A bedside table is easiest to use when the top sits close to the height of the finished mattress. Too low and you reach down for a drink or phone; too high and the surface can feel awkward beside the pillow.
Start with the finished mattress height
Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress while the bed is fully assembled. Do not rely on the bed-frame height alone because mattresses vary considerably in thickness.
There is no single perfect number, but a bedside top roughly level with the mattress is a useful starting point. A few centimetres either way is normally manageable; the best choice depends on how you use it.
Width matters in small bedrooms
Measure the clear gap between the bed and the nearest wall, wardrobe or radiator. Remember that a bedside cabinet with drawers may need more space in front than its footprint suggests.
Think about what lives on top
A lamp, phone charger, glass of water and book can quickly fill a narrow top. Integrated charging can be useful, but check where the mains lead exits and whether the nearest socket remains accessible.
Check drawers and doors in use
Make sure bedside drawers can open without hitting the bed frame, wardrobe or curtains. If the room is tight, an open shelf or slim table can sometimes work better than a deep drawer unit.
Browse our bedside tables and compare the recorded width, depth, height and storage arrangement before choosing.