Queen sized bed frame

I'm ready to get rid of our box spring.
i want the same height or higher, but with more space under the bed.
To that end I was thinking of making a 60 x 96  platform of 3/4" plywood.

If I built a frame from 2 x 4's with legs at the corners, can I count on 3/4" plywood to support two fat people across the 60 width of the bed?
I'm trying to avoid a 5th leg in the middle of the bed, for aesthetics and because I don't want it in the way of cleaning.

If the plywood needs more support, I was planning on  a third rail running lengthwise down the center of the bed, and maybe a center leg at either end of it.
Ideally, If I do use the third rail, I could use 1/2" plywood, for weight and cost savings.

Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

i made this one about 2 years ago.  i call it the captains platform.  im still using it and i love the storage.  i made it all from my own ideas and ideals so i don't have plans made-up , i just started building the dimensions i wanted and ended up with something i'm proud of.  mine is smaller than a queen, more like a full double, but it sure would be easy to follow my build and make it a few inches wider.  i wanted more storage, and bigger drawers, and also have to possibility to throw out my old drawer dresser, or have a bed and dresser built into one.  for me it was for space saving but i can think of several reasons why this is an improvement. it doesn't squeek like my old one did , and i made the drawers nice and big 23"x23" and deep enough to accommodate far more than my old dresser drawers :)  i also have an idea to make a tray that sits on-top the side drawer to make a floating night stand but i haven't shown that idea yet.  but the bed itself is great i love it, let me know what you think.  i made the bed over two videos part1 and part 2.
pat1


part2

William Bronson wrote: ... can I count on 3/4" plywood to support two fat people across the 60 width of the bed?
I'm trying to avoid a 5th leg in the middle of the bed, for aesthetics and because I don't want it in the way of cleaning.

If the plywood needs more support, I was planning on  a third rail running lengthwise down the center of the bed, and maybe a center leg at either end of it.
Ideally, If I do use the third rail, I could use 1/2" plywood, for weight and cost savings.

Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

Plywood will sag with time, even under it's own weight if an entire sheet were suspended on two ends. Instead of that 5th leg in the center, I think incorporating four or five 2x4 joists, turned so the 3.5 inch side is up/down and spanning the 60 inches would provide the right support you're looking for.

I had a queen sized platform bed from a store; the plywood deck was in two halves the had a spline down the middle the mated the two halves together. Hardware under the head and foot locked the halves together. The edge had a 1” x 3” strip of oak. It set on a box (pressed-wood painted flat black) that was recessed about 10 inches all the way around and the platform had blocks on the bottom that prevented it shifting laterally.

Ikea sells some platform bed storage options, and there are lots of ideas out there for taking or making 1-2 drawer units and using them as a platform: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ikea+platform+bed+storage&t=canonical&ia=images&iax=images

I have built clear span beds with 2x4 stringers, vertical... I used 4 stringers for a double, but I wasn't building for heavier folks. Plywood alone is by no means going to work for anyone!

Giving up clear span would let you drop down to plywood or slats without lengthwise supports... with IMO at least 2 supported crossbeams. I ripped down 2x material to 1" thick for these, no need for more width and I wanted every inch of space..

Thanks for all the replies!
I think you have answered my question.
Even across 60 Inches, 3/4" plywood isn't enough.
I was hoping 3/4" plywood was enough because that is how thick the slats on a queen sized bed are.
Further review shows a middle rail , even on the models with out a center leg.
With this in mind, four 2 x 4 's , set on edge ,running lengthwise, should be enough support either for slats or a full platform of plywood.
I prefer to run them lengthwise rather than across the width of the bed, to avoid wasting wood.
8' lengths are the most efficient buy for me, and would give me a platform long enough to hold the mattress and give a place to sit while getting dressed/ undressed.

I have doped out a cut sheet for a 4' x 8' sheet of ply wood.
After accounting for the 16" x 60" seat at the end of the bed,I think I can get thirty-four 4" x 30" slats from a single sheet.
By laying two of these slats end to end across the four 2 x 4's, I should get a surface made up of 17  4" x 60" slats with one inch of opening between each slat.

I plan on one 2 x 4 along each edge, but  I question the placement of the other two.
I could put them 20" in from each side, leaving each individual 30" slat cantilevered 10" into the center.
Or , I could run them side by side down the center, 30" in from each side, with  the full 30" span between.
Honestly , 5 parallel 2 x 4 , 15" on center is probably the right  answer.

William Bronson wrote:Thanks for all the replies!
I think you have answered my question.
Even across 60 Inches, 3/4" plywood isn't enough.
I was hoping 3/4" plywood was enough because that is how thick the slats on a queen sized bed are.
Further review shows a middle rail , even on the models with out a center leg.
With this in mind, four 2 x 4 's , set on edge ,running lengthwise, should be enough support either for slats or a full platform of plywood.
I prefer to run them lengthwise rather than across the width of the bed, to avoid wasting wood.
8' lengths are the most efficient buy for me, and would give me a platform long enough to hold the mattress and give a place to sit while getting dressed/ undressed.

I have doped out a cut sheet for a 4' x 8' sheet of ply wood.
After accounting for the 16" x 60" seat at the end of the bed,I think I can get thirty-four 4" x 30" slats from a single sheet.
By laying two of these slats end to end across the four 2 x 4's, I should get a surface made up of 17  4" x 60" slats with one inch of opening between each slat.

I plan on one 2 x 4 along each edge, but  I question the placement of the other two.
I could put them 20" in from each side, leaving each individual 30" slat cantilevered 10" into the center.
Or , I could run them side by side down the center, 30" in from each side, with  the full 30" span between.
Honestly , 5 parallel 2 x 4 , 15" on center is probably the right  answer.

I think 4 evenly spaced is less bad than the center only option.. but agree that 5 is the right answer.

For me it was cheaper and quicker to buy 1x4 material for slats; plus, less cutting and no offgassing of glues. If one wanted a solid surface, plywood is a winner, otherwise..

And with a 60" wide bed, 10' 1x4s would be perfectly sized to yield 2 slats per piece!