Last updated on September 6th, 2022
Aquarium bed frame cost guide
Imagine how relaxing it would be to fall asleep watching the movement of fish above your head. Well, you can make this dream a reality! You’ll just need to speak to a professional aquarium builder and a carpenter, as well as potentially other tradespersons, to build the frame of your bed.
How much does an aquarium bed frame cost?
For a breakdown of each cost, we spoke to the online estimators at B3 Cost Consulting – a team of professional Estimators and Quantity Surveyors. This guide features the estimated aquarium bed frame costs they provided.
| Cost provided item | Price range - Low | Price range - High | Average UK cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bespoke aquarium bed frame | - | - | £10,000 |
| Carpenter/joiner for bespoke frame (per hour) | £21.25 | £41.25 | £31.25 |
| Electrician for power supply (per hour) | £35 | £45 | £40 |
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now
An aquarium bed frame doesn’t come cheap, with an average cost of around £10,000. As it’s a fairly uncommon bedroom feature, there aren’t often standard designs, which means you’ll need to have a bespoke frame created.
There are a number of factors affecting the cost of an aquarium bed frame, including:
- Size and shape
- The complexity of the design
- Materials used (such as acrylic or glass)
- Any prep work
- Where you live
Aquarium headboard costs
Some other costs to consider for your fish tank headboard or bed frame include the labour for the carpenter or joiner to build it, which is about £31.25 per hour on average.
The cost of an electrician to install the power supply is around £40 per hour. And don’t forget to factor in the electricity running costs, which you can calculate using your provider’s rate per kWh.
Glass vs acrylic aquarium
One of the big choices to make when planning your aquarium bed frame is deciding which material you want for the aquarium itself. Two of the most common options are glass and acrylic, which both come with their own pros and cons.
Here’s a quick run-down of the differences between the two:
Cost
Glass has always traditionally been used in aquariums and tends to be quite a lot cheaper than acrylic.
Scratch resistance
Acrylic can be easily scratched, whilst glass is pretty scratch-resistant with everyday use.
Weight
This is where acrylic has a big advantage, as it is a lot lighter than glass. Glass tends to be heavy and can be tricky to transport and install, particularly with large aquariums.
Shape
Another advantage of acrylic is its ability to be moulded into a wide range of shapes and designs. Glass, on the other hand, is more limited in the shapes you can create for your aquarium bed frame.
Impact resistance
Glass can often crack or smash with any considerable impact. Acrylic is much more durable and can better withstand impact.
Ageing
The great thing about glass is that it stays clear for its whole life. As long as you keep it clean you’ll have brilliant clarity. Whereas acrylic tends to become yellow over time and will potentially need to be replaced at some point.
Useful aquarium bed frame checklist
- Speak to your local aquarium builders for the advice and to discuss specific designs for your aquarium bed frame.
- Research your options and ask for detailed quotes from local specialists.
- Shop around for fair and competitive aquarium bed frame prices.
- Always hire a tradesperson with relevant experience and ask to see examples of their previous work.
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