A word of caution: Kids can fall from bunk beds and injure themselves. Please follow the manufacturers' guidelines for the individual bunk beds listed below, including weight limits, mattress height (important for the guardrail), and safety suggestions, such as only one kid at a time on the top bunk and no jumping. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children be at least 6 years old before sleeping on the top bunk and recommends placing the bunk bed in a corner against a wall, installing all guardrails, and placing a night light nearby to prevent middle-of the-night falls.

Best Bunk Beds for Kids and Toddlers

1. Best Budget Bunk Bed — Viv + Rae Kids Twin Over Full Bunk Bed

This bed has a lot of great features, making it one of our top picks among twin over full bunk beds. It's also gotten over 700 five-star reviews on Wayfair. We love the guardrail that goes all around the top bunk and the two built-in ladders. One parent we know, whose kids were 4 and 6 when the bunk bed came home, said the family loves it, it doesn’t take up a ton of space, and assembly took just two hours. The bed's steel frame comes in either black or blue, and it's currently on sale for under $300.

2. Best Bunk Bed with Drawers — Viv + Rae Beckford Kids Bunk Bed with Drawers

Another great option from Viv + Rae is the Beckford twin over twin bunk bed with built-in drawers. It's perfect for families that need a little extra storage space or are running out of room in the kids' closets. This bunk bed also has sleek stairs instead of a ladder. The Beckford bunk bed is currently available in both espresso and brown finishes, both for less than $900.

3. Best Solid Wood Bunk Bed — IKEA Mydal Bunk Bed

Many families are drawn to IKEA bunk beds for that spare but functional look—​and the price, of course. Among the IKEA bunk beds, the twin over twin Mydal stands out. Made from solid pine wood with a built-in ladder, this bunk bed is perfect for those who don't want or need any extra "frills". IKEA is known for its practical use of space, and the Mydal lives up to that vision. And while it's the most expensive of the Ikea bunk beds, it still costs less than $350.

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This Max & Lily twin is a favorite toddler bunk bed for its proximity to the floor—falling isn't much of an issue.

4. Best Toddler Bunk Bed — Max & Lily Twin Over Twin Low Bunk Bed

The lower bunk on this twin over twin bunk bed is just two inches from the floor, making it a great toddler bunk bed. Also, the weight limit for each bed is 400 pounds—perfect for those times you fall asleep for the whole night after your kid asks you to stay for just a few minutes. (#beenthere). The bunk is made from solid New Zealand pine, and the ladder (which has just three steps) can come off completely.

Want to score some cool-parent points? Get the bunk bed with slide version. It will change the cost—around $400 without a slide and a little over $500 with it—but the entertainment factor alone will be worth it. And if you have three kiddos, the bed is also available as a triple bunk bed for less then $900.

5. Best Bunk Bed for Kids with Lots of Options — Max & Lily Solid Wood Bunk Bed

If you're looking for a great-quality bunk bed that you can customize to fit your family's needs, this Max & Lily bed is a solid choice. You can get it as a twin over twin bed, a twin over full bunk bed, or even a full over full bed. The bunk beds can separate into two free-standing beds as well. And it comes in eight different colors, depending on the configuration you choose. One parent told us that her sons love this bed, that it’s sturdy, and that she’s able to sit on the bottom bunk without hitting her head on the top. The priciest option, full over full, costs less than $700.

6. Fanciest Bunk Bed — Pottery Barn Kids Belden Twin Over Full Stair Loft Bed

Bunk beds with stairs might be safer for young kids than those with ladders, and this Pottery Barn twin over full bunk bed offers built-in stairs. It's Greenguard Gold Certified, meaning it emits fewer harmful chemicals into the air. Available in four colors, it also has two drawers under the bottom bunk for extra storage, as well as a high-top guardrail that makes us worriers feel better. But it'll cost you—the Belden sells for around $3,500.

7. Most "Camp-Like" Bunk Bed — ​Restoration Hardware Cole House Bunk Bed & Canvas Tent

This beautiful Restoration Hardware bunk bed is available in two versions—a twin over twin bunk bed or a full over full bed. Made of either kiln-dried spruce or kiln-dried hardwood, the handcrafted bunk bed comes in weathered white, gray, or dark brown. The ladder can be positioned at either panel. And the best part is the removable canvas tent cover, which comes with a built-in window and storage pockets for full versatility. This amazing bed comes at a price, though—over $3,000 for Restoration Hardware members and more than $4,000 for everyone else.

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Put three kids in one room with the GLORHOME Space-Saving Triple Bunk Bed.

8. Best Triple Bunk Bed — GLORHOME Space-Saving Triple Bunk Bed

If you have three kiddos and not a lot of space, this triple bunk bed is perfect for you. It features a vertical design of three twin beds, but it can also be taken apart to become two separate beds—a traditional double bunk bed and a free-standing twin bed. It's also made of solid pine wood, making its price of less than $350 a steal. And the bottom bunk is low enough to make this a solid toddler bunk bed choice.

9. Best Twin Over Full Bunk Bed — Harriet Bee Bolles Twin Over Full Bunk Bed

We love this take on a twin over full bunk bed, which has nearly 600 five-star reviews on Wayfair. It comes in seven different finishes, including white, espresso, and blue, and the ladder has a hand-hole feature for added safety. One mom says she likes that the bed is lightweight despite being made of solid wood, and that it can be converted into two separate beds when needed. Plus, the price clocks in at under $600 when on sale.

10. Best Bunk Bed With Desk — Kameron Kids Bunk Bed

This highly rated bunk bed has it all—a twin bed on top, a second free-standing twin bed on the bottom, detachable guardrails, a built-in ladder that can be added to either side, and a built-in desk where the kiddos can take turns doing schoolwork. Plus, the bed is made from solid New Zealand pine wood, making it sturdy and durable. For only around $850, it's an excellent deal.

11. Best Bunk Bed Alternative — Pottery Barn Camp Full Loft & Lower Bed Set

This bed set is a great alternative to a traditional bunk bed. It includes a full-size loft bed with a built-in ladder and storage shelves, plus a separate full- or twin-sized bottom bed. The bottom bed can slide under the loft bed perpendicularly, or it can be positioned separately to make room for a desk under the loft. The set, which is both Greenguard Gold Certified and Fair Trade, will run you around $3,000.

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Families looking for a durable and sustainable bunk can invest in the Sprout Sosta Bunk Bed.

12. Best Sustainable Bunk Bed — Sprout Sosta Bunk Bed

Families wanting a Montessori vibe will want to check out the Sosta Bunk Bed. New to the bunk bed scene in 2023, this bed is made in the USA out of 100% solid oak. It is low to the ground and can be transitioned to a floor bed. The Sosta costs a little over $2,000, but you can get 5% off by signing up for Sprout's email list.

This article was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2023 with additional reporting by Vanessa Leigh.

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