Adjustable Bed Buying Guide

Adjustable Beds have become increasingly popular over the past decade. They have transcended their prior reputation as a “medical necessity” to become a “lifestyle item”. Today no luxury bedroom is complete without the addition of an adjustable bed.

Adjustable Beds come in many forms, from basic head up/down models to beds with all of the bells and whistles—massage, head and foot adjustability, wireless remotes, and even anti-snore features. It’s important that you establish what it is you are looking for in an adjustable bed and how much you are willing to spend before you begin your search. You can spend anywhere between $800 for a basic adjustable bed frame all the way up to $8000 for a top of the line adjustable bed set with all of the modern features.

Head Up only vs. Head & Foot Adjustability

The most basic adjustable beds come in a head up only configuration. This means that the only part of the bed frame that moves up and down is the head. This will make getting out of bed easier, however many of the benefits touted by the manufacturers—Improved circulation, less stress on the heart, zero-gravity seating position, etc—require foot adjustability. If you only are using the bed to watch TV or to get out of bed easier, a simple head up model should do, but if you are considering a bed as an overall lifestyle purchase, you will want to go with the head up/foot up combination. The price difference is normally $200-$500 difference in a queen size.

Massage Features
Many adjustable beds come with a massage feature. These work by using vibrations and pulses to give the feeling of massage. There are many different types, ranging from a basic vibrating mode all the way to sophisticated multi-setting wave massage features. Normally when it comes to massage features, there will be one setting that you like, and the rest you will probably never use. This is why it is recommended to go with an adjustable bed with a robust massage feature if you decide that you want massage with your adjustable bed.

Wireless vs Wired Remote
Every adjustable bed has a remote to control the movement of the bed. Some are wired to the bed, others are wireless. If you have trouble finding the remotes for other devices around the house, you may want to go with a wired remote if it’s available. Some of the wireless remotes today, it should be mentioned, are equipped with a remote finding feature incase you misplace the remote.

Domestic vs. Foreign Adjustable Beds
The only adjustable bases made in the US are made by Leggett & Platt. The other major manufacturers—Reverie and Ergomotion— import their adjustable bases from Asia. We’ve tested these adjustable bases and they seem to be constructed as well as the American-made Leggett & Platt bases. The difference in price between Leggett and the others is about 30%.

Warranties
You’ll want to make sure that the adjustable base you buy comes with a strong warranty. Most come with a short In-Home Service period, in which the company covers all labor and parts. There after, parts are covered.

Where to Buy
Adjustable Beds can be bought online or offline, although the selection in stores will be very limited. We recommend AdjustaBeds.com www.adjustabeds.com because they have a very large selection of adjustable beds, a free trial period on adjustable beds, and a warranty extension on beds.