Why Is My Bed Frame Crooked? 3 Causes and Solutions

Bed frames are supportive and comfortable, but nothing’s worse than sleeping on a crooked bed frame. A misaligned bed frame can make the mattress slide, slouch, and wrinkle. Most crooked bed frames can be fixed with a few repairs, though.

Your bed frame is crooked because the joints are loose, one or more of the support slats are broken, or there’s too much weight on the bed frame. Tighten the joints by replacing the screws and adding screw glue to prevent them from loosening, then get new wooden or metal support beams.

In this article, I’ll explain why your bed frame is crooked, what you can do about it, and how you can know when it’s time to get a new bed frame.

Can Bed Frames Get Misaligned?

Bed frames can get misaligned over time. While misuse is a common cause, there are many other reasons why your bed frame might look more crooked than usual. The good news is that you can quickly repair the bed frame without needing professional assistance or a repairman.

Here are the three likely reasons your bed frame is crooked:

1. The corner joints or leg joints are loose: When this happens, the bed frame starts to tilt in one direction. For example, if the leg joints are loose at the bottom of the bed frame, the legs will start to fold inward. Your mattress will slowly slide to the bottom of the frame.
2. Some of the bed frame’s support slats are broken: Many bed frames come with support slats or support beams. These slats are designed to evenly distribute the weight of the mattress and everything on it. They take a lot of wear and tear, so they need to be inspected annually.
3. There’s too much weight on the bed frame, which makes it crooked: Check your bed frame’s weight limit to know its maximum capacity. Fortunately, there’s a handful of ways to reinforce a bed frame. You can add extra slats or use screw glue to prevent them from breaking.

Although they come with a few problems every now and then, bed frames make a big difference. They provide top-notch support that you simply can’t find with a mattress laying on the floor. Read on to learn how you can restore your crooked bed frame.

How Do You Fix a Crooked Bed Frame?

To fix a crooked bed frame, remove all of the screws, align the leg joints, and add new screws. Coat the new screws with screw glue to prevent them from loosening. Replace all of the broken wooden slats or metal support beams, then place the mattress back on the bed frame.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you need to do to fix your crooked bed frame:

Align the Bed Frame’s Corner Joints and Leg Joints

If your bed frame has removable joints, it’s time to see if they need to be tightened or replaced. The leg joints fold into the bed, which is often used for moving the frame around. However, these joints can wobble and shift the bed frame, causing it to look crooked.

If your bed frame’s joints use screws, follow the steps in the next section. On the other hand, if your bed frame has slotted joints, simply remove the mattress and push the joints together. You can use various adhesives or ties to keep them from moving around.

Add Loctite to Each of the Screws

My Slumber Yard explains one of the bed ways you can fix a crooked bed frame is to tighten the screws. The screws and corner joints loosen from constant weight changes, so you’ll likely have to tighten them once every few months. Following a routine maintenance schedule will prevent your bed frame from shifting.

Loctite Heavy-Duty Threadlocker is one of the best screw glues you’ll come across. Place a thin bead on each screw before tightening it into the bed frame. Wait for a few hours before placing the mattress back on the bed frame so the glue can dry, then you’ll be good to go for several years.

Replace Broken Support Slats and Beams

Bed frame slats and support beams break from wear and tear or jumping on the mattress. If they’re dented or cracked, they need to be replaced. When you remove the slats or support beams, I recommend using car cleaning gel to get rid of the debris around the joints, screws, and slats.

How to Know if You Need a New Bed Frame?

To know if you need a new bed frame, consider these factors:

• Check if the body of the bed frame is broken. If the body (the beams wrapped around the slats) or the edges are permanently damaged, there’s nothing you can do. Getting a new bed frame will be significantly more effective than replacing each crooked piece.
• Does the bed frame creak, crunch, or make other strange noises? These sounds often indicate the main bed frame supports are breaking. Good Housekeeping shows most bed frames and mattresses only last about seven to ten years.
• Look for signs of damage around the support joints of the bed frame. If the leg joints and corner joints are crooked, the bed frame might need to be replaced. They’re quite durable, but once they break, they won’t provide optimal support for the mattress.

If your bed frame shows any of these signs, check out Amazon’s Best Bed Frames to find the right size and materials. Wooden slats and low-profile beds are perfect for most bedrooms.

Wrapping It Up

After switching to a bed frame versus sleeping with a mattress on the floor, I quickly realized the countless benefits. However, sleeping on a crooked bed frame can make it quite uncomfortable. I suggest keeping the area around the bed frame as clean as possible to prevent debris from clogging and loosening the joints.

Consider using a beltless vacuum cleaner to remove excess debris that could get trapped in the joints and support beams of the bed frame. You could also use a rust inhibitor to prevent corrosion.