Should I buy a chair bed or a sofa bed? This is how to work out which is right for your home

If you're looking for ways to host overnight guests in your home, then you may well be weighing up whether a chair bed or a sofa bed is the right choice.

Or you may simply be wondering what the difference is between the two pieces of furniture.

If so, you're in the right place. As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past four years testing out the best sofa beds and best chair beds on the market, so I know all there is to know about the pros, cons, and differences between each design.

Here's everything you need to know to work out whether a chair bed or a sofa bed will suit your needs better.

Chair bed vs sofa bed

First up, let's make sure we know what we mean when we're talking about a sofa bed or a chair bed.

Chair bed vs sofa bed: size

The primary difference between a chair bed and a sofa bed is the same difference between a chair and a sofa – that is, their size.

A chair bed will only seat one person, whereas a sofa bed can seat multiple people. And just like with normal sofas, sofa beds come in a variety of widths and configurations. You can get two-seater sofa beds, three-seater sofa beds, and even four-seater sofa beds.

You can also get sofa beds that are built into a chaise or corner sofa configuration, although these are less common.

Chair bed vs sofa bed: sleeping area

With those size differences in mind, it's perhaps obvious that there are going to be differences in the sleeping space available on a chair and a sofa bed too.

A chair bed will only sleep one person, whereas a sofa bed can usually sleep two. Although this isn't a given, most sofa beds do still offer less sleeping space than a dedicated bed would do, so smaller sofa beds can often be a bit of a squeeze for two, but offer a more generous single sleeping space.

Larger sofa beds will offer a double or even king-size sleeping area, though. For instance, the Innovation Living Cubed 140 Sofa Bed offers a sleeping area equivalent to a double bed, and the Heal's Oswald Sofa Bed a king-size sleeping space.

Chair bed vs sofa bed: Which one is comfier?

Similar to when you buy the best mattress, finding a comfy guest bed is down to personal preference. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes when it comes to firmness, with some preferring a firmer bed and others opting for a softer slouch.

However, when it comes to the comfort of these two options, it’s less about the chair bed vs sofa bed debate and more about the pull-out vs click-clack debate.

That’s because pull-out sofa and chair beds normally come complete with a mattress that pulls out from the base of the seating. Whilst a click-clack sofa bed or chair bed is normally a bit firmer, as you’re essentially sleeping on the sofa or chair itself.

Chair bed vs sofa bed: Which is more affordable?

If we're comparing like for like, then a sofa bed is always going to be the more expensive option because you're getting more furniture for your money.

For example, Furniture Village's Cory Chair Bed costs £1095, whereas Furniture Village's 3-Seater Sofa Bed costs £1495.

However, some sofa beds can be cheaper than some sofa beds because of the quality and type of construction.

For instance, Darlings of Chelsea's Bromley Loveseat Sofa Bed (admittedly slightly larger than most chair beds) costs over £2000 because it comes with so many bells and whistles, whereas one of the cheapest three-seater sofa beds we've tested, the Habitat Kota Large Sofa Bed, only costs £375 because of its far more basic design.

Final verdict: Which one do you need?

Ultimately, the decision on whether to opt for a chair bed or a sofa bed all comes down to the space you have available and what your hosting requirements are.

If you tend to only host one guest at a time, then you may only need a chair bed. Opting for a chair bed will save you money when compared to a larger sofa bed, and a chair bed will take up less floor space if you don't have a lot of spare room in your home.

However, if you want to give your guest a little more space to stretch out, they will probably be more comfortable on a small sofa bed instead. Chair beds tend not to have as much sleeping space as a single bed.

And if you want to host two guests at once, then you'll need a sofa bed.

3 chair bed recommendations

Made your decision? These are three of the top-rated chair beds I've tested, and below are three of my top sofa bed recommendations.

3 sofa bed recommendations

So, will you be buying a chair bed or a sofa bed for your guests to enjoy?