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How to Design a Bed Box for a Metal Bed Frame with the ST Mechanism?

  • added: 13-01-2026

A well-designed bed box is the key to long-lasting durability, not only for the whole construction but also for the metal bed frame. In this article we'll show you how to build a solid bed box using products from our range.

Please note these are just guidelines for people with no experience in bed building.

Note: these guidelines apply to metal bed frames with the ST lifting mechanism for 24 or 48 slats (named SIDE or BOX). They do not apply to the MULTIBOX product, which uses a different lifting mechanism. We described the differences in the article: BOX vs MULTIBOX?

Building the box step by step

1 Box dimensions
Before you start – why the difference in dimensions?
The dimensions given below include an extra margin. The dimensions in each product's description are the MINIMUM values — the smallest that can be used. We use a slightly larger box for easier assembly, which may require spacers or shims between the lifting mechanism and the bed frame.

We use furniture board 18 mm thick — the thicker, the better.

Internal box dimensions:

  • Width: 820 / 920 / 1020 / 1220 / 1420 / 1620 / 1820 / 2020 mm (depending on mattress size)
  • Length: 2020 mm
  • Height: 400 mm

To bolt and reinforce the box, we recommend:

2 Bed frame supports

Single bed frames (80 / 90 / 100×200 cm) need 4 supports (at the corners), while double bed frames (120–200×200 cm) need 5 supports (at the corners and under the centre beam).

Example accessories for a double bed frame:

Alternatively, you can use angle brackets.

Reinforcing the centre beam

We recommend dividing the box into two chambers and resting the bed frame on the board. You can use:

If the box is not divided into chambers, extra reinforcement is required, along with an adjustable support leg for the beam.

Bed supports - bracket and reinforcement layout
3 Drilling for the lifting mechanism
Important — note this when building the box: product descriptions list the smaller, minimum box dimensions (e.g. for a 160×200 BOX bed frame, the minimum is 160×201 cm). In this project we used a larger box, 162×202 cm — this requires spacers or shims between the mechanism and the bed board. The drilling distances below apply to this larger box.

Correctly designing the holes and mounting the mechanism is essential. We recommend using upholstery insert nuts instead of screws.

Drilling distances for the box designed in this article:

Bed frame lifted from the foot end

Drilling for the ST mechanism - lifted from the foot end

Bed frame lifted from the side

Drilling for the ST mechanism - lifted from the side
4 Matching gas struts to the mattress

Choosing gas struts depends on the mattress weight and thickness. We recommend using our calculator: How to Choose the Right Gas Struts for a Bed Frame | Calculator

Note:
  • Do not try to close the gas struts without the mattress load.
  • Mount the struts with the thicker part facing up.

Following the steps above, you'll build a solid bed box that will serve you for years to come.

Got your box design ready? Choose a bed frame with the ST mechanism and mounting accessories:

See bed frames →