How to Stop a Mattress from Sliding

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 27, 2021

A sliding bed is a nuisance when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep. Whether your mattress is slipping around on the frame, your mattress topper won’t stay put, or your bed frame is sliding around on a smooth floor, there are both premade accessories and do-it-yourself remedies that will fix the problem. In just a matter of time you’ll be sleeping steady and better than ever!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Keeping a Mattress from Moving Around

1
Get a non-slip mattress pad to put between your mattress and bed frame. Many bed stores sell grippy pads made of PVC rubber that fit between a mattress and the bed frame to keep the mattress from sliding around. Purchase a model that suits your mattress and frame combo, then stick it between them and see if that solves the problem.
- If you can’t find a pad big enough for your bed, you can combine 2 smaller pads.
- Non-slip mattress pads are very thin, so you shouldn’t notice a difference in feeling when you sleep on the new bed setup.
2
Buy rubber matting that goes under an area rug as a cheaper alternative. Purchase a pad designed for area rugs that is big enough to fit under your mattress. Cut it to fit if it is wider or longer than the mattress.
- Some gripping pads are sold as multi-use for both mattresses and area rugs, so it may not necessarily be a cheaper alternative, but it’s worth shopping around if you want to save a few bucks!
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3
Use stick-on velcro strips for a do-it-yourself remedy. Buy long strips of velcro that have adhesive on 1 side and the velcro on the other. Cut the strips to fit your bed, stick strips along the bottom of your mattress, and stick the opposing strips on the box spring or bed frame so that they line up and hold the mattress in place.
- Make sure to use “hook” and “loop” pieces of velcro opposite of each other, or the velcro won’t stick!
- You could also try using double-sided carpet tape in the same way if you can’t find velcro strips.
4
Wedge something between the sides of the frame and the mattress for a quick fix. Sometimes a mattress will slide around when it is not completely snug in the frame. Try wedging a towel or other soft material between the bed frame and the mattress to stop the mattress from sliding.
- This is a good way to temporarily stop sliding, however you will probably have to keep adjusting whatever you wedge in between the mattress and frame, so it is not a great permanent solution.
5
Change your bed frame for a tighter-fitting frame if you can’t stop the sliding. Look at your bed frame and see if it is too big for your bed, or if the sides aren’t high enough to hold the mattress in place. Get a new bed frame that holds the mattress tighter if you can’t stop the mattress from sliding around with another method.
- A bed frame that has both a headboard and a footboard can help reduce sliding as well.
6
Switch out your mattress for a 1-sided mattress as a last resort. Many mattresses have 2 sides that are exactly the same, which means the bottom side is more prone to sliding. Buy a mattress that has 1 side for sleeping and 1 flat side that goes face down to decrease mattress slippage.
- 1-sided mattresses can also be more comfortable than 2-sided mattresses because they are built bottom-up for maximum comfort on the sleeping surface.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Stopping a Mattress Topper from Slipping Off

1
Place a tight-fitting sheet over the mattress topper. Your mattress topper is more likely to slide around if your sheets are loose. Get the tightest-fitting bottom sheet you can find that will fit your bed and put it on to secure the topper in place.^{[1]
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2
Use sheet suspenders or straps to hold the sheet and topper in place. Clip the sheet straps to the bottom edges of the corners of the fitted sheet. Feed the straps under the mattress and clip them to the opposite corners.
- The sheet suspenders should look like an “X” underneath the mattress.
3
Pin the topper in place with safety pins for a cheaper option. Pin the mattress topper to the mattress with at least 5 safety pins per side. This will distribute the pressure and hold the topper in place more securely.
- You can also use safety pins to hold the fitted bottom sheet in place which will keep the mattress topper more stable.
4
Use duct tape or spray adhesive to hold the topper in place if it still slips. Tape the corners and edges down tightly to the mattress with duct tape, or spray adhesive over the entire backside of the topper and stick it down to the mattress. Make sure to use a tight-fitting sheet as well.
- Note that if you use spray adhesive, there will be some residue left on the mattress if you ever want to rip off the topper. Duct tape can leave some residue on the mattress too if it is left on for a long time.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing a Bed Frame from Sliding on Smooth Floors

1
Place an area rug underneath the bed frame. Get an area rug that is slightly bigger than the area the bed covers. Move the bed off to the side and place the rug on the floor, then move the bed back on top of it.^{[2]
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- The more plush the rug is, the more traction the bed frame will have.
2
Put non-skid furniture feet on the bottoms of each leg if you don’t want a rug. Get furniture feet that are big enough to fit on the bottoms of the legs of your bed frame. Lift up the bed a corner at a time and stick the furniture feet on.^{[3]
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- You can get furniture feet at most furniture stores or home improvement centers.
3
Slip pieces of rubber shelf liner under the legs for homemade furniture feet. Cut pieces of non-slip shelf liner that are slightly bigger than the bottoms of the legs of the frame. Lift the bed frame up at each corner and slide the pieces of rubber liner underneath.^{[4]
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- The rubber liner you want to get is the kind used to line cabinets and keep things like glasses from sliding around.

Community Q&A

Question

What can I use to keep my mattress from sliding?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

An easy solution is to place a non-slip mattress pad or rubber matting between your mattress and bed frame that will prevent it from sliding. You can also wedge a towel or blanket between the bed frame and the mattress to stop it wedge it into place so it doesn't slide. If all else fails, you can get a new bed frame that fits around your mattress more tightly so it doesn't have room to slide around.
Question

What should I put under my mattress?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If you're trying to stabilize your mattress and keep it from moving or sliding, you can insert a non-slip mattress pad or a rubber mat between your mattress and your bed frame. You could also attach long strips of velcro along the bottom of your mattress and your box spring or bed frame so they hold your mattress in place.
Question

How can I keep my bed in place?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

You can keep your bed from moving around by placing an area rug beneath it, which will prevent it from sliding. You could also attach non-skid furniture feet to the bottom of each of the legs of your bed so it's held still. Another option is to place pieces of rubber shelf liner under the legs of your bed to keep the whole frame from moving.