What Size Bed is Right for My Child?
For kids, it’s an impactful experience to get their own “grown-up” furniture – it’s a big event! But, as a parent, how do you know what type and bed size is right for your child? From twin toddler beds to triple bunk beds, from twin bed frames to queen size bed frames, your options are almost limitless. We've gathered our top tips and advice to help you select the right size bed for your child. Consult our fit and measurement guide for specific Maxtrix kids’ bed sizes and heights.
When determining what bed size will “fit” your child, consider your child’s current height standing and how tall he or she is likely to grow in the next year. Also, how well is your child able to climb? How secure is he or she maneuvering around furniture? Watching their behavior on an outdoor playground is often a good indication of how ready and confident they are likely to be when it comes to elevated furniture.
To get started, measure your child’s standing height (foot to the top of the head) and sitting height (seat surface to the top of the head) to get an idea what bed would be a good fit. Compare these to our bed height and headroom dimensions for low, mid, and high kids’ bunk beds and loft beds - see bed & child height guide.
Pre-K (Ages 1.5 - 4 years old)
When transitioning your child from crib to bed, a bed size that sits low to the ground is a great toddler bed option - think standard or classic twin size beds or full size beds or daybeds with a back guardrail. Optional front bedside rails – available in half or three-quarter lengths – are very popular to create extra safety. Our sturdy guardrails keep your kiddo safe and sound in their bed throughout the night.
The core Maxtrix twin bed is 30.75 inches tall from the floor to the very top of the bed. Like all Maxtrix beds, it is equipped with a solid wood slat base which is tested to hold up to 800 lbs. (so it easily holds multiple kids and adults). It measures 11.75 inches in height to the slat surface, so consider how tall a mattress you want to put on the slats to get to the total height from the floor. We recommend a quality low profile mattress (5 inches) for young children. So with a 5 inch mattress, the sleeping surface will be at a total height of 16.75 inches off the ground, making it the perfect first twin bed for toddler.
Does your kid love to play? Add a top tent to create a play area right in their bed. Our top tents are always the same height – 20.75 inches tall. These tents create a comfortable sleeping space that blocks out sound and light. Plus, they are super fun to play in too! They can easily be added onto any Maxtrix bed and removed when your kid gets older. You can also add a trundle bed for siblings or sleepover guests to sleep in. Remember that any Maxtrix bed size can be raised up to a low, medium, tall or extra tall loft bed or stacked into many different bunk bed configurations. If you’re unsure of whether your child is quite ready for a bunk or a loft, we recommend starting with a classic style like a standard bed so when the time is right you can easily convert to a taller bed.
Kindergarten through 3rd Grade (Ages 5 - 9 years old)
Ready to go higher? A low loft bed is very popular with the elementary school crowd. Kids who love to climb and are secure on outdoor playground equipment love low loft beds! Maxtrix low loft beds for kids measure 50.75 inches from the floor to the very top of the bed, allowing 33.5 inches in under-bed height (measured floor to the bottom of the slats). These beds are perfect for kids measuring 40 inches and taller. Shop our low lofts and discover a bed your elementary schooler will love.
While some kids won’t be able to stand under these low lofts, they comfortably accommodate the sitting height of an average elementary school aged child. The top ladder rung for the straight ladder is 30 inches high, making it easy to reach for kids 40 inches tall.
The sleeping surface – assuming a 5-inch mattress – is a total height of 38.75 inches off the ground. You can get this bed with 3 different entries – a straight ladder, an angled ladder, or a staircase. If your child may need a little extra help getting into their elevated bed, we recommend choosing a low loft bed with stairs, as it gives kids the easiest pathway to their bed.
A mid loft is a great option for taller kids - measuring at 61.5 inches in total height and 44.25 inches in under bed height. They are great for kids 50 inches and taller. Older kids have lots of toys, so many parents opt for additional storage under the loft bed to create extra space in smaller kids’ rooms. Shop mid loft beds for the best loft bed option for your elementary kid who has lots of toys.
4th Grade through Middle School (Ages 9 - 12 years old)
This is the time for growth spurts! High loft beds or tall bunk beds are popular bed size choices for kids measuring 50 inches and taller. Shop high lofts to easily accommodate your growing kiddo.
Consider under bed headroom if you are planning to add desks, or create a lounge area for your kids (consult our storage and desk fit/measurement guide.) A high loft will give you 52.5 inches. Ceiling height is also an important consideration. High Lofts work well in rooms with 8-foot ceilings or taller, although we recommend a low profile mattress (5 inches) to maximize headroom on the top bed.
The height from floor to the top of the slat roll for a high loft bed frame is 54 inches. Add to that the mattress thickness of 5 inches, and you have a sleeping surface height of 59 inches off the ground. So for rooms with 8-foot ceilings, that leaves 37 inches in sleeping and sitting surface. Check your child’s sitting height to make sure you have enough headroom left and you pick the right height mattress.
7th Grade and Beyond (Ages 12 & Up)
Looking to maximize the amount of space under your loft bed? Then an uber loft bed is the perfect choice. Ideal for teens and kids 12 and up, this loft bed offers plenty of room to create a study bed space or gaming spot underneath while opening up your room for other furniture. It's even tall enough for most adults to stand comfortably underneath.
When shopping for an uber loft bed, it's also important to consider the ceiling height in your room. With its extra tall height, this type of high loft bed requires at least 97.86 inches between the floor and ceiling for assembly. With a kids’ loft bed this high, we've made safety an extra priority. Two cross bars on three sides offer additional stability, while our industry leading 16-inch guardrails provide unmatched sleep security. Uber lofts are available in a few different styles - shop the full collection.
Bed Size: Low, Mid, and Tall Bunk Beds
The same ceiling height considerations hold true for bunk beds, which we offer in three different bed heights. The top bunk for our low profile bunk bed measures 45 inches to the top of the top bunk slat roll. Add to that the mattress thickness of 5 inches, and you have a sleeping surface height of 50 inches off the ground for the top bunk. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, that leaves 46 inches of room for sleeping and sitting up. Under bed height measures 32.25 inches to the top of the slat roll, so if you add a 5-inch mattress, you are left with 27.25 inches of headroom between top and lower bunk. Shop Maxtrix low bunk beds, the perfect low ceiling bunk beds for kids.
The top bunk for our medium bunk bed measures 50 inches to the top of the top bunk slat roll. Add to that the mattress thickness of 5 inches, and you have a sleeping surface height of 55 inches off the ground for the top bunk. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, that leaves 41 inches of room for sleeping and sitting up. Under bed height measures 37 inches to the top of the slat roll, so if you add a 5-inch mattress, you are left with 32 inches of headroom. Shop medium bunk beds for the perfect in-between bunk bed height.
The top bunk for our tall bunk beds measure 54.5 inches to the top of the top bunk slat roll. Add to that the mattress thickness of 5 inches, and you have a sleeping surface height of 59.5 inches off the ground for the top bunk. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, that leaves 36.5 inches of room for sleeping and sitting up. Under bed height measures 41.75 inches to the top of the slat roll, so if you add a 5-inch mattress, you are left with 36.75 inches of headroom. Shop high bunk beds that leave lots of room to sit up on the bottom bunk and for underbed storage.
Make Your Bed Size Selection
Using these dimensions above, we hope you can find the best bunk bed, loft bed, or kids’ bed for your child’s needs. And the great news is that with Maxtrix you can change your Maxtrix bed over time, so you're not "stuck" with the same look forever! Think of it like a Lego brick - you can build and re-build your perfect bed setup all the way from toddler to college. If you still have questions or want input about your space, we'd love to help. Simply use our online chat tool or contact our design team!
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