Bunk beds can be found in kids’ rooms, dormitories, cabins, and the occasional guest room. They’re a versatile option for maximizing space in a shared room, and there’s plenty of fun to be had with a lofty vantage point.
Setting up a new bunk bed can be challenging, though. How do you know what to look for when there are so many options out there? Do you opt for a kids’ bed or something that can accommodate a wide range of sleepers? We’re here to help.
We sifted through dozens of low-profile, high-quality mattresses to whittle down the options. In our list of the best mattresses for bunk beds, we have everything from foam to hybrid to latex, beds built for sleepers, young and old, and something for every budget.
Clarity’s Clear Winner
According to our expert team, the best bunk bed mattress is the Helix Kids mattress, because this low-profile, flippable bed will provide the comfort and support young sleepers need. It was a favorite of our testers of various ages, offering great pressure relief and top-notch edge support. It’s also available in 8” and 6” configurations, providing options that should fit snugly in bunk beds.
The Best Mattresses for Bunk Beds
- Helix Kids Mattress – Best Bunk Bed Mattress Overall
- Bear Cub – Best Full-Size Bunk Bed Mattress
- Nolah Nurture Mattress – Best Children’s Bunk Bed Mattress
- Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam – Best Bunk Bed Mattress for Adults
- Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress – Best Affordable Mattress for a Bunk Bed
- Saatva Youth Mattress – Best Twin Mattress for a Bunk Bed
- Birch Kids Natural – Best Organic Bunk Bed Mattress
Top Deals
- Helix Kids Mattress – 25% Off Sitewide
- Bear Cub – 40% Off Sitewide with Code CLARITY40
- Nolah Nurture Mattress – 30% Off Sitewide, Additional $50 Off with Code CLARITY50
- Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam – 25% Off Sitewide with Code WINTER25
- Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress – 25% Off Sitewide with Code WINTER25
Compare the Best Bunk Bed Mattresses
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| Helix Kids Mattress | Bear Cub | Nolah Nurture Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam | Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress | Saatva Youth Mattress | Birch Kids Natural | |
| Rating | |||||||
| Firmness | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Firm: 8/10 | Medium-firm: 7/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Foam | Innerspring | Latex |
| Cooling | — | — | — | ||||
| Best For |
Side Sleepers,
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers |
Kids
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Side Sleepers,
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers |
Back Sleepers,
Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers |
Side Sleepers,
Back Sleepers |
Back Sleepers,
Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers |
Kids
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Thinner mattresses are the best picks for bunk beds because they give you more overhead space and have a better chance of fitting into a frame with guardrails. We recommend choosing a mattress that is 6” to 10” tall, as these will likely fit a bunk bed setup while remaining comfortable. As such, the majority of these mattresses on this list fall within this range. Many are available in multiple thicknesses, so you can have your pick once you find your favorite.
It’s not enough that a bunk mattress fits snugly in the frame; you’ll want it to be comfortable, too. It’s especially important because the thinner a mattress is, the firmer it feels to achieve the right amount of support. That’s why we sought out mattresses that provided essential support and soothing pressure relief to ensure sleepers found their correct posture and the necessary sinkage for comfort.
It’s important to note that support and pressure relief can vary from sleeper to sleeper. And not just in terms of preferred sleeping position or body type, many beds on this list are made for kids, so they may not offer the same support for adult sleepers. Where we could, we had a young sleeper try out the mattress. Otherwise, we provided our perspective as older testers, keeping in mind what young children would prefer.
Ultimately, we ensured that all of these beds offered the right amount of support and alignment for their target audience, whoever that may be. On top of that, we tested each bed for pressure relief by having sleepers lie on their back and side, then rate their comfort out of five. We aimed to include beds that earned at least a 3.5 for overall pressure relief.
Unless you’re opting for a loft bed, you’re likely going to need two mattresses for your bunk bed setup. A new mattress is already an investment, and doubling it can put a strain on budget shoppers’ wallets. We indeed kept price in mind when picking out these mattresses, but we also considered their quality and performance, so you can be sure that every dollar is worth the value of the entire product.
These beds start at $205 for a twin-size mattress, with upper-end models costing around $799. The average price for the entire list comes to about $540. While many of these beds are affordable, we also have some slightly more expensive beds for folks who have extra cash.
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches selected the best mattresses for bunk beds by looking at the categories above: an appropriate height, a balance of support and pressure relief, and affordability.
But our full process involves testing several aspects of a bed’s performance, including cooling, edge support, and more. We evaluate and score these factors using specialized technology as well as firsthand accounts of how a bed feels to testers with different body types.
Once we have all those scores, we calculate the bed’s overall score using a weighted formula. This overall score is a good indicator of a mattress’s general quality, and is always a number out of 5.
As we decide which mattresses to feature on any roundup, we only include beds with an overall score of 3.5 out of 5 or higher. Even if a mattress does certain things well, we won’t point you towards it if it falls below this baseline.
Learn more about how we test mattresses at Mattress Clarity.
- 500+ mattresses tested in person
- 30+ data points collected for each bed
- 7 Certified Sleep Science Coaches on staff
- Expert input from our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta (MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM) and our Chief Medical Product Tester Dr. Hannah Habeeb (DPT)
- 40,000+ readers who bought a new bed based on our recommendations
Learn more about Mattress Clarity.
Helix Kids – Best Bunk Bed Mattress Overall
With a flippable design, water-repellant cover, and springs in the center, the Helix Kids mattress is one of the best beds for children on the market. We were particularly impressed by its sturdy edges and pressure relief, the latter of which can be tough to find in a kids’ bed.
The Helix Kids mattress is a perfect fit for a new bunk bed. This mattress comes in 6” and 8” heights, both of which should work great for bunk beds. It’s also flippable, with one side for kids aged 2 to 7 and the other for children 8 and up. But even our adult testers found comfort while resting on this mattress, so it might double as a guest bed when the need arises.
In our tests, this hybrid mattress earned high marks for its edge support (4.8/5) and cooling capability (4/5). A twin-size of the 6” iteration will run you $599, and you’ll also get a 120-night sleep trial and a limited lifetime warranty, for which the bed earned a 4.3/5 customer service score.
As mentioned, Helix Kids has two sides: one for children under 7 and the other for those over 8. The side for younger children came in at 7.5/10 on our firmness scale, a firmer feel intended to support their bodies as they grow. The older kids’ side is a bit softer at 6.5/10, a true medium-firm feel.
Our 10-year-old tester, Conrad, tried out this mattress to share his opinion on its ability to relieve pressure. He ultimately decided, “I like the mattress more on my back than my side. It’s not too firm, but a little soft.”
Lightweight tester Riley Otis also tried out the mattress and echoed Conrad’s sentiments, saying, “The bed feels very balanced in the back-sleeping position.” But she also thought the mattress could be “a good choice for side sleepers.” She added, “There’s some cushioning up top that’s preventing pressure from forming at the joints, and enough lift to keep the spine straight and neutral.”
Even as an adult, Riley felt stable and secure at the edge of the mattress. “I thought the seated edge support was solid. Although I sank down a bit, I didn’t feel like I was going to slip off the bed, so I think kids will be fine, too,” she explained. When she lay down near the perimeter of the bed, she only noticed a bit more sinkage while resting on her side. However, she added that this might not be an issue for kids.
The Helix Kids mattress is also outfitted with a breathable cover, which helped the bed earn its 4/5 cooling score. As Riley lay on the surface, she didn’t find the bed cool-to-the-touch, per se, but it wasn’t “uncomfortably warm.” She explained, “I didn’t feel the mattress noticeably heating up beneath me—it felt temperature neutral the whole time.”
While most hot sleepers should rest easy on the Helix Kids mattress, we still wouldn’t recommend this mattress for adults long-term. If you’re looking for an adult mattress for a bunk bed, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Copperflex or Dreamfoam Essential.
Read more in our full Helix Kids mattress review.
Bear Cub – Best Full-Size Bunk Bed Mattress
The Bear Cub is a hybrid mattress with a little extra appeal for children, since they can choose which color they’d like (Arctic Blue or Salmon). The bed has pretty perfect edge support and pressure relief, but it isn’t flippable, unlike many competitors.
Full-size bunk beds are rarer, but a great pick for sleepers who need a bit more space. If you don’t mind snuggling, you can even fit two sleepers on a full-size mattress in a pinch. The Bear Cub mattress is a kids’ mattress that not only comes in twin and full-size options but also in two on-theme colors: Arctic Blue and Salmon.
But it’s not just a flashy, colorful kids’ bed; this mattress offered impressive edge support and pressure relief, for which the mattress earned perfect ratings. A full-size Bear Cub also retails for just $499 on sale, and that comes with a 120-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty.
The Bear Cub mattress is a hybrid bed with comfortable foam layers on top. It came in at 6.5/10 on our firmness scale, a true medium-firm feel that should accommodate a variety of young sleepers. But this mattress was actually evaluated by an adult, our average-weight tester Sosha Lewis, who found it to be plenty comfortable.
Sosha commented that she was “impressed with this mattress when she was on her side.“ She added, “The foam provided nice contouring, and the coils kept me aligned.” She found back-sleeping felt like a breeze too: “I felt balanced and even. Plus, the foams did a good job contouring to my lower back,” she said. She ultimately called it “just fine” for adults, and added that she could probably sleep on this mattress for a few nights without complaint.
The edge support test also gave Sosha a shock. “The edge support was pretty great, especially considering I weigh substantially more than the target audience,” she explained. “I was also impressed with how supported I was lying on my back, side, and stomach.” You shouldn’t have any issues sliding off the bed during the night—good news for those on the bottom bunk.
The Bear Cub also features a breathable cover and gel-infused foams to help keep things cool. While Sosha noted it wasn’t cool-to-the-touch, she still appreciated the bed’s temperature-neutral feel—thanks to a hot day in the studio. “Even as hot as it was, I didn’t notice the bed heating up,” she said.
A possible con for the Bear Cub mattress is its limited size range. While available in a full, of course, as well as a twin, there is no twin XL option. A twin XL mattress is a bit longer than a traditional twin, lending a bit more legroom. This could pose an issue if your bunk bed has a twin-XL-over-full configuration. If you need this size, the Nolah Nurture is a kids’ mattress that’s available in a twin XL.
You can find out more about this bed in our dedicated Bear Cub mattress review.
Nolah Nurture – Best Children’s Bunk Bed Mattress
The Nolah Nurture’s flippable construction enables growing kids to choose the feel of their bed: soft or medium-firm. Its organic materials and safety certifications should help with parents’ peace of mind—and the 99-cent 10-year accident coverage is especially generous.
The majority of bunk bed inhabitants are kids, and while the time may fly, you’ll likely want a mattress that lasts your child for years. The Nolah Nurture is a high-quality, non-toxic kids’ mattress with flippable construction (offering a soft and firm side) that accommodates a child’s growing body and ever-shifting preferences.
Furthermore, our adult testers were impressed by the support and pressure relief this mattress offered—it earned a 4.5/5 for overall pressure relief, along with a perfect score for edge support. A twin-size Nolah Nurture starts at about $640 and comes with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.
The Nolah Nurture doesn’t designate its sides by recommended age range; it simply offers a soft and firm side for whatever your child needs. We found that the softer side came in at a 6.5/10 on our scale, which is more medium-firm. The firmer side came in at a 7/10, just a smidge firmer.
Regardless of which side your child chooses to sleep on, they should be plenty supported by the coils. Even our average-weight tester, Sosha Lewis, was surprised by the alignment and pressure relief she achieved on her side and back. “I am a side sleeper, and I could handle this bed a few nights in a guest room,” she said. “My biggest complaint is how much you can feel the coils as an adult sleeper.”
Sosha added that for back sleeping, you could go for either the firm or the soft side, depending on your preference. “I was expecting to ‘bottom out’ and sink too deeply into this bed, but I didn’t,” she added. The only position that wasn’t comfortable was stomach sleeping, as she found the mattress a bit too soft, even on the firmer side, to support her. However, most kids shouldn’t experience these issues.
Between the two sides, Sosha also didn’t notice much difference in edge support, which earned a perfect rating. “I felt well-supported when seated on the soft side, which surprised me,” she explained. “It was the same lying along the edge of the bed in each position. I think kids would have no worries at all about falling out of this bed.” Hopefully, this gives extra peace of mind when it comes to bunk beds—-alongside the existing guardrails, of course.
Both sides of the mattress also showed promising results in our cooling test. “It was super hot in the studio the day we tested this,” Sosha said. She recorded the mattress’s surface temperature and, after lying on it for a few minutes, found it had risen only 6.5 degrees, which was made even more impressive by the sweltering external heat. Sosha added, “The bed wasn’t cool to the touch, but it definitely didn’t feel like it was heating up. I think the coils do a good job of dissipating heat.”
The Nolah Nurture mattress is a bit pricey, especially for a kids’ mattress. While we think it’s worth every penny, it may not be the best pick for budget shoppers, especially if you have to purchase two to complete your bunk bed. Check out the Dreamfoam Essential for a truly affordable bed.
Read more in our Nolah Nurture review.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex – Best Bunk Bed Mattress for Adults
The Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex is firmer than you might expect from an all-foam bed, but that bouncy, solid feel felt great to our tests when they tried it on their backs. Their sides were a different story—too firm for that!—and it didn’t cool down quite as well as we’d hoped. At the end of the day, though, this is a great bed to buy if you’re on a budget and want lots of support.
Bunk beds aren’t just for kids, but it can be tough to find a mattress that’ll work for both adults and this unique setup. Look no further than the Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex: This all-foam mattress comes in at an affordable price, brings plenty of support and alignment, and a surprisingly springy feel. It earned a 5/5 for responsiveness, making it a top choice for combination sleepers who need ease of movement from their mattress.
The CopperFlex retails for about $465 for a twin-size, usually, but sales and coupons can bring it as low as $350. To sweeten the deal, it also comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a limited lifetime warranty.
Lightweight tester Riley Otis called the bed “really firm but good for back sleeping” in our pressure relief tests. “My hips and shoulders feel aligned, and there isn’t any concerning sinkage,” she said.
Heavyweight tester Marten Carlson echoed her sentiments: “Typically, as a bigger guy, I need more support in my lumbar area and on my back, I feel really good on this mattress,” he explained. He added that the mattress felt a bit softer to him, which sleepers over 230 pounds may want to take into account.
Foam beds like the CopperFlex aren’t known for their bounce, but the firmer feel of this bed made it easier to move around on. Our in-house tester commented on this during the responsiveness test: “The bed doesn’t cave in at all, and I don’t feel stuck. It doesn’t trap you in its surface or feel like I need extra effort to switch positions,” she explained.
Our tester also found the edge support was fairly admirable for a foam bed, as these tend to sag or sink when bearing weight. Sitting down at the edge, she did notice this, but nothing too egregious, and called it “good support overall.” She added, “Lying down, I don’t feel like I’m going to roll off at all. I feel very level, and it feels really secure and stable.”
The CopperFlex gets its name from the copper infusions in its foam, which are purported to offer natural cooling and antibacterial properties. When it comes to temperature regulation, though, our tester thought this mattress fell short of expectations. After our tester lay on the bed surface for seven minutes, the thermal gun recorded a whopping 10.3-degree increase in surface temperature. “The bed felt cold in the beginning,” our tester explained. “It did heat up the longer I lay there, but it wasn’t uncomfortably hot.”
Want a cooler foam bed? Check out the Dreamfoam. Or you can read more in our full Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex mattress review.
Dreamfoam Essential – Best Affordable Mattress for a Bunk Bed
The Dreamfoam Essential is an affordable all-foam mattress that’s great for shoppers looking for something simple but effective. It’s available in multiple heights ranging from 6 to 14″ thick, each of which has a different firmness. The shorter models are going to offer firmer, rock-solid support, while the thicker models will provide a bit more cushioning and pressure relief.
Buying two new mattresses for a new bunk bed can cost thousands of dollars. Thankfully, there are some cost-effective options available, like the Dreamfoam Essential. This mattress is one of the most customizable beds out there; there’s a wide range of height (starting at 6” and ending at 14”) and size options, so you’ll undoubtedly find the right match for your bunk bed setup.
The 6” model of the Dreamfoam Essential starts at $205 for a twin-size, making it the cheapest option on our list. But this little bed certainly brings the support, thanks to its firmer feel. The mattress also earned perfect scores for responsiveness and cooling, a rarity for an all-foam bed.
At 8/10 on our firmness scale, the Dreamfoam Essential provides firm support, made even more impressive by its thin profile. While this may not be appealing to every sleeper, our testers found this mattress a perfect fit for stomach sleepers and anyone who needs extra lift.
When it comes to pressure relief, the Dreamfoam Essential may not offer much sinkage. You’ll feel more “on top” of the mattress rather than in it, a sensation that was uncomfortable for most side sleepers. On your back, there shouldn’t be much pressure, but some sleepers may want a bit more contouring to fill in the gap at your lower back. Heavy sleepers may have the best chance of gleaning pressure relief on this mattress, as they’ll likely sink in further than sleepers of a lighter weight.
This “on-top” feel helps with responsiveness. Since you don’t sink into the bed, there’s little chance of you feeling “trapped” in the mattress at any point. “You shouldn’t have to put in any effort when switching between sleeping positions,” our in-house tester explained after performing the responsiveness test.
The Dreamfoam Essential also performed surprisingly well in our cooling tests. Our testers thought it felt “pretty cool” when lying on the surface, and even stayed that way after they got up. Using a thermal gun, we also measured the increase in surface temperature after having a 7-minute nap on the surface, and we recorded a 7-degree increase, which isn’t much higher than what we see on average—and rather impressive for an all-foam bed.
Like most foam beds, though, the Dreamfoam Essential was lacking in the edge support department. This could also be in part due to its thinner construction. Our testers noted quite a bit of collapse when sitting on the edge of the bed, so they wouldn’t recommend it for tying your shoes. But lying down, there wasn’t anywhere near as much; it’ll likely depend on how much weight you put on the mattress.
If you want a bed with top-notch edge support, check out the Bear Cub. Otherwise, you can read more in our full Dreamfoam Essential review.
Saatva Youth – Best Twin Mattress for a Bunk Bed
The Saatva Youth has a flippable design that should last several years while your kiddo grows. It has a classic medium-firm feel overall and a fair degree of bounce—perfect for kiddos who have some energy to burn before bed.
The most popular mattress size for bunk beds is a twin, and one of my favorite brands to recommend is Saatva—so the Saatva Youth twin is like a match made in bed heaven. The Saatva Youth is the luxury brand’s kids’ mattress, a flippable hybrid with a traditional innerspring feel. It’s sure to support young sleepers as they deal with growing pains.
Our testers were very impressed with the Saatva Youth’s ability to relieve pressure, and it even earned a 4.5/5 rating from our 10-year-old tester. Like many other Saatva beds, it also had rock-solid edge support, which scored a 4.7/5 in our tests. A twin-size Saatva Youth will run you about $799, which is on the more expensive side. However, it comes with a year-long sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and free white-glove delivery.
The Saatva Youth, like many kids’ mattresses, features a firm and soft side. The firm side came in at a 7/10 on our firmness scale, while the softer side felt like a 6.5/10. Both of these skew medium-firm, and we found that it offered a balance of both pressure relief and support.
This pressure relief was commented on by our 10-year-old tester Conrad, who tried the softer side, as it’s recommended for kids over 8. On his side, he commented that he felt “cushioning at my hips and shoulders. “I think kids who are side sleepers will feel comfortable on this bed,” he added. He also found back sleeping to be comfortable, calling the bed “firm but still comfortable.”
Both sides of the mattress offered great edge support. There was a bit more sinkage on the softer side when sitting down, which we expect, but nothing that would deter us from recommending it for folks who need a steady seat. My colleague Riley Otis commented that when lying down on the firmer side, “the support is just a touch firmer than the other side, but it’s not very noticeable.” So sleepers on the bottom bunk should be able to sleep as far on the perimeter as they like, or sit comfortably on the edge to tie their shoes.
My fellow tester Kenny Timper was responsible for the cooling portion of our test, and he noted there was no significant difference between either side of the bed. “I could feel it warming up beneath me slightly, but it wasn’t uncomfortable,” he said. “I would call it more of a cozy feel, thanks to the organic cotton cover.” He added that even with that description, he believed hot sleepers are unlikely to overheat on the Saatva Youth.
Since it comes from a luxury mattress manufacturer, the Saatva Youth is definitely more on the pricier side for a kid’s bed. The price reflects its quality of construction, and we’re confident it will last you many years, but it might be tougher to justify for budget shoppers. If you’re looking for something more affordable, check out the Dreamfoam.
Read more in our full Saatva Youth mattress review.
Birch Kids Natural – Best Organic Bunk Bed Mattress
If you’d rather steer clear of synthetic materials when shopping for your child, the Birch Kids Natural is an intuitive choice. It boasts latex foam, organic cotton, and organic wool in its flippable construction. The latex is also innately hypoallergenic and cooling for added comfort. Simply flip to the softer or firmer side to change its feel during different stages of your child’s development.
Organic mattresses are an excellent choice for the sustainable shopper and for folks who just like a natural, high-quality product. When it comes to bunk beds, you might prefer a natural product that doesn’t contain any fiberglass or synthetic materials, especially if your little ones are sleeping.
Like many other beds on this list, Birch Kids Natural mattress is a flippable hybrid, but instead of foams, it includes natural latex and wool in its comfort layers. We found that this gave the mattress a leg up in our pressure relief tests, earning a perfect rating in this category. The bed also comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty. Just note that a twin-size Birch Kids Natural will run you $799, and a full-size will cost $999.
The Birch Natural Kids mattress follows a familiar pattern with kids’ beds and offers two firmnesses on each side: a firmer feel for kids aged 2 to 7, and a softer side for those older than 8. We found that both sides were relatively similar, with the firmer side coming in a touch firmer at 7/10, compared to the softer side’s medium-firm feel, 6.5/10.
My colleague Sosha Lewis tested out this mattress in the absence of any young testers, and she noted that she was “impressed with both sides of the mattress, but definitely more on the older kid side.” She found side-sleeping gave her a bit more pressure in the shoulder as she sank into the bed—something kids shouldn’t encounter.
Back sleeping was the bigger hit. “The bed contoured around my back, and the springs kept me aligned. Overall, I found it pretty comfy,” she explained. She thought that even with her gripes, the mattress would offer stellar pressure relief to younger sleepers in all positions, which is why she earned a perfect rating in this category.
“I wish adult beds had as good edge support,” Sosha said as she tested out the strength of the Birch’s perimeter. The mattress held her weight “very well” while seated, and she had no qualms when lying down at the edge. “I feel super secure on both sides of the mattress on my side, back, and stomach—no concerns about rolling out. Kiddos should be snug as a bug on this mattress.”
Where our testers weren’t so impressed was in the Birch Kids’ cooling performance. The Birch is outfitted with cotton and wool in its top-most layers, popular insulators as well as breathable materials. We found this gave the bed a warmer feel, and the surface temperature rose a whopping 12 degrees after our tester lay on the bed for seven minutes. Hot sleepers may want a more superb mattress, like the Dreamfoam.
You can find out more in our dedicated Birch Kids mattress review.
Other Mattresses for Bunk Beds We Researched
Didn’t find what you were looking for in our top picks above? Check out some other highly reviewed and recommended mattresses that could fit the bill below:
- Nectar Classic – The Nectar Classic is an all-foam mattress with a balanced feel and affordable price, which can appeal to shoppers looking for a deal on two bunk beds. This bed offers plenty of support, plus a surprisingly responsive feel despite its cushy pressure relief. However, at 12” tall, it may not be the best fit for every loft bed.
- BB Kids – Another kids’ mattress that might strike your fancy is the Brooklyn Bedding Kids mattress. This bed has a firmer feel that’ll bring the support your little ones need, and it comes in at a surprisingly low price. I will note that older kids might grow out of this mattress and want more pressure relief, so it may not be the best choice for a long-term mattress.
- Plank Firm – This flippable, extra-firm mattress is only 10” thick, the perfect fit for a bunk bed. The Plank Firm provides extra support for sleepers who need it, such as those who sleep on their stomachs or have larger frames. Its all-foam construction is durable and cost-effective for folks who need to buy a double for their bunk bed. But the name is no joke—this ultra-firm mattress won’t appeal to sleepers who need any bit of sinkage from their mattress, so it might be an acquired taste.
What We Looked for in the Best Bunk Bed Mattresses
As I’ve tried to drive home, the best mattress for a bunk bed will be a low-profile, affordable bed that offers the right balance of support and pressure relief. Let’s dive deeper into what goes into each of these requirements.
Mattress Height
Mattress height is extremely important to consider when picking a bunk bed mattress. Simply put, you want to avoid high-profile mattresses. Tall mattresses can rise above the bed’s safety railings, and this makes it more dangerous for your child. Most experts recommend that a bunk bed mattress should be low-profile—around 7”, or at the very least, 10 “ or less.
For older children and adults who use the lower bunk, the mattress could be a little taller. If there is any issue of rolling off, this will be much safer on the bottom bunk. Still, if the mattress is too thick, that will mean less headroom for your child, regardless of which bunk they’re sleeping on.
That being said, there are many types of bunk bed frames. Make sure to read the specifications of your new bunk bed and do your own measurements to see how thick your mattress can be. For instance, a bed with taller guardrails could accommodate a taller mattress. Trundle beds are another consideration, as these will need to be thin enough to fit into a drawer, so to speak.
All of the mattresses on this list fall within these guidelines, save for the Brooklyn Bedding Copperflex, which starts at 12” tall. Some are even available in 6” configurations, a popular pick for bunk beds—take a look at the Helix Kids or Dreamfoam Essential.
Support & Pressure Relief
“A mattress that balances support and pressure relief is often the most comfortable,” explains our chief medical advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta. “This combination ensures that you achieve proper spinal alignment while still providing enough softness to cradle parts of the body that sink into the mattress.” This is still crucial for a bunk bed mattress, especially since these beds can be on the thinner side—you don’t want to sacrifice comfort for space.
We test mattresses for both support and pressure relief to determine how they will feel for different sleeper types. Our team of testers includes folks from each weight category (lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight) who all have different sleeping preferences and needs, so we aim to get a truly holistic view of a bed’s performance.
For support, we have each tester lie down on the mattress in each sleeping position. They note whether they feel aligned, if any areas feel too lifted or like they’re sinking too deeply into the mattress. While there’s no official scoring metric for this area, our testers end up with a detailed account of which sleeper types they believe the mattress will feel most supportive.
Pressure relief gets a bit more technical. We focus on side- and back-sleeping positions, as these require the most pressure relief around the hips, shoulders, and lower back. We use a specialized mat to record where pressure builds up along the sleeper’s body as they lie on the mattress. It converts this information into a detailed, color-coded map that shows areas of high (red and yellow) and low (blue and green) pressure. Each tester also rates their comfort out of 5, and these ratings are averaged to produce a final overall pressure relief rating.
Affordability
Mattresses can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Thankfully, most bunk beds can only accommodate the smaller mattress sizes, which can lessen the strain on your wallet. But chances are, unless you have a spare bed lying around, you’re going to have to purchase two mattresses to complete your bunk bed. This is why we considered affordability a top priority when choosing bunk bed mattresses.
You can find budget beds at highly affordable prices, but it’s essential to shop with caution. You don’t just want a cheap mattress; you want a quality product. When evaluating whether a bed is worth its weight in gold, we focus more on overall value than on the price tag.
We take a look at how the mattress is constructed and how it performed in all of our tests. For a bed to be a relatively well-rounded performer, we want to see scores of at least 4/5 or higher in multiple categories. On top of that, we consider the policies that come along with the bed; a long sleep trial or warranty can sweeten the deal and inspire confidence in the product’s durability. We’ll put all this against what the bed retails for to determine whether it’s a true budget buy.
For this list, we have beds that are marketed as value options and beds that are a bit higher-end. We wanted to cater to a wide range of shoppers, but you can peruse knowing all of these beds are vetted by us personally and received our stamp of approval.
What Else Is Important When Buying a Bunk Bed Mattress?
If you’re still waffling back and forth about whether a mattress is right for your bunk bed, consider these additional factors to tailor a mattress to your needs.
Type of Mattress
There are four main mattress types: memory foam, innerspring, hybrid, and latex. Each comes with its own set of pros and cons. Certain types may work better for some sleepers, so I’ll give a quick overview of each to help you make an informed decision.
Memory Foam Mattresses
Foam mattresses consist of multiple foam layers, whether memory foam or other synthetic foams. They tend to have a cushy, slow-moving feel that offers excellent pressure relief. They’re also an affordable option for budget shoppers. However, most foam beds are known for trapping heat, and the lack of airflow could pose a problem for some hot sleepers.
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring beds are the most classic and traditional mattress type, primarily composed of an interconnected coil unit. The result is a super-bouncy, super-supportive mattress that’ll have you feeling lifted on the surface. Because of their thin comfort layers, they may not be the best for sleepers who want pressure relief or deep sinkage.
Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses consist of a coil unit and comfort layers. These comfort layers can be made of anything from foam to latex to wool. That’s why the feel and performance features of hybrid mattresses can vary. Hybrids are often prized for their balanced support and softness, combining the best of foam and innerspring mattresses. However, depending on their construction, they can be quite expensive.
Latex Mattresses
The eco-conscious shopper might love a latex mattress. Latex is naturally derived from rubber tree sap, and it’s a popular choice for sustainability and organic mattresses. These beds have a uniquely buoyant feel and are sometimes categorized as more pressure-relieving and cooling than memory foam mattresses. But it is an acquired taste, and latex beds are often the most expensive option on the market.
Sleeper Type
You’ll notice that this list includes a mix of mattresses made for kids and those for adults. While bunk beds are traditionally used in children’s bedrooms, there’s no rule that states adults can’t join in on the fun. After all, lofted beds are popular in dorms, and maybe you want to relive the glory days of college. Or you could be looking for a space-saving way to accommodate visitors in a small guest room.
It’s important to take into account who will be using your bunk bed the most, as kids experience pressure relief differently than adults. Kids’ mattresses are truly built for their growing bodies. Sometimes, you can get away with sleeping on a kid’s mattress for a night or two. But the last thing you want is your guest being forced to sleep on a too-firm kids’ mattress, or sinking too far into one and damaging it. Many kids’ beds also have weight limits, so it might be best not to push your luck.
Sleeping Position & Body Type
Studies show that medium-firm mattresses are best for maintaining proper alignment, helping keep pain and discomfort at bay. “However, your sleeping position affects the ideal firmness for your needs,” says Dr. Dasgupta.
If you need a mattress for back sleeping, a medium-firm mattress should provide the right balance of comfort and support. You want the hips to sink in just a bit while the coils hold up the body, and for there to be plenty of contouring at the low back to fill in the gap there.
Side sleepers, however, require more relief for their pressure points and do better on softer mattresses with thick, pressure-relieving comfort layers. Consider a soft memory foam or latex mattress to relieve pressure on the shoulders and hips.
Finally, stomach sleepers will need the most supportive sleep surface possible. A firm mattress will support the hips and body, keeping the spine in neutral alignment. This will prevent back pain and other joint pain over time.
If you switch between two or all sleeping positions, you’re what’s known as a combination sleeper. You’ll want to find a firmness that works best for all your sleeping positions, but you might also consider a more responsive mattress. This will allow you to easily move around on the surface of the mattress to get comfortable in each position.
“What feels supportive for one body type may not be true of another,” adds Dr. Dasgupta. “Oftentimes, lightweight sleepers will think mattresses feel firmer than expected. Sleepers with a larger frame may sink too far into a mattress, causing discomfort.”
It’s important to take into account both your preferred sleeping position and weight, especially if you’ve encountered issues on previous mattresses. Generally, we recommend that sleepers over 230 pounds look for a firmer, more supportive mattress, while sleepers under 130 pounds may gain more pressure relief from a softer mattress.
Mattress Size
When you’re shopping for a new mattress for a bunk bed, make sure you know what size you are looking for. Many bunk beds feature twin-size or twin XL frames on the top and bottom bunks. Some have a large bottom bunk that extends out a bit and allows for a larger, full size mattress, referred to as a twin-over-full.
Regardless of which configuration you prefer, ensure that your desired mattress comes in that size. For example, the Helix Kids, Bear Cub, and Birch Natural Kids don’t come in a twin XL.
You may find a bunk bed with a queen-size bottom bunk, but this is rarer.
Durability
When you’re buying any type of mattress, whether it’s for a bunk bed or not, you want something that is going to last you for a reasonable amount of time. You’ll want to find a mattress that contains durable materials such as latex or high-density foam. High-grade steel coils can also add some real life to a mattress. This will ensure your bunk bed stays nice and comfortable for years to come.
If you’re struggling to get a read on the bed’s quality of construction, you can also take a look at the bed’s edge support. We consider strong edge support a marker for durability, since the less a bed sags at the edges, the more likely it will hold its shape with repeated use. We rate edge support by sitting, lying down, and even placing weight plates on the very perimeter of the bed, noting any sinkage or instability. You can treat the final edge support rating out of 5 as a preview of how long the mattress will hold up.
You can also take a look at the bed’s warranty, the length of which can speak to how long the manufacturer expects the product to last before showing signs of wear and tear. I’ll dive more into that below.
Company Service
More than just the bed goes into your online mattress shopping experience. We want you to get the full picture, so we make sure to evaluate any company policies that come along with a new bed. This is everything from how it ships to how easy it is to set up.
Most retailers offer free shipping in the contiguous United States (with fees applying for Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada), and many beds even come compressed in a box for easy delivery. This makes it easy to bring to your bedroom; you’ll just have to wait for it to expand to its full size.
If you don’t like the idea of waiting or manual labor, many brands also offer white glove delivery. A team will come to your house, deliver your new mattress to its resting place, and even take away your old one. Some brands, like Saatva, will do so for free with any purchase of a mattress. Others might require you to spend a certain amount of money or pay separately. Either way, you have options.
Once your mattress arrives, you should take full advantage of the brand’s sleep trial. This is a period when you can try out the mattress in your home and decide whether you like it. Most trials last a few months, but some are a full year (which earns a 5/5 trial score from us). If the bed isn’t for you, you can return it for a full refund—so long as it’s within the trial period. Just note that some brands will charge a restocking fee or ask that you donate the mattress yourself and provide proof to receive the refund.
After the trial period ends, the mattress is yours! It’ll be backed by the brand’s warranty. Most mattresses last around 10 years, so the typical warranty falls at or around this timeframe. However, we’ve noticed more and more brands offering longer warranties because of the quality of their products. Some beds come with a lifetime warranty (again, earning a 5/5 warranty score), which means your bed is insured for life.
This is where you might want to read the fine print, though. Some warranties are limited, meaning the value you receive changes the longer you have the mattress. Also, be sure to follow any stipulations to ensure you don’t void the warranty: Make sure it’s on the correct frame, including any box spring or foundation, and whether or not you need a mattress protector.
Best Bunk Bed Mattress FAQs
Do bunk beds require special mattresses?
Bunk beds do not necessarily require a special mattress. It’s more about finding the right height and size. Any bed-in-a-box or online mattress that’s 6” to 10” thick should fit the bottom and top bunk. You can go a bit thicker, but a thicker mattress may only work on the bottom bunk based on overhead space.
How thick of a mattress do I need for a bunk bed?
I recommend starting at 6” for a new bunk bed mattress and going no thicker than 10”, if you can help it. This is the ideal range to ensure you have enough overhead space on both bunks, and that the mattress won’t overtake any guardrails or other safety measures in place.
Should I get an 8” or a 10” mattress for a bunk bed?
An 8” mattress may be best for bunk beds with little overhead space and shorter guardrails. A 10” mattress might be too thick for some configurations, but some folks may feel more comfortable on a taller mattress. This affords more room in the construction for thicker comfort layers. It also might be more expensive, though.
Recap: Best Bunk Bed Mattresses
| Mattress | Award |
| Helix Kids | Best Bunk Bed Mattress Overall |
| Bear Cub | Best Full-Size Bunk Bed Mattress |
| Nolah Nurture | Best Children’s Bunk Bed Mattress |
| Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex | Best Bunk Bed Mattress for Adults |
| Dreamfoam Essential | Best Affordable Mattress for a Bunk Bed |
| Saatva Youth | Best Twin Mattress for a Bunk Bed |
| Birch Kids Natural | Best Organic Bunk Bed Mattress |
References
- Laird, Molly & Razmus, Ivy & Conrad, Megan. (2020). WEIGHT AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION ON MATTRESS SURFACES VARIES BETWEEN CHILDREN AND ADULTS. Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation. 56. 370-374. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352227080_WEIGHT_AND_PRESSURE_DISTRIBUTION_ON_MATTRESS_SURFACES_VARIES_BETWEEN_CHILDREN_AND_ADULTS
- Radwan, A., Fess, P., James, D., Murphy, J., Myers, J., Rooney, M., Taylor, J., & Torii, A. (2015). Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain; systematic review of controlled trials. Sleep Health, 1(4), 257–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2015.08.001
- Low, F.-Z., Chua, M. C.-H., Lim, P.-Y., & Yeow, C.-H. (2017). Effects of Mattress Material on Body Pressure Profiles in Different Sleeping Postures. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 16(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.09.002
