Buying guide for best queen headboards
Does your queen-size bed feel naked without a headboard? Though you may be able to get away without having a headboard with a smaller bed, once you get into queen territory, it’s a noticeable absence. A queen headboard will likely be the focal point of your bedroom that sets the tone for the room’s decor.
Choosing a queen headboard with care means selecting a shape, material, style, and color that best complements your bedroom. You’ll also need to decide if you want a headboard and footboard set. In many cases, a headboard and footboard are built onto a bed frame as one piece. Luckily, with so many queen headboards on the market, there’s a headboard out there that is sure to suit your style.
Our buying guide covers everything you need to consider when shopping for a queen headboard, including how much you should pay. For our top five picks, see the matrix above.
Key considerations
Size
A queen bed is about 60 inches wide and 80 inches long. Most queen headboards are about 62 inches wide and nearly 50 inches tall. Measure your bed to make sure the queen headboard you’re considering will work and remember that you’ll want the headboard to stick out about one inch from either side of the mattress.
Shape
There are a number of basic shapes for queen headboards, including arched, camelback, rectangular, semi-circle, and stepped. Some headboards have beveled or scooped top edges as well. Choose the headboard shape that most appeals to you and suits your decor.
Materials
Most queen headboards are made from fabric, leather, wood, or metal. Upholstered headboards typically have a core of either solid wood or plywood. Many styles use a combination of materials for visual interest, such as a wood face with metal edging or inserts. A headboard’s legs are typically metal.
Mounting
Headboards can be attached to the bed frame, attached to the wall, or come already built into a bed frame. Make sure you understand how the queen headboard you’re considering should be mounted so you’re not surprised when it arrives.
Expert Tip
A headboard cuts down on any abrasion between the mattress and the wall. With the cost of a quality queen mattress, it pays to have a queen headboard.
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Features
Adjustable legs
Some queen headboards have removable legs to allow you to mount the headboard flush to the wall. Other headboards have adjustable legs that let you lower or raise the height of the headboard when it’s bolted to the frame to accommodate the height of your bedding.
Trim
Trim adds depth and dimension to a queen headboard. Just beware of trim that could loosen, like nailheads, and become a choking hazard for very small children.
Style
Upholstered and leather queen headboards are often quilted or tufted with buttons. Wood can be textured or smooth. Truly, the options are endless. Choose your queen headboard in a style that complements your bedroom.
Expert Tip
A shorter queen headboard offers a fresh, modern look. A queen headboard that’s taller adds drama to the room.
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Accessories
Brackets: Zinus Headboard Brackets
A set of two brackets purchased separately, like these strong steel brackets from Zinus, may have more slots to allow for adjustable height than the brackets that come with a queen headboard.
Bed frames: Keelaning Vintage Metal Bed Frame with Headboard and Footboard
You’ll need a bed frame to support your mattress and most queen headboards. Many metal bed frames have issues with sturdiness, but not this vintage-style beauty from Keelaning. It can support up to 660 pounds.
Bed skirts: Zen Bamboo Ultra Soft Bed Skirt
A bed skirt in a coordinating color to your queen headboard finishes the bed. We love the Zen Bamboo Ultra Soft Bed Skirt, which comes in seven colors from classic white to bold sky blue, and is made from soft, wrinkle-free bamboo microfiber.
Queen headboard prices
Inexpensive
The less ornate the queen headboard, the less pricey it will be, with some rare exceptions. In the $50 to $100 range, you’ll find mostly rectangular queen headboards. Upholstered headboards in this range may only have two rows of tufting. Watch out for irregular or loose stitching on less expensive models.
Mid-range
For $100 to $200, you’ll find the bulk of queen headboards in all materials, styles, and trims. You’ll find a number of handsome wood headboards, some with built-in shelving and panel designs, in this price range.
High-end
From $200 to $550, you’ll find larger, splashier, and more ornate queen headboards in all materials. Higher-priced tufted headboards may have more rows of tufting or be intricately shaped. Wood headboards will be solid wood rather than plywood or wood composite.
Expert Tip
With a fabric queen headboard, check to see if the manufacturer suggests using a fabric protector spray. Some sprays may change the color of the fabric.
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Tips
- You may be able to use a queen headboard with a full mattress using adaptor brackets.
- If the bottom of your headboard is higher than the top of your mattress, and the headboard can’t be adjusted, you may see a gap. To hide it, layer your pillows. Use a large body pillow across the back or two queen pillows with pillowcases that have wide borders to cover the gap. Then add a layer of two standard pillows and a bolster pillow.
- Mounting your queen headboard to the wall eliminates any swaying or loosening. Once mounted, the bed can simply be pushed up against the headboard. A heavier headboard may require a Z-clip or interlocking cleat to mount it to the wall.
- Mount a queen headboard to the wall a couple of inches below the top of your mattress so that there’s no gap between the bed and the headboard.
FAQ
Q. Do I need a matching footboard or matching bench for my queen headboard?
A. There are no hard rules about headboards and footboards. You don’t necessarily need a footboard if you have a headboard. If you do opt for a footboard, mixing and matching pieces adds character to a bedroom. If you have a lot of wood or hard edges in your bedroom, consider a softer upholstered footboard or upholstered bench. For those who prefer a color-coordinated room, matching colors work well. Add a bed skirt that matches either the headboard and footboard or the bedding for a finished look.
Q. Should a queen headboard contrast or blend in with the color of the wall behind it?
A. Once again, there are no rules, though there are some guidelines to consider. A deep or dark wall may work best with a contrasting headboard so the bed pops in the room. But if you want the headboard to blend in with the dark color, it can give the room a monotone, serene appearance. A lighter, neutral wall color works well with many different colors and styles of headboards. A neutral-colored headboard can act as a canvas to allow you to play with different colors for bedding, window treatments, and rugs.
Q. How do I clean a queen headboard?
A. For fabric and tufted headboards, vacuum the indentations to extract dust. If your vacuum has a steam cleaner feature, that can be used on linen fabrics. Polish leather and wood as you would other types of furniture. Remember to dust your headboard, especially if you have allergies. A headboard’s nooks and crannies act like a catchall for dust bunnies.
Q. What type of queen headboard works with an adjustable bed?
A. You can use any type of headboard with an adjustable base. Depending on the style of your bed, the adjustable base may be inside the frame. That means you can attach a queen headboard to the frame with brackets. If your adjustable bed frame does not have room for a headboard attachment, choose a queen headboard with legs that sit on the floor. Or you can mount a lightweight headboard or headboard panels to the wall.
