Why Are Murphy Beds So Expensive? Real 2026 Prices in Canada

Last updated October 2026 by the Forward Furniture team

Why Are Murphy Beds So Expensive? Here Are Some Affordable Models

Murphy beds, also called wall beds or pull-down beds, are a great fix for small living spaces, extra rooms and rooms that do more than one job. They can be pricey. There are still affordable models out there. This guide covers why murphy beds cost what they do. Then it shows you cheaper options. It also shows our real 2026 Canadian prices, so you can check the numbers yourself.

The Short Answer: Where the Money Actually Goes

A murphy bed costs more than a normal bed for four reasons. You are paying for lift hardware, a cabinet, heavy freight, and often an installer. A normal bed has none of those four. That is the whole price gap in one sentence.

Here is what each part adds.

• The lift hardware. Gas pistons or steel springs hold a queen mattress in the air and lower it slowly. That hardware is built to do it every day for years. It is usually the single most costly part of the bed.
• The cabinet. A wall bed is a piece of furniture wrapped around a bed. You are buying two things at once, so you pay for two things. Better wood and a well built folding mechanism add to that.
• Freight. A queen wall bed ships as heavy freight, not as a parcel. Our shipping is $49 to $249 depending on your order total, but freight is a real cost and most sellers build it into the price.
• Installation. Most wall beds bolt into wall studs. If you do not do that yourself, you pay a tradesperson. Our guide to murphy bed installation costs in Canada has real numbers for that job.

Real Murphy Bed Prices in Canada, 2026

Most articles on this question never show a single price. These are ours, taken straight from our own live catalogue on 30 October 2026. They are the lower priced beds in our range, and sold out sizes are marked.

Now read the last column again. That column is where most price comparisons go wrong.

A wall bed price is a frame price. You still have to buy the mattress. Worse, a lot of wall beds only take a tri-fold mattress, which is a special item, so the one on your spare bed may not work. Our Heidi wall bed is unusual here because it takes a standard mattress instead of a tri-fold.

The Olivia cabinet bed goes the other way and includes its tri-fold queen memory foam mattress in the price, so there is nothing else to buy. If you want the detail on mattress types, we wrote a whole guide on whether murphy beds need a special mattress.

So the honest comparison is not the Heidi queen at $1,824.99 against one Olivia figure. It is that price plus a queen mattress against an Olivia queen that already has the mattress in it. Add a mattress and the gap closes, or flips.

Only the prices above are ours. Any other figure you see in this guide is a general market range, not a Forward Furniture quote. The Olivia is sold on preorder. The current price and delivery month are always on the Olivia product page.

Affordable Murphy Bed Models

Now that the costs are clear, here are three lower priced beds you can order from us right now, each priced straight off our live catalogue on 30 October 2026.

1. Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed

The Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed is our lowest priced wall bed, from $1,424.99 twin. It mounts horizontally, so it needs less ceiling clearance than a vertical wall bed, which matters in a room with sloped ceilings or a low basement. It takes a standard mattress rather than a special tri-fold one, in White, Brown or Rustic Grey. The mattress is not included in the price.

2. Wallie Vertical Murphy Bed

The Wallie Vertical Murphy Bed is $2,099.99 twin or $2,199.99 double. The queen is sold out right now. It mounts vertically and the legs flip down on their own as the bed lowers, so there is nothing to unfold by hand. Like the Heidi, the mattress is a separate purchase and it takes a standard memory foam mattress, up to 8 inches thick for twin and double or 10 inches for queen, not a tri-fold.

3. Olivia Cabinet Bed

The Olivia Cabinet Bed comes in double and queen, in Cherry, Black or White. The Olivia is sold on preorder. The current price and delivery month are always on the Olivia product page.

Unlike the two wall beds above, the tri-fold queen memory foam mattress is included in the price, there is no wall mounting or stud-finding, and the cabinet goes on a moving truck like any other piece of furniture instead of staying bolted to a wall you are leaving behind.

Our full range goes much higher. Wall beds climb to the Avalon queen at $3,067.99, and queen cabinet beds with a mattress climb to the Bridger at $3,572.99. The gap is finish, size and built in extras, not the basic job. Prices and availability move, so see what is in stock right now on the murphy beds collection and the cabinet beds collection. For more side by side, see our pick of the best murphy beds in Canada.

What Does a Murphy Bed Cost With a Mattress and Delivery?

This is the full bill if you buy the bed and a mattress in one order. We used the lowest priced in stock memory foam mattress in a box under the maker limit for each size. Delivery follows the order total.

With delivery, a Heidi or Wallie order comes to $1,913.98 to $2,848.98 before any installer. The Olivia and Stow have the mattress in the price, so you add delivery and nothing else.

Add an installer only if you hire one. Our murphy bed installation cost guide covers that job.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Affordable Murphy Bed

A few things decide whether you get good value. Work through them before you buy.

Size

Choose a murphy bed that fits your space and meets your sleeping needs. Options include twin murphy beds, full bed, queen murphy bed, and king-sized murphy beds. Measure your room first. Check the bed still fits once it is open.

Design

Consider the design of the murphy bed and how it will integrate with your existing decor. Some wall beds look traditional. Others look modern and plain. Some also add built in storage or a sofa, which gives you more use out of the same wall.

Mattress Compatibility

Not all murphy beds include a mattress. The ones that do are not always comfortable. Check whether a mattress is in the price. If it is not, you have to buy one that fits. Some murphy beds will not take certain mattresses, such as a thick box spring.

Installation

Some murphy beds need a professional installer. Others are simple enough to do yourself. Check what your bed needs. It changes the total cost.

Which Extras Push the Price Up?

Extras add cost, so pay only for the ones you will use.

• A built in desk. The Lumina with a desk is $2,759.99 in full, while the plain Lumina is $2,451.99.
• Storage. Shelves and side cabinets give books and clothes a home, but check the spec sheet first.
• A freestanding cabinet. It needs no wall mounting and moves with you, which suits renters.
• Special finishes. A high gloss bed like the Avalon sits near the top of our wall bed range.

DIY Murphy Bed Kits and Alternatives

For those looking to save even more money, DIY murphy bed kits and alternative solutions may be worth considering.

DIY Murphy Bed Kits

DIY murphy bed kits provide the hardware and the instructions to build your own murphy bed. You buy and cut the wood yourself. Buying the materials separately and building it yourself cuts the cost a lot. You do need some woodworking skill, and the right tools.

Alternative space-saving Beds

If a murphy bed isn't the right fit for your space or budget, there are other bed options available. Some of these alternatives include:

• Sofa beds: These beds double as a couch and can be unfolded to create a sleeping space when needed. They are not as comfortable as a wall bed. They cost less and need no installation.

• Folding panel beds: Similar to a murphy bed, folding beds are stored vertically against a wall when not in use. They give less comfort and support than a murphy bed. For the odd guest night they are still fine.

• Trundle beds: A trundle bed features a secondary bed stored beneath the main bed frame. They suit kids rooms and guest rooms. You get a second bed without losing floor space.

The True Cost of a Murphy Bed

The true cost is not just the sticker price. You have to count what comes after it. These can include the cost of a mattress, professional installation fees, and any necessary accessories, such as a box spring or bed linens. Add those in and you get the real number. Only then can you compare it fairly to anything else.

The Costs Most Price Lists Leave Out

Four costs turn up after the sticker price. None of them are hidden on purpose. They just do not sit on a product page.

• The mattress. Most wall bed prices are frame only. Budget for a mattress, and check first whether the bed needs a tri-fold one.
• The installer. A wall bed has to find studs. If you are not comfortable doing that, someone has to be paid to do it.
• The wall itself. Bolting a bed to a wall leaves holes. If you rent, you may have to patch and paint before you get your deposit back.
• Delivery. These are heavy items. Ours ship for $49 to $249 depending on your order total, and Olivia delivery is $199.

A cabinet bed skips three of those four. It is freestanding, so there is no installer and no wall repair, and ours arrives with the mattress in the box. That is why a queen cabinet bed can land lower all in, even when the sticker looks higher. We put the two side by side in cabinet bed vs murphy bed.

Comparing Murphy Beds to Traditional Beds

It helps to put a murphy bed next to a normal bed set. While murphy beds offer unique advantages, and versatility, they also have some drawbacks.

Pros of Murphy Beds

• Space saving: the main draw is the floor space you get back. When the bed is up, that floor is yours for other things.

• Versatility: they work in guest rooms, studios, craft rooms and living rooms. In a living room they can replace a sofa bed.

• Customization: many add storage or a built in sofa. That gets you more out of the same square feet.

Cons of Murphy Beds

• Cost: they cost more than a normal bed once you add the mattress, the installer and any extras.

• Installation: fitting one is more work than building a normal bed. Some models need a professional, which adds cost.

• Mattress fit: some murphy beds will not take a thick box spring. That narrows what you can sleep on.

Finding the Best Murphy Bed for Your Needs

To find the right murphy bed, start with your own needs, your budget and your taste. Work out the size and style that fits your space and your decor. Then decide which extras you want, such as built in storage or a sofa.

Some murphy beds cost more up front. They can still pay off over years, because of the space they save. Weigh your options and rank what matters most. You can get the bed you need without spending a fortune.

What We Hear on the Showroom Floor in Kelowna

Almost every wall bed conversation in our showroom opens on price and ends somewhere else. Two things move it. The first is adding up the mattress out loud. People line up a wall bed sticker next to a cabinet bed sticker and forget that only one of those two numbers already has a queen mattress inside it.

The second is the question that comes right after. What happens when I move. A wall bed stays with the wall you bolted it to. A cabinet bed goes on the truck like a dresser does. For renters, that answer usually matters more than the price did five minutes earlier.

You can try the Olivia in person at 2495 Enterprise Way Unit 105 in Kelowna, or at 6125 12 St SE #2 in Calgary. Our wall beds are sold online. Kelowna is open 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 11:00 to 17:00 on Sunday, or you can call (778) 760-0428.

The Real Numbers on Our Cabinet Bed

The Olivia comes in Cherry, Black or White. The Olivia is sold on preorder. The current price and delivery month are always on the Olivia product page. Closed, it measures 62.5 by 24 by 40 inches, which is about the footprint of a sideboard.

Open, it measures 62.5 by 83 inches, so leave about 83 inches of clear floor in front of the Queen, or 75 inches for the Double. You assemble it once with the paper and video steps. After that it opens in about 30 seconds.

Delivery is $199. The cabinet carries a lifetime warranty, and online orders get a 90-day home trial, so you can sleep on it before you commit. There is no restocking fee, and an online order refunds to the card you paid with.

If you send it back you pay the return freight and take it apart yourself. Online orders can use 0% financing with Flexiti. If you are trying to work out whether it fits, start with will a cabinet bed fit, and if you are still weighing up guest bed options in general, we ranked six of them.

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Looking for a Murphy Bed Alternative That Needs No Drilling?

The Olivia Queen Cabinet Bed goes from a cabinet to a queen bed in about 30 seconds, with no wall mounting or drilling required. It includes a memory foam mattress, USB charging ports, and comes in 3 finishes: Cherry, Black, and White. All real hardwood construction, with a 90-day home trial and a lifetime warranty on the cabinet. The Olivia is sold on preorder. The current price and delivery month are always on the Olivia product page.

See the Olivia Cabinet Bed →

Browse All Cabinet Beds →

Lower Priced Beds to Compare

Prices are read from our catalogue on the day this guide was updated.

Is a Murphy Bed Worth the Price?

A Murphy bed costs more because it does more than a normal bed. Count the mattress, delivery and any installer, then compare the whole bill. If you do not want to drill, price a cabinet bed next to it.

Murphy Bed Price Questions, Answered

Why are murphy beds so expensive?

Because you are buying four things, not one. A murphy bed price covers the lift hardware that holds a queen mattress in the air, the cabinet it folds into, heavy freight, and in most cases an installer to bolt it to the wall. A normal bed has none of those costs. Our own wall beds start at $1,424.99 for a Heidi twin, frame only.

How much does a Murphy bed cost in Canada?

Our wall bed frames start at the Heidi twin at $1,424.99 and the Heidi queen is $1,824.99. A Heidi or Wallie with a mattress and delivery comes to $1,913.98 to $2,848.98 in one order. An installer is extra if you hire one.

What is the most affordable Murphy bed you sell?

The Heidi twin at $1,424.99 is our lowest priced wall bed. It takes a standard mattress up to 8 inches thick, so you can shop around for the mattress. The price does not include one.

Are murphy beds expensive compared to a normal bed?

Yes, and the honest reason is that they do a second job. A normal queen bed frame is a frame. A murphy bed is a frame, a cabinet, and a mechanism that gives you the floor back every morning. If you do not need the floor space, a normal bed is the cheaper answer and we will tell you that in the showroom.

What is the cheapest alternative to a murphy bed?

For occasional guests, a good air mattress or a daybed is the cheapest answer by a long way. For a bed someone will sleep on regularly, a sensible alternative is a cabinet bed. It needs no wall mounting, no installer and no wall repair later, and ours arrives with the mattress included. Check the Olivia cabinet bed page for today's price. We compare the full field in our Murphy bed alternatives guide.

Do you have to pay for installation on top of the price?

On a wall bed, usually yes, unless you are confident finding studs and doing the mounting yourself. On a cabinet bed, no. It is freestanding. You assemble it once with the paper and video steps.

Is a cheap murphy bed safe?

It depends entirely on the hardware, not on the price tag. What matters is that the pistons or springs are rated for the mattress weight, that the bed is anchored the way the maker says, and that the legs lock. Ask for the weight rating before you buy. A very cheap bed with no published rating is the one to walk away from.

What to do next

Still weighing it up? The space saving furniture statistics page has the background on why Canadian rooms keep getting smaller, and our box spring guide answers the other question we get asked on every bed sale.

If you are weighing one of these up, the Olivia queen cabinet bed is the freestanding one that needs no wall anchoring, and the murphy bed range covers the wall mounted sizes. We are a Canadian company with stores in Kelowna, Calgary and Edmonton. The Olivia is on the floor in Kelowna and Calgary, so if you would rather try it before you buy, find your nearest store.