A bed frame that appears right when and where you need it, then seamlessly hides itself away while you’re awake? No, we’re not talking about magic tricks—this type of sleeping arrangement is known as a Murphy bed, a bed frame that unfolds from the wall when you’re ready to use it. Murphy beds offer a fantastic way to maximize your living space, transforming rooms into sleepy oases each time you lower them.
Given how much space a Murphy wall bed might save you, however, you might wonder what size of bed you need.
If you’re thinking of buying a Murphy bed, you’ll want to know the best mattress size for your space, as well as how to match the bed’s dimensions with your home. That way, your Murphy wall bed can help you catch Z’s at night and claim compliments from admiring guests.
How to Measure Your Space for a Murphy Bed
Measuring the space where you plan to install your Murphy bed is essential. The last thing you want is to purchase your cabinet bed only to discover that the wall you planned to mount it on is too small.
To properly measure your space, first consider the type of Murphy bed you want—horizontal or vertical:
Horizontal – Horizontal Murphy beds fold down with the widest side lined up against the wall. These beds are ideal for spaces that have low ceilings. This is because you may not be able to fully fold up a vertical bed without enough clearance.
Vertical – Vertical Murphy beds fold down with the shortest side against the wall. These vertical beds are fantastic options for rooms with regular or tall ceiling heights. Additionally, the frames for vertical Murphy beds usually take up less living space than horizontal Murphy bed frames, providing you extra room to kick back and relax.
Once you know the type of Murphy bed you want (and the type that best fits your space), it’s time to take out your tape measure.
Measurement Steps
Whether you’re installing a horizontal Murphy bed or a vertical one, you’ll want to take the following steps to obtain accurate measurements:1
With a tape measure, measure the width of the wall space where you’ll install your cabinet bed. Most experts recommend measurements no less than 80 inches wide for horizontal bed mounts and 47 inches wide for vertical mounts.
Next, measure your vertical space from floor to ceiling. While vertical measurements don’t matter as much for horizontal mounts, they’re crucial for vertical Murphy beds. Most experts recommend a minimum height of 82 inches.
Finally, measure the space from your wall to the area where you expect the cabinet murphy bed to extend when it’s fully unfolded. This measurement is known as the bed’s projection length. We’ll get into the specific size requirements when we discuss the different types of Murphy beds. But for now, know that you should have a minimum of 85.25 inches of space for vertical mounts and 49.25 inches for horizontal mounts.
After measuring your space, it’s time for the exciting part: selecting your Murphy bed size.
Like traditional bed types, Murphy cabinet bed frames come in several sizes, including twin, full, queen, and king.
Let’s explore a few of the most common Murphy bed sizes by looking at their horizontal mount dimensions:2
Twin – Twin XL size horizontal Murphy beds typically require heights between 45 and 48 inches, widths between 80 and 85 inches, and projection lengths between 44 and 46 inches.
Full – Full-size horizontal mounts typically require heights between 62 and 64 inches, widths between 80 and 85 inches, and projection lengths between 58 and 60 inches.
Queen – Providing more storage space than full-size mattresses, queen-size horizontal mounts typically require heights between 68 and 70 inches, widths between 85 and 90 inches, and projection lengths between 65 and 68 inches.
King – The largest mattresses for Murphy beds, king-size horizontal mounts typically require heights between 68 and 70 inches, widths between 85 and 90 inches, and projection lengths between 78 and 80 inches.
From twin XL-size to king-size, the right horizontal Murphy bed should fit most living spaces. However, as most people know, size isn’t everything. You should also think about your sleeper’s comfort. For that, your Murphy bed mattress could benefit from the Wave Hybrid Mattress from Casper.
In addition to being compatible with most Murphy cabinet bed frames, the Wave Hybrid Mattress provides zone support and cooling gels for maximum comfort.
Sizes and Dimensions for Vertical Murphy Beds
While horizontal Murphy beds are perfect for some spaces, the mattress size and shape of your specific living space may require a vertical mount.
Fortunately, vertical Murphy beds come in the same sizes as horizontal mounts, albeit with different Murphy bed dimensions:2
Twin – Twin-size vertical mounts typically require heights between 82 and 87 inches, widths between 43 and 46 inches, and projection lengths between 80 and 82 inches.
Full – Full-size vertical mounts provide more room to stretch out than twin-size mattresses, but they remain a superb option for conserving space. They typically require heights between 62 and 64 inches, widths between 57 and 61 inches, and projection lengths between 80 and 82 inches.
Queen – Like their horizontal cousins, queen-size vertical mounts are fantastic for sleeping, cuddling up with a book, or simply relaxing after a busy day. They typically require heights between 87 and 89 inches, widths between 64 and 68 inches, and projection lengths between 85 and 87 inches.
King – Providing space fit for royalty, king-size vertical mounts typically require heights between 89 and 92 inches, widths between 84 and 86 inches, and projection lengths between 85 and 87 inches. As the most spacious option, a king-sized vertical mount likely requires the most wall and floor space among all Murphy beds.
Vertical Murphy beds deliver maximum functionality. Paired with a Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress, they can also deliver ultimate comfort. That’s because our Nova Hybrid Mattress redefines luxurious sleeping.
The best part is, our king-sized Nova Hybrid Mattress has the dimensions to fit most Murphy bed size requirements. Talk about nodding off in style.
Some things just go together. But when it comes to saving space and sensational sleep, you need to look no further than Casper.
Whether your living space demands a twin or a full, a queen or a king-size Murphy bed, our mattresses can give you the sleep and comfort you’ve always dreamed about for a great bed frame cost.
Unfold your bed and unlock your best sleep yet with Casper.
