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Two no-joinery twin bed frames stacked and bolted footboard-to-headboard, plus a guardrail and a compound-angle ladder — and the whole thing splits back into two twin beds later.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headboard legs Two per bed, two beds. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 37" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard legs | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 12 1/2" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard legs, front | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side rails Two per bed. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 72" | 2x6 | ☐ |
| Headboard and footboard rails | 4 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 39" | 2x6 | ☐ |
| Headboard top cap One per bed. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 40" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard back cleats Estimated to clear the top cap — trim to fit your assembled legs. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 34" | 2x2 | ☐ |
| Slat cleats | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 72" | 2x2 | ☐ |
| Headboard paneling Five per bed. | 10 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 36" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Bed slats Ten per bed. | 20 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 36" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Guardrail rails Lengthen for a wider bed if needed. | 3 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 44 3/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Guardrail outer posts | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Guardrail spacers | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 2 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Guardrail inner posts | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 10 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Ladder sides Ends cut at 30° and 60°, per the lean angle against the bunk. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 58 3/4" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Ladder treads | 6 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 18" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 2x4, 8 ft Legs and headboard caps for both beds. | 4 each | ☐ |
| 2x6, stud length or 8 ft Side rails and headboard/footboard rails for both beds. | 4 each | ☐ |
| 2x2, 8 ft Slat cleats and headboard back cleats for both beds. | 6 each | ☐ |
| 1x6, 10 ft Headboard paneling for both beds. | 6 each | ☐ |
| 1x4, 10 ft Slats for both beds. | 6 each | ☐ |
| 1x3, 8 ft Guardrail rails and posts. | 3 each | ☐ |
| 1x2, 8 ft Guardrail spacers. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 2x4, 8 ft (ladder) Ladder sides and treads. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping screws, #9 x 4", star drive The bunk-to-bunk join — three per leg, predrilled. | 12 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2", star drive Main assembly for both bed frames. | 140 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-3/4", star drive Paneling and slats for both beds. | 100 each | ☐ |
| Nails, 1-1/4" and 2" Guardrail assembly. | 60 each | ☐ |
| Screws, 3", for ladder treads | 12 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, 2x6, stud length or 8 ft, 2x2, 8 ft, 1x6, 10 ft, Self-tapping screws, #9 x 2-1/2", star drive, Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-3/4", star drive, Wood glue
Build two complete twin bed frames following the Simple Build Bed Frame construction: leg-and-side-rail assemblies built as mirror pairs, headboard and footboard rails joining them, a 2x4 cap across the headboard top, 1x6 paneling screwed on from behind, and 2x2 slat cleats along the inside of the side rails.
The one difference for a bunk conversion: build BOTH beds identically, since one becomes the bottom bunk and one the top.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Self-tapping screws, #9 x 4", star drive
Orient both bed frames so their FOOTBOARD end points up and their HEADBOARD end sits at the floor. Attach the bottom bunk's headboard to the legs of the bottom bunk using three 4" screws per leg, predrilled.
Stack the top bunk on the bottom bunk and screw through the top of the bottom bunk's header into the top bunk's headboard, again predrilling and countersinking every hole — this single joint is carrying the full weight of the top bunk. For each leg, drive an additional screw at a slight angle from the top of the header into the leg for real mechanical grip. Built this way, the two beds can be unscrewed apart later and used as two separate twin beds.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, 1x2, 8 ft, Nails, 1-1/4" and 2", Wood glue
Attach the top rail, a spacer, the middle rail, another spacer, and the bottom rail to the outer posts, keeping the top rail flush with the top of the outer posts. Use 1-1/4" nails and glue, nailing from the inside into the inside edge of the outer posts, with the end edges kept flush. Check the assembly for square before moving on.
| Stain or paint | 2 qt | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Adjust the guardrail's overall length longer if your bed is wider than this cut list assumes.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Nails, 1-1/4" and 2", Wood glue
Attach the inner post to the guardrail, keeping outside edges flush, with 2" nails and glue. Mount the finished guardrail to the top bunk's side rail.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft (ladder), Screws, 3", for ladder treads
Screw the treads into the two ladder sides, two 3" screws per tread per side, predrilled and countersunk. Widen the ladder if it needs to match a wider bed.
Attach the finished ladder to the bunk bed by predrilling and screwing through the top of the ladder sides into the side rails of the top bunk.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x4, 10 ft, Self-tapping screws, #8 x 1-3/4", star drive, Stain or paint
Lay the slats for both bunks on their respective cleats and screw down with the 1-3/4" screws. Sand and finish the whole assembly before the mattresses go in.