Bed Won’t Fit in the Stairs or Lift? Read This Before Buying a Bed Frame.

Shopping for a new bed frame can be exciting. You’ve imagined your dream room, picked the perfect style, and you’re ready to place the order. But hold on a sec — can it even fit in your room?

At SleepStyle, we’ve seen it all. From bed frames that don’t fit in elevators, to headboards stuck in stairwells, to frustrated customers dealing with costly returns. That’s why we’ve put together this must-read guide before you buy your new bed frame or bedroom furniture. Let’s save you time, money, and a whole lot of hassle.

✅ Step 1: Measure More Than Just Your Room — Check Every Access Path

It’s not just about whether your new bed will fit in the bedroom — it’s about whether it can actually get to the bedroom in the first place.

This is the step many people overlook, and it often leads to last-minute stress, unexpected costs, or even cancelled deliveries.

Here’s what you should measure and check before buying:

🚪 Entryway Dimensions

Start with your front door width and height — will your largest bed parts (like the bedhead or slat base) fit through easily?

🛗 Lift Size (For Apartments)

If you’re living in an apartment, measure your lift’s door opening, interior height, depth, and diagonal space. Some lifts look big but aren’t deep enough for a queen or king bedhead to fit in.

🔄 Also check if your lift can accommodate long or wide items standing diagonally.

🏠 Hallways & Corners

Measure the width of hallways, and look at the layout — do you need to turn a 90 degree corner before reaching your room? Tight turns can be a big problem, especially with long or rigid items like a solid gas lift frame.

Watch out for low ceilings or narrow turns.

🪜 Stairs & Multi-Storey Homes

If your bedroom is upstairs, stairs are a major consideration. Measure the width of the staircase, the height between steps and ceilings, and look out for tight turns, spiral designs, or Z-shaped stairs that get narrower as you go up.

Large items like a gas lift slat base or king-sized bedhead may be too long to turn, especially if there’s a landing in the middle or a low ceiling above.

🛠️ Pro Tip: Ask yourself — can the largest piece be carried up without getting stuck, hitting walls, or needing to be lifted over a banister?

🖼️ Obstacles Along the Way

Many people forget about wall-mounted art, hallway tables, plants, or shoe cabinets — anything along the path to your bedroom could get in the way or accidentally damaged.

✨ Pro Tip: Before delivery day, clear out any furniture or fragile items that might block the way or get bumped during transport.

By checking all of these access points ahead of time, you’ll avoid surprises and make sure the beautiful new bed you’ve chosen can actually get to where it needs to be — without stress.

✅ Step 2: Understand Actual Bed Frame Dimensions (Not Just Mattress Size)

When shopping for a new bed, many people only consider the mattress size — but the bed frame is often much larger than the mattress itself.

This becomes especially important if you’re furnishing a tight space or moving the bed through narrow areas like hallways, stairs, or lifts. To avoid surprise delivery issues, it’s critical to understand both mattress dimensions and full bed frame dimensions.

📏 Australian Standard Mattress Sizes 

Here’s a helpful reference for standard mattress sizes in Australia:

Mattress Size	Dimensions (cm)
Single	92 cm x 188 cm
King Single	107 cm x 203 cm
Double	138 cm x 188 cm
Queen	153 cm x 203 cm
King	183 cm x 203 cm
Super King	203 cm x 203 cm

 

The bed frame is often larger—especially when it includes:

• The Headboard – Often tall and wide, especially with statement styles like panelled or winged designs.
• The Slat Base – In some front gas lift beds, the slats are attached to a full metal frame that cannot be dismantled. This base is roughly the same size as the mattress and doesn’t bend – meaning it may not fit in some lifts or staircases.

💡 Tip: If you’re looking at a side board lift gas bed, those often use board panels that come in smaller sections – much easier to move! 

👉 View Our Side Gas Lift Beds

✅ Step 3: Choose the Right Bed Type for Your Space

There are many types of beds to suit different needs – some are easier to move and install than others. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Bed Frame Type	Easy to Move	Delivery Notes
Storage Drawer Bed	MEDIUM	Flat-packed base. Only headboard might be large. Usually fits through most lifts and stairs.
Front Gas Lift Bed	HARD	One piece metal frame with slats pre-attached. It can be hard to move in lifts, stairwells, or tight corners.
Side Gas Lift Bed	MEDIUM	Flat packed base. Only the headboard may be bulky, but overall delivery difficulty is moderate.
Bedhead + Ensemble Base	HARD	Comes in two large pieces: headboard + solid base. The base is bulky and heavy.
Bunk Bed (Kids Bed)	EASY	Fully flat packed. All components are easy to carry into most spaces.
Adjustable Base Bed	EASY	Usually split into two halves. Can be moved easily through most standard doors, stairs and lifts.
Timber Bed Frame (No Storage)	Medium	Most come flat-packed. Headboard may be bulky. Generally easier than storage beds.
Metal Bed Frame	EASY	Lightweight and modular. Easy to carry into most spaces.

👇 Final Thoughts

Buying a new bed frame or bedroom furniture should be exciting – not stressful. A little planning goes a long way.

By measuring properly, understanding the biggest parts of your furniture and knowing your access paths, you can save money, avoid disappointment, and enjoy your new setup hasslefree.

👉 Explore Our Storage Bed Frame Collection

👉 Explore Our Simple Bed Frame Collection

👉 Explore Our Bunk Bed Collection