Space-saving furniture · 8 min read
The Best Murphy Beds for Small Apartments and Studios
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A bed takes up more floor than anything else you own, and in a studio it sits there all day. A Murphy bed gives that floor back. There are two kinds: wall beds that fold up into a tall cabinet anchored to the wall, and freestanding cabinet beds that unfold from a low chest. Renters usually do better with the second kind. Here are the options worth a look, and what to check before you buy.
Our picks at a glance
| Our pick | Product | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for renters | Night & Day Murphy Cube Cabinet Bed (Queen) | Renters who cannot mount anything to the wall | Amazon |
| Best dresser look | Atlantic Furniture Nantucket Murphy Bed Chest | A guest bed that looks like a dresser | Amazon |
| Best classic wall bed | Bestar Pur Queen Murphy Wall Bed | A real everyday bed that disappears into the wall | Amazon |
| Best for a home office | Murphy Bed with Fold-Down Desk | A studio that is also a home office | Amazon |
| Best budget DIY | Create-A-Bed Vertical Deluxe Murphy Bed Kit | DIY-ers on a budget | Amazon |
Before you buy: 60-second checklist
- Decide: wall-mounted (needs anchoring, uses a normal mattress) or freestanding cabinet bed (no drilling, folding mattress).
- Measure the open length from the wall, plus at least 24 inches to walk around the bed.
- Check ceiling height for vertical wall beds (most need about 7.5 feet).
- Ask your landlord before anchoring anything to the wall.
- Plan delivery and assembly: these are heavy, often 150 to 400 lb.
The picks in detail
Night & Day Murphy Cube Cabinet Bed (Queen)
Best for: Renters who cannot mount anything to the wall
A freestanding hardwood cabinet that opens into a queen bed with a folding memory-foam mattress included, so there is no wall anchoring and no separate mattress to buy.
📏 Before you buy: Closed it is roughly 64" wide and 26" deep (per published reviews). Open, you need the full queen length in front of it. The folding mattress is thinner than a regular one.
Check price on Amazon →Atlantic Furniture Nantucket Murphy Bed Chest
Best for: A guest bed that looks like a dresser
A chest-style Murphy bed with a gel memory-foam mattress and a built-in charging spot, available in twin or queen.
📏 Before you buy: Choose twin or queen to match your room. Some buyers report slow customer service, so check delivery terms.
Check price on Amazon →Bestar Pur Queen Murphy Wall Bed
Best for: A real everyday bed that disappears into the wall
A classic vertical wall bed with a simple cabinet front; it uses your own regular mattress and frees the whole floor during the day.
📏 Before you buy: About 92" long x 64.6" wide x 87.9" high when open. It must be anchored to the wall (ask your landlord), and it is heavy (about 400 lb), so plan assembly for two people.
Check price on Amazon →Murphy Bed with Fold-Down Desk
Best for: A studio that is also a home office
When the bed is up, a desk folds down from the front, so one wall does the job of a bedroom and an office.
📏 Before you buy: Check whether you must clear the desk before lowering the bed, the mattress thickness it takes, and the open depth.
Check price on Amazon →Create-A-Bed Vertical Deluxe Murphy Bed Kit
Best for: DIY-ers on a budget
The lift hardware and plans for building your own Murphy bed, much cheaper than a finished cabinet bed.
📏 Before you buy: Wood, cabinet and mattress are not included. You build the cabinet yourself, so you need tools, time and a wall you are allowed to anchor to.
Check price on Amazon →How we choose
We shortlist products that solve a specific small-space problem, are widely available in the US, and work without drilling where possible. We look at dimensions, materials and what buyers commonly report, and we say clearly when a product may not suit a space. We do not claim hands-on testing unless we did it.
Questions people ask
Do Murphy beds need to be attached to the wall?
Traditional vertical and horizontal wall beds must be anchored to the wall for safety. Freestanding cabinet beds do not, which makes them the usual choice for renters.
Are Murphy beds comfortable enough to sleep on every night?
Wall beds that take a regular mattress can be as comfortable as a normal bed. Cabinet beds use a folding mattress that is usually thinner and firmer, which is fine for guests but may not suit everyone nightly.
How much space do you need for a Murphy bed?
Closed, most take 16 to 26 inches of depth. Open, you need the full bed length from the wall plus room to walk around it, so measure with painter's tape on the floor.
Murphy bed or sleeper sofa?
A Murphy bed gives you a real bed and frees the floor completely. A sleeper sofa gives you seating all day. In a studio where you sleep every night, a Murphy bed is usually the better long-term choice.