What’s the Best Wood to Use for Bed Slats?

Almost all bed slats are made out of wood, of varying types, thicknesses, and cuts. Like most wood furniture items or accessories, the material itself can make a difference in terms of the function and feel of the product. Specifically, some of the most popular types of wood for bed slats to be made from, and their differences in durability and give/pliability are highlighted below.

Douglas Fir

Cheap softwood that won’t cost much but may require more material thickness or have too much give.

Southern Yellow Pine

While a softwood, this is kind of a transitional option between softwoods and hardwoods, as it performs nearly as well as more expensive hardwood, but generally costs less.

Red Oak

Much more durable hardwood, with stronger support, more durability and stiffness. It does cost more, however.

Yellow Poplar

A hardwood that is somewhere in between Yellow Pine and Red Oak in terms of stiffness/rigidity, bending strength, and cost. It’s also a great choice if you plan to paint (rather than stain) your bed slats.

Hickory

Hickory is a good choice of hardwood that is roughly on par with Red Oak in performance and cost. It is also extremely light as a function of its strength to weight ratio.

Do you need Bed Slats?

The choice of using bed slats vs. a box spring is entirely up to you as a consumer. You may not need either if the particular bed frame or bed type comes with slats or a solid wooden platform already built in (common with bunk beds, certain types of platform beds, and in more institutional settings such as college dormitories). But if that is not the case for your particular bed, then bed slats may be a good option to try.

And for those who are thinking, “Hmm, maybe I should use both bed slats and a box spring…” think again. That doesn’t add additional support or function to the bed – only height. One or the other has to be used for actual support and load-bearing features.

Is a Box Spring Better than Bed Slats?

Bed slats are not necessarily better or worse than a box spring setup. Some people prefer them, as they tend to make the mattress more rigid with less give and flex to it. Some like their beds lower to the ground, too, and therefore prefer bed slats over a box spring, as they add no height to the bed.

For others, bed slats simply don’t do the trick. If you need height to make getting in and out of bed easier, then a box spring is really the only choice. If you like your mattress to have more give and flex to it, then a box spring is also ideal. Depending on the size of bed and weight of occupants, bed slats may be impractical as they can be prone to breakage, whereas a box spring can take a lot more punishment.

Ultimately, the choice is yours to make, with box springs being more expensive, though the adage “you get what you pay for” definitely holds true. Many people swear by box springs and could never imagine using bed slats, and vice versa.

Pros and Cons of Bed Slats

Pros

• Lightweight with relatively little material required.
• Easy to find, easy to use, and easy to install – can even be made on a DIY basis.
• Provide solid support to mattresses, with less spring or bounce.
• Keep beds lower to the ground.

Cons

• Don’t provide lift or springiness to the bed or mattress.
• May be impractical for larger beds especially.
• Not suitable for heavyweight situations.
• Can shift and become uneven if not properly secured to the bed frame.

Summary

If you’ve never heard of or considered bed slats before, and are in need of a firmer sleeping experience, looking to have your bed closer to the ground, don’t like so much spring in the bed, or are in need of a cheap bed support option, then bed slats may be the perfect choice for you. They offer a number of advantages over the more-expensive box spring option.

At the same time, they’re not for everyone and simply won’t cut it for larger beds, those that are intended to bear a lot of weight, or for people who like their mattresses to have a lot of give and spring to them. But, with this guide, hopefully now you know the difference, and can test different options and ask questions when you next go shopping for a bed or mattress at the store or online.

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