Bed fittings guide
Hydraulic Bed Fitting — Types, Weight Capacity and How to Choose (India)
How gas-spring storage bed mechanisms work, how to read a weight rating and how to match a fitting to your bed.
The short answer
A hydraulic bed fitting uses gas springs to lift a bed base and hold it open for storage access. Choose by movement type (single lift-up or dual-motion), frame size and the basis of the weight rating. Mirano's Pratik and Giove fittings come in three sizes up to 1830 × 1980 mm, with a minimum internal height of 280 mm and a rating for mattress weights of 32–35 kg.
A storage bed is only as good as the mechanism that lifts it. A weak or mismatched fitting makes the base heavy to raise, slow to hold open, and unsafe to reach under. The mechanism is a small part of the bed budget and the part you notice every time you open the storage.
This guide explains how hydraulic bed fittings work, the types in common use, how weight capacity is described, and how to match a fitting to the bed you are building. It uses Mirano's Pratik and Giove storage bed fittings as the worked examples.
Basics
What is a hydraulic bed fitting?
A hydraulic bed fitting is a lift-up mechanism for a box or storage bed. A pair of gas springs, usually called hydraulics, helps lift the bed base and mattress and holds them open. Below the base sits a storage box that you can reach without moving the bed.
The fitting includes the springs, the brackets that fix them to the frame and the base, and often a safety rod. The quality of the springs and brackets decides how smooth and safe the lift is.
Types
Types of lift-up storage bed fittings
| Type | How it moves | Mirano example | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas-spring lift-up | The bed base lifts and is held open by gas springs | Giove | Heavy-duty daily use, with a no-drop safety rod |
| Dual-motion | Raises the frame horizontally for bed-making, and lifts the bed spring for storage | Pratik | Master bedrooms where the bed is made every day |
| Wall bed | The whole bed folds up into a cabinet | Aladino, Nilo | Small rooms where floor space matters more than under-bed storage |
Wall beds are a separate category, covered in the Murphy bed buying guide and on the bed fittings page.
Capacity
How weight capacity works
Capacity is where most confusion starts. A rating can describe the mattress weight, the bed base, or the total lifted load, and manufacturers do not all use the same basis. Mirano's Pratik and Giove are specified for mattress weights of 32–35 kg.
Before comparing two fittings, ask what the number covers, and plan for the full lifted load: base, mattress and anything attached to them. The number on a listing is only comparable if the basis is the same.
- Ask what the rating covers: Mattress only, base plus mattress, or total lifted load.
- Plan for the heaviest mattress: Memory foam and thick hybrid mattresses weigh more than a basic foam one.
- Check the cycle testing: Giove's gas springs are tested for over 10,000 open-close cycles.
Sizes
Mirano storage bed fitting sizes
| Description | Size 1 | Size 2 | Size 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed frame size | 1530 × 1905 mm | 1680 × 1980 mm | 1830 × 1980 mm |
| Bed internal size | 1560 × 1950 mm | 1710 × 2025 mm | 1860 × 2025 mm |
| Depth dimension | 255 mm | 255 mm | 255 mm |
| Internal height | 280 mm minimum | 280 mm minimum | 280 mm minimum |
| Mattress weight | 32–35 kg | 32–35 kg | 32–35 kg |
Sizing note: add 30 mm to the width and 45 mm to the depth of the internal size to get the final bed frame size.
How to choose
How to choose a hydraulic bed fitting
- Start from the mattress: Note its size and real weight, not the label weight.
- Pick the movement: Choose dual-motion if the bed is made every morning, or a single gas-spring lift if you want a simple heavy-duty mechanism.
- Match the frame size: Use the size table, add the allowances and check the minimum internal height.
- Check the safety features: Look for a no-drop rod or equivalent that holds the base open.
- Confirm the rating basis: Ask the supplier what the weight figure covers.
Fitting
Installation and safety tips
- Build a rigid box: Use a solid frame with proper corner joints. A flexing frame loads the springs unevenly.
- Fix the brackets square: Misaligned brackets cause the base to lift crookedly.
- Test with the mattress on: Check the lift and hold with the real mattress, not an empty base.
- Keep hands clear: Do not put hands in the gap between base and frame while it moves.
Clear answers
Frequently asked questions
What is a hydraulic bed fitting?
A hydraulic bed fitting is a lift-up mechanism for a storage bed. Gas springs, often called hydraulics, lift the bed base with its mattress and hold it open, so you can reach the storage space underneath.
Is a hydraulic bed fitting the same as a gas spring?
In most storage beds, yes. The lifting force comes from gas springs, which are commonly called hydraulics in the Indian furniture trade. Check the product datasheet, because the term is used loosely.
How much weight can a hydraulic bed fitting lift?
It depends on the model and on how the rating is written. Mirano's Pratik and Giove storage bed fittings are specified for mattress weights of 32–35 kg. Some marketplace listings quote much higher numbers, so ask whether the rating is for the mattress, the bed base or the total lifted load.
What sizes do Mirano storage bed fittings come in?
Pratik and Giove each come in three sizes, up to a 1830 × 1980 mm bed frame, with a depth dimension of 255 mm and a minimum internal height of 280 mm.
What is the difference between a storage bed and a wall bed?
A storage bed lifts the mattress base to reveal storage while the bed stays on the floor. A wall bed, such as a Murphy bed, folds the whole bed up into a cabinet against the wall to free floor space.
What is the Pratik storage bed fitting?
Pratik is a dual-motion mechanism. It can raise just the frame horizontally for easy bed-making, and lift the whole bed spring to reach the storage underneath, with a stabilising bar for support.
What is the Giove storage bed fitting?
Giove is a heavy-duty gas-spring storage bed fitting, tested for over 10,000 open-close cycles. It has a cross bar, four corner angle blocks and a no-drop safety rod that holds the base open.
Why does a no-drop safety rod matter?
It holds the bed base open while you reach into the storage, so the base cannot fall back. It is a basic safety feature on a lift-up bed.
How do I choose the right size?
Start from the mattress size, add the allowances for the frame, and match the result to the fitting's frame size table. For Pratik and Giove, add 30 mm to the width and 45 mm to the depth of the internal size to get the final frame size.
Can a hydraulic bed fitting be installed on any bed?
The bed has to be built as a box with a solid frame and enough internal height. Check the mattress weight, the frame size and the minimum internal height before you plan the bed.
Specify with confidence
Specify the right storage bed fitting
Share the bed size, mattress weight and quantity, and our team will recommend a fitting.