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Loft Bed Plans
A loft bed lifts the mattress up and frees the floor underneath for a desk or storage. This design is built from 18 mm plywood: two solid end panels, a wall-side panel that keeps it rigid, a solid deck, guard rails on both sides and a ladder. The plan fits a twin, full or queen mattress (or any size you type) and leaves room for a desk or storage below. Built from plywood rather than 2x4s, the frame stays stiff without diagonal braces.
- Default size
- 900 × 1900 × 1500 mm
- Parts
- 19 pieces · 10 sizes
- Sheets (2440 × 1220 mm (4 × 8 ft))
- 5 carcass
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Build time
- About 12 hours
- Edge band
- 36.1 m
Cut list (default size)
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | Thick. | Board | Edges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End panel | 2 | 1810 | 946 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Side rail | 2 | 1910 | 200 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Wall-side panel | 1 | 1910 | 1300 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm |
Sizes in millimetres; length runs along the grain. Edges: bold lines are banded.
7 more parts, the sheet layout and the cut order are in the full plan.Resize it to any size, print labels and save it in a project.Sign in free to open it
How it is built
- Use 18 mm plywood for every part: not MDF or chipboard.
- Guard rails on both sides stand at least 127 mm (5 in) above the mattress; the open side leaves a 380 mm (15 in) gap for the ladder.
- The wall-side panel braces the bed against racking: screw it and the end panels to the wall studs.
- Not for children under 6 years old.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the wall-side panel: without it the bed can rack along its length.
- Using a thicker mattress than planned: the guard rail must stay 127 mm above it.
Tools you need
- Track saw or panel saw
- Drill/driver
- Clamps
- Stud finder
- Sander
Frequently asked questions
How high should a loft bed be?
High enough to use the space below (1300–1600 mm for a desk) while leaving about 750 mm above the mattress to sit up.
How tall must the guard rails be?
Their top must be at least 127 mm (5 in) above the top of the mattress, on both sides.
What mattress should I use?
A thin one, 100–200 mm. The guard rails must stand at least 127 mm (5 in) above it: type the thickness of your mattress and the rails follow.
Can an adult sleep on it?
Yes, built in 18 mm plywood and screwed to the wall studs. Keep the deck screwed to the cleats and the support so it cannot lift.
Related guides
Bed Frame DimensionsBed frame dimensions for every size: twin, full, queen, king and California king in inches, feet and cm, plus platform bed heights and room clearances.Bunk Bed DimensionsStandard bunk bed dimensions for twin, full and queen bunks: footprint, height, space between bunks, guardrails and the ceiling height you need, in inches and cm.How to Build a Murphy BedHow to build a Murphy bed: choose a hardware kit, build the plywood cabinet and bed frame to its drawings, anchor it to the studs and balance the bed.
