Furniture Raisers for Beds and Chairs: How to Choose the Right Type and Height
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Furniture raisers can be a simple way to make a chair, sofa or bed easier to get on and off when the existing furniture is too low. The important part is choosing a raiser that matches the furniture and the person using it. Too much extra height, the wrong recess for a leg or castor, or an unstable setup can create a new problem instead of solving the original one.
For most people, the best approach is to use the smallest amount of extra height that achieves a comfortable transfer, while keeping the furniture level, stable and fully supported. If the need follows surgery, a fall, a neurological condition or a significant change in strength or balance, an occupational therapist or physiotherapist can help confirm the safest setup.
Which type of furniture raiser should I choose?
| Option | Best suited to | Height options | Key check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tas-Tech Chair / Bed Blocks | Individual chair or bed legs where the foot or castor shape can be matched to a recess | 5, 7.5, 10 or 15 cm | Choose the correct round, castor or square recess and support every leg equally |
| Tas-Tech Adjustable Chair Platform | Chairs that are better supported on a complete platform rather than separate blocks | 5, 7.5, 10 or 15 cm | The whole chair footprint must sit securely on the platform |
| Tas-Tech Single Bed & Sofa Raisers | Suitable single beds and sofas needing a linked support system | 5, 7.5, 10 or 15 cm | Check leg spacing, leg size and that both sides are raised evenly |
| Tas-Tech Double, Queen & King Bed Raisers | Larger domestic beds including double, queen, king and super king | 5, 7.5, 10 or 15 cm | Check the complete bed-leg layout, including any centre legs |
| Derby Elephant Feet Furniture Raisers | A simple removable set of four raisers for compatible beds or chairs | 9 or 14 cm | Each foot or castor must sit fully inside the recessed top |
When can raising a chair or bed make transfers easier?
A low seat can require more knee and hip bend and more effort to rise from. A low bed can make standing difficult for similar reasons. Raising the furniture changes the starting height, which may make the transfer easier for someone who has reduced leg strength, stiffness or temporary movement restrictions.
But higher is not automatically better. A chair raised too far may leave the user's feet poorly supported or encourage them to sit too close to the edge. A bed raised too far may be easier to stand from but harder to sit on safely or to bring the legs onto the mattress. This is why furniture height should be considered as part of the whole transfer rather than as a single measurement.
If the issue is specifically getting out of a lounge chair, also compare whether a correctly fitted power lift recliner would be more appropriate than modifying an existing chair.
How high should a chair be?
There is no universal chair height that suits everyone. A practical starting point is a position where the user can sit back properly, place their feet securely on the floor and stand without having to climb up out of the seat or slide down from it.
Raise the chair only as much as necessary. MoveSmart's current furniture-raiser range includes increases from 5 cm through to 15 cm, but the largest option is not the default choice. A smaller rise may be enough to make the difference while preserving comfortable foot contact and seat depth.
For more on how seat height interacts with width and depth, see our guide to choosing lift-chair size. The same basic principle applies to ordinary seating: the user's whole seated position matters, not just one dimension.
How high should a bed be?
A useful bed height should allow the person to sit on the edge securely, get their feet into a stable position and stand with an appropriate technique. They also need to be able to get their legs onto and off the mattress without the new height creating extra difficulty.
Choose the smallest lift that solves the original transfer problem. If the user already struggles to sit safely on the mattress edge, has a large difference in leg length, uses a transfer aid or has been given post-operative restrictions, an occupational therapy assessment is particularly useful.
For broader bed choices, including when a domestic bed is no longer the best option, see the Beds and Mattresses Guide.
Individual blocks or a connected platform?
Individual blocks are compact and versatile, but every support point has to match correctly. The Tas-Tech Chair / Bed Blocks are available with round, castor and square recesses, so the furniture foot can be matched more closely than with a one-shape-fits-all block.
A complete chair platform can make more sense when the chair has a broad or awkward footprint. The Tas-Tech Adjustable Chair Platform adjusts from approximately 50 × 50 cm to 86 × 86 cm and supports the chair as a complete base.
For beds and sofas, a linked full-width system can reduce the need to position separate loose blocks under every corner. The Tas-Tech Single Bed & Sofa Raisers adjust from approximately 53–110 cm, while the larger Tas-Tech bed raisers adjust from approximately 115–170 cm.
The Derby Elephant Feet sit at the simpler end of the range: four individual recessed supports in either 9 cm or 14 cm height. They are useful where the furniture feet or castors fit the recess securely and four supports are sufficient.
Why not just add another cushion to a low chair?
An extra seat cushion can add height, but it changes the relationship between the seat and the chair arms. The user may end up sitting higher while the armrests are effectively lower relative to their body, which can reduce the amount of arm support available when standing.
Raising the complete chair increases the seat and armrests together. That can be a more useful solution where the existing chair itself is suitable but simply sits too low.
A loose cushion also needs separate consideration if the user has postural or pressure-care needs. A pressure-relief cushion should not be replaced or stacked simply to gain height without checking how that affects seating. See our pressure-relief cushion comparison for more detail.
Measure the furniture feet, castors and footprint before ordering
Furniture raisers only work properly when the furniture sits securely on them. Before choosing a product, check:
- the number of legs, feet or castors
- the shape and dimensions of each foot
- whether the bed has extra centre legs
- the distance between support points
- the complete footprint of a chair if using a platform
- the condition of the furniture itself
- the floor beneath it
For example, the Tas-Tech Chair / Bed Blocks provide an 8 cm round recess, a 6.4 cm castor recess intended for 5 cm wheels, and a 7.7 × 7.7 cm square recess. The Derby Elephant Feet use an approximately 9 cm recessed support area. Those measurements matter more than whether a product is simply labelled a "chair raiser" or "bed raiser".
Always raise ordinary furniture evenly
All support points should normally be raised by the same amount so the chair, sofa or bed remains level. Do not use different-height blocks under different legs to improvise a tilt.
This is particularly important with larger beds, which may have more than four support points. Check for centre legs or additional castors before assuming that four blocks are enough. Leaving an unsupported leg can place loads through the bed frame in a way it was not designed to handle.
What furniture should not simply be put on generic raisers?
Do not use furniture raisers as a way to compensate for broken, damaged or unstable furniture. Avoid them where the floor is weak or uneven, where a leg is missing, or where the furniture still rocks after installation.
Be especially cautious with powered lift recliners, electric adjustable beds and profiling care beds. These products have moving mechanisms, defined base structures and manufacturer-specified operating geometry. Generic blocks or platforms should not be added beneath them unless the equipment manufacturer or an appropriate clinician has specifically confirmed that arrangement.
If an adjustable or care bed is needed because transfers, positioning or carer access have become more complex, use equipment designed to provide that adjustment rather than trying to create it with ordinary bed raisers.
Safety checks after fitting furniture raisers
After installation, check that every furniture foot or castor is fully seated, every raiser sits flat on the floor and the furniture remains level. Gently test for rocking or unwanted movement before the user sits or lies on it.
Recheck the setup periodically and after the furniture has been moved. A raiser that worked correctly when first fitted can become misaligned if a bed or chair is dragged during cleaning or repositioning.
The published load rating also needs to be respected. Tas-Tech publishes a 600 kg limit for the products featured above, while Derby Elephant Feet are rated at 100 kg per foot. Follow the rating and intended configuration of the exact product rather than trying to calculate a different arrangement from individual figures.
When is an occupational therapist useful?
An occupational therapist can look at the user, the transfer itself and the home environment together. That is useful when the correct height is unclear, when the furniture has an unusual base, or when the person has recently had surgery, fallen, lost strength or developed a condition affecting balance or movement.
A physiotherapist may also be involved where standing technique, gait, lower-limb strength or rehabilitation restrictions are important. If the user has been given specific hip, knee or weight-bearing precautions, those instructions take priority over general furniture-height advice. Our hip and knee surgery recovery guide covers this in more detail.
Related MoveSmart guides
If low furniture is part of a wider home-access problem, the following guides may also help:
- Bedroom Furniture for Home Care
- Fall Prevention at Home
- Frailty and Age-Related Weakness: Practical Equipment
- Back Pain and Reduced Mobility Equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
What are furniture raisers used for?
They increase the height of compatible chairs, sofas or beds. This may make sitting-to-standing or bed transfers easier where the original furniture is too low.
How much should I raise a chair?
Use the smallest increase that gives the user a more manageable transfer while keeping their feet securely supported and the chair comfortable to sit in. Bigger is not automatically better.
How much should I raise a bed?
The person should still be able to sit securely on the mattress edge, place their feet appropriately and get their legs on and off the bed. If those requirements conflict, seek an assessment rather than simply adding more height.
Can furniture raisers be used under a sofa?
Yes, with a product designed for a compatible sofa. The Tas-Tech Single Bed & Sofa Raisers are specifically intended for suitable sofas as well as single beds. Check leg spacing and leg dimensions first.
Can I use furniture raisers under a king or super king bed?
Yes, where the bed structure is compatible. The Tas-Tech Double, Queen & King Bed Raisers are designed for larger beds and adjust to accommodate a range of widths. Check all legs, including centre supports.
Which raisers work with castors?
The Tas-Tech Chair / Bed Blocks include a dedicated castor-recess option, and Derby Elephant Feet can suit compatible castors that fit securely in their recessed top. Measure the castor before ordering.
Can I mix two different raiser heights?
No. Ordinary chairs and beds should normally be raised evenly at every support point. Do not use furniture raisers to create an improvised slope.
Can I put a lift recliner on furniture raisers?
Not as a general rule. A powered lift chair has a moving base and defined lifting geometry. Use generic raisers only if the chair manufacturer or an appropriate professional has confirmed that the exact setup is suitable.
Can I raise an electric adjustable or profiling bed with blocks?
Generic furniture raisers are generally not the right solution for a powered profiling or care bed. These beds have their own frames and moving mechanisms, and some already provide powered height adjustment.
Are individual blocks less stable than connected raisers?
Both can be suitable when correctly matched and fitted, but individual blocks rely on every furniture foot being positioned accurately. A connected platform or paired system may be preferable for some furniture layouts.
What if the chair moves backwards when I sit down?
Do not keep using the setup until the cause is addressed. Check the floor, furniture condition and raiser fit. If the user cannot control their descent into the chair or the chair remains unstable, professional assessment is sensible.
When should I ask an occupational therapist?
Consider an OT assessment where transfer ability has changed significantly, the user has had recent surgery or falls, there are balance or neurological issues, or you are unsure which height or raiser type is safe for the furniture.
Can MoveSmart help me choose between the furniture raisers?
Yes. Contact MoveSmart with photos of the furniture, the number and dimensions of the legs or castors, the current seat or mattress height and the amount of extra height you are considering.