Amy Lockwood
Do you love the idea of having guests to stay but you just don’t have the space for a guest bed? Hell, your apartment’s so teeny tiny, you barely have space for your own bed.
The good news? A compact sleeper chair or chair bed could be the ideal option if a sleeper sofa would take up too much room. All the best sleeper chairs are designed to act as multifunctional pieces of furniture (aka, a chair by day and a bed by night) without taking up too much (of your already limited) space.
Quick Menu:
1. Sleeper bed picks
2. What to consider
3. FAQs
4. Where to buy
5. How we chose
Whether used as an accent chair in the living room, or as an addition to a compact home office, a chair bed is a versatile option that still allows you to play host or hostess with the most, even if you don't have a dedicated guest bedroom, or the space to fit a full-sized sofa bed.
To help you decide which is the best chair bed for you, we've scoured the internet and rounded up all the best designs for smaller spaces.
The best sleeper chairs to buy in 2023
Made from: Linen
Washable: Removable washable cover
Colors: Black, gray
Price: Was $209.99, now $149.99
This futon-style chair bed may be fairly basic, but if you're after an affordable way to put up the occasional overnight guest then at just $149.99 it makes for a useful and budget-friendly extra sleeping space. This chair bed is rated 4.6 stars out of 5 by shoppers and is dubbed a great dorm room buy.
Made from: Linen
Washable: No
Colors: Green, gray, blue, brown, dark gray, mustard, white
Price: Was $529.99, now $429.99
A slightly more luxe design, this convertible sleeper chair is designed to provide maximum flexibility in the minimum amount of space. This compact design also features two USB charging ports and a super handy cup holder. For additional storage, there’s a small caddy underneath to store a pillow. Shoppers love how firm and supportive the seat cushions are, and how easy it is to convert.
Made from: Polyester (with a velvet finish)
Washable: No
Colors: Gray, charcoal, blue, dark blue, green, yellow, blush, gold
Price: Was $289.99, now $242.99
Whether you live in a compact apartment or a shared dorm, this convertible chair that easily pulls down to form a chaise lounge or bed is a great buy. Plus, it looks hella cute as a chair too. And, I personally think it would make the most amazing reading nook. Rated 4.6 stars by shoppers, this chair is a firm favorite thanks to its comfortable design, stylish look, and compact size.
Made from: Faux Fur
Washable: Spot clean with a dry cloth
Colors: White
Price: Was $429.99, now $339.99
How cute is this simple futon-style chair with a supersoft fluffy finish? Filled with soft, high-density foam, this versatile chair can be easily folded out into five different positions, including converting easily into a chaise lounge or bed. Rated 4.4 out of 5 by shoppers, who loved how soft and comfortable it is to sleep on, and how compact the design is.
Made from: Cotton and linen
Washable: Spot clean only
Colors: Dark gray, green, light gray, purple, red
Price: $229.99
Featuring an adjustable backrest, this lounger chair (that can be easily converted into a comfortable bed) is the ideal buy for smaller spaces. Designed with wheels and handles for easier movement, this chair bed also features an adjustable backrest for enhanced comfort. Shoppers love how easy this chair bed is to put together, rating it with an average of 4 out of 5 stars.
Made from: Cotton and linen
Washable: Removable machine washable cover
Colors: Dark gray, light gray, gray, blue
Price: $67.99
If you're looking for an ultra-low-cost buy, there's no beating the price of this six-position fold-out chair bed. Designed with a mix of breathable and durable cotton and linen, this fold-out sleeper doesn't compromise on comfort. With a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, reviewers love how lightweight, easy to put together, and how affordable this chair bed is.
Made from: Suede
Washable: Spot clean only
Colors: Gray
Price: Was $299.99, now $131.99
If you’re looking for a solid armchair that’s low in price but high in comfort, this easy-to-use, flip-out sleeper bed (that offers six different setups) is a great choice. It’s compact enough to fit in any space — whether it’s a teeny tiny studio apartment or a shared dorm room, is chic and stylish, and thanks to its foam filling is comfortable for both sitting and sleeping. Shoppers especially love how easy to remove the covers are, and how comfortable and compact the design is.
Made from: Polyester
Washable: Spot wash only
Colors: Blue, gray, brown, hot pink
Price: $329.99
For a sturdy and good-sized twin chair bed, this convertible design works a treat. It's also perfectly compact and ideal for adding to a smaller space — whether that's a dorm room or a first apartment. And, if that's not enough the fact it comes in a seriously cute shade of hot pink should be. Rated 4.5 out of 5, shoppers love the range of colors, compact size, and comfort level offered by this pretty chair bed.
Made from: Suede
Washable: Spot clean only
Colors: Beige and gray
Price: $179.29
Ok, ok, ok so this is a slightly larger chair bed, but it's still small enough to fit into a more compact space. So if you're in need of a chair bed that fits two, this could be a buy worth considering. With a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, shoppers love this easy-to-use double chair bed that's ultra-lightweight.
What to consider when buying a sleeper chair
1. Measure your space
If you're thinking of investing in a chair bed then it's likely you're looking for an overnight sleep solution that's compact enough to fit into a small space, probably a small living room. Check the dimensions of the chair bed both in seat form and when the chair bed is extended for sleep. A click-clack chair bed, where the seat and backrest fold flat to create the sleeping surface will generally have the smallest footprint once extended, whereas a pull-out sofa bed where the sofa back remains in place can need a little more extension space.
Unless your chosen chair bed is self-assembly, make sure to check and measure access requirements too to ensure it fits easily into your destination room (and through any awkwardly angled doorways, hallways, or staircases) on delivery day.
2. Is it comfortable to sit on?
Generally speaking, the more comfortable you want your chair bed to be the more money you're likely to need to spend, so it's well worth considering just how often you'll actually sit in it before you buy. If you want a chair bed that can be used as everyday seating in the living room then you'll probably want to consider a more classic armchair design. Look for an option that offers a good depth seat, armrests, and comfortable seat and back cushions; feather-wrapped foam or fiber-wrapped foam is generally a good bet, offering a squish factor whilst maintaining their shape with minimal plumping.
If the chair bed only needs to be suitable for occasional use as an accent chair, you're likely to be able to find a cheaper (and more compact) option, with several armless click-clack or futon designs that offer affordable versatility.
3. Is it comfortable to sleep on?
Most chair beds will only offer a single sleeping space, although some loveseat options manage to squeeze in a small double's worth of reclining room. However, all chair beds are not created equal in terms of sleeping space, so make sure to check the measurements of the sleeping area before you buy. Generally, a chair or sofa bed will offer a narrower and shorter sleeping area than a standard single or small double mattress.
FAQs
Can you clean a sleeper bed?
Whether you can clean a chair bed depends on the design of the chair bed and what it's made from. Some are wrapped in a removable cover that can be washed and others will need to be spot cleaned using an upholstery cleaner. Always check what the manufacturer's instructions say on the label, and if you're using a spray solution, test in an inconspicuous area first (around the back at the bottom, we'd say!).
Are sleeper chairs comfortable?
A multifunctional or convertible chair is generally less comfortable to sit on than a dedicated armchair because it has to hide the mechanics that help it to extend into a bed somewhere within the frame. This means the seating has less spring and will tend to feel firmer to sit on than a regular armchair.
But that's not to say they don't still make great accent chairs and a sleeper chair could still be used as your main seating as long as you don't mind sacrificing some squish-factor.
When it comes to sleeping, how comfortable a sleeper chair is depends a lot on how firm you prefer your sleeping surface, and which type of mattress you choose, with the thickest depths often offering a comparable sleep surface to a regular bed — albeit potentially a little shorter or narrower than a standard mattress.
Where to buy a sleeper chair
Continue your hunt for a fancy new chair bed at the retailers we love, just below.
How we chose these sleeper chairs
These chair beds were chosen based on their customer reviews. All of the chair beds featured in this guide have been highly rated by real shoppers for your peace of mind. When selecting the best chair beds for this guide, we also took into account their size, material, and price.
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