GettyImages-1161177015 1 (1)

Murphy Bed with Desk

What Is a Murphy Bed and How Does It Work?

A murphy bed, also called a wall bed or fold away bed, is a space saving bed that lifts vertically into a cabinet or wall frame when not in use. It helps you maximize floor space by turning a bedroom into a functional living area within seconds.

Modern murphy beds use balanced lift mechanisms, soft close hardware and reinforced frames to ensure smooth operation and long lasting durability.

The design dates back to the early 1900s, when inventor William Lawrence Murphy created the fold-away bed in his small San Francisco apartment — wanting to entertain guests without dedicating a room to a permanent bed. Over a century later, the same core idea still holds: a full-size mattress that folds away into the wall, now built with the mechanisms above.

Want the full breakdown of how the folding mechanism, mounting, and space-saving design work together? Read our complete guide to how Murphy beds work.

Fall Angle Bed Down

Types of Murphy Beds for Different Room Layouts

Murphy beds come in several configurations to suit a variety of homes.

  • Vertical wall beds work well in standard bedrooms and rooms with higher ceilings. They offer a classic fold down design and provide the feel of a traditional bed while saving floor space.
  • Horizontal Murphy beds ideal for tight or narrow rooms, basements or areas with low ceilings. The sideways opening allows the bed to fit where a vertical model would not.
  • Cabinet Murphy beds offer a freestanding, no-installation design that transforms from a compact cabinet into a full sleeping surface. They are perfect for rentals, home offices or multifunctional areas where wall mounting is not possible.
  • Queen Murphy beds remain the most popular size for adults, guest rooms and shared spaces. They fit a standard queen mattress for everyday comfort while still folding away to create an open, flexible room layout.

Not sure which configuration fits your space? Browse our Murphy bed ideas for offices, small apartments, and living rooms to see real room layouts.

Why Murphy Beds Are a Top Space Saving Solution?

Murphy beds create more usable floor space than traditional bed frames and allow a room to serve multiple purposes. When folded away, they open the area for work, hobbies, exercise or everyday living.

Many modern designs include built in shelving, lighting and hidden storage to keep rooms organized. Because they use real mattresses, murphy beds offer everyday comfort while still saving significant square footage.

Murphy Bed vs. Sofa Bed vs. Trundle Bed

Murphy Bed Sofa Bed Trundle Bed
Mattress Full-size real mattress Thin fold-out foam pad Real mattress, lower profile
Comfort High — sleeps like a regular bed Lower — bar/frame often felt through padding Moderate
Floor Space When Not in Use None — folds fully into wall or cabinet Takes up permanent seating footprint Slides under main bed, needs a bed frame already in place
Best For Guest rooms, offices, multi-use rooms Casual, occasional overnight guests Kids’ rooms, shared bedrooms
Longevity Solid wood, built for decades Mechanism wears down faster Depends on frame quality
Fall Angle Desk Down

FAQ’s About Murphy Beds

It comes down to safety, materials, and longevity. Cheaper alternatives are typically made from particleboard or MDF (compressed sawdust and glue) with a plastic laminate veneer. Over time, the heavy tension from the lifting mechanisms can cause these materials to warp, sag, or strip out at the screw points.

An Amish-made Murphy bed is handcrafted from 100% solid North American hardwood using time-tested joinery. Because a Murphy bed is a moving, mechanical piece of furniture under constant spring or piston tension, solid wood construction ensures the frame will never warp or give way. You are buying a safe, reliable, heirloom-quality piece that lasts a lifetime, rather than a “disposable” piece you’ll have to replace in a few years.

A cabinet bed is freestanding, while a Murphy bed is mounted to the wall and folds vertically or horizontally. Cabinet beds offer more flexibility when wall installation isn’t possible.

Yes. Murphy beds use standard mattresses as long as they meet the recommended size, height, and weight limits to ensure safe operation and easy lifting.

Legacy Handcraft offers a 10″ medium-firm cooled memory foam mattress designed specifically for our Murphy beds. If you prefer to use your own mattress, it must meet the following requirements:

  • Maximum height: up to 12 inches

  • Maximum weight: up to 80 lbs for Queen and smaller sizes, up to 100 lbs for King

We use a premium, commercial-grade nitrogen gas piston system rather than old-fashioned metal springs. Because our beds are handcrafted from heavy, solid North American hardwoods, our piston system is specifically engineered to counter-balance the weight perfectly. This allows you to raise and lower the bed effortlessly with one hand. Plus, our lifting mechanism comes with a lifetime warranty for your peace of mind.”

Additionally, our system features adjustable mounting points. If you choose an extra-heavy mattress, the pistons can easily be adjusted to increase the tension, ensuring the bed always operates smoothly, quietly, and safely.

Yes, murphy beds are comfortable because they use a real mattress instead of a thin sofa-style cushion. The comfort level depends on the mattress you choose, and most murphy beds use standard mattresses like memory foam or hybrid models. With the right mattress, a murphy bed feels just as supportive as a traditional bed.

Our Murphy beds do not arrive fully assembled — they ship in organized components designed for straightforward setup. Yes! While installation is straightforward, some basic building or DIY experience is recommended…

Each bed includes detailed, step-by-step printed instructions along with video installation guides. Installation typically takes two people about 1–2 hours. Customers may also choose to work with a local contractor if additional assistance is preferred.

Side cabinets arrive fully assembled and only need to be securely attached to the Murphy bed.

The cost of a Murphy bed varies depending on size, materials and the type of lifting mechanism. Prices range from affordable entry-level models to premium handcrafted Murphy beds made with solid wood, high-quality hardware and optional storage. Factors like queen size, wall bed versus cabinet bed design, cabinets, shelves, hardware quality and additional features can also influence the final price.

For a full breakdown of what drives the price — size, wood type, mechanism, and add-ons — see our complete Murphy bed pricing guide.

  • We offer a Lifetime Residential Warranty on the pistons and piston mechanics

Should they ever fail, please contact immediately and we will ship replacements to you at no charge. This warranty does not cover misuse or any adjustments made to the pistons, piston mechanics or brackets after delivery.

  • LED lighting kits have a 1-year limited warranty on parts

If your lights stop working within one year of the date of delivery, we are happy to ship you a replacement kit.

  • All other products are sold with our Home Furnishings Guarantee:

Each piece will be as advertised at the time of delivery. All moving parts will work as expected and be without defect. All damages or defects must be reported within 3 business days of receipt.

The grain, color, reclaimed wood markings, holes, cuts, etc, are not considered to be defects, as these things are to be expected in a genuine wood product. As our products are real, solid wood, we do not guarantee against developing issues caused by the environment to which the wood is exposed after it has been delivered. This includes, but is not limited to, cracks, splits and warping, as these are directly caused by the humidity level in the space, and are not considered to be defects in real wood. Our Home Furnishings Guarantee does not include damage or effects from the storage or transport of your items after delivery.

  • All freight deliveries must be inspected before the delivery is received

If you see damage to the packaging or the item itself, please refuse delivery and contact us immediately. Once a delivery is accepted, any hidden shipping damage must be reported within 5 business days of receipt. If a delivery is accepted with obvious damage, any return or reshipping costs will be the responsibility of the buyer. Items damaged during shipping and refused or reported within these guidelines will be replaced at no charge. Please note that, while we expedite these replacement parts, there is an expected lead time of 4-6 weeks for Made to Order products. Thank you for your understanding.

Legacy Handcraft is not responsible for property damage or injuries caused by transport, installation or use of the bed or cabinets. Murphy Bed installation and use is perfectly safe when installed using the provided instructions and used for its intended common use.

We currently offer two delivery methods for Murphy Bed Orders:

  • Freight Shipping

All in-stock Murphy Beds ship for free to anywhere in the contiguous United States!

  • White Glove Delivery

 White glove delivery is available to most areas for an additional cost. For a white glove delivery quote, please reach out to our team!

  • Local Pickup

Free local pick up is available from our showroom in Akron, Pa! This includes boxing your bed and carefully loading it into your vehicle for safe transport.