Intellibase Lightweight Easy Set Up Bifold Platform Metal Bed Frame
Why you should trust us
I am a writer at Design Milk and since 2006 have been writing about home decor for a multitude of design-focused outlets, including Apartment Therapy, where I helped everyday people turn houses into homes. Before that I worked as an industrial designer for children's toys and furniture. For Wirecutter, I've tested and recommended everything from clothing hangers, bedside lamps, floor lamps, alarm clocks, and sofas. I once slept in a $63,000 bed (for a single night), but I still think the bed that I share with two felines and my wife at home is the most comfortable in the entire world.
A minimalist metal bed frame that's built to last: CB2 Simple Black Metal Bed Base
A sturdy platform bed you can customize: KD Frames Nomad Plus Platform Bed
Our pick
Best for: People who need a sturdy bed frame and DIY enthusiasts who want the option of personalizing the raw wood to match any style.
Why it's great: The poplar hardwood KD Frames Nomad Plus Platform Bed is customizable (if you're open to DIY) and one of the strongest wood bed frames we found—it can hold up to 600 pounds. That's likely a conservative figure considering that the Nomad Plus features two sets of slats that form something like a rib cage. None of the other frames we tested offered this weight-bearing design, although all of our picks were nearly as strong (the wood Zinus we recommend below is rated for up to 500 pounds). The KD Frames bed also had two more slats than the other frames, for a total of 16 beefy, 2-by-1-inch hardwood planks. Between each piece there's just a 2.8-inch gap (second only to the CB2 frame's 2.5-inch span), which contributes to the bed's strength. Add up those specifications and you've got a 68-pound platform bed frame that former Wirecutter tester Kevin Purdy said could withstand "energetic jump-ons and 190-pound body slams" with confident indifference.
Because of its weight, the Nomad Plus requires more time and care to assemble than some lighter-weight softwood or veneer beds we tried in this price category. It also means you shouldn't feel any wiggle or wobble when you settle into bed. The Nomad Plus shipped with a lot of pieces, so although the instructions were clearly laid out and assembly was straightforward, there were dozens more slats, sides, and pieces of hardware to keep track of compared with our other picks.
The Nomad Plus is the only unfinished bed frame we recommend, and it's a great choice for DIY enthusiasts who want a customized look. The blond wood is nice on its own, but it also takes stain or paint well, giving you the option of personalizing your frame. The straightforward silhouette also lends itself to whatever creative design you may come up with. Without any treatment, the frame over time will patina slightly in direct sunlight.
This bed frame is also taller than any other frame we recommend: It's 15 inches high, with 11½ inches of clearance. This means you'll have a little more storage space underneath it than with other beds we recommend here, and KD Frames also sells a replacement set of 18-inch legs ($30), which will raise the clearance to 14½ inches. At either height, there's plenty of room for storage bins, which is a perk for anyone looking to take advantage of space under the bed. For matching under-bed storage, KD Frames sells rolling drawers that are outfitted with wheels for smooth and easy access (and they work with the Nomad). If you regularly host guests and sometimes need room for one more, a Roll-Away Trundle Bed twin frame adds an additional hideaway bed underneath.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The bare wood of this model is susceptible to nicks, cuts, pen marks, cat claws, and other household agents of destruction. We've also found this frame's availability to be somewhat inconsistent, but the company has always been communicative and honest about timing, which is why we'll continue to recommend this bed.
| Materials | kiln-dried tulip poplar hardwood |
| Finishes/colors | unfinished wood |
| Sizes available | twin, twin XL, full, queen, king |
| Warranty/returns | five-year warranty; unlimited return window, as long as the box is unopened (shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer) |
An affordable and easy-to-move platform bed: Zinus Moiz Wood Platform Bed Frame (standard)
Our pick
Best for: Anyone on a budget and those who have steep stairs, long hallways, or narrow doorways.
Why it's great: We think the Zinus Moiz Wood Platform Bed Frame is a good-looking and practical choice for someone moving into their first apartment or anyone who's apt to change addresses often. Zinus makes two versions of this bed: standard and deluxe. They're nearly identical in design, but the standard has narrower rails (3.5 inches, versus the deluxe's 5.75 inches) and is slightly cheaper. We opted to test the deluxe version, but we think most people will be just as happy with the standard. Either frame is light enough for one person to move (the queen-size standard Moiz weighs 58 pounds, and the deluxe weighs 65 pounds), and each assembles quickly into a stable and supportive platform for most mattresses.
We've noticed that Zinus tends to have trouble keeping all sizes of both versions in stock so if you find the right size in the version you want, don't wait. We expect some of these stock issues might be an effect of supply-chain complications related to the Covid-19 pandemic. We plan on keeping an eye on the availability of our picks, and plan to look for more consistently available alternatives during our next round of testing.
Zinus obviously engineered this frame with easy assembly in mind. Although it has more parts to piece together than other models we tested, the Moiz also includes the most straightforward, step-by-step instructions of any bed we recommend, a rarity with most DIY furniture. There are also identifying stickers affixed to each of the major parts. Unpacking and assembling the Moiz took us 40 minutes, about the same amount of time the CB2 model took, and we were pleasantly surprised by several small details not always found at this price: individually sealed packaging for hardware, the inclusion of extra parts, a ratchet wrench, and pre-drilled parts.
Despite its light weight, the Moiz bed frame is plenty sturdy. It sits atop thick, 8-inch-long legs, which lift the bed frame to a height of 14 inches (an inch shorter than the Nomad, but 6 inches taller than the CB2), and it includes a steel center rail with three legs to add stability in the middle. Compared with the CB2 frame, the Moiz has two fewer support slats, for a total of 12, but we didn't feel any discernible difference in support. They're laid out with 3 inches between each piece, which is within the range we like to see. Velcro strips keep the slats securely attached to the frame's side rails.
At this price it's not surprising that the frame is veneer, rather than made from solid wood. To Zinus's credit, the veneer grain is consistent, smooth, and matte, resulting in a handsome Scandinavian platform that should look good whether your tastes run modern, traditional, or eclectic. But the Moiz will undoubtedly be susceptible to dings and scratches over time, like any softwood furniture, and odds are good it won't last nearly as long as CB2's powder-coated metal frame.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: One of the Velcro strips designed to hold the slats in place arrived twisted and stapled incorrectly. This doesn't hinder performance, but we heard a small crinkling sound when leaping into bed, caused by the strips of Velcro shifting.
| Materials | pine frame, plywood slats |
| Finishes/colors | natural wood (veneer) |
| Sizes available | twin, full, queen, king |
| Warranty/returns | five-year warranty; 100-day return policy |
Who should buy a platform bed frame
Everyone should keep their mattress off the floor. And a platform bed frame offers an affordable, slat-based system designed to work with spring, foam, or hybrid mattresses, without the need for a foundation or box spring (but you can add one if you prefer a higher bed surface). The slats add support and keep the bed from sagging, and—along with the bed frame's height—allow the mattress to "breathe," preventing mold and mildew from forming underneath. Platform bed frames are also usually lighter and easier to move and simpler to assemble, and they generally veer toward a clean and contemporary design, compared with traditional bed frames. And when you're up off the floor, it's easier to climb in and out of bed.
If you have a bed frame you like but the slats are bent, broken, too thin, or spaced farther than 3 inches apart, you can buy a "bunkie board," which drops into the frame. Zinus makes a slat-replacement board for any of the twin, full, queen, and king frames we recommend (not just those made by Zinus). One Wirecutter writer uses such an insert in his queen-size IKEA Malm bed, and he told us he found the assembly easy and the fit snug.
What to look forward to
We will be testing a few new IKEA options for this guide soon, including the Tufjord upholstered frame and the Vadheim upholstered frame. We're also going to test the incredibly budget-priced Grimsbu frame (just $100) to see what something at this price is like and whether it's worth considering. As soon as we finish testing, we'll add our findings to this guide.
How we picked and tested
A platform bed frame should be compatible with most foam, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses. But even a cursory search online will provide a dizzying number of lookalike options, many constructed with cheap softwoods or insufficiently spaced slats prone to squeaking and creaking or even letting the mattress sag over time. We looked for platform bed frames that hit the sweet spot between affordability and durability—with a dash of good looks thrown in—and that we could assemble ourselves with only the tools included in the box. With that in mind, here are features every buyer should look for in a platform bed frame:
- Priced at $600 and under
- Supportive slats, spaced no more than 3 inches apart
- A good return policy and warranty (favoring hassle-free, no-fee returns and warranties beyond a standard 30- or 90-day "substantial defect" policy)
- Adaptable, modern design
After assembling each bed, we favored models that had these features:
- Easy enough for one person to assemble, disassemble, and move
- Arrived in boxes one person could handle comfortably up stairs and through narrow halls and doorways
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- All necessary tools included
After assembling several bed frames, we found that you'll want at least 3 feet on all sides to work with. And we recommend taking stock of all the tools and hardware you'll need before getting started. When piecing together the CB2 frame, we discovered too late that we were one washer short, which really, ahem, threw a wrench in the process. In cases where we were not able to do hands-on testing (our capability to test was very limited during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021), we relied on extensive research. As soon as it's feasible, we'll try to get bed frames we weren't able to physically test in the hands of our staff, to confirm our research and long-term test.
The "no more than 3 inches apart" slats guideline is particularly important because many mattress manufacturers, including Leesa, Casper, and Purple, won't honor a warranty claim if your frame doesn't provide sufficient support. According to Jeff Chapin, co-founder and head of product design at Casper, the 3-inch spec isn't a hard-and-fast rule, since the dimensions of the slats themselves—particularly their thickness—matter more to the overall stiffness of the base and support for the mattress. Chapin notes, though, that "3 inches apart" is easier for shoppers to remember than more complex thickness specifications. (Why have slats at all? They permit airflow and help keep mold from growing underneath the mattress—something I discovered firsthand in an unplanned science experiment in college.)
The competition
The Mellow 9" Metal Platform Bed Frame was a previous pick but after months of testing our experience did not match the thousands of positive reviews this frame received. Our testers found it to be excessively noisy, despite several adjustments and retightening the hardware many times (something we don't think should be necessary to begin with). They said that no matter how many times they adjusted it, a loud crack could be heard any time they moved around or sat on the frame. It also scratched their hardwood floors.
We ordered the Andover Mills Maxen Wood Platform Bed Frame from Wayfair and discovered it's a rebranded carbon copy of the Zinus Moiz (the only difference upon inspection was slightly different packaging, but both were clearly marked as Zinus models).
The Zinus Justina Quick Snap Standing Mattress Foundation was quite easy to piece together into a handsome-looking upholstered foundation. No tools or hardware are required because each of the frame's 16 pieces snap into place with a rubber mallet (which is included). But we had to cross this option off our list because of the 6-inch gaps between each of the 11 support beams. We didn't notice those wide gaps when our test mattress was on the frame, but we were warned by Leesa representatives that the wide gaps would void a Leesa warranty because over time the mattress could sink through the gaps and deform.
We built IKEA's Hemnes bed in lieu of testing the more universally known Malm, because the Hemnes bed is made with solid wood instead of veneer, and it looked more traditional. The build experience was a familiar IKEA afternoon of screws, holding bolts, and dowels—and reading the instructions multiple times. The package had dozens of pieces and little hardware bits to contend with (annoying if you need to reassemble a frame), and the bed wasn't very comfortable; the slat base was too flexible. The now-discontinued Lönset slat base had slats that were just over ¼-inch thick, and though they're tightly placed, at 1¼ inches apart, the net effect was a less firm, flat support for a mattress. Friends and co-workers with IKEA bed frames have noted broken or slipped slats in the past. You can replace the slats in the Hemnes (and the Malm) with a prebuilt bunkie board, but that's an additional cost. We think our picks are a better value. If you're ordering a lot of IKEA furniture already and you particularly like the look, a Hemnes or Malm will probably do just fine.
The metal Ollie Bed Frame from LexMod is affordable, claims to offer good support (with a 1,300-pound weight limit), and has slats that (according to a posted company response to a customer question) measure 3 inches wide and 3½ inches apart. But it seemed to be frequently out of stock for online ordering, as did other models we considered from the brand.
The Handy Living Platform Bed Frame is a common type you'll find at many retailers and sites, with curved wooden slats nested in rubber holders hammered into the metal frame. In our tests it was easily the most annoying frame to assemble, with instructions that seemed poorly proofread or translated. In assembling, disassembling, and then trying to reassemble the frame, we managed to break two rubber holders by bending the plastic pegs that sink into the frame. Ultimately it held a mattress, but with a feeling of sinking under pressure. The three-star Amazon reviews tell the tale: "not horrible," "not a long-term solution," and "okay," along with quite a few mentions of busted slats.
This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Christine Ryan.
Sources
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Jeff Chapin, co-founder and head of product design, Casper, phone interviews
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-platform-bed-frames-under-300/
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