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Headboard Plans
A wooden headboard that hangs on the wall: a plywood panel with a raised frame of stiles and rails on its face, a ledge on top for a phone or a book, and a French cleat behind that hooks onto a matching strip screwed to the wall studs. Because it hangs on the wall and not on the bed, it suits platform beds and adjustable beds too. Enter the mattress width, for a twin, full, queen or king bed, and the height to get the cut list. The headboard lifts off the wall without tools.
- Default size
- 1525 × 800 mm
- Parts
- 10 pieces · 6 sizes
- Sheets (2440 × 1220 mm (4 × 8 ft))
- 1 door + 1 carcass
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Build time
- About 4 hours
- Edge band
- 18.1 m
Cut list (default size)
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | Thick. | Board | Edges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel | 1 | 1585 | 800 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Stile | 2 | 800 | 80 | 18 | Door board 18 mm (wood look) | |
| Rail | 2 | 1425 | 80 | 18 | Door board 18 mm (wood look) |
Sizes in millimetres; length runs along the grain. Edges: bold lines are banded.
3 more parts, the sheet layout and the cut order are in the full plan.Resize it to any size, print labels and save it in a project.Sign in free to open it
How it is built
- Glue and pin the stiles and rails to the panel, keeping the outer edges flush, then sand the joints flat.
- Rip one strip at 45° for the French cleat: screw one half to the back of the panel near the top and the other to the wall studs, level.
- Hang the headboard so its bottom edge sits about 100 mm (4 in) below the top of the mattress.
Common mistakes
- Screwing the wall cleat into drywall only: it pulls out. Find the studs.
- Making the headboard the exact mattress width: bedding hangs over the edges. Add 25–50 mm each side.
Tools you need
- Circular saw with a guide or table saw
- Drill/driver
- Level
- Stud finder
Frequently asked questions
How wide should a headboard be?
As wide as the mattress plus 25–50 mm (1–2 in) on each side: about 40 in for a twin, 56 in for a full, 62 in for a queen and 78 in for a king. The plan adds 30 mm on each side of the mattress width you enter.
How tall should a wall-mounted headboard be?
A panel 600–900 mm (24–36 in) tall, hung so its bottom edge sits about 100 mm (4 in) below the top of the mattress, puts the top 1.2–1.4 m (48–56 in) off the floor.
Can I make it upholstered?
Yes: leave out the frame, glue 50 mm (2 in) foam to the panel, then stretch fabric or batting round it and staple it to the back. Add buttons through drilled holes for a tufted look.
How do I mount a headboard on the wall?
With a French cleat: rip one strip at 45°, screw one half to the back of the headboard and the other to at least two wall studs, bevels facing each other. The headboard lifts on and off.
