How to Build Metal Bunk Beds

Metal bunk beds are lightweight and available in many colors and styles. You can make traditional twin-over-twin bunk beds from metal if you have basic tools and about a day to devote to the project.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Four 41 1/2-inch pre-drilled heavy-gauge metal bars
• Four 78-inch pre-drilled heavy-gauge metal bars
• 3-inch screws
• Power drill
• Four 38 1/2-inch mattress frame supports
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Four 49 3/4-inch metal bedposts
• 1 3/4-inch rib neck carriage bolts
• Channel lock pliers
• Wrench
• Two 78-inch metal bed guardrails
• Two 57 3/4-inch metal posts
• Five 15-inch step rungs

1. Buy precut metal materials, or cut them yourself. Drill screw holes in the metal at the appropriate locations. Construct the bed in the bedroom so you don't have to move it after you build it.

2. Place a 41 1/2-inch metal bar at each end of two 78-inch bars. Screw these together to create a rectangle bed frame. Screw the mattress supports length-wise inside the bed frame rectangles 4 inches from each end two supports in the middle of the frame for added support. Repeat this step to make the second rectangle twin-bed frame.

3. Mark the four corners of the bed frames at 12 inches for the bottom bunk and 48 inches up from the bottom for the top bunk. Use measuring tape to make sure everything is even. Connect the 49 3/4-inch bedposts to the bed frames at the corner marks with rib neck carriage bolts. Put the bolt in the pre-drilled hole. Twist the nut onto the bolt and hold the nut in place with the channel lock pliers while tightening the bolt with a wrench.

4. Prepare to connect the guardrails on the top bunk by marking the corner posts at 55 3/4 inches and 61 3/5 inches. Screw the guardrails to each corner post end. Make sure the guardrail is at least 5 inches above the mattress for safety, but also make sure any openings in the bunk beds are small enough to avoid any body parts from slipping through.

5. Build the ladder with two 57 3/4-inch metal posts and screw five rungs 12 inches apart between the posts. Attach the ladder firmly to the bed's top edge using carriage bolts.

6. Add the mattress and bedding to finish the metal bunk bed. Continue maintenance through the years by checking that screws and bolts are still tight.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the carriage bolts are long enough to go through all the material.
• Don't use tubular metal for your metal bunk bed because it's not sturdy enough, which creates safety concerns.
• Children under 6 shouldn't sleep on the top bunk of any bunk bed.