Five hundred dollars is a good budget. So, you don’t need to think about that. Platform beds are another good decision. Now, you have to hack a little bit into your brain to see what your priorities are. But you will need some inspiration. That is exactly what this article is about. You will have seven of the best platform beds under $500 with all their details. You can take any one of them. You can dig deeper and get some more value out of your money by reading the buying guide. And it is not as hard as it seems. Most of it is common knowledge used in an effective manner.
Best Platform Beds Review Under 500 Dollar
A full platform bed frame is a big investment. But you can rarely measure comfort and reliability from a spec-sheet. So, you need real reviewers to tell you what it’s really like.
1. Zinus Dori Upholstered Square Stitched Wingback
Top features- Square-stitched wingback headboard
- Weight recommendation: 700 pounds ( King size)
- Five year limited warranty
Five hundred dollars is a lot for many. So, if you want the best platform beds on a budget that is in the same rank as those of $500 platform beds, then this is the first product you need to look at. It has a modern platform bed style. There were no creaks and squeaks like cheap platform beds. The frame is made of steel with wooden slats. The fabric in the headboard is knitted polyester. It is primarily designed for memory foam mattresses. But you can use any mattress you want. However, box springs will not be necessary. You will also get it in a premium pancaking. The feeling would be similar to when you open a new smartphone box. The installation only takes a ratchet, and that comes free with the bed. There will also be a nicely illustrated assembly manual.
Pros
- Best for the money
- Stylish modern look
- Easy assembly
- No box spring needed
Cons
- The mattress sits on the sides
- The fabric had the cheap smell for the first few days
2. Zinus Jade Faux Leather Upholstered
Top features- Semi Pu Leather
- Weight recommendation: 500 pounds ( King size)
- Five year limited lifetime warranty
This is another stylish bed with all the features I needed for me. It comes in two colors, but I didn’t like the cognac that much. But the black goes really well with the black faux leather. The whole frame is padded. It gives it a rich look and prevents any noise from the solid steel frame. On top of that frame, you have a strong yet light wood slat. In this budget, I can say that this is the best platform bed with slats. Installation was easy to understand, but the joints are too stiff. But I guess that is a good thing for the sturdiness. It takes about 30 minutes to set up. You will have the instruction manual, but you can also see the animation if you don’t like to read like me.
Pros
- Great slats
- Premium look
- Great customer service
- No box spring needed
- Easy installation
Cons
- The headboard should have been taller
- The packaging didn’t have a lot of cushioning
3. Sealy 10-Inch Memory Foam Bed
Top features- Comes with a mattress of four size options
- Based on my experience the weight recommendation is 500 pounds, but the company didn’t specify
- 10 year warranty
- 100-night trial
Unlike the previous two, this wood platform bed frame comes with a memory foam mattress. Even considering the leverage on the price for buying the mattress with the bed platform, it is a better deal than other beds. My mattress was ten inches thick, and I think the Queen size is good with 500 pounds. It had a perfect edge balance with firm support. The foam is comprised of five inches of support foam, three inches of advanced comfort foam, and the last two inches are high response memory foam with copperchill. All of it is coved in a cool and comfortable platform bed fabric. People with back pain and other sleeping problems will say this is the best foam bed in a box with copperchill. But the biggest plus was the customer service.
Pros- A firm bed
- Great heat dissipation
- Premium memory foam
- Best for patients in need of a good mattress
- Great customer service
Cons
- The packaging is not that good
- Information on the bed structure was little
4. Classic Brands Coventry Upholstered Platform Bed
Top features
- Diamond stitched and button-tufted upholstery
- Weight recommendation: 700 pounds (King size)
- Three-year warranty
Looking for the best platform beds with headboards? It has a solid wood platform bed frame. Underneath the wooden frame slats, you will have the metal support that takes the main load. This wood and metal combination gives your bed the sturdiest support. I love the tall headboard. The stitching and the tufted finish gives it an elegant look. You will also love the colors. With the traditional and modern hybrid look, those colors go with most of your light and dark toned rooms. The heat dissipation and the padding made it far more comfortable to have those late nights with my laptop. Yes, the headboard is the best part. Even after using that many beds, this headboard platform bed amazed me with its packaging and installation simplicity. However, the instructions were not well-written. But you just need the pictures. And all the hardware and tools come free in the box.
Pros
- 24/7 customer service
- Best comfortable headboard
- Great packing
- No box spring required
Cons- Written instructions seemed a bit wired to understand
5. Mellow Platform Bed
Top features- Wingback headboard
- From my experience, the weight capacity should be more than 500 pounds, but the manufacturers do not specify it
- Five-year manufacturer warranty
When you are thinking of the best platform beds with storage, you can either take the modern design or try something new. And I adventured for some new platform beds. The storage ottoman is directly connected to the main frame of the bed. So it gives it more stability and space to distribute the weight. The storage is large and suited for a wide range of items. It also helps to keep the mattress in place. Like any wood slat bed with storage, it gives the best traction for the mattress. The soft, smooth upholstery gives it a sleek look. However, I would have sacrificed a bit of storage space for the bench to be in the same line as the sides of the bed. But it is not that bad at all. I also loved the headboard. It was tall and comforting. All in all, this furniture is a good deal.
Pros
- Modern contemporary design
- Efficient use of storage space
- Premium upholstery
- Sturdy design
Cons
- The first few days will have a weird chemical smell
- Not a big brand
6. Zinus Brock Metal and Wood Platform Bed Frame
Top features- Five-year warranty
- 100% Solid Acacia Wood
- My weight recommendation is 500 pounds, but the manufacturers do not specify it
Zinus platform beds were always amazing, but I think this is the most exotic bed you will get for under 500 dollars. If you have a taste for wooden interior, then this is the best metal and wood platform bed frame in the market. I can go on about its looks all day, but you can appreciate that yourself. What you can’t see from the pictures is the sturdiness of the bed. The wood and steel framework gives it the best construction. The low profile compliments this sturdy framework. Like most Zinus beds, it also comes in compact packaging. You should take one hour to assemble it. I would advise having someone to help you with the aligning of the holes. I took the queen platform bed because the king size was way overprized.
Pros
- No box spring required
- Elegant and stylish look
- Very durable
- Low profile bed
Cons
- The headboard might feel a little wobbly if it is not installed properly
- Some holes and pegs were hard to align
7. DG Casa Soloman Mid Century Modern Tufted Upholstered
Top features
- Square tufted upholstery
- My weight recommendation is 500 pounds, but the manufacturers do not specify it
- One year limited warranty
Just considering the looks, it can be called the best queen size platform bed in the market. However, a bed has more than just looks, and we have to consider that before announcing our best pick. First of all, the bed has a solid wood frame. The wooden headboard has a nice padding and smooth surface. I am a big fan of these headboards. For the extra weight, the assembly process might take some time. Moreover, the instructions are really bad. But the bed is strong and durable. You will have all the necessary tools and hardware with the bed. Like all American companies, this also has great customer service. I didn’t need to use it. But the other reviewers made it very clear.
Pros- Best headboard
- Very stylish design
- Box spring is not required
Cons
- It takes time to assemble
How to Pick the Best Affordable Bed Frame
If you have read all of the reviews, it should be clear that there isn’t any clear winner. And that is why all of them are on this list. To find your bed, you need to prioritize your requirements. Here we are listing some of the most important areas where you have to put your eyes on. These, along with your personal preferences, you can get the best bed frames 2020.
Design
Narrowing down the list to under 500 dollar platform bed is a good start. Now, you have to see what design options you have with this bed. The most prominent ones are-
- Solid/ No clearance platform beds
- Storage platform beds
- Folding platform bed
- Headboard / Footboard platform bed
My suggestion is to go for a storage platform bed with a tall headboard. However, you can skip the storage part if you don’t have much use for that.
Built material
The best frames of platform beds are made with a combination of metal, wood, and upholstery. I won’t go deep into the details because the simple answer is the hybrid of these three materials are the best. It is best to have a strong metal base with metal legs. On top of that, you can have wooden slats and wooden sides. However, an upholstered headboard with high-quality fabric and stitching is the best.
Size and dimensions
Skipping all the fancy names, you have two options-
- King size platform frame (76″ x 80″)
- Queen size platform frame (60″ x 80″)
Go for the king size platform bed if you can afford it. Otherwise, go for the Queen size but don’t go below it. Don’t rely on the categories only. Check the dimensions yourself.
Looks
Don’t skimp on style because you have already seen that you can get stylish bed frames on a budget. Look for modern designs with clean lines and sleek designs. Don’t go too fancy with colors. See if that matches your interior.
Weight capacity
Many manufacturers don’t mansion this metric even though it might be the most important detail you want to see in the spec-sheet. Hence, you need reviews like this. However, my recommendation is never to go below 500 pounds. Or a family night on the bed can be its last day.
Warranty and customer service
After a big investment, you would surely want the experts to be around. And like any other capital asset sellers, furniture brands have also built a nice customer service policy. The warranty should be five or more years long, and you should have decent customer service if not the best.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are always a lot of questions. But here are the most relevant to this article.
Q: What is the Best Mattress for a Platform Bed?
A: Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a specific type of mattress. However, thick memory foam with a low-profile might be the best.
Q: Are platform beds better than box springs?
A: It really depends on your priorities. Platform beds are, of course, more stylish and modern. But they are really hard to move, and the low profile can also cause some problems. So, better or worse can only be determined by the user.
Q: Will there be any problem if I use the box spring with platform beds?
A: Generally, there won’t be any problem, but I have heard some talking about their warranty problems.
Conclusion
If money can’t buy comfort for you and your loved ones, then what good is it for? So, it doesn’t matter if it is the best platform beds under $500 or $5000; you deserve it. But you have to be careful to get the best value out of your money. And I think you already know how to do that.
