IKEA MALM Bed Alternatives on Amazon

Alternatives to IKEA's MALM bed on Amazon, slats included: the closest to the white MALM, the best value, the best built and a white storage bed.

By Worth a NookUpdated

The original

IKEA MALM Bed Frame

IKEA's best-known bed: clean flat panels, high sides and a low price.

At IKEA$369White, Queen, with LÖNSET slats

The white MALM is particleboard and fiberboard with a painted finish and a paper-honeycomb core in the headboard. Its slats aren't included, so its real price is the frame plus a slatted base.

IKEA marks the white Queen "Last chance": once its stock sells out, it won't be restocked.

Amazon doesn't copy the MALM's panels closely, so these aren't look-alikes: they're what to buy instead, from the nearest thing to the white MALM to solid-wood beds that cost about the same. All come with their slats.

How they compare

  1. Verdict
    Moved In: We'd give it the spot. (our score 8–10)8.4/10 (best in this row)
    Material
    Solid poplar
    Price
    around $310
    Dimensions
    60" W x 81.5" D x 15" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  2. Verdict
    Moved In: We'd give it the spot. (our score 8–10)8.3/10
    Material
    Solid wood over a steel frame
    Price
    around $270
    Dimensions
    59.7" W x 81.3" D x 37" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  3. 3Bme Vivian Platform BedRustic Golden Brown
    Verdict
    Moved In: We'd give it the spot. (our score 8–10)8/10
    Material
    Solid acacia
    Price
    around $370
    Dimensions
    63.37" W x 82.27" D x 49.21" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  4. Verdict
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)7.8/10
    Material
    Solid wood and acacia, steel reinforcement
    Price
    around $380
    Dimensions
    60.7" W x 82" D x 35.4" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  5. Verdict
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)7.4/10
    Material
    Solid rubberwood and hardwood
    Price
    around $320
    Dimensions
    62.52" W x 82.87" D x 43.88" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  6. Verdict
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)7.2/10
    Material
    Solid rubberwood and veneers
    Price
    around $480
    Dimensions
    62.6" W x 83.03" D x 16.54" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  7. Verdict
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)6.6/10
    Material
    Solid wood frame, engineered wood panels
    Price
    around $220 (best in this row)
    Dimensions
    64.5" W x 83" D x 36.5" H
    Assembly required
    Yes
    Check price
  1. 1
    Moved In: We'd give it the spot. (our score 8–10)Our score8.4/10

    KD Frames Nomad Platform Bed

    A plain, solid-wood platform made in the USA, with no particleboard anywhere.

    Solid poplar · Assembly required

    Best for
    Anyone who wants a frame that outlasts a few moves.

    around $310

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch No headboard, and it ships bare wood: stain or seal it yourself, or leave it raw.

    What we like

    • Solid kiln-dried poplar: no plywood, MDF or glue
    • Bolted joints that stay tight through moves
    • Almost a foot of clearance underneath for storage

    Specs and every guide the KD Frames Nomad Platform Bed is in

  2. 2
    Moved In: We'd give it the spot. (our score 8–10)Our score8.3/10

    Zinus Vivek Deluxe Platform Bed

    Solid wood and a slatted headboard, slats included, for about what a MALM costs before its slats.

    Solid wood over a steel frame · Assembly required

    Best for
    Anyone after a real-wood bed on a MALM budget.

    around $270

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch A few owners report the middle sagging or breaking over time.

    What we like

    • Solid wood over a steel inner frame
    • Closely spaced slats included
    • Five-year warranty

    Keep in mind

    • Only one finish on this listing: antique espresso

    Specs and every guide the Zinus Vivek Deluxe Platform Bed is in

  3. 3
    Moved In: We'd give it the spot. (our score 8–10)Our score8/10

    Bme Vivian Platform Bed

    Solid acacia with a chevron-grain headboard: the one that looks least like flat-pack.

    Solid acacia · Assembly required

    Best for
    Anyone who wants the bed to be the room's centerpiece.

    around $370

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch The warranty is one year, and a few owners report a center leg breaking within a year.

    What we like

    • Heavy solid acacia
    • Quiet once built, by owners' accounts
    • Tall headboard to lean against

    Specs and every guide the Bme Vivian Platform Bed is in

  4. 4
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)Our score7.8/10

    Zinus Allen Platform Bed

    Finish: Natural

    A simple wood panel headboard on rounded legs: the closest to the MALM's clean lines in wood.

    Solid wood and acacia · Assembly required

    Best for
    Anyone who likes the MALM's plain lines but wants wood, not white.

    around $380

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch The headboard is shorter than most expect, and it sits only about 6 in off the floor underneath.

    What we like

    • Solid wood frame with steel reinforcement
    • Grip strips keep the mattress from sliding
    • No wobble or creaks, by owners' accounts

    Specs and every guide the Zinus Allen Platform Bed is in

  5. 5
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)Our score7.4/10

    ComfIQ Chevron Headboard Platform Bed

    A white solid-wood bed with a tall, chevron-scored headboard.

    Solid rubberwood and hardwood · Assembly required

    Best for
    Anyone who wants white with more character than a plain panel.

    around $320

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch It takes a while to build, and a few owners had trouble with the footboard and center supports lining up.

    What we like

    • Solid rubberwood and hardwood
    • Solid wood slats included
    • Stable once built, by owners' accounts

    Specs and every guide the ComfIQ Chevron Headboard Platform Bed is in

  6. 6
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)Our score7.2/10

    AFI Concord Storage Platform Bed

    A white, solid-wood platform with two roll-out drawers, like the MALM's storage version.

    Solid rubberwood and veneers · Assembly required

    Best for
    Anyone who wants the white MALM look with real under-bed storage.

    around $480

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch It's the priciest pick with no headboard, and some owners report missing hardware or early cracks.

    What we like

    • Solid rubberwood frame
    • Two deep drawers that go on either side
    • Goes together in about half an hour

    Keep in mind

    • The drawers can be hard to roll on carpet

    Specs and every guide the AFI Concord Storage Platform Bed is in

  7. 7
    On the Fence: Worth it if the catch doesn't bother you. (our score 6–7.9)Our score6.6/10

    GIANTEX Farmhouse Bed Frame

    Size: Queen
    Finish: White

    A paneled headboard and matching footboard for the least money, in walnut or white.

    Solid wood frame · Assembly required

    Best for
    Kids' rooms and guest rooms.

    around $220

    Check price on Amazon

    The catch Slat holes can come drilled in the wrong place, and some owners found the slats too short: keep a drill handy.

    What we like

    • Quick to put together
    • Compact, for a smaller room

    Keep in mind

    • The headboard's center panel is thin

    Specs and every guide the GIANTEX Farmhouse Bed Frame is in

Which one is yours?

Questions

Can I use a box spring with these?

Yes. None needs one, since each comes with slats, but all five are open platforms, so a box spring sits on top and raises the mattress. That's a way to get a taller bed.

Which is the highest off the floor?

The AFI Concord and the KD Frames Nomad, at about 16.5 and 15 inches to the top of the rails. The two Zinus beds sit lowest, at about 12 inches.

Is IKEA discontinuing the MALM bed?

The white Queen, at least. IKEA marks it "Last chance", which means it won't be restocked once the current stock sells out.

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