A practical guide to choosing headboard height by measuring the bed wall, checking room proportions, planning delivery access and confirming product options.
A headboard can shape the whole appearance of a bedroom, especially when it is upholstered, winged or deeply panelled. Its height affects what you see above the pillows, how the bed relates to the wall and whether the finished design sits comfortably around windows, sockets and other fixed features.
There is no single headboard height that suits every room. The useful approach is to measure the actual wall, decide how prominent you want the bed to look and confirm the available options for the specific design before ordering. This guide takes you through that process step by step.
Begin with the usable wall height
Measure vertically from the finished floor at the planned headboard position. Record the ceiling height, then note any feature that reduces the usable area, such as a sloping ceiling, picture rail, wall light, window sill, shelf or artwork that will remain in place.
Do not rely on a room measurement taken on the opposite wall. Floors and ceilings are not always perfectly level, and a sloped or boxed section may affect only the part of the room where the bed will sit. Measure at the left edge, centre and right edge of the proposed headboard position so you have a more complete picture.
If you are planning the whole room at the same time, the RSB guide to measuring a bedroom for a new bed explains how to record the usable floor area and access route as well as the bed wall.
Mark the proposed top edge before you decide
A number on a product page can be difficult to visualise in an empty room. Once you know the proposed headboard height, mark its top edge on the wall with low-tack decorating tape or a removable paper guide. Mark the approximate width as well, because height and width work together visually.
Stand at the bedroom entrance, beside the wardrobe and at any other position from which the bed will often be seen. Check whether the outline feels deliberately proportioned or whether it competes with nearby features. If the room is furnished, make sure the guide is visible above the mattress and pillows so you are assessing the part of the headboard that will actually be seen.
Decide how prominent the bed should be
A taller headboard usually has greater visual presence because it occupies more of the wall. That can suit a bedroom where the bed is intended to be the main feature. A lower headboard can create a quieter outline or help the bed sit beneath a fixed wall feature.
Neither choice is automatically better. Start by deciding what you want to notice first when you enter the room. If the bed will be the focal point, keep the surrounding wall treatment and furniture deliberate rather than adding several competing features. If you prefer a calmer overall scheme, compare a reduced headboard height and a fabric colour that relates closely to the room.
Draw a simple front view of the bed wall and mark every fixed item with its height and distance from the nearest corner. Include windows, radiators, sockets, switches, wall lights, picture rails and fitted shelves. This makes it easier to see whether a proposed headboard would cover an item, restrict access to it or create an awkward visual overlap.
Also check the location of bedside lighting and charging points. A wide winged headboard may extend farther sideways than a simple rectangular design, so record the complete product width rather than considering height in isolation. Where product measurements or options are unclear, ask RSB Furniture before placing the order.
Compare adjustable and fixed statement designs
Some RSB designs offer a choice of headboard heights, while others are presented around a particular tall-headboard silhouette. The active RSB Aurelia Gold Tufted Bed, for example, currently describes selectable headboard heights from 45 inches to 75 inches. Its hand-tufted design and metallic trim make the headboard an important part of the overall appearance, so the wall outline is worth testing before you select an option.
The Luxury Upholstered Panel Bed with High Headboard and Storage Options takes a different approach. Its product information describes a high winged headboard with deep vertical panel detailing. Comparing these two live product pages helps show why the full shape, upholstery and side profile matter alongside the headline height.
Options can vary between designs. Use the current product page as the final reference and contact RSB Furniture if you need a lower height or a measurement that is not listed.
Plan for pillows and everyday use
Think about how you use the bed as well as how it looks. Place the mattress and usual pillows, or mark their approximate combined height on your wall guide. This shows how much upholstery will remain visible when the bed is made.
If you regularly sit against the headboard to read or relax, consider where the padded area and decorative features will sit behind you. Buttoning, vertical panels, trim and wings can change the feel of the surface, so review the product photographs and description rather than assuming that every upholstered headboard has the same construction.
Measure the delivery route for the headboard
A headboard must reach the bedroom before it can be installed. RSB Furniture asks customers to measure doorways, hallways, staircases, lifts and the intended room before ordering. Include ceiling height at stair turns, landing space and any tight change of direction.
Use the dimensions for the actual headboard and chosen options, not only the mattress size. A tall or wide statement headboard may be the largest individual part of the bed. If access is uncertain, share your route measurements with RSB Furniture before ordering rather than waiting until delivery.
Confirm customisation before production starts
The RSB Furniture FAQs explain that many headboards can be produced at a reduced height. Customers should make contact before ordering with the required measurements. A custom headboard size may change the final price and usually cannot be altered after production has started.
Keep a written record of the agreed height, bed size, fabric, colour, storage option and trim. Check the order details together before production so the measurements and visual choices describe the same finished bed.
Headboard height planning table
What to check
What to record
Why it matters
Bed wall
Floor-to-ceiling height and the lowest fixed wall feature
Shows the usable vertical area at the exact bed position
Headboard outline
Proposed height and complete width, including wings
Helps you judge visual proportion and nearby clearances
Mattress and pillows
Approximate made-up height
Shows how much of the headboard will remain visible
Wall fittings
Position of windows, sockets, switches, lights and shelves
Reduces the risk of covering or crowding fixed features
Access route
Doorways, stairs, landings, lifts and tight turns
Allows the selected headboard to be checked against delivery access
Order specification
Agreed height, fabric, colour, trim, bed size and storage option
Creates a clear reference before made-to-order production begins
A final headboard height checklist
Measure the exact bed wall at several points.
Record windows, sockets, switches, radiators, lights and fixed shelving.
Mark the proposed height and full width on the wall.
View the outline from the doorway and other normal viewpoints.
Allow for the mattress, pillows and the way you use the bed.
Check the complete headboard against the delivery route.
Confirm available height options on the current product page.
Agree any custom size with RSB Furniture before ordering.
Review the full made-to-order specification before production starts.
A well-chosen headboard height is one that works with the actual wall, the complete bed design and the route into the room. Measure first, visualise the full outline and confirm every option before the bed enters production.
