Unlike an upholstered bed frame or metal counterpart, the best wooden bed frames are the ideal foundation for a more neutral, earthy, and understated aesthetic. You can find everything from teak to pine wood options readily available in a range of designs—from midcentury modern styles with angled legs to more low-lying contemporary styles. A basic platform bed in a solid wood grain is always a neutral building block to outfit a bedroom if your furniture tastes are constantly evolving. And thanks to their longevity and sturdy nature, wooden bed frames are also an all-around solid option that avoids the clanking of metal on metal joinery.

Luckily, our editors and writers have tested lots of solid wood bed frames over the years, many backed by generous warranties and return policies. Here, we’ve pulled together a list of all the finest ones we’ve tried from high-end brands—including some quality bed frames on Amazon. Whether you’re looking for something that takes less than 20 minutes of setup time or a modern design that leans away from dated farmhouse tropes, you shouldn’t have any problems with these vetted picks (knock on wood).

• Best Classic Wooden Bed Frame: Linda Wood Platform Bed Frame, $699 $629
• A Japandi-Inspired Bed Frame: The Bed by Thuma, $1,195
• The Budget Pick: Zinus Wen Wood Platform Bed Frame, $170
• For Modern Design Enthusiasts: West Elm Midcentury Bed, $1,299
• A Rustic Bed Frame: Pottery Barn Farmhouse Bed, $1,699

Zinus’ ethos is centered on accessibility and the belief that quality products can come at low price points (the brand’s metal platform bed frame is a great example of that). The wood Linda frame’s subtle “Scandi vibes” are particularly impressive to commerce director Rachel Fletcher. She says that the piece feels neutral and looks “way more expensive than the sub-$350 price tag.” Sturdy wooden slat support (no box spring required here!) with a built in metal interior frame makes the bed feel ultra secure, while the overall high quality exceeds her expectations. “The style of the Linda is pretty agnostic—it’s a little midcentury, a little Scandinavian—so much so that I can imagine it fitting into a host of home decor aesthetics, from a cozy cabin to something more minimalist, or beach-y, or boho,” she adds.

It’s easy to see why Thuma’s frame was one of the most popular items purchased by AD readers in both 2020 and 2021. Not only does it easily come together, but it’s an ideal purchase for anyone looking for a sturdy, long-lasting frame that’s also easy to move with. Our senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums was especially fond of the easy assembly process: “The Japanese craftsman technique was true to the promise of having a quiet, easy-to-put-together setup.” And with a nine-inch clearance space fit to store smaller items and shallow storage containers as well as an equally quick and tool-free disassembly, it’s no wonder Sessums still hasn’t parted ways with this bestseller, even after a move from New York to Maine.

Thuma even offers a classic underbed drawer set that can transform this platform bed into a storage bed.

For a stylish wooden bed frame at an even more approachable price point, AD contributor Will Porter turned to this wallet-friendly Zinus foundation. “When my partner and I were looking to buy a frame, we really just wanted something that looked nice, was affordable, and wouldn’t fall apart quickly,” he says. Porter is a fan of the cherry wood finish that he notes has a “versatile” and high-end look to complement bedroom decor. “We actually thought it looked quite a bit like the Thuma bed, which we may get someday, but wasn’t in the budget when we were shopping over a year ago,” he adds. “So, looks-wise, this was a big win, especially at just $170.”

According to contributor Madeleine Luckel, West Elm’s narrow midcentury frame is the perfect fit for a smaller, New York City-sized bedroom (in fact, it’s even followed her to every apartment she’s lived in since 2014). Luckel particularly likes the frame’s “clean and elegant lines” and that the tone of the wood has a warm glow to it. Though buyers should be aware that the frame’s relatively low-profile design makes storing taller items more difficult. “Some things that I would like to store underneath it (such as my standard-size Away suitcase) don’t fit,” she notes.

Contributor Nick Mafi describes Pottery Barn’s Farmhouse bed frame as “sturdy but still soft.” And aside from the aesthetic appeal that “looks like something you’d see in a country home” and hassle-free white glove assembly service, Mafi appreciates the cozy-looking design (featuring both a headboard and footboard!). It had been screened for over 10,000 harmful chemicals and he felt it was ultimately worth the higher price tag. “Like most pieces of furniture that are expensive, it’s built to last,” he says. “The design of the frame is important in that, even five or so years from now, it won’t scream dated.”

Available in two colors and on sale for just under $600 for a queen size (at the moment), this wood bed frame from Birch is a great option if you’re looking for something simple but well-made. Sustainability and tool-free assembly are what drew Fletcher to this bed, which she says she would 100% recommend to a friend. Calling it “utilitarian, streamlined, and super solid,” Fletcher also notes that the assembly process was a breeze: “The pieces fit together easily, the instructions were super clear, and I was kind of amazed as to how quickly it all came together.”

Casper’s reputation for reliable, affordable mattresses extends to its budget-friendly bed frames, too. Sessums is impressed by the no-frills oak Repose frame. “I chose the natural oak frame with the wood headboard, and I thought it was great!” she says. “It’s very neutral and would fit in so many different bedroom spaces. I like the optional headboard—I slept on the bed with and without it and found it to be lovely either way.” It arrives in just a few days, and assembly is, shockingly, a breeze. (Sessums said it was fully set up within an hour.) It's sturdy and comfortable, and will blend right into any interior design aesthetic.

Contributor Katie Henwood’s search for a taller frame that maximized storage space and fit her “minimal midcentury style” eventually led her to West Elm’s solid wood platform bed. With easy set up and ample room to store under-bed storage bags filled with extra bedding, coats, shoes, and more, it’s clear why Henwood dubs this platform bed “the Mary Poppins bag of bed frames.” Most importantly, the wood frame allows Henwood to make the most of her limited square footage. “Anyone looking to create more space in their small apartment, this is the bed frame for you,” she says. “It’s not bulky like some bed frames that come with storage built in, and is simple enough to take with you wherever you go in the future.”

Floyd’s wood frame is a low-profile, adjustable bed frame with modular capabilities that makes it “an ideal bed frame for a streamlined space, for constant moving, for a changing life,” according to Sessums, who’s been sleeping on it since 2019. Though setting it up was more tedious than expected, the Floyd’s adaptability eventually won Sessums over, proving the frame was worthy of its Instagram-established hype. “I loved the idea that down the line I could transform the queen bed frame to instead fit a king-size or twin mattress sizes, or add a wooden headboard or storage drawer,” she says.

For people who love the look of Japanese-style platform beds but still want room for storage underneath, associate commerce director Lori Keong vouches for this bed she spotted on Etsy. It comes flatpacked with individual slats that slot into the base like puzzle pieces for an overall seamless construction. The fact that the slats fit into their own grooves also ensures a sturdy foundation that is virtually silent despite movement. “The construction feels super high-quality, and its silhouette is unlike anything you’ll find at a big-box retailer otherwise,” she says. “I love the design and how many cavities of space it creates underneath the bed for stuffing any number of storage containers.”

We at AD are passionate about all things sleep, so we put essentials for a good night’s rest to the test in our own homes—including the best bed frames. As we hinted at earlier in this story, our editors and contributors set this wood furniture up in their bedrooms—not a lab—to keep an eye out for ease of assembly, durability, style, and squeak-free construction. Our team slept on these bed frames for a minimum of a few weeks to get a real sense of their quality, though many of our editors have slept on them for at least couple years, so we can confidently stand behind these foundations.