When it comes to large styles of furniture, few are as versatile as sleeper sofas. On most days, they look like your average couch, inviting enough to curl up on with a good book or movie. But when overnight guests pass through, they literally shape-shift, transforming your basement, living room or home office into a spare bedroom. Sure, you could easily toss a pillow and down comforter onto a couch to serve as a makeshift bed, but sleeper sofas are designed to help you get quality shut-eye.

West Elm's Shelter Queen Sleeper Sectional Sofa Dubai is a stylish, cocoon-like couch by day and can transform into ... [+] a queen size bed at night.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
If you’re thinking about investing in one of these functional pieces, consider your lifestyle and preferences before you embark on the shopping process. For example, how much space do you have to work with and how much money are you willing to spend? What’s your preferred upholstery? Do you want a traditional sleeper sofa or perhaps a sofa bed, which folds down like a futon and doesn’t hold a standard mattress? (A quick warning: These terms are sometimes used interchangeably).
To help you determine the best design for you, we looked into top-rated picks, paying close attention to factors like durability and value. Here are the best sleeper sofas for every style, space and budget.
Best Overall Sleeper Sofa A Plush Couch That Comes In A Wide Variety Of Fabrics MOST POPULAR
Weight Limit/Capacity: N/A; Two sleepers | Materials: Hand-finished, gel-infused foam, solid oak, engineered hardwood | Size: 84.5 x 38 x 30 inches
The Shelter Sofa is one of West Elm’s most popular items, and now you can get it in a sleeper sofa style. Like the original, this sofa is a stylish, cocoon-like couch by day and can transform into a queen-sized bed at night. The pull-out mattress is made of two layers of memory foam including one that’s infused with gel for optimal comfort. The couch itself can be totally customized with 75 fabric types and shades from which to choose.
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Best Value Sleeper Sofa A Simple, Sturdy Couch That Can Sleep Two
Weight Limit/Capacity: N/A; Two sleepers | Materials: Deco weave, pine, engineered wood | Size: 85 x 40 x 35 inches
Whether you’re looking for a sleeper sofa in your home office, recreation room or living space, this versatile couch blends seamlessly with just about any decor.
A solid pine and engineered wood frame is built to last while sinuous spring cushion support ensures plenty of seating comfort.
The trundle pulls out from the sofa and easily lifts up with an elastic strap to fold out to a queen-sized bed for your guests to sleep in roomy comfort.
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Best High-End Sleeper Sofa A Stylish Option With A Memory Foam Mattress Hidden Inside
Weight Limit/Capacity: N/A; Two sleepers | Materials: Fabric, kiln-dried wood, metal | Size: 91 x 41 x 33 inches
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With its rolled arms, diamond-tufted back and plush layer of feather and down cushions, you may choose to sleep on this Wendover Sleeper Sofa from Front gate over your own bed. It pulls out to reveal a queen-sized 4-inch thick memory foam mattress, and the metal frame and kiln-dried wood base ensure that it’s sturdy and won’t warp, even with regular use.
There are two upholstery options—natural linen and dove gray—that are available for quick ship, but if you don’t need it right away, there are 84 custom-order options, too.
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Best Goes-With-Everything Sleeper Sofa A Top-Rated Couch That Comes In Dozens Of Fabrics
Weight Limit/Capacity: 500 pounds; two sleepers | Materials: Fabric, foam, solid and manufactured wood | Size: 34 x 77 x 37 inches
This top-rated sleeper sofa is a total steal. Crafted from a mix of solid and manufactured wood, it’s sturdy enough to support two sleepers (up to 500 pounds) on its queen-sized mattress. It has a timeless, sophisticated look with piped detailing and neutral hues that make it a seamless addition to any aesthetic. To make it your own, choose from more than two dozen fabrics.
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forbes.com Wayfair Coupons | 50% Off In July 2022 | Forbes Most Comfortable Sleeper Sofa An Inviting Option That’s Plush And Supportive
Weight Limit/Capacity: 500 pounds; Up to two sleepers | Materials: Fabric, wood, foam back, innerspring mattress | Size: 36.5 x 87 x 38 inches
The La-Z-Boy name is synonymous with comfort, and this Mackenzie Sleep Sofa proves that the retailer offers more than leather recliner chairs. The couch, which has a queen-sized innerspring mattress hidden inside, is constructed with Comfort
Core cushions and a foam back with double-picked blown fiber fill that helps it maintain its shape. There are almost 500 upholstery options to choose from and you can upgrade to gel seat cushions for more comfort at an additional cost.
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Best Sectional Sleeper Sofa Genius Hidden Storage That Holds Your Linens
Weight Limit/Capacity: N/A; One sleeper | Materials: Fabric, wood| Size: 86 x 54 x 35 inches
Sectionals can, in fact, be sleeper sofas. The right side of this couch pulls out in line with the chaise, creating a twin-size sleeping area. Pro tip: Keep extra pillows and sheets in the built-in storage bin under the chaise so guests don’t have to go searching for the linen closet if they get cold in the middle of the night. Assembly couldn’t be easier, according to a number of reviews
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Best Small Sleeper Sofa A Compact Sleeper That Fits Just About Everywhere
Weight Limit/Capacity: 500 pounds; Two (small) sleepers | Materials: Linen, solid wood | Size: 58 x 32 x 29 inches
At just 58-inches long, this sofa is truly petite but smartly designed. It fits at least two children or an adult on its easy-to-transform sleep surface. The Lefkowitz can serve as a love seat or bed, depending on what you’re after in any given moment. Just grab the front straps and give a gentle tug to unfold the couch to create a larger sleeping space. The sleek, modern look works well with most decor. Choose from a range of neutral colors, including dark gray (pictured), light gray, beige, blue and light brown.
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Best Sofa Bed A Couch That Transforms Into A Bed Thanks To A Genius ‘Sleep Kit
’Weight Limit/Capacity: N/A; One sleeper | Materials: Olefin fabric, metal or sustainably-harvested birch frame | Size: 85 x 35 x 33 inches
Burrow does things a little differently. Rather than a traditional pull-out sleeper sofa like the others on this list, this model comes with an add-on sleep kit for $295 that fits its modular, customizable Nomad Sofa (a popular style in itself). The sleep kit has everything you need—a memory foam topper, a custom sheet set, a blanket, a pillow and an eye mask—to turn it into a bed without moving any furniture around. And the fabric is scratch- and stain-resistant, so it holds up well to regular guests (including furry friends).Pros:
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Best King-Sized Sleeper Sofa A Large Couch That’s Conducive To Spreading Out
Weight Limit/Capacity: 500 pounds; Two sleepers | Materials: Fabric, hardwood, plywood, metal | Size: 86 x 39 x 37 inches
You don’t have to worry about your in-laws feeling cramped and uncomfortable on this 86-inch long sleeper sofa. The king-sized mattress offers plenty of room to stretch out, and according to buyers, the gel mattress makes for a great night’s sleep. There’s also a queen-sized option in the same style, if you think this one might dwarf your living room.
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Best Chesterfield Sleeper Sofa A Classy Couch That Easily Converts To A Sleeper
Weight Limit/Capacity: N/A; Two sleepers | Materials: Polyester, kiln-dried hardwood | Size: 89 x 41 x 31 inches
This pick from Pottery Barn proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. A traditional Chesterfield sofa with rolled arms, diamond tufting and tapered legs, you would never know that it doubles as a sleeper sofa—and a comfortable one at that. It hides a 5-inch thick gel-infused memory foam mattress that adapts to the sleeper without sagging. While there is a 10-week lead time for this made-to-order couch, it’s worth it: You get to choose from several different fabric types and more than two dozen color options
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What To Consider When Buying A Sleeper Sofa
A sleeper sofa is a large purchase, both literally and figuratively, so it’s wise to consider your needs and preferences ahead of shopping. Here are the factors worth keeping in mind as you shop.
Type Just like every other type of large furniture, sleeper sofas come in all shapes and sizes. If you opt for a traditional design, it will feature a fold-out mattress, whereas sofa beds come with backs that folds down. There are also futons, which similarly fold flat, and daybeds, which are always ready for catching some z’s. Materials
As always, it’s important to consider your lifestyle when picking out the right upholstery for your household. If you have young kids or pets that like to jump up on the couch, look for fabrics that are stain- and scratch-resistant. If you don’t live with children or dogs who may want to take advantage of the sofa, you can get away with more delicate fabrics in lighter colors. Capacity/Weight Limit
How many people will be using the sofa at the same time? If you want multiple houseguests to be able to sleep on the folded-out sofa at the same time (or you have larger friends and family members), make sure you select an option that can fully support their combined weight.
Placement It’s crucial to think about space planning and “supporting pieces,” says Victoria Sass, founder and principal of the Minneapolis-based design firm Prospect Refuge Studio. “If you plan to have any kind of coffee table in front of this sleeper sofa, make sure it’s light and easily movable,” she says. “You are going to need to move it out of the way every time you set up the bed.” You’ll also want to consider things like where you’ll stash couch cushions when the sleeper aspect is pulled out that’s easy for your guests to access. And, of course, you’ll want to measure out your space carefully. “Make sure to measure how the piece fits in your space with the bed extended,” Sass says. “Then add—ideally—two feet all the way around for accessibility. If you have to move other furniture out of the way, plan ahead on where those pieces will go. "Can You Sleep On A Sleeper Sofa Every Night?
Technically, yes. Many sleeper sofas hold actual mattresses—some up to 5 inches thick. That being said, for the best comfort and support, you ideally want to sleep on high-quality mattress supported by a sturdy frame.
What Makes A Sleeper Sofa Comfortable?
While there are some top-notch futons and sofa beds on the market, “If you’re planning a space for anyone you truly care about, you are going to want to find a sleeper sofa with an actual mattress,” Sass says. Look for options with memory foam mattresses, and if you want a little extra comfort, add on a mattress topper.
How Long Does A Sleeper Sofa Last?
The longevity of a sleeper sofa largely depends on two factors: its overall quality and how often it’s used as a bed. The mechanism that allows a sofa to open can wear out over time, but so long as it’s not subject to constant wear and tear, a sleeper sofa can last up to 15 years. Just note that you may need to replace the mattress before then.0