Best Bunk Bed Mattress
When you have limited bedroom space to work with but want a room where more than one person can sleep in, bunk beds are an ideal solution. People usually opt for bunk beds to place them in children or guest bedrooms, but those that have never had to buy one of these before might have some questions about bunk beds and their corresponding mattresses. Let’s see if we can shed some light on the situation and talk a little bit about what these have to offer.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
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| #2 |  Modway Jenna Innerspring Mattress
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| #3 |  OYT Mattress
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| #4 |  Modway Aveline Mattress
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| #5 |  Molblly Mattress
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Bunk Bed Designs
Most people think about bunk beds and the first image that comes to mind is two beds stacked on top of each other, with metal frames and cheap mattresses, and probably used in a college dorm. However, bunk beds are more versatile than most people think, so let’s take a look at some of the most common designs you can expect to find:
- Standard bunk beds are the design that people think about: it’s one Twin bed stacked on top of another, with each of them being detachable in case one needs to move the top bed.
- A standard loft is a bunk bed that’s elevated off the ground and grants open space beneath it for other purposes. This is a common choice for teenage bedrooms because the space underneath the bed is usually used to place a desk to create a work/study space. In children’s rooms, it can be used to create a play space for the little ones to enjoy.
- Triple beds are two beds that sit on the ground and another bed stacked on top of them, in the middle, where the two bottom beds meet. Triple bunk beds can also be detached.
- Triple-loft beds are ideal for occupying room corners because of their L-shaped design. On the top side, you can usually see two beds next to each other, which form a 90° angle. The third bed lies underneath one of these two, while the other bedroom has an open space under it, much like a standard loft.
- The futon bunk bed is a regular bed that lies on top of the futon. It’s a piece of furniture that offers a couch and a bunk bed in a single product. It’s often preferred by parents whose children have TVs in their bedrooms.
- L-shaped bunk beds have a more uncommon design compared to the others and, when you look at them from above, you can see the L-shape. At the edges of the bottom bed, you can usually see storage space on one side and a ladder on the other. Take note that this type of bed is different from the triple loft one, which includes three beds and not just two.
Bunk Bed Materials
Bunk beds can be made from different kinds of materials, so let’s review some of the most common ones:
- Solid plastic bunk beds are a very cheap option but they are much better off in a small child’s bedroom because they are not capable of bearing too much weight.
- Steel bunk beds are incredibly affordable and also available in a lot of different stores. They are particularly durable and can usually support a lot of weight. Even the top of the bed should be able to hold about 250 pounds.
- Wood is the third most popular option but not all wooden bunk beds are created alike. Some of them are made from softwood such as pine or other varieties. While they are durable, softwood bunk beds will never have the same level of durability as hardwood beds do. Speaking of hardwood beds, these are usually made from cherry, poplar, or oak, and they are considered to be the most durable bunk beds on the market.
Features to Consider
There are still a few more things that you have to know before spending money on a bunk bed and that includes a different kind of features and characteristics that can make a difference in the experience of a bunk bed sleeper:
- Bunkie boards are the bunk bed equivalent of a box spring. A bunk bed is not compatible with a box spring but it uses thin wooden planes, which are meant to hold the weight of the mattress and that of the sleeper.
- Bunk beds also come with support columns, also known as poles. Their main role is to support the weight of the top bunk and prevent the structure and the sleeper from collapsing. Generally speaking, bunk beds are designed with four poles, each one being placed at one corner of the bed.
- Guardrails are also important for the top bunk bed. The role of the guardrails is to prevent the sleeper from rolling over to the edge of the bed and eventually falling from such a height. Guardrails usually run along the entire length of the bed and are located on both sides.
- As a shopper, you also have to consider the top bunk access. There are usually three different ways in which a person can access the top side of the bed. The first means of access is the ladder. You will generally find that the ladder is placed on the outer facing lengthwise side of the bed base. You can also find bunk beds with stairs placed on one or both sides of the bed. The third most common way of access is by using slats. These are usually placed between the columns located at the head or the foot of the bed. They are very common on futon bunk beds.
Best Bunk Bed Mattresses
Now that we know a little bit more about bunk beds and their features, let’s take a look at some of the best mattresses that we can pair them with. Hopefully, this will make your shopping decision a whole lot easier.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Specs:
- Available sizes: Narrow Twin, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Short Queen, King, Cal King
- Height: 6 inches
- Materials: memory foam
Zinus makes some of the most affordable and decent memory foam mattresses on the market. What you are now looking at is their Narrow Twin option, with a 6-inch profile and a few characteristics that are worth mentioning. It debuts with a nice and soft Jacquard cover that feels pleasant to the touch. The mattress is made from a comfort layer that measures one inch and a base layer of 5 inches.
The comfort layer is designed with a green tea infusion that promises to offer a rejuvenating sleeping experience. The 5-inch base is made from high-density support foam and offers a decent amount of comfort. It’s a bed-in-a-box which is delivered compress and promises to return to its original size 72 hours after unboxing.
Pros:
- Good price.
- Quality cover.
- Good value for money.
- Supports up to 250 pounds.
Cons:
- Strong off-gassing.
Who Should Buy This?
The Zinus Green Tea mattress is designed for people that want a basic memory foam mattress for a bunk bed, offering a few benefits that you don’t usually see in other mattresses at this price.
Modway Jenna Innerspring Mattress
Specs:
- Available sizes: Narrow Twin, Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Height: 8 inches
- Materials: foam + springs
Next up, we have an innerspring mattress for sleepers that love that bouncy feel that only spring beds usually deliver. It’s made with a quilted polyester cover that wraps up one inch of responsive foam, 0.9 inches of egg-crate foam, and 6.2 inches of individually wrapped coils that are encased in a felt liner. Since this is the Narrow Twin version of the mattress, it’s suitable for bunk beds and RVs, but we have seen people use it as a camping mattress as well.
It offers a decent amount of motion isolation since it comes with pocketed coils, but that’s not always a feature of interest considering this isn’t a mattress large enough to accommodate two people. Just like the Zinus, this mattress is also rolled up and delivered compressed inside a box, so you’re going to have to give it a couple of days to regain its original shape after unboxing it.
Pros:
- Good motion isolation.
- Relatively breathable.
- Multiple size options.
- Fire-resistant polyester barrier.
Cons:
- Pretty noisy.
Who Should Buy This?
If you want a mattress with a bouncier feel, but also one that’s more durable compared to an all-foam bed, you might want to give the Jenna mattress a chance.
OYT Mattress
Specs:
- Available sizes: Narrow Twin, Twin, Full, Queen, King
- Height: 6 inches
- Materials: foam
There are chances that you never heard of an OYT mattress before, but let me tell you: when it comes to Narrow Twin mattresses compatible with bunk beds, this is one of the best products out there. It is an all-foam bed that’s available in multiple height options, but we recommend going with the Narrow Twin size available at a 6-inch profile.
What you’ll get is a mattress that does a great job at alleviating pressure and cradling the body. In terms of firmness, this is a medium bed that meets the CertiPUR-US and Oeko-Tex Standard 100, resulting in a mattress that’s safe to use by kids and teenagers, as well as adults. The gel-infused foam is there to make sure that the bed doesn’t retain as much heat as other all-foam beds do.
Pros:
- Great pressure relief.
- Sleeper is cooler than most all-foam beds.
- Really good price.
- Soft and breathable cover.
Cons:
- Strong off-gassing.
Who Should Buy This?
If you want a bunk bed mattress with additional cooling properties because you feel thermal discomfort way too often, this is a product worth checking out.
Modway Aveline Mattress
Specs:
- Available sizes: Narrow Twin, Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Height: 6 inches
- Materials: foam
We have yet another Modway mattress added to this list because they offer great value for the money when it comes to their Narrow Twin beds, which are compatible with bunk bed frames. This is a bed that consists of two layers of foam covered by a stretchable and breathable cover.
The first layer is made from memory foam and it’s been infused with gel in hopes of keeping heat far away from the body. The bottom layer is the base of the bed and it’s made from a 4.5-inch block of responsive foam. With a total weight of 18 pounds, this is one of the lightest mattresses of its kind, being the perfect choice for top bunks that offer a very limited weight capacity. The foam is also CertiPUR-US certified, which makes it safe to be used even by kids.
Pros:
- Gel-infused memory foam.
- CertiPUR-US certified.
- Sleeps fairly cool.
- Very lightweight.
Cons:
- Some people claim it’s too firm.
Who Should Buy This?
If you have a bunk bed with a very limited weight capacity and you need a mattress that weighs as little as possible, we recommend checking out the Modway Aveline.
Molblly Mattress
Specs:
- Available sizes: Narrow Twin, Twin
- Height: 6 inches
- Materials: foam
Our last suggestion for all those of you looking for a bunk bed mattress is the Molblly, another underestimated brand. It’s a mattress wrapped up nicely in a knitted Jacquard cover. As you brush your fingertips against the surface of the bed, you will notice that it feels very soft to the touch. Underneath the cover, you can discover a one-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam, looking to prevent overheating, a common disadvantage of memory foam beds.
The base of the bed is a 5-inch block of HD foam, looking to support the entire weight of the mattress and the sleeper, but also to stop your body from sinking into the surface of the bed too much. Constructed with a CertiPUR-US and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 foam and offering a decent amount of pressure relief and support, this is one product that is worthy of your attention.
Pros:
- Good pressure point relief.
- Sleeps fairly cool.
- No motion transfer.
- Really good price.
Cons:
- Sags pretty quick.
Who Should Buy This?
The Molblly mattress is designed for sleepers that want a bed with good pressure relief but would also like to save some money with their purchase.
Bottom Line
Shopping for a mattress for a bunk bed needs to take into account some additional rules compared to those that you already need to keep in mind when purchasing a mattress for a regular type of bed. Keep in mind that some bunk beds have a very limited weight capacity, so you need to opt for lightweight mattresses. Make sure that you have first acquired the bunk bed frame because it will be easier for you to choose the mattress that fits.