# mattress platform **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009 "2008-02-02T19:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/1 "2008-02-02T19:15:42Z")
I have an old metal bed frame 54 inches wide by 74 inches long. I am making at mattress platform (no box spring). Planning on using 8 - 2 X 6’s across the width. Total weight that needs support about 300lbs, two bodies not one. Will this provide enough support? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/2 "2008-02-02T19:27:57Z")
[QUOTE=bat312] 8 - 2 X 6’s across the width. Will this provide enough support? [/QUOTE] That’s a 2 X 6 every nine inches. 3/4" plywood on top, and not tacked together with tiny nails? I think you’ve got _plenty_ of overkill there. It’s going to be **heavy**. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/3 "2008-02-02T19:34:42Z")
You could support 300 lbs with _one_ 2x6. You’d be more than fine with 2x4s spaced as 12" or even 18". ---
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/4 "2008-02-02T19:38:13Z")
½ inch plywood on top. I am upgrading from ¾ x 4 inch slats. It sagged. Overkill, I guess, is fine. I’ll hurt my back while moving it not sleeping on it! ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/5 "2008-02-02T20:15:08Z")
[QUOTE=bat312] ½ inch plywood on top. I am upgrading from ¾ x 4 inch slats. It sagged. Overkill, I guess, is fine. I’ll hurt my back while moving it not sleeping on it! [/QUOTE] If you ran a 2x6 lengthwise down the middle to act as a support beam and the put the slats on top of that, you’d have plenty of support and get rid of the sag. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/6 "2008-02-02T20:56:31Z")
[QUOTE=tremorviolet] If you ran a 2x6 lengthwise down the middle to act as a support beam and the put the slats on top of that, you’d have plenty of support and get rid of the sag. [/QUOTE] That’s the best solution, just make sure you get a “clear” (no knots) 2X6. ---
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/7 "2008-02-02T22:20:48Z")
Thank you…will do and sleep better tonight. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/8 "2008-02-03T00:45:12Z")
Let’s be clear about something … In house constuction, 2x6s are used for flooring where the 6" direction is set vertical and the 2" is horizontal. Bed slats are typcially the other way, 3/4" vertical & 4" horizontal. Which orientation are you planning for this frame? Big difference in the results. It smells to me like you’re thinking one way & the advice-givers are thnking the other. Whatever material you use to support a rigid platform, make the long dimension of the material vertical like a joist, not horizontal like a typical bed slat. Here’s another approach which I know works. I have a store-bought platform/frame which is 3/4" x 10" particle board. There are four sides 10" tall , 3/4" thick that form a 10"-tall topless/bottomless box ~12" smaller in each direction than size of the mattress. It screws together at the corners. This sits on the floor. Two more 3/4" x 10 PB pieces are arranged in a + configuration inside the box; they’re notched to cross each other in the center of the box & they also sit directly on the floor. They’re a couple inches shorter than the inside dimensions of the box; they don’t actually touch the box at any point. Two 3/4" PB sheets are laid flat on top of this frame & screwed down with drywall screws every 12" or so. Their surface is a little larger than the mattress. It’s set flush with the box edge at the head end & overhangs on each side about 6" and about 9" on the foot end. Nicely finished real wood (or veneer or …) boards 3/4" x 6" are cut to the length of the edges of the platform for the two sides & the foot. They’re set with the 6" direction vertical & are notched lengthwise so they slip over the edge of the platform. They’re screwed together at the corners. They provide about 2" above the platform to capture the mattress & about 4" below the platform to hide the unfinished base. The heaviest peices are the two platform sheets & they’re about 4ft x 6ft for a queen bed. Maaaybe 20 lbs each. The rest of the parts don’t weigh enough individually to matter. It’s easy to assemble & disassemble. If I wanted to build a platform from scratch, this design is what I’d copy. ---
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/9 "2008-02-03T01:47:45Z")
Ahh…yes, The old style bed frame is very tall, that is why I am not using a box spring. 6 inch or 4 inch vertical make the mattress to high off the frame. So to clarify, yes I’m trying to slat the frame with 2x6’s. 2 inch tall by 6 inch wide. ---
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/10 "2008-02-03T02:04:23Z")
The top of the frame is 16 inches from the floor. The mattress is another 10 inches tall. I do not have a lot of extra height to work with unless I plan on a bunk bed. So back to the original question, will 8-2x6’s (2 inch vertical 6 inch wide) support 300lbs across a 54 inch wide frame or will I get uncomfortable sag? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/11 "2008-02-03T02:08:53Z")
[QUOTE=bat312] The top of the frame is 16 inches from the floor. The mattress is another 10 inches tall. I do not have a lot of extra height to work with unless I plan on a bunk bed. So back to the original question, will 8-2x6’s (2 inch vertical 6 inch wide) support 300lbs across a 54 inch wide frame or will I get uncomfortable sag? [/QUOTE] Yes, but it sounds like unnecessary expense and overkill. Can you post a pic of the inside of the platform? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/12 "2008-02-03T02:09:20Z")
Don’t forget that it not only has to hold your static weight, but some bouncing around! ---
**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/13 "2008-02-03T02:30:59Z")
Yes some bounce testing must be done. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattress-platform/436009/14 "2008-02-03T02:57:20Z")
If the 1by slats held, but bowed too much, the easiest fix is to install a support down the center of the length of the platform box, this will support the center of the slates and a “clear” 2X4 should be adequate. The easiest way to do this would be using a pair of joist hangers: [http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6513808.jpg](http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6513808.jpg)