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The whole bed is really three independent boxes, not one long structure, and that's what makes a king-size storage bed manageable to build and move: each bench is built, finished, and can even be carried into the room on its own before the three are joined together with a few screws. The two side benches use the exact same construction as a queen-size version of this bed; only the end bench's length changes to span the king's extra width.
The drawers are optional and built to the openings you actually end up with, not a fixed size — measure the gap between the mounted slides, subtract the slide clearance (usually about 1" total), and build each drawer box to that number. Getting the slide height mark right (measured up from the bottom edge of the mounting board) is what keeps a pair of opposing slides level with each other; skip it and a drawer front comes out visibly tilted.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Cabinet-grade plywood, 3/4", 4x8 sheetMDF or AC plywood cost less for a painted finish. | 2 each |
| Plywood, 1/4", 4x8 sheet | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 5 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ft | 3 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Brad nails, 3/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 4 sheet |
| Pine, 1x6, 8 ftOptional drawer boxes. | 6 each |
| Pine, 1x12, 8 ftOptional drawer faces. | 2 each |
| Drawer slides, 18"Optional drawers — 6 slides total across the openings. | 3 pair |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Side bench sidesCabinet-grade plywood | 4 | 3/4" × 19 3/4" × 60" |
| Side bench dividersCabinet-grade plywood | 12 | 3/4" × 19 3/4" × 14 3/4" |
| Side bench tops/bottomsCabinet-grade plywood | 8 | 3/4" × 19 3/4" × 28 7/8" |
| Side bench backs1/4" plywood | 4 | 1/4" × 15 1/2" × 60" |
| Side bench face frame railsPine 1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 60" |
| Side bench face frame stilesPine 1x2 | 18 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" |
| Side bench trim, back cleatsPine 1x4 | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 60" |
| End bench sidesCabinet-grade plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 19 3/4" × 76" |
| End bench dividersCabinet-grade plywood | 3 | 3/4" × 19 3/4" × 14 3/4" |
| End bench top/bottomCabinet-grade plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 19 3/4" × 36 7/8" |
| End bench back1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 15 1/2" × 76" |
| End bench face frame railPine 1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 76" |
| End bench face frame stilesPine 1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" |
| End bench trim railPine 1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 76" |
| End bench side trimPine 1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 20 3/4" |
| End bench side trim, widePine 1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 20 3/4" |
| End bench side trim stilesPine 1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" |
| Drawer sides (optional)Pine 1x6 | 4 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 18" |
| Drawer fronts/backs (optional)Pine 1x4 | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18" |
| Drawer bottoms (optional)1/4" plywood | 2 | 1/4" × 18" × 34 3/8" |
| Drawer faces (optional)Pine 1x12Measure and adjust to fit — even 1/8" gap on all sides. | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 35 1/2" |
Buy 32 boards at 8 ft.
10 boards
The two side benches are built identically to a queen-size bed's side benches — assemble each as a simple plywood box with fixed dividers and a face frame. Add cleats for the mattress slats to the back of each side bench.
Build the end bench (the only piece that differs from the queen version, in overall length) with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws — three screws per joint is enough.
Attach the 1/4" plywood backs to both the side benches and the end bench with 3/4" brad nails and glue.
Build each face frame first with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, then nail the completed face frames to the front of each bench with 1-1/4" brad nails.
Build the end bench's side trim face frame first, then attach with 1-1/4" brad nails to the sides of the end bench.
Bring the three benches into the room and assemble in a row, screwing together if needed. Cut scrap plywood pieces to fit the cavity between benches and screw to the mattress-slat cleats on the backs of the side benches.
Draw a line 1" up from the bottom edge of each drawer-side mounting board. Attach a drawer slide to each board with its front edge flush to the board's front edge and the slide's center holes lined up on your marked line, so every slide is installed level. Remember the opposing slide in each pair installs as a mirror image. Set the mounting boards inside the cubbies, front edges flush with the cabinet fronts, and nail in place with 1-1/4" brad nails.
Measure the distance between the mounted slide boards, subtract the slide clearance (usually about 1" total), and build each drawer box to that width.
Install the drawer boxes into the slides. Cut the drawer faces and adjust to fit, sanding down edges or trimming with a table saw as needed for an even gap of about 1/8" on all sides.
Sand every surface and finish.
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Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →