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Quick answer

The three kits are a Wilding piston kit for queen and full (mechanism size 16 by 66.5 by 88 inches), a Wilding spring kit that fits twin to king (90 by 44.5 by 84.25 inches) and a generic spring mechanism for queen and twin that states a load of 436.52 pounds. The Wilding listings show weight limits of 1,500 and 2,000 pounds across versions and a lifetime warranty. For a queen mattress of about 60 pounds and a frame of 80 pounds, the lifted load is 140 pounds, which is 32 percent of the generic kit’s 436.52 pounds. With a mechanism 88 inches tall in a 96 inch room, the margin is 8 inches.

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.

ProductListed detailsLink
Wilding Wallbeds Murphy Bed Kit Queen and Full Size Piston Lift DIY Hardware16 x 66.5 x 88 inSee details on Amazon Affiliate link
Wilding Wallbeds Murphy Bed Kit King Queen Full Twin Spring Lift Hardware90 x 44.5 x 84.25 inSee details on Amazon Affiliate link
Murphy Bed Kit – Heavy Duty Vertical Wall Mounting Springs Mechanism for…436.52 lb loadSee details on Amazon Affiliate link

What a kit is, and what it is not

A Murphy bed kit contains the mechanism: pistons or springs, pivot posts and plates, legs and hardware. It does not contain the cabinet, the bed frame or the mattress, which you build or buy. The listings say so: the Wilding kit lists pistons, pivot posts and plates, assembly hardware and tubular legs with a connecting rod, and instructions with diagrams. Plans for the cabinet are sold separately; we saw a “Murphy bed plans” listing in the same results.

Worked example: load and ceiling

This is our own arithmetic. We assume a queen mattress of 60 pounds, a frame and panel of 80 pounds and a pillow and bedding load of 10 pounds, which together are 150 pounds. Weigh your own parts.

  • Load against the generic kit. 150 divided by 436.52 is 34 percent. A heavier mattress or a thick cabinet panel changes this quickly; a 120 pound panel and a 90 pound mattress make 220 pounds, which is 50 percent.
  • Ceiling. The Wilding piston kit is 88 inches tall; in a 96 inch room that leaves 96 minus 88, which is 8 inches. A queen mattress is 80 inches long, so a bed standing upright takes about 80 inches plus the frame and the hinge, and the 88 inch figure is the mechanism’s height. Measure your room carefully.
  • Width. The piston kit is 66.5 inches wide for queen and full; a queen mattress is 60 inches wide, so the mechanism is 6.5 inches wider than the mattress.
  • Spring tension. A spring kit lifts with stored energy; the listing says the generic kit has an adjustable bottom hex nut for controlled lowering. A wrongly adjusted spring can drop or slam a bed.

What the listings say

Wilding Wallbeds Murphy Bed Kit Queen and Full Size Piston Lift DIY Hardware, Life-Time Warranty (ASIN B0DD6S2764). The table gives steel, a product size of 16 by 66.5 by 88 inches, black and a weight limit that reads 1,500 and 2,000 pounds across several versions. The bullets say two decades of reliability, commercial grade steel, pistons, pivot posts and plates, assembly hardware and tubular legs with a connecting rod, and detailed step-by-step instructions with diagrams. Best for: a queen or full DIY wall bed with a piston lift. Watch out: it is hardware only, and the weight limit is a range across versions.

Wilding Wallbeds Murphy Bed Kit King Queen Full Twin Spring Lift Hardware, Life-Time Warranty, Universal Size (ASIN B0C1TD5SGW). The table gives metal, a size of 90 by 44.5 by 84.25 inches, black and weight limits of 1,500 and 2,000 pounds across versions. The bullets say a universal mechanism for all standard bed sizes and a spring mechanism with stored energy to lift and lower the bed with little effort. Best for: a spring-lift kit for any size. Watch out: the springs need correct tension for your bed’s weight; follow the instructions.

Murphy Bed Kit, Heavy Duty Vertical Wall Mounting Springs Mechanism for Queen and Twin Size Beds (Generic) (ASIN B0FL6XDTXV). The table gives white and a generic brand. The bullets say a load-bearing capacity of up to 436.52 pounds, high-strength springs with strong rebound, an adjustable bottom hex nut for controlled lowering, use in attics, small apartments, hotels and homes, and simple installation with complete accessories. Best for: a lighter bed where a stated load is enough. Watch out: no dimensions and no warranty in the text we read.

How the three compare

ListingLiftSizesStated loadWarranty
Wilding pistonPistonsQueen and full1,500 / 2,000 lb (versions)Lifetime
Wilding springSpringsTwin to king1,500 / 2,000 lb (versions)Lifetime
Generic springSpringsQueen and twin436.52 lbNot stated

How to choose

Decide whether you want a kit or a finished bed. A kit is a project.

Weigh the lifted parts. Mattress, frame and panel together.

Measure the ceiling. The mechanism’s height must fit, with room to swing.

Check the wall. The bed must be anchored to studs; the instructions say how.

Ask about the warranty. The Wilding listings state lifetime; the generic kit states none.

A planning checklist

Before you buy a kit, work through five steps. First, decide the bed size and measure the room, including the ceiling height and any light fittings. Second, choose where the cabinet will stand and find the wall studs. Third, decide whether you will build the cabinet and frame yourself or have someone build them; the listings say a kit is hardware only. Fourth, weigh or estimate the lifted parts, as in the example above. Fifth, check the kit’s load against that weight with a margin.

The wall and the stud

A wall bed is a large lever that is fixed to the wall at the pivot, so the fixing matters as much as the mechanism. Drywall alone will not hold it; the pivot posts need to go into studs or into a backing board that is. The Wilding listing says detailed instructions are included, and we would follow them exactly. If you are unsure about the wall, ask a builder.

Why many people buy a finished wall bed instead

A finished wall bed, from a furniture maker, comes with the cabinet, the mechanism and, usually, an installation guide. That is more costly, but it removes the build. Amazon’s results for this search were mostly kits, so for a finished bed, look at furniture makers’ own sites.

Mistakes to avoid

Buying a kit without a plan for the cabinet. The kit is not the bed.

Underestimating the load. A solid wood panel can weigh more than the mattress.

Skipping the instructions. Spring tension must be set for the weight.

Installing without studs. A wall bed must be fixed to the structure.

Tools and time

A kit is a woodworking and fitting job. Typical needs, from the listings’ descriptions of hardware, instructions and legs, are a drill, a level, a stud finder, a tape measure and a second person to hold parts. We would add a measuring check at each step. Allow a weekend rather than an afternoon, and do not rush the spring adjustment: a spring that is set too light lets the bed drop, and one set too heavy makes it rise on its own.

When a different option is better

For a bed that lifts for storage, see bed frame lift up. For a folding mattress, see queen size folding bed. For a sofa that turns into a bed, see couch that turns into a bed.

A final consideration is what happens if you move. A wall bed built into a cabinet is a fixture; the mechanism can be reused, but the cabinet usually cannot. If you rent, ask your landlord before you drill into the wall, because a wall bed leaves marks and holes, and a finished wall bed that you can unbolt may suit a tenant better than a kit built into the structure.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a wall pull down bed on Amazon?

The results we read were hardware kits and plans, not finished beds.

What is in a Murphy bed kit?

Pistons or springs, pivot posts and plates, legs and hardware. Not the cabinet or the mattress.

How much can a kit lift?

The generic kit states 436.52 pounds; the Wilding listings show 1,500 and 2,000 pounds for versions.

Do I need studs?

The bed must be anchored to the wall structure. Follow the kit’s instructions.

How tall is a Murphy bed mechanism?

88 inches for the Wilding piston kit and 84.25 for the spring kit.

Is it a DIY job?

It needs a cabinet or frame to be built; the Wilding listing says detailed instructions are included.

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.

Wilding Wallbeds Murphy Bed Kit Queen and Full Size Piston Lift DIY Hardware

16 x 66.5 x 88 in

  • Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Wilding Wallbeds Murphy Bed Kit King Queen Full Twin Spring Lift Hardware

90 x 44.5 x 84.25 in

  • Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Murphy Bed Kit – Heavy Duty Vertical Wall Mounting Springs Mechanism for Queen and Twin Size Beds

436.52 lb load

  • Keep in mind: we have not tested it, and the listing may show more than one size or finish, so pick the variant that matches your numbers.
See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Sources checked

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