The 9 Best Headboards In 2023 for Every Style
Pottery Barn’s Harper Upholstered Non-Tufted Headboard earns our top pick for its enduring style and unmatched durability.
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Headboards are the natural focal point for bedroom designs and set the tone for style and comfort within your space. Although you can purchase beds with attached headboards, detached headboards are versatile, cost-effective options for upgrading existing platforms or bed frames.
There are endless headboard options to sift through online, which makes finding the right one for your bedroom quite an overwhelming undertaking. So, we’ve taken all the guesswork out of the equation and researched the best headboards for every style while considering key features like price, durability, design, and measurements to curate a list of headboards for every style and budget.
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We also consulted Anne Hepfer, interior designer and author of MOOD. She shared her top tips for what to keep in mind when picking out a headboard and why upholstered headboards are her go-to in her bedroom designs.
The Harper Upholstered Non-Tufted Tall Headboard from Pottery Barn earns our trophy for best overall headboard because of its high-performance materials, customization options, and universal design.
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The Overall Best
Pottery Barn Harper Upholstered Non-Tufted Tall Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: It’s forged of high performance materials and features a tall, timeless silhouette suitable for contemporary, traditional, and rustic interiors alike.
Keep in Mind: Its height might overpower smaller bedrooms or low ceilings.
With elegant lines, unsurpassed craftsmanship, and endless upholstery options—the Harper Tall headboard wins our picks for best headboard across the board. The non-tufted upholstered front creates a tailored backdrop to your duvet and pillows, and its luxurious padding provides a soft spot to rest your head while catching up on your nighttime reading.
Each Harper headboard is made-to-order in your choice of 99 unique upholstery options, 70 of which are Pottery Barn signature performance fabrics that will look new for years to come. A double row of pewter or bronze nailhead trim frames the wingback design for an elevated, transitional look.
One mistake to avoid while headboard shopping is selecting one that is too short for your desired results. True to its name, the Harper Tall headboard soars 65 inches high, making it an instant focal point and anchoring element for your bedroom design.
“Something else to consider when selecting a headboard is mattress height,” says Hepfer. “If the mattress is too high, you won’t get the full effect of the headboard.” The good news? No mattress stands a chance of overpowering this beauty.
Style aside, the Harper headboard is durable, forged from reliable engineered hardwood that feels steady when you lean against it. The Harper is compatible with the Pottery Barn metal bed frame (sold separately) or your existing adjustable mattress base. The refined design features exposed, hand-finished feet in a Bourbon hue and comes in full, queen, king, or California king sizes.
Price at time of publish: From $1,199
Product Details: Sizes: Full, Queen, King, California King | Assembly Required: White glove delivery and assembly included | Materials: Engineered hardwood, foam padding, and upholstery fabric
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The Best Budget for you
Nathan James Harlow Wall Mount Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: The wall-mounted design is simple to install and adjust to the ideal height for your bed frame.
Keep in Mind: It requires a Phillips head screwdriver and a drill for installation.
This wall-mounted beauty is the best headboard if you want to save money without sacrificing style in your bedroom design. The Harlow headboard features a matte-black metal wall mount bar and two diamond tufted panels to provide a cozy focal point for your bedroom and a soft spot to land at the end of each day.
We adore the high-contrast combination of the creamy-white upholstery and inky metal bar as it visually straddles the lines between modern, industrial, and farmhouse styles and equally complements neutral or saturated interiors.
Second only to this headboard’s affordability is its adjustability. All you need is a half-hour to spare, a Phillips head screwdriver, a drill, and a .25-inch drill bit to attach the metal wall mount bar behind your bed. From there, customize the headboard to the ideal height for your space using the adjustable straps attached to the tufted headboard panels.
The white cloud Harlow headboard is available in twin, queen, and king sizes and comes in six additional upholstery options that appeal to various interior design styles. Choose the cognac vegan leather headboard to usher a sleek Scandinavian aesthetic into your space, snag the channel-tufted velvet for California modern or scoop up the heathered tweed upholstery for a touch of vintage academia flair.
Regardless of the upholstery you select, it’s worth noting that all Harlow headboards include a 100% money-back guarantee as well as a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
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Price at time of publish: $170
Product Details: Sizes: Twin, Queen, King | Assembly Required: Yes | Materials: Engineered wood, metal, and fabric
The Best Splurge for you
Pottery Barn Elliot Shelter Upholstered Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: This headboard is available in 33 unique upholstery fabrics including 19 easy-to-clean performance fabrics that look new for years.
Keep in Mind: There is a 12+ weeks lead time for custom orders at the time of publish.
Searching for a splurge-worthy headboard with enduring style and materials? This Pottery Barn number will not disappoint. The investment headboard features a kiln-dried hardwood frame and fixed legs to provide a steady base for your space, while plush foam padding lines the front and sides of the headboard to create a soft landing for late-night reading or binging the latest show after dark.
A classic, winged silhouette lends the headboard versatility, befitting transitional, contemporary, and traditional bedroom designs.
It’s available in all standard sizes and compatible with an adjustable mattress base, making it a top consideration for kids’ rooms, guest suites, and primary bedrooms. Each Elliot Shelter bed frame is made-to-order in your choice of 33 elegant upholstery fabrics, including 19 performance options.
Choose best-selling basketweave upholstery for expedited shipping or comb through 31 additional options for a customized bed frame delivered to your door in 12+ weeks. Use your design style as your roadmap for selecting the best headboard for your space; Performance velvet is ideal for a romantic bedroom design, while performance boucle brings just the right amount of texture to a bohemian or farmhouse design.
Price at time of publish: From $399
Product Details: Sizes: Full, Queen, King, California King | Assembly Required: White glove delivery and assembly included | Materials: Kiln-dried hardwood frame with foam padded velvet, boucle, tweed, or basketweave upholstery
The Best Tufted for you
The Inside Tufted Wingback Headboard
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THE INSIDE
Why You Should Get It: Each custom tufted headboard handmade by expert upholsterers and carpenters in North America to provide unmatched quality.
Keep in Mind: Since each headboard is made to order, there’s a 5+ weeks lead time at time of publish.
There are endless tufted headboards available online, but The Inside’s tufted wingback headboard stands out from the crowd due to its versatile silhouette, customization options, durable materials, and top-notch craftsmanship.
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With its sharp wingback silhouette and diamond, button-tufted upholstery, this stately headboard feels equal parts contemporary and traditional in style; its juxtaposed details make this tufted beauty the best headboard for both.
Each tufted headboard is sustainably made-to-order and meticulously handcrafted by upholstery and woodworking experts in North America. The headboard is available in four standard bed sizes and five luxurious and life-friendly upholstery options: durable velvet, linen, sheepskin, twill, and cotton.
Another reason to stick this tufted headboard at the top of your list: it comes in 25 head-turning hues and finishes, each more beautiful than the next and all guaranteed to create a statement in your bedroom design.
Choose vibrant canary yellow, vert, or aqua velvet to make a splash in an otherwise neutral design, or stick to soft, airy linens to achieve coastal grandmother appeal. The black-and-white plaid upholstery is always a solid choice to pack panache into your guest suite or kids’ room.
While this tufted headboard is more expensive than others, its enduring quality and design are worth the investment. Plus, The Inside offers a free 30-day return policy to ensure you are happy with your purchase.
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Price at time of publish: $1,169
Product Details: Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King | Assembly: Yes | Materials: Pine lumber, engineered hardwood and polyester
The Best Velvet for you
Kelly Clarkson Home Mcafee Upholstered Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: This headboard has a classic, scalloped silhouette and comes in 13 velvet colors.
Keep in Mind: Partial assembly is required.
Dial up the drama in your bedroom design with the help of a velvet headboard reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. The Mcafee upholstered design by Kelly Clarkson Home for Wayfair is the best headboard for the job, available in twin, full, queen, king, and California king sizes to fit bedrooms of all sizes.
The panel-style headboard is forged from solid and engineered hardwood, sporting a stately scalloped silhouette with sweeping arches that appears at home in traditional, transitional, art deco, and Hollywood Regency bedroom designs.
The Mcafee headboard attaches to your existing bed frame to create a seamless, bed-like result that will give your bedroom a polished look. Its curved lines serve as a fail-proof focal point for your bedroom, arriving at your door dressed in your choice of 13 head-turning velvet finishes suited for adults and kid spaces alike.
Romantic hues like inky-blue, berry, honey, aubergine, and black set the tone for sophistication against crisp-white or bold, floral-wrapped walls in a primary suite. Pearl, blush, ocean, and light gray velvet make a charming final touch for a little girl’s room.
Price at time of publish: $502
Product Details: Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King | Assembly Required: Partial | Materials: Solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, and velvet upholstery
Best with Storage
Wade Logan Amerski Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: This headboard doubles as a bookcase with three roomy compartments and two integrated USB ports.
Keep in Mind: You’ll need a screwdriver handy to put it together because this storage headboard requires full assembly upon delivery.
On the prowl for the best headboard for your small bedroom? The best headboards for tight quarters are headboards that provide dual purpose for your space. Storage headboards are the hardworking, unsung heroes of tiny bedrooms everywhere, and the Amerski headboard is our favorite of the lot. This headboard offers it all: versatile design, beautiful finishes, and roomy, easy-to-reach compartments for bedside essentials.
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The affordable storage headboard is manufactured wood-forged and comes in a full/queen or king size to best suit your bedroom dimensions. Using a screwdriver you already have in your toolbox, the Amerski headboard mounts to your existing bed frame with ease via a set of pre-drilled holes to create the appearance of one continuous piece.
The space-savvy headboard lays the framework for a tidy, streamlined environment for a pint-sized kid’s room or primary suite. The low-profile design features three generous storage compartments, located overhead for storing your to-be-read books, coasters for your bedtime water, and sentimental accessories like framed family photos or sculptural art. A pair of integrated USB ports flank each end, providing convenient overnight charging for bed partners’ tech devices.
Pick from three neutral finishes: oak, gray oak, or black. The warm oak feels charming and maybe a touch traditional, while the gray-washed oak leans more coastal. By contrast, the inky-black reads contemporary and plays well in both saturated settings and airy, neutral bedrooms.
Price at time of publish: $511
Product Details: Sizes: Full/Queen, King | Assembly Required: Yes | Materials: Manufactured MDF wood
Best Metal
Modway Kiana Stainless Steel Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: The streamlined silhouette is versatile, appearing at home in farmhouse, modern, and cottage bedroom designs.
Keep in Mind: You’ll need a few extra pillows to lean against this bedframe comfortably.
Metal headboards are mainstays for modern, farmhouse, and industrial bedroom designs, and our pick for the best headboard in metal, the Modway Kiana, is a fitting addition for all three styles. The minimalist design features five tapered spindles and round finals to create a crisp backdrop to your bedding.
Each Kiana headboard offers adjustable height with seven mounting locations. Attach the headboard to your existing bed frame at a height that allows you to layer accent pillows against its spindles without disappearing behind a pile of plush.
Headboard feet are finished with non-marking foot-caps to keep floors scratch and scuff-free underfoot. The stainless-steel design comes in twin, full, queen, or king sizes to bring a touch of nostalgic countryside charm to primary suites, guest quarters, or shared kids’ rooms alike.
Available in a deep brown, gray, or white finish, the Kiana works well as a high-contrast or understated element in a bedroom design, making it the ideal to complement saturated and muted color palettes. A powder-coated finish polishes off the steel headboard, lending the frame a durability and style you can rely on for years to come.
Price at time of publish: $92
Product Details: Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King | Assembly Required: Yes | Materials: Metal
Best Upholstered
Joss & Main Kylie Upholstered Headboard
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Why You Should Get It: You can choose from 14 chic upholstery color and fabric options to create a custom headboard at budget-friendly prices.
Keep in Mind: The pared back design works best in contemporary, modern, or causal bedroom designs.
Upholstered headboards are our secret weapon for creating a plush, inviting bed that you can’t wait to crawl into at the end of a long day.
“I love an upholstered headboard,” says Hepner. “Not only is it a more comfortable surface to lean on when you’re laying in bed, but it adds an air of sophistication and elegance. An upholstered bed really makes a room look finished and well-styled. It can also be a fun way to make a statement if you choose a bold fabric to upholster it in.”
The Kylie upholstered headboard from Joss & Main earns its top spot as the best upholstered headboard for such a reason. Its understated silhouette and stunning fabric selections leave this headboard feeling refined yet approachable.
The modern, wall-mounted headboard is hand-forged to last from solid and engineered wood. Polyester adds a layer of sumptuous cushion to the panel, then is upholstered neatly in your choice of 14 beautiful fabrics. Airy neutral tones like white linen, pumice, and Milano elephant create a crisp, modern look fitting a contemporary bedroom; Oxblood, navy, and Zuma caviar offer a sophisticated appeal for a traditional primary suite.
It’s available in twin, full, queen, king, or California king sizes and features adjustable width, making it the best headboard to cater to all room sizes.
Price at time of publish: $377
Product Details: Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King | Assembly Required: Partial | Materials: Solid wood, manufactured wood, polyester fill, and polyester upholstery
Best Faux Leather
West Elm Nailhead Upholstered Wall Mounted Headboard in Vegan Leather
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Why You Should Get It: It’s available in a low, standard, or tall height which makes it the best headboard for catering to varied ceiling heights and design aspirations.
Keep in Mind: It attaches directly to the wall.
Invite warmth and texture into your contemporary, rustic, or eclectic bedroom design with a faux leather headboard. The Nailhead Upholstered Wall Mounted Headboard from West Elm is our go-to vegan leather pick because of its finishes and low, standard, and tall height options.
While height might not be the first factor you consider during your headboard shopping process, we believe it should be. Different headboard heights speak to varying interior design styles, and the wrong measurements can lead to a headboard looking out of place in a room.
“Size is really important when choosing a headboard,” says Hepfer. “Not only does the headboard have to fit the size of the bed, but it also needs to fit the room. Statement headboards are a great way to make the bed the focal point of a bedroom, but you must have the space for it. Cramming a big headboard into a small room will just make the space look unproportioned and off balance.”
This faux leather headboard is available in a low-profile silhouette that makes a seamless addition to Midcentury designs and a tall option that will look at home in a room with soaring ceilings. And, when in doubt, the standard height is a safe bet.
It comes in full, queen, or king sizes, and each contract-grade headboard is crafted from solid kiln-dried plywood to create a durable and steady base for your bedroom design. The design comes in your choice of cider gray, molasses, saddle, or snow vegan leather upholstery and features bronze nailhead trim along the perimeter for a final touch of shimmer.
Price at time of publish: From $559
Product Details: Sizes: Full, Queen, King | Assembly Required: White glove delivery and assembly included | Materials: Solid plywood frame with vegan leather upholstery and bronze nailhead trim
The Bottom Line
Comparing material durability, design, and measurements of headboards led us to find that Harper Upholstered Non-Tufted Tall Headboard is best overall because it offers customization, high-performance fabrics and a tall frame that stands out from the rest. The Nathan James Harlow Wall Mount Headboard offers a chic budget-friendly option with easy installation and height adjustability.
What to Know About Headboards Before Shopping
Dimensions/Size
Choosing the best headboard for your space starts with looking at the size of your mattress and bed frame. It’s important to choose a headboard that correlates with the width of your intended bed frame to ensure the attachment brackets match up for a secure fit. Headboards are available to fit all standard mattress sizes, which takes the guesswork out of shopping.
A good rule of thumb is that the best headboard for a twin bed should measure around 41 inches wide by 14 inches tall. For a queen, the best headboard measures 62 inches wide by 28 inches tall, and for a king, 80 inches wide by 58 inches tall.
Material
Headboard materials are endless, each lending a unique look to a bedroom design. Popular materials include metal, wood, leather, and upholstered textiles with plush foam padding. Before you invest, be sure to consider what your design goals are for your bedroom and how often you plan on leaning against your headboard.
Wood and metal are stylish headboard options for farmhouse, industrial, modern, and cottage bedrooms. While these materials are attractive, they aren’t the most comfortable, so they might not be the best fit for someone who enjoys reading in bed.
Plush, foam-padded upholstered headboards offer a comfortable backdrop for lounging after hours. Plus, upholstered headboards pack panache into your bedroom design and allow you to play with patterns and colors within the space.
Assembly
Read the fine print about headboard assembly before heading to check out. Most headboards will require some level of self-assembly. Some headboards require drills to secure into your wall behind your mattress while others anchor to your existing bed frame. That said, many retailers include professional white glove delivery and assembly by appointment for pricier headboards.
Adjustable
Planning on attaching a headboard to your existing bed frame? Adjustability is key. Fixed headboards may not match your bed frame, resulting in a headboard that looks too tall or too short in proportion to your space. Solution: Look for headboards that feature adjustable brackets. These all-important brackets will allow you to customize your headboard height and make a seamless fit on your bed frame.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you attach a headboard to a frame?
The first step to attach a headboard to a bed frame is checking for compatible attachment types: bolt-on, hook-on, or a combination of both. Bolt-on is the most common; for this, line up the headboard to the pre-drilled holes on the legs of the frame and secure it with bolt screws. Hook-on attachment frames have slits instead of holes and are quickly assembled by slipping hooks through the slits.
Does your bed need a headboard?
Technically speaking, no, your bed doesn’t need a headboard. However, a headboard gives your bedroom a finished, pull-together look that’s difficult to accomplish with a lone bedframe. Plus, headboards are located front-and-center in your bedroom, offering you prime real estate to showcase your style within the space.
Which headboard material is best?
What can I use instead of a bed headboard?
- Incorporate shelves.
- Simply use pillows.
- Drape some bright fabric.
- DIY a wooden headboard.
- Use patterned wallpaper.
- Add a pretty duvet cover.
- Use paint to emphasize the space.
- Add a dramatic piece of art.
Should a headboard be wider than the mattress?
Are headboards outdated?
What color headboard is best?
Is it better to have a headboard or no headboard?
Is it OK to have a bed without a headboard?
What is the best position for a headboard?
Are headboards in Style 2023?
What is the benefit of a headboard?
Should headboards touch the floor?
Who We Are
Maria Conti is a contributing home and lifestyle writer for Better Homes & Gardens and HGTV, with five years of writing product reviews and shopping guides for digital home publications. She spent several hours comparing prices, measurements, materials, and design to determine the best headboards for every style and space. Maria consulted Anne Hepfer, interior designer and author of MOOD, to learn what to look for in a headboard and gain professional insight on the topic.
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