Choosing between a loft bed and a bunk bed comes down to two questions: how many children need to sleep in the room, and what else the room has to do. A bunk bed sleeps two children in the footprint of one bed. A loft bed, which in the UK is usually called a high sleeper, sleeps one and frees the whole floor underneath for a desk, a wardrobe or a sofa bed.
On this page
Loft bed and bunk bed, side by side
Sleeps one
Loft bed (high sleeper)
One raised bed with the whole space underneath free. That space can take a desk, a wardrobe, a sofa bed for sleepovers, or a play den that later becomes a study area.
Best for one child in a small room who needs the floor space for something else.
Browse high sleeper beds
Sleeps two, or three with a trundle
Bunk bed
Two beds stacked in the footprint of one, with a ladder or stairs and a guard rail around the top bunk. Many add drawers, a wardrobe or a pull-out trundle underneath.
Best for two children sharing a room, or regular sleepovers.
Browse bunk beds
| Loft bed / high sleeper | Bunk bed | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | One | Two, or three with a trundle |
| Underneath | Desk, wardrobe, sofa bed or play space | A second bed, often with drawers or a trundle |
| Height | Higher, to fit furniture underneath | Top bunk usually a little lower |
| Age for the raised bed | 6 and over | 6 and over for the top bunk; the bottom bunk has no such limit |
| Changes over time | Play space, then study area, then gaming or seating | Detachable bunks split into two single beds |
| Best for | One child who needs the floor space | Two children sharing |
Age and safety come first
The raised sleeping area of a loft bed, a mid sleeper, and the top bunk of a bunk bed are for children aged 6 and over. That's the guidance in BS EN 747, the British and European standard for bunk beds and raised beds, which also covers guard rails, gap sizes, ladders and strength.
Under 6, choose a floor-level bed, a low cabin bed or the bottom bunk. The bottom bunk has no age restriction, which is why a bunk bed works well for siblings of different ages.
Before buying any raised bed, check:
- Guard rails on all open sides of the raised bed.
- The maximum mattress depth, usually 15 or 16cm. The guard rail has to sit a set height above the mattress, and most high-street mattresses are 20cm or deeper. Our bunk bed mattresses are made at 15cm for this reason.
- A sturdy ladder or stairs, securely fixed, with the floor around it kept clear.
- Your child's sleep habits. If they sleepwalk, or have difficulties with balance or coordination, wait before choosing a raised bed.
Every raised bed's product page states its maximum mattress depth. We ask our manufacturers to confirm the safety standards their beds are made to, and only state that a bed meets BS EN 747 where we hold that confirmation. There's more on our safety advice page.
Room size and ceiling height
Headroom is the measurement that rules out raised beds most often. Measure from where the top of the mattress will be up to the ceiling, directly above where the bed will stand: a younger child needs roughly 70cm to sit up comfortably, and a teenager 80 to 90cm. A loft bed usually sits higher than a top bunk, so it needs more ceiling. Older houses often have uneven ceilings, so measure in the exact spot.
If headroom is tight, the Mini Highsleeper puts the platform around 30cm lower than a standard high sleeper, and a low bunk does the same for two children. Leave clear floor at the foot of the ladder, and keep the bed away from opening windows and light fittings.
An example. In a 2 x 3m box room, a loft bed with a desk underneath leaves the opposite wall free for a wardrobe or drawers. A bunk bed in the same room gives you two beds, but less floor. For one child, the loft bed makes more of the room; for two, the bunk bed is the only realistic option.
Storage, study and play
Under a loft bed: a desk for homework or gaming, a wardrobe and shelves, or a sofa bed that doubles as somewhere to sit and a spare bed. The Highgate fits a desk and a full-height wardrobe, and the Windsor pairs a desk with a sofa bed.
On a bunk bed: drawers under the bottom bunk, a pull-out trundle for a third child or sleepovers, or storage built into stairs. The Belgravia builds in a wardrobe and drawers, and the Easy staircase bunk has storage steps and a trundle.
Open space under a loft bed suits a child whose needs will change: a 7-year-old's play den becomes a 13-year-old's desk.
Where a mid sleeper fits in
A mid sleeper sits lower than a loft bed, with room underneath for drawers, shelves or a pull-out desk rather than full-height furniture. It's easier to climb and less imposing in a small room, but it's a raised bed too, so it's also for children aged 6 and over. Our guide to cabin beds and mid sleepers explains the heights.
How to decide
- Two children sleep in the room every night? A bunk bed. For three, look at a triple sleeper or a bunk with a trundle.
- One child who needs a desk, wardrobe or seating? A loft bed.
- One child plus regular sleepovers? A loft bed with a sofa bed underneath, or a guest bed with a trundle.
- Under 6? A floor-level bed or low cabin bed for now, or the bottom bunk.
- Thinking ahead? A detachable bunk splits into two single beds later, and a loft bed's space underneath changes with them.
For more detail, see our guides to the types of high sleeper and the bunk bed buying guide.
Common questions
Is a loft bed the same as a high sleeper?
In practice, yes. Loft bed is the more common term in the US; in the UK the same bed is usually called a high sleeper.
What age is a loft bed or top bunk suitable for?
Six and over, in line with BS EN 747. The bottom bunk of a bunk bed has no such restriction.
Which saves more space?
For one child, a loft bed, because the whole floor under the bed becomes usable. For two children, a bunk bed, because it fits two beds into one footprint.
What ceiling height do I need?
Measure from the top of the mattress to the ceiling. A younger child needs roughly 70cm of headroom to sit up comfortably, and a teenager 80 to 90cm. A loft bed usually needs more ceiling than a bunk bed.
What mattress does a loft bed or bunk bed need?
Usually a UK single, 90 x 190cm, no deeper than the bed's stated maximum, typically 15 or 16cm on the raised bed.
Can a bunk bed be split later?
Detachable bunk beds can be separated into two single beds when the children want their own rooms.