Space-saving furniture · 7 min read
The Best Sleeper Sofas and Futons for Small Apartments
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In a small apartment the sofa has to work two jobs: seating every day and a bed when someone stays over, or every night in a studio. The right choice depends on how often it is slept on and how much floor you have when it is open. These are well-known, widely available options, from a classic futon to a sleeper chair that fits almost anywhere.
Our picks at a glance
| Our pick | Product | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best value | DHP Emily Futon Sofa Bed | The best value convertible for a first apartment | Amazon |
| Best for tiny living rooms | Novogratz Brittany Loveseat Sleeper (Twin) | Very small living rooms that still need a guest bed | Amazon |
| Best for two guests | Novogratz Brittany Sleeper Sofa (Queen) | Hosting two guests often | Amazon |
| Best for studios | Zinus Quinn Sleeper Sofa | Studios where the sofa is also your bed | Amazon |
| Best tiny guest bed | D&D Futon Furniture Folding Sleeper Chair (Twin) | The smallest possible guest bed | Amazon |
| Best lounge corner | DHP Emily Sectional Futon with Chaise | A lounge corner that becomes a bed | Amazon |
Before you buy: 60-second checklist
- Measure the open size, not just the sofa: pull-outs and futons need floor in front of them.
- Decide how often it will be slept on: nightly use deserves a real mattress, guests can use foam.
- Check the door, hallway and stairs: boxed sofas are easier to get inside.
- Leave a few inches behind futons so the back can recline.
- Look at seat depth: deep seats feel cozy but take more room.
The picks in detail
DHP Emily Futon Sofa Bed
Best for: The best value convertible for a first apartment
A compact, armless click-clack futon about 71 inches wide that drops flat into a bed in seconds, in many fabrics and colors.
📏 Before you buy: Futon cushions are firmer and thinner than a mattress. Leave a few inches behind it so the back can recline.
Check price on Amazon →Novogratz Brittany Loveseat Sleeper (Twin)
Best for: Very small living rooms that still need a guest bed
A loveseat-size sleeper with a pull-out twin memory-foam mattress, so the sofa stays small and the bed is a real mattress.
📏 Before you buy: Measure the depth with the bed pulled out, plus room to walk around it.
Check price on Amazon →Novogratz Brittany Sleeper Sofa (Queen)
Best for: Hosting two guests often
A full-size sofa with a pull-out queen memory-foam mattress, for couples or regular overnight guests.
📏 Before you buy: Pull-out sleepers need a lot of open floor in front. Check the open length against your room.
Check price on Amazon →Zinus Quinn Sleeper Sofa
Best for: Studios where the sofa is also your bed
A folding sofa that converts into a bed and ships compressed in a box, so it fits up narrow stairs and through small doors.
📏 Before you buy: Check the seat depth and bed length in the listing; boxed sofas are lighter and simpler than traditional sleepers.
Check price on Amazon →D&D Futon Furniture Folding Sleeper Chair (Twin)
Best for: The smallest possible guest bed
A foam chair that unfolds into a 36 x 70 inch twin-width bed, then folds back into a chair or ottoman.
📏 Before you buy: About 6 inches thick when open, so it is for guests, not every night. Taller sleepers should check the 70" length.
Check price on Amazon →DHP Emily Sectional Futon with Chaise
Best for: A lounge corner that becomes a bed
Adds a convertible chaise to the Emily futon, so you get a lounger by day and a wider sleeping surface at night.
📏 Before you buy: Measure the corner: the chaise adds depth, so check both walls and the walkway.
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
Is a futon or a sleeper sofa better for a small apartment?
Futons are cheaper, lighter and convert faster, but the cushion is also the mattress, so it is firmer. Pull-out sleeper sofas have a separate mattress that is usually more comfortable but need more floor when open.
Can you sleep on a sleeper sofa every night?
You can, but choose one with a real memory-foam mattress rather than a thin foam cushion, and check that the frame is meant for daily conversion.
How much space does a sleeper sofa need when open?
Plan for about 85 to 95 inches from the wall for a full or queen pull-out, plus a walkway. Futons need less because they fold flat instead of pulling out.
What is the smallest sleeper option?
A fold-out sleeper chair. It works as a chair or ottoman during the day and opens to a twin-width bed for a guest.