This is an excellent bunk bed. It is high quality, the directions and parts for putting together are easy to follow, and the color is really nice. I would definitely recommend. I purchased an 8 inch mattress for the top and bottom based on another buyers reviews and it definitely works for us. It makes the top railing shorter but it works for us. At the very least, I would get 8 inch thickness for the bottom and possibly go thinner for the top.