Beds are the flat pack item people most often try themselves — and the one where the difference between frame types matters most. A basic frame is a genuinely pleasant DIY job; an ottoman bed or a bunk is a different animal. Here’s how to judge yours.

Standard frames: very DIY-able

A basic divan or slatted frame — MALM, NEIDEN, most budget doubles — is about as friendly as flat pack gets: a headboard, a footboard, two rails, slats, and a centre beam on doubles and up. Two people, a couple of hours at DIY pace, no drilling into walls.

The two mistakes worth avoiding:

  • Fully tightening bolts too early. Keep everything finger-tight until the frame is square, then work around tightening evenly. Frames racked square by force squeak forever.
  • Skipping the centre support. Doubles and king-size frames need their centre beam and legs fitted properly or slats crack within months.

Ottoman and storage beds: the step up

Gas-lift ottomans and drawer beds are the trap for confident DIYers. The frame is straightforward, but gas struts are under real tension, fitting order matters more than the pictures suggest, and misalignment means a lid that won’t stay up or drawers that jam. They also take two people — genuinely, not optionally.

If you’re hiring for one item in the bedroom, this or a PAX-style wardrobe is where the money goes furthest.

Bunk beds and cabin beds: take them seriously

Bunks aren’t hard so much as unforgiving. Everything that’s a shrug on a bookcase — a skipped fixing, a not-quite-tight bolt — matters when a child sleeps two metres up. If you build one yourself:

  • Use every fixing supplied, exactly where the instructions put it. Nothing in a bunk kit is decorative.
  • Check the age guidance — most manufacturers say no under-sixes on a top bunk, and the guardrail and ladder specs assume it.
  • Re-tighten after a fortnight, then every few months. New joints settle, and children treat bunks as climbing frames because they are.
  • Position it away from windows, blind cords and ceiling lights.

None of that is beyond a careful DIYer. But it’s also the single item where paying a professional — someone who has built forty of them and knows what “tight enough” feels like — buys the most sleep, in every sense. Typical quotes for bunk assembly run £60–£120 (indicative; see our cost guide for what moves prices).

If you’d rather hand it over

Include the frame type in your enquiry — “double ottoman, side-lift” or “detachable bunk that may need splitting later” tells an assembler everything about the job. Get quotes here, and if it’s your first hire, our assembly day walkthrough covers how the visit runs.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to assemble a bed frame?

A professional typically builds a standard double frame in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours; ottoman and storage beds run 1.5 to 3 hours because of the gas-lift mechanism or drawers. First-time DIYers should budget double, and beds are much easier with two people.

Are bunk beds safe to assemble yourself?

They can be, if you follow the instructions exactly, use every fixing supplied, and check tightness regularly afterwards. The consequences of a bad bunk build are worse than almost any other furniture, which is why many parents choose to pay a professional for this one item even when they DIY everything else.

What does bed assembly typically cost?

Typical UK quotes run £40–£80 for a standard double frame, £60–£120 for bunk or cabin beds, and £70–£130 for ottoman storage beds. As always these are indicative ranges — access, brand and region move the number.

Prices and timings on this page are indicative, based on typical quotes we see across the UK. Your job may cost more or less — the only way to know is to get quotes for your specific items and location. This site earns a fee when we pass enquiries to assembly firms; this never changes what you pay.