Best Bunk Bed Mattresses (Twin & Twin XL)

Last Updated: March, 2023

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Bunk beds are a popular choice for families with children, as they provide a practical solution to space constraints in a shared room. They’re also popular in college dorms with similar space constraints. There are different mattresses that are good for a bunk bed that we shall discuss here.

The best mattress for bunk beds is Natural Bliss by PlushBeds which is comfortable and great for sleepers who love eco-friendly options. Let’s go ahead and review the 7 mattresses we found suitable for bunk beds.

A Quick Look At The 7 Best Bunk Bed Mattresses

Plushbeds Natural Bliss

PlushBeds Natural Bliss

The PlushBeds Natural Bliss is our top bunk bed mattress made with eco-friendly and hypoallergenic materials, which makes it a perfect alternative for families wanting top-quality and safe materials for their children. It also brings young sleepers pressure relief and coolness.

Ghostbed Classic

GhostBed Classic

The GhostBed Classic's breathable plush knit cover is soft and breathable, and its gel-infused memory foam contours just enough for pressure relief without too much sinkage. This bed strikes a perfect balance of support and coziness that most kids will enjoy.

Amerisleep AS1-small

Amerisleep AS1 Mattress

Amerisleep AS1's Bio-Pur foam layer is engineered to deliver responsive support, cooling comfort, and healthier sleep. It also has a unique build, perfect for supporting growing spines.

Nolah Nurture Mattress

Nolah Nurture Mattress

The Nolah Nurture Mattress is specially designed with growing kids in mind. This two-sided hybrid bed boasts two firmness levels, and it's made of eco-friendly materials. 

Molecule Core Mattress

Molecule Core Mattress

Molecule Core's innovative triple-layer supportive design offers significant support and even cushioning for younger children. A microclimate-regulating cover material also makes this mattress comfortable for hot sleepers.

Layla Memory Foam Mattress

Layla Memory Foam Mattress

The Layla Mattress is an affordable all-foam mattress that should be ideal for young teens and kids of all sleeping positions. 

Zoma Start Mattress

Zoma Start Mattress

Offering essential comfort with excellent support, body contouring, and pressure relief, the Zoma Start Mattress delivers enhanced rest and rejuvenation for sleepers with demanding lifestyles. 

Plushbeds Natural Bliss

What We Like

  • Premium natural materials backed by environmental certifications
  • Variety of height and firmness options
  • Sleeps cool thanks to moisture-wicking components
  • Dunlop latex relieves pressure without sinking deep into the surface

What We Don't Like

  • Couples of different sleep positions and body types may struggle to find an ideal balance in one mattress

Overall Thoughts: 

Bunk beds aren't just made for children and can be a perfect way to host multiple adult guests. If you want an environmentally friendly bed for your bunk bed, the Natural Bliss is a great option. The 8-inch PlushBeds Natural Bliss Mattress is a thin mattress that will fit your bunk bed while providing enough body support for adults.

Unlike other PlushBeds models, which include a layer of wool under the cover, the Natural Bliss features a plant-based, proprietary fire barrier. Each variant of the PlushBeds Natural Bliss comes with the same organic cotton cover, but the specific configuration of comfort and support layers varies by firmness and thickness. All the mattresses use a 6-inch base of natural Dunlop latex, which offers a sturdier and more supportive feeling. 

As for the comfort layers, they vary by firmness and thickness. The 8-inch model features a 2-inch comfort layer made of Talalay latex. Compared to Dunlop, Talalay latex is springier and more responsive, enabling your mattress to offer more pressure relief and conforming. 

The PlushBeds Natural Bliss ships free anywhere in the contiguous U.S. and is available in Full, Twin XL, and Twin sizes. It should be compatible with most child-friendly bed frames and bunk beds. It comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 25-year warranty. 

Ghostbed Classic

What We Like

  • Medium firmness level suits most sleep positions
  • Designed with synthetic latex, a more breathable material than other foams
  • Low-profile construction helps children get in and out of their bed with ease
  • Blended foam feel that most kids will enjoy

What We Don't Like

  • Not supportive enough for sleepers over 230 pounds

Overall Thoughts: 

If you want a cooling, affordable mattress for your bunk bed frame, the GhostBed Classic is worth a look. It consists of three dense, supportive memory foam and latex layers to promote growth and development. An 11-inch profile makes it compatible with standard bed frames and bunk beds.

The GhostBed Classic begins with a stretchy polyester material quilted into a thin and breathable cover, followed by a 1.5-inch comfort layer of aerated latex foam that's responsive and ventilated to keep your kids cool throughout the night. Next, you'll find another 2-inch layer of gel memory foam that protects sleepers from night sweats and stickiness. What's more, it adds more pressure relief to the sleep surface. A high-density foam base completes the design. This 7.5-inch helps keep your mattress firm, steady, and stable. 

GhostBed provides free ground shipping throughout the contiguous United States. The Classic Mattress comes with a 101-night sleep trial period and a 25-year limited warranty.

Amerisleep AS1

What We Like

  • Cover is quite breathable
  • Excellent pressure relief
  • Incredibly durable

What We Don't Like

  • The AS1 is too firm for strict side sleepers who need a bed that allows them to sink in the surface for pressure relief in the shoulders and hips

Overall Thoughts: 

Kids and preteens often need a sleep surface that supports and cushions their bodies equally. This ensures proper growth and development, not to mention night-to-night comfort after they have ditched their toddler bed. The Amerisleep AS1 has many features that make it a viable option for children in the preteen stage. For starters, it has a low profile, a firm feel with gentle cushioning, and a breathable top layer that won't trap heat. Plus, its firm feel limits sinkage, which should keep your kid's body on an even plane. 

The Amerisleep AS1 features a two-layer design starting with a top layer of Bio-Pur foam that's designed to be more responsive and breathable than traditional memory foam. This material also offers some contouring to the body and enables sleepers to sink a little bit for pressure relief. While the memory f0am has a slow response to pressure, you shouldn't feel stuck when changing your sleep position as it's only two inches thick. 

The base layer is much denser, containing 8 inches of Bio-Core foam that's firm and durable. What's more, it's designed to prevent sagging in your mattress. A refreshing cooling cover encases the entire mattress. It's cool to the touch and made with technology that converts heat into far infrared energy. This promotes maximum air circulation to help in athletic recovery and improve sleep. 


Generally, the Amerisleep AS1 is also considered the best mattress for adjustable bed by many shoppers, thanks to its firm construction and flexibility. So, if you've got an adjustable base in your home, you can rest assured that AS1 is durable enough to be used without compromising comfort.

The AS1 comes with a sleep trial that allows you to test your mattress for 100 nights and decide whether it suits your needs. If you choose to keep your mattress, you'll receive a 20-year warranty against structural defects.

Nolah Nurture Mattress

What We Like

  • Talalay latex comfort layers cradle the sleeper's body to relieve pressure
  • Breathable organic cotton and wool top cover facilitates airflow
  • Flippable design with two different firmness options
  • Lifetime warranty

What We Don't Like

  • Above-average price point for a kid's mattress

Overall Thoughts: 

If you're searching for an organic mattresses for bunk beds, look no further than this natural, ultra-durable bed from Nolah. Generally, this high-quality hybrid mattress has a flippable design that lets your kids use it as they grow. Its unique construction is made of eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton, Talalay latex, and organic wool. It even comes with a moisture-wicking hypoallergenic cotton cover, which won't trigger your children's sensitive allergies.

The Nolah Nurture is encased in a cover made of a naturally breathable material (GOTS-certified organic cotton) that keeps the surface cool throughout the night. Beneath this is a soft layer of wool fibers that serve as a natural fire retardant while adding cooling and breathability. The 2-inch pressure-relieving Talalay latex comfort system provides slight body contouring to relieve pressure buildup. 

Talalay's natural responsiveness means your kid's sleep surface won't conform as closely to the body, thus trapping less heat. The support coil system features a layer of Nolah's proprietary 6-inch HDMax Tri-Zone support coils that give your mattress structure and strength. With up to three targeted support zones, it offers better support than most competing hybrid beds. 

Nolah offers free shipping to shoppers in the contiguous United States and a 120-night sleep trial. Should you decide to keep the Nurture 10, you'll also receive a generous lifetime warranty against structural defects.

Molecule Core Mattress

What We Like

  • Shoulder relief and hip support that helps with spinal alignment
  • Molecule's all-foam design absorbs motion, helping couples sleep soundly
  • Zoned foam offers exceptional lumbar support, which helps relieve body aches and lower back pain

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't have much responsiveness, making it quite challenging to change sleeping positions

Overall Thoughts: 

The bottom bunk of most bunk beds can carry a Full-size mattress. This gives you more room to move around and change positions. If you need a Full-size mattress for your bunk bed, consider the Molecule Core Mattress. 

The Molecule Core is designed with three layers of foam, starting with a comfort layer of enhanced airflow foam that combines with the HeXFLO surface technology for pressure relief, targeted support, and exceptional soothing. Beneath is a precision-contoured 3D geometric surface with up to 7 zones, offering hyper-targeted, self-adjusting support for different body sections. 

The bed's foundation features a firm base support that fosters healthy spine alignment. It also has breathable materials that promote more airflow and heat transfer. The MOLECULEshield cool cover features a unique moisture-wicking technology to regulate the temperature between the sleep surface and the sleeper's body. 

Molecule backs its mattress with a 365-night risk-free trial and limited lifetime warranty. Shipping is free to shoppers in the contiguous U.S. 

What We Like

  • Copper-infused foam layers conform closely and stay cooler than conventional foam
  • Flippable design intended for growing kids
  • 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty

What We Don't Like

  • Its highly conforming nature might inhibit movement

Overall Thoughts: 

The Layla Memory Foam Mattress has proven popular with adults, but it's equally suitable for kids. Its cooling features and firmer-than-average feel (on the firm side) place it above the average foam model, not to mention its affordable sticker price, which makes it suitable for parents who aren't ready to spend thousands of dollars on their kid's mattress.

As a flippable bed, the Layla Memory Foam Mattress is designed to meet the comfort needs of growing kids. One side has a firm (7) feel meant for children between the ages of 4 and 7 who need a supportive sleep surface to promote proper development. The soft side (4) is best suited to children between 8 and 12 years old, who often prefer more cushioning from their beds. 

Each side has a comfort layer of copper-infused memory foam that conforms closely to the body to relieve pressure on the hips and shoulder. This is especially true of the medium soft side, which boasts a thicker memory foam comfort layer than the firmer side. This softer side also features an additional foam layer that enhances cushioning. A shared support core of high-density polyfoam is positioned between the memory foam layers, offering stability to both sides of your mattress. 

Layla ships their memory foam mattress to the contiguous U.S. for free. They guarantee it with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.


Zoma Start Mattress

What We Like

  • Suitable for pressure relief and support
  • Great motion transfer results
  • Good for value-conscious shoppers

What We Don't Like

  • It doesn't have a lot of bounce, so it may not be suitable for sleepers in need of optimized mobility

Overall Thoughts: 

If you're planning to switch your kid from your bed to a mattress of their own, it might be time to take a look at the Zoma Start Mattress. This affordable bed comes in seven sizes, including Full, Twin XL, and Twin size. And as a bonus, this mattress is made of CertiPUR-US certified foams, making it a healthier alternative for kids.

The Zoma Start Mattress contains a unique cover made from a mesh-like, breathable material. It's also perforated with tiny holes to enable body heat to pass through. Beneath the cover is a layer of zoned Triangulex Foam designed with triangle-shaped cutouts to give your topper a firmer feel. The aim is to offer targeted pressure relief around the shoulders and extra support in the lumbar region. The base is made of a thick high-density polyfoam layer that brings shape and stability to your bed's overall structure.

The Zoma Start sells for a lower price point than many mattresses of similar quality, making it a solid option for families who need a quality mattress on a budget. It also comes with a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial. 

Factors to Consider When Buying a Bunk Bed Mattress

Bunk bed mattresses should be as comfortable as any other other mattress. The right bunk bed mattress can be a flippable mattress, should offer great pressure relief and should comfortably fit the bunk bed style among other features. Here are other factors to consider when buying these mattresses.

Cooling

When two or more people are sleeping in a shared space, the temperature can quickly rise, leading to discomfort and restlessness. This is especially true for the person sleeping on the bottom bunk bed, as heat rises, and the warm air can become trapped in the confined space. A cooling mattress such as a gel infused memory foam, will regulate body temperature, keeping the sleeper comfortable and preventing them from overheating during the night. This feature can improve the overall quality of sleep and help prevent disturbances caused by tossing and turning. Note that all foam mattresses without gel or other cooling technologies may hold in a lot of heat and make the sleeper sweat. Therefore, ask for these features when buying a bunk bed mattress, and consider hybrid mattresses.

Edge Support

Edge support is an important feature for bunk bed mattresses because it ensures the safety and stability of the sleeper, especially those on the top bunk. Even though the top bunk bed usually has guardrails which protect the sleeper from rolling off to the floor, it's still essential for the bunk bed mattress to have edge support. Mostly when the sleeper is a kid, you'd want to be sure that they can sit on the edge safely as they prepare to get off the bed. The bottom bunk sleeper will also need a good edge support in case they like to sit on the edge when dressing up.

Firmness Level

The best bunk bed mattress is one that has the right firmness level. Firmness level is entirely dependent on the sleeper, their preference and their needs. If the bed is for a light weighted child, then go for a soft and plush bunk bed mattress. If it's for a heavyweight college kid, then either pick a medium firm or an extra firm depending on the weight and height of the sleeper. A hybrid mattress will also come in handy with both support and comfort of a heavy sleeper.

Related content: Best mattress for platform bed

Conclusion

Remember there are different bunk bed styles and designs, therefore make sure you buy or identify the bed first before buying the mattress so you can go for the right bunk bed mattress. This is mostly important for sizing. You don't need to buy a luxury bunk bed mattress for quality and durability. There are many affordable options offering the same. Make sure the mattress you purchase offers night trial and a reasonable warranty.

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