The Best Sleeper Sofas Make Air Mattresses Obsolete

A night on one of the best sleeper sofas doesn’t have to be a tossing-and-turning affair. The plush sleep surfaces will eliminate all memory of any time spent on a minuscule futon. Is there a better gift you can give an overnight guest aside from a guest bed? Unlikely. However, actually finding one of these excellent couches is easier said than done. There are hundreds of sleeper sofas available online that purport to be comfortable sofas and comfort sleepers, which can range wildly in footprint, aesthetic, and, importantly, price. You’ll find plenty of options that promise supportive, built-in innerspring mattresses—only to learn that said mattress is only an inch and a half thick.

According to Lindsay Pennington, a Los Angeles–based interior designer, sleeper-sofa innovation is largely thanks to accessibility of excellent, lighter-weight foam mattresses. “[Previously], if a sleeper sofa had a really high-quality mattress, it would be bottom-heavy,” Pennington says. “The frame would probably sag over time because it was supporting the weight of the mattress. It would also be more difficult to open and actually lay out the mattress [because of that weight].” These improvements have ushered in the era of the sleeper sofa being a legitimately comfortable, functional, and versatile option for many people hosting the occasional guest.

To help you pick the best sleeper sofa for your specific space, we tried top options and scoured the internet to find additional picks, keeping in mind considerations like price, size, and mattress type. Below, find the best sleeper sofas on which you’ll actually want to spend the night.

The Best Sleeper Sofas, According to GQ

Best Overall

Urban Natural Gaines Comfort Sleeper

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Best for Small Spaces

Sixpenny Aria Sleeper Sofa

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Best Frameless Sleeper Sofa

OMHU Teddy Sofa

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Best with a Memory Foam Mattress

Article Vati Sofa Bed

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Best Twin Sofa Bed

Crate & Barrel Axis Leather Twin Sleeper

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Best Overall Sleeper Sofa: American Leather Gaines Comfort Sleeper

Urban Natural

Gaines Comfort Sleeper

The beauty of American Leather’s Gaines Comfort Sleeper is that you can customize it to seemingly endless specifications. It’s available in nearly every standard mattress size, plus the addition of a smaller cot option. The brand’s patented Tiffany 24/7 sleep system mechanism features zero bars or springs, so you don’t need to worry about tossing and turning in discomfort. Rather, the three-sectioned mattress seamlessly folds into itself. One-third folds up into the backrest of the couch while the other two thirds fold into the seat of the couch. And while the sofa comes with a high-density, five-inch foam mattress, you can choose to upgrade to cooling gel or Tempur-Pedic options. It’s largely because of the mattress quality that Pennington recommends American Leather sleeper sofas to her clients—but she also appreciates the elevated aesthetic and craftsmanship that appears more like a custom piece of furniture than a sleeper sofa. “It’s going to hold its shape longer, it’s going to have better stitching—it’s just going to look a lot better for a lot longer,” she says. “Plus, it’s super customizable.” On that front, you can pick between 25 leather upholstery options and 55 fabric shades, plus four types of wooden legs. You can also choose your own journey with cushions, opting for plain, tufted, in multiples, or bench-style.

Best Sleeper Sofa for Small Spaces: Sixpenny Aria

A top reason to get a sleeper sofa in the first place is if you’re low on expendable space. “A lot of people work from home and have had to convert a bedroom or guest room to an office,” Pennington says. “If they’re only having guests once a month, or twice a year, or every quarter, they don’t need that space to be a guest room all the time.” The Sixpenny Aria is available in both full and queen sizes, and it’s armless, saving a few precious inches on each side and minimizing bulk—helpful for smaller spaces. That said, be sure to take note of your doorway dimensions compared to the Aria’s measurements; no-fit deliveries are subject to a 10 percent restocking fee, according to the brand. When one of our editors tried this model, she was impressed by its fluffy yet supportive feeling that kept her firmly atop the mattress, rather than sinking in. (If you’re looking for a plusher-feeling mattress than what the three and a half inches of foam can offer, though, you can always add a topper.) She was also impressed by how easy it was to transition the couch into a bed, calling the process a piece of cake. All you have to do is throw off the seat cushions and backrests, then lift the bottom two-thirds up and out of the sofa. The final third folds down from the backrest to meet it. From there you can add the backrests back to the bed to create an especially inviting aesthetic for guests you want to impress.