How to Build Your Own Twin-size Bed Frame on Wheels

Set a 76-by-2-by-4-inch board on one of its 2-inch sides. Place a 66-by-2-by-2 board against the edge of the 76-inch board. Align the 66-inch board so that it is 5 inches in from either end of the larger board. Apply wood glue where the two pieces meet. Attach the boards together using 3-inch screws. Secure one screw every 6 inches down the length of the 66-inch board into the 76-inch board. Repeat the process with a second 76-by-2-by-4-inch board and another 66-by-2-by-2-inch board.

Drill pilot holes into the sides of the 76-inch boards using a 1/4-inch drill bit. Place the first hole a half inch in from the end of the board and a half inch down from the top edge. Place the second hole 1 inch from the first, a half inch down from the top edge. Place two more holes along the bottom edge of the board, a half inch up. Place them directly below the first two holes. Add four more holes at the other end of the first board using the same placement. Repeat the process with the same placement to add eight pilot holes to the second 76-inch board.

Create a rectangle out of two 40-by-2-by-4-inch boards and two 76-inch boards from Step 1. Set the boards on the 2-inch sides. For the 76-inch boards, align them so the 66-inch boards are on the inside of the rectangle and against the work surface. Place the ends of the 40-inch boards against the sides of the 76-inch boards. Adjust the placement of the boards so the edges are flush.

Apply wood glue between the four pieces of wood. Attach the boards together using 3-inch screws. Place the screws through the pilot holes you made in Step 2 into the ends of the 40-inch boards.

Drill one pilot hole into each end of eight 40-by-1-by-4-inch boards. Center the holes 1 inch in from the edge to create the bed slats. Place the boards across the width of the frame, resting the ends on the 66-inch boards. Place the two slats on the ends 1 inch from the edge of the 66-inch boards. Space the slats 4 inches apart. Place one 3-inch screw through each pilot hole, screwing it into the 66-inch board.

Turn the structure over so that the top is now against your work surface. Place an 11-by-4-by-4-inch board against the inside edge of each corner of the rectangular frame so that the end of the board sticks out from the frame by 7 inches. Rest the end of the 11-inch board against the work surface with the sides flush against the sides of the frame. Apply wood glue to the boards where they touch. Attach the 11-inch boards to the rectangular frame using 4-inch wood screws. Place the screws through the outside of the frame into the legs. Space them 1 inch in from the top and bottom edge of the frame into the center of the legs.

Place a 4-inch rubber swivel caster wheel onto the upward-facing end of each leg. Center the casters on the board. Attach the casters using 3-inch wood screws through each hole in the caster’s base.

Turn the bed frame upright so that the casters are on the ground. Place a 76-by-40-by-1-inch piece of plywood on the slats of the bed. The fit will be snug. Secure the plywood to the slats using 2-inch nails. Hammer the nails through the plywood into the slats. Space the nails evenly on the slats, using six nails per slat.

Set up your box spring and mattress as you usually would.