Wall Bed vs Murphy Bed: Same Thing? Meaning, Name and Types (2026)
Short answer: a Murphy bed and a wall bed are the same thing. "Murphy bed" comes from William Lawrence Murphy, who patented his fold-up bed in the 1910s and, according to a federal court record, began selling it as the "Murphy bed" after incorporating the Murphy Door Bed Company in 1925. In 1989 a U.S. federal appeals court ruled that the name had become a generic term for this type of bed. The real difference to look at is how the bed is supported: a traditional wall-mounted Murphy bed is secured to the wall, while a cabinet bed folds out of a free-standing chest that does not attach to anything.
Murphy bed meaning: where the name comes from
A Murphy bed, also called a wall bed, pull-down bed or fold-down bed, is a bed that is hinged at one end so it can be stored upright against a wall or inside a closet or cabinet.
The name comes from William Lawrence Murphy (1876–1957). As the popular story goes, he was living in a one-room apartment in San Francisco and designed a bed that could fold away into a closet so the room could double as a parlor. He received a patent for a "Disappearing Bed" on June 18, 1912 (the Smithsonian dates his first patent to 1911). In 1925 he incorporated the Murphy Door Bed Company in New York and sold the bed as the "Murphy bed."
The name became so widely used that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused to register "Murphy bed" as a trademark. In 1989 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit agreed that "Murphy bed" is a generic term for this type of bed. So any bed that folds into a wall can correctly be called a Murphy bed or a wall bed.
Murphy was not the first person to fold a bed into furniture. In 1885 Sarah E. Goode received a U.S. patent for a "cabinet-bed" that folded up to look like a piece of furniture. You can read her story in who invented the folding cabinet bed.
What are the beds that fold into the wall called?
- Murphy bed: the most common name, after William L. Murphy.
- Wall bed: the plain descriptive name for the same thing.
- Pull-down bed or fold-down bed: other names for the same thing, describing how you open it.
- Cabinet bed (or Murphy cabinet bed): a bed that folds out of a free-standing chest instead of coming down from the wall.
Sellers use these terms loosely. Some call cabinet beds "Murphy cabinet beds." Arason's product copy calls its Creden-ZzZ cabinet bed a "low cost alternative to the Murphy bed." When you shop, check how the bed is supported rather than relying on the name.
Wall-mounted Murphy bed vs free-standing cabinet bed at a glance
| Wall-mounted Murphy bed | Free-standing cabinet bed | |
|---|---|---|
| How it stores | Bed is hinged at one end and stands upright against the wall | Bed folds into a low chest or credenza |
| Attached to the wall? | Yes. Makers call for it to be secured to the wall (and often floor) structure | No. The models below are free-standing and do not attach to the wall |
| Lifting help | Piston lifts or torsion springs | No wall mechanism; the bed folds out of the cabinet |
| Mattress | Standard, non-folding mattress within the maker's size and thickness limits | Tri-fold mattress that folds inside the cabinet |
| When closed | Looks like a wall cabinet or closet | Works as a chest, console or TV stand |
| Moving it | Must be uninstalled from the wall | Can be moved like other furniture |
How wall-mounted Murphy beds work
On a traditional Murphy bed, the frame and mattress swing up on a pivot. Modern models use piston lifts or torsion springs to counterbalance the weight, so the bed is easy to lower and raise.
Because the bed pivots against the wall, it has to be properly secured. A Murphy bed that is not secured or used properly can fall onto the person operating it. One wall-bed maker, Bestar, states that its bed "must be installed to wall and floor structure by a professional or qualified person."
Most wall beds take a regular mattress, not a folding one, but only up to a limit set by the maker. As of 2026, Bestar lists standard queen mattresses 8 to 12 inches thick for one of its models, and Wilding Wallbeds says its beds fit standard-size mattresses up to 12 inches thick. Check your model's limits before you buy a mattress.
Murphy beds that don't attach to the wall
If you rent, can't drill into your walls, or want to move the bed later, look at cabinet beds. The bed folds out of a free-standing chest.
- Night and Day Murphy Cube: a queen bed in a cabinet that measures 64.1" W x 26.4" D x 36.6" H and opens to 80.3" long. The maker describes it as completely freestanding, with no wall or floor mounting. It takes up about 11.75 sq ft (64.1 x 26.4 in) closed and assembles in about 15 minutes with no tools.
- Night and Day Clover: a queen credenza, 63.5" W x 23.7" D x 41.1" H, that opens to 83.1" long. It has built-in electrical outlets and USB ports. A TV can stay on top while the bed is open, and it can fit under a window and be moved around the room.
- Arason Creden-ZzZ Key West: a queen chest, 64" W x 42" H x 23" D, that opens to 81 inches. It is listed as a free-standing cabinet with "no need to bolt to floor or wall." It comes with a tri-fold 6-inch mattress and supports 500 pounds.
Most of the cabinet beds we carry are listed in our cabinet Murphy bed collection.
Why are Murphy beds so expensive?
A wall-mounted Murphy bed is more than a bed frame. You pay for:
- The lift mechanism: piston lifts or torsion springs balance the weight of the frame and mattress so one person can raise and lower it.
- Structure and hardware: the frame, pivot and anchoring hardware have to hold the bed safely as it swings up and down.
- Installation: makers call for securing the bed to the wall and floor structure, and some recommend a professional installer, which can add labor cost.
- The mattress: it has to fit the frame's size and thickness limits, and some wall-bed makers sell their own mattresses for this.
- The cabinetry: the box or panels that hide the bed when it is closed.
Cabinet beds avoid the wall mechanism and installation. Night and Day describes its Clover cabinet bed as less expensive than wall beds, with no installation to the wall required. For current price ranges, see our Murphy bed cost guide.
Which one should you choose?
- You own your home and want the bed hidden in the wall: a wall-mounted Murphy bed, installed per the maker's instructions.
- You rent or can't drill into the walls: a free-standing cabinet bed.
- You may move the bed to another room or home, or want a TV stand by day: a cabinet bed.
Frequently asked questions
Is a wall bed the same as a Murphy bed?
Yes. "Murphy bed" and "wall bed" name the same kind of bed, one hinged at one end that folds up against or into the wall. "Murphy bed" was a company's product name that became a generic term.
What does Murphy bed mean?
It means a bed that folds up into a wall, closet or cabinet when not in use. It is named after William Lawrence Murphy, who received patents for his designs in the 1910s.
What is a wall bed?
A wall bed is a bed that is hinged at one end so it can be stored upright against a wall or inside a closet or cabinet. It is also called a Murphy bed, pull-down bed or fold-down bed.
Do Murphy beds need to be attached to the wall?
Traditional wall-mounted Murphy beds do. Makers call for them to be secured to the wall (and often floor) structure, because an unsecured bed can fall. Cabinet beds such as the Murphy Cube, Clover and Key West are free-standing and do not attach to the wall.
Is there a queen Murphy bed that doesn't attach to the wall?
Yes. The Murphy Cube, Clover and Arason Key West are all queen cabinet beds that stand on their own. Compare open lengths and closed sizes in our Murphy cabinet bed sizes guide.
Can you sleep on a cabinet bed every night?
Night and Day offers a hybrid pocket coil mattress upgrade on the Murphy Cube and Clover, which it describes as built for every-night use. The standard gel memory foam mattress is described as ideal for guest rooms and occasional use.
Questions? Call or text (916) 262-7257 or email support@archicfurniture.com.
