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.
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 in | under 21 in | Platform beds; twin beds and small bedrooms |
| Standard | 23 to 28 in | 21 to 28 in | Standard bed frames; full and queen beds |
| Tall / wide | over 30 in | over 29 in | Box springs and thick toppers; king beds |
From Wayfair's nightstand dimensions guide. Extra-tall nightstands, over 35 in, go with high-profile beds. Standard depth is 16 to 20 in.
10 real nightstands, measured
These are the sizes IKEA lists for its nightstands, shortest first:
| Nightstand | Width × depth | Height |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA LILLBERGET | 15¾ × 16½ in | 19¼ in |
| IKEA BRIMNES | 15⅜ × 16⅛ in | 20⅞ in |
| IKEA TONSTAD | 15¾ × 15¾ in | 23¼ in |
| IKEA TARVA | 18⅞ × 15⅜ in | 24⅜ in |
| IKEA HAUGA | 15⅝ × 14 in | 24⅝ in |
| IKEA FÅGELFJÄLLET | 20½ × 18⅛ in | 26 in |
| IKEA IDANÄS | 18½ × 15¾ in | 26¾ in |
| IKEA GULLABERG | 20⅞ × 16⅞ in | 27⅛ in |
| IKEA HEMNES | 18⅛ × 13¾ in | 27½ in |
| IKEA BLÄSTÅSEN | 19⅝ × 14⅝ in | 29⅞ in |
From each nightstand's product page at IKEA US.
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.
Questions
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 to 28 in tall, 21 to 28 in wide, 16 to 20 in deep; level with the mattress or up to 4 in higher; most beds 24 in to the mattress top; low, tall, narrow and wide sizes; 3 to 6 in from the bed
- Nightstands (IKEA US): product pages for the LILLBERGET, BRIMNES, TONSTAD, TARVA, HAUGA, FÅGELFJÄLLET, IDANÄS, GULLABERG, HEMNES and BLÄSTÅSEN