Short answer: the top of the bedside table should be level with the top of the mattress, give or take 5 cm. On most beds, that means 45 to 60 cm from the floor. Width ranges from 40 to 60 cm and depth from 30 to 45 cm. Leave 5 to 10 cm between the table and the bed.
The bedside table is the piece of furniture we use most without thinking. It holds the glass of water, the book, the phone on charge and the lamp switched off before sleep. Too high, and you have to lift your arm to reach it. Too low, and you have to lean out of bed. The measurements below avoid both.
How high should a bedside table be
The reference is not the floor, it is the mattress. Lying or sitting in bed, your hand should reach the top without effort. That happens when the top is level with the top of the mattress, up to 5 cm above or below.
To get it right, measure from the floor to the top of the mattress, with the mattress on its base and with the topper, if you use one. That is the height you want for the top of the table.
Some common values:
- Low, platform-style bed: the mattress sits 40 to 50 cm from the floor. It calls for a table of 40 to 50 cm.
- Bed with a standard base and mattress: the mattress sits 50 to 60 cm up. It calls for a table of 50 to 60 cm.
- Bed with a high base or a very thick mattress: it can go above 60 cm. It calls for a taller table or a wall-mounted one fixed to measure.
All Pistacho bedside tables are 45 cm high. They suit beds with the top of the mattress between 40 and 50 cm, the height of lower, contemporary beds. Mattress thickness matters too: on the ECHO bed page, the Sense Gel mattress is about 27 cm thick and the Maxi Confort about 22 cm. That 5 cm difference already changes the height of the top.
What about a wall-mounted bedside table?
A table fixed to the wall has one advantage: you choose the height when it is installed. Fix the top at the height of the top of the mattress, with the same 5 cm margin. The floor stays clear underneath, which makes cleaning easier and the room look larger.
Check the type of wall first. A plasterboard wall needs suitable fixings or reinforcement behind it, especially if the table has a drawer.
What width and depth
Width depends on the bed and the wall:
- Double bed (140 or 150 cm): tables of 40 to 50 cm.
- Queen (160 cm): tables of 45 to 55 cm.
- King (180 cm or more): tables of 50 to 60 cm.
Work out the wall before choosing. An example with real measurements: the ECHO bed in Queen is 168 cm wide. Two MUSE tables, 54 cm each, add up to 108 cm. With 5 cm of clearance on each side of the bed, the set takes up 286 cm. In King, at 188 cm, it becomes 306 cm.
If the wall is shorter than that, choose narrower tables. The VOID is 46 cm wide and 30 cm deep.
Depth should be between 30 and 45 cm. The table should not stick out beyond the pillow, as it gets in the way of getting in and out of bed. In narrow rooms, 30 to 35 cm is enough for a lamp, a book and a phone.
What clearances to leave
- Between the table and the bed: 5 to 10 cm. Enough to make the bed and keep the table from rubbing against the duvet.
- Walkway beside the bed: at least 60 cm clear, measured from the table or the bed, whichever sticks out more.
- Drawer: check that it opens fully without hitting the bed or another piece of furniture.
With a drawer or open?
It depends on what you keep and what you prefer to see.
- Two drawers. For those who keep a lot by the bed. The FORM has two soft-close drawers with velvet-lined interiors.
- A drawer and an open niche. The drawer hides what should not be on show. The niche keeps books at hand. This is the design of the CALM, 50 cm wide and 40 cm deep.
- One drawer on legs. Lighter to the eye, because you see the floor underneath. The VOID and the MUSE have a soft-close drawer on metal legs, in black or matt gold.
In a small bedroom, tables on legs or wall-mounted ones weigh less in the space. In a large bedroom, a table with more volume, such as the FORM, balances a tall headboard.
And the lamp?
With a table lamp, allow for the space its base takes on the top. A table 40 cm wide is full with a lamp, a glass and a book.
To free the top, use a pendant light, hung 30 to 50 cm above the table. The measurements for each case are in our guide to the ideal height to hang pendant lights.
To see these pieces in a finished bedroom, visit the Bedroom page. If you buy the bed with 2 bedside tables, the Pack Quarto Duo gives a 5% discount, applied in the basket.
Summary of measurements
- Height: level with the top of the mattress, give or take 5 cm. Usually 45 to 60 cm.
- Width: 40 to 60 cm, depending on the bed and the wall.
- Depth: 30 to 45 cm, not beyond the pillow.
- Clearance to the bed: 5 to 10 cm.
- Clear walkway: at least 60 cm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard height of a bedside table?
There is no single height. Most are between 45 and 65 cm. The right one is the height of the top of your mattress, give or take 5 cm.
Can the bedside table be higher than the bed?
Yes, up to about 5 cm above the mattress. Beyond that, you have to lift your arm to reach the top, and a glass is easier to knock over.
Do the two bedside tables have to match?
No. Two different tables work well if they are the same height, or nearly. It is the line of the tops that brings order to the wall behind the bed.
How high is a wall-mounted bedside table?
Whatever height you choose when installing it. Fix the top at the height of the top of the mattress.
How high are Pistacho bedside tables?
All are 45 cm high. Width ranges from 46 cm (VOID) to 54 cm (MUSE) and depth from 30 cm (VOID) to 40 cm (CALM).
