For when your in-laws come to town, your friend swings by for the night, or your kid wants to have a sleepover, a sleeper sofa can be the save-the-day piece of furniture. More expensive than a traditional sofa, sleeper sofas are worth the investment as they make your living room double as a guest room too.
Sleeper sofas come in a wide variety of styles and shapes. The style that is best for you will depend on which will fit best in your space and your personal preferences. We recommend measuring your space to ensure that not only the sofa will fit perfectly, but will be able to fit through your door frames and into your home. Here are the most common types of sleeper sofas:
- Pull-out couches have a real mattress stored inside. After removing the seating, you pull a handle to transform your sofa to an actual bed. These beds require more space than its counterparts below.
- Sofa beds feature a sofa that folds down, creating a bed without an additional mattress or having to remove couch cushions. They are the most space efficient and convenient option.
- Futons fold flat to make a bed, but lack sofa cushions altogether. They’re great for small spaces that can’t accommodate a full-sized pull-out couch.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, comprised of experts and engineers who test fabric, furniture, and textiles every day, rounded up the best online sleeper sofas according to categorical expertise, reputable user reviews, and responses from our panel of consumer testers. Our top picks all have high marks for being super comfy to lounge on as a couch and to sleep on at night.
What is the most comfortable sleeper sofa?
When looking for a comfortable sleeper sofa, you need to look for two things: the upholstery and the mattress. For sofa beds and futons, the cushions will be used as a mattress, so it’s key that you like their feel and fabric. Typically, the seat cushions are filled with foam that is wrapped in either down or polyester fibers for both support and comfort. Although it’s more expensive than polyester, down filling gives a more plush feel.
In pull-out couches, the mattress is typically made of foam without springs so it’s easier to compress into the sofa when not in use. Keep in mind that if you love the look of the sofa but end up not loving the mattress, you can purchase a new sofa mattress – just make sure it’s the correct size. To make your sleeper sofa even more cozy, we love to add throw pillows and a soft blanket for both a stylish look and an extra comfy feel.
Where is the best place to buy sleeper sofas online?
Online furniture brands are making it easier than ever to make big purchases online because of the ease of set-up and more lenient return policies. Before even ordering, some companies will send you fabric swatches free of charge to ensure you love the shade and feel of the fabric before purchasing. You can always reach out to the company to ensure the delivery will be as seamless as possible.
When ordering sofas, expect wait times for delivery ranging from 1-10 weeks. To ensure you have your sofa when you need it, confirm with the company on scheduling farther out in advance – especially if you are ordering with custom fabric!
Nia Sleeper
With dozens from our panel loving the easy and seamless ordering process, Wayfair features a wide variety of options at a range of price points to find your perfect piece. This sleeper sofa features a back that will recline to a flat position, creating a comfy sleeping spot without the hassle of a pull-out mechanism. The luxe polyester velvet fabric is available in neutrals and bolder shades. There’s a split back design, so each side can independently lowered for the ultimate personalized set up.
Bladen Full Sofa Sleeper
Over 500 of our panelists purchased their sofas from Ashley HomeStores, giving rave reviews for both style and comfort. The Bladen Sofa Sleeper is a pull-out couch with a full mattress inside. Online reviewers rave how comfy the sofa and bed are to lounge on; they also love the affordable price, as it’s made from polyester with a leather appearance. Plus, this piece will arrive in as little as 1-2 weeks.
Amy Queen Sleep Sofa
Popular among our tester panel for sleeper sofas, La-Z-Boy’s Amy Sleeper Sofa allows for complete customization — you can choose between over 500 upholstery colors! The wood finish, mattress style, and type of cushion is also customizable. Plus, you can even add matching throw pillows to your order, making it easy to match everything perfectly.
FRIHETEN Sleeper Sectional
In small spaces, space-saving pieces make all the difference. This sleeper sectional from Ikea features storage in the chaise: perfect for holding pillows, blankets, and sheets. The sofa converts to a bed by removing the back cushions and pulling out the under-frame. Like all Ikea furniture, you have to assemble this sofa at home, but you can then customize this piece by deciding which side to place the chaise; it can be switched at any time.
Eliot Twin Sleeper
Sleeper sofas for small spaces are hard to find, but this sofa from Joybird is a pull-out couch with a twin bed. Reviewers love this sofa in home offices, nurseries, and small apartments. Joybird offers free return shipping if returned after 14 days from delivery but will accept returns for 365 days (you just have to pay the shipping).
You can customize the exact fabric color and the wood stain. Note that some people from our panel said it took longer to arrive than they anticipated. If you love the look of the Eliot Twin Sleeper, check out the entire Eliot collection at Joybird.
Best Sofa Bed 