Best Bunk Bed Mattress of 2024

Bunk beds are the perfect space savers for kids’ rooms or college dorms. These stackable beds optimize space, allowing more room for play areas or other furniture. However, you have to be careful when buying bunk bed mattresses. Mattresses for bunk beds should not be too thick or heavy. Otherwise, they pose safety concerns.

In this article, we discuss the important criteria for choosing the right bunk bed mattress and recommend our top picks for saving space. We also go over other things you should consider before buying the best bunk bed mattresses for your needs.

Important Criteria for Bunk Bed Mattresses

To avoid accidents or injuries from rolling off the bed, federal laws have regulated guidelines mandating guard rails on the upper bunks. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the top of the guardrails must be no less than 5 inches above the top of the mattress.

Before buying your bunk bed mattress, measure the distance between the top of the guardrail and the bed frame. This measurement determines how thick your mattress can be to safely fit the upper bunk.

On a too-thick mattress, sleepers may bump their head on the ceiling or on the upper bunk. Too heavy mattresses can exert too much pressure on the bed frame, potentially damaging it.

The Amerisleep AS2 is our top recommendation because its 12-inch thickness is suitable for a bunk bed. The surface is medium-firm with a focus on targeted support, while also being comfortable enough for a restful night’s sleep.

Amerisleep mattresses are available in all standard sizes, including the twin, twin XL, and full sizes commonly used in bunk bed frames. They are light enough for bunk beds with the twin mattress weighing about 45 pounds, twin XL and full weighing 49 pounds and 63 pounds respectively.

The Amerisleep AS2 includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty, covering manufacturing defects and sags greater than an inch. Also, Amerisleep’s mattresses are shipped free within the continental US.

SEE ALSO: Best Eco-Friendly Mattresses

Read Our Full Review of the Amerisleep AS2 Mattress

The Zoma Start is slimmer than many other mattresses, standing 10 inches tall. It’s the perfect weight for bunk beds because excess weight can cause structural damage to the bed or cause it to collapse. We recommend this mattress because it offers a cool sleeping experience and supportive construction.

This CertiPUR-US® certified mattress is manufactured in the United States and ships free to the contiguous 48 states. The Zoma Start includes a risk-free 100-night sleep trial. It’s also backed by a 10-year warranty.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Heavy People

Read Our Full Review of the Zoma Start Mattress

The Vaya Mattress is a good choice for many sleepers because it offers high-quality comfort at an affordable price.

Vaya’s twin, twin XL and full sizes are slightly heavier than AS2 and Zoma mattresses. A twin bed weighs 54 pounds, a twin XL weighs 68 pounds, and a full weighs 78 pounds so check the weight limit of your bunk bed before buying the mattress.

All Vaya mattresses includes a risk-free 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. It’s made in the USA and ships free to all the lower 48 states.

SEE ALSO: Best Budget Mattresses

Side sleepers may struggle a little when it comes to choosing a bunk bed mattress, as many of the softer mattresses are simply too thick and heavy for the frame. Mattresses like the Nolah Original 10, though, are lightly soft without being too plush, providing a balanced feel that whisks away tension in the shoulders and hips.

Like other Nolah mattresses, the Original 10 ships free and comes with a 120-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. The sleep trial can be removed as you checkout, perfect for budget shoppers who want a deeper discount.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress Made in the USA

Many parents use bunk beds for their children to save space while providing comfort. Kids also often enjoy climbing in out of their bunk bed, finding it a novelty compared to a traditional frame. If you want a mattress suitable for growing children, we suggest the aptly named Saatva Youth.

According to Saatva, the twin size Saatva Youth mattress weighs 45 pounds, the twin XL size is 56 pounds, and the full size is 61 pounds. Make sure your bunk bed frame can suitably accommodate the weight of this 10-inch mattress before purchasing it.

SEE ALSO: Top 7 Best Bed Tents For Kids

On a sweltering summer night, it can be all too easy to feel the rising heat build up around your bunk bed frame. With its cooling gel infusions and advanced cover fabric, the Bear Original is our recommendation for hot sleepers who need a cooling bunk bed mattress.

Bunk beds aren’t just found within the home, and you may need a thinner and more compact one if you’re looking to outfit an RV or camper with a new mattress. The Brooklyn Bedding Dreamfoam Essential mattress comes in a wide range of specialty sizes, along with varying thicknesses and firmnesses. This makes it easy to choose a mattress that minimizes drag on a vehicle.

You can also go with the Dreamfoam Essential if you need a mattress under $500 for a bunk bed. The Dreamfoam Essential ships free and comes with a 120-night trial and a 10-year warranty.

Another bunk bed mattress for kids that we can’t pass up mentioning is the Helix Kids mattress. One side supports growing bodies aged 3 to 7, while the reverse side has memory foam to cradle children ages 8 to 12. Pairing poly-foam with eco-friendly cover fabric, this mattress serves as an excellent hypoallergenic bunk bed mattress.

The original Layla Memory Foam Mattress is a flippable mattress with a twist, as each side of the bed has a different firmness, both capable of comfortably supporting adult sleepers. If you can’t decide between a soft or firm mattress for a bunk bed, why not enjoy both?

The Latex for Less Mattress is an ideal choice if you are looking for an organic bunk bed mattress. This double-sided bed gives you the option to choose from a medium or a firm side. If your firmness preferences change with time, simply flip the mattress to suit your needs.

Like our other recommendations, Latex for Less mattresses are also made in the US. They include a risk-free 120-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

These organic latex mattresses are available in two thickness options, 7 and 9 inches, but the thinner mattress is meant for those who weigh less than 100 pounds. Ideally, they are good for children in the 6-10 age range. However, check the weight limit of your bunk bed because latex mattresses are heavier than other foam mattresses.

Best Bunk Bed Mattress Highlights and Comparison

Factors to Consider When Buying a Bunk Bed Mattress

When you’re buying a bunk bed mattress, chances are you will need two beds instead of one. If you’re working with a twin XL size frame, you may even be able to buy a split king mattress and put each half in the top and bottom bunk.

While looking for an affordable mattress for the money, make sure you don’t compromise on quality. Also, ensure the mattress isn’t too thick or heavy so it’s compatible with bunk bed mattress frames.

To find an affordable and comfortable bunk bed mattress, such as a mattress under $1000, consider the following factors.

Bunk Bed Type

The first step before buying a bunk bed mattress is to determine the number of mattresses you need, which depends on the type and the dimensions of bunk bed frame you buy.

Here, we go over the different types of bunk bed mattress styles available on the market. The type that is better for you can depend on your purpose. For example, one you intend to use as an occasional-use mattress for guest room can be different than one you intend to use nightly.

Standard Bunk Bed

Mattresses Needed: 2

A standard bunk bed includes two bunks of the same size stacked one over another. Most standard bunk beds are available in twin and twin XL sizes, but you may find some in full sizes as well. The bunks are detachable, so use them as two separate beds when needed. It’s a great choice for siblings who eventually shift to different rooms as they grow up.

Standard Loft Bed

Mattresses Needed: 1

A standard loft bed needs a mattress for the upper bunk, while the place beneath it serves as a storage area or workstation. This open space is usually 4 feet tall, providing enough room for a chair or sofa to fit in it.

Loft beds often include a pull-out desk and cabinets in the open space. They are commonly used in college dorms or a teenager’s bedroom. You will just want to make sure that as a mattress for a teenager, it accommodates a larger body with a corresponding mattress thickness.

Triple Bunk Bed

Mattresses Needed: 3

A triple bunk bed is a taller variation of the standard bunk bed, with three bunks of the same size stacked on top of each other. In some triple bunk beds, the middle bunk may be placed perpendicular to the lower and upper section.

This style of triple bunk bed takes up more space than the standard triple. Like standard bunk beds, even triple bunk beds are detachable for use as three separate beds.

Triple Loft Bed

Mattresses Needed: 3

In a triple loft bed, there are two upper bunks joined at a perpendicular angle, with an open space beneath one of them and a lower bunk beneath the other. Like standard lofts, the open space beneath the triple loft is also 4 feet providing sufficient space for an individual to sit and study. They need more space than a triple bunk bed and are usually placed in the corner of the room to optimize the floor area.

Twin-Over-Full Bed

Mattresses Needed: 2

Twin-Over-Full bunk beds are a good option for families with three children who don’t have bigger rooms or rooms with high ceilings for a triple loft or a triple bunk bed. Two children can comfortably sleep on the lower full size mattress, while the third child can sleep on the upper twin bed.

There are also other size variations, such as twin XL-over-queen frames, if you need more space for your sleeping children.

L-Shaped Bunk Bed

Mattresses Needed: 2

An L-Shaped bunk bed includes two bunks, with one stacked perpendicular to the other. Sometimes, these beds feature pull-out desks, drawers, and cabinets doubling up as a workstation for children. An L-shaped frame can also include a third bed or even a fourth, depending on the design.

Trundle Bunk Bed

Mattresses Needed: 3

Trundle beds offer an innovative way to save floor space because they house a bed in a pull-out drawer beneath the lower bunk. The upper and lower bunks are stacked one over another, like standard bunk beds. This can be perfect for sleepovers and other situations when you need to temporarily accommodate a guest.

Futon Bunk Bed

Mattresses Needed: 1

A futon bunk features a bed on the upper section, with a couch beneath. The couch can be converted to a futon sleeping surface when needed. It serves as a temporary bed for a guest.

Size

Most bunk beds are available in twin and twin XL sizes, the two most compact bed sizes. A twin measures 38 inches by 75 inches and is often used in the kids’ room, while a twin XL is 5 inches longer, measuring 38 inches by 80 inches. The extra legroom in a twin XL comes in handy to accommodate growing teenagers and adults as well.

Twin XL bunk beds are common in college dorms and teenagers’ bedrooms. This is why a twin XL is one of the top choices when choosing a mattress for college students or teens planning to take their new mattress to college.

Some bunk beds are also compatible with full size mattresses. Full beds are wider than twin XL mattresses, but shorter, so they may not be a comfortable option for tall sleepers. They are 54 inches by 75 inches, providing enough room for two children.

There are even bunk bed frames that have large queen or king size beds for the bottom bunk, and smaller bunks up top. These can ensure that multiple children still have plenty of sleeping space without resorting to a triple loft frame.

As a reminder, here are an overview of the standard mattress sizes.

Bunk Bed Mattress Type

There are four main types of mattresses: memory foam, latex, hybrid, and innerspring. Each has its own unique characteristics that make it suited for different types of sleepers and bed frames, including bunk beds.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses are made from a high-density, reactive foam that conforms to the shape of your body, offering exceptional comfort and support. They are ideal for bunk beds because they are lightweight and have a low profile, making them easy to move and install on the top bunk.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses are made from natural or synthetic latex and offer a firm yet supportive feel. They are also responsive and durable, making them a good choice for bunk beds. However, they can be more expensive than other mattress types. As latex foam is heavier than memory foam, it may be too much for a bunk bed mattress frame to support.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are the traditional mattress that features a coil support system with a layer of padding on top. They are generally less expensive than other types of mattresses and can be a good budget option for bunk beds. However, an innerspring mattress may not provide the same level of comfort and support as memory foam or hybrid mattresses.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses combine elements of spring and foam beds, with a layer of foam on top of a pocketed coil support system. This combination provides excellent support and pressure relief while still maintaining a level of bounce and responsiveness. They can also be a good choice for bunk beds, but may be heavier and more difficult to move than memory foam or classic spring mattresses.

Bunk Bed Mattress Weight

Knowing the mattress’s weight is crucial when shopping for bunk beds because heavier mattresses can damage the bed frame or cause it to collapse. Most beds have specific weight capacities, which refers to the combined weight of the mattress and the sleeper. If you use a bunkie board, you should also account for its weight.

The weight capacity of the upper bunk in a standard bunk bed may be 200 pounds and the lower bunk may be 400 pounds. If a sleeper weighs 130 pounds, then the weight of the mattress on the upper bunk should not exceed 70 pounds.

The weight capacity on the upper bunks may vary between 200 to 500 pounds for a child’s bunk bed. The weight capacity for an adult bunk bed may range between 500 to 1,000 pounds. Before buying a mattress, verify the weight capacity of your bunk bed.

Remember also that different types of mattresses have different weight ranges. In other words, how much a mattress weighs depends greatly on its materials. Generally, latex is heavier than memory foam and a hybrid mattress is heavier than a traditional innerspring bed.

Bunk Bed Mattress Thickness

What is the best mattress thickness? The answer grows more complicated with bunk beds than with a traditional panel bed. The mattress should not be too thick, otherwise, sleepers on the top bunk may roll over the guardrail and injure themselves. According to federal regulations, the top of the mattress must be 5 inches below the top of the guardrail to ensure the safety of the sleeper.

While avoiding thicker mattresses, make sure you don’t end up buying 6 or 7-inch beds for adults. They are comfortable mattresses for children, but not supportive enough for sleepers weighing above 100 pounds. It’s better to opt for 9 to 12-inch thick mattresses while ensuring the 5-inch gap between the top of the mattress and the guard rail is maintained.

See our guides for some of the best thin mattresses:

• Best 10-Inch Mattresses
• Best 12 Inch Mattresses

Bunk Bed Mattress Temperature Regulation

Some mattresses may trap heat, leading to sleep disruptions, which affects productivity the next day. To avoid this domino effect, choose mattresses with cooling technologies and breathable covers. Sleepers on the top bunk are more prone to feeling hot, as the hot air rises and hovers near the ceiling.

Bunk Bed Mattress Noise Potential

Foam mattresses are preferred for bunk beds because the coil layer in innerspring and hybrid mattresses can be noisy. This causes sleep disruptions for everyone sharing the bunk bed. Memory foam and all-natural latex mattresses are perfect options for a bunk bed mattress, but latex models can be heavier than memory foam mattresses.

Bunk Bed Mattress Firmness Level

Different firmness levels are suitable for various sleeping positions, which is why the mattress industry makes plenty to choose from. Usually, side sleepers feel comfortable on a medium-soft or medium bed because it cushions their shoulders and hips. Soft mattresses are also quite comfortable for side sleepers, but they are often too tall and heavy for bunk bed frames.

A medium-firm or firm mattress is suitable for back and stomach sleepers because it does not compress under pressure. This prevents mattress sinkage beneath the back or abdomen, maintaining spinal alignment.

Combination sleepers are comfortable on a medium bed. They need the perfect balance between firmness and softness to suit their changing sleep positions on a mattress for combination sleepers.

For those who are curious, we have a number of guides that compare and contrast common mattress firmnesses:

• Soft vs. Medium Mattresses
• Firm vs. Medium Mattresses
• Firm vs. Soft Mattresses

Mattress Warranties and Sleep Trials

Most mattress manufacturers offer a 10 or 20-year warranty covering manufacturing defects or sags. If you notice any of these within the warranty period, most manufacturers will repair or replace your mattress for free or a nominal charge. This is why we strongly recommend you always purchase a mattress with a warranty, even if it’s an occasional-use mattress for a bunk bed.

If you’re not sure about the mattress firmness or type suitable for your needs, buy a mattress with a risk-free sleep trial period. That way, you’ll be able to return the mattress for a full refund within the sleep trial, which typically lasts between 90-100 days. That said, some mattresses with free sleep trials have periods that span a full year.

This is common practice for online mattresses, which shoppers naturally can’t try before they buy. However, even many box stores and mattress showrooms offer lengthy trial periods now.

Who Should Not Sleep on a Bunk Bed Mattress?

Bunk bed mattresses simply aren’t for everyone. There are some people who should not sleep on a bunk bed mattress for safety reasons.

Toddlers and Younger Children

While bunk beds are a popular frame for children, they are generally not recommended for very young children under the age of six years old due to safety concerns. Once they move out of a crib, it’s best to keep younger kids in a toddler bed that’s lower to the floor for a while.

People with Mobility Issues or Medical Conditions

Bunk beds require climbing up and down a ladder to access the top bunk, which can be challenging for people with mobility issues. Seniors or individuals with disabilities may not find bunk beds safe or easy to navigate.

Also, people with certain medical conditions, such as chronic back problems, may not find bunk bed mattresses comfortable as they may not provide adequate support and pressure relief. They may even need an adjustable bed for back pain.

Taller or Heavier Sleepers

Bunk bed mattresses are generally smaller and may not provide enough space or support for taller or heavier individuals, which can lead to discomfort and poor sleep quality. It is possible for a twin XL or a queen bottom bunk to pair with a mattress for taller sleepers, but frames that can safely accommodate the California king or other oversized mattresses are trickier to come by.

FAQs

Can bunk beds collapse?

Yes, they can collapse if they are not assembled properly. Make sure there are no missing pieces and all screws and nuts are tightened well. Plus, maintain the weight capacity as specified by the bunk bed manufacturer to avoid the risk of structural damage or collapse.

Does a bunk bed need a box spring?

No, placing a box spring on the top bunk will make the mattress taller than the safety guard rails, increasing the sleeper’s risk of rolling off the bed. You can place the mattress directly on the slats, but if the slats are more than 2.75 inches apart, put a bunkie board on it to avoid mattress sag. Bunkie boards are designed specifically as a box spring alternative for bunk beds.

How much weight can a top bunk bed hold?

This depends on the bed’s design and the materials used to make it. Usually, solid wood bunk beds are sturdier than particle board or metal, so their top bunks can hold more weight than particle board or metal bunks. Children’s bunk beds can hold anywhere between 200 to 500 pounds, while adult bunk beds can hold around 500 to 1,000 pounds.

At what age is a bunk bed safe?

Children can graduate from a crib to a bunk bed, but they should not sleep on the upper bunk before the age of 6. According to the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP), children younger than 6-years don’t have the coordination to climb down safely or stop themselves from falling. An estimated 14,600 children under the age of 6 were treated within 2001-2004 for bunk bed fall-related injuries.

Should kids sleep on a firm or soft mattress?

Infants should sleep on a firm mattress because a soft bed could cause suffocation, but toddlers do not need a firm mattress. When deciding on the mattress firmness suitable for your child, consider their body weight. Typically, children who weigh less than 130 pounds are comfortable on a soft to medium bed.  Those weighing above 130 are better suited to a medium or firm comfort level.

Conclusion

Bunk bed mattresses are not much different from regular mattresses. The primary difference is that you have to be extra aware of the mattress thickness and weight, but otherwise you’re free to choose the best mattress for your needs.

A low-profile mattress may not be comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep, while a super-thick mattress may pose safety concerns. Verify the weight capacity of each bunk, check the mattress weight, and ensure the mattress height is 5 inches below the safety guardrail.

Dr. Burns tests each mattress at eachnight’s facility to make sure the recommendations are based on real, expert reviews.