Mid Sleeper and High Sleeper Beds: A Parent's Guide

Raised beds are one of the best ways to win back floor space in a child's bedroom. Lift the bed off the floor and the area underneath becomes storage, a den, a desk or a gaming corner. The catch is that the higher the bed, the more you need to think about age, ceiling height and safety. This guide walks through the differences so you can pick the right one first time.

Low, mid and high sleepers: what the names mean

There is no single industry definition, so always check the height on the product page, but the categories broadly work like this:

• Low sleeper. Raised a little off the floor, often with a short ladder or steps. A gentle first step up from a standard bed and usually suited to younger children. Some, such as our Vision low sleeper, include a desk.
• Mid sleeper. Raised to roughly half height. The space underneath is usually used for storage, a pull-out desk or a play area. Many mid sleepers, including the Vespa, come with a desk built in.
• High sleeper. The tallest option, with enough clearance underneath for a full desk, a sofa, shelving or, on our gaming high sleepers, a gaming setup. Best for older children and teenagers.

You can browse all three styles in our kids beds, bunk beds and gaming beds collection.

Choosing the right height for your child and the room

Start with your child. The common guidance in the UK is that children under six should not sleep on a raised bed that needs a ladder, and many high sleepers are recommended for older children still. Every bed lists its recommended minimum age on the product page, so treat that as the rule, not a suggestion. It is also worth being honest about your child: a confident climber at seven is different from a child who still wanders sleepily to the bathroom at night.

Next, measure the ceiling. The figure that matters is the space between the top of the mattress and the ceiling, because your child needs to sit up in bed without hitting their head. As a rough guide, aim for at least 80 to 90cm of clearance above the mattress for a mid sleeper and more for a high sleeper. Check for things that stick down too: light fittings, sloping ceilings, beams and window heads.

Then look at the floor plan. A raised bed often needs a ladder on one side, so check which end it sits at and whether it can be swapped. Leave space to change the bedding, which is harder on a tall bed than people expect. If you are tight on space generally, our space-saving beds guide covers other options such as cabin beds and beds with storage underneath.

Safety checks before you buy

A well-designed raised bed is perfectly safe when it is used as intended. These are the points worth checking on any model:

The mattress depth point catches out a lot of parents. A thick, luxurious mattress feels like a treat, but on a raised bed it can bring the sleeping surface too close to the top of the rail. Check the maximum depth on the bed's product page before you choose from our mattresses.

Making the most of the space underneath

The space under a mid or high sleeper is the reason most parents buy one, so plan it properly.

• Homework. A built-in desk keeps schoolwork in one place. Add a small lamp, since the bed above will block the main ceiling light.
• Storage. Some mid sleepers come with drawers, shelves or a cupboard underneath. Others leave the space open so you can add your own units from our bedroom furniture range.
• Play and relaxing. A beanbag and a string of lights turn the space into a den for younger children. For teenagers, a high sleeper with a sofa or gaming area underneath works well. Our teen and gaming beds guide has more ideas.
• Sleepovers. If friends stay over, a bunk bed or trundle may suit you better. See our guide to trundle beds for kids.

Think ahead too. A child who wants a den at seven may want a desk at eleven. Beds with an open space underneath are the most flexible as your child grows.

Our quick recommendation. For children around six to nine, or rooms with lower ceilings, a low or mid sleeper is usually the safer and more practical choice. For older children and teenagers in rooms with good ceiling height, a high sleeper gives you the most usable space underneath. If you are still weighing up options, our guide on how to choose a children's bed covers bunk beds, cabin beds and standard singles too.

Delivery is free to England, Wales and most of Scotland and usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, and you have 14 days to return an item if it is not right.