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Welcome to another helpful module of our Dorm IQ series! For this topic, we’re ascending to new levels, literally, as we look at the various dorm bed height options and how to adjust the height to fit your needs. In case you missed them, previous bedding topics include How To Layer A College Dorm Bed and How To Choose A Dorm Bed Mattress Topper.
Let’s start with the basics. Dorm rooms are small, and dorm beds are designed with space optimization in mind. You’ll often find them adjustable to allow for extra storage or to make your dorm feel more like home. Before you start shopping for storage, furniture or even bedding, understanding the options and deciding on your choice for bed height is key.
We use the word typical a lot around here because there are simply no standards out there in the dorm world. There are some fairly standard dorm furniture packages, but you just can’t count on your school having the usual setup or even the same setup in dorm buildings on the same campus. Therefore, before you get your heart set on putting your dorm bed at a certain height, please research what bed furniture is provided and the adjustment options. These are some of the potential bed height options.
Adjusting your bed’s height might seem like a big task, but it’s usually a straightforward process. Here’s how:
As the Admin of our busy Dorm Shopping Facebook group, I have only seen ONE (out of hundreds of schools) that allows students to bring or build their own loft kit to fully loft a lower dorm bed. In this litigious world, there is too much liability to allow individuals to do this on their own.
In all other circumstances, students had one of two options for fully lofting a dorm bed.
Most importantly, if you do decide to loft your bed or end up with an upper bunk, PLEASE demand a bed rail. We have a member in our Facebook group whose son was critically injured falling out of his dorm bed a few years back. Their foundation, Rail Against The Danger, is currently petitioning Congress to make bed rails mandatory on college campuses. If bed rails are not mandatory or available at your school, PLEASE rent or purchase your own bed rail to use while dorming in a upper bed.
Bed rails should be at least 5″ above the sleeping surface. If you have a 6″ mattress and a 3″ mattress topper, be sure your bed rail is 14+ inches tall. The taller, the better.
This depends on how much height you’re aiming for and also the rules at your school. Bed risers can lift a dorm bed a few extra or several inches, but check with your college’s policies, as some prohibit them due to safety concerns.
Some schools provide beds that are not adjustable. In that case, you might consider bed risers (if allowed) to create space under the bed for storage. I’ve sent kids to 2 different schools that each offered adjustable beds. Risers were not necessary as the beds could be raised to the highest level and allowed the dresser and storage drawers to be placed below.
If you set your bed to the raised/captain height/semi-lofted height, your sleep surface will likely be about 40″ off the floor. High enough for a bed rail? That’s a personal decision, but start by asking your school if they will provide one.
How did I get to 40″? Raised height often has 30″ of clearance below the bed. Add a 6-8″ mattress plus a 3″ mattress topper, and you’re at 39-41″ from the floor.
Your kitchen counter is 36″ off the floor. Go stand next to it and think about trying to get up 4″ higher than the counter without something to step on. Unless you’re crazy tall, you’re going to need a little lift!
Most students bring a step stool or a very sturdy ottoman to use as a step. See our Dorm IQ article on Dorm Ottomans to help you decide the best one for you. If you’re not already in our Dorm Shopping Facebook group, we discuss these options a lot, and we post when the popular options go on sale.
If you fully loft your bed or are in an upper bunk bed, how do you get up there? Sometimes, there will be the luxury of a ladder, but most of the time, the student will crawl up to the higher beds using the slats on the headboard or footboard.
At times, students will place their desk or dresser next to those slats and start by stepping on that piece of furniture before continuing up the slats.
Those slats can be uncomfortable, so there are a couple of options.
The answer is almost always yes, especially if the head of the bed is up against a wall.
Learn more about choosing a dorm headboard in Dorm IQ #7.
Raised dorm beds aren’t just about aesthetics; creating vertical space is critical in a small dorm room. By adjusting your dorm bed height, you can create under-bed space to be used for:
For everything you need to know about planning and maximizing space under your raised dorm bed, please visit Dorm IQ Topic #8: How To Maximize Storage Under Dorm Beds.
I hope this article has left you feeling a bit more prepared to make a decision about your dorm bed height and what will work best for your dorm living experience. Knowing these standard terms is also helpful in the Dorm Shopping Facebook group (join us!). At the end of the day, safety comes first, and always know your dorm rules before making plans for your dorm room and college experience.
The next topic will focus on the best comforter size for your dorm bed. Join our email list to be alerted when new topics drop!
Still have questions? Please comment below, or come ask us in the Dorm Shopping Recommendations & Deal Alerts Facebook group. So much great info the group along with move-in pictures from previous years to give you ideas and inspiration.
=> Please share this article with your dorm bound friends and their parents. I would love for everyone to understand the pros and cons of bed heights before making a decision or shopping!
One of the big debates in our Dorm Facebook Group – what is the best comforter size for a dorm bed. Tell us what you think!
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Danna Lively says:
If you are purchasing a bedskirt for having the bed at the captains height should it be 30 inches or does it need to be longer to cover where the small amount of headboard and footboard is sticking up?