How Tall is a Box Spring + 5 Tips to Choose the Right Box Spring Height

How tall is a Box Spring? 5 Tips to choose the right box spring height for your bed

by Romain R - Updated on January 12, 2023January 12, 2023

Fact checked by Romain R, Sleep Expert

A box spring is a mattress foundation that you can use to elevate your mattress, increase its life time, absorb shock from the mattress, protect it from dust and insects, and to make your bed feel softer and more comfortable. Box springs can be made of wood or metal and they come in different sizes. In this article we discuss the height of standard box springs, low-profile box springs, and provide tips to choose the right box spring height for you. If you are just looking for a quick answer…

3 better options than a box spring

How tall is a box spring / what is the height of a box spring?

Here are 3 examples of different standard box springs and their heights:

Box Spring Name and Link	Height of Box Spring	Dimensions of Box Spring
Sleep Master Smart Box Spring	9 in.	59.5 in. x 79 in. x 9 in.
Ghostbed Boxspring Knockdown Foundation	9 in.	75 x 38 x 9 inches
Continental Sleep Semi Flex Box Spring	8 in.	74 x 53 x 8 inches

How tall is a low profile box spring?

As we stated before, the height of a low profile box spring is 4-5 in. Adding a separate frame and mattress raise the overall height of the bed. Consider using a frame if you want to maximize how long your box spring lasts.

Here are 3 examples of different low profile box springs and their heights:

Box Spring Name and Link	Height of Box Spring	Dimensions of Box Spring
Kingsdown Passions Low Profile 5″ Box Spring	5 in.	75 in. x 53 in. x 5 in.
Box Spring by Mattress Foundation	4 in.	80 in. x 60 in. x 4 in
5″ Smart Box by Spring Mainstays	5 in.	74 in. x 53 in. x 5 in

How tall is a box spring with a mattress?

The height of a standard box spring is 7-9 in. and that of a standard innerspring mattress is 8-12 in. Mattresses generally vary in height from 2 in. to 20 in. Some mattresses are more than 20 inches high. Below are some examples of different box springs with mattresses, and their heights.

Here are 3 examples of different box springs with mattresses and their corresponding heights:

Box Spring Name and Link	Mattress Name and Link	Total Height of Box Spring with Mattress
PlushBeds 8 inch Orthopedic Foundation	PrimaSleep 10 inch Wave Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress	18 in.
JF World 9 inch High Profile Smart Box Spring	Sweetnight Twin 8 inch Mattress	17 in.
Mayton 4-Inch King Size Box Spring	Beautyrest BR800 12 inch Innerspring Mattress	16 in.

Box spring size chart

Box Spring Size	Name and Link	Dimensions (LxWxH)
Twin	Sleep Master Smart Box Spring, Twin	38 in. x 74 in. x 9 in.
Full	Mayton 8-Inch Full Size Split Box Spring Mattress Foundation	53 in. x 74 in. x 8 in.
Queen	Mainstay Half-Fold Metal Box Spring	80 in. x 60 in. x 7.5 in.
King	Amazon Basics Mattress Foundation	79 in. x 75.5 in. x 9 in.
Low-Profile Twin	Zinus Armita 5 Inch Low Profile Smart Box Spring	74 in. x 38 in. x 5 in.
Low-Profile Full	Zinus Jayanna 4 Inch Low Profile BiFold Box Spring	74 in. x 53 in. x 4 in.
Low-Profile Queen	Zinus Jayanna 4 Inch Low Profile BiFold Box Spring	79 in. x 59.5 in. x 4 in.
Low-Profile King	Zinus Victor 4 Inch Low Profile Quick Lock Smart Box Spring	79 in. x 75 in. x 4 in.

The three dimensions given in inches refer to the length, width and height of box springs respectively. The dimensions are demonstrated in the following images.

5 tips to choose the right box spring height for your needs

There are a number of factors to consider while choosing between different box spring heights for you. Here are some tips:

Choose your box spring height based on where you are placing your mattress (on a tall frame, on the floor, etc.)
Determine if you need to match the height of the bed to a bed-side table or other furniture
Determine if you need to choose the height of the box spring based on your bed’s headboard
The height of the box spring may depend on the age of the user
How tall your box spring needs to be depends on your medical conditions (bad back, arthritis, etc.)

Choose your box spring height based on where you are placing your mattress (on a tall frame, on the floor, etc.)

The first question to consider is where do you want to place your box spring. Some people place it directly on the floor while others use it on a bed frame. We recommend a standard sized box spring if you want to place it directly on the floor. However, if you want to keep the box spring on a raised frame, a low profile box spring of about 4-5 inches’ height would be a good option.

This is because the height of the frame, the box spring and the mattress will all add up. If you think the height of your box spring is too high or too low, you can always compensate for it and control the overall height by choosing the height of the mattress accordingly.

There are some box springs that already have a frame built around them and are raised. Such box springs eliminate the need of having a separate frame.

Determine if you need to match the height of the bed to a bed-side table or other furniture

Another important thing to consider while buying box springs is the interior of your room and the height of other pieces of furniture in the room such as bed-side tables. If your bed-side tables are low, a low profile box spring placed directly on the floor with a standard sized mattress on top will be a great option for you. You can choose the height of the mattress to match the height of the side tables.

If your side tables are taller, you can use a box spring with a standard height and a tall mattress on top.

Also note that you can match your bed to the style of the room. To match a minimalist room design, choose a bed frame, box spring, and mattress that aren’t tall. You can also consider placing the mattress and box spring directly on the floor. Curious about how to cover a box spring to match room decor?

Determine if you need to choose the height of the box spring based on your bed’s headboard

If your bed has a headboard, you want to be able to see it (that’s the point of the headboard!). Choose a box spring that doesn’t raise your mattress too high such that your headboard is blocked. If you end up covering just a segment of the headboard, your bed might look awkward or not as stylish.

How do you fix a wobbly headboard that squeaks or bangs against the wall?

The height of the box spring may depend on the age of the user

While a low profile box spring and lower overall bed height might be a great idea for kids, it can be a nuisance for seniors. It is challenging for seniors to bend down too low and to get up from a bed with a low height. If you are looking to buy a box spring for your older parents or for yourself, consider buying one that raises your mattress so that it’s easy to get in and out of.

The same may be true for pregnant women. A bed that’s too low will be difficult to get in and out of. Consider buying a taller box spring so that you can keep your mattress and still raise the height of the bed.

For children, on the other hand, a low profile box spring is the best option because it’s easy to get in and out of and because you don’t need to worry if they fall off their bed. You can even consider buying some foot stools to make it easy for your children to climb onto their bed. In this case, a standard size box spring and frame might work just fine.

How tall your box spring needs to be depends on your medical conditions (bad back, arthritis, etc.)

If you have a medical condition such as a bad back or arthritis, you need to pay special attention to your bed and hence your box spring. Ask your doctor what the right type of bed and box spring might be for you. The answer may be that you don’t even need a box spring and that you should look at some box spring alternatives! You may even want to get a different orthopedic mattress.

We hope that this article will help you choose the right box spring option for yourself and make your life comfortable.