Futon vs Sofa Bed vs Bed vs Murphy Bed: Which Is Best For Me?
Futon vs Sofa Bed vs Bed vs Murphy Bed
To help you decide which type of sleeping option is the best choice for you, here are some detailed descriptions.
Sofa Bed:
There can often be a lot of confusion about a futon vs sofa bed. Some people think of them as the same thing when actually they are quite different.
A sofa bed has its mattress hidden underneath the frame of the sofa when you are using it as a couch. It comes with separate seat cushions as well.

Bed:
A bed is a fixed structure that does not fold up and it usually is not used for any purpose other than sleeping. Alternatively, a bed can also be used to lounge on during the day.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

Murphy Bed:
A murphy bed is a type of bed that is hinged at one end and folds up vertically against your wall to store away when you aren't using it. Some murphy beds also fold up into a closet or cabinet on your wall.
The mattress is usually attached to the frame with elastic straps to keep it from slipping off when it is folded away.
Photo by David Boyle, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Cost
It is hard to compare the cost of a futon vs sofa bed vs bed vs murphy bed because the price you pay will depend on a number of factors including the quality, style, size, and type you choose.
Generally speaking though, if you are comparing roughly the same size and quality of a product, a bed is going to be your most expensive because you are paying for a box spring, mattress and headboard. Your next most expensive would be your sofa and murphy bed because of their more complex structures. Futons are generally your least expensive option.
2. Size options
Futons, sofa beds, beds, and murphy beds can all be purchased in a single, double, queen, and even king options.

Futons come in a full range of sizes including king
3. Overall comfort
Futons: Futons have thicker mattresses than sofa beds which make them more comfortable to sleep on. If you are going to use your futon for sleeping on a regular basis, then they are a better choice than either a sofa bed or a murphy bed. You can even purchase high-quality mattresses for your futon such as memory foam ones which can make them just as comfortable as regular beds.
Beds: Most beds are made up of a box spring and a mattress which together will give you lots of support and a very comfortable sleep. Your overall comfort will however depend on the quality and age of your boxspring and mattress. If your mattress is old and worn out, then it is not going to be very comfortable.
Sofa Beds: A sofa bed mattress needs to be thin enough so that it can be folded and hidden away inside the sofa. This means that the sofa bed is usually the least comfortable option.
Murphy Beds: Murphy beds don't have box springs so the mattress lies on a wire mesh or wooden platform that holds it in place. This can make them rather uncomfortable to sleep on.

4. Ease of use
Futons: Futons are generally very easy to convert from a seating position to a sleeping position and vice versa. For many models, you simply need to press the back of the futon down or lift the front of the futon up to turn it into a bed. To bring it back into a sofa position, simply lift the back up or push the front down.
Sofa bed: To use a sofa bed for sleeping, you need to first remove the seat cushions to expose the top of the bed frame. You then have to pull the frame up and unfold it. The frame is usually made of metal and it can be quite heavy to pull out. When you are finished sleeping, you need to fold the frame back inside the sofa and place the seat cushions back.
Bed: You don't have to make any adjustments to convert it into a bed. Just climb in and fall asleep. This makes it very easy to use. However, if you want to use the space for another purpose, then a bed is heavy and awkward to move out of the way or to store.
Murphy bed: To store your murphy bed away, you need to lift it up at the bottom and walk it up to its vertical storage position. You need to be careful that the bed is securely stored before letting go so that it doesn't accidentally fall on you.
Futons are very easy to operate
5. Small space rating
Futon: A high quality futon is often the best choice for small bedrooms, dorms, apartments, and multi-purpose spaces in the home. They take up relatively little space and they are functional for many different circumstances.
Sofa Bed: A sofa bed is also multi-functional giving you both the option of sitting and sleeping on it. However, if you want to use it for sleeping more than just occasionally, it is not a very comfortable option.
Bed: A bed will take up the most space and it is not as multi-functional. If you are tight on space, then a futon would be a better option for you.
Murphy Bed: A murphy bed takes up very little space when you are not using it, making it a great choice for small spaces. However, once you put it away, you can not use it to sit on and you are left with an empty space with no furniture in it.

Futon vs sofa bed: Both are multi-functional - Photo by Jelrik Stevens on Unsplash
For the Best Quality and Best Price for Your Futon, Choose The Futon Shop
If you are looking for the best quality futons at the best price, contact The Futon Shop. At the Futon Shop we know how amazing our futons are because we are both the manufacturer and the retailer! Since 1984 we have been manufacturing our own line of high-quality futons in a wide variety of styles and sizes. If you prefer, we can also make a custom size to meet your exact requirements.
All of our futons are crafted right here in Canada at our Burlington Ontario location, so you can be sure that you are getting a quality product that will last. We are the largest futon manufacture in Canada and we even build our own line of high quality futon mattresses. You can come see our incredible lineup at our Burlington location or you can shop for all of our products online. We ship all across Canada.
"We purchased from here instead of getting something shipped from Amazon because we were hoping for better quality & better customer service, not to mention supporting local, and we were not disappointed. Everyone we spoke with was super kind & helpful, our order was ready quickly and they fully loaded it into our vehicle, and when we had a slight issue with our order they were extremely quick to resolve it. The futon looks great and the mattress is really comfy. We did go with the tahoe pine frame which is not the best quality wood, but that’s to be expected in our price range - opt for better if you can afford it. Overall, worth the extra drive to Burlington (or the shipping cost if you get delivery)
."
- Kathleen Pacheco
The Futon Shop - Burlington Showroom
5205 Harvester Rd, Burlington, L7L, ON, Canada




