How Deep Is a Murphy Bed Cabinet?

What cabinet depth means for a Murphy bed

Cabinet depth is the distance the closed Murphy bed protrudes from the wall into the room. It is the third dimension after height and width, and it decides how much floor space the cabinet claims when the bed is stored. On a listing it appears as the D or Depth figure next to the closed cabinet's height and width.

For a freestanding cabinet bed, the depth also decides how far the piece stands into the room and how much space it takes from a hallway, a door swing, or a piece of furniture that must stay in place. For a wall bed, the depth is the gap between the wall and the front face panel, and a shallower cabinet leaves more walking room.

The depth matters twice: once when the cabinet is closed and once when the bed is down. The open bed extends much farther into the room than the closed cabinet, so both figures belong on your note before you buy. The main Murphy bed guide explains how the two positions work.

Typical depths by bed type

Freestanding cabinet beds are the deepest common type. Wilding Wallbeds states that most of its Murphy cabinet beds are 24 to 27 inches deep when closed, depending on the model. On that maker's cabinet bed page, the stated depths run from about 23.7 inches on several queen models to about 26.4 inches on one compact model and 25.25 inches on another.

Wall beds with a closed cabinet can be shallower. Wilding Wallbeds gives a 21-inch cabinet depth on its Murphy desk bed models, with the desk adding the rest of the projection. The exact figure for a given model comes from its listing.

Desk beds and cabinet beds with a desk are deeper overall. The same maker lists a 46.5-inch total depth for a queen desk bed, made up of a 21-inch cabinet and a 25.5-inch desk. A cabinet bed with a built-in desk from the same maker is listed at 38.5 inches deep, because the desktop adds to the projection. The desk beds guide compares the stated projections of these models.

Mattress thickness sets the depth

The folded mattress occupies the inside of the cabinet, so mattress thickness is the main driver of depth. A thicker mattress needs a deeper cabinet, and a thinner one allows a shallower profile. Wilding Wallbeds states that its cabinet beds include a 6-inch tri-fold mattress, and that thin mattress is one reason those cabinets stay near 24 to 27 inches deep.

A wall bed meant for a thicker mattress needs room for that core. Wilding Wallbeds sells Murphy bed mattresses in heights from 8 to 12 inches across its foam and innerspring lines, so the paired mattress thickness varies by model. Read the listing for the thickness the maker pairs with the bed, and ask the seller if it is not stated. The mattress thickness article covers the matching question.

Vertical and horizontal folds and depth

Vertical and horizontal Murphy beds both fold the mattress into a cabinet, but the orientation differs. In a vertical fold, the mattress stands with its length rising from the floor. In a horizontal fold, the mattress rotates sideways and its length runs along the wall.

For both, the depth is mainly the mattress thickness plus the cabinet frame. Horizontal beds are not automatically deeper than vertical ones. What changes is the height and width of the closed cabinet, not necessarily the depth.

The front clearance is the same question for both folds: the open bed needs the mattress length (for a vertical bed) or the mattress width (for a horizontal bed) of floor space. Compare that with the closed depth when you plan the room. The vertical versus horizontal article helps with the choice, and the horizontal beds guide lists models with their stated dimensions.

Reading the depth in a listing

A listing that states dimensions gives the depth as a number in inches, usually labeled D or Depth, next to the height and width of the closed cabinet. Some listings give a depth breakdown, as Wilding Wallbeds does for its desk beds: a 21-inch cabinet depth and a 25.5-inch desk depth, totaling 46.5 inches.

A breakdown tells you which part of the projection comes from the bed and which from a built-in. When a listing omits the depth, treat it as a missing detail. Ask the seller or the maker for the stated dimension before you plan the room, because the closed depth decides whether the cabinet fits your wall and leaves walking space. The room measuring article gives the steps for checking the fit.

How to measure your room for a cabinet

Measure the wall where the cabinet will stand: the width of the clear wall space and the ceiling height from floor to ceiling. Compare those with the closed height and width in the listing.

Measure the floor in front of the wall. The open bed needs the full mattress length (for a vertical bed) or width (for a horizontal bed) of clear floor, and the closed cabinet needs its stated depth when stowed. Mark both distances on the floor to see what the room allows.

Check the path from the delivery door to the room: door widths, stair turns, and hallway corners have to fit the cabinet in its shipping boxes. Ask the seller for the box count and the largest box dimension if the listing does not give them.

For a guest room, also consider the furniture that stays in the room. A dresser or a chair in front of the cabinet reduces the usable floor area for the open bed. The general rule is to compare every stated dimension with your own measurements before ordering. The cabinet beds guide and the wall beds guide list models to compare.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

How deep is a Murphy bed cabinet when closed?

Most freestanding Murphy cabinet beds are about 24 to 27 inches deep when closed, as Wilding Wallbeds states for its models. Wall bed cabinets can be shallower; the same maker lists a 21-inch cabinet depth on its desk beds. The listing gives the exact figure for each model.

Why are cabinet beds deeper than some wall beds?

A freestanding cabinet bed includes a full enclosure with a back panel, front doors or face panel, and often a storage drawer, in addition to the folded mattress. A wall bed mounts to the wall and its cabinet can be thinner. Compare the stated depth on each type.

Does a thicker mattress need a deeper cabinet?

Yes. The mattress folds into the cabinet, so its thickness adds to the depth. Wilding Wallbeds includes a 6-inch tri-fold mattress in its cabinet beds, which keeps those cabinets near the 24 to 27 inch range rather than deeper.

Are horizontal Murphy beds deeper than vertical ones?

Not automatically. Both folds store the mattress in a cabinet, and the depth is mostly the mattress thickness plus the frame. The fold direction changes the cabinet height and width more than the depth. Read the listing for each model.

How much floor space should I leave in front of a Murphy bed?

The open bed needs the full mattress length (vertical fold) or width (horizontal fold) of clear floor in front of the cabinet. The closed cabinet needs only its stated depth. Plan for the larger figure, which is the open position.