How to Build a Murphy Bed: A Practical DIY Guide from Real Experience

If you’ve ever looked at Murphy beds, you’ve probably asked yourself the same question many of our customers do:

Is it better to build one myself, or just buy a pre-made unit?

After designing, building, testing, and selling Murphy bed kits in New Zealand, I can confidently say this: building your own Murphy bed is completely achievable for a DIY-friendly person, and in many cases, it’s more affordable, more flexible, and more satisfying than buying a pre-made system.

This guide is based on real builds, real mistakes, and real customer outcomes.

Who Is This Guide For?

This article is written for:

  • DIY-friendly homeowners
  • First-time Murphy bed builders
  • NZ and AU customers working with standard plywood sizes
  • People who want a solid, safe, long-lasting result, not a flimsy flat-pack

You don’t need to be a builder, but you do need patience, accuracy, and the willingness to follow instructions.

Is It Worth Building a Murphy Bed Yourself?

In most cases, yes.

Pre-made Murphy beds are convenient, but they’re often:

  • Very expensive
  • Limited in size and design
  • Built with thin panels or metal frames
  • Hard to repair or customise later

A DIY Murphy bed gives you:

  • Control over materials and finish
  • Better use of space
  • A stronger structure when built correctly
  • A lower overall cost, depending on finish level

The biggest deciding factor isn’t money, it’s whether you enjoy DIY projects and want something tailored to your space.

What Materials Are Needed to Build a Murphy Bed?

For a queen-size vertical Murphy bed, a typical build uses:

  • 4 sheets of 18 mm plywood
  • 2 sheets of 6 mm plywood for back panels
  • Pine timber 40 × 18 mm for internal supports

The timber is the main cost, usually around $500 NZD / 430 AUD, depending on supplier and quality.

Other materials include:

  • Wood screws in various lengths
  • Wood glue
  • A small number of bolts and T-nuts for pivot bars and gas strut plates
  • Paint, edging, handles, or trims, depending on your design

There are no unusual or specialist materials required.

How to Plan Your Cuts and Reduce Timber Waste

A good Murphy bed build starts before you touch a tool.

A proper instruction manual should include a full cut list for all timber panels. From there, you have two practical options.

Cutting the Sheets Yourself

If you’re cutting your own sheets, using a cut-optimisation tool is strongly recommended. Tools like CutList Optimizer allow you to:

  • Arrange cuts efficiently
  • Reduce waste
  • Get the most out of each plywood sheet

Having the Sheets Pre-Cut

This is what most customers choose.

You can simply provide the cut list to a timber supplier or local cabinet maker. Most suppliers use similar optimisation software to plan the cuts for you, which saves time, reduces errors, and makes the assembly process much easier.

What Tools Do You Need to Build a Murphy Bed?

At a minimum, you’ll need:

  • Drill and driver
  • Drill bits
  • Screwdriver
  • Hammer

If you’re cutting the plywood yourself, you’ll also need a circular saw.

When the sheets are pre-cut, the build becomes mostly an assembly process rather than a heavy carpentry job.

Common Mistakes When Building a Murphy Bed

These are mistakes I’ve personally made and seen customers make during early builds:

  • Rushing measurements
  • Not checking that the cabinet is square
  • Using thinner plywood than recommended
  • Underestimating the importance of wall fixing
  • Installing gas struts before the cabinet is fully secured

None of these are complicated mistakes, but they can affect safety, operation, and long-term durability.

What Makes a Murphy Bed Feel Professional?

If there’s one decision that separates a professional-feeling Murphy bed from a DIY one, it’s material thickness and structural accuracy.

Strong plywood, correct panel sizing, and properly installed pivots and struts make the bed feel smooth, solid, and safe.

Cut corners here, and the bed will never feel right.

Real Example: Why People Choose to Build a Murphy Bed

A common customer scenario is a spare room that needs to work as a home office during the week and a guest room on weekends.

A standard bed wastes space. A sofa bed compromises comfort.

A Murphy bed allows:

  • Full floor space during the day
  • A proper mattress at night
  • A custom finish that matches the room

This is exactly where a DIY Murphy bed makes sense.

Which Steps Should You Not Rush?

Take extra time with:

  • Cabinet squareness
  • Wall anchoring
  • Pivot alignment
  • Gas strut installation

These steps affect safety and long-term durability far more than cosmetic details.

What I Wish I Knew Before Building My First Murphy Bed

Preparation matters more than speed.

A well-planned Murphy bed can be assembled in a day once everything is cut, but rushing the planning stage always costs more time later.

Final Thoughts: Should You Build a Murphy Bed?

If you’re DIY-friendly, enjoy hands-on projects, and want a bed tailored to your space, building a Murphy bed is absolutely worth it.

It’s not just about saving money, it’s about creating something solid, practical, and personal.

If you want to remove the guesswork while keeping full control over materials and design, a proven DIY Murphy bed kit with clear instructions and a complete cut list can make the process far easier, especially for a first build.

If you’re planning your own Murphy bed project and want a system that’s been tested through real builds and customer feedback, you can explore our Easy Fold Murphy Bed kit as a starting point for your design.

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