The 10 Best Bed Risers for Your College Dorm Room, According to People Who Just Need More Space – PureWow

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Few things are worse than college hangovers, but the experience of moving in and out of dorms is a very close contender. If there’s one thing we took away from freshman move-in day, it’s that no amount of space planning in the world could have prepared us for the squeezing and maneuvering we had to endure. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before we learned about the space-saving hack that every college dorm room needs: bed and furniture risers. They’re the secret to creating more storage space *underneath* bed frames, sofas and more, so you can slip in an extra box or set of drawers without having to compromise more floor space. Now, after considering countless reviews *and* tapping an expert interior designer, we’re here to share some of the best bed risers to accommodate small spaces, including top buys from Wayfair and Amazon. Below, find ten of the best bed risers of 2022 that’ll make move-in day just a tad less stressful.
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Natasha Tsikuonova is the New York-based interior designer behind Definitely Maybe, an interior design company that offers remodeling and redecorating services. She has a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Parsons School of Design in New York City and specializes in design that’s functional, but also makes you feel at home.
Bed risers are support pieces typically made of plastic, wood or metal that you place underneath each leg of a bed frame to make the bed taller, often with the intention of making a space more comfortable or creating an opportunity for more storage. They can also be used for preventing damage to your bedroom floor. While there are customizable versions that allow you to adjust your bed height, the typical heights for bed risers range from 2 inches to 12 inches.
Everyone’s happy medium with risers looks a little different, but there can be a such thing as too high. “If you’re living in a small space and looking for that extra storage space, bed risers can easily be your new best friend. However, though some risers can go up to 12 inches high, I would make sure your bed frame can support that height and the risers can support the weight. In my opinion, lifting your bed just 5 to 6 inches off the ground is more than enough room to fit those items you want tucked away,” shares Tsikuonova.
When it comes to supporting the weight of your bed, Tsikuonova says that the material you choose really matters. “There are many types of bed risers on the market today, from adjustable to stackable or ones with screwable legs. The one thing I would truly consider when buying bed risers is the material they are made of,” says Tsikuonova.
Some materials are great for long-term, while others are better suited for temporary use. “You definitely want something sturdy like wood or a metal for instance. Plastic bed risers can be okay for a [shorter] period of time or if you’re on a budget, but [those] can wear quickly,” she continues. Nevertheless, many bed risers on the market are constructed from extra-durable polypropylene plastic, which should last you a bit longer and get you a better bang for your buck.
While some instances may be obvious, it’s better not to risk it in certain situations. “Bed risers should not be used if they do not fit your bed legs securely. I would also not recommend using bed risers on bunk beds or bed frames that are made of a very heavy material. Also, as I mentioned, I would be cautious using a 12 inch riser. Unless truly needed, I would opt for a lower riser for safety purposes,” she explains.
Is there anything more golden than word-of-mouth recommendations? We scoured the internet and not only considered those from our expert, but also read through a ton of reviews to glean the most promising options—and all the easy-to-miss details you should be aware of before committing to your choice. We included a selection of different heights, materials and weight limits, and were sure to include bed risers at a range of different price points. Simply put, we found something for everyone’s space and budget.
The Ultimate College Shopping List for Dorms 2022
1. Tuffen Adjustable Bed Riser
Equipped with two fast-charging USB ports and an electrical outlet, this set is the ultimate study buddy for when you’re doing homework in bed. It features eight risers—four 3-inch and four 5-inch, which can be used alone or stacked to create 8 inches of height—and a 6-foot power cord that makes it easy to reach any outlet in your dorm room. Oh, and did we mention that it’s made from sturdy, anti-scratch polypropylene plastic that can hold up to 1,500 pounds? “[These] raised the bed the perfect height to slide plastic shoe and sweater storage bins under our bed,” writes one reviewer. “Love the USB and power outlet. I put the outlet at the foot of the bed so now I can plug our vacuum cleaner in so much easier….[no] more moving the furniture.”
2. Utopia Bedding Adjustable Furniture Risers
For the freshman who refuses to leave anything behind, these stackable plastic risers are a necessity. The set comes with four risers that can be adjusted to three height options: 3 inches, 5 inches and 8 inches (when combined), and can accommodate up to 1,300 pounds when used together. Plus, you can choose from three finishes to make sure they match your bedframe. One reviewer writes: “I love these—easy to use, and my dresser and fridge both fit under my bed because of the height of these risers.”
3. Honey-Can-Do Stackable Bed Risers
This particularly affordable set of four plastic risers offers 7.5-inches of height and each riser can hold up to 300 pounds (so that’s 1,200 when used all together). These bad boys also feature a 6.5-inch width that accommodates most standard twin-sized bed frames. As one happy shopper shares, “They’re a great value. They’re inexpensive yet very stable and sturdy [without] any rocking. They allow enough space to fit a larger under-bed storage drawer, which I need and is the reason I bought them. This is the second set I bought and I’m still using the set I bought years ago. They’re still holding strong. I highly recommend them.”
4. BTSD-Home Adjustable Bed Lifts For Wheels
Something the other bed risers have forgotten is how common caster wheels can be on dorm beds. That said, this set of risers has you covered with a grooved shape that’s made for caster wheels to sink into without sliding. Each riser has a 3-inch height with a stackable design that can raise your bed a total of 6 inches. “I love the indentation on the riser. It is the exact shape and size of bed frame wheels. This cradles it nicely and doesn’t allow for any wobbling or movement,” one reviewer writes, adding: “They look great under the bed skirt. It actually looks like furniture legs.”
5. iPrimio Aluminum Bed Risers
These risers are made from heavy-duty aluminum and are about as sturdy as you can get (without placing cinderblocks under your bed). Each set comes with four risers that offer 5 inches of height and are guaranteed not to bend or break by the brand. They can purportedly hold up to 9,000 pounds per leg (that’s a whopping 36,000 pounds when you’re using all four). “These are the best risers. I used these to loft my dorm bed which weighs a ton,” one buyer says. “They are very secure and don’t budge an inch. Super happy with this purchase.”
6. Utopia Bedding Bed Risers
If you only need to store a few bins under your bed, these 3-inch risers are perfect for providing a little extra lift (and congrats, you’ve mastered the art of “not overpacking”). We love how this set has anti-slip foam pads at the top and anti-slip rubber pads for the bottom for a truly sturdy design that can hold up to 5,000 pounds when using all four. Plus, it features a stackable design, so if you ever find yourself cramming for space, you can stack another set on top for a 6-inch lift and a whole new world of hidden storage.
7. Suprima Ultimate Height Bed Risers
If you’re looking to store a mini fridge, drawer organizers, a suitcase and more beneath your bed, these are the risers for you. They offer an additional 23.5 inches (!!) of height—which is four times the height of most standard risers—and come in two sleek carbon steel finishes. It’s worth mentioning, however, that they’re only suitable for attaching to wooden legs and the excess height might make them wobbly on certain types of flooring. “[The set] doesn’t really look ‘cute,’ but if you put a bed skirt that covers the tightening notches, it would be great…it did make the bed wobble a bit on the carpet, however, I [tried them] on laminate flooring and it was very sturdy. I definitely wouldn’t purchase [this set] if you plan on using it in a carpeted room. Still, it’s [perfect for anyone who’s] going to college and needs more storage space,” writes one reviewer.
8. BTSD-Home Heavy Duty Furniture Risers
If a wobbly bed or scuffed-up floor is your main concern, the no-slip, scratch-resistant rubber bottoms of these plastic risers have got you covered, all semester long. They’re designed to be sturdy, stackable and sleek enough to match your under-bed containers. While this set comes with four 3-inch-high risers, you can stack them to 6-inch, 9-inch or even 12-inch height (although the latter is better for things like desks or tables). They’re made to handle heavy-duty furniture weighing up to 2,200 pounds, and reviewers rave about this set’s durability. “These are super sturdy. I bought two more sets in white. They are the best risers I have ever purchased,” one says.
9. Slipstick Stack-Its Bed Risers
If the idea of aesthetic-ruining bed risers gives you hives, we feel you. Luckily, this set of plastic risers is the closest you can get to having the look of none at all. Not only is their clear design perfectly subtle and understated, but each one features a rubber O-ring bottom to grip the floor without scratching it. The set comes with eight 1-inch risers that can be stacked to achieve up to 3 inches in height—perfect for accommodating low-profile storage bins. One reviewer says, “These are so sturdy and durable and look so high end!” FYI: Each riser can lift up to 1,000 pounds, so when using all eight, they’ll support up to 8,000 pounds.
10. Prime Woodcraft Walnut Wood Risers
Sticking with the theme of dorm room aesthetics, we love these square wooden risers for their elegant appearance, which allows them to blend seamlessly with wooden bed frames, desks or dressers for a more curated look. The set includes four risers that can raise your furniture an additional 2 inches, with a total weight capacity of 2,000 pounds, ensuring that they won’t crack while you and your friends are hanging out after class. They also come complete with attachable felt pads to protect floors.
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Sydney Meister is PureWow’s Assistant Home + Lifestyle Editor. Along with covering the latest interior design trends, she writes about everything from dating and relationships to weddings, travel, real estate and must-have beauty products. Before PureWow, Sydney spent eight years working with various interior designers across NYC—primarily as a content creator focusing on trend forecasting and reporting. She’s a go-to resource when it comes to interior styling tips and decor recs to keep your home looking au courant (hint: it’s time to ditch the modern farmhouse look). Find her on Instagram for the lastest dating and decor updates.
Avid coffee drinker, writer and dabbler in UX, Dagmara Cintron is an NYC native living in Los Angeles. She covers fashion,local LA stories, home decor and more for PureWow. She obtained her Fashion Marketing degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and has been a freelance copywriter in the fashion industry for more than two years as well as a freelance editorial writer. Her current obsessions outside of writing are Brazilian jiu-jitsu and good thrift finds.
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