The best sofa beds, tried and tested for both lounging and sleeping

Score: 88/100

Everyone who tried this velvet sofa bed said they'd recommend it to others – one even said that some friends who'd slept on it for a night then went and bought it for their own home. Testers declared it “high quality” and so comfortable that one of them said they regularly fell asleep on it.

In fact, there was little they disliked. The luxury sofa bed fared well in our stain resistance tests, didn’t scratch when we replicated the impact of having a pet at home, and the plump cushions bounced back well after our weight tests.

Even the build and ease of use were hard to fault – everything arrives in boxes that should fit through your door frame, all the instructions are clear, and its fold-out frame slotted into place seamlessly.

While it’s designed for three people, it would be roomier with just two on it, but even that wouldn’t be a downside if you’re investing in a sofa for a smaller household or to sit alongside another. And for extra peace of mind, it comes with a 100-day trial.

Score: 85/100

Our expert couldn’t believe how easy this sofa bed was to pull out. The mechanism felt smooth and robust throughout testing, while the backrest cushions neatly tucked away underneath – no need to remove and store them separately.

The soft-touch fabric was surprisingly resistant to pet scratches, leaving nothing noticeable behind, and most immediate stains lifted without much scrubbing. Biro, foundation and lipstick proved difficult to remove after 24 hours, so make sure to tackle stains as soon as they occur.

Overall, this pull out sofa has a firmer feel than we’d have liked for lounging; however, as a high-quality sofa bed for the occasional overnight guest, this is a no brainer.

Score: 83/100

Perfect for a spare room, this clic-clac sofa bed is a good size, well-built and comes with wheels for manoeuvrability. It’s on the firm side but still has a reasonable amount of ‘give’ in the cushioning. Our panellists would have liked some arm rests though to make it cosier to curl up on.

In the lab, we found it effective at resisting stains including red wine, biro and coffee, which lifted completely when we cleaned them straight away. Dried-in stains were harder to remove, with mustard and makeup spills lingering. Water sank in straight away too so you’ll have to leave it to dry after cleaning.

The material still looked in great condition after our scratch test but there’s a slight trade-off as our panel had mixed feedback on the feel of the fabric, with some saying it verged on scratchy. Others found it soft and supportive though.

Score: 83/100

This traditional-style comfy sofa bed is made to order, with the flexibility to change the size, colour (there are 109 to choose from across the different fabrics), legs, and mattress type (either foam or spring). We should note, however, that the level of customisation meant it took around two months to arrive from the order date, so make sure you’re planning ahead.

When it did arrive, the delivery team was super helpful, setting the sofa bed up and demonstrating how to pull it out – a process our tester also found easy to do when left alone.

It was at bedtime that this sofa bed really excelled though. “I’ve never slept on a better made sofa bed,” said our tester, adding that it felt “as good as sleeping in a regular bed.” A rave review.

It didn’t scratch either and most stains lifted with warm soapy water. It is very absorbent, though, so you’ll need to give it a while to dry after cleaning or if you spill anything on it.

Score: 82/100

“I absolutely LOVE this sofa bed,” was one tester’s enthusiastic verdict. Its stylish design, high-quality fabric, and general comfort were all praised by our panel, while the assembly was the main downside – it took over an hour to set-up.

In the lab, our scratch tests left no marks, and water ran off the surface quickly. This came in handy against red wine, tea and coffee stains, with the liquid beading off rather than soaking in. Stubborn makeup marks were noticeable on the ‘Natural’ colourway (even after dabbing and scrubbing), so a darker shade might be a more practical choice.

Note that converting the sofa to a bed isn’t completely straightforward – you need to slide the seat base forward and the back of the seat flat before settling in for the night.

Score: 82/100

This pull-out design was easy to transform into your bed for the night. It’s comfortable to sit on, but it’s on the firmer side and the cushions needed a plump to return to their original shape. The hidden storage space in the chaise is a real bonus though, offering an ideal spot for storing the extra bedding needed for the sofa bed.

All the food and common stains we threw at the fabric came off when tackled quickly but there was some discolouration when we left them for 24 hours. Water seeped into the fabric too, rather than running off or beading, but the overall build-quality impressed with no snags or markings left behind after our scratch test.

Score: 82/100

Clic-clac sofa beds are quick and easy to set up, and work well in tighter spaces. This one was no exception – it took testers about 15 minutes to put it up after they unboxed it and swapping between sofa and bed was done in a jiffy. It was comfortably supportive to sleep on too (as we’d hoped, given this is from a slumber specialist).

That said, because of its firmer design, it’s not the best sofa for lounging on – there’s plenty of room for three people, you just won’t quite sink into it. If that’s to your taste, though, you’ll be pleased to hear that the velvety fabric impressed in our stain removal tests – although our spilt glass of water left a slight mark, red wine proved no trouble to banish, making it a good one for day-to-day use.

Score: 81/100

At first glance, thanks to its classic design, you certainly wouldn’t suspect there’s a mattress tucked away within this sofa. But trust us, there is one there! In all honesty, the bed itself received mixed reviews with our panel, but if you just need it for the odd night here and there, this shouldn’t prove too troublesome – plus, you can transform it in seconds.

And as a sofa, this one was well rated. It arrives in one piece (so you will need to measure your doorframes this time), and our experts were impressed with its overall quality; it repelled moisture well when we poured water, tea, coffee and wine on it, and our scratch tests didn’t leave a mark. Food and makeup stains were largely easy to wipe away, and both its cushions and mattress bounced back into shape after testing too.

As for what it’s like to sit on, we’ll leave you with words from one of our testers who described it as a “comfortable sofa with nice squashy cushions.” Delightful.

Score: 79/100

This small sofa bed is an ideal choice if you’re short on space. It’s slightly smaller than a double bed in width (121cm versus 135cm) so it may be best for single guests.

We found it quick and easy to unpack and assemble and the extra cushions added another layer of comfort. Our panellists would have liked armrests to create a cosier finish, but overall, they were impressed with the soft, sink-in sensation.

The cushions didn’t spring back into place right away in our tests, so they’ll require plumping, and you’ll need to be careful not to drop makeup or ink on the fabric as these didn’t come off completely. Spilt drinks and general dirt lifted without too much scrubbing though.

Score: 78/100

You can always rely on Ikea for a box-ticker, and this roomy corner sofa is no exception. It has built-in storage, transitions easily into a bed and proved durable on test, with cushions bouncing back and scratches causing no damage.

It took a while to build, and some testers found it a bit confusing, mainly because you can choose which side you configure the L on. But ultimately this means it will work for every home, so it’s worth powering through that bit.

It cleaned up respectably but wasn’t the best in test – curry sauce was hard to fully eradicate (so be careful if it’s TV dinner night), and you’ll need to watch makeup and drinks too as it absorbed some water, rather than repelling it fully.

Our panel was pleased with this sofa bed though– while it’s relatively firm, it was comfortable both to sit on and sleep on. As you’d expect from the brand, it’s more affordable than many, and it even comes with a 10-year guarantee. Don’t forget to tuck into some Swedish meatballs for us when you go to pick this one up!

Score: 77/100

If you’re fitting out a spare room or home office, this sofa bed would be perfect. It assembles in just 15 minutes, and while the compact design isn’t the best for lounging on in the evenings (there are no arm rests), it’s wide enough to seat two people. The sink-in seats were a hit with our testers and bounced back into shape swiftly after we tested them for indentations too. So, if you want to sit there from time to time, you’re not compromising on comfort.

Then, when you’ve got a guest, it folds out into a bed in no time. It’s lightweight if you need to reposition it, and while it sits low to the ground, testers found it stable. One even said they enjoyed “excellent sleep” on its firmer surface. However you plan to use it though, our experts were pleased with its stain and scratch resistance in the lab.

And of course, it oozes that mid-century style Made is known for, proving that you can get a sofa bed that ticks the all-important design box.

This compact sofa bed can seat two but is best used for sleeping one due to its size and maximum load of 100kg. It's designed to be easy to assemble and convert from sofa to bed and the fibre-filled mattress should provide a comfortable place for a guest to rest their head overnight. The low seat height might not be ideal for some but the sofa's backrest offers a good amount of support when lounging. For the price, this is a smart, reliable buy.

If you're looking for something more compact, why not try this bed in a box? Ideal for small spaces, it requires very little space when it isn't in use and stores a single bed inside. Yes, really.

With hidden storage compartments and a simple pull-out mechanism, the Oswald sofa bed is designed with small spaces in mind. It doesn't compromise on sleep credentials, however, with foam layers creating breathability and pocket springs providing an even distribution of pressure for a supportive snooze.

This affordable clic-clac sofa bed is a bestseller on Amazon for a reason – it’s packed full of great features. The back rest can be positioned at three different angles (for sitting, lounging, and sleeping), and there’s a drop-down cup holder in the middle of the sofa – an idea spot for your wine or popcorn on movie night.

With a quilted finish, this sofa bed will bring instant style to your home. It has a simple click-clac mechanism so it’s easy to fold out into a bed, and the neutral grey colour will work nicely in every home. It also makes a great neutral backdrop for all your colourful cushions and throws.