How Much Does It Cost to Install a Murphy Bed?

For small spaces and rooms with multiple uses, a wall bed can be a big help. Murphy beds are designed to fold into a cabinet on the wall when not in use, saving space. They consist of a closet or cabinet, which can be plain or elaborate, for the bed to fold into.

The average homeowner spends between $2,000 and $4,000 on a Murphy bed. Installing a double or full-size Murphy bed with pistons in a solid wood cabinet with adjacent shelves costs around $3,000. A twin-size Murphy bed installed without shelving can be completed for around $1,500, while a king-size Murphy bed, installed with shelving and a table, costs closer to $5,000.

Murphy Bed Installation Cost

What is a Murphy Bed?

A Murphy bed, also known as a wall bed or pull-down bed, is a bed constructed with a hinge at one end, allowing it to fold up and be stored against the wall or even inside a closet. It is a bed that can be folded away and hidden when not in use, providing extra floor space. The name for Murphy beds comes from their inventor, William Lawrence Murphy, an Irish immigrant who lived in a small New York apartment. He wanted to maximize the amount of space he had available each day, so he created a bed that could fold up, effectively turning his bedroom into a living area, where he could entertain guests.

Murphy Bed Prices by Size

Like regular beds, Murphy beds come in various sizes, and the bed choice impacts its cost. Keep in mind that the size of the cabinet varies. For example, you may have a twin bed with an extra-large cabinet to accommodate bookshelves or a fold-down table. The cabinet size dictates some of the cost of the bed:

Twin-Size Wall Beds

Twin-size Murphy beds are the smallest option available, suitable for a standard twin mattress of 38”x75”, and are a great choice for children’s bedrooms or people living alone in small apartments. Since they are relatively small, they take up the lowest amount of floor and wall space. They are also the cheapest, costing between $1,500 and $2,000 on average.

Double Murphy Bed

A double Murphy bed or full-size Murphy bed is significantly larger than a twin, offering enough space for a full-size 54”x75” mattress. They are well-suited for couples, offering enough space for two average-sized adults to sleep comfortably side by side. These Murphy beds cost between $2,000 and $3,000.

Queen Murphy Bed

A queen Murphy bed is a popular choice for couples because it offers more room than a double or full bed, with sufficient space for a 60”x80” queen-size mattress. This is usually the ideal option in most standard-sized bedrooms, and queen Murphy beds can be purchased for around $2,900 to $4,000.

King-Size Murphy Bed

If you want to have the largest option possible, a king Murphy bed might be right for you. Well-suited for larger-than-average bedrooms, these beds offer additional width compared to queens, suitable for mattresses of 76”x80”, giving you more space to stretch out. They cost around $3,500 to $6,000, making them the most expensive option.

Murphy Bed Costs by Tilt

The first Murphy beds were designed to tilt straight up into the wall vertically so that when they extended into the room, you could navigate them on three sides. Most beds are still available in this style, but they are now also available in a horizontal tilt and folding tilt.

Vertical Wall Bed

Vertical wall beds are the most common type and are generally regarded as the most traditional tilt option for Murphy beds. With a vertical wall bed, the bed frame folds vertically upwards into the wall or cabinet, with the bottom of the bed folding up to the top of the wall. You may need high ceilings in your rooms to make the most of a vertical folding bed, and this tilt-type has the advantage of letting you approach the bed from either side. Prices for vertical wall beds range from $1,500 to $5,000.

Folding Wall Bed

Folding wall beds feature another hinge ¹, or multiple hinges, along with the bed frame, allowing it to fold up like a fan into a smaller space than a horizontal or vertical-style bed. Folding wall beds take up less space when folded away, so you can effectively store a large full or queen-size bed in a relatively small cabinet or wall space. You need to use special folding mattresses or remove the mattress and store it elsewhere when the bed folds away. Prices for folding wall beds range from $1,500 to $5,000.

Horizontal Wall Bed

Horizontal tilt beds do not extend as far into the room, but you cannot easily access the far side. Rooms that are longer than they are wide may make better use of a horizontal bed because they do not extend as far out. Horizontal beds might be better for rooms that have lower ceilings because they do not fold up as high on the wall. If you have space, the traditional tilt is generally favored because you can approach the bed from either side, making it easier to use. Average prices for horizontal wall beds range from $2,000 to $6,000.

Murphy Bed Cabinetry

Like all cabinets, wall beds can be constructed using many materials, including particle board ², medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood ³, and solid hardwood. Particle board costs the least, and hardwood costs the most. Particle board and MDF are not long-lasting materials, so the more the bed is used, the more stress is put on the cabinet. This makes hardwood and plywood with a veneer ⁴ a better, more long-lasting and durable option.

Many custom beds are fully constructed from wood, but it is possible to find cheaper kits, starting at around $1,000, made from particle board or MDF.

When considering Murphy bed cabinetry, it is also important to note that there are various styles of cabinets to choose from, and the cabinets can be both flat and raised, depending on your preferences.

Custom Murphy Bed Cost

You can contact specialized bed makers to have a custom Murphy bed made just for you. You choose the color, style, size, and shape of your Murphy bed, working together with the designer to precisely meet your needs. This can be a good option for people with oddly-shaped rooms or those who want to install a Murphy bed in an unconventional space like an office. Custom Murphy beds can be made however you like. They tend to be more expensive than pre-made Murphy beds, with prices starting at around $3,000 and going up to $8,000 or higher, depending on the size and materials.

Murphy Bed Installation Cost

Installation of a wall bed varies depending on the type you purchase. Kits are available for DIY installation or that a handyman can put in for you. If you choose to have a handyman install a wall bed kit, the cost ranges from $100 to $200 on average, depending on the kit’s complexity.

Murphy bed manufacturers recommend professional installation because the bed must be properly leveled ⁵ and secured to prevent sagging over time. Installation usually consists of first building the frame or cabinet that conceals the bed. Then the mechanism, either pistons or springs, are attached, and the bed frame positioned and leveled. The mattress is secured to the frame to prevent sagging, and any shelving, tables, and other items are installed at the same time.

Custom wall beds have an installation-included cost in most cases to ensure the proper balancing and leveling of the bed. In this case, the entire bed is built on-site.

Wall beds can be installed anywhere. They are becoming increasingly popular in tiny houses and home offices to double as a guest bedroom. It is also common to install them in areas where an extra bed may be necessary, such as a family room, living room, or den, and in small bedrooms where extra floor space may be desired like in a child’s bedroom. The only places where you cannot install them are in the kitchen, bathroom, and dining room, partly due to space but also due to health and building regulations.

Pros and Cons of Murphy Beds

It can be difficult to decide if a Murphy bed is right for you, or whether you should opt for a regular bed instead. There are some clear advantages to Murphy beds and a few drawbacks that are worth considering.

The most obvious advantage of a Murphy bed is that it takes less space in your home. This can be a benefit to people living in smaller spaces like studios or one-bedroom apartments because you gain extra floor space when the bed is not in use.

There are many ways you can make use of the extra space afforded to you by a Murphy bed. You can transform your bedroom into a working space during the day, or you can fold the bed away when you have guests over to create additional entertaining space.

Murphy beds are just as comfortable and cozy as regular beds. You can use high-quality mattresses on them and do not have to worry about missing out on any sleeping quality by opting for a fold-up model over a regular bed.

Murphy beds are super easy to use, taking seconds to fold away or fold back out, and you have many options in cabinet styles and storage to suit your home.

However, Murphy beds tend to be more expensive than regular beds. You can buy a basic bed frame for much cheaper than a Murphy bed frame, and you are more limited with Murphy beds in things like mattress thickness.

Murphy beds also require additional installation, which can be costly, and the use of special hardware. Some people also find it frustrating to have to fold their bed away each day, and others have homes with sufficient floor space and do not feel the need to pay extra for additional room.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Tv Stand

Many wall beds can incorporate other pieces of furniture, including TV stands. Adding a TV stand to the bed costs an additional $300 to $500 on average.

Sofa

Some wall beds also have a small sofa below the bed so that they fold out individually. This adds about $750 to $900 to the total costs.

Shelving

Many wall beds incorporate shelves on either side of the bed to increase the storage in the room. Shelving starts at around $500 and goes up from there, depending on how elaborate the design becomes.

Desk

It is also possible to incorporate a desk into your Murphy bed. The desk can be fitted onto the bed frame itself so that as you fold the bed back into the wall, the desk is lifted and revealed. Expect to pay an extra $300 to $500 for this.

Murphy Bed and Home Office Combo

You can find Murphy beds fitted as part of a larger home office setup, with surrounding desks, drawers, and storage areas. This is a great option for people who work from home and like the idea of transforming their bedroom into a workspace during the day. Expect to pay between $750 and $1,500 for this.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Murphy beds can be used every day as a regular bed. Some may need to be re-tensioned after years of use and have the mattress replaced every 8 to 10 years like a standard bed.
• Murphy beds hold up to 2,000 pounds when they are properly installed. This is one reason why opting for a manufacturer-installed model can be beneficial.
• Alternatives to wall beds include sofa beds, futons, trundle beds, and bunk beds. While sofa beds and futons convert into other furniture when not in use, they take up space. A wall bed folds out of the way.
• Murphy beds tend to be more comfortable than sleeper sofas or other convertible beds. They use a real mattress instead of a thinner version meant to be folded up.
• If you have your bed delivered as a kit, shipping costs can be high. This depends on the bed size and shipping distance. Some manufacturers include shipping in the cost, so always ask.
• Wall beds are meant to be built into the room they are used in. While it is technically possible to remove it from the wall and take it with you, this could be expensive, damage the wall, or require re-tensioning of the bed once reinstalled.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Hinge: A type of joint that attaches two items together but allows one of them to swing back and forth, such as a door attached to a door frame

² Particle board: An engineered wood product used in construction projects and composed of wood chips, sawmill shavings, and/or sawdust and a suitable binding agent, such as resin.

³ Plywood: An engineered construction material manufactured from thin slices of wood glued together in alternating grain patterns for strength

⁶ Foot: A support for the foundation of a house that also helps prevent settling. It is typically made of concrete reinforced with rebar, but can also be made of masonry or brick. It is usually built under a heavier part of the house like a wall or column, to distribute the weight of the house over a larger area.