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The budget platform bed: a 2x6 box with cleats, slats, trim, and stubby legs — every mattress size from twin to California king out of the same eight steps.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side rails Queen. Twin/full: 75". Cal king: 84". | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 80" | — | ☐ |
| Top and bottom rails Queen. Twin: 41", full: 57", king: 79", cal king: 75". | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 63" | — | ☐ |
| Slat cleats Match the side rails. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 80" | — | ☐ |
| Center support REQUIRED full size and up; twin omits it. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 80" | — | ☐ |
| Side trim Queen. Runs 4" past the rails to wrap the head/foot trim. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 84" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Top trim Queen; matches mattress width. | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 60" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom trim | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 60" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Bed legs 2x4 or 2x6 — 2x6 reads more modern. Cut longer for a taller bed; metal feet substitute. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7" | — | ☐ |
| Bed slats Queen. Or 21 at 30" — half-length slats maximize 8-foot boards; meet over the center support. | 10 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 60" | 1x3 furring | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 2x6, 12 ft The four frame rails (queen). Twin gets by on 8-footers. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 2x4, 8 ft Center support (full and up) and the bed legs — or use a 2x6 for chunkier legs. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 2x2, 8 ft Slat cleats. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 1x3, 8 ft Side and bottom trim. | 3 each | ☐ |
| 1x2, 8 ft Top trim. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x3 furring strips, 8 ft Bed slats — 1x4s work too. Twin needs 5; king/cal-king need 10. | 7 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2" to 3", star drive SPAX/GRK or similar. | 40 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-1/2" to 2", star drive Trim and slats. 1-1/2" brads substitute on trim. | 60 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 4 oz | ☐ |
| Stain or paint | 1 quart | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x6, 12 ft, Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2" to 3", star drive
Screw the 2x6 rails into a rectangle, two 2-1/2"–3" screws per corner. Square it by matching diagonals — push the long corners together until the numbers agree.
(The plan's upgrade tip: 3/4" pocket holes with 1-1/4" pocket screws make an even cleaner frame if you have the jig.)
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x2, 8 ft, Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2" to 3", star drive, Wood glue
Screw and glue the 2x2 cleats along the inside of the side rails, a screw every 8–12". Cleat height sets how deep the mattress nests in the frame — flush the cleat bottoms with the rail bottoms for the standard look.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2" to 3", star drive
Run the 2x4 down the middle, its TOP level with the tops of the cleats — the slats sit on both. Two screws per end.
This board is why the bed won't sag in year three. A twin can skip it; nothing wider can.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-1/2" to 2", star drive, Wood glue
Attach the 1x3 side trim flush at the top inside edge and at the head of the bed, with the short screws or brads and glue. The 4" overhang at the foot end wraps the corner and hides the end trim's grain.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, 1x2, 8 ft, Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-1/2" to 2", star drive, Wood glue
Measure your actual box (not the list) and cut the 1x2 top trim and 1x3 bottom trim. The narrower 1x2 goes at the TOP so the trim stops below the mattress line. Fasten with brads or short screws and glue.
Tools: Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2" to 3", star drive, Wood glue
Cut the 7" legs from 2x4 or 2x6 and attach at the corners — three screws per leg, plus glue. Taper them, or swap in metal feet, if the stub look isn't yours.
Full size and up: flip the frame and add center legs cut to fit under the 2x4 support. Measure in place; floors and lumber both lie.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3 furring strips, 8 ft, Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-1/2" to 2", star drive
Lay the slats across cleats and center support, spacing per your mattress maker's requirement (foam usually wants ≤3" gaps). Screw down with the short screws — and give the two END slats four screws each; pinning the ends is the cheap trick that takes the last wobble out of the whole bed.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Stain or paint
If the center ever feels soft under a heavier mattress, add a second 2x4 support alongside the first with its own legs — ten minutes with the bed flipped. Sand, finish, drop the mattress in, and lose the box spring forever.