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.
• Freight. A queen wall bed ships as heavy freight, not as a parcel. Our shipping is a flat rate set by your order total, from $49 to $249, 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 6 August 2026. Every bed in the table is one we stock and ship in Canada.

Bed	Twin	Double	Queen	Mattress in the price?
Heidi horizontal wall bed	$1,424.99	$1,724.99	$1,824.99	No
Wallie vertical wall bed	$1,899.99	$1,999.99	$2,099.99	No
Olivia cabinet bed	Not made in twin	$1,999.99	$2,099.99	Yes

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 $1,824.99 against $2,099.99. It is $1,824.99 plus a queen mattress against $2,099.99 with the mattress already 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.

Understanding the Cost of Murphy Beds

The Components of a Murphy Bed

A murphy bed is a bed that can be folded up against a wall or into a cabinet when not in use, freeing up valuable floor space. The main parts are the bed frame, the mattress, and the cabinet or wall mount. Some models also feature additional storage shelves, a built-in sofa, or even a desk. Each part adds to the price. So do the materials used to make them.

Materials and Craftsmanship

One reason why murphy beds can be expensive is the use of higher quality materials and craftsmanship. Many murphy beds are built from solid wood or other tough materials, which can increase the cost compared to cheaper big box flat pack furniture or traditional bed sets. The folding mechanism and the wall mount also take skill to design and build. That adds cost too.

Professional Installation

Professional installation is the other big cost. Many wall beds need a skilled installer to fit them safely. This adds to the overall cost of the murphy bed.

Affordable Murphy Bed Models

Now that the costs are clear, here are some cheaper options. We've selected five budget-friendly murphy bed models from Forward Furniture that maintain quality without breaking the bank.

1. Olivia Murphy Bed

Olivia Murphy Bed is a stylish and functional solution for small living spaces. This queen-sized murphy bed features a simple yet elegant design, with built-in storage shelves on both sides of the bed. It comes in Cherry, Black and White, so it is easy to match your decor. It costs less than many wall beds, and you do not give up quality or style.

2. Heidi White Horizontal Murphy Bed

The Heidi White Horizontal Murphy Bed is perfect for rooms with low ceilings or limited wall space. It takes a full sized mattress. The design is simple and clean. The white finish of the bed frame and cabinet adds a touch of modern sophistication to any room. It is a good pick if you want to save space without spending a fortune.

3. Hyde White Murphy Bed

If you're looking for a simple, no-frills option, the Hyde White Murphy Bed is an excellent choice. This queen bed has a clean white finish. The design is plain, so it fits most rooms. The Hyde White Murphy Bed is an affordable option for those who prioritize function over style.

4. Alpine Murphy Bed

The Alpine Murphy Bed offers a rustic, cozy feel with its solid wood construction and warm finish. It has a built in shelf at the head of the bed. That gives you room for books and other bits. The Alpine Murphy Bed is an excellent choice for those seeking a more traditional look in their bed solution.

5. Orion Double Murphy Bed

For those who require a smaller bed, the Orion Double Murphy Bed is an ideal option. The double version keeps the same design and the same built in shelves as the queen. The smaller size suits spare rooms, studios and any space where a normal bed will not fit.

Availability note, updated August 2026. Our line-up has changed since this guide first ran. The beds we stock today are the Heidi horizontal wall bed, the Wallie vertical wall bed and the Olivia cabinet bed. You can see what is in stock right now on the murphy beds collection and the cabinet beds collection. The prices in the table above are current.

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.

The Benefits of Owning a Murphy Bed

Murphy beds pay off most in small homes. They also help in a room that has to host guests as well as do its day job. Some of these benefits include:

Space Saving

One of the primary reasons why people choose murphy beds is to save space. When it is not in use, the bed folds against the wall or into a cabinet. That gives the floor back for other things.

Versatility

They work in spare rooms, studios, craft rooms and living rooms. In a living room they can stand in for a sofa bed.

Comfort

Unlike sofa beds or panel beds, murphy beds typically offer a more comfortable sleeping surface. They take standard mattresses. That usually means a better night than a sofa bed or a folding bed gives you.

Customization Options and Additional Features

Many models add extras on top of the basic parts. Those extras make the bed more useful, and more appealing. These extras can also contribute to the higher cost of some murphy beds. Pick only the features you will really use. That is how you keep the price down. Some of these additional features and customization options include:

Storage Shelves and Cabinets

Plenty of murphy beds, like the Olivia Murphy Bed and the Alpine Murphy Bed, come with built-in storage or cabinets. That gives you somewhere to put books, decor or clothes. It helps most in a small home or a one room apartment, where storage runs short.

Sofa Beds and Desks

Some murphy beds integrate a sofa or a desk, further enhancing their capabilities. A wall bed with a built in sofa doubles as living room seating when the bed is up. That suits a studio, or a spare room that is also a craft room or an office.

Freestanding Murphy Bed Cabinets

Freestanding murphy bed cabinets, like the Olivia cabinet bed, offer a self-contained solution that needs no wall mounting. They often add storage. They are also far easier to move than a wall mounted bed. That makes them a strong option for renters, who cannot make permanent changes to the place they live in.

Unique Designs and Finishes

Murphy beds come in a range of designs and finishes. Pick one that suits the room it goes in. The Heidi horizontal bed looks modern and clean. Other wall beds go for a warmer, more traditional look. Choose the finish you actually like. The room will look pulled together and still work hard.

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 a flat rate rather than by weight, from $49 to $249 depending on your order total, while many sellers charge by weight or by distance.

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 the real reason the cabinet bed often lands cheaper 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.

In conclusion, while it's true that murphy beds can be expensive, there are more affordable options available that still offer quality and style. The five models we've highlighted in this blog post are excellent examples of budget-friendly murphy beds that can help you free up space and make the most of your living area. By considering factors like size, design, mattress compatibility, and installation requirements, you can find the perfect murphy bed for your needs without spending a fortune.

What 96 Owners Say About the Price

Our cabinet bed has 96 verified reviews at 4.71 stars. Price and value come up often in them. Here are two, word for word, first names only.

"I bought this for my guest bedroom a few weeks ago since I have family coming and wow very impressed at how nice this was for the price point." Cain, 5 stars

"I believe we received good value for money spent." Robert, 4 stars

We leave the four star reviews up. A guide about price is not much use if it only shows you the five star ones.

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 open both in person at 2495 Enterprise Way Unit 105 in Kelowna. We are open 10:00 to 18:00 every day, including Sunday, or you can call (778) 760-0428.

The Real Numbers on Our Cabinet Bed

The Olivia is $2,099.99 as a queen and $1,999.99 as a double, in Cherry, Black or White. 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, and you want about 5 feet of clear floor in front of it. Easy setup takes about an hour the first time. After that it opens in roughly 30 seconds.

Shipping is $49 to $249 depending on your order total. It carries a 3-year warranty and a 90-day home trial, so you can sleep on it before you commit. Financing works out to about $174.99 a month at 0% 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 transforms from a beautiful cabinet to a queen bed in just 30 seconds, with no wall mounting or drilling required. It includes a premium memory foam mattress ($450 value), USB charging ports, and comes in 3 finishes: Cherry, Black, and White. All real hardwood construction for $2,099.99 with a 90-day home trial and 3-year warranty.

See the Olivia Cabinet Bed →

Browse All Cabinet Beds →

Conclusion

While it's true that murphy beds can be expensive, there are more affordable options available that still offer quality and style. The five models we've highlighted here are excellent examples of budget-friendly murphy beds that can help you save space and make the most of your living area. By considering factors like size, design, mattress compatibility, and installation requirements, you can find the perfect murphy bed for your needs without breaking the bank.

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 run from $1,424.99 for a twin to $2,099.99 for a queen in 2026.

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, the cheapest 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 at $2,099.99 for the queen. We compare the full field in our guide to guest beds for small spaces.

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. Easy setup takes about an hour the first time and you can do it with one other person.

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.

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.