Build your own wood bed frame! This modern farmhouse style bed is easy to build with off the shelf materials and basic tools. You'll love our step by step diagrams, shopping list and cut list for all standard mattress sizes, and lots of reader submitted photos. Designed by Ana White.

Preparation
TWIN SHOPPING LIST - Mattress Size 39" x 75"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
- 11 - 2x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (includes mattress slats)
- 3 - 2x6 @ 8 feet or stud length
- 5 - 1x6 boards or tongue and groove paneling @ 4 feet long
- 1 - 2x2 @ 6 feet long
- 2-3/4" self tapping screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" pocket hole screws (optional)
FULL SHOPPING LIST - Mattress Size 54" x 75"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
- 5 - 2x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (cut the 75" boards from these)
- 7 - 2x4 @ 10 feet (cut slats and rest of boards from these)
- 4 - 2x6 @ 8 feet or stud length
- 5 - 1x6 boards or tongue and groove paneling @ 54" long
- 1 - 2x2 @ 6 feet long
- 2-3/4" self tapping screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" pocket hole screws (optional)
QUEEN SHOPPING LIST - Mattress Size 60" x 80"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
- 6 - 2x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (cut the 75" boards from these)
- 1 - 2x4 @ 10 feet (cut 60" boards from these)
- 5 - 2x4 or 1x4 @ 12 feet long (cut slats from these)
- 4 - 2x6 @ 8 feet or stud length
- 5 - 1x6 boards or tongue and groove paneling @ 60" long
- 1 - 2x2 @ 6 feet long
- 2-3/4" self tapping screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" pocket hole screws (optional)
STANDARD KING SHOPPING LIST - Mattress Size 76" x 80"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
- 8 - 2x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (cut the 75" boards from these)
- 11 - 2x4 or 1x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (cut slats from these)
- 4 - 2x6 @ 8 feet or stud length
- 5 - 1x6 boards or tongue and groove paneling @ 76" long
- 1 - 2x2 @ 6 feet long
- 2-3/4" self tapping screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" pocket hole screws (optional)
CALIFORNIA KING SHOPPING LIST - Mattress Size 72" x 84"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 6 feet long
- 8 - 2x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (cut the 75" boards from these)
- 11 - 2x4 or 1x4 @ 8 feet or stud length (cut slats from these)
- 4 - 2x6 @ 8 feet or stud length
- 5 - 1x6 boards or tongue and groove paneling @ 72" long
- 1 - 2x2 @ 6 feet long
- 2-3/4" self tapping screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" pocket hole screws (optional)
TWIN CUT LIST - Mattress Size 39" x 75"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 52-1/2" - Headboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 46" - Top of headboard
- 2 - 2x2 @ 27-1/2"
- 5 - 1x6 or 1x6 tongue and groove @ 39" - Headboard planking
- 1 - 2x6 @ 39"
- 2 - 2x4 @ 75" - Siderail Top
- 2 - 2x6 @ 75" - Siderail
- 2 - 4x4 @ 14-1/2" - Footboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 39" - Footboard Top
- 1 - 2x6 @ 39" - Footboard Base
- 2 - 2x4 @ 75" - Cleats
- 11 - 1x4 or 2x4 @~41" - Slats (cut to fit)
FULL CUT LIST - Mattress Size 54" x 75"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 52-1/2" - Headboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 61" - Top of headboard
- 2 - 2x2 @ 27-1/2" - headboard cleats
- 5 - 1x6 or 1x6 tongue and groove @ 54" - Headboard planking
- 1 - 2x6 @ 54"
- 2 - 2x4 @ 75" - Siderail Top
- 2 - 2x6 @ 75" - Siderail
- 2 - 4x4 @ 14-1/2" - Footboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 54" - Footboard Top
- 1 - 2x6 @ 54" - Footboard Base
- 2 - 2x4 @ 75" - Cleats
- 1 - 2x4 @ ~76" - Center Cleat (cut to fit)
- 11 - 1x4 or 2x4 @ ~56" - Slats (measure and cut to fit)
QUEEN CUT LIST - Mattress Size 60" x 80"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 52-1/2" - Headboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 67" - Top of headboard
- 2 - 2x2 @ 27-1/2"
- 5 - 1x6 or 1x6 tongue and groove @ 60" - Headboard planking
- 1 - 2x6 @ 60"
- 2 - 2x4 @ 80" - Siderail Top
- 2 - 2x6 @ 80" - Siderail
- 2 - 4x4 @ 14-1/2" - Footboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 60" - Footboard Top
- 1 - 2x6 @ 60" - Footboard Base
- 2 - 2x4 @ 80" - Cleats
- 1 - 2x4 @ ~81" - Center Cleat (cut to fit)
- 10 - 1x4 or 2x4 @ ~62" - Slats (measure and cut to fit)
STANDARD KING CUT LIST - Mattress Size 76" x 80"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 52-1/2" - Headboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 83" - Top of headboard
- 2 - 2x2 @ 27-1/2"
- 5 - 1x6 or 1x6 tongue and groove @ 76"- Headboard planking
- 1 - 2x6 @ 76"
- 2 - 2x4 @ 80" - Siderail Top
- 2 - 2x6 @ 80" - Siderail
- 2 - 4x4 @ 14-1/2" - Footboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 76" - Footboard Top
- 1 - 2x6 @ 76" - Footboard Base
- 2 - 2x4 @ 80" - Cleats
- 1 - 2x4 @ ~81" - Center Cleat (cut to fit)
- 11 - 1x4 or 2x4 @ ~82" - Slats (measure and cut to fit)
CALIFORNIA KING CUT LIST - Mattress Size 72" x 84"
- 2 - 4x4 @ 52-1/2" - Headboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 79" - Top of headboard
- 2 - 2x2 @ 27-1/2"
- 5 - 1x6 or 1x6 tongue and groove @ 72" - Headboard planking
- 1 - 2x6 @ 72"
- 2 - 2x4 @ 84" - Siderail Top
- 2 - 2x6 @ 84" - Siderail
- 2 - 4x4 @ 14-1/2" - Footboard Legs
- 1 - 2x4 @ 72" - Footboard Top
- 1 - 2x6 @ 72" - Footboard Base
- 2 - 2x4 @ 84" - Cleats
- 1 - 2x4 @ ~85" - Center Cleat (cut to fit)
- 11 - 1x4 or 2x4 @ ~86" - Slats (measure and cut to fit)
Comments
canuck
Mon, 01/29/2018 - 21:46
photo?
Woodje12, do you have a photo of the finished bed? I'm about to start building tomorrow and also want to raise it up a bit... and I was thinking of using 1x10s as the side rails instead of 1x6s. I'm new to woodworking and would love to see an example before I go buy everything!
woodje12
Tue, 01/30/2018 - 03:49
Photos coming up in Brag Your Build
I've been meaning to post photos. I was also going to do 1 x 10's too but man was that going to be heavy. As it is, this thing could take a direct mortar hit! It is solid for sure. Take a look, I went up 2 inches from the plan and I could have pushed it a little more without affecting the syle IMHO but the wife wasn't so sure at the time.
canuck
Tue, 01/30/2018 - 19:00
Thank you!
Thank you! I saw your brag build and it looks amazing. Hmm... just have to decide which to sizes to buy tomorrow... might be a game-time decision!
woodje12
Tue, 01/30/2018 - 19:10
Pictures are posted in the Brag Your Build
It appears that my posts are showing up so not sure if this will either but I posted pictures under the Brag Your Build section. Please take a look there. I thought about 1x10's as well but they were so heavy. Even with the 1x6's I think this bed could withstand a direct mortar attack!
canuck
Wed, 01/31/2018 - 14:32
1x vs 2x?
One last question for you... did you use 1x6s or 2x6s? The plan calls for 2x6s (and I was thinking of going wiht 2x10s) but I"m having a hard time finding them in decent shape. 1x6s or 1x10s are more readily available but I wasn't sure if they're strong enough as the rails... any thoughts? Thanks!
Jendaily
Sun, 01/07/2018 - 08:24
Love this!
I want to make this for my son's room. What are the dimensions for an XL twin bed?
jlvhawk3
Mon, 01/22/2018 - 14:12
Cut List Error??
I believe there may be an issue in the cut list with the following line:
I'm thinking this is supposed to be the 2x6 underneath the 2x4 top?
omega21
Wed, 01/31/2018 - 04:53
Such a lovely post!
Thank you so much for the detailed pictures and instructions. Really anyone can build his own bed from scratch following this. Your style really takes Woodworking to the next level. Keep up the good work. My elder bro is working on a new design which he thinks will blow! I always watch his craft as I follow the threads. They are awesome and I help him with some ideas. While surfing today, I came across this thing which I found very useful for him and for some other friends. Please check it, you may be interested as well. http://bit.ly/woodycraft
Cstacy007
Fri, 03/16/2018 - 13:46
For some reason i have a gap
For some reason i have a gap at the end of the headboard plank and the top of the bed. i added an additional tongue/grove plank on the headboard for a total of 6 planks and still ended up with a gap (bottom of tongue/groove and top of my bed) that might eat pillows ;)
Is my 8" mattress not tall enough? did your bed in the picture have a box spring as well? trying to come up with a solution since i can't get behind the frame anymore without taking the bed and side rails off of the headboard.
my browser is currently not letting me paste the picture to give you a visual example :(
Brian Famous
Fri, 03/16/2018 - 14:31
It looks like they had 7 planks...
Zooming in on the pictures provided, they definitely have a box spring - but it looks like they used 7 tongue and groove planks instead of the 5 the directions state.