Best Bedside Tables Australia

A bedside table has to do a lot in a small footprint: hold a lamp and a glass of water, hide the clutter of chargers and reading glasses, and still look right next to your bed. Get it wrong and you have either a wobbly perch that is always overflowing or an oversized cabinet that crowds the room. The good news is that Australia has never had more genuinely good options at every price.

The category runs from a $55 flat-pack with a single drawer to solid-timber pieces that cost several hundred and last decades. Width, drawer count, material and the height relative to your mattress all matter more than most people think. We focused on tables you can actually buy in Australia right now, from retailers with real stock and easy delivery or click-and-collect, and we picked one standout for each common need rather than burying you in near-identical white boxes.

Prices were checked in July 2026. Here are the best bedside tables you can buy in Australia this year.

Top 3 at a glance

What is the best bedside table in Australia?

The best bedside table in Australia in 2026 for most people is the IKEA HEMNES Bedside Table. It is made from solid pine rather than the coated particle board used at this price by most rivals, its two drawers run smoothly and it works in traditional and modern rooms alike, which is why it has stayed a bestseller for years.

If you want more storage, the Fantastic Furniture Hilda packs three drawers into a slim frame. For a tight bedroom the Yarra Oak with USB ports is compact and charges your phone, the Amelius is the budget pick, and the Freedom Arlo in solid oak is the premium timber choice.

1. IKEA HEMNES Bedside Table (best overall)

Material: Solid pine
Drawers: 2
Width: Around 46 cm
Price: Check current price
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The HEMNES is the bedside table most people should buy. Where nearly everything else near this price is coated particle board, the HEMNES is made from solid pine, so it feels substantial, takes the odd knock without chipping and can be sanded or repainted years down the track. That alone sets it apart from the flat-pack crowd.

It gives you two roomy drawers that glide on smooth runners, plus enough top space for a lamp, a book and a glass of water without feeling cramped. The straight lines and simple handles sit comfortably in a traditional room or a modern one, which is a big part of why it has been a bestseller for so long and pairs neatly with the wider HEMNES bedroom range.

It is flat-pack, so you will spend half an hour building it, and the pine shows minor dents more than a laminate would. Neither takes much away from what is the most reliable all-rounder here.

Pick if...

You want one table that does everything well, in a solid-timber build that outlasts the particle-board competition.

2. Fantastic Furniture Hilda 3 Drawer (best for storage)

Material: Particle board, metal runners
Drawers: 3
Size: 40 W x 34 D x 56 cm H
Price: Around A$89
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If your bedside chaos needs corralling, the Hilda is the answer. It stacks three full-width drawers into a slim 40cm-wide frame, so you get far more hidden storage than a typical one or two-drawer table without eating into floor space. Medication, chargers, notebooks and the usual bedside overflow all get a home.

The drawers run on metal runners with tidy aluminium-alloy handles, and at 56cm tall it sits at a comfortable height beside most beds. The clean white finish is easy to wipe down and works in a kid's room, a guest room or a main bedroom equally well, and at well under $100 you can buy a matching pair without much thought.

It is particle board rather than timber, so treat it gently and do not overload the top, and white shows scuffs over time. For the storage-to-price ratio, those are fair trade-offs.

Pick if...

You have a lot to stash beside the bed and want maximum drawer space in a narrow, affordable frame.

3. Fantastic Furniture Yarra Oak with USB (best for small spaces)

Material: Oak-look finish
Storage: 1 drawer plus open shelf
Size: 48 W x 40 D x 50 cm H
Price: Around A$99
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In a small bedroom every centimetre counts, and the Yarra is built for exactly that. Its compact 48 by 40cm footprint tucks into tight spots beside a bed, while a single drawer plus an open lower shelf give you both a hidden spot and a display or grab-and-go layer without the bulk of a full chest.

The standout feature is the built-in USB port, so you can charge a phone, tablet or e-reader overnight straight from the table with no wall adapter cluttering the powerpoint. The warm oak-look finish and cutaway handles keep it looking sleek rather than utilitarian, which matters when the table is a bigger visual presence in a small room.

Storage is naturally limited to that one drawer, so heavy hoarders should look at the Hilda instead, and the finish is a laminate rather than real timber. For a compact, tech-friendly bedside, it is hard to beat at the price.

Pick if...

Your bedroom is tight on space and you want a small table that still charges your phone overnight.

4. Fantastic Furniture Amelius (best budget)

Material: Woodgrain-look board
Storage: 1 drawer plus open shelf
Colour: Black
Price: Around A$55
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You do not need to spend big to get a bedside table that works, and the Amelius proves it. For around $55 you get a single drawer for the things you want out of sight and an open shelf below for books or a box, which covers what most people actually need beside a bed.

The dark finish hides marks better than white, so it wears well in a busy household, spare room or a first apartment, and it is light and simple enough to move and assemble without fuss. As a low-risk way to furnish a guest room or kit out a share house, it is the sensible starting point.

It is basic by design, with a board construction and no soft-close or extra frills, and the single drawer is on the shallow side. At this price, though, it does the core job without complaint.

Pick if...

You want a functional bedside table for as little as possible, or you are furnishing a guest room or rental.

5. Freedom Arlo (best premium timber)

Material: Solid oak and oak veneer
Drawers: 2
Size: 65 W x 45.5 D x 51 cm H
Price: Check current price
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When you want a bedside table to last decades and feel like a proper piece of furniture, the Arlo steps up. It is built from solid oak and oak veneer in a warm natural tone, so it has real timber weight and grain rather than a printed finish, and it ages gracefully in a way laminate never does.

Two deep drawers on a generous 65cm-wide top give you plenty of storage and room for a lamp, books and the usual bedside things without crowding. The clean, slightly mid-century lines suit a considered bedroom, and because it is part of Freedom's wider range you can match it to dressers and beds for a coordinated look.

It is the most expensive option here and the wider footprint needs a bit more space beside the bed, so measure first. If you want a timber piece you will keep for years rather than replace, it earns the premium.

Pick if...

You want a genuine solid-timber bedside table that looks and feels like real furniture and will last for years.

How we choose bedside tables

There is no lab-coat theatre here, just the same process applied to every product. For bedside tables specifically we:

• Confirmed real Australian availability — every pick is currently sold in Australia with a working product listing, and we dropped anything we could not confirm was in stock here.
• Weighed storage against footprint — drawer count and usable top space versus how much floor the table actually takes up beside a bed.
• Judged material and build — solid timber versus veneer versus particle board, drawer runners, and how well each holds up to daily use.
• Matched picks to real needs — one standout each for overall value, storage, small spaces, budget and premium timber, rather than five near-identical boxes.
• Flagged the fine print — flat-pack assembly, finishes that mark, and prices that move, so you are not caught out.

Sleep Society may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, which never changes our order or what we say.

What to look for in a bedside table

1. Height relative to your mattress

The top of a bedside table should sit roughly level with the top of your mattress, so you can reach a lamp or a glass of water without stretching up or down. Most beds pair well with a table between 50 and 65cm tall, so measure your mattress height before you buy.

2. Storage you will actually use

Think about what lives beside your bed. A single drawer suits a minimalist, while chargers, medication and books call for two or three drawers like the Hilda. An open shelf adds grab-and-go space but shows clutter, so it is a style choice as much as a storage one.

3. Footprint and width

In a tight room a narrow 40 to 48cm table like the Yarra keeps walkways clear, while a larger bedroom can carry a wider 60cm-plus top with more surface space. Measure the gap between your bed and the wall before committing.

4. Material and build

Solid timber such as the pine HEMNES or oak Arlo lasts longest and can be refinished, but costs more. Coated particle board is cheaper and lighter and fine for a guest room or a first place, as long as you do not overload it. Check the drawer runners too, as metal glides beat bare timber.

5. Extras that earn their place

A built-in USB port, like the Yarra's, saves a wall adapter and is genuinely handy for overnight charging. Soft-close drawers, cable cut-outs and a lower shelf are all nice to have, but do not pay for features you will not use.

FAQs

How tall should a bedside table be?

As a rule, aim for the tabletop to sit roughly level with the top of your mattress, which for most beds means a table somewhere between 50 and 65cm tall. That keeps a lamp, phone and glass of water within easy reach without you having to stretch up or lean down from the pillow.

Is solid timber worth it over particle board?

If you want the table to last many years and possibly be refinished, yes. Solid timber like pine or oak is sturdier, handles knocks better and ages well. Particle board is lighter and much cheaper, and is a sensible choice for a guest room, a child's room or a rental where longevity matters less.

What size bedside table suits a small bedroom?

Look for a width around 40 to 48cm so the table does not block the walkway beside your bed. A compact single-drawer design with an open shelf, like the Yarra, gives you storage without bulk. Always measure the gap between your bed and the wall first, and leave room to open the drawer fully.

Do I need matching bedside tables on both sides?

Not necessarily, but a matching pair gives a bedroom a calm, balanced look, which is why many of these tables are sold individually or as a set of two. If your two sides have different needs, mixing a drawered table with a simpler one is perfectly fine, so long as the height and tone are similar.

Are flat-pack bedside tables hard to assemble?

Most take 20 to 40 minutes with the included tools and instructions. Drawered models like the HEMNES have a few more steps than a simple open table, but none here are difficult. Work on a soft surface to avoid scratches, and hand-tighten fittings before the final turn so panels line up cleanly.

Sources

1. CHOICE – Australian product reviews and buying guidance
2. IKEA Australia – bedside table range and specifications