Find the nightstand height that matches your mattress and the widest piece that fits beside your bed.
How to use the nightstand size calculator
- Measure the mattress height. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress with the mattress on the bed.
- Measure the space. Measure from the side of the bed to the wall, window or next piece of furniture. This is the width available.
- Read the result. You get a height range, a maximum width and a note about what style suits that space.
The guideline
nightstand height = mattress top height ± 2 in (5 cm)
A nightstand whose top is close to the mattress is easy to reach from bed. Going a little lower is usually more comfortable than going higher, but the range is yours to choose.
For width, the only hard limit is the space you measured. Leave room to get in and out of bed comfortably, and remember that a lamp, a drawer front that opens, or a wall outlet may take up more space than the table itself.
Width guide
| Space beside bed | Suitable choices |
|---|---|
| Under 16 in (40 cm) | Slim table, wall-mounted shelf, small stool |
| 16–20 in (40–50 cm) | Compact table or one-drawer nightstand |
| 20–26 in (50–65 cm) | Standard two-drawer nightstand |
| Over 26 in (65 cm) | Wide chest or table with a lower shelf |
Worked examples
A 25 in mattress with 30 in of space
The height range is 23–27 in, and any nightstand up to 30 in wide fits. A 24 in chest with a drawer leaves room to walk past.
A small bedroom with 14 in to spare
A normal nightstand will not fit. A wall-mounted shelf at the right height, or a narrow table, keeps the floor open.
Low platform bed
If the mattress top is only 16 in off the floor, look for a low table or a floating nightstand mounted at 14–18 in rather than a standard 24 in piece.