The types at a glance
There are six common ways to turn a sofa into a bed. They differ more in how they sleep, and how much floor they take when open, than in how they look as a sofa.
| Type | Best for | Sleep comfort | Speed to open | Daily use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pull-out sofa bed | Guest rooms, family rooms | Fair | Fair | Occasional |
| Click-clack / futon | Studios, first flats | Fair | Very good | Possible |
| Daybed with trundle | Kids, two single sleepers | Good | Good | Yes |
| Sleeper sectional | Large living rooms | Fair | Good | Occasional |
| Chair bed | Corners, small offices | Limited | Good | Occasional |
| Wall bed with sofa | One-room living | Very good | Good | Yes |
The full matrix, with sitting comfort and floor space, is on the types of convertible sofas page.
Where to start
Types compared
Pull-out, click-clack, daybed, sleeper sectional, chair bed and wall-bed combinations, side by side.
Mechanisms
Tri-fold, bi-fold, click-clack, pull-forward and lift-up storage: how each one opens and what wears out.
Mattresses
Innerspring, memory foam, hybrid and air-over-coil, and why thickness is limited on a fold-away bed.
Measuring
Room clearance when the bed is open, and how to check doorways, stairs and lifts before delivery.
Sizes
Twin, full, queen and king sleepers, with typical US and European mattress dimensions.
Fabrics
Martindale and Wyzenbeek rub counts explained, and which fibres cope with pets and children.
Three questions to answer first
- How often will someone sleep on it? A few nights a year and every night are different purchases. The daily or guest guide explains what changes.
- How much floor is free when it's open? Measure the room with the bed extended, not the sofa closed. Most pull-out beds need well over two metres from the back of the sofa.
- Can it get into the room? Doorways, stair turns and lifts stop more deliveries than anything else. Check them with the measuring guide before you order.
Why compare by type, not by brand
Model names change every season, and the same frame is often sold under several names. The things that decide whether a sofa bed works for you don't change: the mechanism, the mattress construction and thickness, the frame, the fabric's abrasion rating and the opened size. Once you know what to look for, you can read any specification sheet and compare like with like.
When you have a shortlist, take the questions to ask before buying to the shop or the retailer's chat, and get the answers in writing.