Best Budget-Friendly: Zinus Michelle Compack 9-Leg Support Bed Frame

Good news: you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good quality full-size mattress bed frame. After researching 15 different brands and comparing their quality plus durability, we recommend Zinus’s Michelle bed frame. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Super easy to assemble. No tools required!

• Doesn’t scratch the floor. Yes, that is a one problem with some bed frames—their design can scratch or scuff flooring. This one doesn’t, thanks to rubber bumpers on legs.

• Sturdy.

• Locking system with recessed legs.

• Arrives in a compact box.

• Lightweight.

• Can attach a headboard if you wish.

What Needs Work

• No center support = requires a box spring to be used with your mattress.

• Only six inches of space under bed. That could be a plus or minus, depending on your point of view!

• Welds can be sharp—watch your fingers when assembling!

Best Foldable Bed Frame: AmazonBasics Foldable 14” Metal Platform Bed Frame

What’s the best option for guests when you have to turn an office or spare room into a guest bedroom? We’d recommend a foldable platform metal bed frame. Yes, it folds up for storage when not in use—great for flex spaces.

In this category, we’d recommend AmazonBasic’s Foldable 14″ metal platform bed frame. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done.

What We Liked

• Platform frame =  no need for box spring. So even though platform beds like this cost more than simple frames like the Zinus recommended above, you may save in the long run.

• Easy assembly with no tools required.

• Super simple to set up and take down.

• 13″ of clearance below. There is also a taller option if that is too low.

What Needs Work

• Mattress sometimes slides around on frame. This depends on your mattress, but that is sub-optimal. One suggestion: put a rug (with the rubber side up) under the mattress to keep it in place.

• Can fold up on itself during set up—take care when setting it up.

• Heavier weight than simple frames. But that is true for most platform bed frames, of course.

Best Platform Bed Frame: Zinus Lorelei 14 inch Platforma Bed Frame

Platform beds are a money-saver since you don’t have to buy a box spring . . . and if you don’t need one that folds up for storage, we’d recommend Zinus’s budget-friendly Lorelie bed frame. Good quality at a price that is easy on the wallet.

What We Liked

• Sturdy.

• Affordable.

• Decent underbed storage space (13″).

• Includes tools for assembly.

What Needs Work

• Middle bars can be tricky to install. The instructions could be more clear on this! You need to install the middle bars first before the rest of the frame, according to our research.

• Can’t attach a headboard.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!