We just ordered the spindle Mix bed for our little guy! Love the bunkables too. We have a platform bed without a bunky board but I am considering one for our son since his is more of a slat bed and he'll probably be a lot harder on his.

Amazon also has cheaper folding bed boards- not sure if they serve the same purpose?

ok, so in this picture, the slates need (according to the sales personell) the thin grey "base" pad, right? because you don't need that.. I don't understand the obsession of Americans with box springs. In Europe you have your frame, slates on/in the frame and your mattress. your mattress won't break and it's not harder than a boxspring.

My daughter inherited a gorgeous 1930s iron bedframe that we loved, but it was so high that she couldn't even climb into it without a stool. We swapped the boxspring for a plywood bunky board covered in fabric. It was a great solution and we have never gone back to the boxspring.

Our bed is a low-profile platform and we don't use a boxspring or a bunky. However, the slats are bentwood with some "spring' to them, not just rods or boards. I think the fancy european beds have these kinds of slats, but regular boards with just a mattress on top is basically a futon, no matter how nice the rest of the frame is. I think a bunky would make a huge difference, especially if you have a foam or latex or other less constructed mattress on top.

Ikea sells boards like that for all of their bed frames -- Only $20 for a twin:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/25844409/

yes we had a bunky board under regular mattress for an old wood full size frame. I HATE nigh beds. Hate them. Bunky boards rule.

Woops... I meant the slats. I had a bunky board under my (classic spring) mattress when I was little. It worked great in lieu of a box spring. No complaints here.

I currently have wooden slats under my latex king bed (from Ikea) and they work great without a bunky board.

never heard that board given a name.....my niece is sleeping on our old twin bed with just a piece of plywood (covered with a cheap sheet) between the mattress and springs of the frame - works great!

In Canada, I've known them to be called 'posture boards'.

I was considering buying a queen-sized one for my new foam mattress (I have a platform bed, so no boxspring, just slats) but the Crate & Barrel delivery fee is just offensive. The board was $99, and the delivery fee was $59. Screw that!

boxsprings are an incredible ripoff for what they charge for them. If slats of a bed are too far apart, then it affects how the springs sit and therefore the supportiveness. Same for foam mattresses. Then a board helps. The fabric is to protect the mattress fabric from snagging, especially since mattresses benefit from regular flipping and rotation. For that reason, mattresses with built in pillow tops automatically will age faster since you can only rotate them in one direction and therefore sagging spots will form more quickly due to repeat pressure points. If the slats of your frame are already fairly close, no board is necessary and it won't really help the feel of the mattress.

Is this otherwise known as a platform bed?

We use them because we were told by Room and Board it was necessary for a tempurpedic mattress on their Monica bed. As for Duane Hill no this isn't a platform bed, its a piece that sits on top of the platform. Where it was really necessary or not I don't know.

Don't mattresses need some air coming in from the bottom for moisture to get out?

I have an antique brass bed and, with the box spring and mattress, it's so high I need steps to get on it. Originally it had a platform of woven metal strips, but that's long since lost. The idea of a bunky is revolutionary. I'm definitely going to try it with a piece of plywood. I don't know why I never thought of it before.

Thank you.

I live in the UK. No box springs here. Mattress goes right onto the slats. It's fine.

We have a foam mattress. Definitely recommend something over the slats. I used simple plywood.

DuaneHill- They mean a platform type bed (any that uses the slats rather than a boxspring) and needing this thing on TOP of it.

Thats why I have a platform frame. Just the slats. This sounds like a waste to me. "extends the life of your mattress" Sure. I think the slats are just fine.

I have a queen-size bunky board (from Crate and Barrel) and love it! When I first purchased my bed, I didn't have one. But the slats on my bed were really rough and made it difficult to make my bed. Now, it's easy. Love it!

All I can offer is that I have a Royalpedic all cotton mattress and box spring and have been considering buying the architectural steel canopy bed from Room and Board, which would necessitate dumping my box spring. Ooooh, do I really want to get rid of my expensive box spring ? (I have a 1 and 1/2" memory foam topper on the mattress and a featherbed on top of that in deference to a persistent back injury and incipient old age !)

Then I realized that I regularly fall asleep (and perhaps even more comfortably than in my comfortable bed) on my "banquette" in the living room, two custom built wooden boxes in an L-shape to fit my odd space (with arms that function as narrow tables) upon which directly rest twin mattresses, old ones in fact, with bolsters and pillows as backrest.. They have similar memory foam on top and are covered in sheepskin. ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Don't seem to miss the box spring at all. Have just answered my own question, and maybe yours too.

Those of you saying that a box-spring, etc isn't absolutely necessary if you have close slats are correct. However, sleeping on a mattress with just slat support feels different than sleeping on a mattress with some kind of platform support. It's more noticeable with a latex or foam mattress, especially a soft one.

We use those with our latex mattress & the architecture bed from Room & Board. I never knew they had a name. I just called them "boards." Haven't had a boxspring in at least 15 yrs. And, for what it's worth, we LOVE the latex mattress from Room & Board. I was worried that it would be hot, but I haven't found that to be the case.

I had this growing up under my twin bed. I like them better than the box spring but they seem harder to find?? I like the plywood idea.

All the out of the US pplz. I wonder if your mattresses are made differently. It seems that if I lay just the mattress directly on the kiddos slatts the mattress is all wompy and floppy. It would not support itself and I would end up with an entire bed full of slats so I might as well add the board??? IDk what your mattress are like to know if were dealing with the same issues. I would doubt that this has anything to do with moisture escaping a mattress??? why do ppl have such moist mattresses??? eeww.

I have a funky board under my queen size bed and love it. My studio apartment looks larger having a funky board under my bed than a high box spring. It gives a nice modern look. I highly recommend it over a regular box spring. If you bought a good comfy bed, your bed will be just as comfy.

We have bunky boards on our king-size platform bed as a way to raise the mattress a little bit higher, but not too high. I don't think you need them necessarily. It's just a personal preference for how high or low you want the top of your bed to be.

Bunky boards, yes! The bunk beds in my parent's cottage have them and it makes a big difference in the comfort. I recommend.

Have never seen nor heard of bunky boards but like a couple of people mention, when I was growing up in the 60's, we'd put plywood between the box springs and the mattress to create a firmer feel without having to buy a whole new mattress.

Ou kids have a beds with hard narrow boards across the base, and when we bought an appropriate spring mattress for this type of base, the manufacturer sold us a heavy cotton and felt mattress pad which is tied the the 4 corners and lays on top of the slats. It serves to make the base more even for the spring mattress in order to prolong its life.

I heard of bunkie boards in an editorial by Linda Reeves in Canadian House and Home several months back. Frankly, just putting a padded board between your mattress and the (hard, not sprung) slats does not in any way make your mattress as equally comfortable as a mattress sitting on a box spring made of actual springs. When I was young, box springs had, well, springs. Now, most of them don't. But our VI-Spring mattress set is deeply, supremely, comfortable and far surpasses the comfort of a foam (even engineered foam) mattress on a sprung slat base. Don't see how a bunkie board can replace that sprung and supportive depth.

I use a bunky board with a queen mattress. Have done so for years. Perfect. Gives support without the (undesired) height.

Here in Australia we have usually a slat bed or a mattress and base (don't know what you would call this)
For slats, they need to be 35mm thick and no more than 80mm apart. There's no need for anything in between. I would say a piece of ply would hamper ventilation wouldn't it?

We have a new latex mattress on a platform bed (slats only) and were specifically told that the latex needs to breathe. I would think these boards would trap moisture and shorten the mattress lifespan.

@KLK197, that's what I thought.

I've read all the comments and I still don't understand. I concur with the other Europeans/Aussies.

I have a wrought-iron bed with a wooden-slat base. The tempurpedic mattress sits right on top of the slats. No box-springs, no extra layer between the mattress and the slats.

One of the reasons you don't put mattresses straight on the floor, is that moisture from your body needs to evaporate through the underside of the mattress. You'd be surprised how much sweat passes through your mattress, even if you're not a sweaty person. This extra layer is not going to help.

We use a bunky board on our 4 year old's twin bed - it's an antique frame that only has 3 slats, so needed something to support the mattress. We chose the combination of bunky board and futon mattress as the lowest possible height sleeping surface so that he could get in and out easily (he was only 2 when he started sleeping in this bed). Also it's way cheaper than getting a traditional boxspring and mattress.

I have a queen shaker-style wood bed with slats and a bunky board, with a regular spring mattress. The bunky board provides more support than just the slats and the mattress is easier to flip. Box spring beds seem too bouncy to me. This is firmer and moves less.

Another European/Aussie point of view here. I've never seen or heard of this and have always slept excellently on mattresses directly on slats. Wouldn't ventilation be an issue with bunky boards/plywood?

@Charlie26 and others:

I worked for several years for a furniture company whose stores had large mattress departments. We represented Sealy, Serta, Stearns and Foster, and Tempur-Pedic. Do whatever is comfortable for you, but please be advised that Tempur-Pedic International, Inc., will NOT honor its widely touted 20-year warranty on any Tempur-Pedic mattress used on a slatted support system. The company requires that the mattress be used only on a Tempur-Pedic-brand support or a platform bed with a solid top. Slatted supports and box springs are both unacceptable.

Here is a link to the warranty stating that:
http://www.mattressbuy.com/mattress_buy_htm/warranty/tempurpedic.htm

Other mattress companies also have warranty requirements related to mattress support, so if you anticipate that you might ever exercise a mattress warranty, make sure of the compliance requirements before you pay for your purchase. Many people think that the box spring they already own is fine and they will merely replace the mattress. This is not acceptable to any mattress company I know of. Since mattresses are such an expensive purchase these days (especially the Tempur-Pedic), a warranty is a very good idea. But once the delivery man walks away from your house, you're responsible for fulfilling the requirements of your warranty. Also, KEEP A COPY OF YOUR RECEIPT stapled to your copy of any warranty you receive.

@charlie26

I am stealing the first part of your comment.

I've read all the comments and I still don't understand. I concur with the other Europeans/Aussies.

I'm from New Zealand, and was thoroughly confused after reading and re-reading this!

Aside from mattress protection the bunky board keeps things looking nice and tidy by preventing tucked bedding from hanging below the slats. We used an inexpensive canvas drop cloth stapled onto plywood. The drop cloth is sturdy fabric and large so no piecing is required.

How timely! My husband and I are currently shopping for a bed and mattress, and the only reason I've even heard of a bunky board is because I was researching Termpurpedic mattresses and platform beds. JUKESGRRL is right about the Tempurpedic warranty requiring a solid base of some sort.

We are considering a Room & Board platform bed that has metal slats, and it does appear that we would need some sort of bunky board in order to satisfy the Tempurpedic warranty. As someone who has actually had a defective mattress replaced under warranty, I know that mattress companies (in the US at least) are very strict about adhering to the warranty terms, and any deviation, no matter how slight, will void a warranty. Maybe Eurpoean and Aussie mattress companies have different warranty requirements, but US companies have very specific requirements regarding acceptable "foundations" for their mattresses, so caveat emptor!

Looks like we have bunky boards in our future!

Being European myself, I'm with the other Europeans and Australians.
I think bunky boards and box springs are a scam. Just another way to get you to spend money for something you don't need.
And so are those silly warranty requirements imposed on you by the mattress companies. They don't come up with the specific requirements because you really need to follow them in order to get the most out of your mattress. They come up with those warranty terms so that they don't have to honor the warranty if the mattress is defective.
That's why I have an Ikea bed frame with slats and a mattress.

Sounds like a scam by bed and mattress companies to get people to buy more stuff! I just use slats too and it's fine (and I'm from the US).

My ancient iron beds have "upside down" rails (to fit metal spring units, long since lost). The slats are about an inch apart, attached with small L brackets to keep them from slipping off. Works great. I tried sheets of plywood, but the memory foam mattresses are more comfortable resting on the flexible slats.

I guess I am in the minority here, but I definately noticed a difference when I had the bunky board thing going on and when I moved back to a box spring matress combo. And I didnt have a cheap mattress. Yeah, its really tall and I have to jump into in it, but I kinda of love that.

@HHRI: I guess it is good old US capitalism at its finest!

This discussion has sparked my curiosity, and I just did a bit of quick research on Tempur brand warranties/guarantees in the Australian, UK, Canadian and US markets. Differences abound, yet I wonder how different the products are?

The Australian and UK guarantees do not mention foundations at all:
Australia: http://www.tempur.com.au/WARRANTY/TEMPUR-GUARANTEE-CONDITIONS.aspx
UK: http://uk.tempur.com/warranty/guaranteeinfo,default,pg.html

The Canadian warranty page briefly mentions foundations and even has detailed illustrations of acceptable foundations/beds to be used (including using slatted platforms without any other foundation): http://www.tempurpedic.ca/customer-service/20-year-limited-warranty-mattress.asp

The US warranty page goes on and on about support in a somewhat vague way. Slatted bases are mentioned, but it does not describe what qualifies as “ample structural support for that particular slatted style frame”: http://www.tempurpedic.com/customer-service/20-year-limited-warranty-mattress.asp

And this is what is stated in both the US and Canadian FAQs regarding platforms and foundations:

"I have a platform bed. Do I have to buy your foundation?
If your platform bed has a solid surface and strong center support that can properly support the mattress, you can use it instead of a foundation. However, if the platform bed uses slats to support the mattress, you may be using an improper foundation that will void your warranty."

Clear as mud, eh?

The main difference that I see with the US/Canadian warranties and the others is that they cover 20 years while the other countries' warranties cover 15 years.

I officially feel ripped off. What is it that we do differently in our US beds than the rest of the world??

If you have an especially heavy latex matress or just want extra support, you can simply order another set of the metal slats from Room and Board. We ordered twin beds and one of the matresses was extra-extra heavy with a full natural latex core. An extra set of slats was perfect, plus we were able to pick them up at the distribution point.

We use a 3" latex cover as our entire mattress. We had it resting on some doors laid flat on our frame, but the doors have started to get creaky - need a new solution! A bunky board might be it, but I'm wondering about this "breathing" thing that mattresses need to do. Is that for the mattress or the people?

Anyone have suggestions for breathable material to go between 3 inches of foam and a frame with springs? Slats move around too much, if we have nothing in between, we feel the springs. I'm considering pegboard.

@Xtina, I'm with you. Totally not further to this discussion but I love my big mattress and extra tall box spring. I feel like the Princess and the Pea!

From what I understand a box spring is what we Aussies call an ensemble. It is a base that on outward looks, appears similar to a mattress, but doesn't have lots of padding and comfort. When you look at the mattress and box spring/ensemble base all together, it looks like two mattresses stacked on top of each other, with wheels/casters/legs underneath - think of all the pictures you see of high-end hotel beds - they're generally a mattress and box spring/ensemble. A platform or slat bed has slats or a platform (with or without drawers or storage underneath) that one mattress rests on. They are far firmer than an ensemble/box spring supported bed. I hope that helps some of the country confusion.

As for a bunky board - I've never heard the term, but I have used one before. In my childhood/teen years, the most common bed base was a frame with either springs or spring-edged mesh stretched across the frame to support the mattress (like a trampoline, but where the middle was a metal mesh, not fabric). It didn't take too long for the springs to stretch, meaning very little support, and you usually ended up in the middle wrapped a like a taco. A sheet of plywood was employed to support the sleeper (who, given the thin mattresses used in the 70's and 80's, usually ended up with bruised hips) - but I don't ever remember covering the plywood with anything. It just seemed like another thing to have to wash on washday. And in my twenties I used an antique bed surround and built a base from pine and plywood right onto it - as a kind of built-in bunky board, and put a good quality mattress right on top.

As for the "moisture in mattresses" argument - all mattresses need to breathe - but particularly Tempur, latex and other similar semi-solid mattresses. Inner-spring ones need less, since the centre is filled with a lot of air space around the springs, but they still need some. Tempur and latex wick the perspiration away from the body better (foam - not so much), but they take longer to release it back into the air once the sleeper rises. Open slats are preferred to help the moisture evaporate - otherwise the Tempur/latex/foam can break down at a much accelerated rate (and often develop a musty, mouldy smell which is had to shift, even after drying the mattress in the Aussie sun for a full day). I guess prevention is better than cure - just give your mattresses some breathing room!

@ Miamiblue

No matter what a warranty says, if you have some kind of mattress failure that you believe warrants replacement, the procedure followed will be as-specified in the country you are in. In the cases I am aware of in the U.S., a phone call to the store where the mattress was purchased initiates an investigation. All the mattress companies my store represented dealt with regional company managers who handled home visits for their respective companies. A rep would visit the place where the mattress was in use. Various tests are made to the mattress, including looking at what base the mattress is placed on. If the owner complains of dips and/or soft spots in the mattress, each of the companies have a tool they use to measure them. A typical customer complaint of "when my spouse and I sleep side by side the mattress causes us to roll toward the middle" isn't enough to warrant replacement without some kind of dramatic demonstration. In the case of spring failure, that's pretty easy to see and in those cases the company authorizes a replacement. Many people believe that a squooshed pillow-top warrants replacement, but it rarely does.

I never handled the return of a Tempur-pedic mattress the entire time I was selling them; people tend to get emotionally invested in liking anything they spend that much money on, so I'm not surprised. In cases where a traditional mattress was being replaced, I never met an owner who wanted the same mattress as a replacement, so an upgrade usually required an additional outlay of cash. The customer(s) would choose a new model, pay our store the difference and the manufacturer would reimburse us.

My best advice for ensuring mattress happiness: buy a VERY firm mattress with a flat top. Then add a separate topper in either foam, poly-fill, or feathers to increase your comfort. That way you get support and softness. If you are a pair who have different ideas about what "softness" is, buy a king mattress, then add two twin toppers of different materials and cover the whole thing with a king-sized mattress cover. Your mattress may look a bit crooked, but everyone will be happy. If you don't want your bed to be too high, ask your sales associate for a low-profile box spring. It will bring even the loftiest toppers down to a reasonable level.

I don't understand why the Aussies/NZers/Europeans can't accept that Americans just do things a bit differently when it comes to mattresses. Maybe we like our boxsprings and our boards! Doesn't make it wrong, just different.

http://www.onewayfurniture.com/lifestyle-solutions-magnolia-bed.html?CAWELAID=914564358&gclid=CI2i4Yf2zbECFQhN4AodkHEAUQ

I recently purchased the above bed after always sleeping on a metal frame, boxspring and mattress (almost 6 years old king size Simmons) .

First night too low and too soft and difficult to make. Then we put box springs on top and now it's too high and too hard. Not only is it hard to get onto but it "hides" the headboard and makes the room look smaller.

Not sure if I should get low profile box or bunky board. Again, one will be too low and the other too high....how can I find one just right?

I have never posted a comment but felt very compelled to add my experience with a Bunky board. I bought a frame and mattress 5 years ago. The salesman explained there was something called a bunky board, and this was what I would need to go with my new set. I was happy to see it would be easy for me to move in the future without a moving team.
Unfortunately after a year I was chasing a squeaky noise from my bed. Countless times I tightened my frame. After a recent move and a different set up (a different frame but same Bunky board) the same squeaky noise was there: ( I love the sleek look but I am heading down a different path now, just my experience. I hope yours is different if you choose a Bunky board.

We had the bunky board from crate & barrel and just trashed it this weekend after only a year of use. The 'board' in the unit is just cardboard tacked over a few wooden rails. We were using it on a bed from C&B (over the slats) since the slats were spaced too far apart to use with a foam mattress. The design was really stupid as the bunky board frame is tall enough so that the cardboard does not lie on the bed slats at all. The bed started to get really uncomfortable and squeaky so we pulled the bunky board out and the cardboard was all warped! There were literally two outlines of both our bodies in the cardboard.

We went to Home Depot and got two custom cut 3/4" plywood sheets for under $50 that are working great over the slats. The bed feels totally different with proper support. I highly recommend going this route.

jackied302- I know it seems gross but humans are just gross in general- living, breathing moist organisms.
I have an expensive all-natural cotton and wool futon for my 4 year old daughter that I thought would be fine to just put directly on the floor until we found her a proper frame. After several months, I lifted it and found condensation on the floor (hardwood) and mildew on the mattress. She was only four- not a big, hairy full grown man who sweats in his sleep. Our bodies release moisture and textiles need air flow to prevent mildew from forming.
Just the facts!

Almost all "boxsprings" made today are essentially platforms. When the large "S" brands switched to one sided mattresses, they found that a platform style foundation provided more stable support to the flat underside of the mattress.

A bunkie board provides the same exact support as any other foundation. For that matter, a piece of plywood works too, but wrap it to prevent splinters in your mattress.

Jeff Klein
www.organicsleep.com

I realize this thread is older, but commenting anyway.

As a few others have mentioned, I would think solid bunky boards or a solid piece of plywood under a mattress would prevent moisture (sweat) from evaporating properly, especially if you own a memory foam or latex mattress. This can cause dangerous mold growth. I think the slatted bases are best to allow for airflow. Or if you're going to use a homemade base made from plywood, maybe it would be a good idea to consider drilling some holes into it to allow for air circulation. I wish manufacturers of pre-made bunky boards would do this, but I've yet to find one that has holes for the purpose of air flow.

This article explains the importance of air circulation with memory foam mattresses: http://www.nestbedding.com/blogs/news/6926850-why-is-it-damp-under-my-memory-foam-mattress

Thanks for referencing my article Kiki. Some bunky boards are nothing more than slats with fabric over them, which would be ok. You definitely would want to avoid a solid piece of plywood.

Where can i find a good bunky board for a latex mattress -- one with good slats (less than 3" apart, for better support), and all nicely contained in a frame to hold them in place (and ideally wrapped in some kind of fabric), but WITHOUT a cardboard layer (which would prevent proper air flow)?

The one at Crate & Barrel has cardboard (and apparently creaks and squeaks after a while). Bedrooms & More has one that looks the same. Ikea has a cheap plain wood-slat (the Sultan Lade), but the slats aren't contained in a frame.. it looks like they all need to be drilled into the bed frame separately, or they'll move around.