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Quick answer
The three units are 42, 26 and 46.6 inches tall and take 1.7, 0.85 and 1.8 square feet of floor. A nightstand top is usually near the top of the mattress; with a 10 inch mattress on a 14 inch frame (24 inches) the 26 inch ZIWEI STAR shelf is the one whose top sits near that height. The 42 and 46.6 inch units are bookcases beside the bed, not nightstands, so a lamp sits on a lower shelf or on the top at head height. The ZIWEI STAR lists two AC outlets, a USB port and a Type C port; check the electrical details with the seller, and anchor tall units to the wall.
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.
| Product | Listed details | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Wood Bookshelf Nightstand Combo, Tall Nightstand with Bookshelf… | 15.7 x 15.7 x 42 in; 40 lb | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| Narrow Nightstand with 4-Tier Shelves, Small Side Table with Charging Station… | 7.9 x 15.4 x 26 in; 2 AC outlets | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| 6 Tier Bookshelf, 47-Inch Small Bookcase with 3 Fabric Storage Drawers (Mexin) | 11.4 x 22.8 x 46.6 in; 3 fabric drawers | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
Nightstand, bookshelf or both
A nightstand is a surface at mattress height, with a drawer or shelf. A bookshelf is a tall open unit. A combo gives a top at one height and shelves above or below it; the Anchor It campaign’s advice to anchor tall furniture to the wall applies to a narrow 42 to 47 inch unit as much as to a dresser, and the unit’s depth makes it easy to knock.
For nightstands without shelves, see night stands for bedroom.
Worked example: footprint and heights
This is our own arithmetic.
| Unit | Size (D × W × H) | Floor area | Height versus a 24 in mattress top |
|---|---|---|---|
| YAZIFIRSTLY combo | 15.7 × 15.7 × 42 in | 1.7 sq ft | 18 in above |
| ZIWEI STAR narrow shelf | 7.9 × 15.4 × 26 in | 0.85 sq ft | 2 in above |
| Mexin 6 tier bookcase | 11.4 × 22.8 × 46.6 in | 1.8 sq ft | 22.6 in above |
The mattress top of 24 inches comes from a 14 inch frame and a 10 inch mattress, an example. If your bed is higher, as in our bed frame high off ground guide, with a top at 34 inches, a 26 inch shelf is 8 inches below the mattress and a 42 inch unit is 8 inches above it.
Floor space. A 15.7 by 15.7 inch footprint is 246.5 square inches, or 1.7 square feet; the ZIWEI STAR footprint of 7.9 by 15.4 inches is 121.7 square inches, 0.85 square feet. Two of the YAZIFIRSTLY units, one on each side of a queen bed, take 31.4 inches of width, which on a 120 inch wall beside a 60 inch queen leaves 120 minus 60 minus 31.4, which is 28.6 inches in total, 14.3 inches on each side. That is enough for a bed against a wall in a small room but not for a walkway beside it.
Weight. The YAZIFIRSTLY unit weighs 40 pounds. The ZIWEI STAR and Mexin listings give no weight in the text we read.
What the listings say
YAZIFIRSTLY Solid Wood Bookshelf Nightstand Combo, Tall Nightstand with Bookshelf, Walnut (ASIN B0FTL6Z9YF). The table gives 15.7 by 15.7 by 42 inches, a weight of 40 pounds, a walnut color and a size row that reads “3 drawers”. The bullets say solid wood with a natural grain, a clutter-free side table with drawers for books and cups, silent gliding rails with recessed handles and tapered legs in a mid-century design. Best for: a wood nightstand with a bookshelf above. Watch out: the page shows many near-identical variants under the same title, so check the listing for the version in your cart; and the size row gives a drawer count.
ZIWEI STAR Narrow Nightstand with 4-Tier Shelves, Small Side Table with Charging Station, Skinny Nightstand with Bookshelf (ASIN B0DCW3X6KR). The table gives 7.9 by 15.4 by 26 inches, brown and one item. The bullets say engineered wood with a black square tube frame, a size of 15.4 by 7.9 by 26 inches for small spaces, a charging station with 2 AC outlets, a USB port and a Type C port that charge a phone, a lamp and a game console at once, and a four-tier bookshelf layout. Best for: a very narrow spot with charging. Watch out: the AC outlets and ports are electrical parts; the text we read gives no power rating or safety listing, so ask before you plug in a lamp and a console.
Mexin 6 Tier Bookshelf, 47 Inch Small Bookcase with 3 Fabric Storage Drawers (ASIN B0DHCYMZB8). The table gives 11.4 by 22.8 by 46.6 inches and engineered wood with a metal frame. The bullets, as in our dresser with bookshelf guide, give three fabric drawers and four open tiers. Best for: books and bins in a bedroom corner next to the bed. Watch out: it is a bookcase, not a nightstand; the top is 22.6 inches above a 24 inch mattress top.
How the three compare
| Listing | Style | Storage | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YAZIFIRSTLY | Solid wood combo | Drawers and shelf | None | 40 lb |
| ZIWEI STAR | Narrow 4-tier shelf | Open shelves | 2 AC, 1 USB, 1 Type C | Not stated |
| Mexin | 6-tier bookcase | 3 fabric drawers and shelves | None | Not stated |
How to choose
Decide the role. A nightstand at mattress height, or a bookcase beside the bed.
Check the height against your mattress. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress.
Check the depth. A 7.9 inch shelf is easy to knock; a 15.7 inch one takes more floor.
Plan the power. If a unit has outlets, plan where its cord goes.
Anchor it. Tall units beside a bed should be fixed to the wall.
Lamp, cord and reading position
A bedside unit has to hold a lamp and its cord. A top of 26 inches, as on the ZIWEI STAR, puts a lamp base near a 24 inch mattress top, so the lamp sits at head height when you lie down. A 42 inch top is above your head, which is fine for a wall-washing light and awkward for reading. If the unit has outlets, the cord that feeds it needs a path to the wall, and a plug strip behind the bed is another option. None of the three listings states a power rating for a lamp or a charger, so ask.
Wall mounting
Tall narrow units are less stable than wide ones, so anchoring to the wall is sensible, as the Anchor It campaign advises. A 15.7 by 15.7 inch unit, 42 inches tall, has a height to depth ratio of 2.7 (42 divided by 15.7); the ZIWEI STAR is 26 divided by 7.9, which is 3.3. A higher ratio means a unit tips more easily, so the narrow shelf is the one to anchor first.
Mistakes to avoid
Putting a lamp on a tall unit’s top. It sits above head height.
Ignoring the wall. Studs, not plaster, hold an anchor.
Plugging several devices into a small strip. Check the rating.
Buying a tall unit for a child’s room without anchoring it. Tip-over is the hazard the Anchor It campaign addresses.
When a different piece is better
For a plain nightstand, see night stands for bedroom. For a dresser with shelves, see dresser with bookshelf. For a bench at the foot, see end of bed seat.
A quick way to check a bedside unit before you buy is to mark its footprint on the floor with tape. A 15.7 inch square next to a bed leaves less room than it seems on paper, and a 7.9 inch deep shelf is easy to forget until you knock it. Stand beside the bed and reach for where the top would be; if you have to lean, the height is wrong for you.
If you plan to use the top for a lamp and a glass, add their weight to your estimate; none of the three listings states a weight limit for the top surface, so keep the load light and ask the seller if you need more.
Frequently asked questions
How tall should a nightstand be?
Near the top of the mattress; for a 24 inch mattress top, about 24 to 26 inches is our guideline. Measure yours.
Is a bedside bookshelf better than a nightstand?
It stores more in less floor space, and it is taller and easier to tip. Anchor it.
Can a bedside shelf have outlets?
The ZIWEI STAR lists two AC outlets, a USB port and a Type C port. Ask about the power rating.
How much floor does a narrow shelf take?
About 0.85 square feet for the ZIWEI STAR.
Is solid wood heavier?
The YAZIFIRSTLY weighs 40 pounds; the others state no weight.
Do I need to anchor a bedside bookshelf?
The Anchor It campaign advises anchoring tall furniture to the wall.
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.
Solid Wood Bookshelf Nightstand Combo, Tall Nightstand with Bookshelf (YAZIFIRSTLY)
- 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.
Narrow Nightstand with 4-Tier Shelves, Small Side Table with Charging Station (ZIWEI STAR)
- 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.
6 Tier Bookshelf, 47-Inch Small Bookcase with 3 Fabric Storage Drawers (Mexin)
- 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
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.
