What you’ll build
Each end is two 80″ 4x4 posts with a 2x8 rail, and the head end adds a 1x8 headboard plank. 2x8 side rails join the ends, a 2x6 center beam on two short 4x4 legs supports the middle, and fourteen 1x4 slats carry the mattress. Four 2x4 rails tie the post tops into the canopy frame. The inside of the frame measures 56½″ × 76½″, which fits a full-size mattress (54″ × 75″).
Shopping list
Buy these boards. The list fits every cut onto standard lengths and leaves ⅛″ for each saw cut and ¼″ for trimming board ends.
| Lumber | Length | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 | 8 ft | 4 |
| 2x8 | 8 ft | 4 |
| 1x8 | 8 ft | 1 |
| 2x4 | 8 ft | 4 |
| 2x6 | 8 ft | 1 |
| 1x4 | 8 ft | 14 |
Cut list
All 30 parts, grouped so you can cut matching pieces together. Exact lengths and end-cut angles for every part are in the free plan in the TimberLab app.
| Part | Lumber | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Slat | 1x4 | 14 |
| Post | 4x4 | 4 |
| Rail | 2x8 | 2 |
| Rail | 2x8 | 2 |
| Upper Rail | 2x4 | 2 |
| Upper Rail | 2x4 | 2 |
| Leg | 4x4 | 2 |
| Headboard | 1x8 | 1 |
| Support | 2x6 | 1 |
Tools
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Speed square
- Eye & ear protection
- Drill
- Miter saw
- Clamps
- Sander
Step-by-step instructions
Assemble the Headboard Frame
Lay the two 80-inch rear posts flat on a clean floor. Position the 56 1/2-inch lower headboard rail and upper headboard plank between the posts, flush with the inner post faces. Clamp the subassembly securely and check for square before proceeding.
Assemble the Footboard Frame
Lay the two 80-inch front posts flat on the floor. Fit the 56 1/2-inch footboard rail between the posts at matching frame height, aligning edges flush with the inner post faces. Clamp the assembly firmly to maintain square alignment.
Connect the Side Rails
Install the Upper Canopy Rails
Install the Center Support Assembly
Lay the Mattress Support Slats
Get the full plan: all 6 steps and every cut length.
Download TimberLab and open Four-poster canopy bed in the catalog to get every cut length and end-cut angle, all 6 assembly steps in 3D, and Timbo, the AI build helper. Catalog plans are free to open; some features, such as AI edits, require a subscription.
Check that your mattress fits the frame before you cut the slats, and follow your mattress maker’s slat spacing guidance. The rail-to-post joints carry the load, so fasten them with structural screws or bolts and glue.
Change the size or design
This plan is one of the projects in the TimberLab app’s catalog. In the app you can turn the model in 3D, follow the assembly steps one part at a time, and ask for changes in plain words, such as “make it 6 inches shorter” or “add a shelf”. The cut list and shopping list update to match the new design.
Questions about this plan
How much lumber do I need to build this four-poster canopy bed?
The shopping list calls for 4 × 4x4 at 8 ft; 4 × 2x8 at 8 ft; 1 × 1x8 at 8 ft; 4 × 2x4 at 8 ft; 1 × 2x6 at 8 ft; 14 × 1x4 at 8 ft. It groups every cut onto standard board lengths and leaves room for saw cuts and trimming the board ends.
How big is the finished four-poster canopy bed?
It is 63 ½″ wide, 80″ tall, and 83 ½″ deep.
What tools do I need?
You need a tape measure, pencil, speed square, eye & ear protection, drill, miter saw, clamps, sander.
Can I change the size of this four-poster canopy bed?
Yes. Open the four-poster canopy bed in the TimberLab app and describe the change in plain words, such as “make it 6 inches shorter”. The 3D model, cut list, and shopping list update together.
Where can I get the full four-poster canopy bed plan?
The full plan, with every cut length and all 6 assembly steps in 3D, is free in the TimberLab app. Download TimberLab on the App Store and open the four-poster canopy bed in its catalog.
