Bedside table height and size guide
A bedside table is small but used every day, and getting the height right makes it far more comfortable to reach your lamp, book or glass of water from bed.
The right height
The most useful rule: the top of a bedside table should sit roughly level with the top of your mattress, or just a little below it. That way you can reach across without stretching up or down. To work out your ideal height:
- Measure from the floor to the top of your mattress (including any topper).
- Look for a bedside table within a few centimetres of that figure. Product pages show each table's height.
High beds, such as tall ottomans and divan beds with deep mattresses, suit taller bedside tables. Low platform beds look best with low tables.
Width and depth
- Width: measure the gap between the side of the bed and the nearest wall, wardrobe or door, then leave space to walk past. In a small room, a narrow table is better than none.
- Depth: a shallower table keeps the walkway clear; a deeper one gives more surface for a lamp and books.
- Scale: a large bed with a tall headboard can carry wider bedside tables; a single bed looks better with something compact.
Drawers, shelves or both?
- Drawers hide clutter like chargers, glasses and medicines.
- Open shelves are handy for books and a quick grab.
- A drawer and a shelf gives you both, which suits most people.
Our bedside tables come from LPD Home, Vox, Living and Home and SOLACE+CO, with drawer and shelf designs in wood, painted and mixed finishes.
Lamps and charging
- Check the nearest socket. If it's behind the bed, a table with a cut-out or open back helps cables through.
- Pair the table with a lamp whose shade sits around eye level when you sit up in bed. Our bedside lamp guide explains why.
- Leave room for a phone, glasses and a drink as well as the lamp.
Matching or mixing?
Matching bedside tables either side of the bed look neat and balanced. Mismatched tables work well if they share something, such as height, colour or material. You don't need two identical tables if one side of the bed is against a wall. See edits of natural wood and white bedside tables.
Small-room ideas
- Use a narrow table or a small stool on one side.
- Choose a wall light or clip lamp to free up the table top.
- A small chest of drawers can double as a bedside table if its height suits the bed, giving much more storage.
- For children, a kids' bedside table sized for a lower bed works better.
Quick checklist
- Top roughly level with the mattress, or slightly lower.
- Enough width for a lamp, a phone and a drink.
- Clear walkway left beside the bed.
- A socket within reach, and a gap for cables.
- Drawers for clutter, a shelf for books.
Shop bedside tables
Frequently asked questions
How high should a bedside table be?
Roughly level with the top of your mattress, or slightly lower, so you can reach it comfortably from bed.
Should bedside tables match?
Not necessarily. Matching tables look neat, but mismatched ones work if they share a height, colour or material.
What width should a bedside table be?
It depends on the gap between the bed and the wall or wardrobe. Measure the space, leave room to walk past, and choose a table that fits a lamp and the things you keep by the bed.