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Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 150 mattresses, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing. We assess each bed for support, cooling, firmness, pressure relief, and more.
We’ll be discussing our top picks for the best bunk bed mattresses that offer pressure-relieving support in a more compact and versatile package, especially for kids and teens.
Bunk beds may bring up nice memories of slumber parties and some not-so-nice memories of sharing your room with a brother or sister. If you’re all grown up, and it’s time to outfit a bunk bed in your own house, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve put together a list of the absolute best bunk bed mattresses and have included memory foam mattresses, hybrids, and something for every type of sleeper or situation. Which mattress will take your bunk bed to the next level? Read on to find out.
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Bunk Bed Mattress?
Our expert reviewers chose the Helix Kids as the best bunk bed mattress due to its flippable design that offers support as kids grow. It also has non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and water-repellant features.
Our team of sleep specialists have reviewed more than 150 mattresses, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to establish easy-to-understand scores. In addition to an overall score, we measure subscores for support, edge support, cooling, motion transfer, durability, trial period, and warranty.
Hands-on mattress testing in our sleep lab
For this list of bunk bed mattresses, we focused on including many different types of mattresses that would work well with a bunk bed frame. All of these mattresses had a general score of at least 3.5/10, so they perform well with regard to cooling, support, and other criteria.
If we’re talking about the best bunk bed mattresses, we have to start off with our Editor’s Pick, the Helix Kids mattress. The Helix Kids is a flippable mattress that features one side for 3 to 7-year-olds and a side for 8 to 12-year-olds. As your child grows, you can simply flip the mattress to offer comfort for older children.
This also makes it a good fit for many different sleeping positions. If your child sleeps on their side, you can opt for the softer side and, if they sleep on their back or stomach, choose the firmer side.
The mattress is also thinner, making it a great fit for most bunk beds. The 8” mattress will sit low in bunk beds, allowing kids to have some good headroom.
What our testers say: “Most families and kids love this mattress. The water-repellant cover, breathable construction, and flippable design makes it a solid pick for a wide range of kiddos. Some people, however, did have a few qualms. Most of the time, families complained about the bed’s firmness level. Older kids will need mattresses with thicker comfort layers. In order to get the most use out of the Helix Kids mattress, we recommend getting it for younger kids. That way, they can grow into the softer side and use it for many years to come.” —Elisa, Reviewer
What We Love About the Helix Kids Mattress
It has a flippable design with two firmness levels, so it works well for a wide range of ages and sleep positions.
The mattress has a Tencel cover and breathable innerspring layer to keep your kids sleeping cooler.
It has excellent edge support, so you can spread out to the sides of the mattress without feeling like you’ll slide off.
What to Keep in Mind About the Helix Kids Mattress
Families with limited budgets will want to seek out cheaper options.
If you like a slow-moving memory foam feel, this one will likely be too bouncy.
Other User Reviews
Based on 479 reviews on the company website, the Helix Kids has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. Many customers liked its grown-up quality and comfort and felt that it did a good job of supporting growing sleepers. Some, however, felt that both sides of the mattress felt too soft.
The Nolah Nurture mattress is specifically designed with growing children in mind. This two-sided hybrid mattress has two firmness levels, and it’s made from durable materials.
Bunk beds are a great idea for kids’ bedrooms as they help conserve space and leave plenty of room for floor activities. If you have one or two children who will be posting up on your bunk bed, it’s time to take a look at the Nolah Nurture mattress.
The Nolah Nurture is a hybrid mattress that features organic wool, organic cotton, and CertiPUR-US® certified foam. It is designed specifically with children in mind and features both a soft side and a firm side for children of different sizes and ages.
This also makes the Nolah Nurture ideal for growing children. As your child gets older, you can simply flip the mattress to give them the comfort and support they require!
What our testers say: “Nolah mattresses have many built-in cooling elements, and the Nolah Nurture is no exception. The strong coils create ample airflow, and the gel memory foam is especially breathable. Overall, we do not expect sleepers to feel hot on this mattress.” —Elisa, Reviewer
What We Love About the Nolah Nurture
Like most of our picks, it has a flippable design with dual firmness levels, so it suits all sleep positions and ages.
It has excellent cooling thanks to its coil construction and gel-infused memory foam.
The mattress is made from organic, eco-friendly materials.
What to Keep in Mind About the Nolah Nurture
Parents on a tight budget will likely prefer a cheaper mattress.
It doesn’t have the best edge support, so if you’re sitting on the sides, you might experience some dipping.
Other User Reviews
The Nolah Nurture gets an average rating of 5 out of 5 on the company website, where there are no available reviews.
Fiberglass has started to be used as a less expensive flame retardant in cheaper mattresses. However, prolonged or, in some cases, short-term exposure to fiberglass particles can cause eye damage, skin irritation, and lung inflammation, to name a few. The Bear Cub is a competitively priced but luxury-grade hybrid mattress designed for kids and teenagers that is free of fiberglass and notably GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US® certified. This means the Bear Cub is built to be more hypoallergenic and eco-friendly while still living up to fire safety standards.
Beyond being fiberglass-free (using rayon, a natural fiber as an alternative), comfort and support are key features of the Bear Cub’s three-layer hybrid design. The bunk-bed-friendly mattress has a 6-inch coil base for spinal support and airflow, a polyfoam comfort core, and a gel memory foam layer for pressure relief and solace. In addition, on top of the Bear Cub is a eucalyptus-derived tencel cover that is meant to help wick moisture while preventing body heat from getting trapped.
The Bear Cub is designed for kids and teenagers. However, it will still deliver the comfort and support expected from an adult-targeted luxury mattress, just in case you need extra space in your home for guests.
The Bear Cub is a great choice for chemical-weary parents and sleepers seeking a quality mattress brand that doesn’t cut corners in pursuit of the company’s bottom line.
What We Love About the Bear Cub
You’ll get plenty of years of use: The Bear Cub is designed to support children and teenagers.
The Bear Cub offers a healthier and non-toxic sleeping experience, making it more suitable for children or teenagers prone to allergies.
The Bear Cub uses higher-quality materials in its construction while still being competitively priced for a luxury-brand bed.
What to Keep in Mind About the Bear Cub
The Bear Cub is only available in a medium-firmness option (6.8/10), which may be too firm or soft for your child’s needs.
The bed is not waterproof.
Other User Reviews
Out of 53 verified buyer reviews on Bear Cub’s website, the mattress achieved an average rating of 4.7/5. One cute review shining a light on the bed’s versatility writes, “After scouring reviews, I decided to get the Bear Cub mattress for my 4-year-old’s first big boy bed. He loves it, and so do I, since inevitably, I have to crawl in bed with him to help him fall asleep. I end up falling asleep, too!”
Our full review of the Bear Cub is coming soon. In the meanwhile, you can also check out our list of Best Mattresses without Fiberglass for more great options.
Twin-size mattresses are usually a good size for bunk beds, and the Saatva Youth is one of the best on the market. The mattress comes from Saatva, a producer of high-quality, luxury mattresses.
As the name suggests, the Saatva Youth is made specifically with children in mind. It boasts supportive coils, high-density foams, and an overall luxury design. The Saatva Youth is also flippable and offers one side for 3 to 7-year-olds and one side for 8 to 12-year-olds.
The Saatva Youth is also 10” tall, making it the best Saatva mattress for a bunk bed. Low-profile mattresses work better with bunk beds, and this is the thinnest Saatva mattress. We will note that you should use the Saatva Youth on the bottom bunk, as it might be unsafe to put it on the top bunk.
What our testers say: “Both sides of the Saatva Youth mattress should work for kids who spend a lot of time back sleeping. It’s a fairly supportive mattress that should promote proper spinal alignment. The side for 8-to-12-year-olds is a bit more supportive to account for the fact that kids in this age group will almost certainly weigh more than kids between the ages of 3 and 7.” —Marten, Reviewer
What We Love About the Saatva Youth
Its flippable design and dual firmness levels means you can use this mattress for many years.
Lightweight back, side, and stomach sleepers should enjoy a balance of comfort and support in all positions.
It’s highly durable, with a construction made from sturdy coils and high-density foam that should hold up for years.
What to Keep in Mind About the Saatva Youth
Because it’s designed for kids, heavier sleepers will likely find it doesn’t provide enough support.
The mattress comes with a 365-night trial, so your kid has a full year to see if it works for them.
Other User Reviews
Based on 25 reviews on the company website, the Saatva Youth has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. Many customers liked its comfort and quality levels. Some, however, complained about the customer service.
Finding the perfect balance between price and quality is a staple of choosing the right bunk bed for your home. Having said that, bargain hunters should take note of the Brooklyn Bedding Essential, a luxury mattress available for an affordable price. By manufacturing their mattresses in-house and shipping directly to the consumer, the Brooklyn Bedding Essential keeps its quality up and the price down ($399 for a twin), which they call “smart pricing.”
The Essential is a four-layered hybrid mattress with a medium-firmness (6.5/10) that is not too hard or not too soft. At 10″ tall, it has a .25-inch flex base for durability underneath an 8-inch coil layer for support, bounce, and airflow using Brooklyn Bedding’s proprietary Ascension X coils. The top two comfort layers consist of a high-density foam layer for additional support and to prevent sinkage, plus a 1.5-inch thick quilted comfort top layer for pressure relief and easement. Despite not having some of the fancier temperature-regulating technology associated with some luxury beds, our testers still found the Essential to be a good choice for people who sleep warm, as it didn’t trap body heat.
The Brooklyn Essential should provide quality rest for both side and back sleepers; however, our testers did find that stomach sleepers may struggle to get the support and comfort they need. Overall, Brooklyn Bedding offers its Essential mattress at a haggler-friendly price without compromising quality by producing it in the USA and bypassing the brick-and-mortar retail middleman.
What our testers say: “When you’re shopping for a new mattress, budget is always a consideration. Thankfully, beds like the Brooklyn Essential mattress offer great comfort without overstretching your wallet. Just keep in mind hybrid beds like the Brooklyn Essential can be on the taller side, so mind the clearance if you’re using the mattress on the bottom bunk.” –Marten, Lead Reviewer
What We Love About the Brooklyn Bedding Essential
The Brooklyn Bedding Essential is an affordable luxury mattress made in the USA.
Testers found the bed’s coiled layer to help enhance impressive support and contouring.
Testers found that back and side sleepers should experience adequate lumbar support without problematic sinkage despite having two all-foam top layers.
What to Keep in Mind About the Brooklyn Bedding Essential
It doesn’t have the best edge support, so you might not feel fully supported when sitting on its sides.
Testers found that the Essential may be too soft for stomach sleepers (particularly heavier ones) to feel comfortable and supported.
While testers believe this mattress should last you a solid seven years, they did find that the Essential model may be a bit less durable than some other Brooklyn Bedding mattresses.
Other User Reviews
The Brooklyn Essential managed to keep a quality 4.8/5 score out of 566 reviews on its website. One reviewer, who bought twin sixes mattresses for bunk beds, said the beds were a breeze to unbox. “We left it lying on the floor of our living room for about a week before transporting it up to our grandson. I did lay down on it, and it is very comfortable. Our grandson thinks so too.” Some reviewers left negative feedback who didn’t find the mattress met their firmness preferences, however.
Considering how much of our lives we spend in our beds, you probably want yourself or your kids to have the least “toxic” sleeping experience possible. The Birch Kids mattress is a certifiably 100% all-natural and organic bed. It is both GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified and GREENGUARD Gold Certified, providing reassurance of its safety.
Notably, Birch Kids has a unique two-sided design. One side has a firmer (7/10) feel to support children 3-7, and the other has a medium-firm (6/10) feel suggested for kids 8-12. This flippable design and the durable construction of the Birch Kids should get you plenty of years out of it. At the Birch Kids’ core is a layer of individually wrapped steel coils for support and breathability. Surrounding the coils is a layer of all-natural latex (eco-INSTITUT Certified Latex) that furthers support and helps the mattress be more responsive to your body. Above the latex layer are two plush 100% organic wool layers that stimulate breathability, increase coziness, and act as a natural flame retardant. On top is a layer of 100% fair-trade organic cotton, which is softer or firmer based on which side of the bed you use. Technically, the Birch Kids has seven layers if you count them all, but from the coiled core to the top, it has four layers, meaning it’s kind of two beds in one.
For anyone seeking a higher-level hypoallergenic and eco-friendly mattress, the Birch Kids really stands out, especially compared to the majority of conventional mattresses on the market today.
What We Love About the Birch Kids Natural
The bed’s flippable design, offering versatility and adaptability, makes it a great choice for the long term.
For eco-friendly or health-conscious consumers, this mattress is really hard to beat in terms of the materials it uses or the certifications it has.
Because the Birch Kids is 100% natural and organic, you don’t need to worry as much about off-gassing when you receive it as you would for less naturally made beds.
What to Keep in Mind About the Birch Kids Natural
Because it’s designed for kids, heavier sleepers will likely find it doesn’t provide enough support.
Due to the costlier materials used in its construction, the Birch Kids may be a bit pricier than other children’s beds.
If the mattress doesn’t meet your standards, returning it will come with a $99 removal fee.
Other User Reviews
Birch Kid’s website has over 4,500 reviews of this mattress, averaging 4.5/5. One parent, who is a verified buyer, wrote, “I bought this for my son, and it’s so comfortable. I wish I bought these for my older kids, too! Organic and clean yet comfortable. Highly recommend!”
Full review of the Birch Kids Natural coming soon. Check out our list of Best Organic Mattresses for more great options.
The bottom bunk of many bunk beds can hold a full size mattress. This gives that lucky person a bit more room to move around. If your bunk bed requires a full size mattress, consider the Dreamfoam Essential mattress.
The Dreamfoam Essential is a memory foam mattress that comes in numerous heights. The 6” model is the thinnest mattress on this list, so it will also work well for the top bunk. It won’t rise above the safety rails, making it safer for those sleeping on the top bunk.
The Essential also has one of the lower price points for a full size mattress. For a full size, 6” mattress, it costs less than $500, which is quite a steal!
What our testers say: “Thanks to the memory foam in the top layer, the Dreamfoam Essential has a bit of that classic slow-moving feel. There’s not much bounce right on top of the mattress, but there are some bouncier layers underneath the memory foam. This means you shouldn’t feel stuck in this bed.” —Marten, Reviewer
What We Love About the Dreamfoam Essential
The mattress is firmer than average, which helps back sleepers get the lumbar support they need.
It’s an excellent option for budget shoppers—a queen costs less than $500, even before discounts.
Lightweight sleepers and kids will get excellent support without having to worry about bottoming out.
What to Keep in Mind About the Dreamfoam Essential
Stomach sleepers won’t get the firmness and support they need, nor will heavier sleepers.
It’s less durable than some other mattresses.
Other User Reviews
Based on 4,041 reviews on the company website, the Dreamfoam Essential has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. Many customers liked its firmness level and extensive size options, and felt that it did a good job of contouring to pressure points. Some, however, felt that it was too hard.
You’ve set up your kid’s room with all the important things – the Star Wars posters, the door-hung basketball hoop, and a great bunk bed. Now, how do you go about choosing the right mattresses for that bunk bed?
Mattress Height
Mattress height is extremely important to consider when picking a bunk bed mattress. Simply put, you want to stay away from mattresses that are extremely tall. Tall mattresses will 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, 7” tall, 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 bottom mattress is too thick, that will mean less headroom for your child.
That being said, there are many types of bunk beds. Make sure to read up on the specifications of your new bunk bed and do your own measuring to see how thick your mattress can really be. For instance, a bed with taller guard rails could work with a thick 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. You may find a bunk bed with an extra large, queen size bottom bunk, but this is rarer.
Mattress Firmness and Sleeping Positions
There’s no one mattress for everyone, and you want to find a mattress that will fit your guests’ or children’s needs. If you need a mattress for back sleeping, consider a medium-firm mattress with a balance of comfort and support. This will allow the hips to sink in just a bit while the coils hold up the body.
Side sleepers require more relief for their pressure points and do better on softer mattresses. Consider a soft memory foam mattress to relieve pressure on the shoulders and hips.
Finally, stomach sleepers are going to 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.
How Much Weight Can The Bunk Bed Hold?
Depending on the design, the top bunk of a bunk bed can hold between 150 and 400 lb. If the bunk bed is made of wood, it may hold less weight, while a metal bunk bed could be more supportive.
Either way, it is a good idea to research the weight limit of your new bunk bed. This will help you decide how heavy your mattress can be. Also, it’s no fun to get a heavy mattress onto the top bunk, so do your back a favor!
Cooling
Sleeping hot is an issue for many types of people, and it affects children as well. If your child or house guest often complains of sleeping hot, a cooling mattress could be in order. Hybrid mattresses and those that feature latex are usually going to sleep cooler than pure memory foam mattresses. Some memory foam mattresses may also contain cooling infusions such as gel, graphite, or copper.
Whatever mattress you choose to pair with your bunk bed, just make sure to keep an eye out for cooling materials. Otherwise, that is going to be one hot bunk bed.
Do Bunk Beds Need Special Mattresses?
Bunk beds do not necessarily require a special mattress. Again, it is more about finding the right height and size. As long as the mattress isn’t thicker than 7”, any bed in a box or online mattress will fit the bottom and top bunk. You can go a bit thicker, but a thicker mattress will only work on the bottom bunk, for safety reasons.
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 good amount of time. Mattresses aren’t cheap, and it’s no fun when your big investment starts to break down in a year.
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!
Are Bunk Beds Safe?
According to National Children’s, each year, there are 36,000 bunk bed accidents. These are mostly attributed to children or adults falling off the top bunk. Some accidents occur on the bottom bunk, but the injuries are less severe.
The article recommends utilizing guard rails on both sides of the bunk. In addition, the rails should be at least 5” above the top of the mattress. The mattress should never rest above the top of the guard rails. Experts also say that children under six should not sleep on the top bunk.
We talked about support above, but again make sure that your bunk bed can handle the necessary weight. Also, keep the area around the bunk bed clean and consider night lights to make climbing in and out of bed safer.
Most bunk beds do not require box springs. That would lift the mattresses too far off the bunk bed, and this could be dangerous. Also, box springs are usually best for heavier innerspring mattresses, and the majority of bunk bed mattresses are going to be on the lighter side.
Can a queen mattress fit on a full bunk bed?
No, a queen mattress cannot fit on a full bunk bed. Queen size mattresses are longer and wider than full size mattresses, and will not fit correctly.
Can you use an air mattress on a bunk bed?
While an air mattress could fit a bunk bed, it is not recommended you pair the two. Bunk beds can feature metal parts that might tear or puncture the air mattress.
How thick is a bunk bed mattress?
The ideal bunk bed mattress is between 5” and 7” thick. You want something on the thinner end that does not rise above the guard rails.
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Marten Carlson
Lead Mattress Reviewer
About Author
Marten has been writing about mattresses and sleep health for six years. He is the lead reviewer at Mattress Clarity where he tests mattresses, bedding, and sleep accessories.
In his role here, Marten’s reviewed over 500 mattresses and 150 sleep accessories (so you can rest assured that if he recommends a product, it’s been put through the wringer in our Austin studio). In addition, he has written more than 400 articles reviewing the quality of sleep and sleep products as well as sleep health. He’s especially interested in the correlation between sleep and mental health.
Marten’s also got a personal stake in sleep health. After writing dozens of pieces on the dangers of sleep apnea, he decided to get tested for the condition. Realizing he did, in fact, suffer from sleep apnea, he immediately started using a CPAP machine. He knows all too well the importance of a healthy night’s sleep and is passionate about helping others get the healthy, restorative sleep they deserve.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Denison University and his master’s degree in Film Studies from Emory University.
