Chest of Drawers vs. Dresser: Key Differences & Buying Tips

Choosing the right storage is essential to creating a room that looks and feels good. I used to have all the wrong kinds of clothing storage in my bedroom. Switching pieces out for more appropriate options made a huge difference. One of the main things I had to decide between was a dresser or a chest of drawers.

What’s the Difference Between a Dresser and a Chest of Drawers?

I think many people use the terms dresser and chest of drawers interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing. At least not exactly. Both pieces share similarities, but two key distinctions are their sizes and shapes.

Interestingly enough, I consider a chest of drawers a type of dresser, but wouldn’t think the other way around. So what exactly makes these two things different?

Let’s Compare the Size and Shape of a Dresser vs a Chest of Drawers

Let’s break down the typical dimensions of these two popular storage solutions.

Of course, these dimensions can vary from piece to piece, but you get the overarching idea.

How to Find the Right Dresser or Chest of Drawers for Your Space

When it comes to figuring out the best type of furniture for your room, the name doesn’t really matter. After all, when you plug “chest of drawers” into a search engine, you’ll end up with all sorts of names coming back at you.

You’ll likely see words like Tallboy, bureau, Highboy, and fancy terms like Chiffonier. All of these things are simply other names for chest of drawers. Therefore, what’s important is comparing a specific chest of drawers vs a dresser with your unique needs.

I’ve used both of these storage heroes in my previous bedrooms. Here’s what I’ve learned about deciding on which one works the best.

1. Consider How Much Room You Have for a Dresser or Chest of Drawers

Measuring your space is important when you get new furniture. You want to map out the length, depth, and height to get an idea of how the piece will fit in your room.

A trick I use when I’m not sure about how something will look in my space is to mark out the shape and size with painter’s tape. You could also use cardboard boxes if you need a more visual representation.

Add an extra 42 to 48 inches in the front so you have enough room to open the drawers.

2. Check Your Ceilings

I know, you’re wondering, what do ceilings have to do with a chest of drawers or a dresser? Well, you should scale furniture to the ceiling height, otherwise, you end up with a room that looks off-balance.

Furniture that’s too low makes a room seem empty. But pieces that are too tall make a room feel heavy and overwhelming. I learned this first-hand with my current bedroom. I used my existing furniture when I first moved in, which happened to be a chest of drawers and a tall armoire.

The problem was, the tall furniture made my room (with standard 8-foot ceilings) feel crowded and oppressive. We opted for a dresser instead, and it transformed the entire look and feel of the bedroom. The shorter dresser was a much better fit proportionally to the height of the ceilings.

 

3. Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall? Probably Not If You Get a Chest of Drawers

Many dressers come with a mirror, so make sure there’s enough wall space for it. We opted to skip the mirror that came with our dresser, and I hung my grandmother’s mirror on the wall instead. I love it -- it looks beautiful and adds a personal touch.

But if you get a chest of drawers, you limit your options when it comes to mirrors. Since many chests of drawers are taller than dressers, a mirror doesn’t always make sense. Even if you have the wall space, it would likely be too high to be practical.

4. What Are You Putting in the Drawers?

Think about what’s going inside your furniture before you buy something. Chests of drawers usually have a shallower footprint. Smaller items, like socks, hankies, underwear, and accessories, are good fits. I also find that thinner garments, like T-shirts, fit well.

However, bulkier clothing (think jeans and sweaters) often fits better in a dresser. But, just like your favorite pair of pants, one size doesn’t fit all. Therefore, it's critical to look at the dimensions of the piece you’re considering.

For example, what if you’re limited on floor space, so you know you need to go with a chest of drawers? Does this mean you won’t be able to put your sweaters and jeans in it? Not necessarily.

You just need to look for a piece that’s tall enough to provide more substantial drawer space. This tall 5-drawer fabric dresser has a slim footprint, but each drawer is 8.4 inches deep (deeper than many dresser drawers).

5. Do You Need a Lot of Surface Space?

You probably think more about what you’re going to put inside storage furniture than on top. But it’s worth thinking about. You get more surface space for things like a jewelry box, picture frame, or even a spot to fold clothes when you get something like this modern 6-drawer dresser.

Of course, that could be a good thing if you tend to collect clutter. In this case, a tower of drawers might be a better idea. But if you plan to add a few items on top of the furniture, a dresser won’t look as crammed.

Dresser vs Chest of Drawers: Which Furniture Wins the Battle? It Depends on You

A dresser isn’t better than a chest of drawers just because it’s a dresser.  The best storage pick for you depends on your specific needs.

For me, I look at space first. I make sure the furniture I choose fits well and looks right in my room. Then, I plan out my storage to narrow down the choices and find the perfect piece.

Check out WLive’s versatile selection of dressers and chests to find the storage solution that makes the most sense for you.