Our Iron Bed Collections Compared: Which One Fits You?

We offer four iron bed collections. The short version: American Classics and Dream Gallery are made to order in 6 to 8 weeks, offer custom heights, finish samples and the larger finish list, and Dream Gallery holds our most ornate designs, including every canopy bed. Iron Art and North Haven Traditions are made to order in 10 to 14 weeks, share a separate finish list with no premium upcharges, and offer the complete bed in either a box spring or mattress-only version. Iron Art is also home to our platform "Surround" beds.

Every bed in every collection is handcrafted to order in Los Angeles by our partner workshops, with the same core construction: thick-walled steel tubing, solid iron rod, headboards and footboards each welded as one piece, castings hand-poured around the weld joints, and finishes applied by hand. The collections differ in design, finishes, options, lead time and policy details, and those differences are what this guide compares.

The four collections at a glance

Any order can be canceled within 72 hours for a full refund, and custom orders in any collection (such as custom height) are non-refundable once in production. All four collections offer Headboard Only and Headboard & Frame on most designs, and all are made for standard US mattress sizes. After production, shipping takes 1 to 2 weeks depending on your location.

American Classics

Best for: buyers who want a classic iron bed and the most control over the details.

American Classics is our largest collection, covering the traditional iron bed look from simple to fairly detailed designs. It pairs a 6 to 8 week lead time with the most options:

• Custom height: headboard, footboard and/or side rails can be raised up to 13 inches for an added fee. Useful for tall mattresses, under-bed storage or a taller headboard behind a pillow stack.
• Finishes: 13 finishes in all: four standard (White Matte, Distressed White, Antique Black and Antique Bronze), plus nine premium designer finishes for an added fee, such as Black Gold, Smokey Gold, Antique Gold and Farmhouse Gray.
• Samples: after ordering you can request up to 4 finish samples. They arrive in about a week, and you confirm your choice within about 2 weeks.
• Rails: standard gunmetal rails, or painted to match your finish for an added fee.
• Sizes: twin through California king on every design in the collection.

Beds to start with: the Brighton and Kennebunk (both four-posters), the Castine, featured on our farmhouse page, and the Belle. Brighton, Belle and Colette also appear in our in-stock Quickship program from time to time.

Dream Gallery

Best for: a statement bed, especially a canopy.

Dream Gallery holds our most ornate designs and every canopy bed we offer: the Morella Canopy, Chartres Canopy, Isabelle Canopy, Olwyn's Amulet Canopy, Amiens Abbey Canopy and Amiens Abbey Canopy (Open Toe). It shares American Classics' 6 to 8 week lead time, custom height option, finish list, samples and rail options.

Two things to know:

• Canopy beds are sold as complete beds only. Ceiling height and room size matter, so see each product page for exact outside dimensions, and our iron canopy beds guide for planning help.
• Dream Gallery orders are non-refundable once in production. You still have the 72-hour window to cancel for a full refund, and the sample process lets you see the finish before you commit to it.

Beds to start with: the Chartres, Isabelle and Morella if you want the ornament without a canopy. Twin is available on most Dream Gallery designs, but not all (the original Morella starts at full).

Iron Art

Best for: a bolder design, a platform bed, or a mattress-only setup.

Iron Art is made to order in 10 to 14 weeks. It is the only collection with platform beds: the Sunset, Blake, Braden, Sheffield and Quati each come in a "Surround" version, all collected on our platform beds page.

• Finishes: the Iron Art finish list, all standard with no premium upcharges, including Aged Bronze, Aged Iron, Matte Black, Matte White, Rustic Ivory and Brass Bisque.
• Configurations: Headboard Only, Headboard & Frame, and a complete bed that takes a box spring or, on most designs, a mattress only. Surround platform beds are sold complete.
• Not offered: custom height and finish samples.
• Sizes: most designs start at full. Twin is offered on the Sunset, Blake and Blake Surround; the Laurel starts at queen.

Beds to start with: the Sheffield, Braden and Blake. Braden and Sheffield are among our Quickship beds when in stock.

North Haven Traditions

Best for: a traditional iron bed that suits many rooms, with box spring or mattress-only flexibility.

North Haven Traditions shares Iron Art's 10 to 14 week lead time, finish list and configuration choices, without the platform designs. The Braden, Sheffield and Quati appear in both collections.

• Sizes: most designs run full through California king. The Olympia is the only North Haven design in twin, and the Birmingham, Revere and Hamilton start at queen.
• Not offered: custom height and finish samples.

Beds to start with: the Wellington pictured at the top of this page, the Laredo and the Olympia.

Daybeds

Our daybeds, the Blake Daybed and the Avery Daybed, are twin size with trundle options. They come in Iron Art finishes.

How to choose

• Need the bed sooner? American Classics or Dream Gallery (6 to 8 weeks), or check Quickship, where in-stock beds ship in about a week at the same price as made to order.
• Want a canopy? Dream Gallery is the only collection with canopy beds.
• Want a platform bed with no box spring? Iron Art's Surround designs, or a mattress-only complete bed in Iron Art or North Haven Traditions.
• Need a taller headboard or higher rails? American Classics or Dream Gallery, up to +13 inches.
• Want to see the finish in person first? American Classics or Dream Gallery, with up to 4 samples after ordering.
• Shopping for twin beds? American Classics has the widest twin selection.
• Torn between finish families? Bronze tones are our customers' most popular choice, then black, then white, and both finish lists cover all three.

About 80 percent of our customers buy a complete bed and about 15 percent choose headboard and frame; see headboard only vs full iron bed if you are deciding. Every bed ships free in the contiguous US to the first threshold, with optional White Glove Delivery & Assembly for an added fee, and carries a lifetime warranty covering the bed under normal use. Because each bed is made to order, there are no change-of-mind returns; damage or an incorrect item reported within 14 days of delivery is repaired or replaced at no cost. The full terms are in our shipping policy and refund policy.

Still deciding? Call us at (800) 378-1742, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm ET, and we will help you compare specific beds. For the full picture of iron beds, start with our iron beds buyer's guide.