The Nectar Bamboo Platform Bed is my top pick because it has all the things you could need from a platform bed frame. At a reasonable price, you get durable materials, straightforward assembly, and plenty of clearance underneath for extra storage. During testing, our in-house team rated this bamboo wood bed frame a 4/5 or higher in the assembly, materials, and price categories.

One of our favorite features of the Nectar Bamboo Platform Bed Frame is its tool-free setup. This bed frame utilizes Japanese-style joinery, making it easy for you to slide each piece together, resulting in a pain-free setup. For this reason, our team gave it a perfect 5/5 in the assembly department.

The bed frame itself took roughly 10 minutes to unbox and 20 minutes to put together with no tools or additional hardware required. Product expert Matt Schickling found the overall setup was simple.

“Putting this thing together was a breeze,” Matt said. “I think one person could do it. However, it may be challenging to balance the legs while putting in the platform boards. The slats were pre-assembled and unfurled seamlessly onto the frame, which was nice.”

Thankfully, easy assembly doesn’t mean flimsy materials. Matt was equally impressed by the Nectar bed frame’s materials, calling them “sturdy and durable” and giving them a materials score of 4.5/5. Despite not having any nuts or bolts for added security, nothing slid or fell out of place.

“We moved the mattress from one location to another, and everything stayed together well,” Matt said. “The slats were also thick, which should help to keep your bed properly supported.”

Matt also thought the bed frame was priced reasonably for its level of quality. Matt also appreciated the 2-year warranty and 60-night sleep trial. That said, he noted that the add-ons were a little steep, which is something to note if you prefer a headboard. 

“It’s only $100 less than the bed itself for the matching wood headboard,” Matt said. “You can also purchase a more affordable fabric headboard with a $199 upcharge.”

The only other drawback to note about the Nectar Bamboo bed frame is that the headboard comes in a separate box if you opt to get one, which makes it a little more cumbersome to carry into the house.

The Saatva Santorini is an excellent platform bed frame for sleepers looking to add a layer of sophistication to their bedroom. Our in-house team praised the Santorini for its understated design, durable materials, and hassle-free assembly. During testing, the Santorini earned 4.5/5 in our materials, assembly, and experience categories.

The Saatva mattress is one of our favorite beds because of its high-quality materials and sturdy craftsmanship. Fortunately, the brand puts the same attention to detail into its bed frames. Product tester Livvi DiCicco was impressed by how substantial and durable the Santorini felt while assembling it, and gave it a 4.5/5 rating in the materials category.

“Overall, the frame feels really sturdy,” Livvi said. “I like the soft feel of the upholstery, and the wood itself seems rigid and supportive. The slats seem thick and unlikely to move. I can wiggle the headboard a little bit, but it doesn’t feel like it’s at risk of falling off. I think a bed frame like this should last plenty of years.”

Speaking of assembly, Livvi gave the Santorini Platform Bed Frame another 4.5/5 in this category, thanks to its easy build. Livvi noted that it didn’t take long at all for two people to assemble it.

“We didn’t have any noticeable issues setting up this platform bed frame,” Livvi said. “Saatva included all of the necessary tools, and the instructions were clear. The only part that required some finagling was the headboard, but not enough to dock an entire point from the assembly score. Saatva apparently offers in-home setup, but what makes this applicable is unclear, as we had to assemble it ourselves.”

Perhaps most importantly, though, Livvi and her fellow product testers gave the Santorini a 4.5/5 in the overall experience category. In her notes, she stated that the only point of instability was a slight wiggle in the headboard. Aside from that, she was able to move around easily and didn’t hear anything or feel unstable on this sleek and sturdy platform frame.

The only downsides that Livvi pointed out were its price tag and lack of extras included. At $1,595 for a queen-sized frame, the Santorini might not be in many shoppers’ price range. However, if you’re looking for a sleek, long-lasting bed frame to elevate your room for years to come, the Saatva Santorini is a choice worthy of your consideration.

Headboards are perfect for sleepers who want their bedrooms to have a more elevated look. However, it can be challenging to find one that doesn’t wobble, creak, or otherwise seem flimsy. Fortunately, the Bear Summit Platform Bed uses high-quality materials that feel sturdy and contribute to the bed frame’s premium appearance. During testing, our in-house team rated it 4/5 or higher in noise and overall experience.

Our product experts praised the stability of the Summit Platform Bed Frame during testing. After placing a mattress on top of it and moving around on the bed, they noted that the frame didn’t shake or shift on the rug. The headboard and its components stayed tightly in place throughout the process.

“The wood slats are stable and don’t move when you do,” our tester said. “I flipped around and moved quite a bit on the mattress and still felt stable and supported.”

A pair of our product testers tossed and turned on a queen-sized mattress together, and they were impressed at how well everything about the Summit bed frame stayed in place, including the headboard. None of the components creaked, and the headboard didn’t bang against the wall at any point. Our testers rated this platform bed 4.5/5 in the noise category.

“The bed frame is nearly silent,” one tester said. “I bounced around on it a little bit, and it didn’t make any noise.”

Unfortunately, the sturdy, quiet headboard comes at a cost. At full price, the durable Summit bed frame costs $1,200, which could exceed many budgets.

It was also more challenging to put together than the other bed frames on our list. In total, it took our team 28 minutes to assemble using power tools not included in the set. There were also many different parts to keep up with, making it tricky to locate things.

With their Nomad Platform Bed, KD Frames has crafted an affordable, easy-to-assemble bed frame that exceeds expectations at its price point. The Nomad’s wooden construction impressed my fellow product testers and me during testing, earning a 4/5 or higher in assembly, materials, and price.

Product tester Riley Otis and I built this platform wood frame in our Charlotte, NC, studio, and found the instructions easy to follow. The KD Frames YouTube channel also features an assembly video that breaks down the assembly process to make things even easier. It took us roughly 30 minutes to complete the Nomad bed frame, so we gave it a 4.5/5 in the assembly category.

Despite the straightforward process, its materials felt surprisingly durable. KD Frames makes all of its bed frames here in the United States, and the wood it uses feels sturdy. 

However, some of the wood pieces for this frame vary in hue. Some wooden slats are more tan, while others have a greenish tint. The components don’t feel like they would break easily; however, you may wish to refinish them if you prefer a uniform look. Riley and I gave the Nomad a 4/5 overall in the materials department.

That said, the KD Nomad is incredibly hard to beat at its price. A queen-sized bed frame is $299.00 before any discounts, and is often on sale for $279. Riley and I gave the Nomad a 5/5 in the price category. While it may not be a show-stopping centerpiece with an upholstered headboard and other additional features, it is quiet, durable, and highly functional.

Sleepers who require a supportive platform bed frame that maintains its shape over time will appreciate the sturdy design of the Big Fig Platform Bed. Big Fig is most popular for its durable mattresses tailored for folks with larger bodies. Thankfully, its platform bed frame is just as well-constructed. Our in-house testers loved the Big Fig Platform Bed Frame, awarding it a 4.5/5 or higher in categories such as materials, assembly, and overall experience.

Our testing team was impressed with how sturdy and stable this bed frame felt, especially given its easy assembly process. They gave it a 4.5/5 materials score, noting that its durable wooden construction should last for many years.

“This feels incredibly durable,” said one of our testers. “The wood is pretty solid. Although the bed comes together without any hardware, it seems very sturdy. I love that the slats are actually on the bed.”

Our testers also gave the Big Fig Platform Bed Frame a 4.5/5 in the assembly category. Many of its components lock into place without any tools necessary, meaning it should be a straightforward project for most people.

“There isn’t much hardware or screwing necessary,” said one of our in-house product experts. “There are feet to put on the middle support for the slats that you can drill into the rail with the supplied screws, but that’s it. Otherwise, everything has a slot it slides into without any tools necessary.”

While lying on top of a mattress on this bed frame, our testers found that the Big Fig was as stable and quiet as they come. Two of our mattress testers were able to lie on top of this bed frame without rocking it, feeling unsteady, or making any squeaking noises. They gave it a perfect 5/5 in the overall experience category.

Although it showed an impressive performance, our testers noted two flaws in the Big Fig Platform Bed Frame. The first was its price; a queen-sized Big Fig Platform Bed (with a fabric headboard) is $2,549, which may be steep for some buyers. They also noted that, while it comes with an impressive 20-year warranty, Big Fig doesn’t allow returns if you simply do not like the bed frame.