If you’ve recently bought or are thinking about buying an adjustable bed, then you might be wondering if you can attach a headboard to an adjustable bed.
Most adjustable beds provided by high profile brands will allow you to attach a headboard to the adjustable base via a headboard bracket that may be included with your adjustable bed or available to purchase separately. However, you need to ensure that the bracket is compatible with your headboard.
The rest of this article shows you how to attach a headboard to an adjustable bed frame in 7 steps and includes specific video examples for brands like Tempurpedic and Serta.
Alternatively: if you’re in need of a new adjustable bed then check out the Puffy Adjustable Base in my list of the best adjustable beds because it comes with a universal headboard attachment that works with nearly every headboard.
How to Attach a Headboard to an Adjustable Bed
The exact methodology for attaching a headboard to an adjustable frame will vary depending on the manufacturer of the adjustable base, the headboard attachment kit, and the headboard itself.
However, the 7 steps below provide a general framework that should hold for most headboard attachment processes.
If you need a visual guide, then I recommend taking a look at the video below that shows you how to attach a headboard to the Leggett & Platt Prodigy Adjustable Base because the steps and process can be extrapolated very well:
1: Check the Bed Frame For a Headboard Bracket
Not all adjustable beds come with headboard brackets included/attached (although many do) – it will depend on the manufacturer of the adjustable base.
So the first step is to check your adjustable bed frame to see if it has brackets already attached, if they are included in the set-up kit, or if you’ll need to buy them separately (see step 3).
If there’s no headboard attachment included, you should check the frame to see if the base is able to be fitted with a separate headboard bracket – check the instructions to find out the types/names of the compatible brackets.
2: Check the Headboard Mount
Take a look at your headboard to see which type of attachment it has for connecting to the adjustable bed frame – you will either see a ‘bolt-on’ or ‘hook-on’ option.
A bolt-on design typically has drilled holes, whilst the hook-on has slits where the hooks can be attached.
Most headboard mounting holes will allow you to pass a bolt through the holes and attach it to the headboard bracket on the adjustable frame.
What you’re looking for is compatibility between the attachment capacity of the base and the headboard – such as having the same diameter holes that will allow you to attach the headboard to the base securely with the same sized bolt.
Some of the best adjustable bed bases like the Puffy Adjustable Base come with a universal headboard attachment that should fit nearly all headboard types.
3: Buy Compatible Headboard Brackets if Required
If your adjustable base doesn’t come with a headboard bracket included, then you should check the instructions to see which type of brackets are compatible and then buy them separately.
Most headboard bracket kits that you can buy for your adjustable base will include bracket channels, headboard bracket flanges, and a hardware package that includes the appropriate retainer nuts, bolts, and washers so that you can attach the headboard bracket to the base.
HOWEVER: the headboard bracket kit typically won’t include the bolts required to attach the headboard itself (since they will usually come with the headboard), so you should check the specs to ensure that the diameter of the headboard bolts will match up with the holes in the headboard bracket.
4: Raise the Head of the Adjustable Bed
Before you attach the headboard brackets to the adjustable base, you should raise up the head of the frame so that you’ve got enough clearance to be able to work.
5: Attach the Headboard Brackets to the Base
The exact mechanics for attaching the headboard brackets to your adjustable base will vary between adjustable bed manufacturers, so you should follow the instructions provided – but the steps will typically be as follows:
- Attach the headboard bracket channels to the adjustable bed frame.
- Attach the headboard flanges to the headboard bracket channels.
- Slide the brackets 1.5-2 inches away from the edge of the bed to allow for clearance.
- Tighten up the bolts to secure the bracket channels and flanges in place.
6: Line Up the Mounting Holes
With the headboard brackets attached to the frame of the adjustable base, the next step is to measure the distance between the mounting holes on the struts of the headboard.
Then measure the center-to-center distance between the holes of the headboard mounting slots on the headboard bracket flanges.
If the measurements don’t align, then slide the headboard bracket flanges until the holes match up before re-tightening the bolts.
7: Secure the Headboard
With the attachment holes lined up, you can thread the bolts through the holes and complete the attachment of your headboard to the adjustable bed base by tightening up the bolts.
Once secure, carefully lower the upper portion of the adjustable frame into the flat position to ensure that the 1.5 – 2-inch clearance that you left between the base and the headboard is sufficient to stop the mattress rubbing against the headboard during operation.
If you have kids or pets, then make sure that the headboard is fitted so that there’s only a small gap of no more than 1-3 inches between the surface of the mattress and the bottom of the headboard to prevent trapping when the bed is completely flat.
Specific Examples
Below are some specific video examples of attaching the headboard brackets to your adjustable base so that you can then fit your headboard.
1: Rize Beds – Contemporary II
The installation of the headboard brackets for the Rize Contemporary II Adjustable Bed frame is very similar to the process outlined above; the inner brackets are attached to the crossbar under the bed to which the outer brackets are attached.
2: Foundation Style Wallhugger – All Sizes
Again, the installation process is pretty much the same as described in the 7 steps above for attaching a headboard bracket set to the Foundation Style Wallhugger frame – you can fold the flanges up if you need more floor clearance.
3: Tempurpedic – TEMPUR-Ergo® Adjustable Base
The video above shows you how to attach a headboard to a Tempurpedic adjustable bed – specifically the TEMPUR-Ergo® Adjustable Base – using a very similar process to the above guide.
Related Questions
Here are the answers to some of the questions related to headboards and adjustable beds.
Can You Put a Headboard on a Metal Bed Frame?
You can attach a headboard to a metal bed frame if the headboard brackets on the frame and the mounting holes on the headboard struts are compatible and can be connected securely with a bolt or appropriate attachment.
Does a Headboard Need to Touch the Floor?
A headboard doesn’t need to touch the floor when attached to the bed frame unless specified by the instructions. However, you must ensure that the gap between the top of the mattress and the bottom of the headboard is no more than 1-3 inches in order to prevent trapping of body parts (very important if you have kids or pets).
How Do You Attach a Headboard to Serta Adjustable Bed?
You can attach a headboard to the Serta Motion Custom Adjustable Foundation by first attaching the provided headboard brackets as you screw the legs into the frame as shown in the video below:
Conclusion: Most Adjustable Beds Fit a Headboard
Most adjustable beds made by big-name brands will allow you to attach a headboard using a headboard bracket.
And whilst the installation will vary between brands, the process generally follows the 7 steps that I’ve outlined above.
If you need a new headboard then check out my list of the best headboards to buy online for plenty of options.
If you’ve yet to buy your adjustable bed then I recommend going for the Puffy Adjustable Base because it comes with a universal headboard attachment and works with the highly versatile Puffy Lux Hybrid mattress that’s great for nearly all sleeping positions and styles.
Click the button below to learn more about the Puffy Adjustable base and the compatible Puffy Lux Hybrid mattress now.
Image Sources and Licencing
Main image: ‘Modern Bed in Classic Blue Style With Bedside Table and Lamp’ – by Peter_Visual (Getty Images). Licensed under the Canva One Design Use License Agreement.
Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.
He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.
Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.
Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.
He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.
Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.
Learn more about Dan here.