9 best sofa beds 2026, including John Lewis, Ikea and sofa.com

The best sofa beds promise a handy two-in-one solution; a sofa for relaxing and entertaining and a comfortable bed for guests. Historically, though, they have been neither; too firm and unyielding as a sofa, and uncomfortable and creaky as a bed. But today’s sofa beds have evolved.

“They are now comfortable, practical and easy to function,” interior designer Katy Raywood of Howson Design Interiors, says. She only recommends sofa beds for occasional use, as the mattresses are thinner than standard beds, but for a weekend visitor, it’s great to have a sofa and bed in one.

I spent a week testing sofa beds around London showrooms. I tried click-clack sofa beds, where the back folds down to create a flat surface and pull-out sofa beds, which conceal a hidden mattress. You can read my full reviews below, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best sofa beds: At a glance

How to choose the best sofa bed

With so many makes and models on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind while shopping for a sofa bed.

Type: “If you’re looking for a more comfortable sofa to sit on, choose a click-clack sofa bed with padded cushions,” says interior designer Naomi Astley-Clarke. “If you want to prioritise the comfort of the mattress, choose a pull-out sofa bed with a pocket-sprung or foam mattress.”

Size and shape: If you’re working with a small or awkwardly shaped room, you could shop for a corner sofa bed. A sofa bed with built-in storage provides a ready-made space for your guests to store their suitcases or spare bed linen.

Fabric: Leather is low-maintenance and stain-resistant, thanks to the tanning process, so it’s a good choice for high-traffic areas of the home. Velvet is more sensitive to spills, and benefits from the occasional steam clean, but it catches the light and adds warmth to a room. Other popular materials include cotton, linen, and polyester or acrylic blends.

Budget: “The base isn’t the expense, it’s the mattress,” says Astley-Clarke. A pull-out sofa bed with a built-in mattress tends to be more expensive – starting around £1,000 – but it should feel more comfortable and supportive for longer-term use.

How I test sofa beds