Toddler bunk bed plans

This step by step diy article is about toddler bunk bed plans. Building a toddler bunk bed is a nice way to save some space. Although there are many designs you could choose from, in this article we will show you all you have to know about making a classic bulk bed out of common materials. If you have worked with lumber before, the carpentry techniques should be familiar to you.

Buy quality lumber, made for building lumber, if you want to get a durable bed. Nevertheless, you could save some money if you purchase lumber with knots, which could even enhance the look of project, giving it a rustic appearance. Select the slats with great attention, checking if they are in a good condition (the lumber has to be straight and without chips, dents or cracks).

Always aligned the components before locking them together with screws. In addition, we recommend you to pre-drill the lumber, otherwise the wood might easily split. Add glue to the joints, if you want to enhance their bond. On the other hand, you could make the headboard and the support slats a little wider than in the plans (about 1 1/2” wider), as a standard 36” wide mattress might not fit inside the frame easily. The rest of the components should be cut the exact same dimensions as in the plans. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Toddler bunk bed plans

Building a toddler bunk bed

Materials

• A – 5 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 63 1/2” long LEGS
• B – 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 29 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 52″ long 2xFRAME
• C – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 52” long CLEATS
• D – 11 piece of 1×4 lumber – 28” long SLATS
• E – 4 piece of 1×4 lumber – 29 1/2” long, 2 pieces – 50 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 37″ long GUARD RAILS
• F – 1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 53 1/2” long, 2 pieces – 32 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 40″ long TRIMS
• G – 5 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 12″ long STEPS

• 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 10 ft
• 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 12 ft
• 10 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 2 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 8 ft
• mattress
• 2 1/2″ screws
• 1 1/4″ screws
• glue
• stain

Tools

• Safety gloves, glasses
• Miter saw, jigsaw
• Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
• Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

• Pre-drill holes in the wooden components, before driving in the screws
• Smooth the exposed edges, by using a router with a 1/4” bit

Time

• One day

Related

• How to build a toddler bed
• How to build a storage bed frame
• How to build a crib

Building a toddler bunk bed

Building the bed frames

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the bed frames. In order to get a professional result, we recommend you to drill pocket holes at both ends of the long components and to insert 1 1/4″ screws into the perpendicular components. Add waterproof glue to the joints and check if the corners are square.

Fitting the cleats

Next, attach the 2×2 cleats to the bed frame, as described in the diagram. Drill pilot holes through the cleats and insert 2″ screws into the bed frame. Place a spirit level on top of the cleats to check if they are perfectly horizontal.

Fitting the support slats

Place the supports slats to the cleats and secure them into place using 1 1/4″ screws. Place the slats equally-spaced in order to distribute the weight in a properly.

Building the frame of the bed

The next step of the project is to build the frame of the toddler bunk bed. Drill pilot holes through the legs and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the bed frames. Check if the corners are square and add waterproof glue to the joints in order to get a rigid structure. Plumb the legs and check if the bed frames are perfectly horizontal.

Fitting the guard rails

Attaching the 1×4 guard rails to the bed frame is one of the last steps of the project. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the slats and secure them to the legs using 1 1/4″ screws. Place the slats equally-spaced in order to get a professional result.

Fitting the trims

If you want to enhance the appearance of the toddler bunk bed, we recommend you to fit 1×2 trims to the top of the guard rails. Secure the trims into place using 1 1/4″ finishing nails and glue.

Attaching the steps

Cut the steps out of 2×2 lumber and fit them between the supports. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the supports and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the supports. Make sure the corners are square and add glue to the joints.

Toddler bunk bed plans

Last but not least, you need to take care of the final touches. Therefore, you need fill all the holes with a good filler and let the compound to dry out properly, before sanding the wooden surface with 120-grit sandpaper.

Thank you for reading our article about bunk bed plans and we recommend you to check out the rest of our home improvement projects. Don’t forget to LIKE and SHARE this projects to your friends, using the social media widgets, if you’ve found it useful.