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By the time I graduated from high school, I was 6’2″ and weighed over 250 pounds.
My mom had long since given up on buying me kid or teen items (thankfully) and had been buying me men’s clothes since middle school. So when it came to beds, things were no different. I wasn’t too old for a bunk bed (I still don’t think I am), but finding a queen bunk bed for adults was a challenge.
Especially when I had a “big younger brother” which meant that we needed a sturdy queen-over-queen bunk bed.
It took a while and quite a bit of searching, but we finally stumbled upon a niche of heavy-duty bunks beds with high-weight capacity frames!
Now, whether or not you have a super-sized teen, there are many reasons why adults might want a queen-sized bunk bed:
- It doubles the sleeping capacity of your guest room.
- It adds an extra level of usefulness if you own a rental, Airbnb, guest house, etc.
- You have heavy kids or kids that are particularly rambunctious. If your top-bunker is the type to jump on his/her bed…you better have a heavy-duty bunk bed!
- You want a bunk bed that will last a long time and still looks great.
- And last but not least….they are awesome and fun to sleep in!
Now, if you’re in a hurry, this is the quick table version of the best queen bunk beds for adults with all the important information. There is a lot more good information if you have the time to scroll, but if not, here you go! You can’t really go wrong with any of these options!
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How To Choose A Heavy-Duty Bunk Bed For Adults
When it comes to choosing a heavy-duty bunk bed, there are some concessions you will probably have to make. This is mainly because, since you want something quite specific, the options on the market are quite limited. There are lots of sturdy adult bunk beds, kids’ queen beds, triple-decker bunk beds, etc., but if you want a queen bunk bed that will also fit adults, you can’t be too choosy.
After all, bunk beds with high weight capacity hardware are expensive both to make and buy. This is especially true of queen over queen bunk beds as there is much more space to support them. Luckily, there are a couple of guidelines that will point us in the right direction:
Avoid Bunk Beds With Curvy or Sweeping Bars.
For a bunk bed frame to be strong enough to support grown-ups (or anybody over 200lbs,) it has to be made out of straight lines. At least, mostly. Straight up and down bars at each corner transfer the force straight to the ground and will give your bed the best chance of holding up to whatever you throw at it.
Choose Metal Frames Over Wood
Wood is beautiful and I have a good amount of it in my home (and by “home,” I mean basement apartment). However, if you want a double-decker bed that will support more than a small kid and a puppy, then you should be looking at all-steel beds. There is a place for beautiful modular wooden bunk beds, but if you’re an adult, that place is not under you while you sleep.
With those two guidelines, we can narrow the market drastically and find only a dozen beds that are worth our time. Now, the best thing that we can go off of is the manufacturer’s recommended maximum weight capacity. Why didn’t we just look at that first?
Well, because it’s not perfectly reliable.
Take The Weight Rating With A Grain Of Salt
There is no industry standard for how this capacity is measured, so it’s best to take it as a general guideline. A good rule of thumb is to try and overshoot the max weight you will need by 50-100 pounds.
So let’s look at some of the best queen bunk beds for adults! Starting with the one that I sleep on every time I visit my parents:
Best Queen Over Queen Bunk Bed For Adults
When I first started researching this article, I read what several other people had to say on the subject. One of the main articles that I read was actually on a site that recommended products specifically for big and heavy people. In their article “The Best Bunk Beds for Heavy Adults” they said…don’t buy a bunk bed. They are sketchy and not strong enough. Well, apparently they only did some googling and searching on Amazon without actually testing their beds! There are tons of bunk beds with high weight capacities!
A bunk bed from Francis Lofts & Bunks will put to rest all the naysayers who believe that bunk beds are not strong enough for adults, let alone obese couples. The queen-size version will hold a total of 2,000 pounds split evenly between the two beds.
While the styling is a bit more commercial than the decorations in my house, it is basic enough that I would not hesitate to add it to any room. It is one of the very few bunk beds that could support an obese couple (or two in this case), as most similar bunks top out at 4-500 pounds.
The very heart of any bed is – you guessed it – the frame. While many bunk beds are made from wood (and hold less weight because of it), this one is made out of super-strong and corrosion-resistant aluminum. Not only will it hold a great deal of weight, but it will still look great for years to come!
While this is the most expensive bed we recommend (by a significant margin), it is, without a doubt, the best. If you are not hindered by a small budget, this one will perform the job better and longer than any other adult bunk bed that you can get your hands on. After all, you get what you pay for!
High-Quality Bunk Bed For Adults on a Budget
If you want a high-quality (and good-looking) bunk bed with a high weight capacity but are unable or unwilling to drop a bunch of money on one, Pemberly has you covered. While their beds are typically capable of supporting only single sleepers (or below-average-sized couples) on top, they are a great way to add extra space to your home or guest room without a large investment.
The Second Most Heavy Duty Queen Bunk Bed for Adults
If the boxy industrial looks don’t bother you, this is an excellent choice. If I was placing a bunk bed in my own guest room/guest house/etc., it would be this one. It is cheap enough that I could buy it and not worry about how I’m going to eat for the next month, as well as holding sufficient weight to support two heavy adults.
High Capacity Bunk Beds for Adults FAQs
Do I need a box spring for my bunk bed?
Probably not. High-quality bunk beds, especially queen bunk beds for adult weights, are typically made with sufficient slats and support that a box spring is unnecessary. The main function of a box spring is to provide a flat and stable base for a mattress to sit on. If you get too tall of a box spring, you reduce the area available in the bottom bunk (and between the top bunk and the ceiling), so if you feel the need for more support, you can stick a piece of plywood under your mattress.
Do bunk beds require a special mattress?
While you don’t need a bunk-bed-specific mattress, I typically recommend that you find a mattress on the thinner side so as to give whoever is sleeping on it the maximum amount of space above their head. A 10-12″ mattress provides the best comfort and bang for your buck.
Are adult bunk beds stable enough for…certain activities?
Probably. When it comes down to it, any type of activity on the bed (jumping, for example) is fine as long as you do not exceed the weight limit. Our #1 recommendation is also a very silent option so you won’t have any squeaks or groans.
Are bunk beds safe for big and heavy people?
Of course, they are! Bunk beds, like all bed frames, have weight capacities – and as long as you respect them, they will be a comfortable and safe sleeping spot. If you are beyond the capacity of the beds we suggested here, you might have more luck with our new article Bed Frames that Hold Over 3,000 pounds.
In conclusion…
What are you waiting for? Get out there and get yourself a queen bunk bed with a high weight capacity! Whether you are an adult looking for a sleeping spot or an adult looking for the best possible bed for your kids, you have found it here. Don’t wait!
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