If you manage a vacation rental, guesthouse, or cabin property, adding bunk beds is a smart, space-saving way to accommodate more guests — and increase your rental income. They are especially popular for family getaways and group stays. Like any piece of furniture, bunk beds require thoughtful setup and proper installation to ensure your guests stay safe and comfortable.
At ICON Bunks, we create luxury, all hard wood bunk beds right here in the United States that are designed to give your guests comfort and safety year after year. Here are the top 5 bunk bed safety concerns you should be aware of in your vacation rental or guest space — and how to prevent avoidable issues.
1. Missing or Inadequate Guardrails
Even in adult-use or mixed-age vacation rentals, falls from the top bunk are a leading risk. Every top bunk should have properly secured guardrails on all sides. A fall from even a low-height bunk can cause serious injury. Some bunk beds only have rails on one side, ICON Bunks have solid safety rails on all four (4) sides to ensure peace of mind for you and your guests.
Safety Tip: Make sure your bunk beds have guardrails with no more than a 3.5-inch gap between the mattress and the rail and your safety rail is 5” or higher than the top of the mattress.
2. Insecure or Flimsy Ladders
An unstable or poorly designed ladder can be dangerous for guests — especially in low lighting. “When choosing a bunk bed look for one with a solid, attached ladder that’s easy to grip with a hand hold,” says Nick Massey CSO of Proper Insurance, which is the largest insurer of vacation rentals. “The bunk bed ladder should ideally have wide treads for stability and comfort. Avoid ‘ship ladders’ or alternating steps. If the bunk bed design has stairs/steps instead of a ladder, make sure a continuous and graspable handrail runs the full length of the steps. This will not only promote safe usage for all ages, but also make house keeping’s job easier when it comes to making beds between guests.”
Safety Tip: Consider adding a small wall-mounted night light nearby the ladder to help guests safely navigate at night.
3. Incorrect Mattress Size and Thickness
To keep the top bunk safe, the mattress needs to fit snugly within the frame and stay low enough that the guardrails are 5” taller than the top of the mattress. A mattress that’s too thick can negate the safety of even the best guard rails. We have designed ICON Bunks to allow mattresses up to 10” thick. Mattresses should be snug so there is no risk of entrapment in between the mattress and the bunk bed structure, but at the same time, they should have enough space around the mattress to easily make the beds and tuck in bedding. ICON Bunks took this into consideration and our bunks feature ¾ inch of tolerance all the way around.
Pro Tip: Let us help you with your bunk room mattresses. Our clients kept asking, so we listened and ICON Bunks now offers mattresses! These are made in the USA (just like our bunks) and we designed them to perfectly fit your ICON Bunk bed.
4. Rough Use and Overcapacity
Vacation rentals see more unpredictable use than private homes — from kids piling onto the top bunk to adults using them for extra sleeping space. When purchasing bunk beds for your vacation rental, it is important to source furniture that is built to withstand heavy use, maintain its appearance over time, and meet the comfort expectations of your guests. Look for bunk beds made from solid wood, precision joinery and durable finishes. Prioritizing bunk beds that are both stylishly designed and built to last is a smart investment for keeping your guests happy and your property in top shape.
Safety Tip: ICON Bunks are built from solid wood and can handle heavier loads and high-traffic use. Our bunks have been tested to over 1,500 lbs. Be clear in your house manual or guest instructions about appropriate use — no jumping or guests under 6 on the top bunk. ICON Bunks have a warning label on them with these instructions as well.
5. Poor Placement in the Room
“Remember most guests are here for the first time, so unfamiliar spaces might be tricky in low light or at night.” says Justin Ford who is a globally recognized expert in Short-Term Rental safety. “When you set up your bunk room in a vacation rental, be aware of ceiling fans, light fixtures, or windows - all of these can pose hazards in unfamiliar rental spaces. It is important to put yourself in your renters shoes, and think about entering this room and climbing up and down the bunk beds as a new guest to make sure there are no obstructions.”
Safety Tip: Leave ample clearance above the top bunk and between nearby walls or furniture, ensuring guests can safely sit up and climb down without injury. ICON Bunks were designed with the proper proportions and headspace to work with ceilings 8 feet or taller. When using a 10 inch mattress with an 8 ft ceiling, the top bunk would have 28.75 inches of headspace. Using an 8 inch mattress would provide 30.75 inches of headspace for the top bunk with an 8 ft ceiling.
Final Thoughts
Bunk beds are a fantastic way to add extra sleeping space in vacation rentals and guest rooms — but only if they’re safe, solid, and properly installed. At ICON Bunks, we specialize in building premium, hard wood bunk beds designed for the demands of vacation homes, rental cabins, and guest accommodations. We’ve been building bunk beds for over 20 years for some of the world’s most exclusive clients. With our quality construction and thoughtful design, you’ll offer your guests an experience in luxury and safety.
Ready to upgrade your vacation rental and maximize your ROI? Check out our bunk beds here to learn more about our handcrafted, Montana-built bunk beds.
Need safety tips for your entire vacation rental? Contact our friend and expert Justin Ford of Breezeway.
Looking for the best insurance for your vacation rental? Look no further than our Montana neighbors - Proper Insurance.
