Dog Stairs for High Beds: Step Height and Depth

Last updated October 28, 2026 · By Dog Ramp Guide Editorial Team

Dog stairs work for a high bed when three numbers line up: the stairs’ top height is within a few inches of your mattress top, each step is low enough for your dog to step rather than hop, and each tread is deep enough for all four paws to settle. For most beds up to about 25 in, a five-step foam or fabric stair of 22 to 23 in fits. Above that, a ramp is usually the better tool. This guide is spec-based, using Amazon listings checked on 2026-10-28; we have not tested these stairs.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some brands featured below pay a bonus commission through Amazon Creator Connections. See /disclosure/.

Short answer: for a small dog and a bed up to 25 in, the Aodisman 5-step (22.4 in) or COZY KISS 5-step (22.6 in) foam stairs fit. For a heavier dog up to 200 lb and a bed up to 24 in, Love’s cabin’s 5-step stairs (48 in deep, 17 in wide) are the sturdier choice.

Step 1: measure the mattress top

Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress where your dog will step off. Then compare it with the stair’s listed height:

• Stair top 1 to 3 in below the mattress: ideal. The last move is a small step up.
• Stair top level with the mattress: fine, if the top step is deep enough to stand on.
• Stair top more than about 4 in below the mattress: your dog has to climb or jump the gap, which defeats the point.
• Stair top above the mattress: your dog steps down onto a soft, shifting surface; avoid.

Step 2: check step height and depth

No veterinary body publishes a standard for dog-stair dimensions, so this is about matching the stair to your dog. Divide the stair’s total height by its number of steps to get the average rise per step. Look for the tread depth, or divide the stair’s overall depth by the number of steps for a rough average.

Specs per the Amazon listing, checked 2026-10-28; rise and depth averages are our arithmetic. Check the current price on Amazon and confirm sizes before buying.

How to judge the rise for your dog: a dog stepping comfortably keeps its back fairly level and places each foot. A dog hopping each step with both back legs together, or stretching up with its chin, is telling you the rise is too tall. Short-legged breeds and toy dogs feel each inch more.

How to judge the depth: the dog should be able to stand on a step with all four feet, or at least with back feet on one step and front feet on the next, without overhanging the edge. Long dogs need deeper treads.

Width: the American Kennel Club warns that stairs that are too narrow can cost a dog its confidence and risk a fall off the side (AKC on dog stairs and ramps). Extra-wide versions exist for most popular foam stairs.

Spec-based picks

Small dogs, beds up to 25 in: Aodisman 5-Step

The Aodisman 5-Step Dog Stairs for High Beds on Amazon are 22.4 in tall, made of 30D density foam with a non-slip fabric cover and bottom, and the cover is removable and washable (the foam is not), per the listing. Aodisman sizes its range by bed height: 3 steps for up to 17 in, 4 steps for up to 20 in, 5 steps for beds up to 25 in. The steps have a curved front edge.

Who it is not for: large dogs. The listing we checked does not state a weight rating, so confirm it on the page before buying for anything bigger than a small dog. Aodisman also sells a separate 5-step version for high beds; compare their listed sizes.

Small dogs, waterproof cover: COZY KISS 5-Step

The COZY KISS 5-Step Dog Stairs, 22.6 in, on Amazon are 30D foam under a corduroy cover with a TPU waterproof layer, a non-slip nylon bottom and a carry handle, per the listing. COZY KISS states the foam supports up to 80 lb and, unusually frankly, that the stairs are “not suitable for large and older dogs.” It sizes 2 steps for chairs, 3 for sofas, 4 for beds and 5 for high beds or cars. There is also an Extra Wide 5-Step version if your dog is broad or unsteady; check its listed width.

Who it is not for: dogs over 80 lb, and seniors per the maker’s own note. The waterproof layer is the reason to pick it for a puppy or an incontinent dog.

Heavier dogs, more depth: Love’s cabin 5-Step

The Love’s cabin 5-Step Dog Stairs on Amazon measure 48 in deep, 17 in wide and 22 in high and are sized for beds up to 24 in, per the listing. They combine sponge with MDF boards inside a fabric cover, sit on a non-slip base, are rated to 200 lb and have storage compartments under the steps. At 48 in deep the average tread is about 9.6 in, noticeably deeper than typical foam steps, which helps longer dogs.

Who it is not for: small rooms (it is 4 ft long), and beds above about 24 in.

A single big step for chairs and low beds: Pet Gear Stramp

The Pet Gear Stramp on Amazon is one large teardrop-shaped step, 22 x 20 in and 10 in tall, with rubber grippers and a washable carpet tread, per the listing. It halves a jump onto a low bed or chair. It is not a solution for a high bed on its own.

Big dogs or seniors: consider a ramp bench instead

If your dog is large, arthritic or long-backed, stairs may be the wrong shape. The KUVETO XXL 2-in-1 Ramp and Bed Bench on Amazon has a 20.5 in platform, a listed 22 degree ramp and a 400 lb rating per the listing, and suits beds near 20 in. For taller beds, see the dog ramp for bed guide.

Stairs or a ramp for a high bed?

Canine Arthritis Management describes stairs as one of the most challenging areas for an arthritic dog and suggests ramps in their place (CAM home adaptations). For dogs recovering from IVDD, veterinary neurology guidance is to avoid household stairs but to place pet stairs or a ramp by the bed to stop jumping (VNIOC). The full comparison is in dog ramp vs stairs.

One counterpoint worth knowing: a Dachshund Health UK survey found that healthy adult Dachshunds allowed to use stairs daily had lower odds of IVDD than those kept off them, while stressing that this is not cause and effect and that jumping down is still hard on the spine (Dachshund Health UK). Stairs are not automatically harmful for a sound dog; they are a poor fit for an injured one. See ramps for dachshunds with IVDD.

Setup tips

1. Unpack foam stairs early. Aodisman and COZY KISS both say compressed foam takes 24 to 48 hours to recover.
2. Push them tight to the bed so there is no gap at the top.
3. On hard floors, put a non-slip rug underneath even if the base is grippy.
4. Train with treats, one step at a time. AKC advises never to pull or push a hesitant dog; how to train a dog to use a ramp applies to stairs too.
5. Check the foam every few months. If a step has sagged noticeably, the rise and stability have changed.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying a 4-step stair for a 25 in bed and leaving a 5 in jump at the top.
• Putting a heavy dog on stairs rated for small dogs.
• Ignoring depth for long dogs; a short tread forces them to perch.
• Using stairs as a fix for a dog your vet has told to avoid steps.

For small breeds specifically, dog stairs for small dogs and foam vs plastic dog stairs go further.