For this guide, I searched for promising candidates from popular companies, such as IKEA, Oeuf, Maxtrix, Costco, Casa Kids, Max & Lily, Babyletto, Crate & Kids, Pottery Barn, RH, Room & Board, Storkcraft, and West Elm Kids. I focused exclusively on what’s considered the classic bunk-bed style: twin-over-twin beds with ladders, as opposed to stairs or slides. And while there are no official age limits for any of these bunk beds, we assessed them with school-age children in mind, not older teens or adults.
We considered price, materials, footprint, use limitations, and material or sustainability certifications (if there were any). After six months of research, we ultimately landed on seven bunk beds to test in our Long Island City, New York, office.
Sturdiness and longevity: I tagged along with our furniture experts as they put the bunk beds through a “rack test,” in which they vigorously shook each one. They also jumped on each bed’s slats to see how they held up. And, using a pocket knife, they chipped away at some of the veneer on each bunk in order to inspect the materials underneath. Our kid testers also gave feedback on the creakiness or squeakiness of the beds, as well as anything that felt loose or flimsy.
Ease of assembly: Putting together a bunk bed will always be a two-person job, but it can be a simple 30-minute puzzle or a multi-hour, marriage-straining debacle. I recommend white-glove service if possible; in fact I relied on the service for four of the seven bunk beds I tested. For the three that didn’t offer a white-glove option, my editor and I assisted Mechanic and Shippee with assembly. We noted assembly times, the clarity of the instructions, the number of pieces, and the tools provided. We also noted which of our own tools were necessary or helpful for building.
Comfort and usability: To get a sense of whether our kid testers would like having a bunk bed in their house, I asked them a series of questions. Was it easy to climb up and down the ladder? Would they feel safe sleeping on the top bunk? Was it comfortable to sit up when they were on the top bunk and the bottom bunk? I also climbed up each bed myself several times, and I changed the sheets on the top and bottom bunks.
Style and design: I surveyed adults and children to get their opinions on how the bunks looked.
Convertibility: I favored beds that could be converted into two separate beds as families grow and evolve. Some bunks break down into two twin beds, while others transform into a lofted twin and a regular twin.
