Do Murphy beds need a special mattress, tri-fold mattress in a Canadian wall bed

Do Murphy Beds Need a Special Mattress? (Canada, 2026)

CHRISTINE ILAGAN

Transform Your Space with Murphy Beds and the Right Mattress Choice

Are you considering a Murphy bed for your home, but puzzled about the mattress that suits it best? In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of Murphy bed mattresses, from assembly and size considerations to mattress options and care tips. Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a peaceful night's sleep with your Murphy bed.

The Short Answer, Updated August 2026

Most Murphy beds do need a special mattress, and most do not come with one. A wall bed folds up with the mattress strapped to the frame. That means the mattress has to fold or stay flexible, and it has to sit under a thickness limit. Here is where we actually stand on both questions, checked against our own live product pages the day this guide was updated.

Our Murphy beds do not include a mattress. You get the frame, the cabinet and the hardware. The mattress is yours to choose.
Our cabinet bed does include one. The Olivia cabinet bed arrives with a tri-fold queen foam mattress already in the cabinet.
Thickness is the real limit. On our wall beds the cap is 8 inches for twin and double, and 10 inches for queen.
One of ours takes an ordinary mattress. The Heidi horizontal wall bed accepts a standard mattress instead of the tri-fold that most wall beds require.

What Our Own Murphy Beds Actually Take in 2026

Most articles on this question never name a single real bed. These are ours, read straight off our live product pages. The prices below are our prices. Anything else in this guide is general guidance, not a quote.

Bed	Mattress included?	Mattress type	Max thickness	Attaches to the wall?	2026 price
Heidi horizontal wall bed	No	Standard mattress, no tri-fold needed	8 inches twin and double, 10 inches queen	Twin does not need to be. Double and queen are recommended to be	$1,424.99 twin, $1,724.99 double, $1,824.99 queen
Wallie vertical wall bed	No	Tri-fold	8 inches twin and double, 10 inches queen	Twin does not need to be. Double and queen are recommended to be	$1,899.99 twin, $1,999.99 double, $2,099.99 queen
Olivia cabinet bed	Yes	Tri-fold queen foam mattress, included	Not applicable, it is built in	No, it stands on its own	$1,999.99 double, $2,099.99 queen

That table answers the two things people actually type into Google. If you want the mattress problem to go away, the cabinet bed is the one that already has the mattress in it, and you can see the rest of the range in our cabinet beds. If you want a wall bed, budget for a mattress on top of the sticker price and check the thickness cap before you buy. Our Murphy bed installation cost guide covers the other costs that sit outside the price tag, and why Murphy beds cost what they do shows the full price list side by side.

Understanding Murphy Beds and Mattresses

The Ingenious Space-Saving Solution

Murphy beds, also known as wall beds, offer a brilliant solution for those seeking to optimize their living spaces. These beds are designed to be stored vertically against a wall when not in use, allowing you to reclaim valuable floor space during the day. If you are wondering whether Murphy beds come with a mattress, the short answer is usually no, and that includes ours. When you buy a Murphy bed from us you receive the frame, the cabinet and the hardware needed for assembly. The mattress is a separate purchase, and every one of our wall bed product pages says so in plain words.

If you would rather skip wall mounting and mattress shopping altogether, a freestanding cabinet bed like the Olivia comes with its queen memory foam mattress already included.

Murphy Bed Essentials: Frame, Mattress, and More

All-in-One Package or Separate Purchase?

Here in Forward Furniture, our wall beds are sold without a mattress, so you choose the one you want and we tell you the limits it has to fit inside. Most wall beds need a tri-fold mattress, which folds into three sections and stores inside the cabinet. Our Heidi horizontal wall bed is the exception, because it takes a standard mattress instead of a tri-fold. The bed that does arrive with its mattress already in it is our Olivia cabinet bed, which ships with a tri-fold queen foam mattress. So you have a real choice: pick your own mattress on a wall bed, or skip mattress shopping entirely with the cabinet bed.

Sizing up Horizontal Murphy Beds and Mattresses

Before you dive into the world of mattresses, ensure you know the size of your Murphy bed frame. Most Murphy beds are available in various sizes, including twin, full, queen, and king. Match the mattress size to your bed frame to ensure a snug fit and proper functionality.

The Cabinet and Hardware Details

Assembling a Murphy bed involves more than just the frame and mattress. The cabinet and hardware are integral components that ensure smooth operation. The cabinet serves as the housing unit for the bed when it's in the upright position. High-quality hardware guarantees that the bed can be effortlessly lowered and raised. Pay attention to the construction of both the cabinet and hardware when making your purchase.

Exploring Standard Mattress Sizes for Murphy Beds

Murphy beds are designed to accommodate standard mattress sizes, making the mattress selection process straightforward. Common sizes include twin (39" x 75"), full (54" x 75"), queen (60" x 80"), and king (76" x 80"). Ensure your chosen mattress size matches your bed frame to guarantee a comfortable fit.

The Importance of Mattress Thickness

While selecting a mattress, consider its thickness. A mattress that is too thick might hinder the bed from closing properly, potentially causing damage. Our own wall beds publish a hard limit, and it is the number most buyers miss. The maximum mattress thickness is 8 inches for twin and double, and 10 inches for queen. Go thicker than that and the bed will not close cleanly, which puts strain on the hardware. Thicker mattresses feel better in a showroom, so this is the single most common mistake we see. Measure the limit on your own frame first, then choose the feel you want inside it.

Vertical or Horizontal: Which Murphy Bed Style Fits Your Space?

Murphy beds come in two primary styles: vertical and horizontal. The choice between these styles depends on the layout of your space and your personal preference. Vertical Murphy beds are the traditional choice, where the bed folds vertically against the wall. Horizontal Murphy beds fold horizontally, making them an excellent choice for rooms with lower ceilings.

How the Murphy Bed Mechanism Works

Understanding the Murphy bed mechanism is crucial for both proper usage and mattress selection. The mechanism allows the bed to be easily lifted and lowered. When choosing a mattress, consider its flexibility and ability to withstand frequent folding and unfolding.

The Mattress Material Dilemma

When it comes to mattress materials, not all options are suitable for Murphy beds. Materials like latex and pocketed coils bedding can potentially disrupt the bed's operation, leading to damage over time. Opt for materials that maintain their shape, such as memory foam and innerspring mattresses. Here in Forward Furniture, we stock memory foam mattresses that hold their shape, which is what a folding bed needs.

Choosing the Perfect Mattress for Your Murphy Bed

Memory Foam: A Top Contender for Comfort and Support

Memory foam mattresses are an excellent choice for Murphy beds. They retain their shape well and provide exceptional comfort. Their ability to transition between horizontal and vertical positions without wear and tear makes them a reliable option for Murphy beds. Plus, memory foam offers varying levels of support and firmness, catering to individual needs.

Innerspring Mattresses: Blending Coils and Foam for Sleep Quality

Innerspring mattresses combine metal coils with foam layers, offering sturdy support and comfort. When selecting an innerspring mattress for your Murphy bed, choose those with continuous coils to prevent any potential disruption in the bed's operation.

Balancing Comfort and Longevity

When choosing a mattress for your Murphy bed, prioritize quality over cost. High-quality foam mattresses, whether memory foam or innerspring, are the best investment. The box a mattress arrives in tells you nothing useful. What matters on a wall bed is whether the mattress folds without damage and whether it sits under the thickness limit, so judge it on those two things rather than on how it was shipped. Investing in a premium mattress ensures not only comfort but also long-lasting support for years to come.

Murphy Bed Maintenance Tips

Proper maintenance enhances the longevity of both your Murphy bed and mattress. Regularly inspect the bed's hardware and mechanism to ensure smooth operation. Clean the mattress according to the manufacturer's guidelines to prevent dust and allergens from accumulating.

Preserving the Life of Your Mattress

To prevent premature wear, rotate and flip your Murphy bed mattress periodically, just like you would with a traditional mattress. This practice distributes the weight evenly, ensuring that one side doesn't experience more compression than the other.

Additional Features and Considerations

Explore additional features that enhance your Murphy bed experience. Some Murphy beds come with integrated storage solutions, such as shelves and drawers, further optimizing your space utilization. Additionally, consider the aesthetic of your Murphy bed, and it should blend seamlessly with your room's décor.

The Versatility of Murphy Beds in Modern Living Spaces

Murphy beds are more than just space-saving solutions; they're versatile additions to modern living spaces. Whether you're transforming a guest room into a home office or optimizing a studio apartment, Murphy beds offer flexibility without compromising on comfort or style.

In conclusion, Murphy beds provide a smart solution for maximizing space while maintaining comfort. When selecting a mattress, prioritize materials that can withstand the unique demands of a Murphy bed's operation. Memory foam and innerspring mattresses are top contenders due to their ability to maintain shape and support.

We hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights into choosing the right mattress for your Murphy bed. By understanding the nuances of Murphy bed mattresses, you can create a comfortable and functional sleeping space that seamlessly integrates into your home's design. But if you like a less hassle of choosing the right Mattress for your Murphy Bed, buy with us and we'll give you a Murphy Bed with a Perfect Mattress for it.

Written By: Christine Ilagan

Meet Christine Ilagan, a vibrant writer hailing from the University of Calgary. With a background rooted in academic excellence and a passion for the written word, Christine has seamlessly merged the worlds of research and storytelling. Drawing inspiration from her academic surroundings, she weaves narratives that are both enlightening and engaging. Whether it's an in-depth research piece or a light-hearted story, Christine's writings always resonate with authenticity. Dive in to experience a blend of knowledge and creativity, straight from the heart of Calgary's academic world.

Why the Mattress Question Matters More Than It Used To

Olivia cabinet bed mattress dimensions Canada, 62.5 by 24 by 40 inches closed and 62.5 by 83 inches open

Rooms are getting smaller. Ontario's median condo has shrunk 32%, from 965 sq ft in the 1970s to 658 sq ft today, one of the figures we compiled on our Canadian space-saving furniture statistics page (MPAC, 2024). In a room that size the bed is the biggest object in it, so a mattress that will not fold, or that stops the cabinet closing, turns a space saver back into a space problem.

For scale, the Olivia measures 62.5 by 24 by 40 inches closed, which is roughly the footprint of a dresser. It opens to 62.5 by 83 inches and wants about 5 feet of clear floor in front of it. Setup is easy and takes about an hour the first time, then it opens in about 30 seconds after that. If you want to check a room before you buy, we wrote a dimensions and space guide, and an honest answer on comfort.

What We Hear at Our Kelowna Showroom

The mattress is almost never the first question on the floor, and it is almost always the one that changes the decision. People come in asking about the wall bed, then work out partway through that the price they had been comparing does not include anything to sleep on.

The second thing that catches people is the tri-fold. Because it is a special order item, the spare mattress already in the house usually cannot be used, so the mattress becomes a purchase rather than something you already own. The Heidi horizontal is the bed we point people at for exactly that reason, since it takes a standard mattress.

The third is thickness. Customers choose a mattress by lying on it, and thick mattresses feel better in a showroom, so a 12 inch mattress gets picked for a frame that caps at 8 or 10 inches. Measure the limit first, then choose the feel inside it.

You are welcome to try both in person. Our showroom is at 2495 Enterprise Way Unit 105 in Kelowna, open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. The phone number is (778) 760-0428, and you can see what else is on the floor at our Kelowna furniture store.

Murphy Bed Mattress FAQ

Do Murphy beds come with a mattress?

Usually not, and ours do not. Our Heidi and Wallie wall beds are sold as the frame, cabinet and hardware, and every product page states that the mattress is not included. The exception in our range is the Olivia cabinet bed, which arrives with a tri-fold queen foam mattress already inside it. When you compare prices between a wall bed and a cabinet bed, add the mattress to the wall bed side or you are not comparing the same thing.

Do you need a special mattress for a Murphy bed?

On most wall beds, yes. They need a tri-fold mattress, which folds into three sections so it can sit inside the cabinet when the bed is closed. A tri-fold is a special order item, so the spare mattress in your closet will usually not work. The Heidi horizontal wall bed is our exception, because it takes a standard mattress instead.

Can you use a regular mattress on a Murphy bed?

Sometimes. It depends on the bed. On our Heidi horizontal wall bed a standard mattress is fine. On a vertical wall bed you generally need a tri-fold. Whichever you have, the mattress still has to stay under the frame's thickness limit and it has to be flexible enough to be strapped down and lifted without being damaged.

How thick can a Murphy bed mattress be?

On our wall beds the maximum is 8 inches for twin and double, and 10 inches for queen. Other brands set their own limits, so check the frame you are buying. This is the number most buyers skip. Thicker mattresses feel better in a showroom, so a 12 inch mattress often gets chosen for a frame that caps out at 8 or 10, and then the bed will not close properly.

What size mattress does a Murphy bed use?

Standard Canadian sizes. Twin is 39 by 75 inches, double is 54 by 75 inches, and queen is 60 by 80 inches. The size is the easy part. The thickness and the fold are what actually rule mattresses in or out. Our Canadian bed and mattress size chart has every size in inches and centimetres.

Do Murphy beds ruin mattresses?

Not if the mattress suits the bed. The mattress is strapped to the frame and stored on its side or folded, so materials that hold their shape, such as memory foam, cope well. Materials that sag or shift, and mattresses that are too thick for the frame, are the ones that wear early. Rotate the mattress now and then, the same as you would on any bed.

Looking for a Murphy Bed Alternative That Needs No Drilling?

The Olivia cabinet bed opens from a hardwood cabinet into a real queen bed in about 30 seconds, with no wall mounting and no drilling. The tri-fold queen foam mattress is already included, so there is no mattress to shop for and no thickness limit to work around. It is $2,099.99 in queen and $1,999.99 in double, in Cherry, Black or White, or about $174.99 a month at 0% through Flexiti. Shipping is $49 to $249 depending on your order total anywhere in Canada. Setup is easy and takes about an hour the first time. Every Olivia carries a 90-day home trial and a 3-year warranty.

See the Olivia Cabinet Bed →

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