Leather Ottoman Bench: Size, Storage and Seat Guide

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Choose a leather ottoman bench by its length against your bed. A leather ottoman bench is a low, padded bench with a lid that opens onto storage, used at the foot of a bed, in a hallway or as a footrest. The three benches here are 30 to 34 inches long and 13 to 15.7 inches deep, with seat heights of 13 to 15.7 inches. Only the AmasSmile listing uses the plain word leather in its fields; the SONGMICS and ABHENG listings say faux or synthetic leather. The SONGMICS lists 660 pounds and 24 gallons, the ABHENG lists 770 pounds and 76 liters, and the AmasSmile lists 150 pounds.

What a leather ottoman bench does

It does three jobs in a small room: a seat for pulling on socks, a footrest in front of a chair or sofa, and a hidden place for spare bedding, books or toys. A bench at the foot of the bed also hides the clutter you would otherwise leave on the floor. Leather and leather-look covers wipe clean, which helps in a house with pets or children.

It is not a coffee table with a hard top, and the padding on the lid is modest (1 inch of foam on the SONGMICS, 2 inches on the ABHENG). Do not expect the comfort of an armchair; it is a perch.

The three benches we compare

AmasSmile 34 inch folding leather storage bench

The AmasSmile bench is listed with leather on the top and an engineered wood frame, in black. The labels in the listing are mixed: the product line says “34 inches D by 13 inches W by 13 inches H”, while another field gives 33.86 by 12.99 by 12.99 inches. A bench this shape is long and shallow, so we read it as about 34 inches long, 13 inches deep and 13 inches tall; the “D” label looks swapped, so check the listing. The seat height field says 13 inches. The maximum weight recommendation is 150 pounds, the lowest of the three, so this is a footrest and light seat rather than a bench for two adults. The bullets say it folds flat and sets up in 30 seconds, and one bullet gives a capacity of 2 times 9.5 gallons without saying whether that is the whole box.

SONGMICS 30 inch folding storage ottoman bench

The SONGMICS bench is listed at 15 inches deep, 30 inches wide and 15 inches high, in coffee brown synthetic leather over MDF and engineered wood, weighing 13.7 pounds. The maximum weight recommendation is 660 pounds, and the bullets give 24 gallons (89 liters) of space. The lid is padded with high-resilience foam listed as 1 inch thick, the lid has metal corner guards, and the bench folds flat by removing a bottom panel. The size line says “without flipping lid”, which means the size is for the closed bench. It is the simplest pick for under-bed or closet storage when you fold it away.

ABHENG 31.5 inch storage ottoman bench with steel frame

The ABHENG bench is listed at 15.7 inches deep, 31.5 inches wide and 15.7 inches high, weighing 15.4 pounds, with an alloy steel frame, engineered wood and synthetic leather cover. The listing states a maximum weight recommendation of 770 pounds and a seat height of 15.7 inches. The bullets give a 76 liter storage compartment measuring 30 by 14.2 by 11 inches, a 2 inch insert foam and a six-step assembly with tools included. The listing does not describe a folding design, so plan on it staying set up. It has the highest weight recommendation of the three and a steel frame, which makes it the one to look at first if you will sit on the lid daily.

Length, depth and seat height

Three numbers decide how a bench fits.

Length

The three benches here are 30, 31.5 and about 34 inches long. A bench shorter than the bed looks tidy at the foot; a bench much longer than the bed sticks out past the frame.

Depth

Depth is the number that eats floor. The depths are 13, 15 and 15.7 inches, so the difference between the shallowest and the deepest is 15.7 minus 13, which equals 2.7 inches. In a narrow room, 2.7 inches can change whether a path stays open.

Seat height

Heights here run from 13 to 15.7 inches. Most people find a seat close to the height of their lower leg easiest to get on and off; if you struggle to stand up, a higher seat helps. The listings do not say whether the padded top is included in the height, so check.

Storage: what the numbers say

The SONGMICS lists 24 gallons and the ABHENG lists 76 liters. To compare them, convert the gallons: one US gallon is 3.785 liters, so 24 gal times 3.785 equals about 90.8 liters, which agrees with the 89 liters in the listing. So the ABHENG at 76 liters holds a little less than the SONGMICS at 89 liters, despite being more solid. For the AmasSmile, the figure of 2 times 9.5 gallons is unclear, so check the listing. The ABHENG listing says its compartment holds a blanket, four pillows and several books.

Leather, faux leather and care

The word leather covers real hides, bonded scraps and plastic coatings, and a listing can use it loosely. Two of these three say faux or synthetic leather. A synthetic cover wipes clean with a damp cloth and does not soak up spills. It can crack or peel at the edges and folds after years of use, and direct sun or heat will speed that up. Keep the bench a few feet from a radiator or a sunny window.

Never leave a damp cloth on it, and keep pets’ claws off it. If you want real leather, read the material field and the full description before buying; none of these three listings gives a clear statement that the top is full-grain hide.

Worked example: the foot of a queen bed

A queen mattress is 60 inches wide (about 60 by 80 inches, from a mattress size chart). The room is 130 inches long from the headboard wall to the opposite wall, and the bed is 80 inches long on its frame. We check each direction separately.

Width, across the foot of the bed:

• SONGMICS, 30 in long. 60 in minus 30 in equals 30 in of bed width not covered by the bench. This is a total, so on a centered bench there is 30 in divided by 2, which equals 15 in at each side.
• ABHENG, 31.5 in long. 60 in minus 31.5 in equals 28.5 in in total, so 28.5 in divided by 2 equals 14.25 in at each side.
• AmasSmile, about 34 in long. 60 in minus 34 in equals 26 in in total, so 26 in divided by 2 equals 13 in at each side.

All three fit inside the width of the bed, so none of them sticks out past the frame.

Length, from the bed to the far wall:

• The bed is 80 in long. 130 in minus 80 in equals 50 in of floor between the foot of the bed and the opposite wall.
• ABHENG, 15.7 in deep. 50 in minus 15.7 in equals 34.3 in left to walk.
• SONGMICS, 15 in deep. 50 in minus 15 in equals 35 in left.
• AmasSmile, 13 in deep. 50 in minus 13 in equals 37 in left.

Against a 36 inch walkway as a planning yardstick, the ABHENG at 34.3 in falls 1.7 in short (36 in minus 34.3 in equals 1.7 in), the SONGMICS falls 1 in short, and the AmasSmile leaves 1 in extra (37 in minus 36 in equals 1 in). In a room this tight, the folding benches can be folded and tucked away.

Using the lid as a seat

Check the maximum weight recommendation against the people who will use it. 150 pounds suggests a footrest or a seat for one light adult at a time; 660 and 770 pounds are comfortable for daily sitting. These are maker figures, so check the listing. Open the lid carefully, because a lid on a hinge can pinch fingers, and look for a lid support or a soft-close hinge in the listing.

Also think about weight when you load the box. A box packed with books is heavy, so put the heavy items at the bottom and the soft items on top.

Who should buy a leather ottoman bench

• Bedroom owners with a clear foot of bed and no storage.
• People with a small living room who need a footrest and a hidden box.
• Renters who want furniture that folds away at a move.

Who should skip it

• Anyone who wants a firm bench for two adults. The lightest listing is rated for 150 pounds.
• Owners of a sunny, hot room. Synthetic covers age faster in heat.
• People who need drawers. This is one open box under a lid.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Trusting the word leather. Read the material field.
• Reading the D and W labels literally. One listing labels depth and width in swapped order.
• Ignoring the walkway. Subtract the depth from the floor space before buying.
• Forgetting the lid swing. Leave room to open it.

Checklist before you buy

• Measure the width of the bed and the floor at its foot.
• Subtract the bench depth from the floor space.
• Check the maximum weight recommendation.
• Read the cover material field.
• Decide whether you want a folding bench or a fixed one.

Keep reading

These guides cover related picks and sizing checks for a small space.

• Bed Front Ottoman: Storage Bench Size Guide
• Leather End of Bed Bench: Size, Material and Storage
• End of Bed Seat: Storage Bench Size and Walkway

Frequently asked questions

How long should an ottoman bench be for a queen bed?

A queen bed is about 60 inches wide, so a bench of 30 to 34 inches fits inside the frame with 13 to 15 inches on each side if centered.

Is a leather ottoman bench real leather?

Not always. The SONGMICS and ABHENG listings say faux or synthetic leather, and the AmasSmile listing says leather without saying which kind. Read the material field.

How much weight can a storage ottoman bench hold?

The listings here say 150, 660 and 770 pounds. Those are maker figures, so check the listing before you sit on one.

Can I fold an ottoman bench flat?

The AmasSmile and SONGMICS listings describe a folding design. The ABHENG has a steel frame and does not describe folding.

How do I clean a leather-look bench?

Wipe it with a damp cloth and dry it. Keep it away from heat and direct sun, which age synthetic covers.

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.

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