# Why are hotel beds so high off the floor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730 "2014-02-07T03:28:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/21 "2014-02-07T18:20:10Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > It could also have something to do with trying to accommodate people that might have trouble getting into and out of a low bed (for all sorts of reasons). High beds have a better ease-in, ease-out to them. \ thanks for playing, nope. They tend to be about 6 inches too high for this average height broad to get into them wihtout jumping, and being handicapped, I don’t jump. I have to get some sort of step stool of about 6 inches to manage to get in. But you are right, better too high than too short. The Atlantis in Reno has beds that are bottomed out, I swear they are box spring and mattress set on the floor. If you add a ‘[hollywood frame](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61YODE1DI5L._SL1500_.jpg)’ to the average mattress and box spring, it makes it the perfect height to get on and off the bed. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/22 "2014-02-07T18:48:27Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Apparently there are cases of hiding dead hookers between the mattress and box spring, where they aren’t discovered for… a few nights. That would be a very bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/23 "2014-02-07T19:33:42Z")
Originally Posted by EmilyG I’m guessing that some people may also like to store things under the bed. > [@cmyk](#): > > Such as dead hookers… or so I hear. [You sir are correct!](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/bodybed.asp) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/24 "2014-02-07T20:37:24Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Originally Posted by EmilyG > I’m guessing that some people may also like to store things under the bed. > > [You sir are correct!](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/bodybed.asp) ::shiver:: It’ll make watching Four Rooms that much more believable now. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/25 "2014-02-08T00:14:00Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Originally Posted by EmilyG > I’m guessing that some people may also like to store things under the bed. > > [You sir are correct!](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/bodybed.asp) I actually first heard this legend sometime during the 82-83 school year. The guy who told us said it happened to some friends of his friends. Note that urban legend doesn’t necessarily mean it’s untrue. It has to do with how the story spreads. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/26 "2014-02-08T00:18:21Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I actually first heard this legend sometime during the 82-83 school year. The guy who told us said it happened to some friends of his friends. Note that urban legend doesn’t necessarily mean it’s untrue. It has to do with how the story spreads. And how high hotel beds rise. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/27 "2014-02-08T00:24:59Z")
My partner is 6’10" and travels a lot on business, and he’s always requesting a super-long bed if one is available. One helpful concierge suggested that he remove his stilts and store them under the bed . . . presumably with the dead hooker. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/28 "2014-02-08T00:35:13Z")
Dead hooker on stilts! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/29 "2014-02-08T13:48:38Z")
One convenience of having higher beds is that they make them easier to sit on. Sort of like having extra chairs in the room. In my experience, the base of motel beds are closed in. Not possible to slide things under them without doing some lifting. But makes hiding the dead hooker a lot easier … or so I’m told. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/30 "2014-02-08T14:15:27Z")
I’ve always wanted to try suspending a bed from the ceiling, opening up the area under the bed for use. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/31 "2014-02-08T14:26:16Z")
It has just dawned on me. The reason why hotel beds are higher than normal is: Because they have longer legs. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/32 "2014-02-08T17:20:52Z")
Heh. It might also make it easier for hotel staff to make the beds, since they won’t have to be constantly bending over quite as much. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/33 "2014-02-08T17:29:06Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve always wanted to try suspending a bed from the ceiling, opening up the area under the bed for use. But then your dead hooker would be exposed. Not good. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/34 "2014-02-08T17:31:03Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Dead hooker on stilts! Band name! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/35 "2014-02-08T17:55:26Z")
allows you to place your large suitcases under the bed which contain dead hookers. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/36 "2014-02-09T00:29:10Z")
It makes me wonder what alive hookers find under their hotel beds. Dead friends? ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/37 "2014-02-09T04:14:43Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve always wanted to try suspending a bed from the ceiling, opening up the area under the bed for use. I did this in college. Make sure that your ceiling hooks are solidly screwed into the ceiling joists. It sways a bit, but I got used to it fairly quickly. The movement is not like a hammock, more like the deck of a large boat. I used six lengths of chain, six eye bolts, and six hooks rated at 150 lbs each. I built my own pallet out of 2X6s and a sheet of 3/4’ plywood. It was a little overbuilt. IHTH, 48. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/38 "2014-02-09T09:16:56Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > I did this in college. Make sure that your ceiling hooks are solidly screwed into the ceiling joists. It sways a bit, but I got used to it fairly quickly. The movement is not like a hammock, more like the deck of a large boat. > > I used six lengths of chain, six eye bolts, and **six hooks** rated at 150 lbs each. I built my own pallet out of 2X6s and a sheet of 3/4’ plywood. It was a little overbuilt. > > IHTH, 48. I actually read the bolded as “six hookers.” I can’t imagine why. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/39 "2014-02-09T18:26:07Z")
Rated at 150 lbs dead weight no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730/40 "2014-02-09T18:27:26Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Rated at 150 lbs dead weight no doubt. Of course, how else would you rate a dead hooker’s mass? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hotel-beds-so-high-off-the-floor/680730.md?page=3)