What Is the Table Next to a Bed Called? Nightstand, Bedside Table and Other Names
Short answer: The small table or cabinet next to a bed is called a nightstand, a bedside table or a night table. All three mean the same piece of furniture. The Cambridge and Oxford Learner's dictionaries label nightstand and night table as North American English and bedside table as mainly British English. If it has a door or enclosed storage, you will also see it called a bedside cabinet.
Names for the table next to a bed
| Name | What it means | Where you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Nightstand | A small table beside a bed. Merriam-Webster defines it simply as "night table." | North American English |
| Night table | "A small bedside table or stand" (Merriam-Webster) | North American English |
| Bedside table | "A small table that is kept at the side of a bed" (Cambridge) | Mainly British English |
| Bedside cabinet | Collins defines a nightstand as "a small bedside cabinet or table." A cabinet is a case or cupboard "usually having doors and shelves" (Merriam-Webster), so the name suits one with a door. | British English (Collins) |
| Bedside chest | A store label for a bedside piece with a stack of drawers (often three) | Furniture retailers |
| Bed table | Mainly an adjustable table used by someone in bed, such as for eating or writing. Merriam-Webster also lists "a small table beside a bed" as a second meaning. | General English |
| Commode | Historically a low chest of drawers. Today it can also mean a chamber-pot chair or a toilet, so it is best avoided. | Antiques and furniture history |
You will also see nightstand written as two words, night stand, including in some product names.
Nightstand vs bedside table vs night table
These are the same thing under different names. Dictionaries give the same definition for each; the word you use mostly depends on where you live. Oxford Learner's Dictionary lists nightstand and night table as North American English and bedside table as "especially British English."
Stores sometimes use the names loosely to describe the style:
- Nightstand or bedside table: the general term. It can have drawers, a door, open shelves or just a tabletop.
- Bedside cabinet: fits one with a door or closed storage rather than an open base.
- Bedside chest or nightstand chest: used for one with several drawers stacked on top of each other, often three.
Where the names come from
Merriam-Webster dates the first known use of night table to about 1772 and nightstand to about 1852. Bed table goes back to 1748, in the sense of a table used by a person in bed.
Commode comes from a French word meaning "convenient" or "suitable." Etymonline records it for a decorative chest of drawers from 1786. By 1851 it also meant a chair that held a chamber pot, usually kept in a bedroom. That later meaning is why commode is not a clear word for a nightstand today.
What is a bedside table used for?
A bedside table keeps the things you want within reach while you're in bed. Common uses:
- A surface for a table lamp, so you can read or turn the light off without getting up.
- A phone and charger, an alarm clock, or a glass of water.
- Books, glasses, medication, lip balm and other small items, stored in a drawer so the top stays clear.
- Closed storage behind a door for taller items, or an open shelf for books or a basket.
If you don't need much storage, Room & Board notes that end tables "make great nightstand alternatives."
Nightstand vs dresser vs chest of drawers
A nightstand is a small table that sits right beside the bed. A chest of drawers is "a piece of furniture designed to contain a set of drawers (as for holding clothing)," and a dresser is "a chest of drawers or bureau with a mirror" (both Merriam-Webster). In short, the nightstand holds what you need in bed, and the chest or dresser holds your clothes. If you want more bedside storage, look for a nightstand with two or more drawers.
How to choose a nightstand
This is general guidance. Measure your own bed and space before you buy.
Height
Measure from the floor to the top of your mattress, including any topper. Room & Board's design guide suggests a nightstand "the same height or slightly higher than the top of your mattress." That keeps a lamp, phone or glass within easy reach while you're lying down.
Width
Match the nightstand to the size of the bed. As Room & Board puts it, "the wider your bed, the wider nightstands can be." Also measure the space between the bed and the wall, window or door so the piece doesn't block a walkway.
Storage
- Drawers hide small items and keep the top clear.
- A door (bedside cabinet) holds taller things like books, tissues or a water bottle.
- An open shelf keeps books or a basket easy to reach.
Top surface
If you keep a glass of water by the bed, Room & Board suggests a stone or ceramic top so you can set it down "without worry."
Examples at Archic
Here are four pieces from our nightstands collection that show the main types. Heights come from each product page, so compare them to your mattress height.
| Nightstand | Storage | Height | Width | Depth | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LH Imports Terrazzo 1 Door Nightstand | 1 door | 21.5 in | 17.5 in | 15.2 in | Iron frame and legs, terrazzo door front |
| LH Imports Aura 1 Drawer Nightstand with Shelf | 1 felt-lined drawer, open shelf | 23.2 in | 19.6 in | 15.7 in | Solid acacia, marble top |
| Night and Day Clove 2 Drawer Nightstand | 2 drawers | 24 in | 25 in | 19 in | Rubberwood solids and/or rubberwood veneers |
| Night and Day Secrets 1 Drawer Nightstand | 1 drawer | 25 in | 23 in | 19 in | Rubberwood solids and/or rubberwood veneers |
- Terrazzo: a bedside cabinet. The door front is terrazzo made of stones, cement and epoxy, and no assembly is required.
- Aura: a drawer plus an open shelf, with a polished Italian marble top and an outward V-shaped base. The legs are removable.
- Clove: two drawers. Night and Day describes it as a good match for its Spices bed models. It comes in Cherry, Chocolate, Natural, Stonewash or White.
- Secrets: one drawer on full-extension glides, in the same five colors. A hidden storage tray that fits underneath is optional and sold separately.
If the "cabinet near a bed" you have in mind is a cabinet with a bed folded inside it, that is a Murphy cabinet bed, not a nightstand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the table next to the bed called?
It's called a nightstand, a bedside table or a night table. Nightstand and night table are the usual North American words. Bedside table is more common in British English.
What is a bedside table used for?
It holds the things you want within reach from bed, such as a lamp, a phone and charger, an alarm clock, a glass of water, books and glasses. Drawers, doors or shelves add storage for small items.
Is a nightstand the same as a bedside table?
Yes. They're two names for the same furniture. Stores may use "bedside cabinet" for one with a door and "bedside chest" for one with several drawers.
What is a desk next to a bed called?
A small desk beside a bed is usually just called a desk or writing desk. If it also holds your lamp and phone, it is doing the job of a nightstand. A table you use while sitting up in bed, for eating or writing, is called a bed table.
How tall should a nightstand be?
A common rule is the same height as the top of your mattress or slightly higher. Measure from the floor to the top of your mattress first, then compare that to the nightstand's listed height.
Questions? Call or text (916) 262-7257 or email support@archicfurniture.com.
