Tilt-Top vs. Non-Tilt Overbed Tables: Which Fits Your Bed?
Picture what will sit on your overbed table tomorrow morning. If it’s a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee, a non-tilt top gives you a level surface at every height. If it’s a large-print book you’d like to angle toward you, a tilt-top table is worth a look. Before choosing either, check whether its base can roll far enough under your bed to put those items within reach.
When a flat top makes more sense
A non-tilt overbed table can still adjust up and down. What stays fixed is the angle. That makes it a straightforward choice for meals, sorting mail or doing a jigsaw puzzle that you want to leave in place. For a quick size check, arrange your usual plate, glass and utensils on a counter. Measure the rectangle they occupy and compare it with the usable tabletop dimensions.
When a tilt-top table earns its place
A sloping surface brings the page of a book or crossword toward you. Look closely at the product photos. Does the entire top tilt, or is there a separate section that stays level for a drink? Is there a lower lip to catch the book? If the whole surface tilts, you’ll need somewhere else to set your cup before adjusting it. Explore tilt-top overbed tables.
How to measure for an overbed table
- Check the working height. Sit in your usual reading or eating position, with the bed set as you normally use it. Have someone measure from the floor to where you want the tabletop. If you use the bed at two heights, record both.
- Trace the path of the base. Measure the opening beneath the bed on the side you’ll use. Check the lowest obstruction along the full path, including frame crossbars. Compare that clearance with the height of the assembled base and casters. A wheel diameter alone won’t tell you whether the frame clears.
- Test reach and parking space. Mark the listed base footprint on cardboard and slide it into position. This shows where the upright could meet the bed frame. Then check where you’ll park the table when someone needs access to the bedside.
Two Drive Medical models compared
The Drive Medical 13067 non-tilt table adjusts from 28 to 45 inches high. The 13008 tilt-top model adjusts from 29.5 to 46 inches and tilts up to 33 degrees in either direction. Both list a base measuring 15.5 inches deep by 26.5 inches wide. Suppose your preferred tabletop height is 29 inches. The flat model reaches it, while the tilt model’s lowest setting is half an inch higher. That small difference is easy to miss if you compare only the photos. Drive Medical 13067 specifications and 13008 specifications.
If the listing leaves under-bed clearance unclear, ask for the height of the assembled base at its tallest point. Include your bed opening and the table’s model number so the answer applies to your setup.