Murphy Bed vs Sofa Bed: Which One Should You Choose?
If you're trying to make the most of a spare room or guest space, you've probably landed on two main options: a Murphy bed or a sofa bed. Both solve the same problem — accommodating overnight guests without dedicating a full room to a static bed — but they do it in very different ways. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide which is right for your home.
Comfort
Murphy bed: Uses a full-sized, regular mattress of your choice. Sleeping in a Murphy bed feels identical to sleeping in a standard bed, because structurally, it is one. Your guests get a proper night's sleep.
Sofa bed: The mattress in a sofa bed is almost always a compromise. It folds inside the sofa, meaning it's thinner, often has a metal bar running across it, and rarely provides the same comfort as a real bed. Even premium sofa beds can't fully replicate the feel of a proper mattress.
Winner: Murphy bed — by a significant margin.
Space Saving
Murphy bed: When folded up, a Murphy bed takes up approximately 45cm of wall depth. The floor space is completely clear for other uses.
Sofa bed: When closed, a sofa bed functions as a sofa — which is useful, but it still occupies significant floor space permanently. You don't gain usable floor area the way you do with a Murphy bed.
Winner: Murphy bed, if maximising floor space is the goal.
Versatility
Murphy bed: The room can be used for virtually anything when the bed is raised — home office, gym, playroom, yoga studio, creative space.
Sofa bed: The room is always a lounge/sitting room. You can't really use it as an office or gym at the same time.
Winner: Murphy bed, for rooms that need to serve multiple purposes.
Cost
Murphy bed: A DIY kit like Easy Fold, combined with plywood and basic finishing, typically comes in well under $1,500 all-in. Even pre-built options are competitive when you consider longevity.
Sofa bed: A quality sofa bed that's actually comfortable as both a sofa and a bed tends to cost $1,500–$4,000+. Budget sofa beds are often poor at both functions.
Winner: DIY Murphy bed, for the best value per use.
Ease of Use
Murphy bed: Takes about 30–60 seconds to fold down or raise. Very simple once it's set up.
Sofa bed: Requires removing cushions, unfolding the mechanism, and arranging the mattress. Most people find it fiddly and awkward, especially for older guests.
Winner: Murphy bed.
Which Should You Choose?
If you want genuine comfort, maximum floor space, and room versatility — a Murphy bed wins on almost every measure. A sofa bed is a reasonable option if the room genuinely needs to function as a lounge first and a bedroom second, and you're comfortable with the compromise on sleep quality.
For most New Zealand, Australian and UK homes where space is at a premium, a Murphy bed is the smarter long-term investment.