12 best sofa beds – I tested over 100 options to find the most comfortable guest beds for overnight visitors

The best sofa beds can help you to transform your home by conjuring up overnight sleeping space for guests in the living room, or allowing you to convert a guest bedroom into a home office or playroom without sacrificing the ability to host friends and family occasionally.

However, finding a sofa bed that's stylish, affordable, and comfortable is a tall order – trust me, over the past four years I've visited 18 furniture stores across the UK to test out sofa beds from John Lewis, Habitat, Argos, IKEA, Darlings of Chelsea, and many more to compile this guide.

In each store, I tested the brand's full range and I unearthed plenty of sofa beds that didn't hit the mark in terms of sitting or sleeping comfort – so I know just how difficult finding a good one can be.

Overall, I've sat and laid down on over 100 sofa beds, testing sofa comfort, bed comfort, and how easy it is to transform from one to the other. I've compiled all of that first-hand testing experience into this guide, so you can jump straight to my top recommendations.

Whilst most sofa beds will feel a little firmer for sitting on than one of the best sofas, I'm confident that this selection offers the most comfortable of the sofa bed crop.

The quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best sofa beds. You'll find more information on each sofa bed and why I recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best sofa beds

Best sofa bed overall

(Image credit: Darlings of Chelsea)

It may be an investment compared to other options in this edit, but if you have more budget to play with then the Bromley sofa bed from Darling's of Chelsea offers a lot of bang for your buck. During testing I felt it nailed the holy grail of the sofa bed search; one that's comfortable enough to use as your everyday seating as well as providing overnight guests with a decent night's sleep.

There are four frame widths available, all with a single roll-out action mechanism that I found made the transformation from sofa to pull-out bed really easy. And, as the seat and back cushions remain attached to the frame, there's no need to find somewhere to store them while your guests are snoozing. (Although that does mean you can't flip the seat or back cushions over like with some other pull-out models).

The roll-action design also means you get a longer mattress than most pull-out sofa beds provide, with a 190cm length sleeping area that taller guests will appreciate. At 12cm, this is also one of the deepest pull-out mattresses I've come across, and you can choose from either pocket spring or memory foam construction.

Seat comfort can be tailored too, with a choice of fibre-wrapped foam or feather-wrapped foam seat cushions, and there are a whopping 175+ upholstery options to choose from. Plus, if a narrow hallway, tight corners, or tricky stairs are an issue, this sofa bed can be delivered flat-packed and built by the delivery team in situ; a real boon for those of us with awkward access.

For me, the only downsides (other than its price) are the fact that there's no matching furniture available if you want this sofa bed to blend into a living room suite, and there's no storage for stashing guest bedding.

Best under £1000 sofa bed

(Image credit: Habitat)

This budget-friendly sofa bed has just launched at Habitat, and I think it's currently one of the best sofa beds you can buy if you're looking for a sleeper sofa that looks and feels like a classic sofa without breaking the bank.

Yes, Habitat's Kota sofa bed is cheaper, but, in my opinion, the Julien looks far more stylish and will blend far more easily into the average living room. It's also more comfortable for use as your main everyday seating.

It's based on Habitat's bestselling sofa of the same name, and benefits from the same pocket-spring foam seat construction. In practice, that means you sit 'on', rather than sink 'into' it, but it has a nice amount of give and bounce that I found made it comfortable for sitting.

Similar to Heal's Oswald sofa bed, that pocket-sprung seating then becomes the sleeping area once the backrest pivots down. The Julien's sleeping area is a double rather than Heal's Oswald's king size, but it's a true double, which should be enough space for most guests.

Currently, the Julien is only available in two colourways, but true to Habitat's usual form, they're both nice on-trend shades of decent quality. It also offers a *lot* of seating for its price, with a generous 4-seater width, deep seats, and super comfortable armrests. The only thing it lacks? Any hidden storage for bedding.

Best under £500 sofa bed

(Image credit: Habitat)

Well under £500, it's hard to find a better value three-seater sofa bed than the Kota – as long as you're happy with the fairly limited upholstery options, nowhere to store your guest bedding, and the fact that there's no matching furniture available.

For under half the price of most sofa beds of this size, you get generous seating with a sleeping surface that's just shy of a regular double bed size and a simple click-clack design where the backrest folds down to create the sleeping area.

At first, I wasn't sure how comfortable those oversized Chesterfield-style pockets would be, and whilst it doesn't compare to more expensive options in terms of comfort, it's perfectly acceptable for lounging on. You'll probably want to add a mattress topper for an extra layer of comfort when sleeping – and to protect the sofa upholstery – but that's the case with most sofa beds.

However, I was a bit disappointed by the side profile of this model in real life. The base platform is visible from the back and each side of the sofa, so you'll definitely want this option pushed against a wall.

The slanted backrest also pushes this model out quite far into the room, so it may not be a good option if you're short on space. However, as occasional seating or sleeping in a home office, a kid's playroom, or a teenager's bedroom, this great value large sofa bed is hard to beat on price.

Best single sofa bed

(Image credit: Habitat)

If you're looking for a single sofa bed, then the super affordable Roma sofa bed from Habitat is my top pick for the best chair bed. It combines a (relatively) low price point, stylish good looks, and acceptable comfort levels for both sitting and sleeping.

There are two options for a single guest, the compact 90cm width that Habitat calls a 'single', and the slightly larger 100cm width that the brand dubs a 'small double', although to my mind that's a *very* small double indeed, and two guests would have a very uncomfortable night's sleep. However, it's a great option for offering a single guest a little more space to turn over. (There is also a 120cm 'double' which, confusingly, offers the sleeping space of a standard small double mattress).

The small footprint makes this a great option for a smaller home, and the price is hard to beat. The click-clack design means it's also super simple to fold the backrest down to transition from seating to sleeping, with hidden pockets (disguised by the coordinating scatter cushions) opening to reveal hinged legs.

That design does mean the sleeping surface ends up pretty low to the ground, but I still found the medium-firm foam cushioning comfortable enough – especially if you add a mattress topper. And it's more comfortable than I expected as a seat too, with the angled back hitting just the right level of recline.

There's no matching furniture available, no storage, and the lack of arms and medium-firm cushioning means I can't quite see it cutting the mustard for everyday use, but, as occasional seating, it makes a great accent chair.

Best double sofa bed

(Image credit: John Lewis & Partners)

If you're looking for a compact sofa bed that can still comfortably sleep two guests at once, then this Innovation Living option is a great find.

It only comes in one width, but the armless design means the two-seater sofa is only 147cm wide – far narrower than most sofa beds that can accommodate two sleepers at a time. In fact, with a sleeping space that measures somewhere between a double and a king-size bed, the Cubed 140 is a real rarity in the world of sofa beds where sleeping spaces tend to be very narrow.

I found the transformation from sofa to bed was made simple thanks to an innovative design that sees the base pull forward, flip up, and then fold flat to create the sleeping surface. Whilst firm, I liked how sturdy the sleeping area felt, and it's nothing a mattress topper can't soften up. There's also hidden storage underneath the seat that's super useful for stashing away guest bedding.

If your access is awkward, then it may be a boon that this sofa bed is delivered flat-packed, although customer reviews reveal that it doesn't slot together as quickly as the similarly flat-packed Swyft Model 04 sofa bed that's a little lower down this round-up.

Whilst the lack of arms, firmish seating, a lack of matching furniture, and limited upholstery options mean I don't think it cuts the mustard as a sofa for everyday use, as a compact option for use in a spare room or home office, this double sofa bed has a lot going for it.

Best king-size sofa bed

(Image credit: Heal's)

Heal's Oswald sofa bed is an investment. However, in terms of sleep comfort, this is one of the most comfortable and generously proportioned options I've come across, with the mix of hyper-soft foam layers over a high-resilient foam and pocket-spring core giving the closest feel to a 'true' mattress, and a king-sized sleeping area offering a luxurious amount of space to stretch out.

In sofa form, that sleep comfort translates into a comfortable sitting experience too. It's not a squishy sofa, and I did feel I was sitting more on top of the foam seating than sinking into it, but it still has enough give and bounce to make it a pleasant place to relax.

I also found transforming the sofa into a bed super easy. A slight variation on the usual fold-flat click-clack design, with this model, you pull the leather tab at the front of the sofa to lift the seat section up and out, and the backrest then tilts flat to meet it. The legs extend automatically, and the sleeping surface is a good height from the floor compared to other click-clack options. There's even hidden storage underneath for stashing the sofa back cushions and spare bedding out of sight.

The downside is that – compared to the 175+ upholstery options offered by Darlings of Chelsea's Bromley sofa bed – there are only three upholstery options available for the Oswald, and there's no matching furniture. But, if you're after a contemporary design that doesn't compromise on comfort and offers a super generous sleeping space, I think this sofa bed is well worth considering.

Best quick delivery sofa bed

(Image credit: Swyft)

If you need overnight sleeping space fast, then this quick-delivery sofa bed is the one for you.

The majority of sofas and sofa beds come with long lead times (up to 16 weeks isn't unusual), which can make sourcing one fast a bit of a headache. You'll find a range of time-sensitive options in my guide to where to buy a quick delivery sofa, but Swyft's sofa-bed-in-a-box is my top pick as it can be delivered in just 24 hours if you order directly from Swyft, or under a week at third-party stockists.

As well as super-fast delivery, this sofa bed's flatpack design is brilliant for anyone struggling with awkward access. That does mean self-assembly, but our editor, Heather, put the no-tools build to the test in her Swyft Model 04 sofa bed review, and confirmed it's as easy as the brand claims. It also makes for simple disassembly and reassembly should you move house – a particularly useful feature for those of us who rent – and the sofa arms can be detached if necessary, which is a bonus if you're short on space.

However, the high-level convenience does mean some compromises elsewhere. Heather found the seats firm and without much squish-factor. Upholstery options are more limited too – although all are versatile shades with a mix of hardwearing stain-resistant linen mix fabrics and luxe-look velvets.

On the plus side, this is the only sofa bed to offer a bespoke-fit mattress protector to extend the longevity of your investment, and there's also a handy integrated storage compartment under the seat to keep the protector hidden out of sight when the bed isn't in use.

Best small sofa bed

(Image credit: MADE)

The MADE Haru sofa bed is very similar in design to Habitat's Roma sofa bed further up my list, but it comes in slightly different size options. The Habitat Roma is available in 90, 100, and 120cm widths, whereas the MADE Haru comes in 77, 123, and 143cm options.

To my mind, that makes the Habitat Roma the best single sofa bed you can buy, as your solo guest will get more space, plus the Habitat Roma is cheaper. But, if you want a small sofa bed that can sleep two guests, then although the MADE Haru is more expensive, it offers a little more sleeping room, and it comes in more upholstery choices.

Similar to the Roma, the Haru features a click-clack sofa bed design that makes it easy to transition from seating to sleeping. Hidden pockets are disguised by the coordinating scatter cushions, and open to reveal hinged legs, and the backrest and seat easily unfold to create the sleeping surface.

Like the Roma, this sofa bed is very low to the ground, which might make getting in and out of bed a struggle for guests. Ideal Home's Rebecca adds furniture risers to her Haru sofa bed when her Mum comes to stay. Plus, as Rebecca shares, both sitting and sleeping are a fairly firm experience, so this sofa bed is best reserved for occasional rather than everyday use.

'I've had the Haru sofa bed for just under 3 years,' says Rebecca. 'We use it in our (very) small home office. However, whilst it looks super stylish and its slim profile is brilliant for squeezing into a small box room, its main problem is its firmness and the bar running across the middle of the sofa bed, which guests say they can feel during the night. As such, a mattress topper is a must.'

Best storage sofa bed

(Image credit: Swyft)

Swyft's Model 12 chaise sofa bed offers all of the usual Swyft benefits – namely, super quick delivery times, a flatpack delivery that sees the sofa bed delivered in multiple boxes – I found this a huge bonus when I came to negotiate getting a sofa bed up my narrow staircase – and the fact that the brand's clever tool-less assembly means you can easily dismantle and reassemble its furniture should you ever move house.

Plus, the Model 12 also features a useful chaise for putting your feet up, and hidden inside the chaise section, and under the main seating is 200 litres of storage space.

If, like me, you have a house that has very little storage space, this hidden cavity is *incredibly* useful for stashing guest bedding. I'm always constantly surprised by just how much space that extra set of guest sheets, duvet, and pillows takes up in my home. Plus, you'll want to add a mattress topper to protect your sofa bed (and add comfort to the medium-firm sleep surface), and that has to go somewhere.

The added bonus it that when the backrest is flipped over and a small double's worth of sleeping space is created, you can use that hidden storage to hide the sofa cushions so your guests aren't tripping over them in the night.

Best IKEA sofa bed

(Image credit: IKEA)

If you have a small living area then you'll know that any furniture you introduce into a room needs to work extremely hard to earn its floorspace.

IKEA is an expert in practical small-space solutions, and the brand's LINDÅKRA sofa bed is no exception. A brilliant multifunctional piece of furniture it offers seating for two to three people, hidden storage, and enough sleeping space for one overnight guest.

What's more, the seating is comfortable enough that I'd be happy to use this as my everyday sofa. It's firmish to sit on, but not hard like many sofa beds I've tested at this price point. The seats are well-padded, and the back cushions are generously stuffed and pleasant to lean back on.

The clever half-moon-shaped ottoman also offers great versatility. You can pull it in front of the sofa to create a chaise, use it as a coffee table, or as extra seating when you have guests. It also offers hidden storage inside, as does the main sofa seating.

And when night falls, I found that turning this sofa into a bed could not be easier. Simply remove the back cushions and pull the ottoman up to the end of the sofa to create a comfortable single sleeping space.

The downside is that you can only sleep one guest at a time, although I found it a generous fit for one person when I tested it. Plus, this is IKEA, so you will need to build the sofa bed yourself. As of writing, the LINDÅKRA is also only available in one fabric – a dark grey – and there's no matching furniture. However, this sofa bed is a very good price, and if you have a studio apartment or compact living space, I think this is a great buy.

Best range of matching furniture

(Image credit: Sofa.com)

A deep to-the-floor sofa frame that offers plenty of depth for hiding the pull-out mattress and bed frame, plus super deep and squishy feather-wrapped foam seat cushions make the Otto my top pick of Sofa.com's sofa bed options. In my opinion, those deep seat cushions also make it one of those elusive finds; a mid-priced sofa bed that's comfortable enough for everyday use in the living room as the main living room seating.

Creating a look that's worthy of front room status is made easier thanks to a wide selection of 95+ upholstery choices, and – somewhat of a rarity in the world of sofa beds – the Otto sofa bed has a great selection of matching furniture on offer. I discovered that there's a coordinating armchair, footstool, and a wide range of standard sofa configurations which make it far easier to blend this sofa bed in with other living room furniture if you want to 'hide' a sofa bed in your main living space.

There are also three sofa frame widths available that offer either a single, double, or king-size sleeping area. Although – as is the way with most pull-out sofa beds I've come across besides the Darlings of Chelsea Bromley sofa bed – those mattress sizes do scrimp on length, with the single and double coming up at 183cm long as opposed to the 190cm standard for a regular mattress, which could leave long-legged guests a little non-plussed.

Sadly that shorter mattress length isn't reflected in the Otto's size when extended, so you will need a large room to accommodate this option. It measures 230cm when fully extended – the most floorspace of all the models in this edit. And, there's no hidden storage, so you'll need to factor in somewhere else to store guest bedding.

Best budget sofa bed

(Image credit: Dunelm)

This simple futon sofa bed may be basic, but if you're after an affordable way to put up the occasional overnight guest, then the Dunelm Mito Futon makes for a useful and budget-friendly extra sleeping space.

Plus, there are lots of upholstery options available, from plain neutral and colourful options to practical darks and vibrant patterns that are perfect for a teenager's lair or children's bedroom.

The FSC-certified solid pine frame is fairly roughly finished – there were a few sections that looked like they could splinter on the model I tested – and, at this price point, both sitting and sleeping is a firm experience. This is definitely an occasional chair and not everyday seating.

Guests also won't be that far off the floor once the futon bed is extended, which may not be ideal for less mobile visitors.

However, whilst guests might struggle to spend a whole week on this temporary bed – which may or may not be a good thing! – if you only need a guest bed for the occasional overnighter and want a cheap and cheerful option that's a little more permanent than a roll-up or inflatable mattress, this budget option could strike just the right balance. Plus, the addition of a good mattress topper can work wonders in terms of sleep comfort.

Runners up

Myself and the wider Ideal Home team have tested a whole host of sofa beds in order to compile just the cream of the crop for this guide. Below are some of the runner's up which didn't quite make the grade but might still be suitable depending on your requirements.

Where to shop for a sofa bed

Not all furniture stores sell sofa beds, so if you're on the hunt for this multifunctional item, here are my top recommendations for where to shop.

• Argos: budget sofa beds
• Cocoon: one, two, three, four and even five-seater sofa beds
• Darlings of Chelsea: luxury sofa beds with a price tag to match
• DUSK: affordable sofa beds
• Furniture Village: affordable options in limited fabrics
• Habitat: stylish yet affordable sofa beds
• Heal's: designer sofa beds
• John Lewis: wide range of own-brand, Swyft, and Innovation Living sofa beds
• Loaf: an investment, but you get squishy seating with great upholstery options
• Love Your Home: stylish and comfortable designs, but they're an investment
• Sofa.com: a good selection of sofa bed styles in a wide range of fabrics
• Swyft: 24-hour sofa bed delivery

How I tested

You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page. However, to find the best sofa beds I had to take a slightly different approach. Instead, I've spent the past four years visiting furniture stores across the UK to test out each retailer's sofa bed range. As of writing, I've visited (and often revisited) 18 furniture stores and I've sat on, laid on, and tested over 100 sofa beds for comfort and ease of use.

I've visited Bensons for Beds, Darlings of Chelsea, DFS, Dreams, Dunelm, Furniture Village, Habitat, Heal's, IKEA, John Lewis, King Living, MADE, Next, Loaf, Sofa.com, Sofology, Sofas & Stuff, West Elm, and myself or one of the Ideal Home team has also tested the sofa bed ranges of online-only retailers DUSK, Cocoon, Snug and Swyft.

I tested each sofa bed's comfort levels in sofa form, tested how easy each sofa bed was to convert into a bed, and how comfortable the sofa bed was for lying down on.

I also took into account the range and quality of each sofa bed's upholstery options, any additional features such as a flat-pack design, coordinating furniture, or quick delivery options, and considered its value for money.

Where we've been able to test out a sofa bed in one of our own homes, myself or the team has also assessed the delivery process, and, where relevant, how easy each flat-packed sofa bed was to assemble.

Where possible, I've also thoroughly researched online reviews for each sofa bed, to ensure that my own or the team's experiences with the sofa bed are in line with those of other customers. After all, in-store and at-home testing doesn't reflect how a piece of furniture will perform months, or years, down the line.

In my research I looked for common themes mentioned by reviewers – especially those who had owned a product for a good length of time. I noted any negative experiences, and I've only included products in this guide that have overall positive customer reviews.

How to choose the best sofa bed for your home

A sofa bed can be a great multifunctional solution for the living room, guest room, or home office. But, we've probably all spent a night on a less-than-comfortable sleeper sofa. Plus, considering how much sofa beds cost, we all want to avoid any expensive sofa bed buying mistakes, so how do we get this purchase right?

I've compiled a checklist of what to look for when shopping for a sofa bed below, but, first, it's useful to understand some basic sofa bed terminology.

What's the difference between a click-clack and pull-out sofa bed?

Sofa beds come in two main designs. There are pull-out sofa beds that hide a concertina bedframe and folded mattress underneath removable seat cushions, and click-clack sofa beds where the sofa seat and backrest fold flat and lock into position (with click-clack noise) to become the sleeping surface.

How to find a sofa bed that's comfortable to sit on

In my opinion, there are two types of sofa beds. Those that make for decent occasional seating in a home office or spare bedroom, and those rare finds that are actually comfortable enough for everyday use in the living room as your main seating.

(Image credit: Sofa.com)

How to find a sofa bed that's comfortable to sleep on

Of course, a sofa bed doesn't just need to be comfortable as a seat; it also needs to be comfortable as a bed. This is how to find a sofa bed that won't have your guests complaining of aches and pains in the morning.

How to get the size of your sofa bed right

Just like sofas, sofa beds come in a range of sizes. Choosing the right size sofa bed depends on how much space you have to play with, and how many guests you want to sleep at one time.

(Image credit: Habitat)

FAQs

What is the most comfortable sofa bed on the market?

Overall, I found the Darlings of Chelsea Bromley Sofa Bed to be one of the most comfortable sofa beds I've tested. I also highly rate Loaf's sofa beds. However, both sofa bed brands come with premium price tags. That's why this round-up also offers more affordable alternatives.

Are there sofa beds that are actually comfortable?

This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is yes, a sofa bed can be comfortable both for sitting and sleeping if you know which one to buy. And that's exactly where this buying guide comes in handy, as I've done the hard work of testing sofa beds from all of the major retailers to find and recommend the most comfortable options.

What is better than a sofa bed?

In terms of multifunctionality, not much is better than a sofa bed. A dedicated guest bed is likely to be the most comfortable option for overnight guests, but that means dedicating an entire room to hosting.

Another alternative is opting for an air bed instead. An air bed is obviously a *lot* cheaper than a sofa bed, and can be deflated and packed away when not in use. Our guide to sofa beds vs air beds can help you to decide if one of these affordable solutions is a better option for you.