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Mount a headboard to the wall: studs, fixings and height

How to mount a headboard to the wall: find the studs or choose the right anchors, set the height from the mattress, pick the hanging hardware and fix it level.

By Home by Doing editorial team · 2026-09-26

A man holding an upholstered panel headboard against a bedroom wall with a drill, spirit level and step stool beside the bed

Quick answer: how to mount a headboard to the wall

Measure where the headboard should sit relative to the mattress, mark a level line, find the studs or confirm the wall type, and fix a cleat or rail to the wall with fixings rated for that wall. Attach the matching part to the headboard, lift it on, and check it is level and tight against the wall. Before you buy anything, write down what you know about the wall; our wall fixing shopping note lists what to record.

1. Know the wall before you drill

Wall types and what to fix into
Wall	How to tell	Fix into
Drywall on studs	Sounds hollow between studs; a stud finder locates them	The studs; use rated hollow-wall anchors only between them for light loads
Brick or block	Solid sound; dust is red or grey when drilling	Masonry plugs and screws sized for the load
Plaster on lath	Older homes, hard surface, hollow behind	Studs or joists behind the lath

Whatever the wall, scan the area with a detector for pipes and live cables, and avoid drilling directly above or below sockets and switches, where cables commonly run.

Hands holding an electronic stud finder against a light bedroom wall with pencil marks, a tape measure and wall anchors on a step stool below

2. Set the height from the mattress

Push the bed into position with the mattress and bedding on. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress; the lower edge of the headboard should usually sit a few inches below that line so no gap shows when pillows are in place. Headboard sizes vary by bed width and style, and TalkAboutSleep's headboard sizes chart lists common widths. Mark the top of the cleat position with a pencil and a spirit level; our guide to measuring and project planning has the marking routine.

3. Choose the hanging hardware

French cleat: two strips with matching 45 degree edges, one on the wall and one on the headboard. Self-levelling within reason and easy to lift off.
Hanging rails or Z-clips: metal versions of the same idea, low profile and quick to fit.
D-rings and screws: fine for light panels, harder to get level.

Size the fixings for the headboard's weight plus the force of someone leaning back against it, which is far more than the weight alone. When in doubt, choose more fixings into studs rather than bigger anchors into drywall.

4. Fix, hang and check

Screw the wall part of the cleat into the studs or masonry along the level line.
Fix the matching part to the back of the headboard, measured so both line up.
Lift the headboard onto the cleat with a helper.
Check it is level, press it against the wall and push the bed back into place.

If you would rather not drill at all, many headboards attach to the bed frame instead; TalkAboutSleep explains attaching a headboard to a bed frame.

Before you drill

Wall type identified
Studs or solid fixing points marked
Area scanned for pipes and cables
Height measured from the made-up mattress
Fixings rated for weight and leaning load
Helper lined up to lift

Frequently asked questions

Can I mount a headboard without finding studs?

Only a light one, with anchors rated for the load, and even then studs are more secure because people lean on headboards.

How high should a wall-mounted headboard be?

Set it from the mattress: the lower edge a few inches below the top of the mattress so no gap shows.

Is a French cleat strong enough?

Yes, when the wall strip is fixed into studs or masonry with suitable screws. Its strength depends on the fixings behind it.