Wall Bed Dimensions & Space Requirements: How Much Room Do You Need?
A wall bed can transform a room that has to serve more than one purpose. Fold it away during the day and the space can become a home office, playroom, living area or simply a more open bedroom. But before choosing a wall bed, it is important to understand how much wall space and floor space you actually need.
The size of the mattress is only part of the calculation. You also need to consider the overall dimensions of the wall-bed cabinet or frame, how far the bed extends into the room when it is open, and whether there is enough clearance to walk around it comfortably.
In this guide, we explain wall bed dimensions, floor clearance, wall width and how to measure your room before buying a wall bed.
What Are the Standard Wall Bed Sizes?
Wall beds are generally designed around the same mattress sizes used for conventional UK beds. The most common options include:
| Wall bed size | Typical UK mattress size |
|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190cm |
| Small Double | 120 × 190cm |
| Double | 135 × 190cm |
| King | 150 × 200cm |
However, the mattress dimensions are not the same as the overall dimensions of the wall bed.
A cabinet, frame, side panels, shelving, desk or other furniture incorporated into the design can make the complete unit considerably wider or deeper than the mattress itself.
This means you should always check the manufacturer's full assembled dimensions, rather than measuring your available space against the mattress size alone.
How Much Wall Space Does a Wall Bed Need?
The first measurement to take is the width of the wall where you intend to install the bed.
For a basic single wall bed, the mattress is approximately 90cm wide, but the complete unit will normally be wider than this.
The same applies to a double wall bed. A 135cm-wide mattress does not mean you only need 135cm of wall width.
You may need additional space for:
- The wall-bed frame or cabinet
- Side panels
- Shelving
- Storage
- A desk
- Handles and doors
- The lifting mechanism
- Decorative or structural sections of the cabinet
Don't measure from the mattress size alone
This is one of the most common mistakes when planning a wall bed.
If you have a particular wall available, measure the total usable wall width and compare it with the manufacturer's assembled width.
Also check whether skirting boards, radiators, sockets, switches, windows or doors could interfere with the installation.
How Much Floor Space Does a Wall Bed Need When Open?
The other important measurement is the amount of floor space required when the bed is pulled down.
This is particularly important in smaller bedrooms, box rooms and home offices.
A wall bed may take up relatively little floor space while it is folded away, but once opened it becomes a full-size bed.
For example, a standard double mattress is approximately 135 × 190cm. The actual wall bed will require additional space depending on its frame and design.
You therefore need to think about the whole sleeping area, rather than simply the mattress.
Allow room around the bed
Ideally, there should be enough room to:
- Get into and out of bed
- Walk around the bed where appropriate
- Open nearby doors
- Access wardrobes and cupboards
- Use drawers
- Move around the room safely
- Pull the bed down and put it away without obstruction
The amount of clearance required will depend on the particular wall-bed design and the layout of your room.
How Deep Is a Wall Bed?
Wall-bed depth can vary considerably depending on the design.
When folded away, some wall beds sit relatively close to the wall, while others incorporate a deeper cabinet containing shelving, storage or other furniture.
When the bed is opened, the mattress and frame project into the room.
This is why it is important to check both the closed and open dimensions.
A wall bed may fit comfortably against a particular wall but still leave insufficient space in front of it when opened.
Vertical or Horizontal Wall Bed: Which Takes Less Space?
Wall beds are commonly designed in either a vertical or horizontal configuration.
Vertical wall beds
A vertical wall bed folds upwards with the head of the bed positioned against the wall.
This arrangement generally requires more height but can make efficient use of a relatively narrow section of wall.
It can work particularly well where you have:
- A reasonable ceiling height
- Limited wall width
- A longer room
- A narrow home office
Horizontal wall beds
A horizontal wall bed folds sideways rather than vertically.
This can be useful where wall width is available but there is less usable height, or where the room layout makes a sideways configuration more practical.
The best orientation depends on the dimensions and layout of the individual room.
How to Measure Your Room for a Wall Bed
Before ordering a wall bed, take some simple measurements.
1. Measure the available wall width
Measure the entire section of wall where the wall bed will be installed.
Don't forget to account for:
- Windows
- Doors
- Radiators
- Skirting boards
- Sockets
- Light switches
- Existing furniture
2. Measure the ceiling height
For a vertical wall bed, check the available height carefully.
Remember that the cabinet or frame may be considerably taller than the mattress itself.
3. Measure the floor space in front of the wall
Measure the distance from the wall to the nearest obstruction.
This could be:
- Another wall
- A desk
- Wardrobe
- Sofa
- Radiator
- Door
- Permanent furniture
Then compare this measurement with the wall bed's open depth.
4. Check doors and cupboards
A wall bed can fit perfectly on a wall but create a problem elsewhere in the room.
Check that the open bed won't block:
- The bedroom door
- A wardrobe door
- Cupboard doors
- Drawers
- Windows
- Access to another part of the room
5. Mark the footprint on the floor
One of the easiest ways to visualise the finished installation is to mark the approximate footprint of the open bed on the floor using masking tape.
This gives you a much better idea of how much usable floor space will remain.
It can also reveal problems that aren't obvious when looking at measurements on paper.
How Much Space Does a Double Wall Bed Save?
One of the biggest advantages of a wall bed is that the bed can be lifted away when it isn't being used.
A double bed can occupy a substantial amount of floor space when permanently positioned in a room. With a wall bed, that floor area can potentially be reclaimed during the day.
This can be particularly useful when the room has another purpose. For example:
- Bedroom + Home Office. The bed folds away and leaves space for a desk and office chair.
- Guest Bedroom + Study. The room can operate as an office most of the time and become a guest bedroom when visitors arrive.
- Studio Flat. The sleeping area can be transformed into additional living space during the day.
- Small Bedroom. The bed can disappear when it isn't being used, making the room feel considerably more open.
Wall Bed in a Small Room
A wall bed for a small room can be particularly useful, but choosing the right size is important.
A double wall bed may provide more comfortable sleeping space, but a single wall bed can leave significantly more usable room around it.
Think about how the room will actually be used.
If the room needs to function as an office during the day, for example, consider where the desk will go when the bed is open.
If it is primarily a guest room, you may be able to accept a tighter layout because the bed will only be opened occasionally.
Don't automatically choose the largest bed that fits
A larger wall bed isn't necessarily the best solution for a small room. Consider:
- Who will sleep in it? One person, two people, children or adults?
- How often will it be used? Every night or only when guests visit?
- What else needs to fit in the room? Desk, wardrobe, storage, sofa or other furniture?
These questions can help determine whether a single, small double or double wall bed makes the most sense.
Don't Forget the Ceiling and Wall
Floor measurements aren't the only consideration.
Before installing a wall bed, the structure of the room also needs to be considered.
Most wall-bed systems need to be securely fixed according to the manufacturer's installation requirements. The type of wall and fixing method therefore matter. If you have:
- A stud wall
- Plasterboard
- Brick
- Blockwork
- An unusual wall construction
check the manufacturer's installation requirements before purchasing.
If you are renting your property, you should also check whether you have permission to install a wall-mounted product.
Can You Put a Wall Bed in Front of a Window?
It depends on the design and the position of the window.
A wall bed should not obstruct something that needs to be accessed regularly, and the cabinet may need to be taller or wider than the window opening.
If you are considering positioning a wall bed against a wall containing a window, measure:
- Window width
- Window height
- Distance from the floor to the bottom of the window
- Distance from the ceiling to the top of the window
- Available wall space either side
Always compare these measurements with the manufacturer's full dimensions.
What About the Mattress?
The mattress is another important part of your measurements.
A wall-bed mechanism is designed to work with a particular mattress specification, including its size, weight and maximum depth.
A mattress that is too deep or too heavy could affect how the mechanism operates.
For this reason, don't assume that any mattress of the correct nominal size will automatically be suitable.
Check the manufacturer's mattress requirements before buying a replacement or choosing your own mattress. We'll be publishing a dedicated wall bed mattress guide soon with more detail on this.
Wall Bed Dimensions: A Quick Checklist
Before buying a wall bed, make sure you have checked:
- Available wall width
- Ceiling height
- Overall wall-bed height
- Overall wall-bed width
- Depth when folded away
- Depth when fully open
- Mattress dimensions
- Mattress depth and weight requirements
- Space to walk around the open bed
- Doors and drawers that need to open
- Position of windows and radiators
- Sockets and light switches
- Wall construction and fixing requirements
- Access for delivery and installation
Taking these measurements before ordering can save a lot of problems later.
Is a Wall Bed Suitable for Your Room?
The great thing about a wall bed is that it doesn't require you to permanently dedicate an entire room to sleeping.
When folded away, the room can be used for something completely different.
But the key is to choose a wall bed that is appropriate for the room dimensions and the way you intend to use it.
Don't simply measure the mattress. Look at the complete unit, its open footprint, the available wall width, the ceiling height and the space needed around it.
If you're unsure, it's always worth checking the manufacturer's complete dimensions and installation requirements before ordering — or reading our complete Wall Bed Buying Guide for more on how wall beds work, mattresses, comfort and installation.
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