A single sofa cum bed is a one or two seat sofa that turns into a sleeping place for one person, usually 3x6 or 4x6 feet. It fits a study, a kids room or a studio flat where a full 3 seater sofa bed would block the floor.
Three types cover most needs: a single chair sofa cum bed that unfolds foam blocks, a 2 seater with a pull out base, and a foldable floor model you can store in a corner. Below are twelve designs with seat count, frame and room fit. If you need to sleep two adults, look at a 5x6 or 6x6 in our sofa cum bed size guide instead.
Single Seater Sofa Cum Bed and Chair Beds
A chair bed is the smallest sofa cum bed. Closed it is an armchair, 30 to 40 inches across; open it makes a 3x6 sleeping pad.
- Seats
- 1 seater, opens 3x6
- Build
- HR foam, cotton
- Fits
- Study, 8 x 9 ft
Three thick foam blocks unfold from the chair into a flat bed for one. Folded, it is an armchair that suits a study corner.
Maker's note: Foam blocks should be HR at 32 kg/m³ or more, so the folds do not sag into dips.
- Seats
- 1 seater, opens 3x6
- Build
- Foam, poly fabric
- Fits
- Bedroom corner
Closed, it looks like a plain armchair with wide arms. The arms hold the bed blocks, so there is no bulky mechanism inside.
Maker's note: Ask for a zip cover on each block so you can wash them one at a time.
- Seats
- 1 seater, opens 3x6
- Build
- Teak, cotton
- Fits
- Guest corner
With teak sides and a slatted drawer bed, this chair outlasts an all foam one. It suits a parent who stays over often.
Maker's note: A middle support foot beneath the pull out stops it bending under a sleeper.
Sleeping Sizes for Single and Small Sofa Cum Beds
| Type | Closed width (about) | Open bed (feet) | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single chair sofa cum bed | 30 to 40 in | 3x6 | One adult or one child |
| Mini or narrow sofa bed | 42 to 48 in | 3x6 | One adult |
| 2 seater sofa cum bed | 54 to 66 in | 4x6 | One adult with room, or a child and adult |
| Double sofa cum bed | 66 to 84 in | 5x6 or 6x6 | Two adults |
Next to the opened bed, keep roughly 2 ft clear so nobody trips at night. For double sizes see the sofa cum bed designs hub.
Who a Single Sofa Cum Bed Suits
- Studio flats and hostels: one person, one room, needs the floor in the day.
- Kids rooms: sleepovers and a reading seat; pick low, rounded, washable.
- Study or home office: a seat for work and a bed when a parent visits.
- Elders: pick a pull out with a firm 18 inch seat, not a floor model.
For folding frames see folding sofa cum bed; for chairs that do not open, see sofa chairs.
2 Seater Sofa Cum Bed for a Small Room
A two seater sofa cum bed is about 54 to 66 inches long closed and opens to 4x6, a roomy single bed or a squeeze for two.
- Seats
- 2 seater, opens 4x6
- Build
- Ply frame, velvet
- Fits
- Hall, 9 x 10 ft
The base rolls forward and the back cushions slide in to make a 4 ft wide bed. One adult gets room to turn over.
Maker's note: Tape the opened bed: you want 48 inches clear between the frame sides.
- Seats
- 2 seater, opens 4x6
- Build
- Ply frame, linen
- Fits
- Bedroom, 10 x 10 ft
Closed, it is a neat loveseat that fits under a window. The slim arms keep it near 5 ft long.
Maker's note: Thin 5 inch arms free almost a foot of wall compared with fat rolled arms.
- Seats
- 2 seater, click clack
- Build
- Steel mech, fabric
- Fits
- Studio flat
Press the backrest down past the click and it drops level with the seat. No separate mattress means it opens in seconds.
Maker's note: The seat foam is the mattress here, so ask for 35 kg/m³ HR and a firm quilted top.
Kids Sofa Cum Bed Designs
A sofa cum bed for kids should be low, rounded and easy to wipe. These suit children from about five years up and double as a sleepover bed.
- Seats
- 1 to 2 seats, 3x6 bed
- Build
- Foam, cotton
- Fits
- Kids room
Low rounded arms and a seat only 14 inches high make it safe to climb. It unfolds into a 3x6 pad for sleepovers.
Maker's note: Ask for fire retardant foam and fabric with a tight weave of 25,000 rubs or more.
- Seats
- 2 seater, opens 4x6
- Build
- Ply frame, cotton
- Fits
- Kids room, 9 x 10 ft
Two drawers below the seat hold toys by day and bedding at night. The rounded corners avoid bumps.
Maker's note: Ask for soft close drawer channels and round corners on all wooden edges.
- Seats
- 1 seater, opens 3x6
- Build
- Foam, zip cover
- Fits
- Kids room
An all foam mini sofa cum bed with no frame at all. It is light enough to move and lies flat on the floor as a mattress.
Maker's note: Choose a removable zip cover in washable cotton and 32 kg/m³ HR foam.
Foldable and Mini Sofa Cum Bed for Studio Flats
When the hall is also the bedroom, a sofa cum bed for small room use must fold away fast and leave the floor clear.
- Seats
- 1 to 2 seats, 3x6 bed
- Build
- Steel, futon
- Fits
- Studio or hostel
A steel frame folds in three positions: sofa, recliner and bed. On sunny days, carry the futon out to the balcony to air.
Maker's note: Check that hinge bolts have lock nuts and the legs have rubber caps for tiled floors.
- Seats
- 1 to 2 seats, 3x6 bed
- Build
- Mango wood, cotton
- Fits
- Studio flat
A narrow 4 ft sofa with a slim wooden frame. The seat slides out to a 3x6 bed and back in without lifting.
Maker's note: Mango wood needs borer treatment; ask for steel runners for the slide out.
- Seats
- Seats 3, single bed
- Build
- Sheesham, cotton
- Fits
- One room flat
A low diwan with a firm mattress and two bolsters: a seat by day and a single bed by night, with storage below.
Maker's note: Keep the mattress about 5 inches thick and ask for hinged lids on the storage base.
Questions buyers ask
What is the sofa cum bed single bed size when open?
Most open to 3x6 feet; a 2 seater opens to 4x6. Folded back into a chair, a single seater spans roughly 30 to 40 inches.
Is a sofa cum bed for single person use comfortable every night?
Yes if it is a pull out on wooden slats topped by a mattress 4 to 5 inches deep, in HR foam graded 32 kg/m³ upward. Foam chair beds are better for guests and sleepovers.
Which sofa cum bed is best for kids?
A low foam model or a 2 seater with rounded corners, washable zip covers and fabric rated 25,000 rubs or more. Avoid heavy pull outs that can trap fingers.
Single bed sofa cum bed or double: what is a double sofa cum bed?
It is a 3 seater that opens to 5x6 or 6x6, big enough for two adults. If two people will sleep on it, skip the single models.
Can a foldable sofa cum bed single be used on a tiled floor?
Yes. Ask for rubber caps or felt pads on the legs so it does not slide or scratch tiles.
How much room does a small sofa cum bed need?
A 3x6 opened bed plus its walking strip eats around 8 ft of floor out from the wall. A 9 x 9 ft room fits it comfortably.