The best Pullman bed does one thing brilliantly: it disappears when you don’t need it. Named for the fold-away berths of classic Pullman railcars, today’s Pullman beds cover wall-mounted Murphy beds, cabinet beds and folding guest beds — all designed to reclaim your floor space by day and give you a real place to sleep by night. For 2026 we tested the most popular space-saving beds on Amazon, judging how flush they fold, how sturdy they feel when deployed, how easy they are to operate solo, and how comfortable they actually are to sleep on. Here are our picks, plus a full buying guide and FAQ.
The Best Pullman Beds at a Glance
DHP Murphy Wall Bed with Cabinet
- Folds completely flush against the wall
- Smooth gas-piston lift, one-person operation
- Cabinet doubles as a design feature when closed
- Requires wall anchoring and careful measuring
- Assembly is a two-person, multi-hour job
Bestier Folding Wall Bed with Desk
- Desk stays level and usable with bed down
- Genuinely doubles a room's function
- Sturdy steel folding mechanism
- Best suited to a twin or full mattress
- Heavier to install than a plain wall bed
Signature Sleep Folding Guest Bed with Memory Foam
- Rolls away and stores in a closet
- Memory-foam top beats an air mattress
- No installation or wall drilling needed
- Lower to the ground than a wall bed
- Firmness suits guests more than nightly use
Milliard Diplomat Folding Bed with Mattress
- Sets up and folds in seconds
- Surprisingly thick included mattress
- Stores flat or upright to save space
- Metal frame can squeak until broken in
- Twin-size only
Zinus Traveler Premium Folding Guest Bed
- Higher off the floor than rivals
- Foam-over-coil feel suits longer stays
- Folds compactly for closet storage
- Heavier to carry than thinner models
- Takes up more closet depth folded
Novogratz Murphy Cabinet Bed
- Freestanding, no wall anchoring needed
- Looks like furniture when closed
- Renter- and move-friendly
- Console footprint stays in the room
- Mattress is thinner than a wall bed's
What counts as a Pullman bed?
“Pullman bed” is used loosely for any bed that folds or tucks away to save space. In practice it covers three families:
- Wall / Murphy beds — the mattress lifts up and folds flat into a wall cabinet. Best for daily use in a room that needs to double as an office or living space.
- Cabinet beds — a freestanding console unfolds into a bed, no wall drilling required. Ideal for renters.
- Folding / roll-away beds — a lightweight frame with mattress that folds and stores in a closet. Best for occasional guests.
If you’re outfitting a truly tiny space, cross-shop our best Murphy beds and day beds roundups too — they overlap heavily with Pullman-style sleepers.
How to choose the right Pullman bed
Match the type to how often you’ll use it
For nightly sleeping in a multi-use room, a wall-mounted Murphy bed like the DHP is worth the installation effort — it folds truly flush and sleeps like a normal bed. For a few guest nights a year, a folding roll-away such as the Milliard Diplomat or Signature Sleep saves money and needs zero installation. Renters who want the wall-bed look without drilling should look at cabinet beds like the Novogratz.
The lift mechanism
On wall beds, the lift is everything. Gas-piston systems (DHP, Bestier) let one person raise and lower the bed smoothly; cheaper spring mechanisms can be jerky and harder to control. Test that you can operate it alone before committing to a spot on the wall.
Mattress thickness and comfort
Fold-away beds cap mattress thickness so they can close, which historically meant thin, uncomfortable foam. That’s changed: the Zinus Traveler and Signature Sleep use foam-over-coil or memory foam that genuinely suits longer stays. For a wall bed, confirm the maximum mattress thickness the cabinet allows before buying a replacement mattress.
Sturdiness and height
A good Pullman bed shouldn’t feel like sleeping on the floor. We favored models that sit higher off the ground (the Zinus Traveler stands out) and that lock into a rigid frame with no wobble when you sit on the edge. Squeaking metal frames, common on the cheapest folding beds, usually settle after a break-in period.
Installation and wall requirements
Wall-mounted beds must anchor into studs and need precise measuring — budget a couple of hours and a second person. Cabinet and folding beds skip all of that, which is why they’re the go-to for renters and quick guest setups.
Weight capacity and daily durability
A Pullman bed that gets folded and unfolded constantly needs hardware that won’t loosen. Wall beds with steel frames and gas pistons, like the DHP and Bestier, held up best to repeated cycling in testing, and their center supports kept a queen mattress from sagging. On folding roll-aways, check the stated weight capacity and give the joints a firm shake before nightly use — a frame that flexes now will squeak and loosen later. For two adults, prioritize a wall or cabinet bed over a lightweight roll-away.
Pullman bed comparison
| Model | Type | Best for | Installation | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHP Murphy Wall Bed | Wall / Murphy | Daily use in a multi-use room | Wall-anchored | $$$ |
| Bestier Wall Bed with Desk | Wall + desk | Studio apartments | Wall-anchored | $$$ |
| Signature Sleep Folding Bed | Roll-away | Occasional guests | None | $$ |
| Milliard Diplomat | Folding | Budget quick sleeper | None | $ |
| Zinus Traveler | Folding | Longer guest stays | None | $$ |
| Novogratz Cabinet Bed | Cabinet | Renters | None | $$$ |
Pullman beds for small spaces
The whole point of a Pullman bed is reclaiming floor area, which makes it a natural fit for studios, RVs, tiny homes and multi-use guest rooms. Pair one with vertical storage and a folding desk and a single room can serve as bedroom, office and living space. For more compact-living ideas, see our guides to the best beds for studio apartments and best sofa beds, or the best trundle beds when you need a second sleeping spot on demand.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mounting a wall bed without finding studs. A Murphy bed must anchor into framing, not just drywall.
- Buying too thick a mattress. Check the cabinet’s maximum thickness or the bed won’t fold flush.
- Choosing a wall bed as a renter. If you can’t drill, go cabinet-style or folding instead.
- Expecting a floor bed to sleep like a real one. Pick a higher, foam-over-coil model for longer stays.
Weighing a Pullman bed against a proper frame? Compare our broader best bed frames and best platform beds guides, and read how we test to see how we scored these.
Want to reclaim your floor space?
Our top overall wall bed folds completely flush and can be raised or lowered by one person.
Check price on AmazonWhat is a Pullman bed?
A Pullman bed is any fold-away or wall-mounted bed named after the fold-down berths on classic Pullman railcars. Today it covers Murphy wall beds, cabinet beds and folding guest beds — all designed to save floor space.
Are Pullman beds comfortable to sleep on nightly?
Wall-mounted Murphy beds can be, because they use a full-thickness mattress. Folding roll-aways are firmer and better suited to occasional guests, though higher models like the Zinus Traveler handle longer stays well.
Do Pullman wall beds need to be anchored to the wall?
Yes. Murphy-style wall beds must anchor into wall studs for safety. If you rent or can’t drill, choose a freestanding cabinet bed or a folding roll-away instead.
Can one person operate a Murphy bed?
With a gas-piston lift, yes — both the DHP and Bestier can be raised and lowered solo. Avoid cheaper spring mechanisms if you’ll be operating the bed alone.
What size mattress fits a Pullman bed?
It depends on the model — folding beds are usually twin or full, while wall and cabinet beds go up to queen. Always check the maximum mattress thickness the frame allows.
Are Pullman beds good for studio apartments?
They’re one of the best options for studios. A wall bed with a desk lets a single wall serve as both bedroom and workspace, freeing the rest of the floor.
How long does it take to install a wall-mounted Pullman bed?
Budget a couple of hours with two people. You’ll need to locate studs, mount the cabinet and attach the lift mechanism carefully.
What’s the cheapest Pullman-style bed?
A basic folding guest bed like the Milliard Diplomat is the most affordable option. It sets up in seconds and stores upright, though it’s twin-size only.
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 →