Best Adjustable Beds

Buying guide for best adjustable bed

Written by Michael

Updated March 2023

In India, the Tamil tribesmen tell us, “A bed free from anxiety is the most agreeable of all things.” Perhaps the most anxiety-free bed is an adjustable one that conforms to you instead of the other way around.

According to researchers, over 40% of all people sleep in the fetal position, curled up in a ball. Those same researchers also agree that the fetal position is the worst position for your back and neck. However natural the fetal position may feel, it restricts deep breathing and can lead to you waking up feeling unrested. The second most common position, sleeping on your stomach, isn’t much better. Sleeping on your stomach can cause back pain and put a strain on your neck.

An adjustable bed can solve these sleeping problems and more. You can rest easy knowing you’re choosing the best adjustable bed for your needs.

Adjustable beds can provide a comfortable sleep position for just about anyone regardless of weight, age, or medical condition.

Key considerations

Snoring prevention

One common reason people cite for getting an adjustable bed is to prevent snoring. Sleeping flat on your back can cause the throat and tongue muscles to relax and fall backward, blocking your airway. As you age, those muscles further relax, which is why snoring is so prevalent among older people, especially men.

Sometimes the blockage turns into sleep apnea, where the person stops breathing entirely, then snorts and briefly rouses to start breathing again. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you probably don’t remember waking up or stopping your breathing, but you feel it the next morning when you wake up already tired before you get out of bed.

An adjustable bed can lessen or even prevent snoring by raising your head until the tongue and throat muscles won’t fall back and block your airway. A raised-head sleeping position can help reduce or eliminate sleep apnea. You’ll get a better night’s sleep and wake up feeling more energetic.

Mitigate back pain, high blood pressure, and more

In addition to better sleep, an adjustable bed may also help relieve back pain, restless leg syndrome, acid reflux, and high blood pressure. Adjusting the elevation of your head and legs can also improve circulation.

Added comfort

As strange as it might sound, people simply aren’t designed to sleep on a flat surface, no matter how “cushy” it might be.An adjustable bed, with its plethora of position options, allows you to experiment until you discover the position that is best for you. People aren’t made from cookie cutter molds, and everyone needs a personalized sleeping position to be comfortable. For many, an adjustable bed is the only way to attain that unique kind of nighttime comfort.

We look at each adjustable bed’s retention system, as this impacts whether the mattress will slip or slide around. Some beds have a retention bar at each corner of the mattress. Others have a bar in the middle of the mattress at both ends.

Some adjustable beds have a timer you can set so the bed readjusts (or goes down) after a certain amount of time. We favor this feature for consumers who like to fall asleep elevated but don’t want to stay in that position all night.

We investigate each adjustable bed’s lifting capacity (how much weight the motor can support). This ranges between 300 and 800 pounds including the weight of the mattress.

We look for adjustable beds with memory positions, as this allows the consumer to program their favorite positions into the bed. With the flick of a button, the favored positions can be attained.

We appreciate adjustable beds with a massage setting that vibrates, pulsates, or ripples at various intensities.

We consider how easy each adjustable bed is to set up and whether setup requires more than one person. On average, expect to set aside half a day to get it assembled.

We note each bed’s head and foot inclinations in our research. Some brands offer head inclinations up to 60 degrees. Others go up to 70 or 75 degrees. Foot inclinations tend to range from 30 to 55 degrees.

Some adjustable beds come equipped with USB charging ports so consumers can easily charge their tablets, phones, or Kindles.

We often favor adjustable beds made of heavy-duty steel because this hardy material is highly supportive.

Some adjustable beds come with a nightlight mounted beneath the bed. This is a great feature if you frequently get up at night or if you like to read in bed.

Features

Material

The frame of an adjustable bed is made of heavy-duty steel in order to support your weight along with the weight of the mattress. This means the pieces will always be heavy and awkward to move around when you’re assembling it. You may want to have a helper handy when you’re assembling your adjustable bed.

Setup

Adjustable bed manufacturers usually claim that the setup of their beds is “quick and easy.” We recommend setting aside a half day to assemble your bed, just to be on the safe side. If it turns out to only take five minutes, you’ve earned yourself a half-day nap.

Head and foot inclines

Not all beds have the same inclination. Head inclines of up to 60 degrees are typical, but some manufacturers offer 70 or 75 degrees. There is more variation in foot inclinations, however. Some beds can only raise the feet 30 degrees, whereas others nearly double it to 55 degrees.

Retention system

Early adjustable beds had problems with the mattress slipping when the bed was inclined. Modern beds solve that problem with retention bars at the head and foot of the bed. Some beds have a retention bar at each corner of the mattress, while others have only one in the middle of the mattress at both ends. Both systems work reasonably well.

Massage

This is an interesting feature more beds are incorporating lately. The beds vibrate, pulsate, and ripple in a variety of ways and intensities. Each manufacturer has its own setup, allowing the head and foot sections to massage separately or together, on a timer or not. Most of the massage functions can be programmed, but you should read the product descriptions carefully to be certain.

Remote controls

Wireless remotes for adjustable beds are quickly becoming a significant feature in their own right. Here are a few of the more common settings:

Memory positions: Most remotes can be programmed to remember your favorite positions. Press a single button, and the bed automatically raises your head and feet to whichever position you have set it to. Multiple positions can be programmed into each remote for different sleepers or situations.

Timer settings: Not everyone wants to sleep with their head elevated 60 degrees. Some people want their bed to lower them down 15 or 20 degrees after they fall asleep, and many remotes allow you to do just that. The timer can also be used to set a specific length of time for the massage function to run before it shuts off.

Back-lit screen and illuminated buttons: The majority of manufacturers have wisely put a back-lit screen or illuminated buttons on their adjustable bed remotes. Check to make sure that any bed you’re considering includes this helpful feature.

Lifting capacity

An adjustable bed’s lifting capacity refers to the amount of weight the motor in the bed can raise. The total weight allowed includes the weight of the mattress. The range runs from a low of 300 pounds to a high of over 800 pounds. If you’re getting a bed for one person, just about any lifting capacity would probably be sufficient. If you’re getting a bed for two people, be sure to get a bed with a suitably powerful motor.

Nightlights

A number of adjustable beds include built-in nightlights. These lights are usually mounted beneath the bed, creating a nice halo effect around the bed in the dark.

Adjustable bed prices

Inexpensive: Between $300 and $400, you’ll find the least-expensive adjustable beds. These products have smaller lifting capacities, no nightlights, and few functions on the remote. They also lack the massage mode of more expensive models.

Mid-range: From $400 to $1,000, you’ll find mid-range selections. These beds have lifting capacities of 700 pounds or more. Most include full-function remotes and good massage capabilities. Many have nightlights, too.

Expensive: The high-end price range for adjustable beds is $1,000 to $3,500 or more. At this price, you will find king-size adjustable beds with all the bells and whistles.

Tips

• Mind the headboard. The headboards of adjustable beds can normally be put within one or two inches of the wall.
• Watch your step. If you sleep with your feet elevated, lower them before getting out of bed. It will make getting out of bed easier.
• Level off the incline. When you’re not in bed, leave the bed’s head and feet in the zero position, down flat.

Adjustable beds come in the standard range of mattress sizes, from twin (usually XL) to king to split California king.

FAQ

Q. What is the zero-G or zero-gravity position?
A. It is a position that is said to simulate zero gravity. The head and feet are both elevated in this position, but the feet are elevated higher than the head.

Q. What is the advantage of the zero-G position?
A. This position is used for people who have high blood pressure and lower back pain. Users say it relieves much of the pain as well as provides pressure relief for high blood pressure conditions.

Q. Do adjustable beds have USB plugs in them for recharging my devices?
A. Yes. This is practically a standard option these days, and it’s a nice bonus: you and your phone can both arise full of energy.