Bedside Table Size Guide: How to Get the Height and Width Right

Your bedside table is one of the first things you reach for when you are half-awake, which is why a few centimetres can make a surprising difference. Too low, and you are reaching down for your phone or water. Too high, and the table can crowd the pillows or feel oversized beside the bed.

Start with the finished mattress height, including any topper. From there, choose a width that holds what you actually keep overnight and a depth that leaves enough room to move comfortably beside the bed. Matching tables are optional; easy reach and a workable room matter more.

Compare the options

Set height from the mattress top

As a practical starting point, aim for the table top to sit near the mattress surface. A few centimetres either way can work depending on the user's reach and the items kept there. Thick toppers can change the result, so measure the finished bed.

Sit and lie in the normal sleeping position. Reach for a book or glass at the proposed height. This physical test is more useful than a generic number.

Leave breathing room at the side

Measure the available gap, then subtract space for curtains, door trim, switches and making the bed. A table should not rub the mattress or prevent bedding from falling naturally.

Two tables do not need to match if the room is asymmetrical. One side may need a narrow surface while the other can carry drawers and a lamp.

Choose width from what must live there

List the permanent items: lamp, phone, water, book, medication or glasses. Arrange them on a piece of cardboard cut to the proposed tabletop size. If items overlap, increase the width or move charging and storage elsewhere.

A 40 cm-wide open shelf can feel lighter than a 50 cm-wide two-drawer table, but exposed storage needs tidier habits.

Check depth and opening space

Deep tables can project into the walkway even when their width fits. Mark the footprint and open every nearby door and drawer. Include handles and the depth of power plugs behind the cabinet.

Drawers should open while someone is standing beside the bed. If not, an open shelf or doorless cubby may work better. Use any supplied wall mount or anti-tip kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions, particularly in children’s rooms. 

Compare real examples

The Good Buyz examples below range from 55 cm to 62.5 cm high and from 30 cm to 40 cm deep. That seven-and-a-half-centimetre height difference is noticeable beside a bed. Use it as a reminder to compare all three dimensions, not as a universal recommendation.

Relevant Good Buyz examples

These products were selected because their verified specifications help explain the decision. Their product pages were live in the Good Buyz catalogue when checked; stock availability can change.

Artiss 2x Bedside Table 2 Drawers Beige

Artiss 2x Bedside Table 2 Drawers Beige. Each table is listed at 50 × 40 × 55 cm, with a 20 kg tabletop limit and two drawers rated at 5 kg each. The 40 cm depth needs to be tested against the bedside walkway. 

Artiss 2x Bedside Table 3 Drawers THYME White

Artiss 2x Bedside Table 3 Drawers THYME White. At 45 × 30 × 62.5 cm, this Paulownia-wood and MDF example is narrower and shallower but notably taller. It arrives assembled and includes a wall mount. Test the height beside the finished mattress rather than assuming it suits every high bed. 

Artiss 2x Bedside Table 2 Shelves ARCHED White

Artiss 2x Bedside Table 2 Shelves ARCHED White. The listed 40 × 31 × 55 cm table has two open shelves rated at 10 kg each and a 20 kg tabletop capacity. Its open design reduces visual bulk, provided visible storage suits the household’s habits. 

Make the final choice

Measure from the floor to the finished mattress, mock up the tabletop and keep the walkway usable. Height should support an easy reach; width and depth should earn their place through useful surface or storage.

 

Next step: browse bedside furniture at Good Buyz