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Quick answer
An IKEA MALM queen frame is 83 1/8 inches long and 66 1/8 inches wide outside, with a 39 3/8 inch headboard, a 15 inch footboard and 8 1/4 inches of space under the frame. It holds a mattress of 79 1/2 by 59 7/8 inches. Check three things before you buy: whether the slatted base is in the box for your finish, that your mattress is no bigger than the stated mattress size, and that a box for under-bed storage is no taller than 8 1/4 inches.
The MALM numbers from IKEA
We opened IKEA’s US product pages for the white MALM queen with the Luröy base and the white MALM full on 2026-09-30. The figures are in inches.
| Measure | Queen | Full |
|---|---|---|
| Outside length | 83 1/8 (83.125) | 78 3/8 (78.375) |
| Outside width | 66 1/8 (66.125) | 59 |
| Headboard height | 39 3/8 (39.375) | 39 3/8 |
| Footboard height | 15 | 15 |
| Mattress length | 79 1/2 (79.5) | 74 3/8 (74.375) |
| Mattress width | 59 7/8 (59.875) | 53 1/8 (53.125) |
| Height under the frame | 8 1/4 | 8 1/4 |
The frame is larger than the mattress it holds: on the queen the outside width exceeds the mattress width by 6.25 inches (66.125 minus 59.875) and the length by 3.625 inches (83.125 minus 79.5). On the full the margins are 5.875 and 4 inches. Those margins are the side rails and the footboard, and they are the space you have to allow beyond the mattress.
What is in the box
IKEA’s pages list different contents by variant. The queen page we opened (white with Luröy) says the package contains the frame, a SKORVA center support beam and a LURÖY slatted bed base, and that mattress and bedding are sold separately. The full page we opened (white, no base named) says the package contains the frame and the SKORVA center beam, and that the slatted base and the mattress are sold separately. So the same MALM name can ship with or without slats depending on the exact variant, and the page for your finish is the only reliable source.
Two other statements from IKEA matter. The center beam is required for the stability of the frame whichever support you use, including a box spring. And the adjustable bed sides let you use mattresses of different thickness, but a very thick mattress may partly cover the headboard.
Worked example: a bedroom 10 feet deep
Say the bed goes head-first against a wall in a room that is 10 feet, or 120 inches, from that wall to the door. The queen is 83.125 inches long, so 120 minus 83.125 leaves 36.875 inches at the foot of the bed. Bolon Home’s clearance table, written for sofa beds, gives 30 to 36 inches for a main walkway, so the queen fits with 0.875 to 6.875 inches to spare. The full is 78.375 inches long and leaves 41.625 inches, which is 4.75 inches more (83.125 minus 78.375). If the door swings into the foot of the bed or a chest of drawers sits there, the queen is the tighter choice.
For storage, the height under the frame is 8 1/4 inches. A flat under-bed box that is 8 inches tall fits with a quarter inch to spare; a box that is 9 inches tall does not.
The European size trap on Amazon
Searching Amazon for the MALM returns listings that use metric sizes from IKEA’s European range. One we opened on 2026-09-30 is titled “MALM bed frame, high, w 2 storage boxes, 160×200 cm, white/Luröy” and its table gives item dimensions of 82.28 by 62.99 by 39.37 inches and a compatible mattress size of European double, 200 by 160 cm. 160 cm is 62.99 inches and 200 cm is 78.74 inches. A US queen mattress is 60 by 80 inches per the Amerisleep chart, so a 160 by 200 cm frame is about 3 inches wider and about 1.3 inches shorter than a US queen mattress. Do not assume a US mattress fits the slat base of a metric frame.
A second listing, “90×200 cm”, shows a table size of “Queen” but a width of 39.37 inches, which is about a twin width. The 62.99 inch figure on the first listing also equals its mattress width, whereas IKEA’s US pages show the frame several inches wider than the mattress, so the listing is probably quoting the mattress size, not the frame. Neither listing showed an Add to Cart button on the page we opened (the 160 by 200 cm page showed “See All Buying Options” instead), so we have not picked either one below. If you want the MALM itself, buy it from IKEA and use the US page for your finish.
Three MALM-style frames on Amazon, read on 2026-09-30
We have not tested these. The numbers are from the Amazon measurement tables and bullets. One listing shows “cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location” from Vietnam; that is a shipping limit from where we opened it.
IDEALHOUSE queen frame with storage headboard and footboard. The table gives 86.2 inches long, 61.4 wide and 35.4 high, a weight of 95.9 pounds and a slatted base; the bullets give a steel frame, 12 solid wood slats and a raised footboard. The listing gives a “maximum weight recommendation” of 95.9 pounds, the same number as the item weight, so that field is wrong; ask the seller for the real load limit. It is 3.1 inches longer than the MALM queen outside length (86.2 minus 83.125) and 4.0 inches lower overall (39.375 minus 35.4). Best for: a buyer who wants a headboard and a footboard like the MALM. Watch out: the load limit and the shipping restriction we saw.
IDEALHOUSE queen floor frame with 2 storage drawers. The table gives 81.1 inches long, 61.42 wide and 10.24 high, a weight of 82 pounds, two drawers and a slatted base with no headboard. The bullets say the frame sits flat on the floor. It is 2.0 inches shorter than the MALM queen (83.125 minus 81.1) and 4.8 inches narrower (66.125 minus 61.42). Best for: a small room that wants the lowest possible bed. Watch out: without a headboard you need something to lean against, and the drawers need floor space to open.
Cieemine 5 inch low queen metal bed frame. The table gives 80 inches long, 60 wide and 5 high; the bullets give 79.6 by 59.6 by 5 inches, steel slats and a maximum weight recommendation of 3000 pounds. There is no headboard, and the frame is sized to the mattress, not wider than it. Best for: a minimal bed with no storage and the lowest profile. Watch out: the bullets give a width of 59.6 inches for a 60 inch queen mattress, so confirm the fit before you rely on it.
How they compare with the MALM queen
| Bed | Length | Width | Height | Headboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA MALM queen | 83.125 in | 66.125 in | 39.375 in | Yes, tall |
| IDEALHOUSE storage headboard | 86.2 in | 61.4 in | 35.4 in | Yes |
| IDEALHOUSE floor frame | 81.1 in | 61.42 in | 10.24 in | No |
| Cieemine low frame | 80 in | 60 in | 5 in | No |
Mistakes to avoid
Buying a MALM listing in metric sizes. A 160 by 200 cm frame is not a US queen.
Planning the room from the mattress size. The frame adds about 6 inches to the width and up to 4 inches to the length.
Forgetting the center beam. IKEA says it is required for stability; do not leave it out to save a step.
Assuming slats are included. The full page we opened says they are sold separately.
Using a very thick mattress. IKEA warns that it may partly cover the headboard.
When you may not need a MALM
If you want storage, a frame with drawers or a lift-up base gives it without extra boxes; see the bed frame with storage guide. If you need the lowest bed, a floor or platform bed frame will sit lower than a MALM, and for a smaller room a full size bed frame saves 4.75 inches of length. If the room is a guest room that must also seat people, consider a daybed instead; see the guide to using a daybed as a couch.
Frequently asked questions
How big is an IKEA MALM queen bed frame?
IKEA’s page for the white queen gives 83 1/8 inches long, 66 1/8 wide, a 39 3/8 inch headboard and a 15 inch footboard. The mattress space is 79 1/2 by 59 7/8 inches.
Does the MALM come with slats?
It depends on the variant. The queen page we opened (white with Luröy) includes a slatted base in the package; the full page we opened says the slatted base is sold separately.
How much space is under a MALM bed?
IKEA lists 8 1/4 inches of height under the frame on both the queen and the full pages we opened.
Can I use a box spring with a MALM?
IKEA says a box spring can be used instead of the slatted base, but the center support beam is required for the stability of the frame either way.
Will a US queen mattress fit a MALM sold in metric sizes?
Not necessarily. A 160 by 200 cm frame is 62.99 by 78.74 inches, which is about 3 inches wider and 1.3 inches shorter than a 60 by 80 inch queen.
Products (for Claude)
| ASIN | Name as on the listing | Two numbers from the listing | Listing URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| B0GGHKT5QC | IDEALHOUSE Queen Size Bed Frame, Wooden Bed with Storage Headboard and Footboard, Floor-Low Platform Bed with Wooden Slats | 86.2 x 61.4 x 35.4 in (L x W x H); 95.9 lb | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGHKT5QC |
| B0HDSWGKRR | IDEALHOUSE Queen Bed Frame with 2 Storage Drawers, Wooden Floor Bed Frame | 81.1 x 61.42 x 10.24 in (L x W x H); 82 lb | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HDSWGKRR |
| B0CW9MMQLC | Cieemine 5 Inch Low Queen Bed Frame, Bed Frame Queen Size Low Profile, Heavy Duty, Black | 80 x 60 x 5 in (L x W x H); 3000 lb maximum weight (bullets) | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW9MMQLC |
Products worth checking
We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings, checked on September 30, 2026; where a listing does not say, we say so.
IDEALHOUSE Queen Size Bed Frame, Wooden Bed with Storage Headboard and Footboard, Floor-Low Platform Bed with Wooden Slats
The listing gives 86.2 x 61.4 x 35.4 in (L x W x H); 95.9 lb. We re-opened the page on September 30, 2026 and found these figures; other details are on the product page.
- Good for: comparing against the measurements in the guide above.
- 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.
IDEALHOUSE Queen Bed Frame with 2 Storage Drawers, Wooden Floor Bed Frame
The listing gives 81.1 x 61.42 x 10.24 in (L x W x H); 82 lb. We re-opened the page on September 30, 2026 and found these figures; other details are on the product page.
- Good for: comparing against the measurements in the guide above.
- 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.
Cieemine 5 Inch Low Queen Bed Frame, Bed Frame Queen Size Low Profile, Heavy Duty, Black
The listing gives 80 x 60 x 5 in (L x W x H); 3000 lb maximum weight (bullets). We re-opened the page on September 30, 2026 and found these figures; other details are on the product page.
- Good for: comparing against the measurements in the guide above.
- 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.
Sources checked
- IKEA US: MALM bed frame, white/Luröy, Queen
- IKEA US: MALM bed frame, white, Full
- Amerisleep: mattress sizes and dimensions chart
- Bolon Home: sofa bed dimensions
Specifications checked on September 30, 2026. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.
