Sofa beds: the types, the sizes, and how to choose one

We carry sofa beds

We carry sofa beds in the store. Call (520) 313-2093 to ask what is on the floor this week: the floor changes every week, so the ones you see today may not be the ones here next month.

The three kinds

• Pull-out sleeper. Looks like a normal sofa. The seat cushions come off and a folding frame with its own thin mattress pulls out from inside. Best for guests who stay several nights.
• Futon or click-clack. The back folds down flat and the sofa itself becomes the bed. Lighter, simpler, and quicker to open; better for a night or two.
• Daybed. A twin mattress on a frame with a back and sides, dressed with cushions as a sofa. Some have a second pull-out bed (a trundle) underneath.

Sizes

Pull-out sleepers are named by the mattress inside: twin (in a chair or loveseat, about 38 inches wide), full (about 54 inches) and queen (about 60 inches), usually a few inches shorter than a regular mattress of the same name. See the mattress size guide.

Measure it open

A pull-out needs about 90 inches (2.3 m) from the back of the sofa to the foot of the open bed, plus room to walk around it. Measure the room with the bed open, not closed, and measure the door: sleepers are heavier and deeper than ordinary sofas.

What to check in the store

• Open and close it yourself. If it is hard in the store, it will be hard at home.
• Lie on it open. Feel for the bar under your back.
• Sit on it closed. A good sofa bed is still a comfortable sofa.

We carry sofa beds. Call (520) 313-2093 to ask what is on the floor this week before you drive down.