Bunk beds are popular in homes that include kids who share a room. They are also often used in college dorms. It’s a great way to save space in small bedrooms. They come in various styles with tons of added features that make them more unique than regular beds.
Although you can find cheap bunk beds, most quality bunk beds are on the expensive side. Let’s find out why!
Why are bunk beds so expensive?
Bunk beds can be more costly because of many reasons. They require more materials to make such as two-bed frames and connectors. The extra cost is mostly because they hold two beds instead of one. Other factors include customization, added features, size, brand, and added storage space.
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You can find cheap bunk beds but they will not provide the same quality as high-quality expensive ones. Cheap ones are built with less sturdy materials than those. Their unique style and design are not the only reason why they are so costly.
Material Cost:
Since bunk beds consist of more than one bed, they require more materials than regular beds. These materials need to be stronger than the ones used on regular beds to keep them together.
Added Features:
This is one of the biggest reasons why modern bunk beds are expensive. Detachable bunk beds can be expensive as you can use them for more than one purpose.
Many bunk beds come with drawers providing you with extra storage space, this can be costly. Bunk beds with rolling ladders and wheels can hike up the price tag as well.
Customization:
For every product, customization is always expensive because the manufacturers are not able to mass-produce the products. Customized bunk beds are individually catered to the needs of the client.
Brand and size:
The greater the size of the bunk bed, the more materials it will require to build. Hence, more costly. The brand you buy it from also plays a role. Top brands have invested in advertising, retail, and quality to reach the top.
Are bunk beds worth it?
Whether bunk beds are worth it or not depends on you and your home. Decide for yourself after evaluating both the benefits and cons of owning a bunk bed.
Benefits:
They save space:
This is especially suited for small bedrooms. Two separate beds in a small bedroom can reduce circulation around the room and make the room look tacky.
They can provide more storage facilities:
Many bunk beds come with drawers, shelves, and closets. Some also have attached tables to create more space in the room. You can have 3 in one.
More privacy than a shared bed:
Everyone needs their personal space which is often impossible on a shared bed. A bunk bed is a perfect solution for that. You can share a bedroom and still have privacy.
Cons:
Height Phobia and Height Concerns:
Most people who sleep on bunk beds are children. They are typically not used to large height differences. Children are playful which is why they could fall accidentally from the top bunk.
This is why it is recommended that you don’t put children below 6 on bunk beds.
Reaching the top bunk:
Climbing a ladder to get into the bed can be an inconvenience to children. After a long day of fun, they just want to jump to bed and fall asleep. Moreover, it can make making the bed difficult every morning.
How much do bunk beds cost?
Average bunk beds cost around $300 and $1,000. It depends on what type of bunk bed you have and if they come with compartments or drawers.
Customizing it can cost you over $4,500. You can find bunk beds in Walmart starting from $159 to around $1583. Ikea has them for between $169 and $799. Used bunk beds sell for half the price. You can buy one for as low as $30.
Double bunk bed:
This is the common type of bunk bed in the market today. They can cost between $300 and $1,000. They are usually cheaper than triple bunk beds.
Triple bunk bed:
These cost anywhere between $350 to $2,000. For three bed spaces, it is affordable. There are various types of triple bunk beds.
Metal bunk bed:
Metal bunk beds are on the cheaper side when compared to wooden ones. They can cost around $100 to $800. But heavy-duty metal bunk beds can be more pricey than wooden ones.
The reason for this is because metal bunk beds do not last as long as wooden ones.
Wooden bunk beds:
This is the most expensive type of all. They give a rather classic and elegant feel. They can cost over $1,000. Their durability is why they are preferred over metal ones.
They also come in many types such as Maple, Oak, Cherry, Pine, Rubberwood, Walnut, and more. Rubberwood is usually the most expensive type whereas Maple is used commonly.
Where to buy cheap bunk beds?
Local or online stores sell cheaper bunk beds than international ones. You can find cheap bunk
beds in Ikea and Walmart or online stores such as Amazon and Craigslist. You can also check Houzz.com.
Used bunk beds are the cheapest and you can either buy them online or look for bunk beds in garage sales nearby. Another place you can look into is the Facebook marketplace. It’s always better to buy furniture in person because you can’t tell the quality from pictures.
Is it cheaper to build a bunk bed?
Often it can be cheaper to build a bunk bed yourself if you have all the tools and skills to do it. It saves you from making an expensive purchase and you get to hand-pick the quality yourself.
Bunk beds can be expensive, especially the ones with high brand names. Not all expensive bunk beds are of high quality.
By building it yourself, you get to double-check everything starting from the material, design, and finish. You can make it safer too.
How much does it cost to build a bunk bed?
That depends on the materials you use to build it and its style. If you’re planning on building the simplest bunk bed, it will cost you around $200. It can be more expensive and as high as $1,000 if you use a different type of wood.
Building a triple bunk bed can cost a bit more but you can expect to spend between $200 and $500. If you add more features such as a drawer and a ladder, then it will cost more.
How much does it cost to paint a bunk bed?
You’ll also have to spend some bucks on sanding and cleaning the surface to prepare it for paint. It will also cost you to put a single coat of primer after you’re done painting.
Painting wood can cost you over $2 per ft. You can purchase a gallon of paint for only $20 depending on the type of paint you buy. If you spray paint a bunk bed then it will cost you as low as $5. A few spray cans will do the job. It won’t be as durable as other ways.
How much does it cost to assemble a bunk bed?
It costs around $160 on average to assemble a bunk bed if you hire a furniture assembling service. The price depends on the number of cabinets, type of bed, and the number of shelves. You can assemble it yourself but getting it done professionally is the safer choice.
Since they have more experience, they require less time to assemble and can figure out any complications faced in the process. They also have the most advanced equipment.
How much do bunk bed mattresses cost?
The size, height, and type of foam or innerspring are what will determine the price of your bunk bed mattress. They typically cost the same as average mattresses. The larger the size and height, the higher the price will be. Full-sized mattresses cost more.
If you buy an innerspring bunk bed queen size model mattress, it will cost around $900 to $1,100. This is the cheapest type. The next is foam mattresses, which cost around $900 and $1,300.
Hybrid bunk bed mattresses have the price of $1,600 and $2,400. Last are latex mattresses. They cost the same as hybrid mattresses. All the prices are for queen-size models.
Are bunk beds better than normal beds?
This depends on many factors such as the room size, number of kids, age, safety, and body size. Bunk beds can be better for small bedrooms as two single beds can take up too much space. If you have less room and more than 4 kids, a bunk bed is a better option.
Additionally, bunk beds have an age requirement of 6 for safety reasons. Hence, if your kids are under 6, a regular bed is a better choice.
The size of bunk beds is not suited for people who are over 250 pounds. Bunks beds are mostly the size of twin-sized beds which can make children feel claustrophobic on the top bunk.
What are the safest bunk beds?
There are many top-safe bunk beds available. Some of the most popular ones are Bedz King, One Kings Lane, Dorel Living, Harper & Bright Designs, Contemporary Furniture Warehouse, and Dot & Bo. All you have to do is look for the kid-safe ones.
Aside from looking at these options, you can take some safety precautions yourself. First, do not let any kids under 6 sleep in the top bunk.
Do not let them use bunk beds as a play area such as jumping and purchase a guardrail for the top bunk. Place the bunk bed in a corner to prevent falling from the other sides.
There are cheap bunk beds too. Not all of them are costly. They range from anywhere around $100 to $4,000. Check the quality, check the material, and decide for yourself!