lowers the bed typically 7-8 inches. That is a significant drop.  This can make beds easier to climb into and out of and it can also make them safer. Whether you use one or the other or both. There is a system that can take care of your problem on a budget that is affordable.

Low Profile Frame vs Low Profile Foundation Which do you prefer? One, the other, or both?

Browse our Low Profile Bed Frames