A murphy bed can reclaim 30–40 square feet of floor space in a small apartment — that is roughly the size of a bathroom. Fold it up during the day and the bedroom becomes a workspace, a living area, or simply a room that does not feel like you are sleeping in a corridor.
That said, not every wall bed is worth buying. Some are too deep for small rooms, too complicated to install in a rental, or priced too high for what they actually deliver. The right murphy bed depends on your room size, wall type, lease situation, budget, and whether you need just a bed or a desk and storage combination too.
This guide compares 7 murphy bed options by price, size, and use case. Check the comparison table first for a quick shortlist, then read the sections below before making a final decision.
Quick Comparison: Best Murphy Beds for Small Apartments
| Type | Size | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Full Murphy Bed Cabinet | Full | $500–$700 | Tight budgets, occasional guests |
| Horizontal Twin Murphy Bed With Desk | Twin | $700–$1,000 | Studio corners, narrow rooms, small offices |
| Mid-Range Queen Murphy Bed Cabinet | Queen | $900–$1,200 | Everyday small-bedroom use |
| Queen Murphy Bed With Storage Shelves | Queen | $1,100–$1,600 | Rooms that need built-in storage too |
| Queen Murphy Bed With Desk | Queen | $1,300–$1,900 | Home office + guest room combo |
| Murphy Bed With Sofa | Full/Queen | $1,400–$2,000+ | Studios and living-room sleeping |
| Murphy Cabinet Bed / Cube Bed | Queen | $900–$1,500 | Renters who cannot mount a wall bed |
Price note: murphy bed prices change often, especially around sales. Treat these as planning ranges. Always check mattress requirements, shipping weight, installation instructions, and whether the mattress is included before buying. Professional installation typically adds $200–$500 depending on wall type and location.
Best Murphy Beds by Budget
Under $700 — Best Budget Pick
Best pick: Budget Full Murphy Bed Cabinet
Best for: occasional guests, small guest rooms, and renters who want the wall bed function without the premium price.
A budget full-size murphy bed is the cheapest way to get the basic function: bed at night, floor space during the day. These models are usually simpler — fewer built-in features, lighter materials, stricter mattress limits — but they do the core job. If you need a practical guest bed and do not want to spend premium money on a room used for sleeping only occasionally, this is the category to start with.
- Lower price than queen models
- Takes less wall width
- Good for guest rooms and multipurpose spaces
- Simpler to visually fit into a small room
Watch for: lighter materials, stricter mattress thickness limits, and less storage than pricier models. Full size may feel cramped for two adults.
Who it suits best: a renter or small apartment owner who needs a practical guest bed but does not want to spend premium money on a room that is not used every night.
$900–$1,200 — Best Mid-Range Pick
Best pick: Mid-Range Queen Murphy Bed Cabinet
Best for: people who want a real bed size for daily use without moving into premium pricing.
The mid-range is where murphy beds start making the most sense for small apartments. Queen-size options, stronger cabinets, smoother mechanisms, and more stable frames — without the price of fully custom built-ins. A queen takes more wall space than a full or twin, but feels significantly more like a standard bed and holds up better under daily use.
- More comfortable for daily adult use
- Better long-term value than budget models
- Often available with simple side shelves
- Works well in small bedrooms and studios
Watch for: requires more wall width and floor clearance when open. Usually needs proper wall anchoring. May not include a mattress.
Who it suits best: someone who wants the best balance between price, function, and comfort. If you are choosing one murphy bed for daily use and do not need a built-in desk or sofa, this is often the most sensible range.
$1,300–$1,900 — Best Premium Pick
Best pick: Queen Murphy Bed With Desk
Best for: studio apartments and home offices that need one wall to do two jobs.
A premium murphy bed makes sense when the bed is not the only problem. If you also need a desk, shelves, or better visual integration into the room, the higher price is easier to justify — especially in small apartments where one wall may need to replace a bed, a desk, and a storage unit simultaneously.
A murphy bed with desk is the strongest premium option because it solves two major space problems at once. Important detail: some desk designs stay level as the bed folds down (meaning you do not need to clear the desk first), while others require clearing the workspace before opening. That difference matters more in daily use than it sounds.
- Combines sleeping and working space in one wall
- May reduce need for a separate desk entirely
- Often includes shelves, drawers, or side cabinets
- Strongest option for rooms that double as a home office
Watch for: heavier and harder to move, more complex assembly, and desk designs vary widely between models. Confirm whether the desk surface folds or stays level before buying.
Best Murphy Bed With Storage ($1,100–$1,600)
Best pick: Queen Murphy Bed With Storage Shelves
Best for: small bedrooms with no closet or limited shelving.
A murphy bed with storage makes sense when the room needs more than a folding bed. Side shelves, drawers, or upper cabinets can partially replace missing built-ins — useful in apartments with no proper closet or only one small wardrobe.
The main risk is visual bulk. A wall bed with storage can dominate a small room if the unit is too wide or too deep. Before buying, measure the entire wall and confirm the bed does not block doors, windows, or walking paths when open.
- Adds storage without separate furniture
- Good for books, bedding, and small-room categories
- Helps reduce visible clutter
- Useful in no-closet apartments
Watch for: can look bulky in a narrow room. Side shelving may not fit all layouts. Assembly is more complex than a plain wall bed.
Best pick: Murphy Bed With Sofa
Best for: studios where the same area needs to work as both seating and sleeping space.
Best Murphy Bed With Sofa ($1,400–$2,000+)
A murphy bed with sofa makes the most sense when you do not have a separate bedroom, or when the bed would otherwise dominate the only living space. During the day, the sofa gives the room a normal living-room function. At night, the bed folds down — usually over or in front of the sofa, depending on the design.
This is a more specialized and expensive category. It is also less forgiving if measurements are wrong. Check bed clearance, sofa depth, bed opening path, wall width, and walking space when the bed is open — not just when it is closed.
- Combines seating and sleeping in one unit
- Strong option for studios under 400 sq ft
- Reduces need for separate sofa plus bed
- Room feels like a living area during the day
Watch for: more expensive, more moving parts, larger footprint than a basic murphy bed, and not easy to relocate once installed.
Best for Studios Under 400 sq ft
Best picks: Horizontal Twin Murphy Bed With Desk or Murphy Cabinet Bed
Best for: very small apartments where every furniture decision changes the whole room.
Studios under 400 square feet need careful sizing. A queen wall bed may be comfortable but can take over the room if the wall is not right. A horizontal twin murphy bed works better in narrow rooms because it does not require as much vertical ceiling height. A cabinet bed is useful for renters because it often does not require the same wall anchoring as a traditional murphy bed.
Choose a horizontal twin murphy bed if: the room is narrow, the ceiling is low, one person will use it, you need a combined work-sleep setup.
Choose a murphy cabinet bed if: you rent and cannot mount to the wall, you need a guest bed more than a daily bed, you want something easier to relocate.
Check price — horizontal twin ↗
What to Check Before Buying
Wall Type: Drywall vs Concrete
Murphy beds are heavy, moving furniture systems. Most wall-mounted models must be anchored into studs, masonry, or a suitable structural wall. Before buying, confirm your wall type, whether the bed requires anchoring, whether your landlord allows it, and whether the floor and wall are level enough for safe installation. Renters who cannot anchor furniture safely should consider a murphy cabinet bed, sleeper sofa, or daybed instead.
Queen vs Full vs Twin
Twin: best for one person, kids’ rooms, narrow layouts, or small home offices.
Full: best for occasional guests, tight budgets, and rooms where a queen is too wide.
Queen: best for daily adult use and couples — feels most like a regular bed.
In a very small apartment, the best size is not always the biggest. It is the size that lets the room still function when the bed is open. A queen that blocks the only walking path is worse than a full that leaves clearance.
Vertical vs Horizontal
Vertical murphy beds open lengthwise — most common for queen and full sizes, feels most like a regular bed, requires sufficient ceiling height.
Horizontal murphy beds open sideways — works better in rooms with lower ceilings, narrow walls, or awkward layouts.
Gas Spring vs Spring vs Manual Mechanism
Gas-assisted or piston systems feel smoother and more controlled. Spring systems are often durable but may need adjustment over time. Manual systems are simpler but can feel heavier. Do not choose by mechanism name alone — check actual user reviews for how easy the specific model is to open and close, and whether it locks safely in both positions.
Mattress Requirements
Many murphy beds do not include a mattress. Most have strict thickness and weight limits — an incompatible mattress prevents the bed from closing properly. Before buying, check the mattress thickness limit, weight limit, whether memory foam is allowed, and whether bedding can stay on when the bed is folded up. If you plan to sleep on it every night, the mattress is not an afterthought.
Do You Need Professional Installation?
For most people, yes — especially for queen-size models, units with storage or desk components, or any bed that must be anchored to the wall. Professional installation typically costs $200–$500. A poorly installed murphy bed is not a bargain. If the installation feels beyond your skill or tools, factor in the installation cost before comparing prices.
Murphy Bed vs Regular Bed — Is It Worth It?
Worth it if: you live in a studio, your bedroom doubles as an office, you need a guest bed but not every night, the bed currently dominates the room to the point of making it unusable during the day.
Probably not worth it if: you rent and cannot anchor furniture, you move often, you need the bed open almost all the time anyway, or your room already functions well with a standard bed.
A regular bed is simpler, cheaper, and easier to move. A murphy bed is more flexible but requires more planning, more installation, and a lease situation that allows it. The best choice depends on how much that reclaimed floor space actually changes how you live in the apartment during the day.
FAQ
How much does a murphy bed cost?
Most murphy beds cost between $500 and $2,000+, depending on size, mechanism, and whether the unit includes storage, a desk, or a sofa. The sweet spot for most small apartment buyers is $1,000–$1,800 for a queen wall bed with piston-lift hardware. Add $200–$500 for professional installation.
Can renters install a murphy bed?
Sometimes — but only with caution. Most traditional murphy beds require wall anchoring, which may violate a lease or create damage that affects the security deposit. Check your landlord’s rules first. If mounting is not allowed, a murphy cabinet bed, sleeper sofa, or daybed is the more realistic option.
Are murphy beds comfortable for daily use?
Yes, when the frame is stable and the mattress is good. Comfort depends more on mattress quality than on the folding mechanism itself. Always check mattress size and thickness limits before buying — an incompatible mattress is one of the most common murphy bed frustrations.
What size murphy bed is best for a small apartment?
For one person or a narrow studio, twin or full. For couples or daily adult use, queen. The best size is not always the largest — it is the size that leaves the room functional when the bed is fully open. A queen that blocks the only walking path is a poor choice regardless of comfort.
Is a murphy bed better than a sofa bed?
For regular sleeping, usually yes — murphy beds support a more mattress-like sleeping surface. Sofa beds are better for renters who cannot anchor furniture, or for rooms where the bed is used only occasionally. If you sleep there every night, a murphy bed is worth the extra planning. If it is mainly for guests, a sofa bed is simpler.
How long does installation take?
A simple cabinet-style model may take a few hours with two people. A large queen murphy bed with shelves, a desk, or a sofa component can take a full day and almost always requires professional assembly. Budget the installation time and cost before buying, not after.
What is the difference between a murphy bed and a cabinet bed?
A traditional murphy bed mounts to the wall and folds up vertically, saving the most floor space. A cabinet bed (or cube bed) is freestanding — it does not require wall anchoring, which makes it more suitable for renters. The trade-off is a larger closed footprint. If you cannot drill into the wall, a cabinet bed is the most realistic murphy bed alternative.
Conclusion
The best murphy bed for a small apartment is not automatically the most expensive one. It is the one that fits your wall, your lease, your room clearance, and the way you actually use the space.
For tight budgets and occasional guests: a simple full murphy bed. For daily adult use: a mid-range queen. For studios that double as a home office: a queen murphy bed with desk. For renters who cannot anchor furniture: a cabinet bed.
Before buying, measure carefully, confirm wall requirements, read the installation instructions fully, and be honest about whether you will open and close the bed every single day. A murphy bed is worth it only when it makes the apartment easier to live in — not just more impressive on paper.