Best Mattress for a Murphy Bed
Why the bed picks first
A murphy bed closes over its mattress, so thickness is a hard mechanical limit, not a preference. Weight matters because the mechanism is balanced for a range: too heavy and the bed is a workout to lift, too light and it can feel snappy closing. The mattress conversation starts with your bed's published limits.
The limits of every bed we track
| Bed | Max thickness | Max weight | Mattress included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Furniture MurphySofa Clean - Sectional Queen Wall Bed | 10" | 100 lbs | No |
| Expand Furniture MurphySofa Stratus - Queen 2 Seat Sofa Wall Bed | 10" | 100 lbs | No |
| Expand Furniture Hover - Horizontal Queen Murphy Bed Desk | 10" | — | No |
| Expand Furniture MurphySofa King Size Murphy Bed with Sofa | 10" | 120 lbs | No |
| Bestar Key West 69W Queen Murphy Bed | 12" | 90 lbs | No |
| Bestar Pur 59W Full Murphy Bed | 10" | 90 lbs | No |
| Bestar Nebula Queen Murphy Bed with 2 Wardrobes (115W) | 12" | 90 lbs | No |
| BredaBeds Horizontal Urban Murphy Bed | 13" | 110 lbs | No |
| BredaBeds Horizontal Metropolitan Murphy Bed | 13" | 110 lbs | No |
| BredaBeds Horizontal InLine Murphy Bed | 13" | 110 lbs | No |
| BredaBeds Horizontal InLine Murphy Bed with InLine Sofa | 13" | 110 lbs | No |
Limits read from each manufacturer and dated on the bed's page. A dash means the manufacturer does not publish the number: ask them before buying a mattress for it.
Foam, hybrid or innerspring
All-foam mattresses tolerate vertical storage and flex slightly as the bed closes, which is why manufacturers default to them. Hybrids are usually fine within the weight limit. Traditional innerspring mattresses with border wire are the ones to check with the manufacturer, since some makers advise against them for stored-upright use.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a regular mattress on a murphy bed?
Yes. Murphy beds take standard mattress sizes. The constraints are thickness and weight, set by the specific bed and its mechanism, not a special mattress category.
Can you use a memory foam mattress on a murphy bed?
Yes, and foam is the common choice because it tolerates being stored vertically. Check the weight limit: dense foam in queen size can run heavy against some mechanism ratings.
Do you need to strap the mattress in?
Most murphy beds include a retention strap or bar that holds the mattress while the bed is up. You sleep with it unclipped, on the mattress directly.
Can you leave the bed up with bedding on?
Light bedding, usually yes, held by the retention strap. Thick duvets can exceed the closing clearance. The bed manufacturer states clearance where they publish it.