Skip to content
Mattress Nut
  • Home
  • Comprehensive Guides
    • Trundle Bed Guide
    • Loft Beds Guide
    • Platform Bed Ultimate Guide
    • Platform Bed Pros and Cons – Deep Dive
    • Futon Mattresses Guide
    • Canopy Bed Guide
    • Murphy Bed Guide
    • Body Pillow Guide
    • Guest Bed Guide
  • Key Topics
    • Bunk Beds
      • Guide to Bunk Bed Age Limits
      • How to Make a Bunk Bed Ladder Safer
      • How to Make Bunk Beds Look Cute
      • Bunk Bed Mattress Sizes – A Quick Guide
      • How to make Bunk Bed Ladders More Comfortable
      • Bunk Bed Safety Tips
      • What’s the size of a bunk bed?
      • Bunk Bed Price Guide – How Do Features Affect the Cost of a Bunk Bed
      • Using Bunk Bed Room Dividers
      • Ultimate List of Bunk Bed Accessories
      • Bunk Bed Weight Limits
      • Are Box Springs Necessary for a Bunk Bed?
    • Loft Beds ( & Bunk Beds)
      • How to Make Loft beds and Bunk Beds More Sturdy
      • How to Make a Loft Bed Taller
      • Loft Bed Costs
      • Ideas to Organize a Room with a Loft Bed
      • How to Use the Space Below Your Loft Bed
      • How to Make Loft Beds Look Cool
      • Loft bed and Bunk Bed Weight Limits
    • Platform Beds
      • What is a Platform Bed Skirt?
      • 5 Steps to Dress Up a Platform Bed
      • Why are Platform Beds Good
      • Platform Bed Mattress Types
      • Platform Bed Mattress Sizes
    • Trundle Beds
      • How does a Trundle Bed work?
      • Trundle Bed Pros and Cons
      • Trundle Bed Mattress Size (s)
      • What’s the size of a trundle bed?
      • Do Trundle Beds Work On Carpet?
      • Prevening Trundle Beds from Separating
      • Are Trundle Beds Comfortable? How To Make A Trundle Bed More Comfortable?
      • How to make a trundle bed look like a couch
      • 15 Trundle Bed Bedroom Ideas for Kids and Adults
      • Using Trundle Beds in a Nursery
    • Box Springs & Alternatives
      • Do you need a box spring?
      • How to Fix a Noisy, Squeaky Box Spring
      • How long does a box spring last?
      • How tall is a Box Spring?
      • How to Cover a Box Spring Beautifully
      • Bunkie Boards
        • How to Fix a Squeaky Bunkie Board
        • Plywood Vs. Bunkie Board
        • What are Bunkie Boards Made Of?
        • Bunkie Board Cost Guide
        • Bunkie Board Alternatives
        • Can a Bunkie Board Replace a Box Spring?
        • Do You Need a Bunkie Board Under a Foam Mattress?
        • How Long Do Bunkie Boards Last?
    • Murphy Beds
      • How does a Murphy bed work?
      • Why Murphy Beds Are so Expensive
    • Canopy Beds
      • How to Drape Canopy Beds
      • Choosing the right type of Canopy Bed
    • Futons & Futon Mattresses
      • Futon Mechanisms and How to fix them
      • Futon Frame, Mattress, and Sheet Sizes
      • Tips for Sleeping on a Futon while Pregnant
      • Benefits of Traditional Japanese Futon Mattresses vs. Mattresses
      • How To Clean a Futon Mattress
      • How To Fix a Squeaky Futon
    • Cot Beds
      • Do You Need a Cot Bed? Pros/Cons
      • Do You Need a Crib Mattress?
      • Can Twins Share a Cot Bed?
      • How to Assemble a Cot Bed
      • How Big Are Cot Beds & Cot Bed Mattresses
      • When to Take Sides off a Cot Bed?
      • Transitioning From Cot Bed to Toddler Bed
      • How to make a Cot Bed More Cozy
      • How To Make a Cot Bed Smaller
      • When to Use a Cradle Bed Sleeping Wedge
      • Safe Alternatives to Cot Bed Bumpers
      • How to Store a Crib Mattress
      • Crib Mattress Firmness Guide
      • What Crib Bedding Do You Need for a Newborn?
      • 7 Baby Cot Accessories and Toys
    • Pillows
      • Body Pillows & Their Benefits
        • Body Pillow Size Chart
        • How to Store a Body Pillow
        • How to Clean a Body Pillow
      • Tempurpedic Pillows and How to Use them
        • Make a Tempurpedic Pillow or Mattress Softer
        • Tempurpedic Neck Pillow Size Guide
        • How to Clean a Tempurpedic Pillow
        • How Long Do Tempurpedic Pillows Last?
    • Headboards
      • How to Choose a Headboard
      • How to Fix a Wobbly Headboard
      • Headboard Height and Size Chart
      • Why Do You Need a Headboard?
    • Mattress Fire Retardants & Chemicals
      • Memory foam mattress expansion – Tips/Tricks
      • How to Cut A Memory Foam Mattress or Topper
    • Mattress Toppers
      • How to Use and Clean Toppers
    • Other topics
      • Bed Riser Alternatives
  • Reviews
    • Bed Bases
      • Best Box Springs
      • Best Bunkie Boards
    • Pillows
      • Best Memory Foam Pillows
      • Best Body Pillows
      • Best Tempurpedic Pillows
      • Best Lumbar Pillows
      • Best Neck Pillows
    • Mattresses
      • Best Memory Foam Mattresses
      • Best Orthopedic Mattresses
      • Best Futon Mattresses
      • Smart Grid vs. Memory Foam
      • Focus Article: Zinus Green Tea
    • Bed Types
      • Best Kids Beds
      • Best Trundle Beds
      • Best Loft Beds
      • Best Platform Beds
    • Accessories
      • Best Waterproof Mattress Protectors
      • Best Fleece Blankets
  • About Me

How to Fix a Wobbly Headboard, Stop Squeaking, and Banging Against the Wall

How to Fix a Wobbly Headboard, Stop Squeaking, and Banging Against the Wall


A headboard is an aesthetic piece of furniture that attaches to the bed frame. Headboards serve as pillow stoppers and as a nice backrest for reading and watching TV in bed. They were created to be a barrier between your head and a cold wall. However, not all bed frames include headboards. Purchasing a bed with a headboard is a matter of preference and practicality. If you do have a headboard, you might find that the bolts that connect the headboard to the bed frame loosen up over time, causing the headboard to wobble and grate. This is mainly due to daily bed use, heavy weight on the bed, and temperature changes.    

When your headboard wobbles, rattles against the wall and makes irritating noises. There are easy ways to fix this issue depending on whether the problem stems from the headboard’s connections to the bed frame (refer to step 1) or the headboard’s connection with the wall (refer to step 2), or with the floor (refer to step 3). To fix a wobbly headboard follow these steps:

Step 1: Tighten all the bolts and nuts 

Step 2: Add felt protectors or rubber bumpers or just hang the headboard on the wall

Step 3: Add furniture pads or rubber leg covers

Related articles:

  • How does a headboard work?
  • Do you even need a headboard?
  • How to attach a headboard, a step-by-step guide
  • Is your headboard too short? Here's how to raise the height of a headboard.

Step 1. Tighten All the Bolts and Nuts to Fix a Wobbling Headboard

Pull your bed away from the wall and locate the bolts and nuts that attach the headboard to the bed frame. It may not be enough to simply tighten the screws and bolts using a screwdriver and a wrench. You will likely need to add traction to the joints. 

First, loosen all the screws and bolts using pliers, and then apply a thread-locking adhesive around the threads. Before tightening the connectors, make sure to add a washer and a lock-washer to the head of the bolt. Finally, reinsert the connectors into the headboard’s holes, which coincide straight with the bed frame’s holes and tighten them. You can also drill additional holes in both the headboard and the bed frame’s bracket and then screw additional bolts into place to hold the headboard firmly to the frame. 

If you have an ill-fitting bed frame, your headboard is most likely attached to the frame via modification plates. The holes in the modification plate line up with the holes in the headboard and the frame, and bolts and nuts are threaded through those holes. Tighten the connectors and add washers as mentioned above. Add additional bolts and nuts if there is space in the plates for further stability. 

To fix a wobbly headboard apply sealant tape and tighten bolts
Drops of a sealant tape are applied around the thread of the bolts (Left image) then the bolt is inserted into the hole of a bracket connecting the headboard to the bed frame (Right image). Washers and nuts are added for the connectors to hold the headboard securely into place. Image from Amazon.

Step 2. Add Felt Protectors or Rubber Bumpers or Just Hang the Headboard on the Wall

Once you’re sure that the headboard is well connected to the frame, it’s time to examine the headboard’s relationship to the wall. You need a shock absorbing solution to fix a wobbly headboard that rattles against the wall when you shift in your bed.

Grab two or more rubber bumpers like these ones, also known as door stoppers, peel their self-adhesive back, and stick them either on the wall surface where the headboard hits the wall, or on each corner of the headboard. The product protects the wall from scratches and helps minimize rattling noises.    

Another way to stabilize a headboard is by providing a back support to the headboard that would keep the headboard fixed against the wall with little to no movement. Use felt pads like these ones with felt bottom and threaded stem. Drill a hole on the top-rear of the headboard and use a hammer to insert the threaded stem into the hole. Push the bed towards the wall until the felt part touches the wall. 

To stop your headboard from banging against the wall add rubber bumpers
Rubber bumpers (Left image) and felt protectors (Right image) are attached to headboards to reduce shock and wobbling of the headboard against the wall. Image from WizardSliders.

Another solution is to fix the headboard onto the wall using french cleats. First, mark the corners of the headboard on the wall with a pencil, and then pull away the bed from the wall. To know where to position the cleat, measure a fourth of the way down from the top of the headboard and mark it on the wall. At this level, locate your studs behind the wall using a stud finder and mark them.

For one cleat, mark two consecutive studs that are closest to the center of the bed, then screw the cleat into the studs on the wall. Disassemble the headboard from the bed frame using pliers and then attach the cleat plate on the back of the headboard. The cleat plate should be leveled with the cleat installed on the wall. Finally, hang the headboard’s cleat over the wall’s cleat and push the bed frame against the wall without attaching it to the headboard. 

You might find this article on choosing the right headboard height and size valuable.

Using french cleats prevents headboards from squeaking by changing the hanging mechanism
French cleats are attached on the wall and on the back of the headboard so that when the headboard is hung on the wall, the two brackets interlock and provide strong support.  

Step 3. Add Furniture Pads or Rubber Leg Covers

Sometimes, the headboard wobbles due to the legs of the bed rubbing against the ground. To fix a wobbling headboard, simply attach adhesive felt pads or non-slip rubber pads under each leg. 

Elevate one corner of the bed and either stick the furniture pad under the bottom of the elevated leg or slip a rubber leg cover on it. Do the same for the remaining legs consecutively. Those floor and furniture protectors shield the floor from scratches and prevent the bed from slipping and wobbling. 

Add rubber covers and leg protectors to prevent a wobbling headboard
Legs protectors such as pads (Left image) and rubber covers (Right image) allow the bed to be in contact with the tiles and floors in a non-damaging way while increasing traction to the floor. Image from Amazon.

How to Fix a Squeaky Headboard

To fix a squeaky headboard follow these steps:

Step 1: Tighten the connectors

Step 2: Lubricate the connectors and the squeaky area

Step 3: Pad the squeaky area

Step 1. Tighten the Connectors first, to fix a squeaky headboard

To fix a squeaky headboard, as mentioned above, you need to add traction to the connectors that attach the headboard to the bed frame. Weak or loose joints are most likely the culprit for squeaking sounds.

First pull the bed away from the wall and check what kind of metalware is holding the two elements together. Use a wrench to tighten the bolts and a screwdriver to tighten the screws. Add washers between the bolts and the nuts to secure the headboard and to make the bed sturdier. You may also want to add a sealant tape around the threads to keep them tight into their holes. 

To fix a squeaky headboard tighten the connectors
A headboard attached to the bed frame via a bracket with holes; add washers between the bolts and the nuts (Left image), then tighten the connectors enough to hold the headboard securely and to reduce the squeaking noise (Right image). Image from Wikihow. 

Step 2. Lubricate the Connectors and the Squeaky Area

In order to muffle future noises, the connectors need to be lubricated with oil or wax. So take WD40 or any cooking oil and spray the lubricant all over the metalware holding the bed together. Bear in mind not to use oil for wooden areas because oil soaks into the wood causing bad smells and dust buildup. In case your bed frame is made of wood, use a waxy substance to stop the noise (like this one). Or grab a lubricant such as a commercial wax, a brick of paraffin, or an unlit candle and rub the substance on the squeaky areas. 

Lubricate the squeaky headboard
Use a waxy substance (Left image) or WD40 oil (Right image) to lubricate the metalware and the squeaky areas between the headboard and the bed frame to minimize the squeaking sounds. Image from ToolsForWorkingWood.

Step 3. Pad the Squeaky Area

Bolt-on brackets attached to the bed may hit and scratch the wall causing a rattling sound. In order to lessen the bumping noise, you can purchase rubber bumpers that are designed specifically for bolt-on brackets.

Additionally, If your wall has a lower trim molding, it will prevent the top of the headboard to touch the wall completely. So when you lean back and apply force on your headboard, it will bang against the wall causing the annoying sound.

In this case, you need to fill the gap between the top-rear of the headboard and the wall. So you may want to fix your headboard to the wall (like mentioned in the section above) or you may want to attach pads to the back of the headboard. Polyester padding, foam, or egg crate mattress toppers make great batting fabrics.

Drape the padding over the headboard and cut it to match its size. Attach the padding to the back of the headboard, using a spray adhesive. Or simply attach a protector like this one to protect both the headboard and the wall. This should fix your squeaky headboard. 

Add rubber pads to a headboard that is squeaking
Rubber bumpers attached to bolt-on brackets (Left image) or fabric padding cut and glued on the back of the headboard (Right image) are two alternatives that reduce the squeaking and banging sound when the headboard rattles against the wall. 

How to Reduce Headboard Banging Against a Wall With Foam

Get creative and improvise with foam to protect your wall from rattles caused by a headboard. 

To reduce headboard banging against a wall with foam follow these steps:

Step 1: Get foam for pipe insulation

Step 2: Cut the foam

Step 3: Attach the foam on the back of the headboard

Step 1. Get Foam for Pipe Insulation. This will be a DIY solution to prevent headboard banging.

Foam is a great insulation material when it comes to minimizing noises. Purchase a pipe insulation kit like this one. They are made out of foam and serve as padding between the headboard and the wall. They are also used in many DIY projects. 

A foam pipe is a great DIY method to reduce headboard banging
 A foam pipe.

Step 2. Cut the foam

Cut four equal pieces of foam using a bread knife. 

Apply adhesive to the foam pipe to make sure it is attached to the headboard
The pipe is cut into equal sized pieces and adhesive applied.

Step 3. Attach the foam on the back of the headboard

Apply a fixative glue for foam on each of the pieces. Move to the back of the headboard and attach two pieces of foam on each side of the bed. Refer to the image below. 

If, at this point, you've given up on your current headboard. You might enjoy our guide to choosing the right headboard for you.

Attach foam to the back of the headboard
The foam is attached to the back of the headboard. From Youtube.

What Are Anti-shake Headboard Tools

If your headboard is wobbling and squeaking and does not let you sleep, you may want to purchase anti-shake headboard tools like these to fix your wobbly headboard.

They are adjustable threads made of metal on one side with a double-sided adhesive only on this end, and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) on the other side. They are used on any “easy to shake” furniture such as the bed to make it more stable and to prevent its collision with another surface. 

In order to prevent a headboard from wobbling and rattling against the wall, use anti-shake headboard tools and follow the steps below. 

Step 1: Measure the distance between the headboard and the wall

Step 2: Attach the metal side to the bed

Step 3: Adjust the EVA side to touch the wall

Step 1. Measure the Distance Between the Headboard and the Wall

 Measure the distance between your headboard and the wall (image A below). Then twist the EVA side and adjust it with your hand (extend it or shorten it) so that it reaches the right dimension (image B below). 

Step 2. Attach the Metal Side to the Bed

Peel the paper tape off the metal side (image C below). Then attach this side to the back of your headboard (image D below). It is advised to use 4 anti-shakers (one on each corner of the headboard).

Step 3. Adjust the EVA Side to Touch the Wall

The EVA side is the black bumper. It is a shock-absorbing pad that rests against the wall. So make sure it is adjusted to come in contact with the wall (image D below). 

These anti-shake headboard tools are beneficial for making the bed sturdier, avoiding collision, protecting the wall, and reducing noises. 

Prevent headboard wobbling by using anti-shake tools
Anti-shake headboard tools attach to the back of the headboard on one end and touch the wall on the other end. They play a vital role in preventing bed’s wobbling. 

Disclosures

This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Posts

  • Types of Bed Skirt Materials and Their Benefits
  • How To Keep a Bed Skirt in Place – 6 Strategies with Step by Step Instructions
  • How to Use Bed Skirt Pins – Step by Step
  • What Bed Skirt Hardware Do You Need To Install Bed skirts?
  • Common Bed Skirts Designs & Their Benefits
  • How to Choose The Right Bed Skirt Shoe Organizer
  • Different Types of Bed Skirts and Their Uses – A Definitive Guide
  • Comparing Bed Skirts vs. Dust Ruffles – A Definitive Guide
  • 6 Ways to Make A Bed Skirt Stay In Place And Prevent Sliding
  • Choosing Bed Skirts for Adjustable Beds

Search Posts

Copyright Etch A Deal, LLC