Question 1

What is the purpose of a headboard?

Accepted Answer

A headboard is the upright panel at the top of a bed, and its main purpose is to finish the look of the bed while backing the pillows and protecting the wall behind it. Headboards also keep pillows from sliding off the mattress and give you something to lean against when reading or sitting up in bed.

Question 2

What size headboard do I need?

Accepted Answer

Headboards are sold by mattress size, so a queen headboard goes with a queen bed and a king headboard with a king. Widths run slightly wider than the mattress itself, with a queen headboard typically around 62 inches across and a king around 80 inches. Heights vary a great deal, from short panels of roughly 14 inches above the mattress to tall styles well over four feet.

Question 3

How do headboards attach to a bed frame?

Accepted Answer

Most headboards bolt onto brackets at the head of a bed frame, using pre-drilled holes and hardware supplied with one piece or the other. Metal rail frames usually have adjustable brackets that let you set the headboard height before tightening everything down. Some headboards mount directly to the wall instead, and free-standing styles simply rest between the bed and the wall.

Question 4

What is the difference between upholstered, wood, and metal headboards?

Accepted Answer

Upholstered headboards are padded and covered in fabric or leather, so they are the softest to lean against and add texture to a room. Wood headboards are solid or slatted panels that bring warmth and tend to be the easiest to wipe clean. Metal headboards are usually the slimmest and most open, which can help a small bedroom feel less crowded.

Question 5

Can I buy a headboard by itself?

Accepted Answer

Yes, headboards are commonly sold on their own, separately from a bed frame or a complete bed. Before ordering one, confirm that your frame has headboard brackets and bolt holes that line up, since not every frame is built to take one. If it is not, a free-standing or wall-mounted headboard is usually the simpler route.

Question 6

Do I need a footboard?

Accepted Answer

A footboard is optional, and plenty of beds are sold with a headboard alone. It closes off the end of the bed, keeps a comforter from sliding onto the floor, and finishes the look when a headboard and side rails are already in place. Leaving it off makes a small room feel longer and makes it easier to sit on the end of the bed.

Headboards & Footboards

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Brand

Product type

What is the purpose of a headboard?

What size headboard do I need?

How do headboards attach to a bed frame?

What is the difference between upholstered, wood, and metal headboards?

Can I buy a headboard by itself?

Do I need a footboard?

Headboards & Footboards

Filters

Size

Brand

Product type

Product Grid

What is the purpose of a headboard?

What size headboard do I need?

How do headboards attach to a bed frame?

What is the difference between upholstered, wood, and metal headboards?

Can I buy a headboard by itself?

Do I need a footboard?