Dresser vs. Chest of Drawers: What's the Difference?

Short answer: A dresser is wide and low, usually 30 to 40 inches tall, with six to nine drawers set side by side and a long top for a mirror, lamp or TV. A chest of drawers is tall and narrow, usually 40 to 55 inches tall, with four to six drawers stacked in a single column. Choose a dresser if you have wall space and want surface area; choose a chest if floor space is tight and you need to store up instead of out.

Updated November 14, 2026. Prices checked November 14, 2026.

Dresser vs. Chest of Drawers at a Glance

The terms get mixed up. Some stores call any piece with drawers a dresser, and in some regions a tall chest is called a highboy or tallboy. What matters is the footprint and how you'll use it.

What Is a Low Boy?

A low boy sits between the two: about waist high, roughly 35 to 36 inches, with three or four wide drawers. It fits under a window or beside a bed where a full dresser is too long, and it gives you a usable top without the height of a chest.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose a dresser if

• You have 5 to 6 feet of open wall, often across from the bed.
• You want to hang or set a mirror above it.
• Two people will share it. Side-by-side drawers make it easy to split.

Choose a chest of drawers if

• Floor space is tight but you have height to spare.
• The room already has a dresser and you need more storage.
• You want storage in a walk-in closet or a narrow wall between doors.

Many bedrooms use both

A common primary-bedroom setup is a dresser with a mirror on one wall and a tall chest or armoire on another. If you need hanging or shelf storage too, see our guide to armoire vs. wardrobe.

What to Look for in a Quality Dresser or Chest

• Dovetailed drawers: interlocking joints at the drawer corners hold up far better than staples or glue alone.
• Full-extension glides: let you reach the back of every drawer. Soft-close glides keep drawers from slamming.
• Solid drawer bottoms: thin hardboard bottoms sag under heavy sweaters and jeans.
• Anchoring: anchor any dresser or chest to the wall with the included hardware or a furniture strap, especially in homes with children.

Rustic Dressers and Low Boys

Our rustic dressers are handcrafted in the USA by Fireside Lodge Furniture with dovetailed drawers, aromatic cedar drawer bottoms and soft-close ball-bearing glides rated to 100 pounds. Prices checked November 14, 2026:

• Six- and seven-drawer dressers in Cedar Log, Headwaters, Hickory Log, Barnwood, Appalachian and Voyageur styles. Examples: the Cedar Log Six Drawer Dresser (60" W x 21" D x 38" H, from $2,499), the Barnwood Seven Drawer Dresser (59" W x 21" D x 35" H, from $2,769) and the Hickory Log Six Drawer Dresser (63" W x 21" D x 36" H, from $3,019).
• Four-drawer low boys from $1,959, about 39 to 46 inches wide and 35 to 36 inches tall, in Cedar Log, Hickory Log, Barnwood and Appalachian styles. The Cedar Log Four Drawer Low Boy measures 44" W x 18" D x 36" H.
• Need vertical storage? Our three-drawer armoires stand about 72 inches tall on a roughly 38-inch-wide footprint. See rustic bedroom furniture.

Matching rustic nightstands, log beds and mirror frames are made in the same woods and stains.

FAQs

What is the difference between a dresser and a chest of drawers?

A dresser is wide and low with drawers side by side. A chest of drawers is tall and narrow with drawers stacked in one column.

Is a chest of drawers the same as a tallboy or highboy?

Mostly. Tallboy and highboy are traditional names for a tall chest of drawers, sometimes on legs or in two stacked sections.

What is a low boy dresser?

A low boy is a waist-high piece, about 35 to 36 inches tall, with three or four wide drawers. It's shorter than a dresser and lower than a chest.

Can you put a TV on a dresser?

Yes. A dresser's long top and 30- to 40-inch height work well for a bedroom TV. Anchor both the dresser and the TV.

How tall is a standard dresser?

Most dressers are 30 to 40 inches tall. Fireside Lodge six- and seven-drawer dressers are 35 to 38 inches tall.

Need help choosing? Call 512-777-0154.

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