The 10 Very Best Sleeper Sofas

Size: Queen | Mattress: Innerspring | Conversion mechanism: Metal pullout frame

For a highly customizable sleeper, interior designer Jennifer Wallenstein recommends this minimal, couch from furniture brand Apt2B for its “simple modern design.” In addition to offering 60 fabric options (that’s a lot more than Joybird), the company lets you choose the finish of the sofa’s wooden base. And for those looking for mattress customization, you can choose from a 5.5-inch-thick innerspring mattress with pillow top or one made out of memory foam.

Size: Twin | Mattress: Innerspring | Conversion mechanism: Metal pullout frame

If your overnight guest will be sleeping alone, Wallenstein suggests this chair-size slip-covered sofa. It has a metal pullout base (so it runs on the heavier side) that folds out to support a 5.5-inch-thick twin mattress, which meets one of her requirements for a good innerspring mattress: “You want them to be about five or six inches thick at minimum,” Wallenstein says. The pullout mattress is topped with an air mattress, which doubles the thickness of a standard sleeper mattress for extra comfort.

Size: Twin | Mattress: Foam cushions | Conversion mechanism: Floor

Here’s another twin sleeper that interior designer Annie Mueller recommends that’s much more affordable but still stylish. The compact two-seater sofa converts into a twin-size bed, making it ideal for smaller spaces, and while it’s from Pottery Barn’s teen line, it would work just as well in an adult space like a studio. Mueller likes that the square arms look contemporary, adding that it’s a great “budget-friendly option.” She suggests using it in “a teen’s bedroom or play space,” but it would also look nice in an adult living room. The sofa’s foam seat cushion unfolds to create the mattress, which rests on the floor.

Size: Twin to queen or king | Mattress: Foam cushions | Conversion mechanism: Pullout

This daybed also converts to a bed but for half the price of the Crate & Barrel pick above. While it doesn’t offer two different sleeping surfaces when the trundle is engaged, it’s still a great choice. Ted Roberts, the style and design chief for Schlage, recommends it for its “exceptional structural integrity.” Part of its durability, according to Roberts, comes from the fact that the daybed is available in several styles of “performance” fabric, including linen and basketweave materials, that are meant to withstand heavy use. You can sleep on it as is (which would be like sleeping on a mattress that’s slightly smaller than a twin) or pull out the seat to unfold a wider surface (somewhere between a queen and king mattress). Turner is also a fan, saying Luna’s clever design resembles a much higher-end piece: “It’s very slick. I almost can’t believe that it’s Pottery Barn.”

Size: Twin to full | Mattress: Two foam mattresses | Conversion mechanism: Trundle pullout

For something even more affordable, consider this Ikea daybed that Armbruster recommends. She bought it for her kids’ room so their friends have somewhere to sleep (and sit) when they come over for sleepovers, but it could work well for adults, too, thanks to its simple farmhouse design. It’s actually quite versatile and can be used as a single or double bed (a trundle pulls out from the base to create a double-bed frame). The daybed’s seat is made up of two twin foam mattresses set on top of each other. To create a double bed, simply move the top mattress onto the pullout. As far as looks, it’s fairly basic as is, but Armbruster says the daybed is easy enough to customize — she did so by simply painting it pink. Bonus: It comes with two large drawers for storing linens.

Size: Queen | Mattress: Coil foam | Conversion mechanism: Metal pullout frame

Consider this option if you don’t want a twin sleeper but still want something on the smaller side. “The CB2 Club Queen sofa is very compact and looks nice as a day-to-day sofa in a smallish apartment,” says Armbruster, thanks to its 77-inch width. She says it’s a great guest-bed option for occasional visitors and likes that it comes in many color and fabric options including linen, cotton, wool, and polyester blends. The pullout bed is topped with a 5.25-inch-thick coil-foam mattress.

Size: Twin to queen | Mattress: Foam cushions | Conversion mechanism: Floor 

Armbruster likes the Twilight sleeper because “it looks nice, is comfortable, and opens up to what’s essentially a king-size bed.” It’s more or less made of two parts — a cylindrical backrest bolster that can be adjusted to customize seat depth and a large seat cushion made out of foam that turns into the mattress. Simply pivot the bolster up and back, then remove the cushion and place on the floor. When pushed up against the sofa’s base, the cushion creates a bed that’s larger than a queen but slightly smaller than a king. Or you can simply keep the two parts separate to create two twin sleeping beds. The sofa can even be used as a daybed, giving you four functions — sofa, daybed, queen bed, and two twins — in one.

Size: Queen | Mattress: Foam | Conversion mechanism: Metal pullout frame

If you’re looking for another versatile option, consider this sleeper sofa recommended by Strategist deals editor Sam Daly, whose mother owns it. It’s a sectional sofa from Ikea that includes a chaise lounge, under-cushion storage, and a pullout bed frame. “I lived on my mom’s sleeper sofa for a few months mid-pandemic and I loved it,” she says. “The foam mattress is super-easy to pull out and put back (which I had to do quite often) with very minimal effort.” Daly says her mom has had it for over two years now, and after multiple stays by her and her brother, the mattress “hasn’t gotten squashy” and remains quite comfortable. Another perk: The chaise extension lifts up to reveal a good amount of storage for linens and things. Plus, “the couch itself is very nice and also pretty comfy to sleep on if you’re too lazy to pull the mattress out!” she says. It comes in six different color options, and the fabric, which Daly calls out as being “soft, smooth, and thick,” is washable.