Jacky Parker
The best sleeper sofas have an ability to do two things simultaneously. They pull double-duty as both a seat and a bed and multitask the most in smaller homes where flexibility is tantamount.
There are different styles of sleeper sofas and sofa beds, all of which are modeled after the best couches and sofas. There is the futon, which unfolds seamlessly into a mattress; there is the trundle, where an extra block of cushion extends from underneath the main frame; and there is the convertible option, which boasts a hidden pull-out mattress.
All are great, depending on your needs. Below, using my shopping editor prowess, I'll run through 12 stylish and well-reviewed options sourced from the best home decor brands — stores I know, love, and trust. In keeping with the Livingetc mission, I highlighted some of these pieces for their killer style first and foremost, though they are, of course, well-rated and well-reviewed. And since I couldn't get time with any of these pieces one-on-one, I turned to customer feedback, retailer accommodations (things like warranties and extended dimensions), and online reviews from trusted competitors, editors, and friends to inform my selections. As Livingetc's self-proclaimed sofa expert who has spent upward of 30 hours researching, shopping for, and interviewing sofa experts regarding the makings of a great couch, I'm confident there's something for everyone here. Without further ado, let's dive in.
12 of the best sleeper sofas to try
Price: From $2,799
Dimensions (closed): 86"W x 34"D x 27"H
Dimensions (open): 86"W x 60"D x 27"H
If you're not searching Reddit for customer feedback and advice on all your purchases, you're lucky to have me. It was a dive into the subreddit r/BuyItForLife — a page dedicated to discovering "practical, durable, and quality made products that are made to last" — where I found a strong recommendation for the Oxford from Room & Board. One user, who posted their comments three months ago, said their Oxford is now roughly 10 years old and they hear "nothing but good things from guests."
So I took a look myself. The listing starts strong with a 4.4-star average rating across 203 reviews; 84% of respondents said they would recommend the couch to a friend. It's well-made, too — a hardwood frame and sinuous coil suspension are both green flags, per my conversations with Megan Endres, category manager of upholstery at Raymour & Flanigan, and Rebecca Andrews, vice president of category management at Article. Another plus? The Oxford has removable legs. This comes in handy if/when you move, or if you're navigating a tight space during delivery.
Price: From $1399
Was: From $1499
Dimensions (closed): 82" W x 36.5" D x 33" H
Dimensions (open): 82" W x 62.5" D x 33" H
As is the case with many Pottery Barn products, the Pacifica is available in myriad colors and upholsteries, but I quite like this Rosewood chenille; its pinkish hue is satisfyingly offbeat. The frame also claims to take up less space than a traditional sleeper, so this would be the ideal choice for a smaller room. PB doesn't include reviews on its website, but Emilia Hitching, sleep editor at Livingetc's sister brand Homes & Gardens, dubbed the Pacifica the best overall sleeper sofa back in January 2024. "While it's less suitable for sleepers who like a soft surface," she wrote, "this mattress will contour to the curves of your body and support your seat while you sleep."
Price: From $2159.20
Was: $2599
Dimensions (closed): 80" W x 38" D x 31" H
Dimensions (open): 80" D x 90"d x 31" H
I found myself investigating the Shelter sleeper sofa after reading a recently-published love letter from Apartment Therapy. Nikol Slatinska, the shopping writer behind the adoring treatise, says it's easy to set up (the mattress portion, that is) and that it's also frequently on sale. The biggest downside? The sofa cushions themselves are quite firm. Digging a bit deeper, the sofa also earned a mention over at Hunker, where it was recommended by interior designer Melissa Warner Rothblum of Massucco Warner. Melissa said she loves how the look of the couch fits right in; you would never know it's hiding a mattress.
As with most West Elm options, you can change the upholstery if the blue/gray Graphite isn't for you.
Price: $1,599
Dimensions (closed): 33"H x 87"W x 35"D
Dimensions (open): 33"H x 87"W x 72"D
As someone who has owned one of their sofas before (and would love to again), I am an Article evangelist through and through.
The Nordby popped up twice in my research — once at The Spruce and once at Architectural Digest. The former dubbed it the "best value sleeper sofa" (at just $1600, that stands to reason), and the latter, the "best firm sleeper sofa." That said, it probably won't surprise you that the couch cushions, an extra set of which pull out to form the sleeper portion, supposedly fall on the firmer side. But the no-assembly-required delivery certainly makes up for it — just screw on the legs and voila. Customer photos and reviews look stellar, although one buyer did mention that the seat and back cushions are sewn together, making it difficult to tuck in sheets.
Price: $1,199
Dimensions (closed): 84"W x 40"D x 31"H
Dimensions (open): 84"W x 56"D x 31"H
Initially, my draw to the Una had more to do with its somewhat etagere frame — not the quality or customer reviews (which are positive, by the way). Sleeper sofas with boxy builds and frames truly dominate the market; I mean, just look at the other options I've listed here. The Una stands out, however, with its open wooden armrests and minimalist frame, a true unicorn on the sleeper sofa market.
I'm a bit less enthused by the white boucle fabric (I do feel like the nubby texture would wear down much faster with a sleeper), but luckily you can opt for a grey textured weave if you share the same concern. To set up the bed, simply remove the back cushions and lift the back panel of the couch until it's even with the seat. Ta-da! "We’ve had this sleeper for a little less than a year and it has met all of our expectations," one buyer recently wrote. "The couch fit our aesthetic for our office and seamlessly converts into a sleeper for when we have guests. The sleeper is very comfortable and doesn’t have any odd pressure points as with other spring sleepers. Would highly recommend this sofa sleeper to others!"
Price: $359.99
Was: $739
Dimensions (closed): 33'' H X 77'' W X 32.5'' D
Pick from a variety of elegant upholstery offerings to customize the Dingler, which folds down into a bed with a simple push-pull mechanism. You could also recline just part of the couch for more of a lounger-type feel. Though a light gray fabric is pictured above, I'm a fan of both the navy and green linen colorways available on Wayfair.com.
Wayfair is a tough marketplace to navigate (even tougher during Wayfair sale periods), but, in addition to solid customer reviews, the Dingler boasts backing from Men's Health, whose testers said it proves "you don't have to drop thousands of dollars on the best sofa beds." Another review from AD was a bit less effusive — senior commerce editor Rachel Fletcher gave the couch an overall B+ rating, with a C for comfort but an A for value. If you do go for it, though, she recommends splurging for the professional assembly.
Price: From $5908
Dimensions (closed): 75", 81", 87" W x 40"D x 36"H
Dimensions (open): 75", 81", 87" W x 83"D x 36"H
Per my research, the Skinny Fat Sofa Bed — or better yet, Benchmade Modern, the company behind the well-reviewed piece — really is that girl. We're talking glowing tributes from Forbes, Living Cozy, and Wirecutter, as well as endorsements from designers like Mackenzie Collier of Mackenzie Collier Interiors. The brand is known for its impossibly fast lead times and custom sizing, as well as its durability, construction, and overall comfort.
The Skinny Fat boasts a medium-sofa comfort level with an engineered plywood frame (great choice), medium-density foam (more firm than plush), and loose back pillows (helpful because you can remove them and flip them!). Reviews and customer photos couldn't be more positive. From my perspective, this level of buyer satisfaction feels almost unheard of. All 212 reviews are 4 or 5-star (majority 5-star) and 100% of buyers said they would recommend this product. It's a pricier piece, yes, but you are genuinely better off investing in a sofa that will last than something that might break in a year. Not to mention that, of the upholstery options I spot-checked, all were OEKO-TEK certified, meaning they are free of chemicals harmful to human health.
metallic accents
Price: $1699
Dimensions (closed): 31.5"H x 82"W x 38"D
I recently deemed the Soma one of the most stylish blue sleeper sofas on the market right now, and I stand by that claim. The metal feet are the perfect modern touch, and the upholstery and cushions look just as quality and shape-retaining in customer photos as they do in the product images. "Couldn’t be more happy with this. The bed is comfy, too," wrote one shopper. "Great experience - even happier with the final product than expected," added another.
Diving into the product specs, I am a bit skeptical of the frame material — in addition to engineered wood (totally fine), it looks like there's some pine in there, which an upholsterer told me isn't the best wood species to use, as it doesn't feel as sturdy long term — but I'm willing to overlook that given the positive customer feedback. If you do have a problem though, Article boasts a seemingly highly-responsive service team, as well as a one-year manufacturer's warranty and 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Price: $2099
Dimensions (closed): 84"W x 32.5"D x 33.5"H
Dimensions (open): 84"W x 60"D x 33.5"H
According to a positive review from CNN Underscored and a dedicated Reddit thread in which buyers discuss their experience, the Shift's appeal is simple: rather than mess around with metal frames or complicated futons, the sofa's single cushion folds out onto the floor, so that what was originally the seat is now even with the bottom of the couch. In just seconds, you have a queen-sized sleep surface. And in just seconds, you can fold it up and put it away.
That might be where the Shift's glowing reviews ends, especially if you're in the market for an everyday sofa. Customers on Reddit sounded majority pleased with their purchase and noted that guests slept well, but said that, as a sofa, the lounging experience isn't special. The couch is also low-profile, so consider skipping if you have back or knee issues and struggle to get up. CNN Underscored's Rachel Lubitz shared a dissenting opinion, however. In her experience, the Shift is uber-comfy as both a seating option and a spare bed, and her only qualm had to do with dressing the mattress. All in all, this could be ideal for an office sofa.
Price: $4158
Was: $5198
Dimensions (closed): 121" W x 88" D x 36" H
Dimensions (open): 121" W x 92" D x 30" H
Offering a staggering 56 options for upholstery, this sectional sofa is a stylish piece that conceals a queen-sized bed for guests within its frame. It's also quite well-reviewed, with just about five stars across 21 ratings. My favorite touch is the wooden legs, for which you can choose from three finishes: pecan, espresso, and natural.
Like other options on this list, the Tuxedo is a great quick-delivery sofa option, especially considering it's a sectional. According to the Apt2B website, this solid-wood frame beauty is made in 30 days. Of those upholstery options I mentioned, most, it seems, have been tested against the Martindale, a rating system that measures fabric durability in units of "rubs." At legacy manufacturers Carl Hansen & Søn, 30,000 rubs are the minimum recommended for domestic use — and if we're using that benchmark, most if not all of these options pass with flying colors. Additionally, it looks like all are free of PFCs, or perfluorochemicals, a group of synthetic chemicals believed to be potentially damaging to human health, and another handful are OEKO-TEX and/or GREENGUARD-certified.
Price: $1199.99
Was: $1379.99
Dimensions (closed): 34'' H X 118'' W X 92'' D
The Aine isn't the most aesthetic option on this list, but it is absolutely one of the most practical and well-priced. This behemoth sectional sleeper with storage is less than $1500, and seats 6-7 people when closed. It would be nice for a large living room or playroom and has decent customer reviews to boot.
Feedback about the seat and cushion construction (sinuous springs + fiber-wrapped foam) is positive, as well as the plywood frame. The fabric is microfiber, which is generally durable and easy to clean. Plus, the seat looks nice and deep which should be great for lounging and loafing. Just note that this is not a futon; the "sleeper" section extends from the bottom of the loveseat portion and widens the seating area so someone can fully lie down.
Price: from $4295.95
Dimensions (closed): L: 65" x W: 40" x H: 38"
Dimensions (open): L: 86" x W: 40" x H: 38"
My colleague Dabee Kaye purchased the Harris sleeper sofa, manufactured by American Leather, from retailer Raymour & Flanigan and had nothing but positive things to say. (American Leather is known for its quality so I wasn't surprised to hear this.) "This couch is super durable and comfortable," she tells me. "We were able to upgrade the mattress to a Tempur-Pedic which has been great for guests." As for her experience buying from R&F? "Customer service was great and delivery was easy."
The Harris has a mid-century-esque streamlined frame, which looks ideal for small spaces. Plus, mid-century modern furniture is just so timeless. There's a reason they're still making these pieces today. If you're willing to invest in this, aesthetically, it will work for years to come. A few underrated, if unsurprising features: the back, arms, and feet are removable (which could be incredibly helpful during delivery), and the seat cushions are loose, meaning you can flip them over in the event of aesthetic damage.
Why are sofa beds so practical?
Sofa beds aren't meant for sustained use, so don't make them part of your regular night routine. Rather, save yours for guest visits or impromptu living room sleepovers. Otherwise, though, these dual-function pieces help design lovers and hosts adapt to rapidly evolving situations while maximizing valuable space in the home.
"Sleeper sofas are incredibly convenient and excellent space-savers, offering dual functionality as both seating and a bed – perfect for smaller apartments without guest rooms," says Grace Baena, interiors curator at Kaiyo. "They're also versatile since you can quickly transform your living space into a guest bedroom or a cozy spot to watch a movie."
You'll usually see a sleeper sofa in a "living room or den, serving as the primary seating during the day and transforming into a guest bed when needed," she continues. "However, we've seen creative placements in home offices, allowing the space to double as a guest room – perfect for those with smaller spaces in the city! They're also popular in finished basements or vacation homes, creating multi-functional spaces that can accommodate guests. The key is to ensure there's enough room for the sofa to fully extend when in bed mode!"
