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Quick answer
A twin XL mattress is 38 by 80 inches per Amerisleep, with a suggested room of about 9.5 by 10.5 feet (99.75 square feet). The three frames are 79.5 by 37.5 by 14 inches (SHOANED, with headboard, 2,000 pounds), 79.5 by 37.6 by 37.4 inches (SHINEERA, with headboard and footboard, 2,000 pounds) and 79.6 by 37.6 by 10 inches (Richwanone, no headboard on that version). With an 8 inch mattress the tops are 22 inches for the SHOANED and 18 inches for the Richwanone; the SHINEERA’s table height of 37.4 inches is the headboard, and its frame height is not given. A frame takes about 21 percent of the suggested room.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SHOANED Metal Bed Frame with Headboard – 14 Inch Twin XL Size Heavy Duty… | 79.5 x 37.5 x 14 in; 2,000 lb | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| SHINEERA 14 Inch Twin XL Bed Frame with Headboard and Footboard, Metal | 79.5 x 37.6 x 37.4 in; 2,000 lb | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
| Richwanone 10 Inch Twin XL Bed Frames Metal Platform Bed, Black | 79.6 x 37.6 x 10 in (bullets) | See details on Amazon Affiliate link |
Need a desk too? Several in our small-space computer desk guide fold away.
What a dorm needs
The right mattress size. Twin XL, 38 by 80, per Amerisleep, which lists it for college dorms.
A frame that fits. 79.5 to 80 inches long and 37.5 to 38 wide.
Height that fits your plans. Under-bed storage needs clearance; a low bed leaves more room above.
School rules. Some schools restrict height, lofting or the use of a bed frame; ask yours.
Worked example: floor share and height
This is our own arithmetic.
- Floor. A frame of 79.5 by 37.5 inches is 2,981 square inches, or 20.7 square feet. In the 99.75 square foot room Amerisleep suggests, that is 20.7 divided by 99.75, which is 20.8 percent.
- Height. With an 8 inch mattress (an example), the SHOANED frame puts the top at 14 plus 8, which is 22 inches; the Richwanone at 10 plus 8, which is 18 inches. The SHINEERA’s table height of 37.4 inches is the headboard, not the frame.
- Mattress fit. The frames are 79.5 to 79.6 by 37.5 to 37.6 inches against an 80 by 38 mattress, which is 0.4 to 0.5 inch smaller in each direction, as for the steel frames in our bed frame too big for mattress guide.
What the listings say
SHOANED Metal Bed Frame with Headboard, 14 Inch Twin XL Size Heavy Duty Bedframe, Black (ASIN B0DSL4292R). The table gives metal, a metal headboard, compatibility with twin XL, a rating of 2,000 pounds and 79.5 by 37.5 by 14 inches. The bullets say noise-free construction, six reinforced legs with steel slats, easy assembly with tools and no box spring needed. Best for: a twin XL with a built-in headboard at a normal height. Watch out: the 14 inch height is the frame; the headboard height is not given.
SHINEERA 14 Inch Twin XL Bed Frame with Headboard and Footboard, Metal (ASIN B0GYX9PWSD). The table gives metal, a metal headboard, compatibility with twin XL (80 by 38), a rating of 2,000 pounds and 79.5 by 37.6 by 37.4 inches. The bullets say a noise-free heavy-duty frame with six reinforced steel legs, labeled parts and quick-lock slats for easy assembly, steel slats with no box spring needed and an integrated headboard and footboard that stop the mattress sliding. Best for: a mattress that stays put. Watch out: the footboard can be in the way at the foot of a small room.
Richwanone 10 Inch Twin XL Bed Frames Metal Platform Bed, Black (ASIN B0C147VC3X). The table gives metal and steel, a comparison grid that shows a headboard and footboard for only one of several versions and a stated size in the bullets of 79.6 by 37.6 by 10 inches for an 80 by 38 mattress. The bullets say noise-free construction, reinforced steel slats and tools, parts and instructions in the box. Best for: the lowest frame. Watch out: no headboard on this version, and a rating that is cut off in the text we read.
How the three compare
| Listing | Headboard | Footboard | Height | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHOANED | Yes (metal) | No | 14 in | 2,000 lb |
| SHINEERA | Yes (metal) | Yes | 37.4 in overall | 2,000 lb |
| Richwanone | No | No | 10 in | Cut off in the text we read |
How to choose
Check the school’s rules. Height limits, bed risers and lofting are the usual ones.
Choose headboard or not. A headboard helps for sitting up against; it adds weight and a tall piece to carry.
Think about storage. A 10 inch frame has little; a 14 inch frame some.
Plan the move. Dorm moves happen in a day; a frame with labeled parts and tools in the box, as the SHINEERA says, goes together faster.
A move-in day checklist
A dorm move is quick, so prepare. Measure the room and the allowed bed height beforehand. Confirm the mattress size, twin XL, with the school. Check that the frame’s carton fits the car. Bring the tool that comes with the frame, plus a second screwdriver. Assemble the frame before you put on the mattress, and test the slats and legs by pressing on them. Keep the spare screws in a bag in the carton.
Frame, risers or loft
Some students raise the bed with risers to fit storage underneath. A frame that is 14 inches tall, as the SHOANED and SHINEERA frames are, already gives clearance, and the listings do not state the clearance, so measure it. Lofting a bed is a separate decision and many schools restrict it; check the housing rules before you buy hardware. The frames here are not described by their sellers as loftable.
Headboard or not
A headboard is a back to lean on. The SHOANED and SHINEERA have one, and the SHINEERA also has a footboard that stops the mattress sliding down. In a small room, a footboard takes up the space where you might put a suitcase. A wall-mounted headboard is an alternative; see headboards for queen beds, which covers mounting types that apply at any width.
Mistakes to avoid
Buying twin when the dorm needs twin XL. Confirm the mattress size.
Ignoring the footboard. It adds to the bed’s length in a small room.
Assuming rules. Schools differ; ask.
Forgetting to measure the room. Use the 20.8 percent figure with your own room.
Two beds in a room
A shared dorm room has two twin XL beds. Two frames of 79.5 by 37.5 inches take 41.4 square feet, which is 41.5 percent of a 99.75 square foot room (41.4 divided by 99.75). That leaves 58 square feet for desks, wardrobes and walking, which is why dorm beds are often raised or placed end to end. If your room is shared, check the layout with your roommate before you buy a frame with a footboard, which makes the bed longer in a tight space.
Storage under the bed
A 14 inch frame leaves about 12 inches of clearance in the yookare listing’s pattern (12.4 inches under 14); the SHOANED and SHINEERA listings give no figure, so measure. Dorm storage is mostly flat bins and a suitcase, which fit in 10 to 12 inches. A 10 inch frame, like the Richwanone, leaves only about 8 inches, which is enough for flat bins only, and the listing gives no figure.
When a different frame is better
For twin XL frames without a headboard, see extra long single bed frame. For a loft, see loft beds for kids, and check your school before lofting. For space-saving options, see space saving bed frame.
Finally, ask your school what it provides. Many dorms supply a bed and a mattress, and a frame is optional, so the real question may be whether you need one at all. If the school’s bed is fixed and you only want to raise it, a different product from a frame is called for, and the rules for risers differ. We cannot check the rules for your school, and we would ask the housing office before spending on hardware.
If your school allows a frame, pick the height that fits the storage you will use and the bed you will sleep on, not the tallest on offer; a lower bed leaves more room for a desk chair.
Frequently asked questions
What size bed is in a dorm?
Usually twin XL, 38 by 80 inches, per Amerisleep.
Can I bring my own bed frame to a dorm?
Check the school’s rules; we cannot.
How tall is a dorm bed frame?
The three above are 10 to 14 inches, and the SHINEERA is 37.4 inches overall with its headboard.
How much of a dorm room does a twin XL bed take?
About 21 percent of a 9.5 by 10.5 foot room.
Do dorm frames need a box spring?
The listings say no box spring is needed.
How heavy are they?
The listings in the text we read give no weights.
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.
SHOANED Metal Bed Frame with Headboard – 14 Inch Twin XL Size Heavy Duty Bedframe, Black
- 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.
SHINEERA 14 Inch Twin XL Bed Frame with Headboard and Footboard, Metal
- 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.
Richwanone 10 Inch Twin XL Bed Frames Metal Platform Bed, Black
- 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.
