Are Murphy beds good for apartments?
| Quick Answer: For a small apartment, the best Murphy bed is a horizontal twin or full that folds flat against the wall and doubles as a sofa surround or desk unit when closed. Murphy Door® builds wall beds starting at $1,290.00 that ship from our Ogden, Utah facility in about 10 days, are compatible with standard mattresses up to 12 inches thick, and are backed by a Lifetime Warranty on Hardware, Wood, and Workmanship. |
By Jeremy Barker, Founder and CEO, Murphy Door®
Published 2026-10-15
Here's the thing: the question I get asked more than almost any other isn't about hidden bookcase doors. It's about Murphy beds. Specifically, it's some version of "I have 450 square feet and I need to sleep in it, work in it, and not lose my mind in it." That question has a real answer. We've been building space-saving furniture and hidden door systems out of Ogden, Utah since 2012, and after serving 200,000+ households, I can tell you exactly what works in a small apartment and what doesn't.
The Murphy bed market looks simple from the outside. It isn't. You've got horizontal versus vertical orientations, cabinet configurations ranging from a bare frame to full flanking storage towers, and a wide spread of price points that don't always correspond to build quality. Reddit threads about "best murphy bed for a small apartment" tend to devolve into IKEA hack debates, and Amazon listings mix in flat-pack kits that'll rattle apart in 18 months. So let me give you the straight version, the way I'd explain it to a contractor standing in our Utah factory.
The short answer is: buy for your wall, not your floor. In a small apartment, floor space is the asset. A Murphy bed that folds completely flat, closes cleanly, and gives you functional storage on the face of the unit when it's up is worth far more per square foot than a traditional bed frame you can't move. Here's how to pick the right one.
A flush-mount bookcase door open in a living room setting. The same design principles that make a hidden door disappear into a wall apply directly to Murphy Door® wall beds: when it's closed, it should look like furniture, not like a bed.Are Murphy beds good for apartments?
Yes, with one qualifier. A Murphy bed is good for an apartment when the wall it mounts to is structurally adequate and the unit itself is built to close flat and stay flat. The fold-down mechanism needs to be smooth enough that one person can operate it without a second set of hands. That's a hardware question first, a materials question second.
Can I put a Murphy bed in an apartment?
Most of the time, yes. Murphy beds mount to the wall framing, not to the floor, so they don't require the kind of structural modification that would void a lease or require a landlord permit in most cities. Check your lease and local building codes before you install anything, but the installation footprint is similar to a heavy bookcase or a wall-mounted TV cabinet. If you're renting, look for a unit that can be uninstalled and patched without visible damage.
What are the downsides of a Murphy bed?
Real ones, not theoretical ones. First, you'll likely need to remake the bed every morning if you want the room usable, because most Murphy beds don't allow you to leave the sheets fully made when folded. Second, cheap piston mechanisms wear out. The gas-piston lift is the mechanical heart of a wall bed, and a low-spec piston will either fight you or fail to hold the bed in the up position within a few years. Third, the frame needs to be square and the wall needs to be plumb. A wall that's out of plumb means a bed that never closes cleanly.
What is the best type of bed for a small apartment?
A horizontal Murphy bed in twin or full size is the most space-efficient choice for a studio or one-bedroom apartment. The horizontal orientation means the long side of the mattress runs parallel to the wall, so the bed takes up less depth when open than a vertically-mounted queen. If you have a slightly larger footprint to work with, a vertical full or queen with flanking cabinets gives you more storage while keeping the same wall-mounting principle.
Why don't more people use Murphy beds?
Honestly? Bad early experiences with cheap hardware. If you've ever tried to fold up a wall bed with a failing piston, you remember it. The mechanism either requires two people, or it slams open, or it won't stay up. That's a hardware problem, not a concept problem. The concept is sound. A dual-piston lifting mechanism, properly sized to the weight of the frame and mattress, should operate with one arm. That's the spec we build to.
What are some apartment-friendly Murphy beds?
Here's where I'll be direct about our own lineup, because that's what I know best and can stand behind.
The Horizontal Murphy Bed in Twin starts at $1,370.00. It's the right call for a studio apartment where you're the only sleeper. The twin horizontal footprint is narrow enough to leave actual walking space on both sides of the bed when it's open, and when it's closed it reads as a wall panel rather than a piece of furniture. You can configure it with a paint-grade Vaultwood Core face that you finish to match your walls, or choose from real wood veneer options including oak, maple, alder, and walnut.
If you're in a one-bedroom and occasionally hosting, the Horizontal Murphy Bed in Queen runs from $2,490.00. That's a meaningful jump in price, but you're getting a full queen sleeping surface that disappears into the wall during the day. Both units are handmade in the USA using Vaultwood Core construction: a proprietary MDF substrate engineered stronger than standard MDF, with real wood veneer skins and solid hardwood face frames and solid-wood components. The Vaultwood Core panel eliminates the warp and twist you see in competing wall beds that use lesser substrates.
Can I have a Murphy bed in an apartment?
Same answer as above: check your lease, check local building codes, and make sure your installer anchors into wall studs. A properly mounted Murphy bed is no more invasive than a heavy built-in bookcase. We offer professional installation services through a network of licensed contractors in select cities if you'd rather not deal with the stud-finding yourself.
What is a good alternative to a Murphy bed?
A sofa bed is the most common alternative. The tradeoff is comfort: sofa mattresses are thinner and the fold-out mechanism puts stress on the mattress over time. A daybed works for a single sleeper but signals "this is a bedroom" even during the day. A loft bed frees floor space but caps ceiling height. None of these give you what a Murphy bed gives you: a full sleeping surface that's invisible during waking hours and leaves you a functional room.
What is the best Murphy bed for a small space?
The right answer depends on three numbers: your wall width, your ceiling height, and how many people sleep in the bed. A twin horizontal needs roughly 60 inches of wall width. A queen horizontal needs about 80. Vertical configurations need less wall width but more ceiling height. Measure twice before you order anything.
For most studio apartments in the 400–600 square foot range, the Simple Murphy Bed at $1,290.00 is the starting point that makes the most economic sense. It's the bed frame mechanism without flanking cabinets, which keeps the footprint minimal. If your budget allows and your wall has room, adding a left or right cabinet immediately gives you closet or shelf space you'd otherwise need freestanding furniture to cover. The Murphy Bed with Left Cabinet is priced at $1,800.00. The full flanking cabinet set, the Murphy Bed with Left and Right Side Cabinets, runs $3,150.00.
All Murphy Door® wall beds are compatible with standard mattresses up to 12 inches thick, so you're not forced into a proprietary mattress. That's a real cost and comfort difference from some competing wall bed configurations.
What are some good Murphy beds for small rooms?
For rooms under 250 square feet, prioritize horizontal orientation over vertical. The horizontal twin or twin XL leaves more usable floor space when open because the bed extends out from the wall lengthwise rather than widthwise. The Twin XL Horizontal Murphy Bed starts at $1,950.00 and adds a few inches of length over a standard twin, which most adult sleepers appreciate.
If you want a Murphy bed that also gives you a working desk surface, check out the Murphy Bed with Desk. The desk folds down when the bed goes up, so you get both surfaces from a single wall footprint. For a home-office-slash-guest-room situation, that configuration is hard to beat.
Which brand of Murphy beds is considered the best?
Look, here's what we've learned after serving 200,000+ households: the question isn't really which brand. It's whether the brand manufactures its own hardware or sources it. Murphy Door® manufactures hardware in-house at our Utah and Kentucky factories. The dual-piston lifting mechanism is built and tested in the same facility that builds the frame. That's not a marketing claim; it's a supply chain fact, and it's why we can back every Murphy Door® wall bed with a Lifetime Warranty on Hardware, Wood, and Workmanship.
The Horizontal Twin Murphy Bed open and ready for sleep. In a small apartment, the horizontal orientation leaves walking space on both sides of the mattress, making the room feel significantly less cramped than a vertical configuration would in the same square footage.
Are Murphy beds allowed in apartments?
The short answer is yes in most cases, but the specifics depend on your lease and your local building codes. Murphy beds mount to wall studs and don't require permanent structural modification in the way that removing a wall would. Most installations can be reversed, which is what matters most if you're renting.
Can I put a Murphy bed in my apartment?
Read your lease first. Look for clauses about wall anchoring, alterations, or fixtures. If nothing explicitly prohibits it, a wall bed installed into studs with proper hardware is generally in the same category as a wall-mounted TV bracket or heavy shelving system. When in doubt, ask your landlord in writing. Many landlords see it as a value-add to the unit.
Do Murphy beds have to be attached to the floor?
No. A properly engineered Murphy bed anchors to the wall, not the floor. The wall anchor is what carries the load when the bed is extended. Floor anchoring is sometimes added for extra stability in higher-seismic zones, but it's not a requirement for standard residential installation. Murphy Door® wall beds ship with hardware sized for wall-stud mounting. If your building has unusually soft wall substrates, that's something to discuss with your installer before you order.
How do Murphy Door® wall beds compare to what you'd find on Amazon or IKEA?
Here's the math we keep doing for people. An IKEA hack Murphy bed involves buying a PAX wardrobe frame, sourcing a third-party Murphy bed hardware kit, and spending a weekend figuring out how to make components that weren't designed to work together actually work together. The hardware kits on Amazon range from about $200 to $600 for the mechanism alone. Add the IKEA cabinet cost, fasteners, a decent mattress, and your time, and you're not far off from a Murphy Door® Simple Murphy Bed, except you don't have the Lifetime Warranty on Hardware, Wood, and Workmanship, and you don't have a dual-piston mechanism that was built and tested in the same factory as the frame.
We've been at this long enough to know which corners to cut and which corners to weld. The piston is not a corner to cut. Neither is the wall anchor system. Both of those are the things that fail on cheap units, and both are the things that distinguish a Murphy bed that works for 15 years from one that's a disaster by year three.
| Configuration | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Murphy Bed (Vertical) | Studios, minimum footprint | $1,290.00 |
| Horizontal Twin | Studios, solo sleepers | $1,370.00 |
| Horizontal Twin XL | Taller sleepers, small rooms | $1,950.00 |
| Horizontal Queen | One-bedrooms, couples | $2,490.00 |
| Murphy Bed + Left Cabinet | Added storage, medium rooms | $1,800.00 |
| Murphy Bed + Both Cabinets | Replacing a full dresser setup | $3,150.00 |
What should I check before ordering any Murphy bed?
Five questions. Write them down.
- Wall width available: Measure the clear run of wall between obstructions. A twin horizontal needs about 60 inches; a queen needs about 80.
- Ceiling height: Standard 8-foot ceilings accommodate most vertical configurations. Horizontal units need less ceiling clearance but more wall width.
- Mattress compatibility: Murphy Door® wall beds accept standard mattresses up to 12 inches thick. Confirm this spec against whatever mattress you already own or plan to buy.
- Installation access: Can you get the panels through your building's hallways and elevator? Most Murphy Door® wall beds ship unassembled for this exact reason.
- Warranty terms: Ask any company what's covered and for how long. Murphy Door® backs wall beds with a Lifetime Warranty on Hardware, Wood, and Workmanship. Electronic locks and components, if added, carry a 1-year warranty.
If you're not sure which configuration fits your space, call us at 888-458-5911 or book a virtual consultation. We'll ask you the same five questions and point you to the right unit without trying to upsell you into something your room can't use.
Start Your Project
Ready to get a Murphy bed into your apartment? Browse the full Murphy Door® Murphy Bed collection or call our team at 888-458-5911. We ship from our Ogden, Utah facility in about 10 days and can connect you with a licensed installer in select cities. Financing is available through our financing page.
About Murphy Door®
Murphy Door® is the largest hidden door and wall bed company in the world, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Ogden, Utah. We manufacture every hinge, build every frame, and finish everything in our own Utah and Kentucky factories. Since 2012, we've served 200,000+ households with hidden bookcase doors, hidden furniture solutions, and Murphy beds built on Vaultwood Core construction: a proprietary MDF engineered stronger than standard MDF, with real wood veneer skins, solid hardwood face frames, and solid-wood components. Every Murphy Door® product is backed by a Lifetime Warranty on Hardware, Wood, and Workmanship. Murphy Door® has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Fox News, HGTV, Architectural Digest, and Martha Stewart's House Beautiful. Learn more at murphydoor.com or call 888-458-5911.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the downsides of a Murphy bed?
A: The main practical downsides are that you'll likely need to remake the bed each morning, and cheap piston mechanisms wear out faster than people expect. A well-engineered dual-piston lift, sized correctly for the frame and mattress weight, should operate smoothly with one arm. Poorly spec'd hardware is the source of most Murphy bed complaints, not the concept itself.
Q: Do Murphy beds have to be attached to the floor?
A: No. Murphy beds mount to wall studs, not the floor. The wall anchor carries the load when the bed is extended. Floor anchoring is sometimes added in higher-seismic zones but isn't required for standard residential installation. Murphy Door® wall beds ship with wall-stud mounting hardware included.
Q: Can I use a regular mattress on a Murphy bed?
A: Yes. Murphy Door® wall beds are compatible with standard mattresses up to 12 inches thick. You don't need a proprietary or specialty mattress, which is a real cost advantage over some competing configurations that require their own mattress format.
Q: Which brand of Murphy beds is considered the best?
A: The honest answer is to look past the brand name and ask about the hardware. Murphy Door® manufactures its lifting mechanisms in-house at our Utah and Kentucky factories and backs every wall bed with a Lifetime Warranty on Hardware, Wood, and Workmanship. That's only possible because we own the tooling and control the quality from raw material to finished unit.
Q: What is the best Murphy bed for a small apartment with a desk?
A: The Murphy Door® Murphy Bed with Desk is built for exactly this situation. The desk surface folds down from the unit when the bed goes up, so a single wall footprint serves two purposes: sleeping at night, working during the day. It's the right configuration for a studio that doubles as a home office.
Q: How much does a Murphy bed cost for a small apartment?
A: Murphy Door® wall beds start at $1,290.00 for the Simple Murphy Bed frame. A Horizontal Twin starts at $1,370.00. Adding flanking cabinet storage brings the price up from there. Financing is available. Call 888-458-5911 to talk through which configuration fits your space and budget.