Rest up on our fave sleeper chairs — from only $68

Get in those Zzzzs 😴

Three white sleeper chairs on blue background with clouds
(Image credit: Future)

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

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. 

Beth Mahoney
Staff Writer

Hi! I’m Beth Mahoney and I’m a Staff Writer at Real Homes. I’ve been a journalist for the national press for the past six years, specializing in commerce and trends-related lifestyle articles, from product reviews and listicles to guides and features. With an eye for pretty things (think: quirky wall prints, scalloped edge furniture, and decadent-looking tableware) but a limited budget, I love nothing more than a bargain buy.


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