What Is a Bunkie Board?

Originally developed for bunk beds, bunkie boards are thin pieces of wood or metal that go under your mattress to create more sturdiness or firmness. 

Bunkie boards sit on top of a bed frame or box spring and beneath the mattress. They can be used with a wide variety of mattresses and foundations. The bunkie board’s rigid surface prevents the mattress from sinking unevenly into empty spaces in the bed frame. In this way, a bunkie board can increase the stability of your mattress and may extend its lifespan.

We review how bunkie boards work, their benefits, and how to know whether a bunkie board is the right choice for your bed.

Benefits of Using a Bunkie Board

Adding a bunkie board to your bed is simple and affordable, and it can deliver several potential benefits. 

Extra Mattress Support

Placing a bunkie board between your mattress and bed frame or box spring can create a more stable base for your mattress that keeps it from sagging. This is especially helpful if you have a foam or latex mattress resting atop slats, a platform foundation, or a box spring. When weight is applied to these types of mattresses, they can press into the spaces between slats or springs. Adding a bunkie board prevents this from occurring, increasing overall stability while giving the mattress a more consistent and firmer feel from edge to edge.

Low Profile

Bunkie boards were originally designed to be placed underneath bunk beds and are engineered to boost support without significantly increasing bulk. Most bunkie boards are between 1 to 3 inches thick, so they add very little height to your bed. Even when a bunkie board is used on a top bunk, there should still be plenty of headroom. 

Less Costly

Because they’re thin and made from easily sourced materials, bunkie boards are generally quite affordable. By preventing excessive sagging, a bunkie board may help extend a mattress’s lifespan, which can end up saving you money over time.

Easy to Move

These thin boards are relatively light and easy to lift. That makes them simple to get to your home and install. If you move frequently or want an easily maneuverable setup for your bed, a bunkie board is a convenient option. 

Though they have many advantages, bunkie boards also have a few drawbacks that are important to consider. 

• Limited airflow: Since bunkie boards are made from solid material, there are no channels for air to move through, making them more likely to contribute to heat retention in your mattress. 
• Not appropriate for adjustable beds: Bunkie boards are rigid, so they are not compatible for use with an adjustable bed frame. 
• May affect your warranty: Certain mattress manufacturers state that their warranties are voided if you use your mattress with foundations that aren’t explicitly recommended or approved. Make sure to check the fine print of your mattress warranty before using a bunkie board. 
• May feel too stiff: A bunkie board adds an inflexible layer to your bed, which may change the feel of your mattress, especially if it is a thinner mattress. 

Bunkie Board vs. Box Spring

A box spring is a structured foundation for your mattress. Though not all designs are the same, box springs typically have a wooden frame, interior springs, and a fabric encasement. Traditionally, box springs were placed beneath innerspring mattresses to provide added support and weight distribution. 

The top of many box springs is designed to have some give in order to allow it to work in conjunction with a coil-based mattress. As a result, the surface of a box spring is not as stiff as a bunkie board. With their interior coils, box springs also provide significantly more bounce and flexibility. Box springs have an average height of about 9 inches, which is much taller than bunkie boards. 

Bunkie boards are a good option for people who want a stable layer beneath their mattress without adding too much height to their bed. Bunkie boards also usually come at a lower price-point than box springs. 

Keep in mind, though, that a bunkie board needs a frame or foundation to rest on and shouldn’t be placed directly on the floor. In fact, you don’t necessarily have to choose between a box spring and a bunkie board. You can use a box spring and place a bunkie board on top of it, which adds a degree of sturdiness and may extend the lifespan of your mattress. 

Bunkie Board Alternatives

Using a bunkie board is just one potential way to support your mattress. Other options are available with different benefits and drawbacks. Some of these alternatives are more affordable than a bunkie board, but not all options will save you money. 

Platform Bed

A platform bed serves as both the frame and foundation for your mattress. Although often as tall as a box spring, some platform beds have a low-profile design. Many platform beds provide a firm, flat surface for your mattress to rest on, allowing them to offer the rigid support of a bunkie board. Their cost can vary based on their construction and materials, but platform beds tend to have a higher price-point than bunkie boards.

Plywood

Instead of buying a pre-made bunkie board, you can use a sheet of plywood to get a similar result. However, you need to make sure that the plywood is thick enough to support your mattress without cracking. In addition, you should usually sand the top-facing side of the plywood to ensure that it doesn’t rip your mattress. When shopping, look for a moisture-resistant plywood in order to prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew from growing underneath your mattress.

Slats

When spaced appropriately, wooden slats can provide a consistent and supportive surface for many different types of mattresses. Slats can rest on a bed frame to create a solid base for your mattress. 

Look for information from your mattress manufacturer about whether your mattress is compatible with a foundation that uses slats and, if so, the proper amount of spacing between each slat. 

How to Choose a Bunkie Board

Before deciding on a bunkie board to purchase, there are a few important shopping considerations. Factoring each of these into your decision can help ensure that you get a bunkie board that works with both your mattress and your personal sleep preferences. 

Mattress Size

Think about the size and weight of your mattress before committing to a bunkie board. Make sure that your mattress is within the weight capacity of any bunkie board you are considering buying. 

If your mattress has a standard size, you should be able to easily find a bunkie board that matches its dimensions. However, it may still be helpful to double-check the measurements. If your bed has a specialty size, it may be harder to find an off-the-shelf bunkie board.

Mattress Type

Bunkie boards work particularly well with mattresses that can sag when placed on a foundation with less structure. Foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses can generally all be used with a bunkie board, but you should check with the manufacturer and look at the fine print of the warranty first. 

People with adjustable beds should avoid bunkie boards because the boards can’t flex along with the mattress when the frame moves. If you have a traditional innerspring mattress, you may prefer to use a box spring that’s designed to work with this type of mattress. 

Material

Bunkie boards are most often made from wood, particle board, or metal. If you want a model that can support considerable weight, you should opt for a metal bunkie board. Wood and particle board typically can’t support as much weight without breaking or losing their structural integrity. Some metal bunkie boards aren’t one single piece of material but instead have metal bars running through a frame. 

Price

Though bunkie boards are relatively inexpensive, you still want to make sure that a bunkie board will fit into your overall budget. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a platform bed, slats, or an all-in-one foundation that eliminates the need for an additional support component like a bunkie board. 

Height

At between 1 to 3 inches tall, bunkie boards are low-profile enough to work for most beds, including bunk beds. If you have limited space, you should measure first to see if adding more height to your bed is workable. If you already have a hard time getting in and out of a taller bed, think about whether adding a bunkie board will make it more difficult. 

Should You Use a Bunkie Board?

You should consider using a bunkie board if you want an affordable way to increase your bed’s overall stability and firmness. Mattress comfort is highly subjective, so whether a bunkie board is right for you depends in large part on your personal preferences. 

Bunkie boards are good options for people who own a bunk bed and want to add a low-profile layer for extra support. Those looking to add some additional structure to their existing bed setup may also like the rigidity of a bunkie board. 

You should not use a bunkie board if you have an adjustable bed. If you already have a mattress on a very flat or inflexible foundation, a bunkie board may be redundant. In addition, a bunkie board may cause some increased heat retention by reducing airflow through the mattress, so a bunkie board may not be ideal if you are a hot sleeper. 

When to Replace Your Mattress

Mattress lifespans vary depending on their materials, construction, and design quality. However, there are a few key signs to look for in order to determine whether or not your mattress needs replacing. 

• Excessive sagging: If your mattress has started to sink at the edges or in the middle, it’s likely not providing you with adequate support. 
• Cracks: When the foam or latex layers within your mattress begin to crack, it’s an indication that the mattress is wearing out. 
• Squeaking: If you own an innerspring or hybrid mattress, you may notice that the springs squeak more as they begin to age.
• You wake up with aches: If your mattress isn’t adequately supporting your body, you may experience muscle or joint stiffness in the morning that tends to go away later in the day. 
• You’ve had your mattress for over 6 years: Though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how long a mattress will last, most mattresses have a lifespan of 6 to 8 years.