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Quick answer
A king mattress is 76 by 80 inches, and the three headboards below are 76 to 78.8 inches wide and 23 to 50 inches tall. A solid wood one weighs about 45 pounds and bolts to a frame that has headboard holes; a cushion type needs no tools and rests between the mattress and the base. Check the frame before you order: the two solid wood listings say they suit most standard metal frames that take a mattress and foundation or box spring, not every frame.
King and California king: do not mix them
| Size | Mattress width | Mattress length |
|---|---|---|
| King | 76 in | 80 in |
| California king | 72 in | 84 in |
Amerisleep lists both. A king headboard is 4 inches wider than a California king mattress (76 minus 72), so a king headboard on a California king bed hangs 2 inches past each side, and a California king headboard on a king bed leaves 2 inches bare on each side. Look at our California king bed frame guide if you have that size.
Width: how much wider than the mattress?
The headboard width minus the mattress width tells you how it sits.
- AFI Canyon: 78.8 inches, which is 2.8 inches wider than a 76 inch king (78.8 minus 76).
- AFI Portland: 78.63 inches, 2.63 inches wider.
- Liiwepo mattress-mounted: 76 inches, the same width.
A headboard 2.6 to 2.8 inches wider hangs about 1.3 to 1.4 inches past each side of the mattress, which is a common look for a wood headboard with a frame. The same-width cushion lines up with the mattress edge.
Worked example: height above the mattress
Say the mattress top is 24 inches above the floor (an assumption, so measure yours). The Canyon is 49 inches tall and the Portland is 50 inches tall, so they stand 49 minus 24, which is 25 inches, and 50 minus 24, which is 26 inches above the mattress if the headboard stands on the floor. Frame height changes this: a headboard that bolts to a tall frame sits higher, so measure from the floor to where the bottom of the headboard will be.
The Liiwepo is 23 inches tall and rests against the mattress, so its visible height depends on how far it sits above the mattress, which the listing does not state. So the wood ones show about 25 to 26 inches above a 24 inch mattress, and the cushion shows at most 23 inches.
Frame compatibility: the part that goes wrong
The two AFI listings say the headboard is crafted for use with most metal bed frames that accommodate a mattress and foundation or box spring, and that it ships in one box with the tools. Neither lists the hole spacing. A frame that is made for a headboard should list “headboard holes”: the 20 inch King metal frame we opened for our other guides lists headboard holes in its table. If your frame does not, a mattress-mounted cushion or a wall-mounted headboard avoids the problem.
Weight: floor or wall?
The Canyon is 45.6 pounds. The Portland’s table says 1 pound, which is plainly wrong for a solid wood king headboard, so we would not rely on it; the bullets give an assembled size of 5.25 inches deep, 78.63 wide and 50 high. The Liiwepo is 12 pounds. A headboard that stands on the floor and bolts to a frame carries its own weight; one that hangs on a wall must be fixed to studs or anchors rated for it, and a 45.6 pound panel is a heavy hang.
Three king headboards read on 2026-10-01
We have not tested these. The numbers are from the Amazon measurement tables and bullets. The two AFI listings show “cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location” from Vietnam, so their cart buttons are hidden; that is a shipping limit from where we opened them.
AFI Canyon king solid wood rustic farmhouse headboard, walnut. The table gives a size of King (US standard), 78.8 inches wide, 49 high, 1.96 deep and 45.6 pounds. The bullets give chevron wood carvings, solid wood, frame compatibility with most standard metal frames and delivery in one box. Best for: a tall, heavy headboard on a metal frame. Watch out: it is the tallest of the three at 49 inches and the thinnest at 1.96 inches deep.
AFI Portland king sleigh solid wood panel headboard, walnut. The table gives a size of King (US standard) and 78.63 inches wide and 50 high; the bullets give an assembled size of 5.25 by 78.63 by 50 inches, a curved sleigh panel and solid hardwood. The table also gives a weight of 1 pound and a height of 44.25 inches in one line, so the table disagrees with the bullets. Best for: a classic curved look. Watch out: the weight and height conflicts; use the bullets.
Liiwepo king headboard, mattress-mounted, beige. The table gives 76 inches wide, 23 high, 5 inches deep and 12 pounds. The bullets give no assembly, 72 hours to restore its shape, two metal frames for various mattresses and frames, position adjustment to mattress thickness and a 5 inch thick lumbar support. Best for: a bed with no headboard holes or a renter. Watch out: at 23 inches it is much shorter than the wood ones, and it is exactly the mattress width.
How the three compare
| Listing | Width | Height | Depth | Weight | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFI Canyon | 78.8 in | 49 in | 1.96 in | 45.6 lb | Bolts to a metal frame |
| AFI Portland | 78.63 in | 50 in | 5.25 in | Table says 1 lb | Bolts to a metal frame |
| Liiwepo | 76 in | 23 in | 5 in | 12 lb | Rests against the mattress |
How much wall does it need?
A king headboard that is 78.8 inches wide needs at least that much wall. With a night stand of 15.3 inches on each side (the width of the night stands in our night stands for the bedroom guide), the run is 78.8 plus 2 times 15.3, which is 109.4 inches, or about 9.1 feet. With the 76 inch cushion the run is 76 plus 30.6, which is 106.6 inches. Add 24 inches of walking room on each side if the bed is not against a wall, as Amerisleep advises, and the room needs to be at least 109.4 plus 48, which is 157.4 inches, or about 13.1 feet wide. Measure the wall before you choose a headboard that is wider than the mattress.
Mistakes to avoid
Ordering without checking the frame. The two wood listings suit “most” metal frames, not all.
Buying a king headboard for a California king. It is 4 inches too wide.
Trusting a weight of 1 pound. The Portland table is wrong.
Hanging a heavy headboard on tape. A 45.6 pound panel needs fixings rated for it.
Forgetting the height. Measure from the floor to the point where the headboard will start.
When you may not need a separate headboard
If you are replacing the frame too, a king frame with a built-in headboard saves the matching step; see our king size bed frame guide. For a smaller bed see the headboards for queen beds guide. If you want storage, a frame with drawers or a storage headboard may add more than a plain panel.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is a king size headboard?
The three we read are 76, 78.63 and 78.8 inches wide, against a 76 inch king mattress per Amerisleep.
How tall is a king size headboard?
The three we read are 23, 49 and 50 inches tall. The tall ones are solid wood and the 23 inch one is a cushion.
Will a king headboard fit my frame?
The two AFI listings say they suit most metal frames that accommodate a mattress and foundation or box spring. Check that your frame has headboard holes.
Can a king headboard go on a California king bed?
It will fit the bolts only if the holes match, and it will be 4 inches wider than the mattress. A California king headboard is the better choice.
How much does a king headboard weigh?
The Canyon is 45.6 pounds and the Liiwepo is 12 pounds. The Portland’s table says 1 pound, which is not credible.
Products (for Claude)
| ASIN | Name as on the listing | Two numbers from the listing | Listing URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| B0CNY27RTK | AFI, Canyon King Solid Wood Rustic Farmhouse Headboard, Walnut | 78.8 x 49 in (W x H); 45.6 lb | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNY27RTK |
| B00GY0DP7A | AFI, Portland King Sleigh Solid Wood Panel Headboard, Walnut | 78.63 x 50 in (W x H) | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GY0DP7A |
| B0FVF4JCS1 | King Size Headboard Only-No Assembly Required, Beige | 76 x 23 in (W x H); 12 lb | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVF4JCS1 |
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.
AFI, Canyon King Solid Wood Rustic Farmhouse Headboard, Walnut
The listing gives 78.8 x 49 in (W x H); 45.6 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.
AFI, Portland King Sleigh Solid Wood Panel Headboard, Walnut
The listing gives 78.63 x 50 in (W x H). 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.
King Size Headboard Only-No Assembly Required, Beige
The listing gives 76 x 23 in (W x H); 12 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.
Sources checked
Specifications checked on September 30, 2026. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.
