Best Bunk Beds 2023

Bunk beds help growing families save on space, while providing a fun but practical sleep surface for kids. While bunk beds used to mean simply two twin mattresses positioned vertically, modern styles offer a lot more options in terms of design, materials and extras—such as storage, slides, full stairs and even tree houses. We’ve pulled together this list of the best bunk beds to suit all ages, budgets and styles, such as the Mack & Milo Absecon Twin-Over-Twin that's both stylish and affordable and arrives with storage, too.

Save space and liven up a child's bedroom with one of the best bunk beds, such as this tree house ... [+] bed from Pottery Barn Kids.

"Parents love bunk beds because they save space and remind them of their own childhood, and kids love bunk beds, because they’re fun," says Daniel Ganjian, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. "They can be safe, but there are certain guidelines I always tell parents," he adds. (More on those safety precautions at the bottom of this article.)

The right bunk bed for your family involves choosing beds of the right size (do you prefer twin mattresses or full?), weight capacity and style for your kids. And, of course, you’ll want something that fits into your budget. We’ve researched the bestsellers on the market, relied on our expertise in the baby and kid category and turned to experts, such as Dr. Ganjian, to find the best bunk beds to make your child's bedroom décor dreams come true.

Wayfair

Dimensions: 65 x 43 x 82 inches | Materials: Pine | Weight limit: 400 pounds | Style: Twin over twin

The Mack & Milo Absecon bunk bed is incredibly well thought out. For starters, it features two built-in, under-the-bed storage bins for clothes, books or toys, making it extra helpful in the space saving category. (Those dressers have molded handles, so you don't need to worry about little toes or PJs getting caught on a pull while climbing into and out of bed.) A solid 14-inch guardrail keeps older and younger kids from rolling off, while allowing for plenty of breathability. The whole thing is crafted from sturdy pine wood for a solid feel. The ladder is built in, reversible and vertical, so there's no need to factor in extra room for an angled ladder. Keep in mind that younger children on less steady feet might benefit more from a bunk bed with sturdy stairs. It can also convert into two single twin beds if the kids tire of the bunks or wind up in separate rooms one day. The top bunk is rated up to 400 pounds. Choose from natural, white, blue, espresso and gray finishes.

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Pottery Barn Kids

Dimensions: 86 x 45 x 94 inches | Materials: Manufactured wood, pine | Weight Limit: 250 pounds (top), 250 pounds (bottom) | Style: Twin over twin

At their core, bunk beds are made to be whimsical—and this bestselling Pottery Barn bunk is all about it. A treehouse design has the top bunk inside a fun house frame, complete with five windows and a front ladder. The whole thing is crafted from solid pine and engineered wood for a sturdy feel. The finishes—choose from navy, white or gray—are lacquered for durability, so you don't have to stress about chips. High guardrails make this bed good for kids of all ages while the lower bottom bunk is especially well-suited to younger ones. The top bunk can support up to 250 pounds. It's also made in a Fair Trade certified factory and is Greenguard Gold certified to have your children breathe in healthier air. We suspect that the biggest issue you’ll have with this bunk is figuring out who gets to sleep in the treehouse at the top.

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Amazon

Dimensions: 62 x 57 x 78 inches | Materials: Metal | Weight limit: 200 pounds (top), 450 pounds (bottom) | Style: Twin over full

My sons have this bunk, and it's remained intact, solid and chip-free, despite all that they’ve dished out over the past two years. Plus, it's on sale for under $200, making it more affordable than much of the competition. It's also made of metal, for a modern look that's sturdy enough to stand up to years of use. The bunk has a twin over full bottom, allowing for children of different sizes to stretch out. Two integrated side ladders save on space while allowing easy access to the top. The top bunk's weight capacity is 200 pounds while the bottom full bed can hold 450 pounds, meaning it might also work as an in-a-pinch guest bed. Choose from a range of frame colors, including pink, white, black and silver.

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Wayfair

Dimensions: 48 x 44 x 79 inches | Materials: Manufactured wood, solid wood | Weight limit: 165 pounds (top) | Style: Twin over twin

Harriet Bee's Cvyatko bunk bed has everything you want in a bunk minus the extras you can live without. It features a manufactured wood and solid wood frame for a sturdy feel you can feel good about. The bunk is also designed to not take up too much floor space—meaning, there's no angled ladder popping out or elaborate headboards. Parents of younger kids will like this bed's lower height and solid guardrail. You can also set this up as a traditional bunk bed or split it into two separate beds if your kids eventually decide they’re over the bunk situation. Choose from three color options and two sizes—twin-over-twin or full-over-full. Keep in mind that the twin top bunk is rated for up to 165 pounds, a lower weight max than other options on our list.

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Amazon

Dimensions: 50 x 43 x 100 inches | Materials: Pine | Weight Limit: 400 pounds | Style: Twin over twin

One of the biggest concerns with using bunk beds for toddlers is the risk of falls. This Max & Lily bunk has several precautions in place to minimize that including an actual staircase with a guardrail, a lower bunk that sits on the floor and 14-inch guardrails. The bunk bed is made from sturdy pine wood and has a 400-pound weight capacity, so adults can lie down for story time. The bunk is just 50 inches high, making it great for rooms with low ceilings. There's versatility with the staircase, too: You can install it on the left or right. And, while the bed's toddler-friendly staircase design takes up extra room, it's worth noting that there's space inside that doubles as a bookshelf.

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Wayfair

Dimensions: 79 x 74 x 120 inches | Materials: Manufactured wood, solid wood | Weight Limit: 200 pounds (top) | Style: Twin over twin, loft

This triple bunk has racked up the positive ratings on Wayfair. Reviewers praise its sturdiness (a worry with triple bunks) and rave about the modern design. By opting to make one of the bunks a loft, rather than stacking all three in a vertical line, the manufacturers gave parents the option of two top bunks (often a child's preferred choice in terms of where to sleep) and opened up space beneath that third bunk for a desk or reading nook with bean bag chair. It's made with both real and manufactured wood and comes in several neutral shades. It's the ultimate space saver for families with multiples—and an affordable pick, too.

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Pottery Barn Kids

Dimensions: 71 x 57 x 99 inches | Materials: Manufactured wood, pine, poplar | Weight limit: 250 pounds (top), 250 pounds (bottom) | Style: Twin over full

Whether you have kids of varying ages sharing a room, or you have one child who prefers their space, the Belden twin-over-full bunk is a great option. It's made of a mix of sturdy popular and pine wood, keeping this bunk securely in place. The bunk also features built-in drawers with dove-tail corners for extra storage that will last. An actual staircase (vs. a ladder) makes it easier for smaller family members to get up and down from the top bunk safely. Worth noting: The guardrail is an impressive 22 inches high, giving you plenty of coverage. The bunk is Greenguard Gold certified, contributing to cleaner air in your child's room. There's a 250-pound weight limit on both bunks. Enjoy neutral shades of white, a weathered seadrift wood, gray and navy.

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Wayfair

Dimensions: 50 x 43 x 82 inches | Materials: Solid wood | Weight Limit: 400 pounds | Style: Twin over twin

Bunk beds are inherently fun, but this Isabelle & Max option kicks things up a notch with plenty of features to keep kids occupied—and maybe looking forward to bedtime. A built-in slide allows for a fun way to get out of bed in the morning (or to just blow off some steam before sleep). A cotton play curtain creates a house facade that can be fastened with a hook and loop or removed. The angled ladder has rounded edges for comfort and is reversible. A nice perk: The bottom bed sits just 2 inches off the floor, making it an ideal space for younger sleepers. The entire bed has a low profile, so you don't need to stress about little ones climbing too high. Yet, each bunk is rated to hold 400 pounds safely.

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Wayfair

Dimensions: 60 x 42 bx 77 inches | Materials: Manufactured wood, solid wood | Weight limit: 250 pounds (top), 200 pounds (bottom) | Style: Twin over twin

In general, bunk beds save you space by stacking two beds vertically, they’re also bulky and can eat into a room's overall square footage. Once you assemble the bunk, you might find that you have little room for the kids’ dressers. If storage is an issue, consider this Harriet Bee model. It features a built-in wardrobe on one side with four shelves and plenty of room for shirts, jeans, books and toys. The bunk is convertible, so you can change the position of the closet to suit your preferences. The whole thing is crafted from pinewood and MDF for a sturdy feel. The bunk also has a reasonable weight capacity with 250 pounds on top and 200 pounds on the bottom. There's a trundle for sleepover guests.

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Pottery Barn Teen

Dimensions: 75 x 56 x 80 inches | Materials: Pine, spruce, plywood, poplar, manufactured wood | Weight limit: 500 pounds | Style: Full over full

The Costa Storage bunk bed is admittedly not cheap, but it has a lot of features that make it a good choice for teens. Both beds are fulls which offer more space for growing teens to stretch out in. The bunk has an impressive 500 pound weight capacity, meaning it might fit them when they’re visiting home from college, too. It's made from several types of wood for maximum sturdiness. Two reversible drawers on the bottom provide a place to stash pajamas, books and extra bedding out of sight. The ladder is also on the far end to help keep the bottom bunk resident from being disturbed by the top user.

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At Forbes Vetted, our team of reviewers, researchers, testers and editors always takes a deep dive into market research before starting to compile a new best list. The people who cover baby and kids subjects at Vetted also review any safety guidelines, often from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), about the product at hand, and consider any recalls that might have impacted the category or any new rules or regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other government regulatory bodies. We are also parents here and understand how precious our children are, so we’re seeking out safe, useful items to help parents (not frustrate or terrify them) in their everyday lives.

When it comes to child and baby sleep, we pay particularly close attention to safety given the potential hazards. Sleep is a category that Vetted knows well, both in the child and adult arenas. We have tested and researched dozens of the best mattresses and beds, asking hard questions about their composition and design. Most recently, our team tested crib mattresses, and we’re excited to share those results soon. You can trust us to share our findings thoroughly and honestly.

This story is regularly reviewed and updated. It was most recently updated in April 2023.

To choose the best bunk beds, I first researched safety issues and spoke to a pediatrician about how to buy a safe bunk bed. He told me which features to look for and which to avoid. Next, I examined some of the most popular bunk beds on the market based on reviews and ratings. I considered material, weight capacity and mattress size. As a parent of four, I’ve also had the opportunity to use a bunk bed in my own household, as has my editor, Rose Gordon Sala, a mom to three and the baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted. I included our recommendations in this story. We then narrowed down the field based on parent reviews, safety, additional features and value, and we made certain to include a range of bunk bed types and styles in order to meet the needs of various families and their sizes and budgets.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you do not let children under the age of 6 sleep in the top bunk. While younger children can technically sleep in the bottom bunk, you’ll want to make sure they’re able to stay put and won't wander up to the top (or onto the ladder) when you’re not there to supervise. So, it's really best to limit their use to kids ages 6 and up.

In general, bunk beds are considered safe for kids, pediatrician Ganjian says. However, it's important to keep in mind that there is a risk of falling from the top bunk—especially with younger children.

Falls and injuries from bunk beds are not uncommon in kids. Sala's own daughter took a tumble off her ladder in the middle of the night and fractured her arm in first grade two month's shy of her seventh birthday. One study found that 23,000 children ages 9 and under were injured on bunk beds from 2001 to 2004 (nearly 15,000 of those were under the age of 6).

There are a few different things you can do. "Make sure everything fits correctly," Ganjian says. Meaning, the mattress should go all the way to the side of the bed frame and not leave any spaces or gaps where children can get caught or trapped.

You’ll also want to make sure your top mattress doesn't raise the sleep surface so high that the guard rail won't work. Bunk beds typically come with guidelines on how thick the top mattress should be in order to maintain the integrity of the guardrail.

The CPSC regulates bunk beds, requiring guardrails and specifying certain design standards to reduce entrapment and falls, as well as setting standards on sharp edges, surface coatings, phthalates and lead. It also states that "the tops of the guardrails must be no less than 5 inches above the top of the mattress," to prevent kids from rolling off the top bunk.

Having a night light in the room is also a good idea, Ganjian says, to help guide children who get up in the night.

"I recommend placing the bunk in the corner of the room," he says. "That way, at least two sides of the bunk are taken care of, safety-wise."

Looking for a bunk bed with an easy-to-climb ladder or even stairs might also help to reduce stumbles.

There is no hard and fast rule on how far the top bunk should be from the ceiling. But, in general, you’ll want to leave enough space for a child to sit up in bed. That means manufacturers typically recommend leaving at least 36 inches (or 3 feet) of clearance between the mattress and ceiling.

Each bunk bed is different. Manufacturers will list weight maximums for each bunk. Sometimes the top bunk and lower bunk weight limitations are the same, sometimes they vary significantly. Both are important safety notices, and it's important to read the labels to ensure each bed can hold your child (0r a caregiver and a child) safely. Many bunks can hold between 400 to 500 pounds with the top bunk typically rated at around 200 or 250 pounds.

This choice is usually a matter of personal preference. Many bunks are wood, but metal bunks are also durable and tend to cost less. Often a metal bunk can be wiped down for easy cleanup, and it's less likely to chip, but other parents will prefer the construction and possibly the look of wood in a child's bedroom.

There's a wide range. Bunks can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. However, you don't necessarily need to pay more for a quality bed. The bunk beds in this article range from around $330 to $3400. A basic bunk bed may be less than $1,000 unless there are significant material differences or special features, such as a built-in staircase.