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Staples of camp and shared childhood bedrooms alike, bunk beds are the ultimate multitaskers. Not only are they an efficient space-saving piece of furniture, they also feel adventurous to their young occupants. But choosing one that’s right for your family and home can be intimidating due to their sheer size and high cost, which is why I consulted experts, i.e. parents, including one person who literally wrote the book on bunk beds, to help source the best ones out there. Below, seven options that cover everything from convertible styles to ones that are completely customizable to bunk beds that even incorporate a slide. All bunks listed here are twin-over-twin.
What we’re looking for
Height
Bunk beds are tall because they’re essentially two beds stacked on top of each other, so you’ll want to consider the height of your ceilings and the size of your room when choosing one. The tallest one on this list tops out at 67.6 inches, while the lowest one measures 50 inches. Laura Fenton, author of The Bunk Bed Book: 115 Bunks, Lofts, and Cozy Nooks, says that a lower bed can be a great option for younger kids. “That said, those bunks can feel small as kids get older,” adds Fenton. “I’d only buy a low bunk bed for a room with ceilings under nine feet or a very small room where a normal-height bunk would overwhelm the room.” As for where to place them in a room, Fenton recommends putting bunks in the corner if you can “so that there are walls on two sides for extra stability,” but in many rooms, “you won’t have a ton of options for where to place them.” A note: Fenton says that kids should be 6 years old before sleeping in the top bunk.
Ladder
Most bunk beds come with fixed ladders, which will either be straight or angled, with the latter option taking up a bit more real estate but a little easier to climb, says Fenton. (Some come with stairs, which according to Fenton “are the easiest to summit and safer than ladders, but they also take up a lot of space.” Plus they’re the most expensive bunk option.) Placement of the ladder also matters. Most of the picks below allow you to mount them on either the left or right side of the long side of the bed. Only one has the ladder on the short end, and that can be a plus, too, since it “leaves the entire lower bunk open, which can be especially nice for adults and creates a more minimalist look,” says Fenton. If you really want to up the fun factor, you can even choose a bed that comes with a slide.
Convertible
The two-in-one factor of bunk beds is another bonus, as a lot of the picks in this roundup convert into two separate beds, allowing you to extend the life of the furniture (and your dollar) once the kids grow out of the bunk. A lot of these beds come with multiple color options and can be customized with accessories like trundles and storage drawers.
Material
You’ll notice that only two of the bunk beds are under $1,000, with most of them costing double that. That’s because, as Fenton says, “with bunks you really get what you pay for: This is a place to invest, since your kid (and maybe you too!) is going to be climbing in and out of it every day, so don’t just buy the cheapest one on Wayfair.” She recommends looking for beds made of solid wood, high-quality birch plywood, and steel. Most of the beds here are Greenguard Gold certified, a designation that means products are low in chemical emissions, so you can rest easy knowing that your little one is breathing safe air.
Best bunk bed overall
Height: 61.75 inches | Ladder: Straight; can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: No | Material: Solid pine
Ikea’s Mydal bunk bed is a best-seller for a reason and the “best cheap one out there” according to Fenton. It’s a fraction of the price of all the other bunks on this list at $300, but it’s still sturdy and functional thanks to its solid-pine construction. As Fenton puts it: “They hold up!” Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio has owned the Mydal for three years and uses it with her two girls, now 8 and 5.5 years old. Measuring just under 62 inches high, it’s on the shorter end of the full-height-bunk-bed spectrum, making it great for smaller bedrooms, lower ceilings, and younger children. And because it’s made of unfinished solid wood, it can be adjusted with not too much effort — and also stained or painted any color you wish. Both Trolio and singer and mom of three Sarah Gregory, who owns two of these, cut them down to fit their space. Trolio, whose Cape Cod–style home has angled ceilings in some spots, shortened the bed by slicing off a few inches from the legs, lowering the bottom bunk toward the floor, which ultimately gave them more space above the top bunk to sit up (and for an adult to be up there if necessary). As Trolio puts it, “This one is perfectly basic and inoffensive,” and Gregory agrees, noting its “simple appearance, ease of setup, cost, and the ample room under the bed for storage.”
Best small-space bunk bed
Height: 48 inches | Ladder: Angled; can be mounted on long or short side | Convertible: No | Material: Solid wood
This bunk bed is the shortest one of the bunch, clocking in at just over 48 inches tall, making it ideal for smaller bedrooms with lower ceiling heights. It’s what Erin Hug, senior video editor and producer at Dodo Kids, bought for her daughters, ages 7 and 3, both of whom love it. “We chose it because we have slanted ceilings in my girls’ room, and this one is not very tall,” she says. Hug also appreciates the low profile of the bottom bunk: “My youngest is almost 3 and we were glad she couldn’t roll off the bottom bunk because it’s on the ground.” Made of solid wood that Hug calls “really beautiful and solid,” it has a sophisticated mid-century-modern look that registers as being much more expensive than it is. While it doesn’t convert into two beds, the angled ladder can be placed on either the short or long side of the bed. As far as assembly goes, Hug notes that the instructions were “mostly easy to understand” and that the bed “came together really quickly.”
Best (luxury) small-space bunk bed
Height: 51.5 inches | Ladder: Straight; end of bed | Convertible: No | Material: Greenguard Gold certified solid poplar wood and MDF
For something with a low profile that doesn’t require DIY, consider Pottery Barn Kids’ Camden bunk, which measures 51.5 inches high, about three inches taller than the above option. It’s Fenton’s choice “for small spaces, specifically those with low ceilings.” While it doesn’t separate into two beds, it has its straight ladder at the short end of the bed, which means it doesn’t obstruct the bottom bunk, making it easier to get in and out of. It’s available in navy and white, and Pottery Barn offers white-glove service that will assemble the bunks for you, according to Fenton. “You might not think it’s worth the extra money, but consider that it might take you and a partner half a day to do it — it makes more sense and is a huge help for parents of young kids.”
Best convertible bunk bed
Height: 72 inches | Ladder: Straight; Can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: Yes | Material: Greenguard Gold certified solid poplar wood, plywood, rubber wood and MDF
In addition to being space efficient, bunk beds are also attractive for their adaptability. Many can convert into two separate beds, like this one from Pottery Barn Kids that Vox Media designer director Dayna Hall Carter bought for her 5- and 3-year-old boys about six months ago. While it’s the tallest on this list at 72 inches, that additional height means you could use the underside of the bottom bunk for storage — or add a trundle (sold separately) “for future sleepovers,” as Carter tells me. Right now, she’s using it for extra blanket storage, “but I really like that it fits flush under the bed so little toes don’t get hurt and there are zero sharp edges; all corners are rounded. It feels very thoughtful in design.” Of course, the fact that Carter can separate it into to twins down the line means “more bang for the buck,” and she also appreciates its solid wood and MDF construction, making it “much more solid for Spiderman jumps, which happen often.” The fact that Pottery Barn Kids delivers is another huge plus: “They put it together for you so you know it’s built correctly.”
Best stylish bunk bed
Height: 64 inches | Ladder: Angled; Can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: Loft twin bed and twin bed | Material: Greenguard Gold certified FSC Baltic birch plywood and eco-MDF
Oeuf’s Perch bunk is a favorite of both Fenton and writer (and mom of two) Alex Morris. Not only does it look nice with its two-tone design and curved edges, it’s convertible, too, and separates into a loft bed and a regular twin bed. You can position the twin underneath the bunk in an L-shape, which Fenton says offers “nice flexibility,” or use it on its own and keep the bunk clear for a desk or lounging. Morris bought it used from a friend and says it’s holding up great after several years of use. Adds Fenton: “It’s sleek and modern in a way that won’t feel ‘baby’ when they hit the teen years.” Plus the fact that it’s white and natural colored means it can “pull together mismatched furniture pieces you might already have.” Made from sustainably-sourced Baltic birch wood, it comes with a sturdy safety wall on top, with the option to add guardrails on the bottom bunk and a trundle pullout (both sold separately).
Best (less expensive) stylish bunk bed
Height: 67.6 inches | Ladder: Straight; can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: Two twin size beds | Material: Greenguard Gold certified solid New Zealand pine wood and TSCA compliant engineered wood; Araucaria hardwood ladder.
Babyletto’s TipToe bunk is two-toned like the Oeuf but for half the price. It also separates into two identical twin beds when it’s time to unstack them. It’s what human resources professional Katie Walker uses with her two sons. “It’s nice, sturdy, and stylish,” she says. Plus “the boys like it.” Available in two finishes — white and natural, and black and walnut — it has rounded edges, a straight ladder, and the option to add a trundle. While they assembled it themselves, Walker says it took two people “but was not Ikea-level annoying.”
Best customizable bunk bed
Height: 61.5 inches | Ladder: Straight or angled; can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: Two twin beds | Material: Solid hardwood
If you want something a little more customizable, consider bunks from Maxtrix Kids, where Kelli Shepard, design director at Ralph Lauren, bought hers for her two daughters “after exhaustive research.” While she was foremost into aesthetics, she also considered “convertibility, nontoxic paint and sealant, guardrail height, and how much weight it can hold,” which led her to Maxtrix Kids. “It’s a really great resource for urban parents, as it’s a modular system with myriad ways to customize what you want,” says Shepard. You can choose your finish from three options (white, natural, or chestnut), ladder style (angled or straight), and bed end (slat, paneled, or curved). You can also choose from three different heights (low, medium, or high; this particular style is the lowest one and measures 61.5 inches). This bunk converts to twin beds, and there’s also the option to add storage drawers or a trundle down the line. Plus it can hold up to 800 pounds thanks to its solid, knot-free maple, birch, and aspen hardwood construction. “I also think they are super-pretty,” says Shepard. “We went with the curved style beds with a white finish, though the natural finish is also beautiful.”
Sturdiest bunk bed
Height: 54 inches and 64 inches | Ladder: Straight; can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: No | Material: Benchmade powder-coated natural steel frame with hand-welded joinery
This is the only non-wood bunk bed on this list, and it is notable for its steel frame and “built to last,” according to Fenton. “These are used in hotels, they are so sturdy.” It also comes in Room & Board’s plethora of colors — 17 in total. And because it’s a pretty straightforward, no-nonsense shape, it’s also the most “grown-up” option on this list. “And it really is a tank,” says Fenton. “My friend who got one joked that she and her husband were never going to be able to get it out of the room that it was delivered to because it’s so heavy.” And since it’s so sturdy, Fenton says this one could even work “floating off the wall instead of a corner.” It comes in two heights: 54 inches and 64 inches.
Best bunk bed with slide
Height: 50 inches | Ladder: Angled ladder and slide; both can be mounted on left or right side | Convertible: No | Material: Solid wood
Pharmacy supervisor and mom of three Sandy Kim has owned this bunk for two years and uses it with her two older girls, who are 5 and 7 years old. “After much review, we wanted a slim and petite bunk with a slide that didn’t take up their entire room,” she says. In fact, this is the lowest one on this list at 50 inches tall. “I liked that it wasn’t too tall so I didn’t have to worry about the kids falling off.” Adding to the safety is the slide, which makes it easier — and tons more fun — to dismount. “The girls love the slide and use it daily. And the baby uses it, too,” says Kim. “The girls love it, and it’s sturdy for the price,” though Kim adds that she probably wouldn’t use it past age 9 because it is on the smaller side.
And a loft bed to consider
While a loft bed is not technically a bunk bed, it’s another good option for small spaces where vertical height can add a bit more flexibility to a room. Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor at the Verge, recently bought two of these for his older kids, ages 8 and 6. “We like how flexible they are,” he says. “We could convert them to bunk beds down the line or just floor beds. They have lots of configuration options, which is nice. These aren’t cheap, so the fact that they’re modular is good.” Topping out at just under 71 inches tall, it’s made of solid wood and feel “very sturdy,” according to Edwards. He chose the second-from-highest loft option “because the kids’ rooms have highish ceilings and my daughter is quite tall for her age.” He also notes that he went with the twin XL size, which he hopes will take the kids through the end of high school. Another feature he appreciates is the angled ladder with handrail, which provides another safety measure, especially because their youngest, who’s 3, loves climbing.
Some other bunk beds we like
Our experts
• Dayna Hall Carter, Vox Media designer director
• Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor, The Verge
• Laura Fenton, author of The Bunk Bed Book: 115 Bunks, Lofts, and Cozy Nooks
• Sarah Gregory, singer
• Erin Hug, senior video editor and producer at Dodo Kids
• Sandy Kim, pharmacy supervisor
• Alex Morris, writer
• Kelli Shepard, Ralph Lauren design director
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor
• Katie Walker, human-resources professional
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