A horizontal murphy bed for a queen mattress folds down sideways along the wall instead of standing the mattress up vertically, and in 2026 it’s become the go-to solution for anyone whose ceiling height or room proportions rule out a standard vertical murphy bed. The catch is that a horizontal queen murphy bed needs considerably more wall length than a vertical one needs in width, so getting the fit right matters more here than with almost any other bed style.
The Best Horizontal Murphy Queen Beds at a Glance
Novogratz Concord Horizontal Queen Murphy Cabinet Bed
- Works on standard 8-foot ceilings where vertical murphy beds can't
- Includes shelving on the cabinet face for books or decor
- Smooth, controlled piston-assisted fold
- Needs close to 8 feet of wall length, more than most vertical models require in width
- Cabinet depth eats more floor space when open than a vertical design
DHP Horizontal Wall-Mounted Queen Murphy Bed Frame
- Lighter overall unit, easier for one person to help install
- No bulky cabinet sides eating floor space
- More affordable than full cabinet murphy systems
- No built-in storage or shelving, so you'll need separate furniture on top
- Fold mechanism has a slightly firmer catch at the top of the lift
Bestar Pur Horizontal Wall Bed with Shelving, Queen
- Side storage towers remain usable with bed either up or down
- Clean, modern cabinet face works as office decor when closed
- Sturdy gas-piston lift, doesn't slam or drop
- Among the pricier options in this category
- Professional installation is strongly recommended given the weight
Prepac Comfort Horizontal Queen Murphy Bed
- Most affordable full cabinet horizontal murphy bed we tested
- Straightforward, no-frills wall mount
- Reliable piston lift with no noticeable drift
- Limited finish choices compared to premium brands
- Cabinet doors are thinner particleboard, mark more easily
Pemberly Row Horizontal Murphy Bed with Desk, Queen
- Integrated desk means one motion converts the whole room
- Desk surface is sturdy enough for a laptop and monitor setup
- Horizontal orientation avoids ceiling height issues
- Desk legs must be manually extended before lowering, an extra step
- Overall unit is heavy and benefits from two-person installation
Horizontal vs. Vertical Murphy Beds: The Real Difference
A vertical murphy bed stands the mattress up on its short end (the head or foot) when folded, which requires roughly 8-9 feet of ceiling clearance for a queen but only about 5 feet of wall width. A horizontal murphy bed instead pivots the mattress up along its long side, which means it needs far less ceiling height — often workable in rooms with standard 8-foot ceilings — but requires roughly 7-8 feet of open wall length to accommodate a queen mattress’s 80-inch length plus cabinet framing. If your room has a long, uninterrupted wall but a lower or sloped ceiling, horizontal is usually the only option that physically works.
Measuring Your Wall Before You Buy
For a queen horizontal murphy bed, measure a completely clear stretch of wall at least 7.5-8 feet wide, factoring in any door swings, light switches, or window trim that could interfere with the cabinet doors opening. You’ll also need to account for the bed’s depth when lowered — typically 6-7 feet extending into the room — plus another 2-3 feet of clearance at the foot for walking around it comfortably. Rooms under roughly 10×12 feet often struggle to fit a queen horizontal murphy bed comfortably alongside other furniture; a full or twin horizontal unit is worth considering if your space is tighter.
Mounting and Wall Requirements
Horizontal murphy beds are heavier and place more lateral stress on wall studs than vertical designs because of how the piston mechanism distributes weight, so proper stud mounting is not optional. Most manufacturers require anchoring into at least two, often three, wall studs, and drywall-only mounting is explicitly against instructions on every unit we’ve reviewed. If your wall doesn’t have studs in the right spacing, you’ll need a mounting plate or French cleat system rated for the bed’s weight — check the manufacturer’s installation guide before purchase, not after delivery.
Mattress Considerations
Murphy bed mattresses need to be lighter and more flexible than a standard queen mattress to avoid stressing the pivot mechanism over time — most manufacturers recommend memory foam or hybrid mattresses under 10-12 inches thick and under roughly 90 lbs. A thick, heavy innerspring queen mattress can void the warranty on some horizontal murphy frames and makes the fold noticeably harder to manage day to day.
Assembly and Installation Reality
Budget significantly more time than a standard bed frame — most horizontal queen murphy cabinets take 3-5 hours for two people, and professional installation is worth the cost for the heavier cabinet models like the Bestar Pur, given the wall-anchoring precision required. Renters should check with a landlord before installation, since it typically involves permanent wall anchors that leave visible holes on removal.
Budget Guidance
Frame-only horizontal murphy beds without cabinetry start around $600-900. Full cabinet systems with shelving run $1,200-2,000, and units with integrated desks or premium finishes can exceed $2,500. This is a meaningfully bigger investment than a standard sofa bed or daybed, so it’s worth confirming your wall actually fits before committing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Measuring only the cabinet width and forgetting the extended depth when the bed is down
- Mounting into drywall alone instead of confirming stud placement first
- Using a mattress that’s too thick or heavy for the pivot mechanism
- Not checking door swing and light switch clearance along the full wall length
| Pick | Best For | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novogratz Concord | Best overall | 4.5 | $$$ |
| DHP Wall-Mounted | Best simple mechanism | 4.3 | $$ |
| Bestar Pur | Best storage integration | 4.6 | $$$$ |
| Prepac Comfort | Best budget option | 4.2 | $$ |
| Pemberly Row | Best for office use | 4.4 | $$$ |
| Unit | Min. Wall Length | Depth When Open |
|---|---|---|
| Novogratz Concord | ~95 in | ~82 in |
| DHP Wall-Mounted | ~92 in | ~80 in |
| Bestar Pur | ~98 in | ~84 in |
| Prepac Comfort | ~90 in | ~80 in |
| Pemberly Row | ~96 in | ~83 in |
If a horizontal murphy bed doesn’t end up fitting your wall, our broader sofa beds hub covers more flexible alternatives, including our daybeds and trundle beds picks for guest rooms with less wall space. For general bed frame options once the room is freed up, see bed frames, and if mattress weight is a concern for the murphy mechanism, our mattresses under $500 guide includes several lightweight hybrid options. Double-check your measurements against our bed sizes and dimensions guide before ordering, and see our how we test page for our evaluation process.
Our Top Horizontal Murphy Queen Pick
The Novogratz Concord Horizontal Queen Murphy Cabinet Bed fits standard 8-foot ceilings and includes built-in shelving.
Check price on AmazonHow much wall length does a horizontal queen murphy bed need?
Most horizontal queen murphy cabinets need 7.5 to 8 feet of clear wall length, plus clearance for door swings or light switches along that stretch.
Is a horizontal murphy bed better than vertical for low ceilings?
Yes. Horizontal designs pivot along the mattress’s long side and need far less ceiling height than vertical models, which typically require 8-9 feet of clearance for a queen.
Can I mount a horizontal murphy bed on drywall alone?
No. Nearly all manufacturers require anchoring into two or three wall studs due to the weight and lateral stress of the piston mechanism; drywall-only mounting isn’t rated to hold it safely.
What kind of mattress works best in a horizontal murphy bed?
A memory foam or hybrid mattress under 10-12 inches thick and under about 90 lbs is recommended by most manufacturers to avoid stressing the fold mechanism.
How long does installation take?
Plan for 3-5 hours with two people for a full cabinet system; professional installation is worth considering for heavier units given the precision needed in stud mounting.
Will a horizontal murphy bed work in a small studio apartment?
It can, but only if there’s a genuinely clear 7.5-8 foot wall stretch — tighter studios may do better with a twin or full horizontal unit, or a daybed instead.
Do horizontal murphy beds include storage?
Some do — cabinet-style units like the Bestar Pur and Novogratz Concord include shelving, while frame-only options like the DHP require separate storage furniture.
Are horizontal murphy beds renter-friendly?
Not typically, since installation usually requires permanent wall anchors. Renters should confirm with a landlord before installing one.
Part of the Talk Beds editorial team — testing and researching beds, mattresses and sleep gear so you can rest easy. Full profile & sources →
