The Best Bunk Beds Under $600, According to Parents and Experts

Laura Fenton, author of The Bunk Bed Book (and former Cubby editor), notes, “Whenever parents ask me about an affordable basic bunk bed, I steer them to IKEA’s Mydal, a classic wood bunk that has been in the catalog for years. Mydal is beloved not just for its low price, but also its ability to be customized. Whether through playfully patterned sheets or paint — or both! — Mydal is a style chameleon that can be used just about anywhere.”

Mother of two, Jody, says, “We looked high and low for something that was high-quality but minimal footprint and had a low height for our just-turned 6- and 3-year-old kids.” At 50” high, Jody’s choice from Harriet Bee is perfect for smaller kids. The pine wood frame is available in a choice of eight finishes, and includes guardrails and a built-in ladder.

This bunk bed with a slide is perfect for sleep and play for kids ages 6 to 10. The top bunk is a bit lower, which makes it easier to change the sheets or give your kiddo a goodnight kiss. The included curtain, available in four different colors, transforms the bottom bunk into a playhouse. The removable and reversible ladder and slide allow you to configure the bed in a way that fits your space.

Not only is this bunk bed affordable, but shoppers say it’s also easy to assemble, which is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to devote an entire weekend to putting together a new bed while also looking after a kiddo. This sturdy metal bunk bed includes a built-in ladder and upper guardrails. It’s also a smart choice for small rooms and younger kiddos, measuring 54” high. All three models of this bed — twin over twin, full over full, and twin over full — are available for under $300.

The versatile Kura bed system from IKEA was the right choice for mother of two toddlers, Alissa, who converted the loft-style bed into a Montessori-style floor bed with an area for play on the top bunk. One of the funnest elements of this bed is the ability to use tents and curtains to transform an ordinary bed into something kids adore — an underwater seascape or a lively farmers market stall. The smaller size of this bed means it’s great for toddlers, but bigger kids may find it too restricting.

Available in a sweet pink color (as well as a dark wood finish), this bunk bed can be converted to become two twin beds. This bunk bed has more than 2,500 5-star reviews on Amazon, including one that said, “I am so pleasantly surprised by these bunk beds. They are incredibly sturdy. I was worried they’d be wobbly or feel cheaply made but they are honestly better than beds I’ve spent double or triple on. They’re very easy to assemble, but it is definitely a 2- to 3-person job.”

Made from solid pine and painted with a non-toxic finish, this bunk bed can be taken apart to become two separate twin-size beds, and includes 12” of storage space below the bottom bunk, too. This one has a lower weight capacity than some other models at 165 pounds, so it would be best for smaller kids.

With its open and airy design, this bunk bed telegraphs designer style at a very reasonable price. The brand recommends using an 8” thick mattress for the bottom bunk for extra comfort and a 6” thick mattress for the top bunk. The metal frame has secured slats and a built-in ladder, and online reviewers praise how easy it is to assemble. The 10 inches of storage below the bottom bunk provides a spot for toys, books, and games, too.

The built-in stairs of this bunk bed make it easier for kids to get in and out of the bed and for caretakers to change the sheets on the top bunk. The pine wood bunk bed includes shelves for storage and a trundle bed that looks like drawers under the bottom bunk, and the 63” tall bed can convert to two twin beds.