Nightstand Dimensions: Standard Height and Size, With 10 Real Nightstands Measured
Short answer
A standard nightstand is 23 to 28 inches tall, 21 to 28 inches wide and 16 to 20 inches deep. For the height, measure your bed: the top of the nightstand should be level with the top of the mattress or up to 4 inches higher. Most beds are about 24 inches to the top of the mattress. Set it 3 to 6 inches from the bed.
23–28″
standard height
0–4″
above the mattress top
3–6″
from the bed
Contents
Standard nightstand size
Wayfair’s nightstand guide sorts them by height and width. Standard is the middle row of each.
| Size | Height | Width | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low / narrow | under 23″ | under 21″ | Platform beds; twin beds and small bedrooms |
| Standard | 23–28″ | 21–28″ | Standard bed frames; full and queen beds |
| Tall / wide | over 30″ | over 29″ | Box springs and thick toppers; king beds |
10 real nightstands, measured
These are the sizes IKEA lists for its nightstands, shortest first:
| Nightstand | Width × depth | Height |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA LILLBERGET | 15¾×16½″ | 19¼″ |
| IKEA BRIMNES | 15⅜×16⅛″ | 20⅞″ |
| IKEA TONSTAD | 15¾×15¾″ | 23¼″ |
| IKEA TARVA | 18⅞×15⅜″ | 24⅜″ |
| IKEA HAUGA | 15⅝×14″ | 24⅝″ |
| IKEA FÅGELFJÄLLET | 20½×18⅛″ | 26″ |
| IKEA IDANÄS | 18½×15¾″ | 26¾″ |
| IKEA GULLABERG | 20⅞×16⅞″ | 27⅛″ |
| IKEA HEMNES | 18⅛×13¾″ | 27½″ |
| IKEA BLÄSTÅSEN | 19⅝×14⅝″ | 29⅞″ |
Seven of the ten are 23 to 28 inches tall. None reaches 21 inches wide: they run 15⅜ to 20⅞, which is narrow by Wayfair’s sizing. That’s good news in a small bedroom, where every inch beside the bed counts.
How tall should a nightstand be?
Measure from the floor to the top of your mattress. Wayfair’s rule is that the nightstand’s top should be level with it or no more than 4 inches higher, so you can reach a glass or a phone without stretching up or down.
- Mattress top at about 24 inches (most beds, says Wayfair): a nightstand 24 to 28 inches tall, such as the TARVA, HAUGA, IDANÄS or HEMNES.
- Low platform bed: a low nightstand under 23 inches, such as the 19¼-inch LILLBERGET or 20⅞-inch BRIMNES. Measure first: the rule is the same, just starting lower.
- Box spring or thick topper: a tall nightstand, over 30 inches.
How much room nightstands need beside a bed
Wayfair suggests placing a nightstand 3 to 6 inches from the side of the bed, close enough to reach and with room for the bedding to hang. So the wall behind a bed with a nightstand on each side needs the bed’s width, plus both nightstands, plus both gaps.
- Queen with two 22-inch nightstands: 64 + 22 + 22 + 4 + 4 = 116 inches. We plan queens with a 64-inch frame.
- Queen with two TARVAs (18⅞ inches): about 110 inches with 4-inch gaps.
- In a 10-foot room: a centered queen leaves 28 inches on each side, so the 10×10 bedroom layouts fit a queen with two small nightstands. In a 9×10 bedroom, nightstands up to 25 inches wide fit beside a full.
Free tool
Check a nightstand against the space beside your bed: the furniture size finder lists typical sizes for 36 pieces and marks what fits a width and depth you enter.
Questions people ask
What is the standard nightstand height?
23 to 28 inches (Wayfair). The best height for you is level with the top of your mattress or up to 4 inches higher.
How wide is a nightstand?
Standard nightstands are 21 to 28 inches wide (Wayfair). Narrow ones, under 21 inches, suit small bedrooms; all ten IKEA models above are 15⅜ to 20⅞ inches wide.
How deep is a nightstand?
Wayfair gives 16 to 20 inches as standard. The IKEA nightstands above run from 13¾ inches (HEMNES) to 18⅛ (FÅGELFJÄLLET).
Should a nightstand be taller than the bed?
Level with the top of the mattress or up to 4 inches higher (Wayfair). Much higher or lower and you have to reach for things.
What size nightstand for a queen bed?
Wayfair matches 21 to 28 inch nightstands to full and queen beds. In a small room, a narrower one is fine: two 22-inch nightstands and a queen need 116 inches of wall.
How far should a nightstand be from the bed?
3 to 6 inches from the side of the bed (Wayfair).
Sources
- Nightstand Dimensions: How to Choose the Right Nightstand Size for Your Bedroom (Wayfair): standard 23–28″ tall, 21–28″ wide, 16–20″ deep; level with the mattress or up to 4″ higher; most beds 24″ to the mattress top; low, tall, narrow and wide sizes; 3–6″ from the bed
- Nightstands (IKEA US): product pages for the LILLBERGET, BRIMNES, TONSTAD, TARVA, HAUGA, FÅGELFJÄLLET, IDANÄS, GULLABERG, HEMNES and BLÄSTÅSEN