How to Make Your Own Bunk Bed

Building a bunk bed might seem like a daunting task. Indeed, a cheap bunk bed usually goes for $160, which, of course, is made to quickly decay. However, building a bunk bed is much cheaper, will be stronger and can be finished in a weekend. This article is just a template. The bunk bed can be customized in any number of ways after you understand the basic format.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2-by-4s
• 2-by-6s
• Drill
• Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Measuring tape
• Nails
• Carriage bolts
• Miter saw
• Plainer (for cutting the support posts)

To Make the Frame

1. Cut two 2-by-6 planks to be 6.5 feet (78 inches) in length and two planks to be about 3.5 feet in length (41.5 inches). Make a "box" with the wood. Cut four more 2-by-6 planks to be about 3.5 feet in length (41.5 inches) to be used as support for the mattress. Screw one plank 3 inches from the head of the bed, and screw one 3 inches from the foot of the bed. Screw the other planks 25 inches from the foot and 48 inches from the foot, respectively. Repeat for the bottom bunk.

2. Cut four support beams to be at least 65 inches tall and 2 inches thick. Using a carriage bolt, screw the boxes horizontally to the support beams--one beam for each corner. The bottom bunk should be about 1 foot from the ground, and the top should be about 4 feet from the ground.

3. Cut 2-by-4s to be the same dimensions of the box (cut twice as many 78-inch-long 2-by-4s). Screw the 41.5-inch-length planks onto the support beams about 1 foot from the top of the box. Screw the 78-inch-long planks onto the support beams. There will be two 78-inch-long planks on each side. The bottom planks should be fastened 6 inches from the top of the box, and the top planks should be fastened 6 inches from those planks.

To Make the Ladder

4. Cut two 2-by-4s 57.75 inches in length. Saw an angle--about 20 degrees--at the top and bottom of each plank. This will be so the ladder leans in, making climbing up easier and safer. Screw them onto one side of the bed about 14.5 inches apart. Cut four 2-by-4s to be 14.5 inches long, and screw them so that they're perpendicular to the ladder frame. They should be set about 1 foot apart.

5. At the top of the ladder, install hooks to attach onto the top of the box. Screw these in.

6. Sand smooth and finish.

Tips & Warnings

• If the bedroom has hardwood floors, put some padding on the bottom of each post and the ladder to avoid scuffing up the floor. Cut the pieces of wood in the workshop, but assemble the bed inside the room where it will be used to avoid troubles with transport and installation. If the bed seems flimsy, add a few more guard rails in the middle and bottom of the bed.
• Measure twice, cut once! As with all factions in woodworking, take utmost care when cutting the wood.

References

• How to build bunk beds