12 best sofa beds that you'll actually want to sit and sleep on

Score: 88/100

Everyone who tried this velvet sofa bed said they would 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. It 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

“You’d never know it was a sofa bed at first glance,” was just one of the positive comments we got on this stylish Love Seat. We tried the plush velvet design, but there are hundreds (yes, really!) of fabrics and shades to choose from. It’s designed for two people to sit on and folds out easily and quickly into a generous single bed. Good looks aside, it was super comfy to sit on, especially compared to other sofa beds our panellists had tried before.

In our lab tests, we used warm, soapy water and a damp cloth to clean stains and most (including red wine and coffee) lifted with no issues; however, foundation marks proved a little trickier to clean. Overall, though, it’s an extremely chic design – perfect for curling up on to watch TV and remaining there for the rest of the night.

Score: 83/100

This traditional-style 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: 83/100

This L-shaped sofa bed is made for lounging. It could easily be your main seating, it’s that roomy and comfortable. And guests will be happy too – when opened out (which was simple to do on test), it’s a king size bed. Testers liked the firm feel of the mattress and said it left them feeling well-rested come morning.

Like our winner, it’s modular so it arrives in boxes, and while it wasn’t the quickest to build for everyone (it took about an hour), it was still “intuitive”. There’s even some built-in storage and if you damage one section, you can replace just that component to keep your sofa in tip-top shape for years to come.

Based on our lab testing, that won’t happen any time soon anyway – cushions bounced back quickly, and our testers were able to clean away most traces of typical household stains, including red wine, coffee and biro scribbles. Mud, mustard and makeup were largely eradicated too, but depending on the colour you opt for, it could be trickier to restore the fabric fully.

Oh, and it scored full marks for its resistance to pet scratches, and our testers simply watched as water spillages ran off the cushion. It’s a quality buy.

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: 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.

Regularly appearing in our best mattress guides, Emma Sleep has made a sofa bed that truly puts snoozing first, as it features the brand's well-regarded mattress technology.

It's also easy to assemble and quick to pull out and set up as a bed. Designed for comfort both sitting and sleeping, this is one of our top choices if you want a balance of both.

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.

Habitat's no frills clic-clac is ideal for those on a budget. While you may prefer something bigger for your living room, this simple design is ideal for popping in the study or spare room for guests, thanks to its compact footprint and neutral design.