The best bunk beds are a brilliant way to save space. Plus, for kids, they’re just plain cool. Some designs even incorporate a desk, storage shelves or a third, hidden, trundle bed. And if the idea of building a flat-pack bunk bed fills you with dread, many companies offer a home-assembly service.
Beyond the design and the level of fun factor, you’ll also want to make some practical considerations when shopping for a bunk bed. Make sure the height of the top bunk fits with the room, and that the ladder will be easy enough for your little one to clamber up at the end of a long day.
Some bunk beds recommend an age of six or more to ensure that children can sleep safely on the top bunk. Many brands will also advise on a maximum top bed mattress depth (usually about 15cm), to make sure your child can’t tip over the edge of the bed frame.
With all that in mind, we (along with some mini testers) put a range of bunk beds through their paces – keep scrolling to discover which designs make our list of the best bunk beds for kids.
Read more: 8 best kids’ mattresses, tried and tested
The best kids’ bunk beds for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Happy Beds domino oak wooden and metal kids storage bunk bed, 3ft single: £439, Happybeds.co.uk
- Best for growing kids – Just Kids Chatham bunk bed: £283.99, Wayfair.co.uk
- Best for sleepovers – Little Folks Furniture classic beech bunk bed with storage and trundle: £574, Littlefolksfurniture.co.uk
- Best novelty design – Julian Bowen camper van bunk bed: £901.14, Amazon.co.uk
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Happy Beds domino oak wooden and metal kids storage bunk bed, 3ft single
Best: kids' bunk bed overall
Why we love it
- Airy, open design
- Glow-in-the-dark features
What I love most about this Happy Beds bunk bed is its thoughtful design – where so many storage beds can be bulky, cumbersome pieces, this one stays nice and open at the front. Even the top bunk feels light and airy, thanks to its inconspicuous white metal safety rail, which is great if kids don’t like the feeling of being penned in.
The domino boasts generous storage, with both top and bottom sleeping spaces given the same three compartments to fill up with books, toys and reading lamps. In an oak finish with wide, integrated steps, the overall design is warm and homely yet contemporary in style, complete with clean lines. The glow-in-the-dark stair strips are an inspired design feature, too.
Key specifications:
Buy now £439, Happybeds.co.uk
Just Kids Chatham bunk bed
Best: kids' bunk bed for growing kids
Why we love it
- Good amount of space between bunks
- Manufactured in the UK
Take note
- Natural pine look may not be for everyone
The first thing that strikes you about this wooden bunk bed is its height – but, more importantly, the space between the lower and upper bunk. Designs of this ilk are great for growing kids, while mums and dads can sit up comfortably on the bottom bunk during story time.
This one’s made from a solid Scandinavian pine with its natural wood grain on show, knots and all. Fuss-free and timeless, the bunk bed is available in four sizes, from a small single up to a double. Sharing teens will love to spread out in style.
Key specifications:
Buy now £356.99, Wayfair.co.uk
Happy Beds Orion white wooden storage bunk bed
Best: kids' bunk bed for storage
Why we love it
- Plenty of storage
- Wide ladder with glow-in-the-dark strips for safety
Take note
- Bulkier than some other options
Not only will this bunk bed give kids a good night’s sleep, it also makes a perfect place for them to store their treasures. The shelves next to the bed provide ample space for little ones to display their toys, while the drawer underneath is a good space for storing bedding or other large items.
My mini testers love the fact that the stairs are wide and have glow-in-the-dark strips, so they’re easy to climb up and down. Meanwhile, us grown-ups liked the fact that the bed isn’t too high, which means it’s easier to check on kids in the night.
This is a really solid bed, made from surprisingly sturdy particleboard, and it comes in a choice of anthracite, grey oak, oak, grey-white or white colours. It’s bulkier than some other options on this list, but the storage is a huge plus, particularly for those with a small bedroom. The top bunk has a lip to keep your child safe, plus the maximum weight is 76kg, so a couple of children can safely play together up on top.
A standard 190x90cm single mattress (sold separately) will fit the bunks, and Happy Beds sells a matching wardrobe and chest of drawers, if you want to overhaul the whole bedroom.
Key specifications:
Buy now £429, Happybeds.co.uk
Flair tag staircase bunk bed with trundle
Best: kids' bunk bed for easy access
Why we love it
- Great for sleepovers
- It looks stylish
- Extra storage in staircase
Take note
- Longer than some other options, so may not work in smaller rooms
This is a really great bed for growing families or for children who love to host sleepovers. It can sleep children on the top bunk, double bottom bunk and also on the slide-out trundle. It’s also a very functional bed with a wide staircase that also acts as a bookcase. However, this makes this design longer than many other bunk beds.
The bed is available in white, grey and navy blue finishes on the high-quality pine frame. The mattresses for both bunks and the trundles can all be bought separately, but the top bunk fits a standard single (190 x 90cm), while the bottom bunk fits a standard double (190 x 135cm). You have to put it togther yourself, and while it’s not a quick job, I think it’s worth the time and energy.
Key specifications:
Buy now £479.99, Bedkingdom.co.uk
Thuka HIT high sleeper bed
Best: kids' bunk bed for older children
Why we love it
- Home assembly offered
- Versatile
Take note
- Height of top bunk can make assess more difficult for parents
This multifunctional bed comes with a desk, shelves, sofa and pull-out bed, as well as a high sleeping bunk – it’s perfect if you’re short on space. It’s made from sturdy Scandinavian pine, with a white-wash finish, and you can choose from three colours for the sofa-bed cushion (black, silver grey or pink). It’s an attractive piece of furniture that is also hugely practical. My eight-year-old tester loves having his belongings on the shelves to look at while he sits at the desk doing homework or something creative.
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The bed is higher (180cm) than some of the others on this list, which can make it tricky to see your child when they’re sleeping or to change the sheets, but the ladder is solid and easy to climb. Before the bed is assembled, you can choose which end you’d like the desk and ladder to be at. I loved the fact that there’s a hidden storage box under the sofa, too. I use this to house bedding for sleepover guests, but all kinds of treasures can be squirrelled away in there. The only issue is the price; single mattresses measuring 200cm x 90cm (continental size) for the top bunk are sold separately.
Key specifications:
Buy now £795.01, Familywindow.co.uk
Little Folks Furniture classic beech bunk bed with storage and trundle
Best: kids' bunk bed for sleepovers
Why we love it
- Three beds in one
- Sturdy construction
Take note
- Pricier than some other models
With its additional pull-out trundle bed, this three-in-one piece is made for sleepovers. Available in pure white or dove grey, the bunk bed is crafted from a very solid beech wood, making it reliably sturdy without any wobbles. This versatile bunk bed can also be split easily into two full-size singles.
The trundle can be used for handy under-bed storage or with a sleepover-ready mattress in permanent use. With a timeless look featuring tall, slatted headboards and footrests, this is a top-quality classic.
This bunk bed is out of stock, but it’s available for pre-order, with stock arriving mid-July.
Key specifications:
Buy now £775, Littlefolksfurniture.co.uk
Julian Bowen camper van bunk bed
Best: Novelty kids' bunk bed
Why we love it
- Won’t overwhelm smaller bedrooms compared with some other novelty designs
- Sturdy construction
Take note
- Less practical than some other options
Novelty bunk beds are always popular, but they can overwhelm a smaller space. Thankfully, this camper van design is compact, bright and breezy – and perfect for vehicle-obsessed little ones.
Made from a lacquered MDF, it feels reliably sturdy, too. I loved the playful attention to detail, as the bunk bed comes with a movable steering wheel and a surfboard ladder. What more could your kids want?
Key specifications:
Buy now £901.15, Amazon.co.uk
Bowood children’s bunk bed
Best: premium kids bunk bed
Why we love it
- Splits into two single beds
- Rounded edges
Take note
- Expensive
This is an elegant and versatile bed with an upper bunk suitable for children aged six and older. This bed also splits into two adult-size single beds, which means it will grow with your children.
The solid beech hardwood frame comes in pure white, ivory white or Painswick blue, and the ladder can be placed at either end of the bunk bed. Parents can be reassured that the wide ladder treads will keep their child safe when they climb up and down. The edges of the bed frame are also rounded or bowed, which means there are no sharp corners for little ones to bump their heads on.
Bunk beds are fun for the kids, but they can take up a lot of space, so I loved the fact that this one has the option of adding a handy trundle drawer underneath. The drawer comes with a solid base, so you can even add a mattress to be used as a spare third bed. Main mattresses (190cm x 90cm) and the trundle mattress (183cm x 76cm) are sold separately.
Key specifications:
Buy now £1000, Andsotobed.co.uk
Great Little Trading Co Paddington bunk bed, single, white
Best: kids' bunk bed with central ladder
Why we love it
- Solid design
Take note
- Ladder can't be repositioned
Smart, contemporary, and made from high-quality MDF, this is one solid bunk bed. Unusually, the steps are placed in the centre of the frame, which allows for extra security at the head and the foot of the top bunk. The central steps also prove a handy feature for the bottom bunk, if you have a little one prone to rolling out of bed.
While it’s on the chunky side, we love this bunk bed’s subtle curves and the way the ladder is a cohesive part of the design. For an extra £50, you can also opt to have a fabric screen (complete with window cutouts) incorporated around the bottom bunk.
Key specifications:
Buy now £600, Gltc.co.uk
Your questions about kids’ bunk beds answered
What is the best kids’ bunk bed?
We loved the Happy Beds domino bunk bed for multiple reasons: its stylish contemporary design, its generous storage compartments, and its relative affordability. It’s bulky, yes, but with a clever design, it manages to stay airy and open at the front. It got top marks for safety, too, with its metal handles and glow-in-the-dark stair strips, which guide little ones safely back to bed at night.
We also really rate the Flair tag triple staircase bed for its great price point and the space it gives your children. It’s perfect for sleepovers; the stairs are safe for young children to use, and I love that there’s storage included, too. It’s very large, but we’re sure it will be part of your family for a long time. Special mention also goes to the Happy Beds Orion storage bunk bed, which is compact, comfortable and gives your children the chance to keep their special belongings close by.
How I tested bunk beds
With help from my very willing mini testers (an eight-year-old and six-year-old twins), I thoroughly put these bunk beds through their paces. We know that a bunk bed is an investment for most families, so we’ve chosen the designs we think offer good value for money.
In particular, we considered the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Ali Howard is a London-based writer and interiors editor with extensive experience covering home and lifestyle topics. A regular contributor to IndyBest since 2019, she has reviewed a broad spectrum of products, from wardrobes to floor lamps.
Kat Storr is an experienced journalist who has written extensively about children and parenting. She has written lots of reviews for IndyBest, and is used to putting products to the test in real-world settings. She regularly reviews products for kids, including the best kids’ bikes, remote controlled cars and scooters.
Now that the kids’ beds are sorted, read our edit of the best mattresses and mattress toppers
