Murphy Beds: Cabinet, Kit or Cabinet Bed Compared

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Affiliate link” may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Quick answer

A Murphy bed folds up against a wall or into a cabinet. On Amazon you will find three different products under that name: a ready-made cabinet that you assemble and anchor to the wall, a cabinet-style bed that does not fold fully into the wall, and a hardware kit that gives you the lift mechanism while you build the cabinet yourself.

Quick compare: the products in this guide

Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.

We read one of each on 2026-10-01: the KEIKI queen vertical cabinet with a built-in desk, a gray farmhouse queen cabinet bed with a charging station, and the Wilding Wallbeds queen and full piston-lift kit. We have not tested any of them. Every figure comes from the listings, and where a listing contradicts itself we say so.

The deciding facts are the ceiling height, the room depth when open and the wall behind. The KEIKI listing says the bed must be anchored to a structural wall by a qualified professional and not attached directly to drywall.

The three kinds

• Vertical cabinet. A queen mattress stands on end inside a cabinet and folds down to the floor. It has the smallest closed footprint.
• Cabinet bed. A bed with a cabinet-like frame and a drawer; it may fold flat but not stand upright inside a wall. Check the open and closed sizes carefully.
• Hardware kit. Pistons, pivot posts, plates and legs, but no lumber. You buy the wood and build the cabinet or wall frame from the included plans.

For related guides see full-size Murphy beds and sofa beds for small spaces.

Three listings, side by side

How to read the sizes. For the KEIKI, 64.96 inches is the long dimension and 15.75 inches the shallow one, so we read it as a cabinet about 65 inches wide, 15.75 inches deep and 85 inches high when closed; the listing does not say so in words and does not give the open depth. For the farmhouse bed, “81 L x 61.5 W x 45 H” matches the length and width of a queen bed (a U.S. queen mattress is typically 60 by 80 inches, our assumption), and a separate row says “Item Depth 45 inches,” so the 45 inches is probably the closed depth or the height; the listing does not say. For the Wilding kit, two size rows disagree, so treat the kit’s dimensions as the parts you receive, not as the finished bed.

Other facts from the pages. The KEIKI listing says a two-stage hydraulic-assist mechanism controls opening and closing, uses 26 wood slats so no box spring is needed, and recommends 2 to 4 adults for installation. It says do not attach it to gypsum board, drywall or foam-brick walls. The Wilding kit lists pistons, pivot posts and plates, assembly hardware and legs, says lumber is not included, and includes instructions, a cut list and plans. The farmhouse listing says a mattress is not included and mentions a charging station and a storage drawer.

Fit check: a 12 by 11 foot room, 8 foot ceiling

The room is 144 inches deep (the bed’s open direction) and 132 inches wide, with a 96 inch ceiling. The wall you want to use is 132 inches wide.

• Ceiling. The KEIKI closed is 85.04 inches high. 96 − 85.04 = 10.96 inches of clearance. The Wilding kit’s 88 inch part height leaves 96 − 88 = 8 inches, and a cabinet built around it needs a face frame and trim on top, so check that your finished cabinet does not touch the ceiling.
• Width. The KEIKI at 64.96 inches takes 64.96 ÷ 132 = 49 percent of the wall and leaves 132 − 64.96 = 67 inches for shelves or a door.
• Open depth. The listing does not state it. A queen mattress is about 80 inches long, so the open bed reaches at least 80 inches from the wall. 144 − 80 = 64 inches remains in front of the foot of the bed. A rule of thumb for a walking route is 30 inches, so 64 clears it, with 34 inches spare. In a 120 inch deep room, 120 − 80 = 40 inches would still clear it, but only barely once you add a nightstand.
• Wall. The KEIKI listing says a professional must anchor it to a structural wall. Find the studs before you pick the wall.

The farmhouse cabinet bed at 81 by 61.5 inches needs a 61.5 inch wide space and a floor length of at least 81 inches if it opens flat; the page does not say how it opens, so ask.

Safety and the wall

Heavy furniture can fall if it is not anchored. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Anchor It! campaign is about preventing furniture and TV tip-overs that injure children, and it recommends anchoring furniture to the wall. A Murphy bed is much heavier than a bookcase and its load is shared with the wall. Follow the manual, use the hardware the maker names, and hire a pro if you are not sure. The Wilding listing says its kit supports 1,500 pounds, but that number covers the hardware, not your wall or the lumber you choose.

Ready-made or DIY?

A ready-made cabinet like the KEIKI arrives with its parts and a manual and takes 2 to 4 people. A kit like Wilding’s lets you choose the finish and size, and gives plans, but you must buy and cut the lumber, and you own the outcome. If you are not comfortable with carpentry and a ceiling-height lift, a ready-made unit is the lower-risk path. If you are, a kit gives more control over the cabinet size and finish.

Mattress and bedding

The KEIKI listing says a queen mattress rests on the slats and a strap keeps it in place while the bed is vertical. Mattress thickness limits are not stated, so ask before you buy a thick one. The Wilding listing is compatible with full and queen mattresses, and the farmhouse bed is for queen mattresses with none included. Mattresses sold in the U.S. are subject to the federal flammability standards, and a label may be present.

Moving, assembly and what can go wrong

Weight matters on delivery day. The KEIKI lists 85.7 pounds, which suggests the listed weight may be for one carton or may exclude some parts; the page does not say, so ask how many boxes it ships in. The farmhouse cabinet bed lists 218 pounds, which is a two-person carry up any stairs. The Wilding kit lists no weight in the text we read, and you add the weight of the lumber you buy.

Common mistakes are easy to avoid with a tape measure. People forget the baseboard, which pushes a cabinet out from the wall by half an inch or more. They forget a ceiling light or sprinkler head that sits in the path of a tall unit. They forget that the bed swings through an arc, so a dresser or a door within 80 inches of the wall can block it. They place the bed over a floor vent. And they choose a wall that has no studs where the anchors must go. Draw the closed and open footprints on the floor with painter’s tape, and swing a door through the open one.

Finally, plan the day-to-day. A bed that folds away each morning means the bedding must stay with it or be stored. The KEIKI listing mentions a strap that keeps the mattress aligned while the bed is vertical, and the farmhouse bed lists a storage drawer for bedding. Decide where the pillows go before you decide on the model.

How to choose

1. Measure ceiling height, wall width and the open depth, including the swing of doors.
2. Check the wall: stud spacing, material and what is on the other side.
3. Choose a ready-made cabinet or a kit by how much building you want to do.
4. Read the stated load and what condition it assumes.
5. Ask about open depth and mattress thickness if the page does not give them.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Murphy bed?

A bed that folds up into a wall or cabinet, so the room is a normal room by day.

How much room does a Murphy bed need open?

At least the mattress length, about 80 inches for a queen by our assumption, plus a walking route. The KEIKI and the farmhouse listings do not state the open depth in the text we read.

Do Murphy beds need to be anchored?

The KEIKI listing says yes, to a structural wall by a qualified professional. CPSC advises anchoring heavy furniture.

Is a Murphy bed kit cheaper than a cabinet?

We do not give prices. A kit does not include lumber, so total cost depends on what you build.

Can a Murphy bed take any mattress?

Check the thickness the maker allows. The listings we read name queen or full size but not a thickness limit.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.

Sources checked

• AnchorIt.gov
• Mattresses, Mattress Pads, & Mattress Sets (FAQ)

Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

How we research our guides