What Is a Bed Skirt, and Do I Need One?

Some bedding essentials are meant to dress up the bed, some are for function rather than fashion—and others, like bed skirts, pull double duty and offer both performance and style. Explore this quick guide to learn how to measure for, choose, and use a bed skirt.

What Is a Bed Skirt?

A bed skirt is a decorative and functional bedding item used to cover the space below the mattress. It is placed beneath the mattress and drapes to cover the foot and sides of the frame, reaching—or nearly reaching—the floor. This creates a streamlined look while hiding the box spring, bed frame, and any under-bed storage.

Types of Bed Skirts

There are a few bed skirt styles to choose from, depending on your preferences and bed type:

• Split or split-corner bed skirt: Features two vertical slits that align with the corners at the foot of the bed, allowing the material to fit around bed posts easily.

• Regular bed skirt: Wraps around the sides and foot of the bed without split corners, ideal for beds without a footboard.

• Pleated bed skirt: Available in split and non-split styles, featuring pressed edges and clean pleats stitched into place for a crisp look.

• Ruffled bed skirt: Features flowy gathers for a more relaxed, ripple effect.

• Detachable bed skirt: Can be placed without lifting the mattress; some styles tuck beneath the edge, others use hook-and-loop strips between mattress and box spring.

What is a Dust Ruffle?

A bed skirt helps to prevent dust from gathering beneath the bed, which is why it is also called a “dust ruffle.” There is no difference between a bed skirt and a dust ruffle—the terms are interchangeable. Other common names include bed ruffle or bed valance.

Bed Skirt Versus Box Spring Covers

A bed skirt drapes to cover the space beneath the bed, while a box spring cover stretches over the box spring only—similar to how a fitted sheet covers a mattress. A box spring cover is a good alternative if you want to disguise the box spring without the length of a bed skirt.

Do I Need a Bed Skirt?

A bed skirt is a decorative extra—it’s not required, but many people prefer using one to hide the bed frame and anything stored under the bed. Because there are so many styles available, it’s easy to coordinate the bed skirt with your favorite sheet set or comforter.

How to Choose a Bed Skirt

When choosing a bed skirt, the two main things to consider are your decor style and bed size. A bed skirt doesn’t have to match your sheets exactly. Use these tips to help guide your selection:

• Choose a solid color that complements a main hue from your bedding print.

• Go for a monochrome style using a single color for all bedding layers.

• Create an ombre effect with dark top layers and a lighter bed skirt shade.

• Pick a textured design like matelassé or jacquard for subtle visual interest.

• Select a neutral color that coordinates with multiple bedding sets.

How to Measure Bed Skirt Drop

Bed skirt drop refers to the height of the bed skirt. To determine the correct drop length, measure from the top of your box spring (or bed frame, if you don’t use a box spring) to the floor. This distance in inches equals your drop length.

Some prefer the skirt to reach the floor, while others opt for it to stop 0.5 to 1 inch above the ground. A standard drop is 14 inches, but you can also find longer or shorter options to match your mattress height.

For example, if your mattress height is 16 inches, choose a 16-inch drop. For a box spring cover, simply select the cover that matches your mattress size—no drop measurement needed.

Bed skirts and box spring covers are optional accessories designed to enhance the look of your bedding setup. Choose one that fits your style and function preferences, then explore more bedroom decor tips in our other guides.