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Mattresses

Published January 26, 2022

9 min

Murphy Bed Sizes and Dimensions Guide 2023

For apartments or rooms having space crunch, Murphy beds are undeniably the go-to solution for situations like these.
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Table of contents
How To Measure For A Murphy Bed?Vertical Murphy Bed DimensionsHorizontal Murphy Bed DimensionsMurphy Bed Side CabinetHorizontal Side Cabinet DimensionsHow To Choose The Right Mattress For A Murphy Bed?Frequently Asked Questions
For apartments or rooms having space crunch, Murphy beds are undeniably the go-to solution for situations like these. The murphy beds, also known as wall beds or cabinet beds, are innovative space-saving furniture for small living spaces. This bed frame consists of a wall cabinet, with a foldable mattress and foundation useful for times when you’re not sleeping. However, gaining an in-depth awareness of the available murphy bed sizes suiting your requirements is mandatory before selection. We discuss the dimensions of wall beds and measurements of both vertical and horizontal murphy beds.

How To Measure For A Murphy Bed?

Before selecting the right Murphy bed for you, keep your room dimensions handy. While you're at it, you not only need to consider the measurements of the bed frame in an open position but also those of a wall bed tucked upright. The fact that a Murphy bed is just as good as a regular bed when pulled down, calls for you to ensure enough room for its spreading out. In addition to the height and width, you also need to take care of the depth of these beds assuring necessary wall space for accommodating murphy bed frames. The measurements also vary vividly depending upon the layout you choose for the wall beds - horizontal or vertical, the latter being the more popular one. Usually, the size of the mattresses, along with a few extra inches, contribute to the overall murphy bed dimensions. A murphy bed is typically designed to shelter a standard-size mattress , including all sizes ranging from twin to king-size mattresses. You may also customize your murphy bed sizes in accordance with your purpose.

Vertical Murphy Bed Dimensions

Vertical murphy beds greatly resemble ordinary bed frames and are thus quite popular worldwide. Vertical Murphy beds are more convenient because they allow you to enter from both the left and the right sides, unlike their horizontal counterparts.With a vertical Murphy bed, be extremely watchful of the ceiling height and the murphy bed height. There must be enough space available to house the wall cabinet in the upright position. Also, ensure complete aloofness from any ceiling fan or light fixture while folding or unfolding the murphy bed. Since vertical murphy beds are projected lengthwise into your room, you need to double-check enough moving space. You should leave out a minimum vacant space of 30 inches on each side of the bed.The below chart will give you an idea of the most common dimensions available for a standard vertical murphy bed.
Mattress sizeHeightWidthDepthProjection
Twin82-87 inches43-46 inches18-21 inches80-82 inches
Twin XL87-89 inches43-46 inches18-21 inches85-87 inches
Full/Double82-87 inches57-61 inches18-21 inches80-82 inches
Queen87-89 inches64-68 inches18-21 inches85-87 inches
King89-92 inches84-86 inches18-21 inches85-87 inches

Horizontal Murphy Bed Dimensions

Though horizontal murphy beds are rare, they serve as a great option for low-level roofs or kids' rooms. A horizontal murphy bed generally takes about 80-85 inches of horizontal wall space along with 47-69 inches of vertical wall space. These bed frames take up more space horizontally - both on the wall and floor. Since these are mounted on one side, they can be entered only from the opposite side of the wall. This might be a suitable choice for spare rooms or guestrooms. Before you make your choice, it is recommended to get acquainted with all the murphy bed sizes and dimensions available for horizontal orientation.
Mattress SizeHeightWidthDepthProjection
Twin45-48 inches80-85 inches16-20 inches44-46 inches
Twin XL45-48 inches85-90 inches16-20 inches44-46 inches
Full/Double62-64 inches80-85 inches16-20 inches58-60 inches
Queen68-70 inches85-90 inches16-20 inches65-68 inches
King68-70 inches85-90 inches16-20 inches78-80 inches

Murphy Bed Side Cabinet

Some murphy beds come with innovative side cabinets that can add to your storage space and enhance the closet look of murphy bed frames when stowed up. The width of these cabinets usually ranges from 18 to 30 inches, you can always go for custom sizes if you want to.A murphy bed cabinet is, without a doubt, an ideal place to store your books, photo albums, diaries, and similar stuff. These side cabinets are installed either on one or both sides of your murphy bed. Since side cabinets would require additional space, you certainly cannot opt for these if the wall you're planning to settle your bed on is already jammed somehow. Depending on the layout of your murphy bed, you may choose from the following list of available dimensions as per your requirements.

Vertical Side Cabinet Dimensions

SizeHeightWidthDepth
Twin79.25 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
Twin XL84.75 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
Full/Double79.25 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
Queen84.75 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches

Horizontal Side Cabinet Dimensions

SizeHeightWidthDepth
Twin43 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
Twin XL64 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
Full/Double58 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
Queen64 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches
King64 inches18,24, or 30 inches16 inches

How To Choose The Right Mattress For A Murphy Bed?

Once you find a Murphy bed that best fits your requirements, the next step is to pair it with a compatible mattress in accordance with your murphy bed sizes. Unlike regular beds, not all mattress types work well with a murphy bed. Bearing in mind that these are specially designed, adjustable beds with a built-in feature to bunch up against the wall, one needs to carefully select a mattress that does not get deformed by standing upright for long periods. In general, innerspring and hybrid mattresses are not recommended for Murphy beds as they are heavily weighted and can put down immense pressure on the mattress ends, leading to slumping. On the other hand, memory foam and latex foam mattresses have shown far better results in terms of durability when it comes to murphy beds. Your sleep comfort is equally essential, and foam mattresses take care of that too.Even though murphy bed mattresses can be customized, most beds allow a standard thickness of 10-12 inches. Overly thick and heavy mattresses can damage the lift mechanism of Murphy beds and therefore must be avoided.The right mattress won't be too loose or too tight and would fit just fine inside the bed frame. Even when the bed is folded against the wall, the murphy bed frame should offer enough depth to lodge in the mattress. The thickness of the mattress plus a few inches should equate to the bed frame's overall depth to make sure that the mattress isn't crushed too tightly against the wall. So, if you are on the lookout for a combination of comfortable sleep and space-saving benefits, a Murphy bed should certainly be on your checklist. But, it is important for you to acquaint yourself with all the necessary measurement details before bringing a murphy home, and you may easily do so with the murphy bed dimensions outlined in the charts above in this guide.This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Murphy bed require a special mattress? No, almost all mattresses can be used for murphy beds as long as the weight and thickness match. Moreover, pillow top and plush mattresses don’t work well with Murphy beds. How do you keep a Murphy bed mattress from sliding? By using fitted bed sheets that have elastic corners, you can securely wrap them around the mattress. This would keep the murphy bed mattress from sliding. Do murphy beds ruin mattresses? No, murphy beds don’t ruin your mattresses if they are well-maintained and taken care of. Of course, you need to ensure that the size and thickness are appropriate.
Related ArticlesKing Size Bed Dimensions – A Comparison GuideSingle vs Twin Bed: What Is the Difference?Twin vs Full vs Queen: Which Mattress Size is Right for You?How To Choose A MattressCalifornia King vs King: What Is the Difference?

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