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

The best sofa beds don't compromise on sitting or sleeping comfort. However, in my experience, finding a sofa bed that's stylish, affordable, and comfortable for both you and your guests can be easier said than done.

That's why I've spent the past five years visiting more than 20 furniture stores across the UK to test out their sofa bed ranges. Overall, I've sat and laid down on sleeper sofas from John Lewis, Habitat, Argos, IKEA, DFS, Darlings of Chelsea, and many more to compile this guide.

Based on my first-hand testing of over 100 models across UK showrooms, here are my top 9 sofa beds for every budget and space.

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.

Quicklist

How I tested

Amy Lockwood

I'm Amy, Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, and I've spent the past five years figuring out what makes a good night's sleep, from researching the best mattresses to testing out the best duvets to optimise your sleep set-up. For this guide, I tested sofa beds across 20+ showrooms in London, Bath, Manchester, and Birmingham between 2021 and 2026, as well as putting selected models through at-home testing for sit and sleep comfort and ease of transformation.

Best sofa beds

Best sofa bed overall

It's definitely an investment, but 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, and during showroom testing, the single roll-out mechanism took less than 10 seconds to open without removing seat cushions. Plus, 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.

Once I lay down, I also discovered this sofa bed has a much longer mattress than most pull-out sofa beds provide, with a 190cm-long sleeping area that taller guests will appreciate. At 12cm, this is also one of the deepest (and therefore most comfortable) 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 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 that there's no matching furniture available, and there's no hidden storage for stashing guest bedding.

Best under £1000 sofa bed

I think this budget-friendly sofa bed is one of the best you can buy if you want a sleeper sofa that looks and feels like a classic sofa without breaking the bank.

During showroom testing, I found I sat 'on' the pocket-spring and foam seating rather than sinking 'into' it, but although it's not squishy, I think it still has a nice amount of give and bounce that makes for comfortable sitting.

The seats are also nice and deep, so perfect for curling up on, and when you want to transform it into a bed, you simply pull forward each seating section and swivel the backrest flat, which took me seconds to do. Like the seats, the sleep surface is on the firmer side, and there is a bit of a gap between the sections, but it's nothing a good mattress topper can't fix. Plus, it's a true double, which should be enough space for most guests.

This sofa bed also offers a *lot* of seating for its price, with a generous 4-seater width, deep seats, and super comfortable armrests, and I always think Habitat's upholstery is good quality considering its price. Plus, you can stash some bedding in the space under the sofa.

Best under £500 sofa bed

Costing around £375, it's hard to find a better value three-seater sofa bed than the Kota. 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 to sit or sleep on, and whilst it doesn't compare to more expensive options in terms of comfort, I actually found it perfectly acceptable for lounging on during showroom testing. I would 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.

The only thing that disappointed me was the side profile of this model. I couldn't see it as well in the online pictures, but 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

This is another great Habitat buy! If you're looking for a single sofa bed, then the stylish yet super affordable Roma sofa bed from Habitat is my top pick for the best chair bed.

Its small footprint makes this a great option for a smaller home, and its (relatively) low price point is hard to beat. The click-clack design means I also found it super simple to fold the backrest down to transition from seating to sleeping, and I thought hiding the hinged legs in pockets disguised by the coordinating scatter cushions was a clever touch.

That design does mean the sleeping surface ends up pretty low to the ground (perhaps not the easiest for less agile guests to get on and off), but I found the medium-firm foam cushioning comfortable enough – especially if you add a mattress topper. And during showroom testing, I found it 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 hidden storage, and the lack of arms and medium-firm cushioning means I wouldn't want to sit on it as my everyday seating, but as occasional seating, I think it makes a great multifunctional accent chair.

Best double sofa bed

If you're looking for a compact sofa bed that can comfortably sleep two guests at once, the Innovation Living Cubed 140 is one of the best double sofa beds I've tested.

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 – and although I found the seating too firm for everyday use, as occasional seating in a home office or guest room, it was perfectly comfy for perching on.

I also found the transformation from sofa to bed very simple. The base simply pulls forward, flips up, and then folds flat to create the sleeping surface. In my showroom testing, I could easily do it on my own in under a minute. Whilst firm, I also 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.

One thing to note: this sofa bed is delivered flat-packed. This could be a big bonus if you need to get a sofa bed upstairs or have awkward delivery access. However, reviewers do note it can be fiddly and a little time-consuming to put together.

Best king-size sofa bed

Heal's Oswald sofa bed is an investment. However, this is one of the most comfortable sofa beds I've sat or laid on. Which surprised me, because at first glance I thought its contemporary looks might make it an overly firm affair.

However, not so. It features a mix of hyper-soft foam layers over a high-resilient foam and pocket-spring core. It's not a squishy sofa, and I found I sat 'on' the sofa rather than sinking into it, but I still found it has enough give and bounce to make it a pleasant place to relax. I'd be happy with this as my everyday sofa if needed.

And during showroom testing, I found it felt more like a 'true' mattress than any other option I'd laid on. Plus, its *king* size sleeping area offers an unusually generous amount of space to stretch out on.

I also found transforming the sofa into a bed super easy. I simply pulled 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 sofa beds. There's even hidden storage underneath for stashing the sofa back cushions and spare bedding out of sight.

Best quick delivery sofa bed

The majority of sofas and sofa beds come with long lead times (up to 16 weeks isn't unusual), which can make sourcing one quickly 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 in 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 I was amazed at how easy the Swyft chair bed I own was to build. It's a no-tools build, and it took me less than ten minutes. Our reviewer, Heather, also put the no-tools build to the test in her Swyft Model 04 sofa bed review, and confirmed it's *much* easier than expected.

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, there is some compromise; the seats are quite firm, and without much squish-factor, this is definitely seating you sit on rather than sinking into. However, the build quality is great, and as long as you don't mind a firmer seat, it's a very convenient option all round. Transforming from sofa to bed is also easy – simply pull the seats forward and swivel the backrest flat.

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

My testing process

To compile this shortlist of the best sofa beds on the market, I've spent the past five 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) over 20 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, as well as numerous independent retailers, and either I or one of the Ideal Home team has tested sofa beds from online-only retailers such as DUSK, Cocoon, and Swyft.

During testing, I sat down on each sofa bed to determine its comfort levels in sofa form; I tested how easy each sofa bed was to convert into a bed; and I assessed 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 its value for money.

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? This is my checklist of what to consider before you shop.

• Consider how often you'll sit on the sofa bed. If you're looking for a sofa bed for a spare bedroom or home office, you probably won't be sitting on it that frequently. That means you can consider some of the more affordable options on the market, as their firmness in seat form won't matter so much. However, if you want a sofa bed to use as your main everyday seating, you're likely to have to invest more to find a sofa bed that's comfortable.
• Check your measurements. 'Consider the size and scale of a sofa bed carefully so it doesn’t overwhelm your room' agrees Gisela Lancaster, Head of Buying, at furniture retailer Sofology. 'Make sure you take into account that you will need enough room to walk around the bed when it is opened. An easy way to do this is to use an old newspaper to lay out the dimensions on the floor so you get a sense of scale'. You can find expert tips on how to measure up for furniture in our guide to getting sofa measurements right.

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• Check your access. You'll also need to factor in getting your sofa bed to its final destination. Most product descriptions will mention the clearance required for delivery, but if you have a narrow hallway or stairs to navigate, you may need to choose a flatpack sofa bed, or one that can be built by the delivery team in situ. You can find expert tips on how to measure up for furniture in our guide to getting sofa measurements right.
• Think about how many guests you'll be sleeping at once. If you only host one guest at a time, you could save money (and space) by opting for a chair bed or loveseat sofa bed. If you regularly host couples, you'll need to look for a double or king-size sofa bed. Our guide to chair beds vs sofa beds can help you decide if a compact chair bed is the better choice for you.
• Check the size of the sleeping area. Most sofa beds scrimp on sleeping space, so just because the seating may be generous, don't assume the mattress is. There are a *lot* of sofa beds that actually only offer a small double mattress worth of sleeping space, and that's *very* cramped if you're hosting two guests at once. For reference, I've included all of the standard mattress sizes below so you can compare the sleeping area of any sofa bed you're eyeing up.

• Don't forget you'll need bedding. Adding one of the best mattress toppers to your sofa bed's sleeping area will increase your guest's sleep comfort and protect your sofa bed from stains or spills. However, if your sofa bed has an unusually sized sleeping area, finding a topper (and even a sheet) to fit can prove tricky. Factor this into your final choice of sofa bed.
• If you're considering a pull-out sofa bed, then check the mattress depth. A pull-out sofa bed has a dedicated mattress folded up inside it. However, this isn't your average mattress; it's usually a *lot* thinner than a standard 25cm mattress. Most sofa bed mattresses range from 6cm to 12cm deep and can come with either a spring, foam, or memory foam construction. I found most 6cm deep mattresses felt very thin and uncomfortable whilst testing, so look for the deepest you can afford.
• Factor in lead times: Just like sofas, sofa beds can come with long lead times, and whilst you can find options with under 7-day delivery, it's best to factor in a much longer wait. So don't leave it until the day before you have guests coming to stay to shop!

FAQs

Neither type of sofa bed is necessarily any better than the other, but I've found that each type does tend to have different pros and cons, which I've broken down below.

Pull-out sofa beds: pros and cons

Click-clack sofa beds: pros and cons