King Size 2 x 4 Bed Frame

This design was inspired by the need of a frame for a king size bed that could hold a lot of weight, but would not break the bank. It may not win any contests in Home and Garden, but it looks no worse than a wooden futon frame.

Our bed design boasts the following:

1. Holds a lot of weight.
2. Costs less than $200 CND
3. Uses common materials. 2 x 4’s and ½” PVC pluming pipe
4. Easily dismantled, moved and rebuilt by a single person
5. No screws or fasteners are necessary.
6. No fancy tools required.
7. Can be built in a day.
8. You can change the height of the bed easily and cheaply at a later date by adding new blocks.

Materials list:

1. One 10’ length of ½“ PVC plumbing pipe. (Not the stuff that comes in rolls!) Copper pipe or anything with a 5/8” diameter and stiff enough can be used.
2. Sixteen 8’ two by fours. I used spruce studs for cost savings, but you can use cedar ones used for fencing for less warping.

Tools List:

1. 1. Hack saw
2. 2. Power drill
3. 3. 5/8” drill bit or spade bit
4. 4. Circular saw
5. 5. Straight edge, pencil and measuring tape

For a King Size bed is 76” wide x 80” long, do the following:

1. cut 3 of the 2 x 4’s to 80”

2. in 2 drill 3 holes straight through as per diagram

3. in the third, just drill the two end holes for now.

3. cut 13 of the 2 x 4’s to 76”

4. in 2, drill 3 holes straight through as per diagram.

5. in a third, just drill the two end holes for now.

6. With the end bits from the 2 x 4’s , cut them every 3.5 “ to create 3.5” x 3.5” x 1.5“ blocks. You will need 36 blocks.

7. Drill a 5/8” hole through each block in the center.

8. Cut 9 lengths of the ½” PVC pipe to 9”. Stack 4 of the blocks and insert the 9” length of pipe to make a leg. Make 8 more.

9. Build as per next diagram. Note that there is no ninth leg in the middle yet.

10. Square the frame. Drill one 5/8” hole in the middle of the bed where the boards cross. The 9^th leg will go there. Insert 9^th leg in the center now.

11. Place first board 6.375” measured on the centers from the headboard. Drill a 5/8” hole through the top board and half way into the frame board below. See cross-sectional diagram below. Insert a 2.2” piece of the PVC pipe into the hole(s) to secure it. Do the same on the other side of the board.

12. Repeat for the other 9 boards.

This site is: Try our Services

Home  |   Search  |   |  About Send this page to a friend Click here

In memory of Puddertat

& Molly