A Murphy bed — also called a wall bed — is the classic answer to a room that has to be two things at once. Fold it up and a bedroom becomes an office, a gym or a living room; fold it down and a den becomes a guest room. In 2026 the category has split neatly into two lanes: finished cabinet units that look like furniture, and DIY hardware kits that let you build your own for far less.
Below are our tested picks across both lanes, followed by a buying guide covering lift mechanisms, weight, cabinet and desk combos, and whether a kit or a full unit makes more sense for you.
Best Murphy Beds at a Glance
Bestar Murphy Bed with Cabinet
- Smooth piston lift
- Built-in storage cabinet
- Looks like a wardrobe when closed
Signature Sleep Wall Bed
- Affordable entry point
- Vertical fold saves floor space
- Includes lift hardware
Mount-It Murphy Bed DIY Hardware Kit
- Piston-assisted lift hardware
- Fits DIY builds
- Big savings vs full units
Bestar Murphy Bed with Desk Combo
- Integrated desk stays usable
- Bed folds away over the desk
- Coordinated cabinet finish
Multimo Murphy Bed with Sofa
- Sofa stays in place when bed folds down
- Ideal for studios and small apartments
- Piston lift assist
How we chose
We looked first at the lift mechanism, because that is what you interact with every single time. From there we weighed the quality of the cabinet, how convincingly the unit disappears when closed, weight capacity, and how honest the space savings really are once the bed is folded up. For combo units we checked whether the desk or sofa stays usable rather than becoming a token feature. Pricing shown is a general guide, not a live quote.
Spring lift vs piston lift
Every wall bed rises and lowers on either a coiled-spring or a gas-piston mechanism, and the difference is worth understanding before you buy.
- Spring lift: uses tensioned coils. It is typically cheaper and time-tested, but springs need occasional tension adjustment as they settle, and the lift can feel slightly less smooth.
- Piston lift: uses gas struts, like a car hatchback. It gives a smoother, more controlled motion, needs little adjustment, and generally feels more premium — which is why most higher-end cabinet units use it.
Neither is wrong. Springs are fine for a guest room used occasionally; pistons are the better call for a bed you fold up and down daily.
Cabinet, desk and sofa combos
The reason to spend up on a Murphy bed is the cabinetry around it. A plain wall bed just folds away; a combo unit turns the same footprint into two pieces of furniture:
- Cabinet units add side storage or a wardrobe finish so the closed bed reads as built-in furniture.
- Desk combos keep a work surface usable with the bed up, then fold the bed down over the desk without clearing it — ideal for a home office that doubles as a guest room.
- Sofa combos fold the bed down over a compact couch, which is the single best trick for a true studio apartment.
Weight and structure
Wall beds are heavy and must be anchored, and a fold-down mechanism only feels safe when it is rated well beyond the mattress plus sleepers. Confirm the unit’s weight capacity, use the recommended mattress depth (most Murphy beds want a mattress around 10 to 12 inches so it folds flat), and always secure the cabinet to wall studs per the instructions. The lift is only as safe as its anchoring.
| Type | Best for | Typical lift | Effort to install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cabinet unit | Guest rooms, showpiece finish | Piston | Moderate to high |
| Basic wall bed | Budget space saving | Spring or piston | Moderate |
| Desk combo | Home office and guest room | Piston | High |
| DIY hardware kit | Custom builds, max savings | Piston-assisted | High (you build it) |
DIY kits vs full units
A DIY hardware kit like the Mount-It gives you just the lift mechanism and mounting hardware; you supply the cabinet and mattress and build the rest. If you are handy, it is by far the cheapest route to a real Murphy bed and lets you match existing cabinetry. A full unit like the Bestar costs more but arrives as a designed, finished piece with matched storage — the right call if you want furniture, not a project. Be honest about your carpentry skills before choosing the kit.
Who each pick suits
- Guest rooms that should look built-in: the Bestar cabinet unit.
- Tight budgets: the Signature Sleep basic wall bed.
- DIYers: the Mount-It hardware kit.
- Home offices: the Bestar desk combo.
- Studio apartments: the Multimo sofa combo.
Other space-saving options
A Murphy bed is not the only way to make one room do double duty. If a fold-down cabinet feels like more commitment than you need, a sofa bed or a day bed can deliver flexible sleeping space with far less installation. And if you want a permanent bed but still care about footprint and looks, browse our bed frames guide for low-profile and storage options.
Turn one room into two
The Bestar Murphy bed with cabinet is our best-overall pick — a smooth piston lift and finished storage that looks like furniture when closed.
Check price on AmazonIs a piston or spring lift better?
Pistons give a smoother, lower-maintenance lift and suit daily use, while springs are cheaper and fine for occasional guest use but may need tension adjustment over time.
How much weight can a Murphy bed hold?
It varies by model, but a quality wall bed is rated well beyond the mattress plus sleepers. Always confirm the capacity and anchor the cabinet to wall studs as instructed.
What mattress thickness works with a Murphy bed?
Most Murphy beds want a mattress around 10 to 12 inches so it folds flat inside the cabinet. Check your specific unit’s maximum before buying a mattress.
Are DIY Murphy bed kits worth it?
If you are comfortable building a cabinet, a hardware kit like the Mount-It is far cheaper than a full unit and lets you customize the finish. If not, a finished unit is the safer choice.
Can a Murphy bed include a desk or sofa?
Yes. Desk combos keep a work surface usable with the bed up, and sofa combos fold the bed down over a couch, both ideal for small spaces.
Sophie Laurent
Sophie Laurent is TalkBeds' Beds & Bedroom Editor. With more than ten years covering home and furniture, she leads everything on the site that isn't the mattress itself: bed frames, platform beds, headboards, bunk and kids' beds, sizing, and the interiors decisions… Full profile & sources →