beds for kids

What Size Bed is Right for My Child?

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? With standard beds to triple bunks and twin to queen sizes, 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 bed sizes and heights. 

When determining what bed size will “fit” your child, consider your child’s current height standing and how tall he/she is likely to grow in the next year. Also, how well is your child able to climb? How secure is he/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. child playing on ladder of loft bedTo 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 beds - see bed & child height guide.what size bed is right for your child - low mid tall heights

Pre K (Ages 1.5 – 4 years old) Beds

When transitioning your child from crib to bed, a bed size that sits low to the ground is a great option - think standard or classic twin size beds or full size beds or daybeds with a back guardrail. Optional front bedside rails - available in 1/2 or 3/4 lengths - are very popular to create extra safety. Avoid falling out of bed with those sturdy rails! guardrail for twin bedThe core Maxtrix twin bed is 30.75” (78cm) 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 3/4 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”) for young children. So with a 5” mattress, the sleeping surface will be at a total height of 16 3/4 off the ground. 5" low profile mattress for kids safetyLove to play? Add a top tent to create a play-area right on top of the bed frame. Our top tents are always the same height – 20 3/4 inches tall. Create a comfortable sleeping space that blocks out sound and light. And, they are super fun to play in too! They can easily be added on to any Maxtrix bed and removed later. Add a trundle bed for a second guest to sleep! Remember that any Maxtrix bed size can be raised up to low, medium, tall or extra tall loft bed or stacked into many different bunk configurations. If in doubt 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. toddler bed with top tent twin bed for boys girls

Daybed

$769.00
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K-3 (Ages 6 – 9):

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! Low Loft beds measure 50.75” (129cm) from the floor to the very top of the bed, allowing 33.5” (85cm) in under-bed height (measured floor to the bottom of the slats). These beds are perfect for kids measuring 40 inches and taller. shop low lofts 

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” tall. low loft dimensions for kids
The sleeping surface – assuming a 5” mattress – is a total height of 38.75" off the ground. You can get this bed with 3 different entries – straight ladder, angled ladder or staircase. We recommend the staircase for the safest way to climb into any elevated bed. shop low lofts with stairslow loft bed with stairs for younger kids

A Mid Loft is a great option for taller kids - measuring at 61.5” (156cm) inches in total height and 44.25” (112cm) in under bed height. They are great for kids 50” 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 Loftsmid loft dimensionsmid loft bed boys girls kids

4th Grade through Middle School:

This is the time for growth spurts! High Lofts or Tall Bunk Beds are popular bed size choices for kids measuring 50” and taller. shop High Loftshigh loft dimensionsConsider 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”, an ultra high loft will give you a full 58”. Ceiling height is also an important consideration. High Lofts work well in rooms with 8 foot ceilings, although we recommend a low profile mattress (5”) to maximize headroom on the top bed. 

The height from floor to the top of the slat roll for a high Loft is 54 inches. Add to that the mattress thickness of 5”, 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.tall loft bed

7th Grade and Beyond (Ages 12 & Up):

Looking to maximize the most amount of space under your loft bed? Then an Uber Loft Bed is the perfect choice. Ideal for kids at least 12 years old and teens, this loft bed for kids 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" 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 collectionultra high loft bed for teens

Bed Size: Low, Mid and Tall Bunk Beds

The same ceiling height considerations hold true for Bunks Beds, which we offer in 3 different bed size heights. The top bunk for our LOW bunk bed measures 45 inches to the top of the top bunk slat roll. Add to that the mattress thickness of 5”, 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 in sleeping and sitting surface. Under bed height measures 32.25” to the top of the slat roll, so if you add a 5” mattress you are left with 27.25” of headroom between top and lower bunk. shop Low Bunkslow bunk bed measurements

low twin bunk bed boys room

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”, 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 in sleeping and sitting surface. Under bed height measures 37” to the top of the slat roll, so if you add a 5” mattress you are left with 32” of headroom. shop Medium Bunks medium bunk bed heightmedium bunk bed height kids room[productgallery handle="twin-medium-bunk-bed twin-medium-bunk-bed-stairs medium-twin-over-full-bunk-bed-stairs-slide"]

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”, 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 in sleeping and sitting surface. Under bed height measures 41.75” to the top of the slat roll, so if you add a 5” mattress you are left with 36.75” of headroom. shop High Bunkshigh bunk bed heightsqueen high bunk beds[productgallery handle="high-twin-xl-over-queen-bunk-bed-with-stairs twin-high-bunk-bed"]

Make Your Bed Size Selection

Using these dimensions above, we hope you are able to determine what bed size is right for your child. 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!custom kids beds design team

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