Murphy Bed Dimensions: How Much Space Does Each Size Need?

Last updated September 2026 by the Forward Furniture team

Murphy bed dimensions come in three parts: the size of the cabinet on the wall, the height it needs, and how far the bed reaches into the room when it is down. Most guides give a loose range. Below are the exact numbers for every wall bed and cabinet bed we sell, taken from the maker's spec on each product page, plus the room math to check your own space.

If you already know you want a bed with no wall mounting at all, skip to the cabinet beds. If you are still choosing a style, keep reading.

In this guide

• What are the standard Murphy bed sizes?
• Murphy bed dimensions chart
• Vertical Murphy bed space needs
• Horizontal Murphy bed space needs
• Cabinet bed dimensions
• Floor space in front of the bed
• Dimensions in centimetres
• Which size is right for your room?
• How to measure your room
• Questions

What Are the Standard Murphy Bed Sizes?

A Murphy bed is sized by the mattress it holds, so it follows the same Canadian mattress sizes as a regular bed. The cabinet around it adds a few inches on each side and some depth for the lift mechanism.

• Twin: 39 by 75 inches mattress. Good for one sleeper, a child, or a small office.
• Double (full): 54 by 75 inches. Fits two in a pinch, or one adult with room to spread out.
• Queen: 60 by 80 inches. The best fit when your guests are usually a couple.
• King: 76 by 80 inches. Some makers build one, but it needs a very wide, tall wall. We do not carry a king wall bed.

For every mattress size in inches and centimetres, see our Canadian bed and mattress size chart. The size is the easy part. The height, the depth and the open reach are what decide whether a bed fits.

How Big Is a Murphy Bed When Closed and Open?

Here is every bed we carry, closed and open. All sizes are in inches. "Open reach" is how far the bed comes out from the wall, or from the back of the cabinet, when it is down.

Source: the maker's spec on each product page (Wallie and Heidi), and the Olivia product page and its dimension diagram. W = width, D = depth from the wall, H = height.

How Much Space Does a Vertical Murphy Bed Need?

A vertical Murphy bed stands on its end, so the head of the bed is against the wall and the bed drops straight out into the room. It uses the least wall width but the most height. On our Wallie White Vertical Murphy Bed, the cabinet is 15.75 inches deep in every size.

• Wall width: 44.53 in for a twin, 59.49 in for a double and 65.4 in for a queen.
• Height: 79.13 in for the twin and double, 84.25 in for the queen.
• Open reach: 82.13 in for the twin and double, 86.24 in for the queen.
• Weight limit: 255 kg twin, 268 kg double, 273 kg queen.

Height is the number to check first. A standard 8 foot ceiling is 96 inches, which leaves about 12 inches above a queen Wallie. That is enough, but a light fixture, a heating vent or crown moulding in that gap can get in the way. If your ceiling is under about 86 inches, a vertical queen is the wrong choice.

How Much Space Does a Horizontal Murphy Bed Need?

A horizontal Murphy bed turns the mattress sideways, so the long side runs along the wall. It needs a wider wall but far less height, which makes it the fit for basements, rooms under a sloped ceiling, or a wall with a window above it. Our Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed comes in white, brown and rustic grey.

• Wall width: 80.35 in for a twin or double, 85.08 in for a queen.
• Height: 44.25 in twin, 58.82 in double, 64.92 in queen.
• Open reach: 47.09 in twin, 61.65 in double, 68.54 in queen.
• Depth closed: 15.75 in, or 16.54 in for the queen.

The trade is plain in the numbers. A Heidi queen needs about 20 more inches of wall than a Wallie queen, but it stands 19 inches lower and reaches 18 fewer inches into the room. The Heidi twin is only 44.25 inches tall, about the height of a dresser, and the product page says it does not need to be fixed to the wall. The double and queen should be anchored.

What Size Is a Cabinet Bed Compared With a Murphy Bed?

A cabinet bed is a freestanding piece of furniture with a folding mattress inside, so it never touches the wall. It is deeper than a wall bed but much shorter. The Olivia cabinet bed queen is 62.5 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 40 inches tall closed. It opens to 83 inches long. The double is 54.5 inches wide, 36 inches tall and opens to 75 inches long.

Closed, the Olivia is about the size of a media console, so the top stays usable. Its 6 inch tri-fold mattress comes with it and stores inside. The Olivia is sold on preorder and charged in full at checkout; the product page shows the current price and delivery date.

For a full space test on the cabinet bed, see will a cabinet bed fit your room. To weigh the two styles on more than size, read our cabinet bed vs Murphy bed comparison.

How Much Floor Space Do You Need in Front of a Murphy Bed?

The open reach is the number that is easiest to miss. The closed cabinet is slim, so the room looks big enough. Then the bed comes down and there may be no way to walk past it.

Here is the math for a 10 by 10 foot room, which is 120 inches from wall to wall. A Wallie queen reaches 86.24 inches out, which leaves about 34 inches to walk at the foot of the bed. A Heidi queen reaches 68.54 inches, which leaves about 51 inches. The Olivia queen reaches 83 inches from the back of the cabinet, which leaves about 37 inches.

A simple rule we use: add about 2 feet to the open reach so a person can walk past the bed and open a closet or door. Also check anything that swings into that space.

• Room doors and closet doors that open toward the bed
• Baseboard heaters, which should not sit under a lowered bed
• Nightstands or a desk that would block the bed from coming down
• Rugs thick enough to catch the bed legs as they fold out

What Are Murphy Bed Dimensions in Centimetres?

If your floor plan is in metric, here are the three queens converted, rounded to the nearest centimetre (1 inch is 2.54 cm).

Which Murphy Bed Size Is Right for Your Room?

Start with your ceiling and your wall, then pick the mattress size. These are the questions that rule a style in or out.

• Ceiling under 86 inches, or a window high on the wall? Choose a horizontal bed like the Heidi, or a cabinet bed.
• Wall narrower than 80 inches? A horizontal bed will not fit. Choose a vertical Wallie, which needs 65.4 inches even in queen.
• Renting, or cannot drill into the wall? Choose the Olivia cabinet bed, or the Heidi twin, which does not need anchoring.
• Guests are usually a couple? Go queen. A double is 6 inches narrower and 5 inches shorter.
• A child's room or a one-person office bed? A twin saves the most floor.

Installation is the other cost that changes with the style. A wall bed has to be anchored to the studs, and a cabinet bed does not. Our Murphy bed installation cost guide covers what that costs in Canada.

The Murphy Beds and Cabinet Bed We Carry

Prices are for sizes you can order today, read from our catalogue on the day this was updated.

Wallie White Vertical Murphy Bed
From $1,899.99

Vertical. Needs 44.53 in of wall for a twin, 59.49 in for a double.

Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed, White
Twin $1,424.99

Horizontal twin, only 44.25 in tall closed. No wall anchoring needed in twin.

Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed, Rustic Grey
Double $1,724.99

Horizontal double, 58.82 in tall and 61.65 in reach when open.

Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed, Brown
Queen $1,824.99

Horizontal queen, 85.08 in wide and 64.92 in tall closed.

Olivia Cabinet Bed With Mattress
Preorder, charged in full at checkout: see the current price

Freestanding, no wall mounting. Mattress included and stored inside.

In short: the Heidi white twin is $1,424.99, the Heidi rustic grey double is $1,724.99, the Heidi brown queen is $1,824.99, and the Wallie starts at $1,899.99. The Heidi and Wallie do not include a mattress.

How Do You Measure a Room for a Murphy Bed?

Five measurements tell you whether a bed fits. Take them before you choose a model, not after.

1. Measure the wall width between corners, doors and windows. That is your maximum cabinet width.
2. Measure floor to ceiling at the wall. Note any light, vent or moulding in the top 12 inches.
3. Measure from the wall straight out to the nearest obstacle. Subtract the open reach from the chart.
4. Find the studs if you want a wall bed. Double and queen wall beds should be anchored.
5. Measure every doorway and stair turn on the way in, since the bed arrives in boxes that must fit through them.

Then check the mattress. Our wall beds take a standard mattress up to 8 inches thick in twin and double, and 10 inches in queen. A thicker one will stop the bed from closing. Our guide on whether Murphy beds need a special mattress lists the ones that fit.

If you live near Kelowna, you can open these beds yourself at our showroom and pace out the open reach on the floor before you decide.

Murphy Bed Dimensions: Common Questions

What are the standard sizes of a Murphy bed?

Murphy beds follow mattress sizes: twin 39 by 75 inches, double 54 by 75 and queen 60 by 80. The cabinet adds a few inches. Our vertical queen is 65.4 inches wide and 84.25 inches tall closed.

What ceiling height do you need for a queen Murphy bed?

For a vertical queen, at least 86 inches, since our Wallie queen is 84.25 inches tall. A horizontal queen like the Heidi is only 64.92 inches tall, so it suits low or sloped ceilings.

Can a Murphy bed fit a 12 inch mattress?

Not ours. Our wall beds take up to 8 inches in twin and double and 10 inches in queen. A 12 inch mattress will stop the bed from closing. Check the limit on any frame before you buy a mattress.

How deep is a Murphy bed when it is closed?

Our wall beds are 15.75 inches deep closed, or 16.54 inches for the Heidi queen. The Olivia cabinet bed is 24 inches deep because it stands on its own with no wall mounting.

How much weight can a Murphy bed hold?

Our Heidi and Wallie wall beds list a weight limit of 255 kg for twin, 268 kg for double and 273 kg for queen, per the maker's spec on each product page.

Find the Murphy Bed That Fits Your Room