The height of a headboard
Between 70 and 130 cm above the mattress, never in between
A headboard too low looks mean. Too high, it crushes. There are two heights that work, and very little in between.
What is the right height for a headboard?
Two heights work, very little in between. Low at 70 cm above the mattress: discreet, elegant. High at 110 to 130 cm: an architectural effect. Always measure above the mattress, not the floor, and avoid the indecisive 80 to 100 cm zone.
§ 01The principle
Two canonical heights exist, nothing between them. Low: 70 cm above the mattress (approximately 1 m above floor). Discreet, elegant. High: 110 to 130 cm above the mattress (140-160 cm above floor). Architectural effect.
Between 80 and 100 cm above the mattress: the headboard appears indecisive. This is the zone to avoid.
To apply this rule: See selectionAffiliate
Low at 70 cm · High at 110-130 cm · Nothing in between
Above the mattress, not above the floor.
§ 02Putting it into practice
The height is measured above the mattress, not above the floor. A standard mattress sits approximately 60 cm from the floor.
Choose low (70 cm) for: rooms with ceilings under 2.40 m, rooms with an already structured back wall, minimalist atmospheres. Choose high (110-130 cm) for: rooms with ceilings over 2.80 m, bare neutral walls, classical or hotel-style atmospheres.
A popular alternative: the painted false headboard. A rectangle painted on the wall at high-headboard height, in a darker shade than the rest. Zero cost, strong effect, ideal for renters.
[VISUAL 3 · BEFORE/AFTER · Type B, comparison] Caption: Left, headboard at 90 cm, indecisive. Right, at 70 cm, low but committed.
- 01Measure height above the mattress, not above the floor
- 02Clearly choose between low or high
- 03Adapt height to the bedroom's ceiling height
- 04Coordinate headboard material with bedding
- 01An intermediate height (80-100 cm above mattress)
- 02A 130 cm headboard in a bedroom with 2.30 m ceiling
- 03Measuring without including the mattress height
- 04Mismatching a high headboard with minimalist bedding
§ 03Professional variations
Pierre Yovanovitch often works the headboard as a complete wall panel running floor to ceiling, with an integrated niche for lamps. Pure architectural effect, requires custom design.
Joseph Dirand systematically avoids the intermediate zone. His bedrooms are always either minimalist (low) or hotel-style (high).
Low at 70 or high at 120, never between the two.
---
For this rule
- Upholstered headboardsthe tall headboardSee
Affiliate links · See our transparency →
And in your room — is this rule respected?
Photograph your room. The AI checks it against all 114 rules of the manual and returns the concrete fixes to apply this weekend.
Audit my roomFree, no sign-up. Analysed in under a minute.
The bed centred on the main wall
The symmetry rule that turns any bedroom into a calming one
08.21The laundry room or pantry, do not neglect it
The utility room deserves the same rigour as the living rooms
02.8Indirect lighting behind the TV or headboard
The invisible LED strip that transforms a room in 20 minutes
One measured rule, every Tuesday.
Good measurements are worth keeping. Get The Bulletin: one décor rule explained in depth, Tuesday morning. Four minutes, zero noise.