Queen or King Murphy Bed: Comparing Size and Weight

What queen and king mean on a Murphy bed listing

On a Murphy bed listing, the words queen and king name the mattress the bed is built to hold. A queen mattress is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. A king mattress is 76 inches wide by 80 inches long. The king is the same length but 16 inches wider, which is the difference that changes the whole piece of furniture around it.

A wider mattress means a wider frame, a wider cabinet, and a stronger lifting mechanism. Those parts add to the weight of the closed unit and to the floor space the open bed claims. The listing's own dimensions are the only reliable guide: read the width, depth, and projection before comparing models.

Availability also differs between the two sizes. Wilding Wallbeds lists its Studio Series wall beds in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. Cabinet beds from the same maker are offered in queen size only. If a king is your goal, expect to look at wall beds rather than cabinet beds.

Mattress dimensions and what fits the frame

The mattress is the first thing to settle, because the bed size and the mattress size must match. A Murphy bed frame is built around one mattress size, and the size name in the title tells you which one.

Cabinet beds often include the mattress. Wilding cabinet beds come with a 6-inch tri-fold mattress designed to fold into the cabinet. Wall beds usually take a standard foam or innerspring mattress that can stand on end; Wilding also offers mattresses engineered for Murphy beds without slumping.

Mattress thickness matters because a thicker mattress needs more depth in the closed cabinet. Before buying a mattress separately, check the thickness the listing allows. The mattress thickness guide explains how to match the mattress to the cabinet.

How the frame and mechanism change with size

The frame and lifting mechanism scale with the mattress. A king frame has to be wider, the cabinet deeper, and the piston or spring system longer. The result is a heavier piece of furniture than a comparable queen, both in the delivery crate and in the cabinet that stays in the room.

For a buyer, the practical questions are about delivery and placement. Check how the bed ships, how many boxes arrive, and whether the path into the room can take a large, heavy cabinet. If you expect to move it between rooms later, a queen is a smaller unit, which affects how it moves through a home.

The maker's own page is the place to read about the mechanism and any installation notes. Follow the maker's instructions for where and how to secure the bed, especially for a larger frame.

Room clearance: closed cabinet and open projection

Two measurements decide whether a Murphy bed fits a room: the depth of the closed cabinet and the projection of the bed when it is open. Wilding states that most of its cabinet beds are 24 to 27 inches deep when closed, depending on the model. A queen desk bed from the same maker measures 75 inches high, 86.25 inches wide, and 46.5 inches deep when closed, with a projection of 67 inches when open.

The sources give no king dimensions, which is exactly why you should read the listing for a king. A king bed will need a wider closed cabinet and a wider open footprint, so measure the wall and the floor space in front of the bed before buying.

Room clearance also includes the ceiling. A vertically folding bed needs headroom to swing down, and a horizontally folding bed needs side space. The clearance guide and the front clearance guide cover the two directions. The room measuring guide walks through the steps.

Which size suits a guest room, office, or studio

For most rooms, a queen is the practical choice. It folds into a narrower cabinet, leaves more floor space, and is available from more makers, including as a cabinet bed. A queen sleeping surface is 60 inches wide, which fits two adults, and the bed is easier to fit beside a desk or shelves.

A king makes sense when the room is wide and the bed is the main event, such as a dedicated guest bedroom with plenty of wall space. King is rare in cabinet form, so the realistic route is a wall bed from a maker that offers the size, like Wilding's Studio Series.

For a small studio or a room with a low ceiling, the closed cabinet dimensions decide everything. A queen cabinet bed with storage can double as a sideboard when closed. The king size considerations article has more on what a king needs.

What to check before you buy

Read the listing for the exact height, width, and depth of the closed cabinet, plus the open projection. Confirm the mattress size and whether the mattress is included, and check the mattress thickness the frame accepts.

Ask the maker whether the bed is wall-mounted or freestanding. Wilding cabinet beds are freestanding and do not need wall or floor mounting, which makes them practical for rentals. A wall bed, by contrast, is a permanent installation.

Keep the maker's instructions for installation and assembly, and follow them. The setup guide lists the general sequence, but the maker's own instructions always come first.

• The closed-cabinet height, width, and depth as stated on the listing
• The open projection, which is the distance the bed reaches into the room
• The mattress size, thickness, and whether a mattress is included
• Whether the bed is wall-mounted or freestanding
• The maker's installation instructions

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Is a king Murphy bed common?

Less common than a queen. Wilding offers king in its Studio Series wall beds, but cabinet beds from the same maker come in queen size only. Check the maker's listing for king availability.

Do Murphy cabinet beds come in king size?

Not from every maker. Wilding cabinet beds are offered in queen size only, so a king usually means a wall bed rather than a cabinet bed.

What mattress fits a queen Murphy bed?

A queen mattress, which is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Confirm that the mattress thickness fits within the closed cabinet depth.

How deep is a closed Murphy bed cabinet?

Wilding states that most of its cabinet beds are 24 to 27 inches deep when closed, depending on the model. Desk beds have a deeper cabinet because of the desk portion.

Does a Murphy bed need a special mattress?

Many makers recommend a foam or innerspring mattress that can stand on end without sagging. Wilding cabinet beds come with a 6-inch tri-fold mattress designed for the cabinet.