Murphy beds are a popular type of furniture used in apartments or homes where space is limited. They are also known as wall beds or fold-down beds because when not in use, they are held in an upright position against the wall and fold-down for sleeping.
These types of modern beds can really help to maximize floor space in a small room during the day when a bed is not needed or provide an occasional bed for visitors without permanently occupying space in the room. Understanding Murphy bed dimensions is important for planning your room and deciding whether you can comfortably fit one in your space.
When measuring a Murphy bed, you’ll want to take into account both its compact and extended measurements. It is essential to understand the space it will take up on your wall to make sure you have enough free wall space to accommodate it.
You should also factor in the fold-down measurement of the bed to ensure the room is big enough for it to be fully folded out. Murphy beds come in various sizes to accommodate standard-sized mattresses, including twin, full, queen, and king-size mattresses.
The most common types of Murphy beds are vertical Murphy beds. These are the types most people imagine when they think of a fold-down bed. A vertical Murphy bed, when in the closed position, will appear to be standing on its head, with the pillow end of the bed being joined by hinges to the wall.
The other type of Murphy bed which is less popular is the horizontal Murphy bed. These beds are joined to the wall along the length of the bed, so when it is in a folded-down position, you would be sleeping with your body lying parallel to the wall. Here we look at the dimensions for each size of murphy bed.
Vertical Murphy Beds
These Murphy beds are positioned vertically on the wall when in the closed position, so you should take special note of the measurements if you have low ceilings to ensure there is adequate space for them to be installed.
You should also bear in mind any ceiling fans or low-hanging ceiling pendants when lowering the bed into a folded-out position, as these could get in the way. Check out the sizes of Murphy beds and their corresponding standard mattress sizes below to find out which type of Murphy bed will work in your space. You should ideally allow a minimum of 30 inches of free space on either side of the Murphy bed when in the folded-down position to allow you to move freely around the bed.
Twin Mattress
This Murphy bed will have a height of between 82 and 87 inches when in the closed position on the wall, depending on at what height you install it. It will have a width of between 43 and 46 inches and a depth of between 18 and 21 inches. In the folded-out position, you should allow a projection of between 80 and 82 inches. This is the amount of space the bed will occupy from where it is joined at the wall to the foot of the bed.
Full Mattress
A Murphy bed that accommodates a full mattress will have a closed height ranging between 82 and 87 inches. The width will be between 57 and 61 inches and the depth between 18 and 21 inches. The projection will be between 80 and 82 inches.
Queen Mattress
This type of Murphy bed will have a closed height of between 87 and 89 inches, so it requires greater wall height than the twin and full-size Murphy beds. The width will range between 64 and 68 inches, while the depth will fall between 18 and 21 inches. You should allow for a projection in the range of 85 and 87 inches.
King Mattress
This Murphy bed, unsurprisingly, requires the most wall space. In a closed position, it will reach a height of between 89 and 92 inches. The width will be between 84 and 86 inches and the depth between 18 and 21 inches. The projection will be in the range of 85 to 87 inches.
Horizontal Murphy Beds
These Murphy beds are not as common as vertical Murphy beds, but in some situations, they present a more functional solution to an extra sleeping space. These beds are joined to the wall along the length of the bed, so once in a folded down position, the bed is only accessible from one side- the side not fixed to the wall. These beds are great if you want a fold-down bed but have low ceilings because they don’t take up much vertical space on the wall.
Twin Mattress
When fixed in a closed position, this bed will have a height on the wall of between 45 and 48 inches. The width will be 80 to 85 inches and the depth 16 to 20 inches. The projection of a twin-size Murphy bed will be between 44 and 46 inches.
Full Mattress
In a closed position, this bed will reach between 62 and 64 inches high on the wall. The width will measure between 80 and 85 inches and the depth 16 to 20 inches. The projection will be 58 to 60 inches.
Queen Mattress
A queen-size Murphy bed will have a height of between 68 and 70 inches when closed against the wall. The width will fall in the range of 85 to 90, and the depth 16 to 20 inches. The projection of this bed, when folded down, will be between 65 and 68 inches.
King Mattress
A king-size Murphy bed will be between 68 and 70 inches high. The width will vary between 85 and 90 inches, and the depth 16 to 20 inches. The projection of this bed, when fully folded down, will be between 78 and 80 inches, so you’ll want to check the head height of light fittings to ensure it won’t hit them when opening and closing.
