6 Actually Cute Dorm Bed Risers to Create Extra Storage Out of Nowhere

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nightstand cart in an eclectic dorm room — Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Vicky Wasik & Maya Borrero

Anyone who has lived in a dorm knows that even an extra inch of vertical space under your bed can be the difference between transformative under-bed storage or barely usable space. With all of your belongings packed into one small room (that you often share with at least one roommate) one of the best ways to make the most of the area beneath your bed is by using dorm bed risers. These lifts come in many different sizes, colors, and styles — and are a reliable way to maximize space in your dorm room. Here’s everything you need to know about making bed risers work in your dorm.

How to Raise a Dorm Bed

When it comes to raising dorm beds, there are typically two ways to do it.

Built-in lofting dorm beds: Many dorms come with these beds, which are built with the ability to raise or loft. Depending on the model, you may need a wrench or a rubber mallet to adjust the bed frame, but check with your RA first — some schools have you submit a maintenance request rather than doing it yourself.
Dorm bed risers: For those dorm beds without a built-in lofting function, bed risers are a great solution for creating more space. Just make sure to check with your school or RA because outside bed risers are not allowed in some schools. If you can use them, you should not raise your bed alone — ask your roommate, your friends, your parents, or even your RA for help! Once you’ve got a partner (or a squad), you’ll just need to lift up each corner of your bed and slide the lift underneath, following the directions for your specific risers to ensure they’re secure.

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Thomas Hoerup & Vicky Wasik

The Best Dorm Beds Risers

From glow-in-the-dark dorm bed risers to sleek wooden ones, here are six of our favorite highly-rated picks.

FASOLINA Wood Furniture Risers

$31

With a sleek, modern design, these 1-inch bed risers are made of solid oak (they come in three shades — light brown, walnut, and natural — so you can try to match your bed frame) and have a sunken top that helps keep the bed leg from slipping off. Since these come in a pack of eight, you can stack the risers (with no more than four in a stack). If you just need a little more height, stack two risers for 2 extra vertical inches of space, which may be just what you need to fit an under-bed organizer beneath.

$31 at Amazon

Utopia Bedding Bed Riser

$20

These Utopia bed risers are probably what you picture when you think of dorm bed risers — and with a 4.5-star average rating from over 43,000 reviews, they are a tried-and-true option. The set comes with two sizes of blocks, one measuring 3 inches high and the other 5, meaning you can stack them to raise your bed by up to 8 inches. They come in five neutral colors (brown, gray, black, white, and reddish brown) so you can choose what blends in with your dorm color scheme the best.

$20 at Amazon

Slipstick 3” Lift Glow in The Dark Bed Risers

$10

Sick of fumbling back to bed after walking to the communal bathroom in the middle of the night? These Slipstick bed risers add 3 inches to your under-bed height and glow in the dark. This set isn’t stackable, but is great if you just need a few extra inches of space and want a glowing beacon back to guide you back to bed. (You might want to give a heads up to your roommate to make sure they don’t mind the glow.)

$10 at Amazon

Tclouda Furniture Risers

$27

These plastic risers can lift your bed 1.5, 3, or 4 inches depending on how you stack them (each four-pack contains 12 pieces, or three for each leg of your bed if you lift it to the max height). The L-shaped border helps keep the furniture securely in place, and the square rubber layer pads protect your floors from scratches. I love the simple look of these, and how you can customize them by choosing one of three color options (brown, white, and black) and stacking them or not.

$27 at Amazon

Clear Stack-Its Furniture Risers

$32

These clear bed risers are a discrete way to give your bed a little lift without interfering with your dorm aesthetic. They are 1-inch tall and stackable, up to three risers, and they come in a pack of eight. Thanks to a rubber ring on the bottom of each riser, they are grippy and softer on wood floors, too.

$32 at Wayfair

BTSD-home 3 Inch Heavy Duty Bed Risers for Furniture Legs and Wheels

$18

These risers are unique because they are specifically built for wheeled furniture (though they also work for square or rectangular legs, as long as they are the right size!). If your dorm room comes with a rolling bed, these can lift your bed by 3 inches while keeping it securely in place.

$18 at Amazon

Kailey Samarjian

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Kailey is a junior studying English and Environmental Studies at Stonehill College. She lives in Stow, MA with her parents, sister, and pet bunny, Rolo. Kailey enjoys writing about anything from classic literature to pop culture, and she writes articles for an online magazine at her school. She currently works at a children’s bookstore at home – her dream job because she can read behind the desk all day, but someday hopes to work in environmental writing. Traveling the world is one of Kailey’s favorite (and most expensive) hobbies, and she got to study abroad during the spring of 2025 in Seville, Spain — her favorite city on the planet. Her biggest dream in life is to someday go skydiving, and hopes to achieve that goal soon.

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SchoolStonehill College '26

MajorEnglish, Environmental Studies

FavesReading, crocheting, the beach, popcorn, traveling

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