How to Remove a Headboard From a Bed Frame or the Wall
Yes, a headboard usually comes off once you find the fasteners. They tend to be hidden. Pull the bed away from the wall, shine a light behind the panel, and work out which of these five attachments you have.
Five ways headboards attach
| Attachment | Where to look | Tool | Stop if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolted to the bed frame | Behind the panel, near the top of the frame's legs | Screwdriver or Allen key | The frame's legs are part of the headboard |
| Side panels built into the bed | Where the rails meet the head end | Same as the bed frame | It holds the rails up |
| Bracket or cleat on the wall | Between the panel and the wall, usually high up | Hands, then a drill for the bracket | It will not lift |
| Screwed through the panel into the wall | Screw heads or caps on the front | Drill or screwdriver | You find wiring |
| Glued on | No fasteners anywhere | None you should guess at | Always. Get advice first |
Off a bed frame
Most headboards attach with a few bolts or screws, and a screwdriver or Allen key will take them out (Allied). Mounts often use long bolts with washers and wing nuts (Hunker).
- Pull the bed out far enough to work behind it. Take off the mattress if it is pushing on the panel.
- Have someone hold the headboard, because it will drop as the last bolt comes out.
- Unscrew the bolts and keep them in a bag.
- Lift the headboard away and lower it to the floor.
When the frame depends on it
Before you take out the last bolt, see what holds up the head end. On many wood beds the legs are the headboard's own posts, and the rails hook into them. Remove that headboard and the bed has nothing to stand on. A metal rail frame with its own legs does not have this problem.
Off the wall
Wall-mounted headboards often hang on paired metal brackets, with one half on the wall and the matching half on the back of the panel. They are fixed into studs, two for lighter headboards and three for a king or a very heavy one (Hunker, 2009). Other panels hang on a wood cleat.
Stand at each end with a helper and try lifting the panel straight up about an inch. If it moves freely, keep lifting and bring it away from the wall. If it will not move, look for screws along the bottom edge, which some installers add to stop the panel lifting. Then take the wall half of the bracket off with a drill.
Stop and call someone if the panel has lights, outlets or a cord going into the wall, or if it seems to be glued. Pulling a glued panel can take the wall surface with it.
Fixing the wall
- Press spackle into each screw hole with a putty knife.
- Let it dry fully and sand lightly if it needs it.
- Prime the patch before you paint (This Old House).
What to do with just a headboard
A sound headboard is furniture, so Habitat ReStore may take it. Staff decide at the door, and Joy Junction takes bed frames only as a complete set. In the City of Albuquerque, ask about the free large item pickup at 505-761-8138 (City of Albuquerque). Or we can carry it out for you: see headboard removal.
