Futon Mattress Sizes and Dimensions

Futons are one of the best ways to turn your living room sofa into a guest bed in one easy step. One minute, it’s a couch; the next, it’s a bed! That gives you tons of freedom to repurpose your office space, game room, and more into a great guest space.

However, there seems to be a lot of confusion as to futon mattress sizes. Are they the same size as bed mattresses? Can you get a new mattress for a futon? What kind of mattress goes best on a futon? Below, we’ll answer all your burning questions about futon mattresses and more.

Futon Sizes

Futon sizes typically follow the dimensions of standard mattress sizes. That means a twin is a twin and a king is a king, whether it’s a futon mattress or a traditional bed mattress. Let’s take a look at their dimensions.

Twin

At 38 inches by 75 inches, twin beds are the most compact of all the adult bed sizes. They’re great for average-height adults who live in small apartments or dorm rooms. You’re more likely to see twin mattresses on loveseat futons or tri-fold futons designed to be chairs.

Twin XL

Like the twin size mattress, the twin XL size mattress is 38 inches wide. However, it adds 5 inches to the length, making the total mattress dimensions 38 by 80 inches.

Twin XL beds are still great for compact spaces, such as mattresses for guest rooms, but they’re long enough to accommodate taller sleepers. Because they’re versatile but small, they’re also a common choice in college dorms.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for College Students

Full/Double

The full or double bed is the most common futon mattress size. At 54 inches by 75 inches, the dimensions of a full size bed are excellent for single sleepers who like to roll around or spread out.

While it’s also called the double bed because it can technically accommodate two people, a full size futon mattress is generally too narrow for two people to sleep comfortably long-term. When it comes to mattresses for couples, we usually recommend queen or king size beds.

Queen

Queen size futon mattresses are also quite popular. At 60 by 80 inches, the dimensions of a queen size bed can comfortably accommodate taller sleepers and couples while still folding into an average-sized sofa for daytime use.

King

At 76 inches by 80 inches, king size futons are super roomy for couples and can even fit a kid or two if you’ve got a family of guests. You’ll probably see a king size futon in a tri-fold design to accommodate the extra width since a king size bed’s dimensions can make for a bulky bi-fold sofa.

Ideal Futon Mattresses

While many futon mattresses can double as sofa cushions, if you want to replace one with a more “mattressy” mattress, you do have a few options.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are one of the most popular mattress types, and with good reason. This special type of polyurethane foam is designed to cradle and support the human body during sleep.

As a futon mattress, memory foam is flexible and contouring enough to bend with tri-fold and bi-fold designs. Beware, though, memory foam tends to morph to fit the shape of your body, so it may compress down more than you prefer if you’re using your futon as a sofa. Firmer memory foams should counter this issue at least somewhat.

Latex Foam

Natural latex is a little less contouring than memory foam and a little better at retaining its shape. For this reason, it might make a better futon mattress alternative than memory foam. A latex mattress will not only provide a comfortable sleeping surface but it will also offer a more responsive sitting surface for when your futon is folded into a sofa.

Plus, latex foam is an excellent material for people sensitive to synthetic allergens.

Hybrid

Since hybrid mattresses contain coils, many people think this mattress type won’t be any good for a futon. However, unlike innerspring mattresses (many of which have a rigid open coil support system), hybrids have a pocketed coil support core flexible enough to bend with adjustable bases and futons alike.

Hybrids are a good option for futons because they’re supportive and comfortable. However, one thing to watch out for is gravity. If you’re planning to keep your futon folded the majority of the time, you might want to consider a mattress without coils, as the constant pull of gravity on the upwardly bent portion of a hybrid mattress could warp the coil system.

SEE ALSO: Hybrid Mattress Buying Guide

Types of Futon

There are three basic types of futon frames: bi-fold, tri-fold, and loveseat. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Bi-fold Frame

Bi-fold futons are the most common frame type. Bi-fold futon frames fold in half lengthwise right down the center to make a standard sofa. Bi-fold futons are great if you want a regular couch during the day and a bed at night without having to go through all the difficulty of pulling out and setting up a hide-a-bed.

Bi-folds are most likely to come in queen and full sizes and can have mattresses as thick or thin as you prefer.

Tri-fold Frame

Tri-fold futons fold their mattresses into thirds to create a sofa or chair with a footrest. Tri-folds are an excellent choice for people who enjoy a lounger. Since the mattress folds into thirds with this frame type, thinner mattresses are usually better, as are more flexible materials like memory or latex foam.

Loveseat Frame

Loveseat futon frames are designed to fit into small spaces. They’re more likely to be tri-fold in design since they’re much longer than they are wide. Twin and twin XL mattresses convert into loveseats when folded, so a futon of this size will only sleep one person. Some loveseat futons also feature a built-in ottoman for added comfort.

Futon Alternatives

When it comes to stowaway beds, you have lots of options besides futons. Murphy beds, for example, can fold up into a cabinet and stow in the wall, while hide-a-beds have a bed underneath the sofa cushions. Rollaway beds can stow inside a closet, while trundle beds slide into a bedframe.

Murphy Beds

Murphy beds have a lot of advantages. Their cabinets can come with tons of fun designs and even storage space, and you can use them long-term. You also have a wide range of options when it comes to mattresses for a Murphy bed.

One of the best things about Murphy beds is that you don’t have to fiddle with sheets and pillows to convert them. You just flip the mattress into the wall, and that’s that.

Hide-a-beds

Hide-a-beds or fold-away beds fold up and stow under the cushions of an ordinary-looking couch. These are great if you want a couch that doesn’t look like a futon. But if you’re going to have guests frequently or long term, these might not be the most comfortable option because their frames aren’t all that supportive and their mattresses are typically thinner.

Rollaway Beds

Rollaway beds, meanwhile, have a wheeled frame that can fold the mattress in half so it can roll into a storage area like a closet. These are a convenient option for those who don’t like a lot of steps to set up a mattress for guests. However, if you have a small closet space, you might be better off with a futon.

Trundle Beds

Trundle beds are a good alternative to futon mattresses if you want a bed for guests. A trundle bed is built into the drawer of a bed frame, so you can slide it out when it’s needed and keep it stowed away when it’s not necessary. This style of bed is typically inexpensive and compact.

You just have to make sure you don’t use too thick or heavy of a mattress with a trundle. Look at bunk bed mattresses and such.

FAQs

Are there other stowable beds beside a futon?

Yes. In addition to futons, Murphy beds fold into the wall, hide-a-beds fold underneath regular couch cushions, and rollaway beds fold up to store inside a closet. There are also other, less common configurations, such as the sectional sofa bed. In this setup, an L-shaped sectional can fold in half to make a square bed.

Air beds are another option for those who don’t mind pumping them up. Trundle beds are an extra bed that stores underneath an actual bed for people who are alright with sharing their bedrooms with guests. And if you’re okay with sleeping on the floor or a tatami mat, Japanese futons are made to roll up just like a blanket even though they’re stuffed with plush material.

Do they have California king futons?

King and California king size futons are bulky and tough to fold. While you might still run across a king sized futon (though they’re not as prevalent as full and queen futons), a California king’s dimensions are 72 by 84 inches or a full 6 feet by a full 7 feet. This means California kings are just too cumbersome to make good futons.

How much weight can my futon take?

That depends on its construction and size. Wooden futons are generally more sturdy than metal ones (though this depends on their quality). Futons made for two sleepers can hold more weight than futons made for one. That means a full or queen can hold more than a twin or twin XL.

Naturally, the best way for you to tell how much weight your futon can hold is to look at its label. Most futons will come with a user manual or at least a booklet with safety and assembly instructions, which should tell you its maximum weight capacity.

Can two people sleep on a futon?

If a futon is wide enough, then two people can sleep on it. Full and queen size futons can generally hold two people. Just remember that full size futon mattresses might not be comfortable enough for two people to sleep long-term. If you’re going to be having guests regularly, you might want to upgrade to a queen size mattress.

What kind of sheets does my futon need?

Since the mattress that comes with your futon may not be as thick as a standard mattress, you might want to consider a shallower sheet like the sheets made to go on trundle beds or hide-a-beds. Some futon mattresses have a plush or cooling cover that eliminates the necessity for a futon sheet. If you buy a standard-thickness mattress for your futon, you’ll need to get sheets of standard depth.

Bottom Line

Futons are perhaps the best two-in-one sofa bed on the market today. In one or two quick motions, they can fold into a couch or a bed without the hassle of a hide-a-bed or the inconvenience of a rollaway bed that needs extra storage. Far from being pure function, futons can come in tons of fun designs that make them just as much of a statement piece as a couch and a bed.