Bedside Locker Sizes: Height, Width and How to Pair Them With Your Bed
Bedside lockers are bought last and measured least, which is why so many end up 15cm below the mattress or so wide the bedroom door clips them. This guide gives the three measurements that matter, the sizes of the lockers in our own range, and the choices between drawers, open shelves and lockers with built-in lighting.
1. Height: level with the top of the mattress
Measure from the floor to the top of your mattress, not the bed frame. On most Irish beds that is 55 to 65cm; on a divan with a deep mattress it can reach 70cm. The locker top should sit within 5cm of that figure, above or below. Lower than that and you reach down for a glass in the dark; higher and the lamp shines in your eyes.
2. Width and depth: leave a 5 to 10cm gap
Measure the space between the bed and the wall or wardrobe on each side, then subtract 5 to 10cm so the locker is not jammed against the bed. A 45cm-wide locker fits most rooms; 70cm suits a king or super king bed where the proportions can carry it. Depth is usually 40 to 45cm; deeper than that and the locker sticks out past the mattress edge.
| Bedside locker | Width x depth x height | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galante Beige Nightstand | 70 x 45 x 47cm | Drawer, brown base | €1,480 |
| Casto Cream Nightstand | 70 x 45 x 50cm | Drawer, gold base | €1,260 |
| Ecrue Nightstand | 70 x 45 x 60.3cm | Ribbed drawer, gold legs | €1,480 |
| Senato Black & White Nightstand | 52cm wide, 60cm high | Drawer, gold accent | €1,470 |
| Deluxe Ribbed Nightstand with LED | see product page | Drawer, built-in LED light | €700 |
| Prestige Mirrored Bedside Table | see product page | Mirrored front | €830 |
The Galante at 47cm and the Casto at 50cm suit lower platform beds; the Ecrue and Senato at 60cm suit a standard divan or an upholstered bedstead. Buying the locker from the same range as the bed, as in our bedroom sets, removes the height guesswork because they were designed to sit together.
3. Drawers, open shelf or both
- One deep drawer hides chargers, books and medication. The most common choice and the tidiest.
- Drawer plus open shelf keeps a book within reach without opening anything. Good for readers.
- Built-in LED, as on the Deluxe nightstand, replaces a bedside lamp and frees the top for a glass and a phone. Check where the socket is before you order.
4. One locker or a pair?
A pair on a double or larger bed balances the room and doubles the storage. On a single bed against a wall, one locker on the open side is the norm. If the room is narrow on one side, use a matching but slimmer locker there rather than none; a 45cm locker and a 70cm locker from the same range look intentional.
5. Finish and lamp
Match the locker’s finish to the headboard rather than the flooring: cream with cream, walnut with walnut, gold accents with a gold-trimmed bedstead. A table lamp should be 45 to 60cm tall on a standard-height locker so the shade sits at shoulder level when you are sitting up in bed.
Bedside locker questions
What is the difference between a bedside locker, a bedside table and a nightstand?
Nothing in practice. “Bedside locker” is the Irish term, “bedside table” is the British one and “nightstand” is the American one. Our product pages use nightstand because most of our ranges are named that way by the maker.
Can a bedside locker be higher than the mattress?
Up to 5cm higher is fine and often looks better with a tall headboard. More than that and it starts to feel like a shelf beside the bed.
Are the lockers delivered assembled?
Yes. Our delivery team brings furniture into the room and assembles anything that needs it. In-stock lockers arrive in 7 to 14 working days; made-to-order pieces in about 12 to 16 weeks, with a two-year warranty on every piece.
See the full bedside locker range, or visit the showroom in Portlaoise, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, and bring the height of your mattress.
