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# Best Horizontal Murphy Beds by Cabinet Depth
- URL: https://testiweb.com/best-compact-horizontal-murphy-bed/
- Published: 2026-09-07T07:28:04.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-07T09:49:25.000Z
- Description: Five horizontal wall beds compared on the number that actually matters: how far the closed cabinet sticks out from your wall. Twin frames from 15.1 in deep, plus one 350 lb queen.
- Author: Colette Salinas
- Tags: Beds, Frames & Bases, Bedroom Furniture, Small Space Living

The best compact horizontal murphy bed is the MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed Cabinet with Desk, because its closed cabinet is only 16.5 in deep and it's the lightest frame here at 153.7 lb. If you need a queen instead of a twin, the Bestar Pur is the only one in this group that sleeps two adults, at 350 lb and 20.3 in deep. One number splits this whole field: how far the cabinet protrudes when the bed is folded away. Depths here run from 15.1 in to 45.4 in. That's the difference between a shallow console and a piece of furniture you walk around.

In this guide
1. [Best compact horizontal murphy bed at a glance](#best-compact-horizontal-murphy-bed-at-a-glance)
2. [How deep is the cabinet when it's closed?](#how-deep-is-the-cabinet-when-its-closed)
3. [How I narrowed the field to five horizontal murphy beds](#how-i-narrowed-the-field-to-five-horizontal-murphy-beds)
4. [1\. MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed Cabinet with Desk — Best overall](#1-meritline-twin-horizontal-murphy-bed-cabinet-with-desk-%E2%80%94-best-overall)
5. [2\. SOFTSEA Space Saving Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed with Drawers — Runner-up](#2-softsea-space-saving-twin-horizontal-murphy-bed-with-drawers-%E2%80%94-runner-up)
6. [3\. SOFTSEA Twin Size Horizontal Murphy Bed — Best for pros](#3-softsea-twin-size-horizontal-murphy-bed-%E2%80%94-best-for-pros)
7. [4\. MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed with Storage Bookcase — Best minimal setup](#4-meritline-twin-horizontal-murphy-bed-with-storage-bookcase-%E2%80%94-best-minimal-setup)
8. [5\. Bestar Pur Queen Horizontal Murphy Bed — Best premium](#5-bestar-pur-queen-horizontal-murphy-bed-%E2%80%94-best-premium)
9. [Twin or queen: which one fits your wall?](#twin-or-queen-which-one-fits-your-wall)
10. [What the listings don't tell you about installation](#what-the-listings-dont-tell-you-about-installation)
11. [Which compact horizontal murphy bed suits your room?](#which-compact-horizontal-murphy-bed-suits-your-room)
12. [The verdict](#the-verdict)
13. [FAQ](#faq)

## Best compact horizontal murphy bed at a glance

| Pick                                                                                                                                     | Closed depth | Mattress size | Price                                                               |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Best overall**[MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed Cabinet with Desk](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH1G9H23?tag=testiweb-20)           | 16.5 in      | Twin          | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH1G9H23?tag=testiweb-20) |
| **Runner-up**[SOFTSEA Space Saving Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed with Drawers](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK9WL95D?tag=testiweb-20)        | 15.1 in      | Twin          | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK9WL95D?tag=testiweb-20) |
| **Best for pros**[SOFTSEA Twin Size Horizontal Murphy Bed](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3KNV8X?tag=testiweb-20)                         | 41.7 in      | Twin          | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3KNV8X?tag=testiweb-20) |
| **Best minimal setup**[MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed with Storage Bookcase](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPLS6BZ5?tag=testiweb-20) | 45.4 in      | Twin          | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPLS6BZ5?tag=testiweb-20) |
| **Best premium**[Bestar Pur Queen Horizontal Murphy Bed](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GH336641?tag=testiweb-20)                           | 20.3 in      | Queen         | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GH336641?tag=testiweb-20) |

## How deep is the cabinet when it's closed?

This is the question that decides your purchase, and almost nobody asks it first. Most shoppers compare mattress size and finish. Both matter far less than protrusion.

A horizontal wall bed sits sideways, so it eats wall length rather than floor depth. That's the whole point of the format. But the cabinet still sticks out into the room, and the range across these five is enormous.

Sorted by closed depth, shallowest first:

1. SOFTSEA with drawers: 15.1 in
2. MERITLINE with desk: 16.5 in
3. Bestar Pur Queen: 20.3 in
4. SOFTSEA metal-leg twin: 41.7 in
5. MERITLINE with bookcase: 45.4 in

That top group of three reads like a console table against the wall. The bottom two read like a wardrobe. Neither is wrong, but they solve different problems. A 45.4 in cabinet in a 9 ft wide office leaves you a corridor. A 16.5 in cabinet leaves you a room.

Measure your wall before you shop. Write down two numbers: available wall length, and how far you can afford to give up in depth. Then filter on those. Every other spec is secondary.

## How I narrowed the field to five horizontal murphy beds

I screened this category on four criteria, weighted in this order.

**Closed depth came first**, because it's the constraint that ruins a purchase. A bed you can't walk past is a bed you resent.

**Wall length second.** Horizontal beds need a long clear run, and the figures here range from 80 in to 85.6 in. In a room with a window, a radiator or a door swing in that stretch, the shorter frame wins outright.

**Published load capacity third.** Three listings state a figure, and the spread is wide: 400 lbs on the MERITLINE bookcase model, 800 lbs on the SOFTSEA metal-leg twin, 1000 lbs on the Bestar. Two publish nothing.

**Mechanism last**, because every pick in this set uses gas struts or a dual-piston system by its own description, so it doesn't separate them.

What got cut: vertical wall beds, sofa-bed hybrids, and anything without published cabinet dimensions. If a listing won't tell me how deep the closed unit sits, I can't tell you whether it fits.

Note the keyword's "compact" qualifier honestly. Two picks here are horizontal but not shallow, and I've labelled them as such rather than pretending otherwise.

## 1\. MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed Cabinet with Desk — Best overall

**The shallowest full-featured frame here, at 16.5 in deep and 153.7 lb, and the cheapest of the five.**

[![Grey solid-wood horizontal Murphy bed cabinet folded closed against a wall — shows how little depth the 16.5 in cabinet takes from a room](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41UC7YMG37L._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH1G9H23?tag=testiweb-20)

**Best for:** a home office where the closed cabinet has to stay shallow **Skip it if:** you need drawers or shelves built in

What separates this one inside the set is the combination nothing else matches: a 16.5 in closed depth, a 153.7 lb shipping weight, and the lowest price position of the five. It's also the lightest frame here by 16.3 lb over the next one up, which matters when you're moving parts through a stairwell alone.

The cabinet measures 49.5 x 81.7 x 16.5 in, so you need roughly 82 in of clear wall. MERITLINE describes the frame as solid wood with a farmhouse finish, and the listing claims a piston or spring mechanism that assists the lift. It also states that all necessary tools ship with the order and that the mattress is not included, which is true of every pick here.

The trade-off is information. No load capacity is published, and no warranty term is stated, while the Bestar publishes both. You're also giving up storage: the two MERITLINE and SOFTSEA models with drawers or shelves both hold things this one doesn't. And it's the slowest seller of the five, so you're buying on specifications rather than momentum.

**Pros:**

- Shallowest of the three sub-21 in cabinets at 16.5 in
- Lightest frame in the set, 153.7 lb
- Cheapest of the five
- Grey finish that reads as furniture, not hardware
- Assembly tools included per the listing

**Cons:**

- No published weight capacity
- No stated warranty
- No built-in drawers or shelving
- Only one seller lists it

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH1G9H23?tag=testiweb-20)

## 2\. SOFTSEA Space Saving Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed with Drawers — Runner-up

**The thinnest closed cabinet in the group at 15.1 in, and the only shallow pick with three drawers.**

[![White horizontal Murphy bed cabinet with walnut top and three drawers — proves storage can sit in a 15.1 in deep cabinet](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/511m-YvEUjL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK9WL95D?tag=testiweb-20)

**Best for:** guest rooms with no dresser and no closet space **Skip it if:** your wall run is under 86 in

This is the shallowest cabinet here, full stop. SOFTSEA states 15.1 in of width when closed, 1.4 in less than my winner, and it still fits three drawers on top. That's the trick most shoppers miss: drawers don't have to add depth if the designer puts them across the top surface instead of the front.

Overall dimensions are 60.5 x 85.6 x 15.1 in. The walnut-finished top is described as doubling as a console when the bed is folded, and the frame is listed as pine wood with MDF board on a dual-piston mechanism. At 196 lb, it's the second-heaviest twin in this set.

Two things cost it the top spot. First, the 85.6 in length is the longest of any twin here, 3.9 in more than the MERITLINE and 5.6 in more than the SOFTSEA metal-leg model. In a narrow room, those inches are the whole decision. Second, the listing says parts arrive in three separate packs on possibly different days, which turns a weekend build into a waiting game. No capacity figure or warranty term is published either.

**Pros:**

- Thinnest closed cabinet in the set, 15.1 in
- Three built-in drawers for bedding
- Walnut top usable as a console surface
- Second-cheapest of the five

**Cons:**

- Longest twin footprint here at 85.6 in
- Ships in three packs that may arrive separately
- No published weight capacity or warranty
- Heavy at 196 lb for a twin

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK9WL95D?tag=testiweb-20)

## 3\. SOFTSEA Twin Size Horizontal Murphy Bed — Best for pros

**The shortest wall requirement of any pick, 80 in, plus the second-highest published load rating at 800 lbs.**

[![White horizontal Murphy bed cabinet on metal legs — its 80 in length is the shortest wall run in this comparison](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SDkKKPuhL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3KNV8X?tag=testiweb-20)

**Best for:** the shortest wall in the set at 80 in **Skip it if:** you want any storage at all

Wall length is where this one wins. At 80 in long, it needs 5.6 in less clear run than the SOFTSEA with drawers and 1.7 in less than the MERITLINE desk model. If your wall is interrupted by a doorframe or a window reveal, that margin is what makes the install possible.

SOFTSEA publishes an 800 lbs weight capacity, second only to the Bestar's 1000 lbs, and describes a metal support frame with solid pine and MDF slats plus a dual-piston system. Full dimensions are 46.5 x 80 x 41.7 in. It sells faster than the rest of this set, which is worth noting when four of the five move slowly.

The cost is depth. At 41.7 in closed, this cabinet protrudes more than twice as far as my winner, so "compact" applies to its wall length and nothing else. There's no drawer, no shelf and no charging port, so you're paying a mid-range position for structure rather than features. Parts ship in two packs that may arrive on different days, and no warranty is stated.

**Pros:**

- Shortest wall run in the set, 80 in
- Published 800 lbs capacity
- Metal support frame per the listing
- Sells faster than the rest of this set

**Cons:**

- Protrudes 41.7 in when closed
- No storage or charging features
- Ships in two separate packs
- No published warranty term

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3KNV8X?tag=testiweb-20)

## 4\. MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed with Storage Bookcase — Best minimal setup

**One wall unit that carries the bed, open shelves, a drawer and a charging station, in a 45.4 in deep cabinet.**

[![Natural wood horizontal Murphy bed with bookcase shelves and a drawer — shows a single wall unit replacing three pieces of furniture](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51QQORR-hUL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPLS6BZ5?tag=testiweb-20)

**Best for:** a single wall that has to hold the bed, the books and the phone charger **Skip it if:** the cabinet's 45.4 in depth would block a doorway

This is the most furniture per wall of anything here. MERITLINE lists open bookcase shelves, a closed drawer and a charging station on one frame, so a spare room with no shelving and one free outlet gets everything from a single purchase. Nothing else in the group combines shelving and power.

Dimensions are 64.5 x 85.4 x 45.4 in at 197 lb, the heaviest twin in the set. The listing states solid pine plus MDF, a 400 lbs support rating for the twin size, slat support with no box spring needed, gas struts, and safety latches. That 400 lbs figure is the lowest published capacity of the three that state one, half the SOFTSEA metal-leg model's number.

Then the depth. At 45.4 in it's the deepest cabinet here, 28.9 in more than my winner, so "compact" is a stretch unless the room is genuinely wide. It's also tied for the most expensive price position of the five and the slowest seller in the group, and it publishes no warranty term while the Bestar publishes ten years.

**Pros:**

- Bookcase shelves, drawer and charging station in one unit
- Slat support, no box spring needed
- Gas struts with safety latches per the listing
- Natural wood finish with visible storage

**Cons:**

- Deepest cabinet in the set at 45.4 in
- Lowest published capacity of the three that state one, 400 lbs
- Heaviest twin here at 197 lb
- Tied for most expensive with no stated warranty

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPLS6BZ5?tag=testiweb-20)

## 5\. Bestar Pur Queen Horizontal Murphy Bed — Best premium

**The only queen here, the only 10-year warranty, and a 1000 lbs published capacity.**

[![Bark grey queen horizontal Murphy bed cabinet closed — the only queen-size pick, at 20.3 in deep](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jNlLLiYUL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GH336641?tag=testiweb-20)

**Best for:** a real second bedroom that sleeps two adults **Skip it if:** you can't hire an installer

Every other pick is a twin. This is a queen, and that changes who it's for entirely. Bestar states a breathable mesh base rated to 1000 lbs with a standard 60 x 80 in queen mattress, 8 to 10 in thick and 35 to 70 lbs. It's the highest published capacity of the five by 200 lbs.

It's also the only pick in this group with a published warranty, at 10 years. Given that four listings here state nothing, that's a real separator. Bestar lists a dual-piston system, a closed cabinet depth of 20.28 in, an open extension of 70.18 in into the room, and a power grommet with an AC outlet plus USB-A and USB-C ports.

The catches are size and installation. At 350 lb it's 153 lb heavier than the heaviest twin, and the listing is explicit that the bed must be anchored to wall and floor structure by a professional or qualified person, with two people required. Budget for that. It's tied for the most expensive position here, and its 66.6 x 84.7 x 20.3 in cabinet stands taller than any twin in the group. It's a queen bed in a cabinet, not a slim console.

**Pros:**

- Only queen-size pick in the set
- Highest published capacity, 1000 lbs
- Only pick with a stated warranty, 10 years
- AC outlet plus USB-A and USB-C in a power grommet
- Breathable mesh base, no box spring

**Cons:**

- Requires professional installation and two people
- Heaviest unit here by far at 350 lb
- Tied for the most expensive price position
- Tallest cabinet in the group at 66.6 in

[Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GH336641?tag=testiweb-20)

## Twin or queen: which one fits your wall?

Four of these five are twins, and one is a queen. That split isn't a feature comparison, it's a room comparison.

A twin horizontal wall bed here needs 80 in to 85.6 in of clear wall. The Bestar queen needs 84.7 in and extends 70.18 in into the room once open. So the queen's open footprint is what disqualifies it in most home offices, not its cabinet.

Run this test. Stand at the wall you're considering and measure three things:

- Clear horizontal run, corner to obstruction
- Depth you'll surrender permanently to the closed cabinet
- Depth available when the bed is down, plus a walking lane

If the third number is under 6 ft, you want a twin. If your spare room genuinely sleeps couples, the Bestar's 1000 lbs rating and 10-year warranty are worth the installation cost.

## What the listings don't tell you about installation

Three of these picks state that parts arrive in multiple boxes on possibly different days. The SOFTSEA with drawers ships in three packs, the SOFTSEA metal-leg twin in two. Plan the build for a weekend after everything lands, not the day the first box arrives.

Weight is the other thing buyers underestimate. These frames run 153.7 lb to 350 lb. Only the MERITLINE desk model, at 153.7 lb, is plausibly a solo carry, and even then not up a tight stair.

The Bestar is the only listing that says outright what's true of all of them: a wall bed should be anchored to structure. Bestar requires a professional and two people. The others don't state it, which is not the same as it being unnecessary. Find your studs first.

Two other blanks worth naming. Only one seller lists each of these five, so there's no comparison shopping across sellers. And no pick includes a mattress. Every listing here says so explicitly.

## Which compact horizontal murphy bed suits your room?

If/then, using the numbers you already measured:

- **Wall under 82 in?** SOFTSEA metal-leg twin, at 80 in. It's the only one that fits.
- **Depth under 17 in?** SOFTSEA with drawers at 15.1 in, or MERITLINE desk at 16.5 in.
- **Need storage without depth?** SOFTSEA with drawers. Three drawers in 15.1 in.
- **Room is wide but empty?** MERITLINE bookcase model. Shelves, drawer and charging in one unit.
- **Sleeping two adults?** Bestar Pur Queen. Nothing else here is a queen.
- **Want a published warranty?** Bestar, at 10 years. It's the only one.

The threshold I'd hold to: 21 in of closed depth. Under that, the cabinet reads as furniture and the room still works. Above it, you've installed a wardrobe that happens to contain a bed.

## The verdict

At the entry end, the MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed Cabinet with Desk is the best compact horizontal murphy bed for most rooms and the cheapest of the five. A 16.5 in closed cabinet and a 153.7 lb frame make it the easiest of these to live with and the easiest to get up a staircase. Its weakness is disclosure: no published capacity, no stated warranty.

In the middle, two picks earn their positions for opposite reasons. The SOFTSEA with drawers goes shallower still at 15.1 in and adds three drawers, at the cost of the longest twin footprint here, 85.6 in. The SOFTSEA metal-leg twin gives up depth entirely at 41.7 in but needs only 80 in of wall and publishes an 800 lbs rating, which is the pick for an awkward stretch of wall.

At the top, the Bestar Pur Queen is the only unit here that sleeps two adults, and the only one with a 10-year warranty and a 1000 lbs mesh base. The cutoff is straightforward. If the room is genuinely a guest bedroom, buy the queen and budget for the professional install it requires. If it's an office that occasionally sleeps someone, buy a twin and keep your floor.

## FAQ

### Is a compact horizontal murphy bed worth it over a sofa bed?

A compact horizontal murphy bed is worth it when the room has a job during the day. These frames fold flat against the wall in 15.1 in to 20.3 in of depth on the shallow picks, freeing floor a sofa bed permanently occupies. You also sleep on a real mattress. The trade is installation: these need anchoring to structure, and a sofa bed doesn't.

### What is the cheapest compact horizontal murphy bed in this comparison?

The cheapest is the MERITLINE Twin Horizontal Murphy Bed Cabinet with Desk, which also happens to be my overall winner. It's the lightest here at 153.7 lb and one of the shallowest at 16.5 in closed. The SOFTSEA with drawers sits second-cheapest and goes thinner at 15.1 in, so the value gap between the two is narrow.

### How much wall space does a twin horizontal wall bed need?

Wall space for a twin here ranges from 80 in to 85.6 in. The SOFTSEA metal-leg model is shortest at 80 in, the SOFTSEA with drawers longest at 85.6 in. Add clearance for the door swing or window trim at either end. Measure corner to obstruction before ordering, because 5 in decides whether the cabinet sits flush or not.

### MERITLINE desk model or SOFTSEA with drawers: which should I buy?

Between the MERITLINE desk model and SOFTSEA with drawers, choose on wall length. MERITLINE needs 81.7 in and sits 16.5 in deep at 153.7 lb. SOFTSEA needs 85.6 in, sits 15.1 in deep at 196 lb, and adds three drawers plus a walnut top. Short wall, take the MERITLINE. Storage-starved room with wall to spare, take the SOFTSEA.

### What mistake do people make buying a horizontal murphy bed?

The common mistake buying a horizontal murphy bed is comparing mattress size while ignoring closed cabinet depth. This set ranges from 15.1 in to 45.4 in, a 30 in spread that changes how the room functions every day. The second mistake is assuming a mattress is included. None of these five include one, and the Bestar specifies 8 to 10 in thickness.

Measure your wall tonight, then order. Two numbers, one tape measure, five minutes. Write down the clear horizontal run and the depth you're willing to lose, and the shortlist above collapses to one product. The MERITLINE desk model is the default for a reason that has nothing to do with price: at 16.5 in closed and 153.7 lb, it's the pick least likely to make you regret the room it lives in. Everything else in this group asks you to trade wall length, depth or installation help for a feature you may not need.

*Last updated: September 28, 2026\. Product availability re-checked.*

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