Under Bed Storage Ideas: 5 Types and the Beds They Fit
Storage under the bed works when the container matches your clearance and floor. Here are five types, who each one fits and which to buy first.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
- Time
- 30 min
- Cost
- $20-$50
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
Measure the gap from the floor to the lowest part of your bed first. A very low gap suits flat fabric bags, a medium gap suits rolling drawers, a tall gap suits lidded bins, and a bed with almost no gap needs risers. Rolling drawers are the best all-round buy. And yes, storage under a bed is fine if you keep it dry and dusted.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
A suitcase and boxes you already own
- Slide an empty suitcase under the bed and fill it with off-season clothes
- Use shoe boxes or flat cardboard boxes for small items
- Wrap them in old sheets so lint stays off
- Keep the front edge clear so you can reach
How long it lasts: Fine for a season. It works, but you bend down and dig, and nothing rolls.
Rolling under-bed storage drawers
Wheels glide the load out instead of making you drag a box across the floor, and a low, wide shape uses the full width of the bed. A lid keeps dust off, and a handle at the end means you do not have to kneel.
How long it lasts: Years. They roll out with one hand and sit flush under the frame.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What you'll need
-
Tape measure
For the gap under the frame
You have it -
Empty suitcase or boxes
Test how the space works before you buy
Free - Our pick Illustration
Rolling under-bed storage drawers
Check the listed height against your gap
- Illustration
Zippered under-bed storage bags
For low or uneven gaps
- Illustration
Heavy-duty bed risers
Only if your gap is too small for anything
Why it happens
Containers too tall for the gap
A box that grazes the frame will not slide, and guessing the height wastes a purchase. The lowest part of the bed, not the middle, sets the limit.
The wrong wheels for the floor
Wheels roll well on hardwood or tile but can drag on thick carpet, which makes a heavy drawer hard to pull.
Things pushed out of reach
Boxes slid to the middle become lost. The space fills with items nobody ever pulls out.
The wrong container for the contents
Hard items in soft bags get crushed, and damp items in a sealed bin turn musty. The container has to suit what goes in it.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
1. Measure the gap
Tool used: Tape measureMeasure from the floor to the lowest part of the frame, including any center rail, then measure how far in you can reach. Note whether the floor is carpet or hard.
-
2. Choose what goes under
Good fits are off-season clothes, spare linens, shoes and board games. Poor fits are food, damp items, open liquids and anything flammable, such as aerosols or paint thinner.
-
3. Try free containers first
Tool used: Empty suitcase or boxesUse an empty suitcase, flat shoe boxes or a shallow lidded box. Test how each one slides and how often you actually reach for it.
-
4. Label the end that faces out
Put a short label or a colored tag on the front end of each container, so you pull the right one the first time.
-
5. Upgrade the setup that works
Tool used: Rolling under-bed storage drawersIf the free setup works but is a hassle to pull out, rolling drawers are the next step. Match the drawer's height to your measurement and leave half an inch to spare.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Rolling under-bed storage drawers · Check the listed height against your gap
When free fixes aren't enough
A suitcase and boxes work, but you drag them, kneel to reach and forget what is in them. If you reach under the bed more than once a month, rolling drawers will save you the hassle. If your bed is so low that nothing fits, bed risers raise the frame by a few inches. Check their weight rating against you, your partner, the mattress and the frame together.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Rolling under-bed storage drawers | hard-to-reach, dusty, dragged-out boxes under the bed | Anyone with a hard floor or low-pile carpet and a medium gap under a standard frame. | Check price |
| Budget pick | Zippered under-bed storage bags | low beds and uneven gaps where rigid boxes will not slide | Beds with a low or odd gap, or anyone storing clothes and linens on a budget. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Heavy-duty bed risers | a bed that sits too low for any container | Beds with legs and a low gap, where you want a deeper space. | Check price |
Rolling under-bed storage drawers
Fixes: hard-to-reach, dusty, dragged-out boxes under the bed
Look for: A height at least half an inch below your measured gap; Wheels or glides that suit your floor, hard or carpet; A lid or a sliding front to keep dust out; A handle on the end, so you can pull it with one hand.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a hard floor or low-pile carpet and a medium gap under a standard frame.
- Honest downside
- Your bed has a center rail or legs closer together than the drawers are wide, or you have thick carpet that stops the wheels.
Zippered under-bed storage bags
Fixes: low beds and uneven gaps where rigid boxes will not slide
Look for: Breathable fabric with a firm top; Handles that bear the load; A height below your gap.
- Who it's for
- Beds with a low or odd gap, or anyone storing clothes and linens on a budget.
- Honest downside
- You store heavy or hard items that would crush a soft bag. Use a bin instead.
Heavy-duty bed risers
Fixes: a bed that sits too low for any container
Look for: A weight rating well above you, your partner, the mattress and the frame combined; A wide, stable base with a cup or slot that holds the bed leg; A height that fits the storage you plan to use; Non-slip pads that protect the floor.
- Who it's for
- Beds with legs and a low gap, where you want a deeper space.
- Honest downside
- Your bed is a bunk, loft or platform with no legs, or the frame already wobbles. Check the frame maker first.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.
How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on bedroom organizing guides, bed frame and riser maker weight guidance, and the fit and clearance problems owners report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.
The 5 types and the beds they fit
- Rolling drawers: the best all-rounder for a standard frame with a medium gap, on hard floors or low-pile carpet.
- Zippered fabric bags: for low, odd or uneven gaps. Soft, so they slide where rigid boxes cannot.
- Lidded bins: for a taller gap and for hard or heavy items such as shoes and books.
- Bed risers plus bins: for a bed with legs and too little room. They add height, and the bins do the storing.
- Built-in drawers or a lift-up bed: a full replacement for a new frame. Costly, so try the other four first.
What not to keep under a bed
Skip food and anything with a strong smell. Skip damp towels or clothes, and anything flammable or that can leak. Do not keep things you might need fast, like a first-aid kit or a flashlight, behind two layers of boxes.
What to skip
Stacked random boxes, and food
Loose boxes piled two or three deep block the way to everything. Keep one layer of labeled containers, and add risers if you need more room. Skip food entirely, since it can draw pests.
Frequently asked questions
Is it good to have storage under your bed?
How do I store things under my bed?
How much room do rolling drawers need?
Are bed risers safe?
Related problems
Free fix inside Small Spaces & Storage · Under-Bed Storage
Under Bed Storage for a Very Low Bed: Slim Bins That Still Slide In
Read the fix
Free fix inside Small Spaces & Storage · Bed Height
How to Raise a Bed for Storage Underneath (No New Frame Needed)
Read the fix
Free fix inside Small Spaces & Storage · Under-Bed Storage
Under Bed Storage With No Dust: Zippered and Lidded Options
Read the fix
Free fix inside Small Spaces & Storage · Under-Bed Storage
Under Bed Storage That's Not Ugly: Woven and Fabric Picks
Read the fixAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure