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The 7 Best Murphy Beds of 2024

Maximize space in your home with one of these convertible designs

Bestar Pur Murphy Bed

The Spruce / Amelia Manley

If you live in a studio apartment or want to optimize the available space in your home, a Murphy bed can be a great solution for multi-functional rooms. A Murphy bed allows you to have the best of both worlds: You can have a guest bedroom that easily converts into a home gym, office, studio, or other functional space. Thanks to the extra space a Murphy bed creates, you can essentially turn any room into an extra bedroom—and allowing you to make your home even more functional.

As you shop for a Murphy bed, keep in mind that you'll first want to make sure the space you're designing can accommodate the bed frames you're considering. These space-saving beds can come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and designs, so we researched different options to find the most ideal Murphy beds with a variety of features.

Best Overall

Bestar Pur Murphy Bed

Bestar Pur Murphy Bed

Amazon

What We Like
  • Supports up to 1,000 pounds

  • 10-year warranty

  • Dual-piston mechanism makes opening and closing easy

What We Don’t Like
  • Weak handle hardware

For a classic Murphy bed, look no further than Bestar’s Pur Murphy Bed. It’s well-built and designed to handle every night use—not just when guests come. This bed's frame is steel and flexible slats support the mattress while allowing for additional comfort. It weighs 358 pounds and has a 1,000-pound weight limit, so you can feel good about its sturdy construction.

Holly Blakey, a professional organizer and owner of Breathing Room, tells us that when it comes to Murphy beds: “The most important features are ease of use and durability. Since a Murphy bed pulls down from the wall, you’ll want to make sure it’s easy to bring down.” This particular model is a breeze to pull down thanks to the dual-piston system. However, you may want to upgrade the included handle hardware; the screws aren't the most durable, and the handle is where you'll be pushing, pulling, and moving the bed from frequently.

A mattress is not included with this frame, but it's priced relatively low compared to the range of models we researched. Best of all, this bed frame is sold in a variety of finishes, so you can easily match one to your room's aesthetic.

Material: Engineered wood, steel | Dimensions: 20.3 x 64.6 x 89.1 inches | Weight: 358 pounds | Mattress Included: No

Best Budget

Wall Bed King Vertical Wall Bed Kit

Wall Bed King Vertical Wall Bed Kit

Amazon

What We Like
  • Lifetime warranty

  • Automatic folding legs

  • Wide range of bed sizes

  • Available in both vertical and horizontal options

What We Don’t Like
  • Lower maximum weight capacity

If you want to strip your Murphy bed down to the bare essentials, this design from Wall Bed King is perfect. Perhaps you don’t want the cabinet that comes attached to other Murphy beds, or you just want to save as much space as possible, or maybe you even want to build your own cabinet. In any case, this slim and streamlined option takes up little space and still allows you to have a bed ready in mere minutes.

Whatever the case may be, this no-frills option is good for someone who simply wants to maximize their space. Made with alloy steel, it provides a durable base that can hold up to 250 pounds, which we do think is on the lighter side compared to other models on this list.

Material: Alloy steel, wooden slats | Dimensions: 60 x 80 inches | Weight: Not listed | Mattress Included: No

Does a Murphy Bed Require a Thinner Mattress?

Murphy beds can technically fit mattresses of any thickness, and you may find that your current mattress works fine. However, this is a detail that varies from brand to brand and bed to bed, so it’s important to read the specifications beforehand so you know how thick of a mattress your Murphy bed can accommodate. In general, a thinner mattress is a better choice, as less thickness will ensure your bed can close fully and sit flush against the side walls.

Best Splurge

Resource Furniture LGM Rotating Wall Bed

Resource Furniture LGM Rotating Wall Bed with Library and Table

Resource Furniture

What We Like
  • Lifetime warranty

  • Includes mattress

  • Pairs with additional components to add storage space

What We Don’t Like
  • Two to four week lead time

The LGM Clei Rotating Wall Bed offers everything you could want from a piece of furniture, and it has a sleek design that catches the eye. This Murphy bed features a patented revolving system that ensures all of your items on the shelves don’t move, even while you’re using the bed. It’s also customizable, with dozens of lacquer, fabric, and leather choices, so you’ll get exactly the color you want. It even features an optional add-on with a fold-down desk.

Keep in mind that the price tag for a quick ship model is likely less expensive than a custom model and a quote needs to be requested before purchasing. However, the sustainable sourcing and lifetime warranty make this bed more of an investment than anything else.

Material: Lacquer, wood | Dimensions: 72.625 x 24.5 x 86.625 inches | Weight: Not listed | Mattress Included: Yes

Best for Small Spaces

Canora Grey Barham Bed

Canora Grey Barham Bed

Wayfair

What We Like
  • Multiple color options

  • Solid wood construction

  • Folds up compactly

What We Don’t Like
  • Mattress is very thin

  • Only one size available

While Murphy beds are already designed in an attempt to optimize space, Canora Grey’s Barham Bed takes that to a new level. By design, it just looks like an understated but elegant chest, measuring under 6 feet in width. Though it folds up into one wonderfully compact piece of furniture when not in use, the solid wood and metal frame of this bed is substantial, weighing 160 pounds in total.

Plus, with four color options (gray, cherry, chocolate, or white) there’s a finish for everybody and every room style. One drawback to this Murphy bed is that while it does come with a mattress, it’s very thin at just six inches, so you may find it requires a topper to make it more comfortable.

Material: Solid wood | Dimensions: 25.7 x 64.1 x 80.3 inches | Weight: 160 pounds | Mattress Included: Yes

Best with Desk

Bestar Luminia Murphy Bed with Desk

Bestar Luminia Murphy Bed with Desk

Walmart

What We Like
  • Highly versatile uses

  • 1,000-pound weight limit

  • Built-in LED lights

  • 10-year manufacturer’s warranty

What We Don’t Like
  • Assembly requires two people

We love Bestar’s Lumina Full Murphy Bed With Desk because it takes all of the space-saving efficiency of a Murphy bed and optimizes it even further. If you’re living in a smaller space, like a studio, this is a great choice: When closed, it turns into a desk for you to work at. When it’s time to head to bed, the 1,000-pound weight capacity of the bed frame will keep you secure and comfortable. Like all of Bestar’s Murphy beds, Euroslats work to make sure your mattress is supported and that you have a comfortable night of sleep.

With Bestar recommending two people to build this, it’s definitely a serious undertaking, and unfortunately, expert assembly is not offered if you purchase through Amazon. But with the convenience of the desk, plus the handy dimmable LED lights that are built into the bed cabinet, this is a great option for someone who wants their Murphy bed to do more than just be slept on.

Material: Engineered wood, steel | Dimensions: 19.5 x 59.3 x 80.8 inches | Weight: 370 pounds | Mattress Included: No

Do Murphy Beds Need Box Springs?

Murphy beds do not use or need box springs. Your mattress needs to be able to fit within the Murphy bed itself, and a box spring can make it too tall and thick. As a result, these beds are designed with other features, like slats, that are specifically engineered to work with a mattress alone.

Best with Sofa

Murphy Bed NYC Luxoria Murphy Bed with Shelves and Sofa

Murphy Bed NYC Luxoria Murphy Bed with Shelves and Sofa

Murphy Bed NYC

What We Like
  • Built-in seating and shelving

  • Excellent customer service

  • Available in multiple sizes

What We Don’t Like
  • Delivery can take up to three weeks

Murphy Bed NYC’s Luxoria White with Shelves and Sofa is perfect for anybody who may need to place their bed in a living room. Technically, this piece is so versatile, it’s actually more like four pieces in one! Featuring a couch when closed, this bed can easily be opened and converted into a bed with a headboard. Like other space-saving choices, this is perfect for anybody who is trying to make their space as optimal and convenient as possible. Plus, including the couch means you won’t have to move one around to pull the Murphy bed out.

Additionally, you’re not just getting a bed and sofa in one piece. You’re also getting built-in shelving, which adds to your available storage space and gives you even more options when it comes to stashing items and placing decor. We really like that the mattress is optional, but you do have choices of both spring and memory foam available. A drawback with this option is it can take up to three weeks to arrive, but there are multiple ways to get in contact with customer service, if you do have a question about your order before or after delivery.

Material: Laminated particle board, knitted fabric | Dimensions: 85.9 x 15.8 x 81.5 inches | Weight: Not listed | Mattress Included: Optional

Best with Storage

Bestar Pur Murphy Bed and 2 Shelving Units with Drawers

Bestar Pur Murphy Bed and 2 Shelving Units with Drawers

Amazon

What We Like
  • Includes drawers and shelves

  • Four color options

  • Highly functional for small spaces

What We Don’t Like
  • Only a 30-day trial

As Blakey tells us, “Drawers are always an extra bonus especially if you’re short on space,” which is why we love Bestar’s Queen Murphy Bed With 2 Shelving Units and Drawers. The design alone makes this bed a viable choice for any room in your house. The Shaker-inspired trim and metal handles provide a stylish look, and the shelving gives you plenty of added storage space.

This Murphy bed features two fixed shelves, three adjustable or removable shelves, and three drawers that operate on smooth ball-bearing slides to avoid any jamming. The drawers are even a potential replacement for a dresser, helping you to really make the most of the space you have and maximizing smaller rooms' functionality.

Material: Steel, laminated engineered wood | Dimensions: 20.3 x 114.6 x 89.1 inches | Weight: 888 pounds | Mattress Included: No

Final Verdict

Our pick for the best overall Murphy bed is the Bestar Pur Queen Murphy Bed, which has dual pistons for extra support while opening or closing it. The cabinet is also an attractive design that's available in a variety of engineered wood finishes. If you're not worried about keeping your Murphy bed out of sight, our best budget pick, the Wallbedking Vertical Wall Bed is a great design that allows you to even build your own cabinet around it.

What to Look for in a Murphy Bed

Size

In order to find the right Murphy bed, you need to understand what your space can allow. In general, a queen-size Murphy bed will fall between 87 to 89 inches in height and 64 to 68 inches in width. However, not all Murphy beds are standard, and you should always double-check that the bed will fit in your space before purchasing.

Some Murphy beds are more substantial than your typical bed frame and come with additional shelves or drawers. These designs can measure upward of 10 feet wide. Conversely, there are options that are very minimal (and space-saving!) in design, measuring just the footprint of the mattress and frame itself, like our best budget Murphy bed, the WallBedKing Vertical Wall Bed. We like this option for its smaller size and lightweight frame. This style of Murphy bed even allows you to customize your space with a different cabinet enclosure.

In addition to considering the overall size of the Murphy bed frame itself, you'll also want to check the specs on the mattress size. Murphy beds typically come in standard bed frame sizes (which range from twin to California king), but they can, depending on their construction, require a thinner mattress. A typical mattress sits anywhere from 9 to 12 inches tall, so if you're hoping to stick with one of this height, you'll want to take a close look at the bed's dimensions.

Material

Like all furniture, Murphy beds are made from a wide variety of materials. But, these beds are a substantial piece of furniture, so it’s worth getting something that’s well made. Klein recommends purchasing a Murphy bed that is made with “wood, hardwood, or plywood,” which are three durable and common materials. For this, we recommend our best for small spaces, the Canora Grey Barham Bed, because it’s made from rubberwood, which is particularly durable. We also like that it comes with a mattress.

Mechanism

The mechanism of a Murphy bed might seem like a minor detail (after all, you want your bed to be comfortable and able to fit in your space!), but it's actually quite critical. You'll rely on the mechanism to both open and close the bed, so it needs to be easy to operate, smoothly functional, and durable enough for repeated use. You'll be pulling the bed down and pushing it up with each use—and every Murphy bed opens in a different manner, with a specific type of mechanism.

You can find Murphy beds that use either spring systems or piston mechanisms. Spring systems are mechanisms that are spring loaded, which make the bed platform feel nicely lightweight and very easy to both pull down and lift up to close. However, when you pull a Murphy bed with a spring mechanism down for the night, the bed does put the springs under pressure for the duration of use, which can be a concern for some users.

Murphy beds with piston mechanisms, on the other hand, don't feature any springs. Rather, they rely on a piston to smoothly (and more slowly) lift and lower the mattress platform. Piston mechanisms don't make the platform feel as lightweight and easy to lift as spring mechanisms, but they do tend to be durable and can be paired with a dampening shock, which moves it slowly and with greater control. It's a great option to prevent concerns like the bed coming off the wall too quickly or slamming onto the floor.

Installation

While many of the Murphy beds on our list can be assembled as easy DIY projects, there’s also no shortage of people in the product reviews talking about how tedious these beds are to build. So, if you’re someone who enjoys the process of putting together furniture and feels confident, then you should have no trouble with assembly, regardless of which bed you choose.

However, Ramchandani says she “always recommend[s] having a professional install anything that’s installed on a wall.” Blakey echoes this, saying she “would recommend utilizing an installation service or a handyman.” For that reason, if you’re nervous about trying to attach the bed to the wall, we highly recommend our best splurge pick, LGM Clei Rotating Wall Bed, which offers professional installation at an additional cost in local service areas.

Safety

Murphy beds are oftentimes designed with locking hinges to hold them in place when they’re not in use. Additionally, they’re often installed attached to a wall, which means that they should be locked in place firmly. For this reason, Ramchandani tells us that they are “totally safe to use, and easy to pull down and put away.” We do recommend following Blakey’s advice to “read reviews, warranties and talk to people who have bought one,” so you know the quality of what you are purchasing. In terms of safety, we particularly like the Bestar Queen Murphy Bed and 2 Shelving Units With Drawers, our best with storage pick, because it attaches both to the wall and the floor for extra sturdiness.

The Checkout Counter

Before you check out, consider these products you may also need while you're shopping for a Murphy bed.

  • Linenspa Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress: This budget-friendly mattress is one of the best we've tested, and its slimmer 8-inch thickness makes it a great fit for Murphy beds, without sacrificing any comfort.
  • Puffy Mattress Pad: No matter the thickness of your mattress, we love the invitingly soft, quilted surface of this mattress pad. It'll turn your sleep surface into a plush, pillowy place to rest (and it's hypoallergenic, too!)
  • Olive + Crate Eucalyptus Sheet Set: There's no better way to make your Murphy bed more inviting than with a set of soft, silky sheets. This set from Olive + Crate is our absolute favorite; after testing more than 200 sheets, we can't get enough of these (and as an added perk, they're temperature-regulating, too).

Why Trust The Spruce?

Jack Byram is a freelance writer who covers all things sleep and sleep-related. He’s interviewed dozens of experts in the field of sleep and written countless articles covering everything from pillows to weighted blankets to bedframes to mattresses. He spoke with experts to learn who can benefit from a Murphy bed, what makes them a good choice, and what to look for when purchasing one. After using their insights and reading numerous customer reviews of products from many different brands, Jack compiled a comprehensive list of Murphy beds.

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