Nightstand Dimensions: Height, Width and Depth for Every Bed
Nightstand and bedside table sizes, and the two measurements that matter more than the catalog figure: your mattress height and the wall space on each side of the bed.
A standard nightstand is 24 to 28 inches (61 to 71 cm) tall, 18 to 28 inches (46 to 71 cm) wide and 14 to 20 inches (36 to 51 cm) deep. The best height is level with the top of your mattress, or up to 2 in (5 cm) above or below it, and the best width is roughly a third of the bed's width.
- Height
- 24-28 in (61-71 cm)
- Width
- 18-28 in (46-71 cm)
- Depth
- 14-20 in (36-51 cm)
- Vs mattress top
- Within 2 in (5 cm)
On this page
Nightstand size chart
Nightstands are sold in a few loose size bands. Height is the one figure to match to your bed; width and depth follow from your room.
| Type | Width | Depth | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / compact | 15-18 in (38-46 cm) | 12-15 in (30-38 cm) | 20-26 in (51-66 cm) |
| Standard nightstand | 20-24 in (51-61 cm) | 15-18 in (38-46 cm) | 24-28 in (61-71 cm) |
| Large / 3-drawer | 26-32 in (66-81 cm) | 16-20 in (41-51 cm) | 26-30 in (66-76 cm) |
| Low (platform beds) | 18-24 in (46-61 cm) | 14-18 in (36-46 cm) | 16-22 in (41-56 cm) |
| Floating / wall-mounted | 16-24 in (41-61 cm) | 10-14 in (25-36 cm) | Mounted at mattress height |
| Round side table | 16-22 in diameter (41-56 cm) | 22-28 in (56-71 cm) |
Inside, a standard nightstand drawer is about 3 to 5 in tall, 13 to 18 in wide and 12 to 15 in deep: room for chargers, glasses, medication and a paperback. An open shelf below is usually 8 to 12 in tall.
Nightstand height: match it to the mattress
The catalog height means little until you know where your mattress top is, and that varies by 15 in or more between bed setups. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress (with the topper, if you use one), then choose a nightstand within about 2 in of that figure.
| Bed setup | Base height | Mattress | Mattress top | Nightstand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low platform or floor bed | 4-10 in | 8-12 in | 12-22 in | 14-22 in |
| Standard platform bed | 12-16 in | 10-12 in | 22-28 in | 22-28 in |
| Metal frame + low-profile foundation (5 in) | 12-13 in | 10-14 in | 22-27 in | 22-27 in |
| Metal frame + standard box spring (9 in) | 16-17 in | 10-14 in | 26-31 in | 26-30 in |
| Adjustable base | 12-17 in | 10-12 in | 22-29 in | 24-30 in |
| Tall bed (pillow-top on box spring) | 16-17 in | 14-18 in | 30-35 in | 28-32 in |
Base heights assume a metal frame that lifts the foundation 7 to 8 in off the floor. Mattress depths are covered in the mattress depth guide, and the bed frame size guide gives frame heights.
With an adjustable base, the head of the mattress rises when you sit up but the side edge stays at the flat height. Match the nightstand to the flat height and leave 1 to 2 in of gap so the moving base doesn't rub the nightstand.
Nightstand width by bed size
A nightstand around a third of the bed's width looks balanced. The wider the bed, the more wall it already takes, so the wall is often the real limit.
| Bed (mattress width) | Nightstand width | Wall needed with 3 in gaps |
|---|---|---|
| Twin, 38 in (97 cm) | 15-22 in | 74-88 in (6 ft 2 in-7 ft 4 in) |
| Full, 54 in (137 cm) | 18-24 in | 96-108 in (8-9 ft) |
| Queen, 60 in (152 cm) | 20-28 in | 106-122 in (8 ft 10 in-10 ft 2 in) |
| King, 76 in (193 cm) | 24-32 in | 130-146 in (10 ft 10 in-12 ft 2 in) |
| California king, 72 in (183 cm) | 24-30 in | 126-138 in (10 ft 6 in-11 ft 6 in) |
The wall figures are mattress width plus two nightstands plus a 3-inch gap on each side of the bed. A bed frame adds 2 to 4 in to the width and a headboard can add more, so measure your actual frame. Mattress sizes are listed in full in the mattress size guide.
Depth and walkway
- Depth: 14 to 18 in is enough for a lamp, a phone and a glass. Going deeper than about 20 in puts the front edge past where your arm naturally reaches from the pillow.
- Lamp base: most bedside lamps have bases 5 to 10 in across, so a 16-inch-deep top leaves room in front. A wide drum shade (16 to 18 in) overhangs a narrow nightstand; see lamp sizes.
- Walkway: leave at least 24 in (61 cm) of clear floor between the bed and the nearest wall or furniture on the side you get out of bed, and 30 to 36 in (76 to 91 cm) if it is a through route.
- Drawers: a drawer opens 12 to 15 in into the room. If the nightstand sits next to a wall or dresser, check that the drawer is not blocked.
When the wall beside the bed is too narrow for a nightstand, a 10 to 14 in floating shelf or a clamp-on bedside tray keeps essentials in reach without using floor space.
Nightstands and the tip-over rule
Most nightstands fall outside the US federal rule for clothing storage units (16 CFR part 1261), which applies only to freestanding pieces at least 27 in tall, weighing at least 30 lb and with at least 3.2 cubic feet of enclosed storage. A 26-inch nightstand is excluded on height alone, and even a 28-inch, 2-drawer nightstand usually has only about 2 to 2.5 cubic feet of drawer space (two drawers about 21 × 14 × 7 in inside total 2.4 cubic feet). Tall 3-drawer nightstands can be covered, and the same tip-over checks that apply to dressers are worth doing on any nightstand a small child can climb.
Frequently asked questions
How wide should a bedside table be?
Most bedside tables are 18 to 28 in (46 to 71 cm) wide. As a guide, use 15 to 22 in for a twin bed, 18 to 24 in for a full, 20 to 28 in for a queen and 24 to 32 in for a king, and keep at least 24 in of walkway beside the bed.
What are standard bedside table dimensions in cm?
A standard bedside table is about 45 to 60 cm wide, 35 to 45 cm deep and 55 to 70 cm tall. European beds are often lower than US beds, so metric bedside tables of 45 to 55 cm high are common for platform and low beds.
What are modern bedside table dimensions?
Modern bedside tables are often lower and lighter: 20 to 24 in (51 to 61 cm) tall to suit platform beds, 16 to 22 in (41 to 56 cm) wide and 12 to 16 in (30 to 41 cm) deep. Floating (wall-mounted) bedside shelves are typically 16 to 24 in wide and 10 to 14 in deep.
What are basic nightstand dimensions?
A basic one-drawer nightstand with an open shelf is about 20 in wide, 16 in deep and 24 to 26 in tall (51 × 41 × 61-66 cm). That holds a lamp with an 8 to 12 in base, a phone and a book, with a drawer about 3 to 4 in tall inside.
Should a nightstand be taller than the bed?
It should be close to the top of the mattress: level, or up to about 2 in higher or lower. Much taller than the mattress and you reach up for a glass of water; much lower and you reach down past the mattress edge in the dark.