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Quick answer

Amerisleep gives a full mattress as 54 by 75 inches. The Manyday adjustable headboard is 53.15 inches wide and 23 inches high, 13 pounds. The Hearth and Harbor wall-mounted headboard is 55 by 23.6 by 3.5 inches in its bullets (the table swaps width and height), 6 pounds, and mounts with double-sided tape. The Liiwepo cushion headboard is 9.5 pounds and rests between the mattress and the frame. A headboard 1 inch wider than the mattress, like the Hearth and Harbor at 55 inches, covers the mattress edge to edge.

Quick compare: the products in this guide

Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.

ProductListed detailsLink
Hearth & Harbor Wall Mounted Full Headboard Only, Bed Headboard Full Size55 x 23.6 x 3.5 in (bullets); 6 lbSee details on Amazon Affiliate link
Manyday Full Headboard with Adjustable Height53.15 x 23 in; 13 lbSee details on Amazon Affiliate link
Liiwepo Full Size Headboard Only-No Assembly Required, Beige9.5 lb; 72 hours to expandSee details on Amazon Affiliate link

The three mounting types

Wall-mounted. A panel that hangs or sticks to the wall. The Hearth and Harbor listing says double-sided tape, no tools.

Frame-mounted. A headboard with legs or brackets that attaches to the frame. The Manyday has multiple mounting positions and reinforced metal legs.

Mattress-mounted. A cushion held by metal frames that slide between the mattress and the frame. The Liiwepo listing says it adjusts to the mattress thickness.

Worked example: width and height

This is our own arithmetic.

  • Width. Manyday 53.15 inches is 0.85 inch narrower than the 54 inch mattress; Hearth and Harbor at 55 inches is 1 inch wider, 0.5 inch on each side if centered.
  • Table versus bullets. The Hearth and Harbor table says 23.6 inches wide by 55 inches high, and the bullets say 55 by 23.6 by 3.5 inches; a full headboard 55 inches high and 23.6 wide would be a tall narrow panel, so the table has the labels swapped.
  • Wall above the bed. A 23 to 23.6 inch headboard mounted with its bottom edge at the mattress top leaves most of the wall bare. With a 10 inch mattress on a 14 inch frame (24 inches), the tops are about 47 inches from the floor, leaving 49 inches to a 96 inch ceiling.
  • Weight on tape. A 6 pound panel on double-sided tape is within what tape often carries, but we have no rating from the listing, so check the tape’s weight rating and your paint.

What the listings say

Hearth and Harbor Wall Mounted Full Headboard Only, Floating Peel and Stick (ASIN B0DFZ4QQTF). The table gives fabric, a weight of 6 pounds and a size row of 23.6 by 55 inches (width by height). The bullets say it mounts with included double-sided tape, has a paneled style, foam fill, stain-resistant upholstery and a size of 55 by 23.6 by 3.5 inches in linen. Best for: a renter who wants no tools. Watch out: the tape depends on the wall; the table labels are swapped.

Manyday Full Headboard with Adjustable Height, Light Gray (ASIN B0H94LD1C3). The table gives fabrics, a weight of 13 pounds and 53.15 by 23 inches. The bullets say chenille fabric with vertical channel stitching, multiple mounting positions for different mattress heights, high-density foam, an engineered wood frame with reinforced metal legs and included hardware and instructions. Best for: a headboard that fits different frame heights. Watch out: it is 0.85 inch narrower than the mattress.

Liiwepo Full Size Headboard Only, No Assembly Required, Beige (ASIN B0GD6DZLVL). The table gives sponge and a weight of 9.5 pounds. The bullets say it needs 72 hours to restore its shape, comes with two metal frames for various mattresses and frames, is mattress-mounted and adjusts to mattress thickness and has a narrow top and wide bottom with a 5 inch thick lumbar area. Best for: no tools and a thick cushion. Watch out: no width or height in the text we read.

How the three compare

ListingTypeWeightWidthHeight
Hearth and HarborWall, tape6 lb55 in23.6 in
ManydayFrame, adjustable13 lb53.15 in23 in
LiiwepoMattress-mounted9.5 lbNot statedNot stated

How to choose

Match the width. 54 to 56 inches for a full mattress.

Choose the mounting. Tape for renters, legs for a frame, a cushion for no tools.

Check the weight and the wall. Tape needs a clean, suitable surface.

Ask for missing sizes. The Liiwepo gives none.

Mounting on the wall: a checklist

A tape-mounted headboard depends on the wall. Check that the paint is clean, dry and fully cured, since fresh paint can lift when tape is removed. Check the tape’s instructions for surfaces it is not meant for, such as textured walls or wallpaper. Weigh the headboard against the tape’s rating, which the Hearth and Harbor listing does not state in the text we read. If you rent, ask your landlord, because removing tape can take paint with it. These steps are general advice, not listing claims.

Frame mounting and mattress height

The Manyday headboard has multiple mounting positions for different mattress heights. As an example, a frame at 14 inches with a 10 inch mattress puts the top at 24 inches; with a 12 inch mattress, 26 inches. A headboard of 23 inches mounted so that its bottom edge is level with the mattress top reaches 47 inches in the first case and 49 in the second. If the mattress is thick, set the headboard higher; if you want the wall visible above it, set it lower.

How a full headboard compares with a full frame

A headboard alone costs less in floor space than a frame with a headboard, because the frame is the same either way. If you already own a frame, a headboard is an upgrade; if you are buying a frame, see full size bed frame with headboard, which compares steel frames with a headboard in the box. For the queen version of this guide, see headboards for queen beds.

Weight and the mount

The headboards are 6, 13 and 9.5 pounds, so none needs a structural mount. A 13 pound headboard on a frame with metal legs, as the Manyday has, is within what the legs describe. A 6 pound panel on a wall needs the tape or hooks to carry it for years, which is why we suggest asking for a rating. A cushion at 9.5 pounds sits against the mattress and rests on its frames.

Mistakes to avoid

Believing swapped labels. Check width against height.

Choosing a narrow headboard. It leaves bare mattress edges.

Skipping the tape rating. Ask for the weight it holds.

Forgetting the 72 hours. Cushion headboards need time to expand.

When a different guide helps

For queen headboards, see headboards for queen beds. For a full bed frame with a headboard, see full size bed frame with headboard. For adjustable bases, see headboard for adjustable bed.

A short worked comparison may help. Take a full mattress 54 inches wide and three headboards: 53.15 inches, 55 inches and an unstated width. The first leaves 0.85 inch of the mattress edge uncovered, 0.43 inch on each side if centered; the second covers it with 0.5 inch to spare on each side. The third needs a question to the seller, and a mattress-mounted cushion may be narrower than the bed, which changes the look.

Also consider the thickness. The Hearth and Harbor panel is 3.5 inches thick and the Liiwepo cushion has a 5 inch thick lumbar area, so a mattress-mounted cushion takes room between the mattress and the wall. In a bed pushed against the wall, that is 5 inches of room you give up, which may matter in a small space.

For a full-size bed in a child’s room, a headboard that is soft and light, like the cushion types, is easier on a bumped head than a rigid panel. That is a general point, not a safety claim, and the listings give no age guidance in the text we read.

Frequently asked questions

How wide is a full headboard?

About 54 to 56 inches. A full mattress is 54 inches wide per Amerisleep.

How high should it be?

The three above are 23 to 23.6 inches. Choose by how much wall you want covered.

Can I stick a headboard to the wall?

The Hearth and Harbor listing says it mounts with double-sided tape. Check your paint and the tape rating.

Does a cushion headboard need tools?

The Liiwepo says no assembly is required.

How heavy are they?

6, 13 and 9.5 pounds.

Do they fit a queen?

No. A queen is 60 inches wide.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.

Hearth & Harbor Wall Mounted Full Headboard Only, Bed Headboard Full Size

55 x 23.6 x 3.5 in (bullets); 6 lb

  • Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Manyday Full Headboard with Adjustable Height

53.15 x 23 in; 13 lb

  • Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Liiwepo Full Size Headboard Only-No Assembly Required, Beige

9.5 lb; 72 hours to expand

  • Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Sources checked

Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

How we research our guides