How Do Ottoman Beds Work? Gas Lift Mechanism Explained

An ottoman bed's entire base is hinged at one end and supported by a pair of gas struts — the same technology used in car boots and office chairs. Here's exactly how it works.

What does "gas lift" actually mean?

"Gas lift" simply describes the lifting method: the bed base is raised and held by sealed struts filled with pressurised gas, rather than by you taking the full weight or by a manual prop. When a product listing says ottoman gas lift storage, it means the whole base lifts on those struts to reveal the storage well underneath.

Gas lift or hydraulic — which is it?

People often call these hydraulic beds, and you'll see "hydraulic ottoman bed" used everywhere — but strictly speaking that's not quite right. A true hydraulic system uses incompressible fluid to transmit force. An ottoman bed strut is a gas spring: it's filled mainly with pressurised nitrogen, which compresses and expands to do the lifting.

Most struts do contain a small amount of oil, but it's there to lubricate the internal seal and damp the motion — not to generate the lift. So if you're searching for hydraulic bed parts, what you actually need is a gas strut (also sold as a gas spring or piston). Same part, different name.

The gas-lift mechanism

Each strut is a sealed cylinder containing pressurised gas and a piston rod. When you lift the mattress end, the gas pressure pushes the piston out, doing most of the lifting work for you — you're guiding the motion, not muscling the whole weight.

Why it holds itself open

The trapped gas pressure inside the strut resists compression, so once extended, the strut holds the base open at full height without you needing to prop it. Lowering the base compresses the gas gently, controlling the descent so it doesn't slam.

Why it stays down when closed

When closed, the mattress and sleeper weight sit above the strut's resting extension point, keeping the base seated flat. This is why matching the strut rating to your mattress weight matters — see our guide on strut ratings explained.

How much effort does it take to lift?

Because the struts carry most of the load, opening the base takes far less strength than lifting a mattress unaided — which is why gas-lift storage suits people with limited strength or mobility, including older users, better than drawer bases that need pulling and bending. The base also lowers under control rather than dropping.

Side-lift vs end-lift mechanisms

The struts can be positioned to lift from the side (along the long edge) or the end (at the foot) of the bed, depending on the frame design and which suits your room layout best.

Do divan beds use the same mechanism?

Only if they're ottoman divans. A standard divan base is fixed, with storage in drawers at the side or end — no struts involved. An ottoman divan uses the same gas-lift system described here. See divan bed bases explained for the full comparison.

Why gas lift beats manual or drawer storage

Unlike drawers, which only use a fraction of the space under a bed, a gas-lift base opens the entire footprint. And unlike a manual prop system, gas struts hold position safely and controllably every time.

Related reading

New here? Start with what is an ottoman bed? or see how much storage you get. Just built yours and it won't shut? See newly assembled ottoman bed won't close. Shop our ottoman storage beds.