Overbed tables in Ireland for meals, reading and laptops in bed or in a chair: tilting, wheeled and divan models compared, with sizing and safety tips.
Overbed Tables to Compare
An overbed table puts a flat surface right where you need it, whether you are recovering in bed, spending long days in an armchair or using a wheelchair. Meals, medicines, a book, a laptop or a jigsaw all stay within reach without leaning or twisting.
This guide covers the types of overbed table, how to check one will fit your bed or chair, and how to use one safely.
Overbed tables compared
| Type | Key detail | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Days overbed table Best value | Wheeled | 61 x 40 cm, 61 to 91 cm | €61.77 | View on Amazon |
Aidapt tilting overbed table Budget tilting | Wheeled, tilting | Raised lip | €42.41 | View on Amazon |
Aidapt Canterbury Multi-Table Tilting | Wheeled, tilting | 55 x 41 cm, tilts to 45° | €45.73 | View on Amazon |
|
NRS divan table Divan beds | Flat base, tilting | 61 to 90 cm | €54.03 | View on Amazon |
|
BOODPET split top Laptops | Split top, tilting | 65 to 95 cm | €55.63 | View on Amazon |
Homecraft Days table Bed or wheelchair | Wheeled, tilting | Height and tilt adjust | €98.86 | View on Amazon |
|
NRS wheeled tilting Most adjustable | Width adjusts | 2 side tables | €139.76 | View on Amazon |
NRS Easylift Premium | C-shaped base | Raised edges, castors | €201.66 | View on Amazon |
Today’s prices on wheeled, tilting and divan overbed tables.
Table of Contents
Types of Overbed Table
C-shaped wheeled tables
The most common type has a single upright on one side and a base on castors that rolls under the bed or chair, so the top sits over your lap. They are light, easy to move and fit most beds that have a gap underneath.
Divan tables
Divan beds and many armchairs have no gap underneath, so a normal wheeled base will not roll under. A divan table has a flat, low base that slides under the edge of the bed or the chair instead.
Tilting tables
A tilting top angles up for reading, writing or using a tablet, then locks flat for meals. Most have a raised lip so things do not slide off. Split-top tables keep a small section level for a cup while the main panel tilts.
Wide and U-shaped tables
Some tables have two uprights and a base that straddles a bed or a chair completely. They are steadier and can be wider, but take up more room.
Choosing the Right Size
- Height range. Measure from the floor to the top of your lap when sitting up in bed, and add a few centimetres of clearance. Do the same for your chair or wheelchair. Most tables adjust from about 60 to 95 cm.
- Base clearance. Measure the gap under the bed or chair. If there is none, you need a divan table.
- Top size. A top of about 60 x 40 cm takes a dinner tray. Larger tops suit a laptop and papers.
- Castors. Locking castors stop the table rolling away. Check they run on your floor type, especially on carpet.
Using an Overbed Table Safely
An overbed table is not built to take your weight. Never lean on it or push up from it to sit up or stand, because the castors can roll and the table can tip. Use a bed rail or a bed lever for support instead.
Lock the castors before you put hot food or drinks on the table, keep heavy items over the upright rather than at the far edge, and keep the table clear of anything that could spill onto bedding.
Who Uses an Overbed Table?
Overbed tables are used after surgery or illness when getting out of bed is hard, by people who spend long days in an armchair or wheelchair, and by carers serving meals. They also help anyone who works or studies on a laptop in bed. For setting up a room for someone recovering at home, see our guides to bed rails and reaching aids.
Every overbed table we list, with today’s prices.
Overbed Table Questions
Will an overbed table fit my divan bed?
Only if it has a flat, low base designed for divans. Standard wheeled tables need a gap of a few centimetres under the bed for the base to roll under.
Can I lean on an overbed table to get up?
No. Overbed tables are not designed to take body weight, and the castors can roll. Use a bed rail or bed lever for support when sitting up or standing.
What height should an overbed table be?
The top should sit a few centimetres above your lap when you are sitting up in bed or in your chair. Most tables adjust from about 60 to 95 cm.
Can I use an overbed table over a wheelchair or armchair?
Yes. Most C-shaped tables roll under armchairs and wheelchairs too, as long as the base clears the chair legs. Check the height range covers your seat.