The bunk bed broke into pop culture consciousness with family TV sitcoms all the way from the 1960s. If you are here to find information to help you decide which quality bunk bed you should buy without breaking the bank, you are in the right place at the right time.
Here we look at 10 top-rated bunk bed brands that’s sure to attract every shopper’s eye – from parents looking for kids’ bunk beds to convertible bunk beds, this list is your ultimate bunk bed buying guide:
10 Quality Bunk Beds To Choose From
With enough background information to help make a wise decision, we now take our discussion to who makes the best bunk beds.
1. Storkcraft Caribou
With 75 years in the business, and a 2020 Women’s Choice Award under their belts, Storkcraft offers the Caribou line of twin over twin bunk beds for kids with a 4-step ladder and safety rail.
Made from rubberwood, the whole item weighs just 120 pounds. At 79.1 inches x 42 inches x 58.3 inches, and a 165 pound weight limit for the top bunk, the Storkcraft Caribou also converts into 2 separate twin beds for when you might need two beds side by side instead of stacked. The bottom bunk has a 225 pound weight limit, which holds true for both beds when in separate configuration.
Over 1,600 customers have given it an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
2. Walker Edison Metal Pipe Twin Over Twin
Walker Edison Furniture Company is the best choice for metal bunk beds.
This Twin Over Twin is made of metal pipe, and weighs 100 pounds. At 42 inches x 79 inches x 68 inches, it can support up to 250 pounds per bed when separated. Over 1,000 customers have given it an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
3. DHP Twin-Over-Twin Metal Bunk Bed
Dorel Home Furnishings (DHP) takes pride in being small space living experts.
Made of metal, the item weighs a very manageable 86 pounds. Measuring 78 inches x 41.5 inches x 61.5 inches, and an upper bunk that has a 200 pound weight limit, this DHP product is light and sturdy.
Over 4,400 customers have given it an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
4. Home Accent Furnishings Sunrise
Home Accent Furnishings’ Sunrise is a twin-over-futon bunk bed made of steel with powder-coated finish.
At 80 inches x 54 inches x 68 inches, the item weighs 113 pounds and supports up to 300 pounds per bunk. The futon is 42 inches deep in couch configuration, and is 54 inches deep when set-up as a bed.
Over 40 customers have given it an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars.
5. Zinus Patti
Zinus describes itself as a business that likes to make it easy to assemble products. The Patti is their patent-pending, easy to assemble, quick locking twin over twin metal bunk bed.
They estimate that assembly time should be in under an hour for this 93.7 pound bed, which measures 77.2 inches x 41.3 inches x 60.6 inches. The maximum weight per bunk is set at 175 pounds, and the manufacturer puts up the notice that children under 6 years of age should not be allowed on its upper bunk for safety reasons.
Over 250 customers have given it an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
6. DHP Triple Metal
DHP comes in again with its Triple Metal line of bunk beds. This twin over twin with a twin trundle is touted as the ultimate space saver.
At 77.5 inches x 41.5 inches x 62 inches for the bunk beds and 71 inches x 40.5 inches x 3.5 inches for the trundle, the entire item weighs 99 pounds. The top bunk is rated up to 200 pounds, with the bottom bunk and trundle with 250 pound weight limits.
Over 110 customers have given it an average of 4.2 out of 5 stars.
7. Acme Allentown
Acme Furniture has 35 years’ experience behind the brand. It offers the Allentown line of twin over twin bunk beds with drawers and trundle.
Measuring 98 inches x 43 inches by 68 inches, this is a heavyweight at 286 pounds. Made of solid wood in espresso finish, access to the top bunk is safe and secure with a stairway. The integrated drawers make their weight worth it, too.
More than 70 customers have given it an average of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
8. Dorel Living Sierra
Dorel Living’s Sierra is a triple bunk twin over twin over twin of solid wood construction. It can be reconfigured into a bunk bed with daybed, or into three twin beds.
At 79.25 inches x 43.5 inches x 77.13 inches, the Sierra is surprisingly light at 165 pounds. With the added capacity comes added height. Thus, buyers should pay attention to available headroom clearance.
Over 20 customers have given it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
9. Home Styles Naples
Home Styles was founded in 1911 as Huntingburg Furniture Company in Indiana, and rebranded in 1998 with their move to Kentucky. Their Naples line is a twin over full bunk bed made from solid hardwoods and laminated veneer lumber for added strength in the beams.
At 58 inches x 78 inches x 64.75 inches at the base, it weighs a hefty 246 pounds.
Its 2 customers have given it an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars with emphasis on amazing customer service and overboard product support.
10. Max & Lily Low Bunk Bed
Max & Lily is a great choice for a toddler bunk bed. Its low bunk design makes it definitely toddler and low-ceiling friendly. Over-engineered to support up to 400 pounds, the twin over twin sizing also makes it suitable for teenagers. The lowered height might pose a bit of a challenge, though.
Made of solid New Zealand Pine wood with a non-toxic finish, it weighs 110 pounds and measures 81.5 inches x 57.75 inches x 50 inches.
Over 320 customers have given it an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Bunk bed aficionados may want to know a bit more about what they’re buying. We’ve outlined some interesting bunk bed facts and FAQ’s just for you:
The Bunk Bed, Then And Now
Its history is relegated to speculation, but in modern times, the bunk bed is ubiquitous with the military in their barracks, and in ship and submarine accommodations. The same is true with civilian transportation like ships and trains, and accommodations in dormitories.
Arguably, there was a time when the best bunk beds in family homes were the DIY projects of grandpa, or daddy with wood from the tree in the backyard. However, modern production methods have since allowed for the mass production of quality bunk beds to meet the increase in demand.
Now, the question is, what makes for sturdy bunk beds worth your hard-earned bucks?
What Quality Bunk Beds Are Made Of
Construction Material
Commercial bunk beds are made of wood, wood veneers or laminates, and tubular steel. Each material will have its own qualities, which buyers should factor in when choosing which is the best bunk bed to purchase.
1.First, we tackle why wood is the top bunk bed material of choice.
Aside from being the traditional material of choice for quality bunk beds, hardwoods like:
- Mahogany
- Maple
- Oak
The above examples fit the general aesthetic for most buyers. Being hardwoods, they are not prone to splintering, and with minimal care, they can last for decades. They are, however, on the heavier side of the scale.
Wood from beech and pine trees, on the other hand, are lighter and just as durable. As with different kinds of wood, finishing, staining, and styling will account for most customer requirements in the looks department.
2. Tubular steel and other metals are also gaining use as materials for sturdy bunk beds in family homes. Of course, bunk beds in more spartan accommodations in military facilities, university dormitories, or transport ships have always been made of metal. The industrial aesthetic in modern family homes has allowed this cross-over between markets.
When it comes to metals, periodic maintenance checks should be done to pinpoint and address any rust and corrosion issues. Light sanding, oiling, or repainting on spots that require attention should be enough to keep a metal bunk bed in shape for when your kids will have their own kids.
3. The third option for bunk bed construction materials would be an entire class of wood veneers and laminates:
- Veneers are thin layers of real hardwood, which are bonded to less expensive materials like plywood.
- Laminates, on the other hand, are printed surfaces that look like wood but may be plastic or of similar material and are bonded to another composite material.
Both wood veneers and laminates tend to be more economical compared to hardwood and metals when used in the construction of bunk beds. However, those of lower quality tend to peel-off when exposed to temperature changes and moisture. An easy and clean-fix could be difficult if you are not handy with epoxy and similar bonding agents.
Given those trade-off considerations, buyer preference for a bunk bed made of either real wood, real metal, wood veneer, or laminate is a purely personal matter.
Safety Factor
A quality bunk bed is a safe bunk bed.
Government regulations provide for safety standards that all products sold in the United States must adhere to. Just in case, here are some helpful links for you to verify if the bunk bed you intend to buy has the following:
- Children’s Product Certificate if children will be using them.
- General Certificate of Conformity, if the bunk bed is for the use of adults.
Consumer product safety regulations ensure that users are not put at risk from hazardous chemicals that may leech from the materials. Moreover, safety features are also integrated into the product design. This is especially the case when you are in the market for the best bunk beds for kids.
Here’s some basic safety features to look for when shopping for kids’ bunk beds:
- Child-safe bunk beds feature a minimum height for safety rails providing the insurance that kids do not accidentally roll off and fall down from the top bunk. The slats for these safety rails should also be of dimensions which make it impossible for a child to get entrapped between the bed and a wall, or between the slats and risk strangulation or other injuries.
- A buyer should also pay attention to the weight limits set by the manufacturer. In most cases, you may have to factor in the weight of your mattress plus the weight of the persons who will be using the bunk bed and see that this does not exceed the limit.
Size Matters
The best bunk bed for you should be one that optimizes the space available in a bedroom. As a rule, bunk beds are shipped disassembled. Thus, it will not be much trouble maneuvering them into your home and inside a room.
However, you need to take into consideration the dimensions that a fully assembled bunk bed will occupy.
Let’s start with the bottom bunk:
- The lower bunk serves as a stable base for the whole bed, and save for a few exceptions, is where the bunk bed is the widest and longest.
- The presence of sloped ceilings, light fixtures, and ceiling fans should also be factored in when measuring the overall height of the bunk bed. This should include the headroom when sitting on the top bunk.
For the top bunk:
- Twin-above-twin and twin-above-full are the more common bunk bed sizes. And because mattresses are sold separately, do pair your choices subject to what you may already have available.
- Other bunk beds also come with a trundle, which is a bed frame that slides in and out of the lower bunk. This expands capacity at the cost of what usually is storage space. Again, these are compromises that you have to decide on based on need.
Modularity
Size matters aside, the top bunk beds of choice for a growing number of buyers include an option for separating the top bunk from the lower. This option is for when occupants no longer wish to share a room. This flexibility, however, may cost the bunk bed its stability because the locations where the beds separate are also the bunk bed’s weak points.
Another design aspect for bunk beds is whether they use vertical or inclined ladders and if these are fixed or removable. Some bunk bed designs may provide for a set of stairs with integrated storage drawers. Others come with a futon, which is a hybrid couch and bed, as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the design of your bunk bed of choice, you may want to invest on a bunkie board - a relatively thin, usually wooden board which keeps the slats of your bed frame from digging into the underside of your mattress. The bunkie board, also spelled as bunky, is a much more practical mattress support option for bunk beds compared to the bulkier box-springs which are better suited for regular beds.
Not only does your mattress need to fit the dimensions of your bunk bed, mattress thickness becomes quite the consideration for this set-up. The mattress for the lower bed should not be so thick that it significantly shrinks the headroom for the user when sitting. In the same way, the mattress for the upper bunk should not be so thick that it clears the side rails, lest the sleeper risks accidentally rolling over the sides.
Most bunk beds in the market have already integrated the product feature where the top bunk can be detached from the lower bunk to make for two separate beds. This design feature provides for more flexibility for users. The Storkcraft Caribou and the Walker Edison Metal Pipe Twin Over Twin are the two best bunk beds that separate, the first for buyers who prefer wooden bunk beds, the second for those who prefer bunk beds made of metal.
The Verdict
As always, the choice is yours to make. The best bunk bed will always be the one that fits your and the intended users’ preferences, room dimensions, interior design, and other similar personal points of consideration. We hope to have given you ideas about what to look out for, and some examples of what quality bunk beds are currently out there in the market.
We are curious, though, which one did you pick? Send us feedback below.
