A sleeper sofa has two jobs. It has to be a couch you enjoy sitting on every night, and a bed your guests can actually sleep on a few times a year. The best sofa sleeper for your home is the one that does both well enough in the space you really have. Here is what to measure, what to test and what to skip.
Start with the mattress size
Sleeper mattresses are usually shorter than regular bed mattresses, often around 72 inches long instead of 75 or 80. Widths are close to standard sizes. Typical ranges:
- Twin sleeper: mattress roughly 33 to 38 inches wide. Usually found in sleeper chairs and small loveseats around 45 to 60 inches wide. Fine for one child or one small adult.
- Full sleeper: mattress roughly 52 to 54 inches wide. Usually in sofas around 70 to 80 inches wide. Good for one adult, snug for two.
- Queen sleeper: mattress roughly 58 to 60 inches wide. Usually in sofas around 80 to 90 inches wide. The most common choice for couples and regular guests.
If guests over about 6 feet tall will stay with you, lie down on the bed in the store before you decide. A 72 inch mattress is 6 feet, and pillows take some of that.
Measure the open length, not just the sofa
This is the mistake we see most. People measure the wall and forget the bed has to unfold into the room. A pull out sleeper sofa with a traditional mechanism often needs about 85 to 95 inches from the back of the sofa to the foot of the open bed. Check the exact open depth on the product before you buy.
How to check your room:
- Measure the wall width and subtract a few inches on each side for side tables or walking room.
- From the wall, measure straight out into the room to the nearest obstacle: coffee table, TV stand, radiator or door swing.
- Add about 18 to 24 inches at the foot and on one side so a guest can walk around the bed.
- Remember the coffee table has to go somewhere when the bed is open. Light tables or nesting tables make this easier.
Tape the open footprint on the floor with painter's tape. It takes five minutes and saves a lot of trouble.
Mechanism types
Traditional pull-out (tri-fold)
You remove the seat cushions and pull a folded metal frame out of the base. It opens into a real bed with a separate mattress. It needs the most floor space and can have a bar under the middle of the mattress, so test that spot.
Bi-fold
The mattress folds only once, so it can be thicker and there is usually less of a bar feeling. These frames are often a bit deeper as a sofa.
Click-clack and futon style
The back folds down flat to meet the seat. No separate mattress, you sleep on the seat and back cushions. Fast to open, compact and good for small rooms, but the sleeping surface is firmer and less like a real bed.
Pop-up trundle and sleeper sectionals
Some designs pull a platform out from under the seat that rises to seat height. Sleeper sectionals often combine a pull-out section with a storage chaise, which is handy for keeping bedding in the sofa. Browse sectionals if you need seating for a larger family and an extra bed.
Sleeper mattress types
- Innerspring: the classic option. Thin coil mattresses can feel the frame underneath. Fine for occasional use.
- Memory foam or gel foam: the most common upgrade. Folds well, spreads the weight and hides the support bars better. Often around 4 to 6 inches thick.
- Air-over-coil or inflatable: some sleepers use an air layer you inflate on top of the support deck. Adjustable firmness, but check how quickly it inflates and how noisy the pump is.
If a sleeper will be used often, for a family member who stays for weeks or a studio where it is the main bed, the mattress matters more than the fabric. In that case, compare it with a real mattress on a daybed or platform bed.
Sitting comfort vs sleeping comfort
Because the bed hides inside the base, a sleeper sofa sits a little differently from a regular sofa. The seat is often firmer and slightly higher. Test both ways in the store:
- Sit for a few minutes. Check seat depth (about 20 to 22 inches of usable depth feels natural for most adults) and if you feel the frame at the front edge.
- Open and close it yourself. One person should be able to do it without a struggle. Listen for squeaks.
- Lie down in the middle of the bed. That is where you feel a support bar if there is one.
- Look at the cushions. Loose seat cushions have to go somewhere when the bed is open. Plan a spot.
If you mostly sit and only host twice a year, lean toward sitting comfort. If a guest sleeps over every month, lean toward the better mattress.
Alternatives worth considering
- Daybed with trundle: a twin mattress on a sofa-style frame, often with a second twin that rolls out underneath. Great for home offices and kids rooms. See kids and teens and beds.
- Futon: simple and affordable, firmer to sleep on, easy to open.
- Sleeper chair: a single twin bed in a chair footprint. Good for tight corners.
- Regular sofa plus an air mattress: if guests stay one night a year, a comfortable standard sofa might serve you better every other day.
Sleeper sofas for small apartments
In an apartment the question is usually open length, not sofa width. A few tips:
- A full size sleeper in a loveseat or compact sofa often fits where a queen will not.
- Click-clack styles open in place and need far less floor depth than a traditional pull-out.
- Measure doorways, stairwells and elevator doors before you buy. Sleepers are heavier than regular sofas because of the metal frame.
- Pick a frame with legs or a slim arm to keep the room feeling open.
Shop sleeper sofas at Sweet Home Furniture
We have been helping Massachusetts families furnish their homes since 1996, and our sleeper sofas collection covers different sizes and mechanisms. The best way to choose is to open a few and lie down on them. Pickup is available at either showroom, and we deliver across Massachusetts (see delivery and shipping). Flexible financing is available, including no-credit-needed lease-to-own options; apply online or ask our team.
Visit our Framingham showroom at 145 Concord St or our Saugus showroom at 1201 Broadway (Square One Mall), Monday to Saturday 10 am to 8 pm. We are open 7 days, so see the store page for Sunday hours. Bring your room measurements and we will help you check the open length. Our team speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
What size sleeper sofa do I need?
For one guest, a twin or full sleeper is usually enough. For couples or frequent guests, a queen sleeper is the common choice. Sofa width typically runs about 70 to 80 inches for a full and 80 to 90 inches for a queen, so check your wall first.
How much space does a pull out sleeper sofa need when open?
A traditional pull-out often needs about 85 to 95 inches from the back of the sofa to the foot of the bed, plus room to walk around it. Always check the open depth listed for the specific model.
Are sleeper sofas comfortable to sleep on?
Many are comfortable for occasional guests, especially with a memory foam or gel foam mattress. Lie down in the middle of the bed in the store to check for a support bar before you buy.
What is the best sofa sleeper for a small apartment?
Look at full size sleepers in loveseats or compact sofas and at click-clack styles, which open in place and need less floor depth. Measure doors, stairs and elevators too, since sleepers are heavier than regular sofas.
Is a daybed better than a sleeper sofa?
A daybed uses a real twin mattress and needs no unfolding, so it can be better for frequent use in an office or kids room. A sleeper sofa is usually more comfortable for everyday sitting in a living room.