Dressers & Chests

A dresser is wide and low, usually about 30–38 in tall and 50–70 in wide, with two or three columns of drawers and a large top for a mirror or lamp. A chest of drawers is tall and narrow, usually 44–50 in tall and 25–40 in wide, with drawers in a single column. It uses vertical space, so it fits small rooms. Compare the Curva 8-Drawer Double Dresser (63 in wide) with the Curva 5-Drawer Chest (32.8 in wide), or read our dresser vs. chest of drawers guide.

Most bedroom dressers are about 30–38 in tall, 18–20 in deep, and 55–65 in wide for a standard 6–8 drawer double dresser. Triple dressers run 65–72 in wide, and chests are 44–50 in tall. Check the drawer interiors too. Drawers 4–5 in high suit T-shirts and socks, and 6–8 in suits sweaters and jeans. Full charts are in our dresser dimensions guide.

Leave about 36 in in front of a dresser so the drawers open fully and you can stand comfortably. Between the bed and the dresser, 30 in is a workable minimum in small rooms. If space is tight, choose a slimmer dresser or a tall chest with a smaller footprint rather than squeezing the walkway.

A double dresser has two side-by-side columns of drawers, usually six to eight drawers in total, and is about 55–65 in wide. It's the most common bedroom dresser and holds most of one or two people's folded clothes. Our Curva 8-Drawer Double Dresser is 63 in wide, with a raised base 6.3 in off the floor. For shared main bedrooms, the 70.8 in Orbis Soft Curve Drawer Dresser has deep drawers rated for 44 lb each.

A tall chest of drawers is usually best, because it stores as much as a wide dresser on about half the floor space. Look for one about 25–33 in wide, such as the Sartelle Upholstered Drawer Chest (25.9 in wide) or the Nacre 5-Drawer Chest (31.5 in wide). A raised base makes the room feel bigger. More layouts are in our small bedroom dresser guide.

Yes, if the room is long enough. Choose a low dresser, no taller than the mattress top or only slightly taller, facing away from the bed. Leave at least 30 in to walk around it. Many people put a TV on a foot-of-bed dresser. In a very small room, a storage bench or blanket chest is a lighter alternative.

Hang the bottom of the mirror about 4–8 in above the dresser top, and make it about two-thirds of the dresser's width so it looks anchored. A large mirror leaning on the dresser top is a relaxed alternative. For decor layouts, see how to style a dresser.

Yes. Dressers and chests are top-heavy when drawers are open, and tip-overs are a serious risk for young children. Since September 2023, clothing storage units sold in the U.S. must meet the CPSC's STURDY tip-over standard. You should still secure every dresser to a wall stud with the included anti-tip kit, keep heavy items in the lower drawers, and open one drawer at a time.