A bunkie board is thin

mattress A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a person Lying (position), lying down, especially for sleeping. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a Quilting, quilted o ...

support originally intended for a

bunk bed A bunk bed or set of bunks is a type of bed in which one bed frame (a bunk) is stacked on top of another bed, allowing two or more sleeping-places to occupy the floor space usually required by just one. Bunks are commonly seen on ships, in th ...

. It was invented in the early 20th century to provide a thinner platform support than box-springs, and more uniform support than slats.

Construction

A DIY bunkie board might consist of plywood, but commercially-made versions can be made of wood or metal, and are often covered in fabric.

References

Bedding Furniture {{furniture-stub