Ottoman Bed Gas Struts Not Working — How to Diagnose and Fix the Problem
If your ottoman bed has stopped lifting — or worse, drops without warning — the gas struts are almost certainly the cause. The good news is that diagnosing the problem takes less than ten minutes, and replacing the struts is a straightforward DIY job that requires no special tools.
This guide walks you through what goes wrong, how to confirm which part has failed, and exactly which replacement strut you need for your bed size.
Why Do Ottoman Bed Gas Struts Stop Working?
Gas struts are sealed nitrogen-filled cylinders. Over time, three things cause them to fail:
Age and pressure loss. Most gas struts have a service life of five to eight years under normal use. The internal seal gradually degrades, nitrogen escapes, and the strut loses its lifting force. This is the most common cause of an ottoman bed gas lift not working — the strut is simply exhausted.
Wrong Newton rating from the factory. Some beds — particularly budget flat-pack designs — ship with undersized struts. If your bed was difficult to lift even when new, the original struts were never rated for your mattress weight. Adding a heavy memory-foam topper over the years pushes the total load beyond what the struts can handle.
Mechanical damage or bent rods. Overfilling the storage space, pushing the base down too hard, or a sharp impact can bend the piston rod. A bent rod causes uneven movement and eventually tears the internal seal.
Hinge or bracket failure. Occasionally, the lifting mechanism itself cracks or the mounting brackets loosen. In that case, the strut may still be functional — the problem lies in the hardware holding everything together.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Before ordering parts, spend five minutes confirming what has actually failed.
Step 1 — Empty the storage compartment. This sounds obvious, but an overloaded ottoman can mimic a failed strut. Remove everything, then test the lift. If the bed now opens easily, your struts are fine — you simply exceeded their rated load.
Step 2 — Inspect the strut rods. Open the bed as far as it will go and look along the length of both struts. The chrome piston rod should be perfectly straight with no oil residue or surface scoring. If you see a bend, corrosion, or a dark oil film on the rod, that strut has failed.
Step 3 — Test the gas pressure. With the bed closed, press down firmly on the mattress and then release. A healthy strut will push back noticeably. A failed strut offers almost no resistance — it will feel like a limp spring.
Step 4 — Check the hinge mechanism. With the bed fully open, look at both hinge arms. Do they move smoothly, or do they grind and stick? Are any welds cracked, or is the bracket pulling away from the bed frame? If the arms are damaged independently of the struts, you may need the mechanism as well.
Gas Strut or Hinge Mechanism — Which Do You Need?
This is the question most people get wrong, leading to a wasted purchase.
Replace the gas struts only if the hinge arms move smoothly and are undamaged, but the bed drops suddenly or requires significant effort to lift. This is the most common scenario, and a straightforward strut swap will restore full function.
Replace the hinge mechanism only if the bed lifts without difficulty, but the arms wobble, grind, or have visibly cracked welds. The struts are doing their job — the mechanical linkage is the problem. The Ottoman Bed Hinge Mechanism (£18.90) fits most standard bed frames.
Replace both if the struts are exhausted and the mechanism shows wear — or if the bed has never lifted smoothly and you want a complete refresh. The Complete Lift Set (from £21.90) includes matched struts and mechanism hardware in one kit.
Choosing the Right Newton Rating
Newton (N) is the unit of force — it describes how hard the strut pushes. Fitting the wrong rating is one of the most common mistakes when replacing ottoman bed pistons. The table below shows the correct rating for each standard UK bed size.
| Bed size | Newton rating | Typical mattress weight | Shop struts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single / Small double Up to 90 cm wide | 600 N | Up to 18 kg | From £11.90 View 600 N struts → |
| Double / Queen 135 – 150 cm wide | 800 N | 18 – 25 kg | From £12.90 View 800 N struts → |
| King / Large queen 160 – 180 cm wide | 1000 N | 25 – 33 kg | From £13.90 View 1000 N struts → |
| Super king / XL king 180 cm+ wide | 1200 N | 33 kg+ | From £14.90 View 1200 N struts → |
If your bed sits between sizes, or you use an unusually heavy mattress, round up to the next Newton rating. An oversized strut by 200 N is far safer than an undersized one — you will simply need to apply a small downward force to close the bed.
Not sure which strut to choose? Use the Autorce Gas Strut Calculator to get a precise recommendation based on your bed dimensions and mattress weight.
Replacing the Struts — What to Expect
Ottoman bed gas struts are sold in pairs. Both struts should always be replaced at the same time, even if only one appears to have failed. A mismatched pair — one fresh strut alongside one worn strut — creates uneven lift that stresses the hinge mechanism and accelerates further failure.
The replacement process is typically straightforward:
- Open the bed fully and support the base safely — use a prop or a second person.
- Locate the ball-socket clip at each end of the strut and release it with a flat-head screwdriver.
- Remove the old strut and note the orientation — the body end and the piston end attach to different points.
- Clip the new strut into place and test the movement before releasing your support.
Most replacements take under twenty minutes per side and require only a screwdriver.
Where to Buy Ottoman Bed Gas Struts
Autorce supplies a full range of bed lift struts matched to UK standard bed sizes:
- 600 N — Single / Small Double — £11.90 per pair
- 800 N — Double / Queen — £12.90 per pair
- 1000 N — King / Large Queen — £13.90 per pair
- 1200 N — Super King / XL — £14.90 per pair
- Complete Lift Set (struts + mechanism) — from £21.90
- Hinge Mechanism Only — £18.90
All struts are universal-fit and compatible with the vast majority of UK ottoman bed frames. If you are unsure whether a strut will fit your specific bed, use the Gas Strut Calculator or get in touch before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if my ottoman bed gas struts need replacing? A: The clearest signs are a bed that won't stay open, requires significant effort to lift, or drops suddenly when closing. If pressing down on the closed mattress and releasing produces little to no resistance from the base, the struts have lost pressure and need replacing.
Q: Can I replace just one gas strut instead of both? A: Always replace both at the same time. A new strut paired with a worn one creates uneven lift — one side pushes harder than the other, which strains the hinge mechanism and causes the new strut to wear prematurely.
Q: What Newton rating do I need for a king size ottoman bed? A: A standard king size bed (160–180 cm wide) requires 1000 N gas struts. If you have a heavy mattress or a super king, step up to 1200 N. Use the Gas Strut Calculator if you're unsure.
Q: Are ottoman bed gas struts universal fit? A: Most are, as long as the stroke length and Newton rating match your bed. Autorce struts use a standard ball-socket fitting compatible with the vast majority of UK ottoman bed frames.
Q: How long do ottoman bed gas struts last? A: Typically five to eight years under normal use. Overloading the storage compartment regularly will shorten that lifespan significantly.
Q: My bed lifts fine but the arms feel loose — is that the gas struts? A: No. Loose or wobbly arms point to a worn hinge mechanism rather than the struts. In that case, the Hinge Mechanism Only (£18.90) is the correct replacement.
Last updated: April 2026
