Bed Frame Assembly Video Tips: What to Know Before You Start

Tools and space you need

A bed frame is one of the larger things most people build at home, and it is usually built in the room where it will stay. Clear the floor first. You need enough space to lay out every part and still walk around the frame.

Check the manual for the tools list. Many frames come with an Allen key, but a few extras make the job easier:

• A screwdriver that matches the included screws
• A rubber mallet for slats and wooden dowels
• A tape measure, for checking the frame is square
• A second person, especially for queen and king sizes
• A blanket or the flattened box to protect the floor and the finish

Identify head, foot and rails

Before you fit anything, lay out the parts and match them to the parts list. The two most common mix-ups are between the headboard and footboard, and between the left and right side rails.

Head and foot are usually easy to tell apart by height, but on low platform frames they can look similar. Look for the drawing in the manual, and for holes or brackets that face inward. Side rails often have a ledge or a row of holes for slats on the inside. If the ledge faces out or down, the rail is on the wrong side or upside down.

Metal frames often label rails with letters or stickers. Keep those stickers on until you finish.

Build in a sensible order

Read the whole manual once before you start, so you know where the build is heading. Most frames follow the same general order, though your manual is the final word:

• Attach the side rails to the headboard, with bolts only loosely tightened
• Attach the footboard to the other end of the rails
• Fit the center rail or center beam, if your frame has one
• Add the center support legs and adjust them to touch the floor
• Check the frame is square, then tighten the main bolts
• Lay or fix the slats, spacing them evenly as the manual shows

Center support legs

Many queen and king frames have one or more legs under the center beam. They are easy to overlook or to leave hanging just above the floor. A center leg that does not touch the floor carries no weight, and over time the middle of the frame can sag, which is bad for the mattress and a common cause of creaks.

If your legs are adjustable, turn them until they just touch the floor with the frame level. They should support the beam, not lift it.

Tighten in the right order

Leave the main bolts slightly loose until all the big parts are in place. If you fully tighten the first corner, the last corner may not line up.

When everything is connected, measure both diagonals of the frame, corner to corner. If the two measurements match, the frame is square. If not, push gently on the long corners until they do. Then tighten each bolt firmly, working around the frame rather than finishing one corner at a time. Do not overtighten bolts into wood, since that can crush or split it.

Squeaks and wobbles

A new frame that squeaks or wobbles usually has one of a few simple causes:

• A bolt that has loosened as the wood or metal settled. Re-tighten all bolts after the first week or two, then now and then
• A center leg that does not reach the floor
• Slats rubbing against each other or the rail. A strip of felt or fabric tape on the ledge can help
• An uneven floor. Adjust the feet or add a thin pad under the short one
• Metal on metal contact at joints. Check whether the manual includes washers you missed

Model-specific videos

Bed frames vary a lot between brands and models, so a general video is only a rough guide. For the best help, search for the brand, the model name and 'bed frame assembly video', and look on the maker's own support page first. Match the video to your frame before you follow it: check the number of legs, the slat system and the headboard fixings.

Some brands now offer animated assembly films made from their own manuals, which show each step in motion. Manual to Video makes that kind of film for brands, so if your maker has one, it is worth a look before you start.