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The Best Mattresses Guide

Simple advice on the UK’s best mattresses and beds

This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

5 Best Metal Bed Frames 2020 and 2021

Metal beds are one of the cheapest bedframe options and a good one can cope with considerable weight. They're stylish and they don't need cleaning like a divan base. On the downside, some cheap metal beds tend to squeak a bit and move around.

The jury is still out on whether it's more painful to walk into a metal bed or a wooden bed at 2am on the way to the toilet. 

I reckon there are two main things to look out for when you're buying a metal bed:
  1. Cheap metal beds have thin metal rungs for the mattress to sit on. They'll do the job but your mattress will get better support from the solid wooden slats or sprung wooden slats you get on posher metal beds. Whichever you choose, it's important the slats/rungs aren't too far apart. Most guides suggest a maximum of about 7cm between wooden slats is best. If all else fails, you could try putting a thin wooden board over the rungs to spread the weight out (even a piece of thick cardboard will be better than nothing).
  2. Cheaper metal beds tend to be a bit lightweight and might blow away with a gentle breeze. Take a look at the maximum weight limit to get an idea of how sturdy it is. If the maximum weight isn't listed, take a look at the actual weight of the bed - lighter beds won't usually be as solid. Most metal beds are made from steel but a few very posh ones are made from heavier materials like wrought iron.

We've picked out five of the best metal beds on the market in the UK. We've picked a range of prices including some very cheap metal beds, since I get irritated by buying guides which assume you want to re-mortgage the house to pay for a new bed.

We looked at customer reviews, awards, specification and anything else relevant for our top 5. Prices are for double metal beds and are correct at the time of writing.

1. Birlea Atlas Metal Bed frame - £165

This Birlea Atlas metal bed is only available as a metal single bed, small double bed or double bed but it has a few key advantages over similarly priced one.

Most significantly, it comes with a 5 year guarantee (that's if you buy it from Happy Beds, it is only 1 year from some other places). 

It's got a sprung slatted base to support the mattress, whereas most metal beds around this price have thinner metal rungs. It's also got a higher weight limit than some of the cheap metal beds we've found. The double bed version can cope with 250kg, whilst the Aingoo metal bed (see #4 below) is much less. To avoid you getting out a calculator, that means that the limit is two people weighing about 15-18 stone each (the exact figure varies depending on how much your mattress weighs).

It's only available as a single metal bed or a double metal bed but you can pick between white and cream. This model was scoring close to 5/5 on Happy Beds when we checked, although that is only based on about a dozen reviews. On Amazon, it was scoring 4.2/5 at the time of typing.

Overall, the Birlea brand was scoring 3.6/5 on TrustPilot or 4.7/5 on Google Reviews when we checked in January 2021.
Birlea atlas metal bed sold by happy beds
This Birlea metal bed has a long warranty and a good specification for the price.
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Birlea Atlas metal bed

2. Dreams Westbrook Metal Bed Frame - £249

This Dreams metal bed is a good option if you want a simple design from a respected bed company. It only comes as a single or double metal bed unfortunately.

The main advantage it has over some of the cheaper metal beds on the market is that it has a choice of sprung or solid wooden slats. Sprung slats give you a slightly softer and comfier feel than you get with solid slats and they're certainly preferable to thin metal rungs for supporting your mattress. 

According to the Q&A, it doesn't have a weight limit and the gaps between the slats are 8cm on the solid slats version or just under 5cm on the upgraded sprung slats version. 

It only comes in black but has decent customer reviews, with an average of 4.7/5 from about 500 ratings.

If you're after a white bed frame for around this price then have a look at the Ava metal bed frame from Dreams. 
Dreams Westbrook Metal Bed Frame
This metal bed from Dreams has more than 500 reviews and a choice of sprung or solid slats
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Dreams Westbrook metal bed frame

3. Dreams Hugo Metal bed frame - £699

This Hugo metal bed from Dreams isn't the cheapest but it is much more substantial than most metal beds and it gets terrific reviews.

As with some other Dreams bedsteads, it has the big advantage of allowing you to choose from sprung slats or solid slats. Sprung slats offer a bit of a softer feel whilst solid slats don't have as much flexibility so they feel firmer. 

This one weighs in at more than 50kg in a double size, almost three times as much as the Aingoo Metal Bed Frame below (admittedly the Hugo has a more complicated design which will add to the weight). According to the online Q&A, there is no weight limit to this metal bed which is a sign that it's well built. Please don't test it out by sharing a bed with an elephant.

Customers rave about this one with a near perfect average of 4.8/5 from 300+ reviews.

This metal bed is available in double, king size or super king size. Most metal beds don't seem to go up to super king size.

On the downside, it only comes in one colour and it only has a one year guarantee.
Dreams Hugo metal bed
It costs more than most metal beds, but the Hugo bed has 'no weight limit'...
Dreams hugo metal bed closeup
..and it comes in double, king size or super king size.
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Dreams Hugo metal bed

4. Aingoo metal bed frame - £79

This Aingoo metal bed is definitely in the cheap and cheerful metal bed category, but let's not write it off. It's got 2000+ customer reviews with an average score of 4.3/5 which is a considerable number of satisfied customers. 

So what's the difference between this metal bed and one which costs ten times as much?

Firstly, it is light, with the double metal bed frame weighing about 20kg whilst some metal beds weigh about three times that. It's made from steel, which is the same material used in most other metal beds (you'll sometimes see iron and other materials, but not very often).

One part of the listing says that the weight limit is 150kg whilst another says 200kg. Assuming the higher figure is accurate, that means it could cope with 23-28 stone once you've allowed for the weight of a double mattress. So, if you're sharing this bed then that would be a weight limit of about 11 - 14 stone each (well, that's my calculations anyway - please do your own sums before testing it to the limit).

Another difference is that the mattress is supported by metal rungs rather than flat wooden slats. Plenty of people use metal rungs without any problem but some guides I've read suggest that your mattress will be better supported by slats. If you're looking for something similar but don't want metal rungs, try this Westbrook Metal Bed Frame from Dreams which is mentioned earlier in this guide. It comes with a choice of solid slats (firmer) or sprung slats (softer and comfier). 
Aingoo metal bed frame
The Aingoo metal bed is cheap and lighter than most, but reviews are good.
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Aingoo metal bed frame

5. Wrought Iron And Brass Bed Co. Sophie Iron metal Bed Frame - £795

The more financially astute amongst you will have noticed that this metal bed from the Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company is about 10 times the price of the cheapest bed on this metal beds guide.

The main difference is that it's made in the UK from solid wrought iron. As a result it is really heavy. The double version weighs 55kg, which is nearly treble the weight of the John Lewis & Partners Alpha metal bed which is made from steel (admittedly it has a more complicated design which will contribute to the weight). 

It uses wooden slats instead of metal rungs to support the mattress, which means there's less chance of your pocket sprung mattress getting lumpy because some of the springs don't have anything underneath them. The slats are solid slats so they'll give a firmer feel than sprung flats would.

If you really want to splash out, they also sell more expensive versions which are even heavier.

It comes in black or ivory/white.
wrought iron bed frame from john lewis
This luxury metal bed isn't cheap but it is very solid
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Sophie metal bed

Related guides from the Best Mattresses Guide

Mattress with sheets and pillows

10 of the best mattress retailers

Where to start your search for good quality beds and mattresses in the UK​
Tufted pocket sprung mattress

10 of the best mattresses of 2020/2021

10 mattresses which have won awards and rave reviews 
Teddy bear on a quilted mattress

Best places to buy cheap mattresses

Where to shop for a mattress on a budget of £500, £200 or £100

Buying advice

Beginners' guide
​
Best retailers
Cheap retailers
Divan or bedstead?
​
How to choose a mattress
​John Lewis mattresses
​Memory foam or springs?

Best mattresses

Top 10 mattresses
Arthritis
Back sleepers​
Bed in a box
Best for bad backs
​Cheap mattresses
Cheap memory foam
​Emperor mattresses
​Best firm mattresses
Mattresses with free trials
​
Front sleepers
​Best for heavy people
​Hybrid mattresses
​Kids mattresses
Best latex mattresses
Medium firm mattresses
Top 5 memory foam
​Pillow top mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses
​
Queen size mattresses
​Side sleepers
​Single mattresses
​
Single memory foam
​Small double mattresses
​Small single mattresses
Best soft mattresses
Wool mattresses
Zip link mattresses


Other guides

​Adjustable beds
Air beds
​Best bedding
Bedspreads
Blankets/throws
​Bunk beds
​Bunk bed with desk
Best carpets
Chair beds
​Cheap beds
Cot bed mattresses
​Day beds
Double beds
Double bunk beds
Double storage beds
Duvets
​Electric blankets
​Fitted sheets
Folding beds
Guest beds
Headboards
Mattress protectors
​Metal beds
Ottoman beds
Pillows
​Silk pillowcases
Silk pyjamas
​
Sleigh beds
​5 best sofa beds
Best toppers
Trundle beds
TV beds
Weighted blankets
White beds
​Wooden beds
​
​




Brands

Casper
Dormeo
Dunlopillo
Emma
Ergoflex
Eve
Hypnos
Nectar
OTTY
Rest Assured
REM-Fit
Sealy
Silentnight
Simba
Sleepeezee
Tempur
Vispring

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Disclaimer
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While we endeavour to keep the information on this website up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose - please see our disclaimer for more details. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
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  • Home
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    • Best Mattresses beginners guide
    • Memory foam v pocket spring mattresses - which is best?
    • 6 tips for buying the best pocket spring mattress
    • 5 tips for buying the best memory foam mattress
    • The 5 questions you need to answer before buying a bed
    • Is an orthopedic mattress the best for a bad back?
  • Best mattresses
    • 10 of the best mattresses of 2020 and 2021
    • By type >
      • 6 best pocket sprung mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best latex mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best pillow top mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bed in a box 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best hybrid mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best natural mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By brand >
      • By brand - A to E >
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        • 5 best Dormeo mattresses 2020 and 2021
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          • 5 best Hypnos mattresses 2020 and 2021
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        • REM-Fit >
          • REM Fit mattresses
          • REM Fit 400 mattress
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      • By brand - S to Z >
        • 5 best Sealy mattresses 2020 and 2021
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        • Sleepeezee >
          • Sleepeezee mattress reviews, awards, discounts and buying guide 2020 and 2021
          • Sleepeezee Mayfair 3200 Pocket Spring Mattress
        • Tempur mattresses
        • 5 best Vispring mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • Specialist mattresses >
      • 10 best cot mattresses for baby's beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best kids mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 7 mattresses for heavy people 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for back pain and bad backs 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for arthritis 2020 and 2021
    • By firmness >
      • 5 best soft mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best medium firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best orthopedic/orthopaedic mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By sleeping position >
      • 5 best mattresses for side sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for front/stomach sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for back sleepers 2020 and 2021
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      • 5 best cheap mattresses under £200 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap beds 2020 and 2021
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      • Single beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best single beds and single mattresses 2020 and 2021
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      • Double, small double, queen beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best double beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best queen size beds and queen mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • King, super king, emperor, zip-link beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best super king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best zip link beds and mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best emperor mattresses, beds, bedsteads and divans 2020 and 2021
  • Best Beds
    • Divan base or bedstead - which is best?
    • Day beds, sofa beds and guest beds >
      • 5 best sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best air beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best day beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best guest beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best trundle beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best chair beds and single sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best folding beds 2020 and 2021
    • Bunk beds >
      • 5 best bunk beds with desks 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best bunk beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double bunk beds 2020 and 2021
    • Wooden, metal and fabric bedframes >
      • 5 best leather beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best metal beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best sleigh beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white single beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wooden beds 2020 and 2021
    • Storage beds >
      • 6 of the best ottoman beds and storage beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best single beds with storage and single ottoman beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double ottoman beds and double beds with storage 2020 and 2021
    • Adjustable beds, TV beds, headboards >
      • 6 best adjustable beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best TV beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap headboards 2020 and 2021
  • Duvets, pillows & bedding
    • Duvets and blankets >
      • 5 best duvets for summer and winter 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best electric blankets and heated blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best weighted blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bedspreads 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best blankets and throws 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool blankets and wool throws 2020 and 2021
    • Pillows and pillowcases >
      • 5 of the best pillows 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best silk pillowcases 2020 and 2021
    • Bedding, sheets and toppers >
      • 5 of the best bedding sets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best fitted sheets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best mattress protectors 2020 and 2021
      • Which are the best mattress toppers?
    • Other guides >
      • 6 best silk pyjamas 2020 and 2021
      • Which is the best type of carpet material?
  • Retailers
    • 10 best places to buy cheap mattresses and divan beds under £500, £200 or £100
    • 10 of the best mattress retailers online 2020 and 2021
    • Buying a John Lewis & Partners mattress - 5 top tips for 2020 and 2021
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