What is a Murphy bed mattress?

A Murphy bed is a convenient, space-saving solution for people living in small homes or studio apartments. These nifty beds can be folded away vertically when not in use, so it’s essential to choose a mattress that both fits your Murphy bed and holds its shape when tucked away in storage.

But while many of the best mattresses we’ve tested can be used in a Murphy bed frame, it’s not quite as simple as choosing a standard bed in a box.

Whether you’re looking for a mattress for a college student to fit modest accommodation, or your bedroom doubles as a creative space and a Murphy bed will provide more square footage to work, we’re here to help you determine what to consider when choosing a Murphy bed mattress.

What is a Murphy bed?

A Murphy bed is a bed that’s hinged on one end so you can fold the frame and mattress up against the well when not in use. It’s also called a pull-down bed, wall bed or fold-down bed.

Most Murphy beds are hinged vertically, but this space-saving solution also comes in horizontal form (with a hinges lengthwise along the bed) for narrow rooms or lower ceilings.

The biggest benefit of the Murphy bed is, of course, their ability to free up space. They can easily transform a bedroom or studio into a multi-use room.

However, Murphy beds come with a few disadvantages. They tend to be more expensive than traditional beds, may require professional installation and aren’t suitable for all room layouts.

Do Murphy beds need special mattresses?

Most standard mattresses in a box are suitable for a Murphy bed. However, while you don’t need a specialty model, some brands do offer mattresses created specifically for use with this unusual bed frame.

These mattresses are designed to withstand the unique requirements of a Murphy bed, including retaining their shape even when placed in upright storage.

Still, you should be able to use a mattress from your favorite brand — with a few caveats in mind. When choosing a mattress for a Murphy bed, there are some features you need to consider to ensure your mattress fits the frame and stays comfortable even after time in vertical storage.

What to consider when choosing a Murphy bed mattress

Buying a mattress for a Murphy bed? Here’s everything you need to know before you start browsing to help you find a Murphy bed mattress that meets your needs.

1. Mattress material

Memory foam is often considered the best mattress material for Murphy beds, as the contouring foams mold to the frame when in upright storage, before springing back into place when the bed is flat.

While a spring mattress isn’t necessarily out of the picture for Murphy bed use, more structured and firm coil mattresses can be damaged by upright storage.

You’ll also want to steer clear of most mattresses with pillow tops (or Euro tops.) These padded layers can add extra height to your mattress and pose difficulty when folding the bed.

2. Weight and size

Most Murphy beds can comfortably house a mattress that’s eight to 12 inches tall (though a handful have a maximum mattress height of 10 inches, so be sure to review product specs before purchasing.)

While it may be enticing to purchase a thicker mattress for aesthetic appeal, a mattress that’s too tall (such as 14 inches) can ultimately prevent you from folding your Murphy bed, defeating its purpose.

It’s also wise for Murphy bed users to purchase a lightweight mattress. A lighter mattress will be easier to fold down and fold up, while a heavy mattress will be harder to lift when moving the bed into upright storage.

Purchasing a mattress with a smaller profile and lighter weight shouldn’t compromise comfort. A bed within these specs should still be supportive without hampering storage.

3. Comfort and support

It’s important to choose a mattress that meets your unique sleep needs. Stomach and back sleepers will want a firmer mattress to help keep their hips and low back in alignment, while side sleepers require a mattress with greater contouring to help prevent shoulder pain.

If you’re a hot sleeper, mattresses with ventilated foam or cooling covers can help you sleep comfortably, while couples who bed share will want to opt for a mattress with good motion isolation to help absorb movement.

Since Murphy bed mattresses are typically on the thinner side, you’ll want to look for support features like dense foam layers, reinforced edges or coils.

These features will help keep your spine in alignment as you sleep, make it easier to sit on the bed to get dressed or tie your shoes, and add to the overall durability of the mattress.

4. Mattress warranty

Warranties often contain fine print that many of us skip over, but you’ll want to read your mattress warranty carefully if you plan on using it in a Murphy bed.

That’s because using certain types of mattresses in a Murphy bed frame can actually void the warranty, so it’s important to do your homework before buying. Always put your mattress on a suitable bed base.

Where to buy a mattress for a Murphy bed?

The good news is that there are plenty of options for purchasing a Murphy bed mattress both in-store or online, allowing you to shop around for the perfect fit.

Some retailers specialize in Murphy beds and sell accompanying mattresses, but traditional sleep brands are getting in on the action, with options like the luxury Murphy Bed from Saatva. Third-party retailers such as Amazon, Wayfair and Home Depot also sell Murphy bed mattresses.

Murphy bed mattresses come at a variety of price points depending on your budget, though you can always expect to pay more for a specialty mattress designed specifically for Murphy bed use (as opposed to buying a traditional mattress for your frame).

No matter which brand or retailer you choose to buy from, be sure to look for a Murphy bed mattress with a warranty and sleep trial period. This provides protection from manufacturer’s defects (or a bed that just isn’t right.) Keep in mind it can take 30-90 days to get used to a new mattress, so it’s important to give yourself time to adjust.