*Last Updated: May 2023

The 5 Best Folding Beds [Ranked]

Are you living in a small apartment or adjusting to living in a tiny living space?

If yes, a folding bed can act as your savior.

In recent years, this type of bed has grown increasingly famous because of its excellent ability to save space.

With this product, you’ll never need a large bed or cot.

You can simply fold it, clasp the top and store it in the cupboard.

What’s more?

Folding beds are highly lightweight, which means you’d be able to carry them anywhere.

Whether you are out for picnic, camping, or looking to spend some comfortable time on the beach, a folding bed can be your one-stop space-saving solution (Source).

Contents

Comparing The Options

Bestseller No. 1
Milliard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed – Twin Size - with Luxurious Memory Foam Mattress and a Super Strong Sturdy Frame – 75” x 38
5,039 Reviews
Milliard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed – Twin Size - with Luxurious Memory Foam Mattress and a Super Strong Sturdy Frame – 75” x 38
  • EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT – The Diplomat distinguishes itself with a full-steel wire lattice frame that’s reinforced and overbuilt to ensure maximum sturdiness for 300lbs! Fold out dimensions – 75” long x 38” wide. Mattress is 73" long for proper fold up.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Milliard Lightweight Folding Cot with Mattress 31'x75' (not Intended for Heavy Duty use)
2,167 Reviews
Milliard Lightweight Folding Cot with Mattress 31"x75" (not Intended for Heavy Duty use)
  • Excellent Support - Strong, sturdy metal bed frame to accommodate small and large individuals
SaleBestseller No. 3
EconoHome Folding Bed with Mattress - 75x38 Twin Size Bed Frame - Portable Foldable Roll Away Adult Bed for Guest - 5-inch Thick Memory Foam Twin Mattress - Space Saving Fold Up Bed for Easy Storage
95 Reviews
EconoHome Folding Bed with Mattress - 75x38 Twin Size Bed Frame - Portable Foldable Roll Away Adult Bed for Guest - 5-inch Thick Memory Foam Twin Mattress - Space Saving Fold Up Bed for Easy Storage
  • Strong & Stable Bed Frame - This foldable bed is built with a high-quality metal frame that is reinforced for maximum durability. The full-steel wire lattice frame is designed to support up to 300 lbs.
Bestseller No. 4
GETOVIN Cot, Camping Cot with Thick Pad,Cots for Sleeping,Camping Bed Folding Cot 450LBS(Max Load) Comfortable Double Layer Oxford Heavy Duty with Carry Bag for Office/Home Nap,Outdoor Travel
750 Reviews
GETOVIN Cot, Camping Cot with Thick Pad,Cots for Sleeping,Camping Bed Folding Cot 450LBS(Max Load) Comfortable Double Layer Oxford Heavy Duty with Carry Bag for Office/Home Nap,Outdoor Travel
  • 【TIPS】: The pad is vacuum-packed, which can be naturally fluffed after 2-3 hours of unpacking. For the cot to unfold flat, refer to the manual. If any questions, please feel free to contact us.
SaleBestseller No. 5
Sofa Bed,4 in 1 Multi Function Folding Ottoman Sleeper Bed,Modern Convertible Chair Adjustable Backrest Sleeper Couch Bed for Living Room Small Room Apartment,Light Grey
493 Reviews
Sofa Bed,4 in 1 Multi Function Folding Ottoman Sleeper Bed,Modern Convertible Chair Adjustable Backrest Sleeper Couch Bed for Living Room Small Room Apartment,Light Grey
  • MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOFA BED: The convertible sofa bed can be used as a ottoman in normal. It can be easily and quickly converted into a sofa, lounger or a bed to meet your various and versatile needs

Buying Guide

There was a time when we could only think of four-legged, large platforms made from wood or steel as beds.

But today’s modern lifestyles need efficient use of space and that’s probably the biggest reason for which the concept of beds has changed drastically over the last couple of decades.

While a folding bed can come extremely handy on countless occasions, lots of these products are available on the market right now and that makes the selection of a perfect folding bed quite an overwhelming task.

When you’re purchasing such a product, there’re some crucial things that you have to keep in mind.

  1. Mattress Quality: First of all, check the mattress quality because it’ll directly determine your quality of sleep.
  2. Mattress Thickness: Look for a bed that comes with an adequately thick mattress which is made from memory foam.
  3. Foldup Dimensions: If you’re buying the product for conserving space, it’s imperative to go for one that can be easily folded to compact size and stored.
  4. Frame Type: Another important thing you’d need to review is the frame type of the bed. If you can spend more, simply go for a bed that comes with a trampoline frame as it tends to be more comfortable, supportive, and durable than slat-style frames.

More Info

As the name implies, a folding bed is a different kind of bed that can be extended and folded quickly and they can be commonly found in hotel rooms under the category of extra beds.

The biggest benefit of these beds is they are lightweight and come with a folding mattress which remains attached to the bed’s frame while closing, making them highly convenient.

In general, using such a bed is as simple as deploying and just placing a couple of pieces in their place.

You can watch this video to get a clear idea of how to deploy these beds:

The manufacturer writes that “Its generous size and thick foam padding make this a very comfortable bed and it also reclines to four different positions for daytime relaxing. It’s easy to fold down and stow away when it’s not in use – it even has wheels so it’s easy to move around.”

You may note that a folding bed isn’t a luxury item, it’s an intelligent product instead.

Apart from their use at home and personal use, these beds can be advantageous in a lot of other places.

From educational institutes to small infirmaries to professional workplaces – it seems to be prudent to keep one of these units.

Another notable thing about these products is that they can provide almost the same comfort as traditional wooden beds, helping the sleeper to get quality sleep.

Folding beds come in different sizes such as Twin, Double, Queen etc and the most commonly used sizes are Twin and Queen.

In short, regardless of the age of the user, a folding bed can be a perfect addition to any city apartment with limited space.

Folding Bed Frames

SaleBestseller No. 1
Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Platform Bed Frame with Tool Free Setup, 14 Inches High, Twin, Black
98,232 Reviews
Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Platform Bed Frame with Tool Free Setup, 14 Inches High, Twin, Black
  • Minimalist style lets you maximize space in your bedroom.Item Dimensions : 102.3 L x 8.6 W x 99.3 H Centimeters.Maximum weight recommendation:250 pounds

While a folding bed isn’t necessarily a permanent bed, it’s one of the most widely sold products due to a large variety of reasons.

The key to the comfort and durability of this product lies in the bed frame.

The majority of these beds have a metallic frame which helps them to be folded in the middle, making them highly convenient to store.

Whether you are looking for a folding bed for prospective guests or your personal use, it’s extremely important to look for a higher quality model to get maximum longevity and comfort.

Apart from these, higher quality models lower the chances of the bed frame causing an accident due to faulty construction.

Getting a robust, well-built bed frame for the structure will not only ensure maximum comfort and support but the product will remain strong and durable for years to come as well.

A Bi-Fold Metal Bed Frame

This video may help you learn more about a folding bed frame:

Folding Bed Mattresses

Bestseller No. 1
Milliard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed – Twin Size - with Luxurious Memory Foam Mattress and a Super Strong Sturdy Frame – 75” x 38
5,039 Reviews
Milliard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed – Twin Size - with Luxurious Memory Foam Mattress and a Super Strong Sturdy Frame – 75” x 38
  • EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT – The Diplomat distinguishes itself with a full-steel wire lattice frame that’s reinforced and overbuilt to ensure maximum sturdiness for 300lbs! Fold out dimensions – 75” long x 38” wide. Mattress is 73" long for proper fold up.

One of the most important elements of any folding bed is the mattress as this will determine the level of support and comfort the user will get.

Generally, mattresses are made from two types of foams – memory foam and polyurethane foam.

By nature, memory foam is dense and can alter its shape according to the sleeper’s shape.

Additionally, this expensive material offers a sinking effect that adds more value to it.

On the contrary, polyurethane is an inexpensive material and offers less durability than memory foam.

A mattress made from polyurethane is ideal for people looking to get a good amount of comfort while staying on a budget.

The thickness of the mattress is another thing that matters heavily when it comes to providing comfort.

While a folding bed with a thicker mattress offers more comfort and support, it comes with a significantly higher price tag compared to the one that comes with a thinner mattress.

Hybrid Styles

A quick note- there are some flex beds on the market today. According to RealMattressReviews, it’s a combination of memory foam and foam-encased pocket coils. Watch the video above for more details.

Folding Sofa Beds

SaleBestseller No. 1
WOTU Folding Bed Couch 10 Inch Fold Out Couch Sofa Bed Memory Foam Mattress Comfortable Sofa, Floor Couch Sleeper Sofa Foam Twin, Dark Blue Great for Apartments, College Dorms, Guest Room, Living Room
276 Reviews
WOTU Folding Bed Couch 10 Inch Fold Out Couch Sofa Bed Memory Foam Mattress Comfortable Sofa, Floor Couch Sleeper Sofa Foam Twin, Dark Blue Great for Apartments, College Dorms, Guest Room, Living Room
  • 【 2 In 1 Design】 Our foldable sofa bed can be easily converts from a floor couch to a queen mattress. Thanks to the folding design and light weight, it is easily moved and stored away.

This is a multifunctional form of standard folding beds.

You can use it as a sofa during the day and as a full-sized bed during the night.

This kind of multipurpose product can be a great addition to your home if you are looking to improve its style quotient while utilizing the bed fully.

These beds generally come equipped with multiple wooden slats that eliminate the need for a box spring (Source).

These sturdy products usually come at very affordable prices and are easy to set up.

Rollaway Folding Beds

Bestseller No. 1
Milliard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed – Twin Size - with Luxurious Memory Foam Mattress and a Super Strong Sturdy Frame – 75” x 38
5,039 Reviews
Milliard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed – Twin Size - with Luxurious Memory Foam Mattress and a Super Strong Sturdy Frame – 75” x 38
  • EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT – The Diplomat distinguishes itself with a full-steel wire lattice frame that’s reinforced and overbuilt to ensure maximum sturdiness for 300lbs! Fold out dimensions – 75” long x 38” wide. Mattress is 73" long for proper fold up.

One of the notable offerings by the recent innovations in technology is the rollaway folding bed.

As the name implies, these products can be rolled and kept somewhere when not in use.

This feature makes this product extremely useful for people lacking adequate space in their homes.

These beds come with a folding mattress placed within a robust metal frame that you can fold in half.

The hinged metal frame has casters/treys at the center to roll.

You can not only maneuver this product effortlessly through elevators and hallways, but make it ready for the guest within a minute, and store away when it isn’t required.

Presently, there’re different types of rollaway folding beds can be found in the market.

Most popular categories include the standard rollaway bed, Ottoman rollaway bed, and cabinet rollaway bed.

As with other folding beds, inspect the key advantages of the rollaway bed you are planning to buy to make the most out of your investment.

Two of the most important benefits include portability and compaction which would determine that the bed can be folded and fitted inside the space you plan to use.

You can watch this video to learn how a rollaway bed works:

Wall Folding Beds

Bestseller No. 1
Merax Full Size Murphy Bed with Wardrobe and 3 Storage Drawers, Pine Wood Multifunctional Storage Wall Bed, can be Folded into a Cabinet, Gray
  • [Can be Folded] This bed has a folding design that perfectly combines the bed and cabinet. When you wake up, you can easily fold the bed into a cabinet to provide plenty of space for your indoor activities during the day.

Widely known as wall beds, this form of folding beds are extremely useful in homes that lack space terribly.

This product comes with dual functionality as you can use it as a bed and on other furniture products as a cabinet or desk when folded and placed.

The majority of these well-packaged products come with a handle that helps you direct it according to your needs.

However, wall folding beds take up a significant amount of time to install because of their complex mechanism.

You can watch this video to learn how these products work.

Folding Bed Size

Just like most of the traditional beds, size matters for folding beds as well.

Before you zero in on a bed, be sure to check the dimensions of the product when it’s unfolded.

If you are someone who is more than six feet tall, checking the length of the bed is a must.

Also, if you are a large person, the bed has to be wide enough to accommodate you comfortably.

Don’t forget to check the dimensions when the bed is folded.

It’ll help you get a clear idea of whether it can be fitted in a storage area or closet or even the car’s trunk.

If you are unsure about what would be the best bed size to cater to your purposes, you can have a look at this guide to get a clear understanding.

Summing Up

We’ve already learned that the best folding bed has to be comfortable, durable, safe, and functional.

Another key aspect that can make or break the utility of these products is installation.

Some of these are ready to use by unfolding the product straight from the box.

Here, the important thing is whether you can handle the installation on your own, without needing any assistance.

If it needs professional assistance or even too much effort, then it’s certainly not the best folding bed.

Generally, it shouldn’t take over a few minutes to unfold.

So, when you are out there to buy one, ensure easy installation of the product among other features.

The Top 5 Team
 

We are a team of product researchers that specializes in assembling comprehensive buying guides. Our team has a variety of backgrounds, with a mixture of soft and hard sciences represented. Check out our About page to read more about our reviews and editorial process.