How to Compare Bed Base Suppliers' Spec Sheets: A 12-Point Checklist

Comparing bed base suppliers on price alone only works if the specification behind the price is actually the same. Here are the twelve points worth checking before you assume it is — grouped into six areas, two points each.

Dimensions: external frame size, in millimetres

1. External frame size in mm, both width and length — not the mattress size the frame is “for”. A frame is built larger than its nominal mattress size, and how much larger varies between manufacturers.
2. Imperial equivalent, so you can cross-check against the UK mattress size being sold alongside it. Our full breakdown of UK sizing is in the UK bed sizes guide.

Mechanism: number and rating of gas springs

3. Number of gas springs fitted — every size in our range uses two, regardless of frame size.
4. Gas spring rating in newtons, matched to the size. See our full guide to gas spring ratings for how this is set and when a heavier option makes sense.

Slats: total count, split per side, material and section

5. Total slat count and the per-side split, where the frame has one — a bare number without this distinction can’t be compared against another supplier’s. Full detail in our guide to reading a slat specification.
6. Slat material and section — ours is sprung birch plywood, 8 mm thick by 53 mm wide, supplied with holders.

Steel: profile and reinforcement

7. Steel profile of the frame, given as a box-tube dimension, not just “steel construction” — ours is 40 × 30 mm at 1.5 mm wall thickness.
8. Reinforcement on wider frames — our two-piece frames (everything except Single) carry a 40 × 50 mm centre-mounted reinforcing beam. See our guide to frame construction for the full breakdown.

Logistics: frames per pallet, pallet weight, Incoterm

9. Frames per pallet and pallet weight — 30 frames and 800–1,000 kg loaded, in our case — since this is what a freight quotation is actually built from.
10. Incoterm the price is quoted on — EXW and DAP quotes for the same frames aren’t comparable without adjusting for what each one includes. We quote DAP; see delivery and terms for the full specification.

Paperwork: commodity code, statement of origin, lead time

11. Commodity code, which determines the duty rate at the UK border — 9403 20 in our case, qualifying for 0% duty under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
12. Statement of origin on the invoice, which is the condition for that 0% duty rate to actually apply. Without it, standard third-country duty applies instead, regardless of where the goods were made — see our guide to importing from the EU for the full mechanics.

Our own full specification for all six sizes, covering every point above, is below and as a single downloadable PDF. If another supplier’s spec sheet is missing more than one or two of these twelve points, that’s usually a sign the missing information isn’t favourable to them — not that it doesn’t exist.