Murphy Bed Dimensions: Sizes, Clearances and Built-In Cost

Murphy bed dimensions by size

A vertical queen Murphy bed needs a wall about 5 1/2 feet wide and 7 feet 3 inches tall in three makers' tables. It takes about 7 feet 3 inches of floor in front when open, or 9 feet 9 inches to 10 feet 3 inches of room depth with a 30–36-inch walkway.^{1 2 8 11}

In three makers' tables, a vertical queen Murphy bed cabinet is 65 7/8–68 inches wide, 87 1/8–87 3/4 inches high and 15 7/8–18 3/4 inches deep when closed. It projects 86 7/8–87 inches from the wall when open.^{1 2 8}

The ranges combine three makers' examples. Each endpoint is one maker's figure. Use the selected system's current drawing for your order. Mattress dimensions are nominal United States sizes.⁷

A vertical twin Murphy bed cabinet is 44 7/8–47 inches wide and 82 1/8–82 3/4 inches tall, and it projects 81 7/8–83 inches when open.^{1 2 8}

A vertical full Murphy bed cabinet is 59 7/8–62 inches wide and 82 1/8–82 3/4 inches tall, and it projects 81 7/8–83 inches when open.^{1 2 8}

A vertical queen Murphy bed cabinet is 65 7/8–68 inches wide and 87 1/8–87 3/4 inches tall, and it projects 86 7/8–87 inches when open.^{1 2 8}

A vertical king Murphy bed cabinet is 81 7/8–84 inches wide and 87 1/8–87 3/4 inches tall, and it projects 86 7/8–87 inches when open.^{1 2 8}

A horizontal twin Murphy bed cabinet is 80–80 7/8 inches wide and 47 3/8–47 5/8 inches tall, and it projects 44 1/2–46 inches when open.^{1 2 8}

A horizontal queen Murphy bed cabinet is 85–85 7/8 inches wide and 68 7/16–68 5/8 inches tall, and it projects 65 1/2–67 inches when open.^{1 2 8}

The finished-wood examples include crown molding in the listed widths.^{1 2} Ask for a full-wall drawing with every side cabinet, filler and finished end.

Is a Murphy bed worth it? Pros and cons

A Murphy bed can be worth it when one room must work as an office or den and still sleep guests. Vertical queen examples in three makers' tables are 15 7/8–18 3/4 inches deep closed and project 86 7/8–87 inches when open.^{1 2 8} Decide whether having that floor space available during the day is worth the cost and regular opening and closing.

Pros of a Murphy bed

A Murphy bed can use an ordinary mattress. One maker's standard beds accept innerspring or memory-foam mattresses up to 12 inches thick.⁵ A wall bed stores the mattress upright without folding it. A conventional pull-out sofa needs a mattress that folds into its frame.¹⁶ Compare the actual mattresses before you choose either arrangement.

Closing the bed makes more floor available for work or other daytime use. Shared offices, guest rooms and small living spaces are suitable uses, according to one sleep publisher.¹³ A Murphy bed can make sense when you need both uses in the same room.

Cons of a Murphy bed

A vertical queen Murphy bed still uses 65 7/8–68 inches of wall width in the three makers' tables.^{1 2 8} That space remains committed to the bed cabinet when the bed is closed.

• You raise and lower the bed whenever you change between sleeping and daytime use. For nightly sleeping, that means regular setup.¹³
• The built-in needs secure attachment. One maker specifies fastening its wall beds to wall studs. Have the installer confirm the selected system's requirements for your wall.⁹
• Your mattress must fit the mechanism's limits. One maker specifies a queen mattress weighing 55–80 pounds and a maximum thickness of 12 inches.⁵

How much room you need

A vertical queen Murphy bed needs 117–123 inches of room depth in this planning example, at least 90 1/4 inches of ceiling height in one maker's line, and a wall that accepts the maker's attachment.^{1 2 11}

Open floor space and a walkway

A vertical queen with an 87-inch wall-to-end projection needs 117–123 inches of room depth when you add a 30–36-inch clear route past the foot.^{2 11} The arithmetic is 87 + 30 = 117 and 87 + 36 = 123.

Lori Beds suggests 24–30 inches beside an open bed for access on both sides and about 30–36 inches at the foot.¹¹ These are maker planning guidelines. A room with accessibility requirements needs its own layout review.

The projection starts at the wall and already includes the closed cabinet depth. Measure the room depth to the nearest furniture edge or other obstruction across from the bed.

Now draw every door and drawer open. Check the exit route, ceiling fan, light, outlet, switch and vent with the bed lowered.³

Ceiling height

One maker's vertical wood queen and king need at least 90 1/4 inches from the finished floor to the ceiling.¹ That figure comes from an 87 3/4-inch cabinet plus 2 1/2 inches of required space above it.

Measure below the lowest obstruction. Ask the installer to confirm assembly space and any crown molding that goes above the cabinet.

Wall attachment and existing trim

The selected mechanism and wall construction determine the attachment. Bedder Way describes attachment to wall studs and says concrete or brick applications are also possible.⁹ Its system uses pistons. Other systems can use springs or different attachment arrangements.

Have the installer inspect the wall and confirm the attachment before you order. Ask for the installed assembly weight and rated load separately from the mattress weight.

Measure the baseboards too. One maker says its main bed can have a baseboard notch, while its side cabinets don't get the same notch.⁹ Put that detail on the full-wall elevation so the bed and side cabinets line up correctly.

Vertical or horizontal

In three makers' tables, a horizontal queen Murphy bed cabinet is 85–85 7/8 inches wide and projects 65 1/2–67 inches when open.^{1 2 8} A horizontal cabinet is lower and wider than the vertical queen cabinets in those tables.

A vertical bed stores the mattress on its end. A horizontal bed stores it on its long side.⁸ Check the ceiling, windows, doorways and outlets before you pick the orientation.

One maker's horizontal king is 83 1/8 inches high and projects 83 inches.⁸ Ask for the current drawing for that exact system before pricing.

The mattress

One maker accepts mattresses up to 12 inches thick in its standard wall beds.⁵ Its queen mattress range is 55–80 pounds, and its king range is 60–90 pounds.⁵ The maker explains that mattress weight helps counterbalance its piston system.⁵ Ask for the selected bed's occupant-load rating and installed assembly weight separately. A mattress-weight limit can't answer how much sleeper weight the bed supports.

Bedder Way lists innerspring and memory-foam mattresses as compatible with its standard systems. It excludes latex, air and adjustable mattresses for those systems.⁵ Ask the maker to approve your exact mattress for thickness, weight and upright storage.

Mattress measurements can vary by maker. Sleep Foundation lists a twin at 38 × 75 inches, while Bedder Way lists 39 × 75 inches.^{5 7} Measure the mattress you plan to use.

Built-in options

Built-in Murphy bed options from one maker include a 64 15/16-inch-wide rolling desk and side cabinets in nominal widths of 18, 24 or 30 inches.¹

Murphy bed with a desk

One maker's queen and king rolling desk is 64 15/16 inches wide and 22 inches deep.¹ Put its floor position and movement on the room plan.

Other systems can use a fold-away desk or a surface that stays level while the bed opens.^{3 8} Ask what you must remove from the desk and where the chair goes at night. Use the built-in desk planning guide for the person, chair and equipment. If the room needs to sleep several guests at once, compare the Murphy bed with built-in bunk beds.

Murphy bed with a couch or sofa

A vertical queen Murphy bed with a couch (a sofa Murphy bed) is 76 inches wide, 90 inches high and 45 inches deep closed in one maker's standard configuration, with the sofa in front.¹⁴ It projects 90 inches into the room when open.

The sofa frame can stay in place. The maker says to remove the seat cushions and lower the bed over the frame.¹⁴ Plan a place for those cushions. The 90-inch open projection already includes the cabinet and sofa area. Add walking clearance beyond it. Deeper cabinet options change both the closed depth and open projection.¹⁴

Side cabinets and shelves

One maker lists nominal side-cabinet widths of 18, 24 or 30 inches and a depth of 16 inches for its vertical wood line.¹ Two nominal 18-inch cabinets add 36 inches before fillers, finished ends and final trim: 18 + 18 = 36.

Ask for usable interior depth as well as outside depth. Use the built-in bookshelf dimensions guide for shelf spans and expected loads.

What a Murphy bed costs

An installed prefab Murphy bed costs $1,500–$6,000 and an installed custom system $3,000–$15,000, according to Fixr's January 2025 guide.⁶ These are dated national planning ranges. Get a local quote for your room and scope.

Professional installation of a store-bought Murphy bed costs about $100–$550 through a furniture assembly professional, according to one cost guide dated November 27, 2024.¹² This is an installation-only allowance, and the bed purchase is separate. Job size and complexity affect the charge. Ask whether the quote includes the required wall attachment and any site preparation.

The hardware allowance covers only one part of the job. Ask what the proposed kit contains and who supplies the cabinet, mattress, finish and installation. This guide has no verified complete-kit market range.

Give every shop the same bed, surround and site-work list. Ask each shop to separate delivery, electrical work, mattress and finish. The custom cabinet quote guide explains how to compare scope. Its kitchen linear-foot figures don't calculate a Murphy bed price.

What to ask the cabinetmaker

Ask for the exact mechanism and its current installation drawing. Have the shop identify wall or floor attachment, mattress limits, open projection, overhead space and every nearby cabinet or desk.

The quote should name the materials, finish, access to the mechanism, electrical work, delivery and installation. Our questions for a cabinetmaker cover the hiring conversation.

Questions people actually ask

What is a Murphy bed?

A Murphy bed is a bed that folds up into a wall cabinet or recess when you're not using it.¹¹ A queen mattress is nominally 60 × 80 inches, and the surrounding cabinet is larger.⁷ You need clear floor space to lower the bed.

What is a double Murphy bed?

A double Murphy bed is a full-size Murphy bed with a 54 × 75-inch mattress; vertical full cabinets in three makers' tables are 59 7/8–62 inches wide.^{1 2 7 8}

How big is a queen Murphy bed?

In three makers' tables, a vertical queen Murphy bed cabinet is 65 7/8–68 inches wide, 87 1/8–87 3/4 inches high and 15 7/8–18 3/4 inches deep when closed, with 86 7/8–87 inches of open projection.^{1 2 8} These ranges combine maker examples. Use the chosen system's complete current dimensions for ordering.

How much wall space do you need for a queen size Murphy bed?

A vertical queen Murphy bed needs a wall about 65 7/8–68 inches wide and 87 1/8–87 3/4 inches high in three makers' tables, plus room for any side cabinets.^{1 2 8}

How much space do you need for a Murphy bed?

An example vertical queen needs 117–123 inches of room depth when its 87-inch open projection has a 30–36-inch clear route at the foot.^{2 11} The arithmetic is 87 + 30 = 117 and 87 + 36 = 123. Check side access, ceiling height, furniture and door swings too.

Will a Murphy bed fit in a closet?

Yes, in some reach-in closets. The finished opening must clear a cabinet 15 7/8–18 3/4 inches deep and, for a vertical queen, 65 7/8–68 inches wide and 87 1/8–87 3/4 inches high.^{1 2 8} The closet dimensions guide says reach-in closets start at 24 inches deep, so depth may work, but measure the finished opening and door before you order.

How much does a Murphy bed cost?

An installed prefab Murphy bed costs $1,500–$6,000 and an installed custom system $3,000–$15,000, according to Fixr's January 2025 guide.⁶ Hardware and materials allowances cover only part of a kit-based project. Ask for a quote for the complete wall and installation scope.

Do you need a special mattress for a Murphy bed?

No. One maker accepts ordinary innerspring or memory-foam mattresses up to 12 inches thick in its standard wall beds, subject to its size and weight limits.⁵ Other systems differ. Have the maker approve your exact mattress before ordering.

Can a Murphy bed fit a 12-inch mattress?

Yes. One maker's standard wall beds accept mattresses up to 12 inches thick, subject to its size and weight limits.⁵ Other systems differ, so have the maker approve your exact mattress before ordering.

Why is it called a Murphy bed?

The Murphy bed is named for William L. Murphy, whose folding-bed work dates to around 1900.¹⁰ Ontario Murphy Beds also dates the Murphy Wall Bed Company of California to that period.¹⁰ The name doesn't specify a current cabinet size or mechanism.

What are the downsides of a Murphy bed?

The downsides of a Murphy bed are the wall it still uses when closed, raising and lowering it each time, and its attachment and mattress limits. A vertical queen Murphy bed still uses 65 7/8–68 inches of wall width in three makers' tables.^{1 2 8} You must raise and lower it to use that floor for another purpose.¹³ Its attachment and mattress limits also need attention: one maker requires wall-stud attachment and limits its standard queen mattress to 55–80 pounds and 12 inches thick.^{9 5}

How does a Murphy bed work?

A Murphy bed pivots between upright storage and a horizontal sleeping position, and pistons or springs counterbalance the bed face and mattress.¹⁵ One maker's mechanism uses 2 pistons.¹⁵ The maker describes pivoting support legs on its spring-lift version.¹⁵ Follow the selected system's operating instructions because the mechanism and leg arrangement vary.

Where these numbers come from

The cabinet ranges use published tables from three makers. The horizontal king uses one maker's figures. Sleep Foundation supplies the nominal mattress sizes. Bedder Way supplies its mattress requirements. Lori Beds supplies the walking-space guidance. The cost ranges keep their source dates. Sources were accessed October 2 and October 5, 2026.

This guide gives room-planning information. The selected system's current instructions and a site-specific drawing are required before fabrication or installation.

1. Bedder Way: Dimensions
2. Hide N Go Sleep: Murphy Bed Dimensions
3. Murphy Wall-Beds Hardware: Room Measurements and Clearance
4. Angi: Murphy Bed Installation Cost
5. Bedder Way: Mattress Overview
6. Fixr: Murphy Bed Installation Cost
7. Sleep Foundation: Mattress Sizes
8. Create-A-Bed: Vertical or Horizontal Murphy Bed
9. Bedder Way: Common Questions
10. Ontario Murphy Beds: History
11. Lori Beds: Murphy Bed Measurement Guide
12. HomeGuide: Murphy Bed Cost (November 27, 2024)
13. Sleep Foundation: What Is a Murphy Bed?
14. Murphy Bed Depot: Sofa and Panel Bed Ensemble
15. Wilding: Which Murphy Bed Mechanism Should I Choose?
16. Create-A-Bed: Murphy Bed vs Sofa Bed

Last updated: October 2, 2026