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The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed by the team. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. Whether you have two kids, want to create the ultimate sleepover environment or are trying to save on space in your kid’s room, a bunk or loft bed (or a trundle bed) can be an easy way to take things to the next level (literally). The standard bunk bed is a twin over full, though there are different types of bunk beds out there. Whichever option you choose, you’ll need the right mattress to go along with it, which is why we’ve rounded up the best bunk bed mattresses. Our top picks include beds with plenty of cushioning support, low-profile beds that are suited for the top bunk, beds designed for growing kids and mattresses for hot sleepers. Whatever type of sleeper you’re shopping for, we have them covered. Read on to learn more about what makes a mattress well-suited for bunk beds, and which mattresses we think are the best options. Our Picks for The Best Bunk Bed Mattress
Best Overall - Helix Kids
Why It's the Best Overall Mattress for Bunk BedsThe Helix Kid’s mattress is crafted with smaller bodies in mind, making it perfectly suited to a bunk bed in a child’s bedroom. This flippable mattress has a softer side and a medium-firm side, with the firmer option being best for younger sleepers (between the ages of 3 and 8) and the softer side intended for kids ages 8 to 12. A superb pressure relief score of 9 (out of a possible 10) ensures your child will receive tons of cushioning comfort while they rest. High responsiveness (9 out of 10) comes from the layer of coils at the center, and makes it easier for children to move around and shift positions during sleep. The Helix Kid’s Construction
Best Memory Foam - Nectar Original
Why It's the Best Memory Foam MattressMemory foam is a great mattress material for those who love to sink into their beds at night and luxuriate in the sensation of being hugged by the mattress. The Nectar Original Mattress is our favorite memory foam mattress for a host of reasons: It comes with a lifetime warranty and full-year sleep trial, it’s good for all sleep positions and it received top marks in multiple categories during lab testing. Testers found the Nectar Original to excel in pressure relief, responsiveness and edge support, ensuring maximum comfort for sleepers (even if they’re on the top bunk). The medium-firm build of this mattress ensures most sleepers should find it comfortable, whether they prefer to rest on their sides, backs or stomachs. One downside to memory foam mattresses is their tendency to trap heat, meaning some hot sleepers may prefer a bed with better cooling capabilities. The Nectar Original’s Construction
Best Luxury - Saatva Youth
Why It's the Best Luxury MattressBunk bed doesn’t need to be synonymous with uncomfortable. The Saatva Youth mattress is a luxurious high-quality mattress that will give your kids’ restful sleep during their formative years, ensuring they’re well-rested for playing, learning and growing. The dual-firmness provides a softer side and a firmer side, so the mattress can change with your child’s growing body. Saatva’s 5-zoned support system delivers optimal spinal alignment, promoting a healthy back and neck. The spinal zone active wire in this support system also ensures excellent responsiveness from the bed, so kids can toss and turn easily to find a comfy sleeping position. All Saatva mattresses come with a lifetime warranty, a full-year sleep trial and white glove delivery, meaning they’ll set your new mattress up and dispose of the old one at no extra cost. A soft, hypoallergenic cotton cover with a water-resistant finish surrounds the mattress, outlasting any accidents or spills and keeping the bed sanitary. The Saatva Youth’s Construction
Best Low-Profile - Leesa Kids
Why It's the Best Low-Profile MattressNot all mattresses are well-suited to bunk beds, but the Leesa Kids mattress is a perfect low-profile bed that fits properly into the bunk bed frame and makes changing the sheets much easier. This 7.5-inch mattress is thin enough to fit nearly any top or bottom bunk without issue. The Leesa Kids mattress was designed for kids over the age of four, and is a great option for children transitioning to a bigger mattress as they grow. Similar to Leesa’s flagship mattress, their Kids mattress uses multiple foam layers to create a soft and plush sleep surface. The cushioning foams contour the body while providing ample lift in the hips to ensure the spine maintains a healthy and neutral alignment. Each mattress is made to order and comes with a 10-year warranty to ensure premium quality. The Leesa Kid’s Construction
Best Eco-Friendly - Avocado Eco Kids
Why It's the Best Eco-Friendly MattressParents naturally want what’s best for their kids, and that includes having a mattress crafted with organic materials that are good for the planet and good for growing bodies. The Greenguard certified Avocado Eco Kids Mattress is one of the best eco-friendly kids mattresses on the market, and comes in at a surprisingly affordable price considering its superior build and top-notch materials. The mattress is designed to support kids of various ages and sizes, with the maximum recommended weight being 115 lbs. Hypoallergenic latex and breathable steel coils ensure your kids stay cool as cucumbers all night long and don’t overheat while they rest. Plus, latex’s naturally allergen-resistant properties combine with an organic cotton cover and wool fire retardant layer to ensure this bed is hypoallergenic and resists dust mites and other bacteria. The Avocado Eco Kid’s Construction
Best Hybrid - Brooklyn Bedding Bowery
Why It's the Best Hybrid MattressHybrid mattresses are so named because they blend elements from other mattress types together. The Brooklyn Bowery uses both pocketed coils and plush foams in its construction, providing sleepers with the firm lift and support that innersprings are known for plus the soft cushioning that memory foam offers. As far as hybrid mattresses go, the Bowery comes in at an incredible price and is much more affordable than many other hybrid mattresses on the market. A breathable construction keeps kids and teens cool while they sleep, and the bounce from the innersprings makes moving around easy for combination sleepers who toss and turn. While this mattress isn’t the best option for heavy sleepers, it should offer superb pressure relief for younger sleepers regardless of their preferred sleep position. The Brooklyn Bowery’s Construction
Best for Side Sleepers - Tuft & Needle Original
Why It's the Best Mattress for Side SleepersAmple pressure relief is a must-have for people who sleep on their sides, and the Tuft & Needle Original mattress does not disappoint in this category. This all-foam mattress gently cradles the body and gives the hips and shoulders plenty of cushioning to keep them from becoming sore or painful during sleep. A medium-firm feel (6 out of 10 on the firmness scale) ensures all sleep positions can find comfort on the Tuft & Needle, and offers plenty of support in the spine to keep the back aligned. This mattress is suitable for kids and adults, with enough soft contouring for adults or teens who prefer to sleep on their sides, but ample support for growing bodies. A layer of adaptive foam adds a good amount of responsiveness to the bed, giving combination sleepers plenty of bounce to alternate positions at night. The Tuft & Needle is a great all-around bed that comes in at a reasonable price point. The Tuft & Needle Original’s Construction
Best Cooling - Cocoon Chill
Why It's the Best Cooling MattressIf your child or teen is regularly overheating while they sleep, getting them a mattress that aids in cooling can dramatically improve the quality of their rest. The Cocoon Chill by Sealy is a memory foam mattress that features a breathable cover to aid in dissipating body heat, making it a great pick for anyone who loves the emollient properties of memory foam mattresses but could do without the heat trapping they tend to cause. The Cocoon Chill is good for more than just keeping cool, too; this mattress received top marks in spine alignment, responsiveness and motion transference, so you can rely on this bed for a healthy and comfortable night’s sleep. The Cocoon Chill’s Construction
How Mattress Advisor Found the Best Mattresses for Bunk BedsThe team at Mattress Advisor has spent countless hours testing and reviewing mattresses in order to provide people with all the information they need when looking for a new mattress. When looking for the best mattresses for bunk beds, the team took into consideration the type of sleeper (traditionally kids and teens), the loft of the mattress, whether or not the mattress would be well-suited for a bunk bed frame and the various pros and cons of each bed. The Mattress Advisor Testing ProcessThe Mattress Advisor testing facility is a sleep lab with devices that are used to measure all sorts of criteria that’s useful to know when looking for a new mattress. These include the bed’s firmness, how well it can relieve pressure, whether or not it can isolate motion and a host of other factors that we’ve outlined below. The team then scores how well the mattress performed on a scale of 1-10 and gives the bed a score to help shoppers understand what a mattress does well and what type of sleeper it would be best for. Key Performance Factors that the Sleep Lab TestsThings to Consider When Buying a Bunk Bed MattressThere are a few things to keep in mind when looking into a bunk bed mattress. We’ve covered some of the most important factors below. Size of Mattress: Typically, bunk beds are designed for twin, twin XL and full size mattresses. Before buying a mattress, we recommend checking your frame to ensure you buy the correct size so you don’t accidentally buy a twin mattress when you need a twin XL. Weight Capacity: If you plan on getting a mattress designed for children, be aware of the weight capacity. Many childrens mattresses are great for growing bodies, but not suitable for teens or adults. Noise: If you’ve ever slept on a bunk bed, you know it can be difficult to ignore the other person on the top or bottom bunk. Mattresses with innersprings are more likely to make more noise when a sleeper moves on them, which could be distracting for others in the room. Beds with all-foam or hybrid constructions will be quieter. Profile/Loft: Bunk beds usually require beds with a lower loft, or profile, in order to properly fit. We included beds with lower lofts in this roundup, but it’s worth checking the depth of the bed frame to note if you need a bed with a certain loft height. Price: If you’re trying to equip your guest room or kid’s room with a budget-friendly bed option, buying an affordable mattress can save you thousands. Some mattresses cost less than $1,000 for a queen, while others can cost upwards of $2,500. Thankfully, twin-size mattresses are the cheapest, so you won’t have to shell out too much cash. Plus, you can save money by skipping a box spring, as the bunk bed frame is all you’ll need. Firmness Level: Different people will prefer different firmness options in their mattresses. Children tend to need something that’s supportive enough to promote proper spinal alignment, but still soft enough to relieve pressure points. A medium-firm mattress is usually a good bet for all types of sleepers How to Pick The Best Mattress Type for Bunk BedsInnerspring: Innerspring mattresses are the traditional build, with the center of the mattress being a system of metal coils that support the body. These beds are very breathable and sleep cool, but tend to make the most noise and aren’t very great at offering pressure relief. An innerspring coil mattress is best for back or stomach sleepers who like plenty of bounce and airflow. The noise may not be great for bunk beds. Memory Foam: These cushioning beds are great for anyone seeking ample pressure relief, particularly side sleepers or those with joint pain. Memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat and are usually not very responsive, which might not be good for hot or combination sleepers. These soft beds are good for bunk beds, especially for sleepers who like to sleep on their sides or backs. Latex: Latex is on the pricier end, but does offer a host of benefits. These beds are very bouncy and responsive without the noise that innersprings make, latex is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and is very breathable. A latex mattress would be a good fit for a bunk bed if you can afford it. Hybrid: Hybrids come in a variety of firmnesses and are very versatile, making it a great option for bunk beds and all sleep positions. They combine foams and/or latex and coils for a soft and supportive sleep experience. Sleep Positions and Why They Matter, Even on Bunk BedsSleep position may not come to mind as an important consideration when you’re outfitting a bunk bed, but it’s still important! Sleeping on a mattress that isn’t well-suited to your sleep style can lead to back pain or sore shoulders and hips, which is why it’s so important to buy a bed that is designed to give you comfortable sleep. We’ve covered the different positions and what type of bed is best for them below. Side Sleepers: The hips and shoulders can quickly become pain points for side sleepers if they aren’t properly cushioned during sleep, which is why side sleepers need a mattress with good pressure relief. This usually comes from layers of contouring foam present in memory foam or hybrid mattresses. Beds with a softer feel, usually a 6 or lower on the firmness scale, are the best option. Back Sleepers: It’s important that back sleepers maintain healthy posture while they rest, so beds with good scores in spinal alignment are usually good indicators of being a good fit for a back sleeper. The ideal firmness for these sleepers can vary, depending on their preferences. Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleepers need a firm bed with plenty of support to ensure their hips don’t sink and cause tightness in the lower back or neck. Stomach sleepers tend to prefer beds with a supportive coil core, such as an innerspring or hybrid. Combination Sleepers: Combination sleepers don’t commit to a single position, but prefer to move around a bit and change positions throughout the night. These sleepers do best on a bed that offers plenty of bounce, such as a latex or innerspring mattress, or a hybrid or memory foam bed with a good score in responsiveness. Can you use a regular twin mattress on a bunk bed?Most bunk beds use twin mattresses, but they're not the only kind available: Two twins – A standard bunk bed will fit two twin mattresses, each measuring 38 inches wide and 75 inches long.
Can I use a normal mattress in a bunk bed?The answer is a straightforward 'yes'. You may think that you need to have a specific type of mattress to use on your bunk bed, but the reality of the matter is that you can choose any mattress you want, as long as it's suitable for the bed.
Is a low profile mattress good?Thin, or low-profile, mattresses may be a smart choice for people with back pain. Thin mattresses also have value for people who have trouble getting in and out of bed, and for those who require supports.
What are low profile mattresses?While regular mattresses for children come in 8,10 or even up to 20” thick, a low profile mattress maintains the comfort and quality of a regular mattress but is designed to be much thinner. A lot of mattresses use “filler” materials to build up to a desired height.
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