Upgrade Your Living Room With One of These Versatile Sleeper Sofas

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

THE SLEEPER sofa (a.k.a., the sofa bed) is arguably the most versatile piece of furniture money can buy. It offers all the functionality of a traditional sofa, making it perfect for living rooms, game rooms, dens, and more. But its hidden or slide-down mattress adds all the functionality of a legit bed to the mix. It’s a damn-near-perfect solution for small-space living when you need one area to pull double duty as a part-time living room and sometimes guest room.

Let’s be honest: Old-school sleeper sofas were, frankly, pretty terrible. They were cheaply made, difficult (bordering on impossible) to set up, and insanely uncomfortable. But it’s 2023. We live in an age of AI, Uber Eats, and self-driving cars. Thankfully, even the lowly sleeper sofa has gotten a major upgrade. Many of today’s best sleeper sofas and best sofa beds (and even some of the more budget-friendly models) are durable, affordable, easy to set up, and surprisingly comfortable.

Still, shopping for both sleeper sofas and sofa beds can be tricky. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Our editors and chillax-obsessed writers at Men's Health are here to help. We researched, compared, and personally tested dozens of models—all to find the very best sofa beds and sleeper sofas worth your hard-earned money this year. So keep calm and snooze on, sofa friends

Most Comfortable Couches | Best Extra-Deep Sofas | Best Furniture Brands | Best Futon Beds | Best Outdoor Furniture Brands

Dingler 77" Round Arm Sleeper

Despite the odd name, the Mistana's Dingler 77" Round Arm Sleeper proves that you don't have to drop thousands of dollars on the best sofa beds. The simple aesthetic of this sleeper features clean lines and curves with a dash of modern Scandinavian influence. It converts in seconds into a twin-sized bed, making it the perfect option for a guest room or kid's bedroom. Plus, it's enveloped in stain- and mildew-resistant linen fabric, so it's easy to care for and built to last.

Our team of testers loved the simplicity of this sleeper sofa. It looks great in any of the six available colors, making it easy to match almost any decor, and the look and feel is a step above most sleeper sofas in this price range. We also found that it lives up to its promise of being dead-simple to setup, with the back and seat cushions gliding quickly and easily down into the sleep position. But the best part? The price. While it retails for more than $750, we've routinely seen it for sale at Wayfair for closer to $330 with free shipping.

At less than half or even a third of most comparable sleeper sofas, this model is a steal. It ticks all the boxes of everything we look for in a sofa bed, including great looks, easy setup, durable construction, and an incredible price. If you're shopping for the best sleeper sofas and sofa beds, and price is a big consideration, look no further.

Read more: Best Couch Covers

Perdue Velvet Square Arm Convertible Sofa

Nothing says "sexy" like velvet. If you like your furniture with a healthy dose of swinger style, there's no better fabric. Mercury Row's Perdue Velvet Square Arm Convertible Sofa features clean lines and a bold velvet face fabric in one of a dozen colors, from tan to royal blue to mustard yellow. The futon-style design slides effortlessly into place with foam-filled cushions that provide an ultra-firm sleep surface.

Our test panelists universally loved the tufted retro-ish stylings of this sofa bed, especially in the Royal Blue colorway shown above. Setup couldn't be easier, and we found it easy enough to do solo in under a minute. Once folded flat in the bed/sleep position, we also found the cushions to be the firmest of any in this year's test. While that polarized our panel, ultimately, how firm you need your own sleeper sofa is a matter of personal preference.

Velvet anything is equally polarizing. But one thing we can all agree on is that the price of this sofa bed is amazing. Available on sale for less than $400 with free delivery, this sleeper sofa should be a serious contender, especially if you're shopping for one of the best wallet-friendly models available in 2023.

Nordby Lull Blue Sofa Bed

Article's Nordby Sofa isn't quite a traditional sofa bed or a sleeper sofa. It features a unique, ergonomic design that blends a handsome sofa with a trundle-bed-like pullout. The lower portion easily glides out on wheels and rises to the same level as the seat cushions to form a bed of sorts.

Our team loved the clever design of this sofa bed, which we found to be unlike almost anything else we tested this year. It makes setup and take-down a breeze—almost easy enough for one person to do one-handed in about a minute. The sleep surface is firm and not quite as comfortable as a dedicated sleeper sofa mattress or even some of the sofa beds we tested. But the ease of setup and great price both received high marks from our panel of testers, who all agreed this is one of the best sleeper sofas of 2023.

This sofa bed isn't the best in any one category, but it is good in just about all of the key points that matter most to us. It looks great in any room (though we wish it were available in more colors), is built on a sturdy steel frame with wooden legs, and converts easily from sofa to bed and back again—all for around $1,500. (Bonus: It's also available as a Reversible Sectional Sleeper Sofa.)

Read more: Luxury Furniture Brands

Elsmere 81'' Upholstered Sleeper Sofa

The best kind of sleeper sofa setup is no setup. AllModern's Elsmere 81" Upholstered Sleeper Sofa is a sleek, modern, no-frills sofa that looks classy enough to elevate any space. Straight out of the box, it works as a standard sofa with an asymmetrical, one-bolster-pillow design. When you're ready to flip to "bed mode," just... lie down. The long, single seat cushion is flat, firm, and seamless just like a traditional bed mattress.

Our testers loved the handsome good looks of this sleeper sofa that stood out among the sea of "traditional"-looking models we looked at this year. The aesthetic feels more premium and luxurious than the $1,500 price tag should allow. We also loved the simplicity and versatility of this option as both a sofa and sleep surface with zero transition or setup required. It's ideal for rooms where you want to add a little designer panache but don't want to bother with setup and tear-down every time your mother-in-law comes over to visit.

It's not as soft, plush, and cushy as most traditional sofas, and the look might be a little too modern (bordering on sterile) for some. But if you appreciate a clean, midcentury modern aesthetic and need a sofa bed to add more versatility to your home, this one deserves a look.

Read more: Best Living Room Gear

Modular Sectional Sleeper Sofa with Storage Chaises

If ordinary sleeper sectionals still aren't big enough for your space, you need Belffin's jumbo-sized Modular Sectional Sleeper Sofa. Available in three sizes, from big to very big to downright massive, it's one of the most unique sleeper sofa solutions this year. Instead of the traditional fold-out or fold-down sleeper sofa design, it features a series of configurable seats and ottomans. Everything can be arranged in a single, L-shaped format or as separate pieces (e.g., one sofa and one chair) or as one oversized sleep space by pulling every piece together.

"This is huge!" said one of our panelists. The Sleeper Sofa-2 we tested is like an oversized sectional that works best when configured as an "L". But pulling all of the components together reveals a large, bed-like sleep space without the need for unfolding a hideaway mattress or sliding the back/rear cushions of a sofa bed into place. Each ottoman in the set hides a generous amount of storage space, and we especially loved that the armrests and backrests are adjustable for maximum comfort.

This sleeper sofa was unlike anything else we tested this year. We were hard-pressed to find much of anything to dislike. Our only minor gripe is that we wish it were available in more than just four colors. It's also very, very big (especially the flagship Sleeper Sofa-3 model), which could be a pro or a con, depending on how much floor real estate you have to fit it in your home.

Calabria Leather Queen Sleeper

Back in "ye olden days," most traditional sleeper sofas were fabric, and cheap fabric at that. Raymour & Flanigan proves the game has changed with its Calabria Leather Queen Sleeper. The simple design appears to be a standard leather sofa, but unfolds, origami-style, to reveal a legit mattress that's surprisingly plush and comfortable.

Our test panelists were surprised that this sleeper sofa is comfortable for both sitting and sleeping—no small feat, especially in a leather sleeper sofa. Most sleeper sofas excel at just one, but not both. The aesthetic is simple, with premium leather (available in gray or brown) that will easily elevate any space. We found the setup process to be extremely straightforward and easy enough for one person to tackle alone. Instead of the usual folding innerspring mattress, this model features a memory foam sleep surface that's almost as comfortable as the real deal.

At roughly $2,000, this sleeper sofa falls right in the midrange of budget and premium models we've tested this year. Our only issue is that it is heavy—238 pounds, to be exact—so you may want to opt for the white glove delivery service or have a friend or two at the ready to help you get it in place.

Brittany Sofa Futon

If you're looking for a quick-shipped sleeper sofa that won't set you back too much, then Amazon is a great place to look. This futon-like sleeper sofa from Novogratz is made with premium polyester upholstery and outfitted with wooden legs. The dimensions make it possible for most persons to lay across it comfortably. We especially loved how the back cushions were not intrusive when the couch was laid flat, thus making it so there was an even surface through-and-through.

This sofa sleeper comes in a wide array of colors, with a mix of neutrals and more fun picks like pink and light blue. In terms of comfort, the sofa is filled with a foam filling that our testers found held up well over time.

The best part about this sleeper sofa is the price. At under $500, you can get a versatile piece of furniture in almost any color you prefer. Last note: this sofa is sometimes on sale too, so you might hit it big on a deal if you shop at the right time.

Harmony Modular 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional w/ Storage Chaise

The only thing more versatile than a sleeper sofa is a sectional sleeper sofa. West Elm's Harmony Modular 2-Piece Sleeper Sectional is a fully custom option with the ability to choose left or right arm configurations, fabrics, and colors (and the selection is huge). Plus, this sofa bed adds storage into the mix, so you can easily hide all your guest comforters, pillows, and other bedding where no one will be the wiser.

With a starting price of nearly $4,000, this was among the most luxurious sleeper sofas we tested this year. But here, again, West Elm delivers. Our team agreed that this model lives up to the hype: It's handsome in almost every available colorway, the left/right configuration means it'll work with just about any room, and the storage adds a whole new dimension not found in most sleeper sofas. The best part? The gel-infused foam mattress is actually very, very comfortable. "This is seriously more comfortable than my own bed," said one of our panelists.

There's no getting around the fact that this sleeper sofa is pricey. But this model truly has it all: Great looks, a clever, versatile design, customization options, and a ridiculously comfortable mattress. So, if only the best will do, and you have a few thousand dollars to throw at one of the best sofa beds of 2023, this is your man.

Block Nomad Sofa

Many of our editors and writers are familiar with Burrow, and after testing the Block Nomad Sofa it affirmed our high praise for the brand. For starters, the Block Nomad can be customized in a number of ways. You begin with the couch material, followed by the fabric color and leg finish. Then, you can add your preferred arm style and flip back cushions. Last, you can put together any add-ons ranging from lumbar pillows to a sleep kit—the sleep kit helps modify this sleeper sofa to the max.

The Block Nomad doesn't lay flat like a futon, but there's plenty of surface area for one person to lay out. One cool feature Burrow incorporates in the Block Nomad is a charging port, so you can power your devices and keep them close.

The biggest downside of this sofa is of course the price point. You are essentially purchasing a custom piece of furniture, and so that's going to require a little more of an investment. To add, it's a living room piece that is more rooted into being an actual sofa than a convertible bed. If you plan on sleeping multiple nights on your sleeper sofa, then it might be wise to buy something that pulls out or lays flat (like a futon).

Read more: Burrow Couch Review

Floor / Fold-Out Couch Sofa Bed

Lazyzizi sidesteps traditional sleeper sofa design with this clever fold-out "floor couch." In its "collapsed" position, it looks like a low-slung foam couch complete with arms, a U-shaped back, and a firm seating area. Folding the back and armrests down to the floor converts this sofa bed into a large foam floor mattress. It's a simple, safe, affordable design that's perfect for kids' rooms and game rooms.

This sleeper sofa was unlike anything else our panelists tested this year, but most in our group liked the design. It's lower than we expected, so some adults may have issues getting in and out of it or finding it comfortable as a couch. But, in its "sofa" position, it's a surprisingly comfy alternative to regular sleeper sofas. We also liked that it's available in 8-inch or 10-inch thicknesses.

The unique design of this sofa bed won't be for everyone. But, it's surprisingly versatile and affordable—the 8-inch option is available for around $230 with free delivery—making it ideal for kids' rooms where parents may not want to spend a ton of money on furniture that can be easily damaged or prematurely worn.

What to Look for in the Best Sleeper Sofa for You

There is, of course, no one best sleeper sofa. It’s all about what’s right for you, and finding “the one” can be surprisingly tricky. No matter your preferred style, sofa size, or budget, there are plenty of options available for you. Here are the most important considerations when shopping for your best sleeper sofa in 2023.

Comfort

The challenge for sleeper sofas is that they need to be comfortable to sit on and sleep on. Designing a single piece of furniture that works in both configurations can be difficult, and many manufacturers still haven’t nailed it. The only way to know for sure is to sleep on it in your home. Is it too soft, too firm, or just right? That’s why it’s important to shop for sleepers sofas with a solid return policy. By the way, sleeper sofas, like “real” mattresses, almost always benefit from adding the best mattress topper you can afford. If your first sleep test leaves something to be desired, consider upgrading it with a mattress topper. Your guests and your guests’ backs will thank you.

Practicality

How practical (or not) a particular sleeper sofa is is subjective. The key is: Will it work for you and your family in your home? Consider how easy it is to set up, how child-proof/pet-proof it is, and what sort of routine care and maintenance are involved.

Delivery

Delivery—more specifically, delivery costs—is something many buyers overlook. But delivery fees can add a serious chunk of change to the total cost of any furniture order. Be sure to research all of your available delivery options and the costs involved. Most brands offer at least free curbside delivery with the option to pay for assembly and/or upgrade to white glove delivery service.

Budget

Like all furniture, sleeper sofa prices vary widely. We’ve tested sub-$500 models, ultra-premium options priced north of $5,000, and everything in between. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune. But sometimes, you really do get what you pay for, so it’s important to do your research.

FAQ About Sleeper Sofas

How much should I spend on a sleeper sofa?

While some ultra-luxe sleeper sofas can cost as much as a used Camry, you don’t have to spend a small fortune. Plan to spend around $700-$800 on a decent model or closer to $1,000 if you’re willing to splurge a bit.

What’s the difference between a sofa bed and a sleeper sofa?

The terms “sleeper sofa” and “sofa beds” are often used interchangeably, but there are some key differences between the two. A sleeper sofa is built with a fold-out mattress inside that pops out with legs to keep the surface raised off the floor. For sofa beds, the sitting surface is the sleep surface. It simply “slides” into place like a futon.

What are the disadvantages of sleeper sofas?

The best sleeper sofas are incredibly versatile pieces of furniture. But there are a few drawbacks, namely:

• They’re typically not as comfortable as a traditional mattress.

• They can be difficult to operate.
  

• They’re heavier than regular sofas.

• Customization options can be limited.
  

How We Picked the Best Sleeper Sofas of 2023

Finding the right furniture for your home can be tricky. That’s where our home design and home improvement experts come in. For this roundup, we researched dozens of top-selling sleeper sofas and personally tested many of them. We compared everything from overall aesthetics and build quality to comfort and price. Ultimately, we settled on the eight models above as our picks for this year’s very best sleeper sofas and best sofa beds worth buying.

You Might Also Like

• The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now

• 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein