Futons are a great alternative to a traditional sofa bed. They are lighter, take up less space, and don’t have the issue where one of the support bars always seems to cross your lower back. They are also usually a bit more affordable.
Whether to buy one and what sized still requires knowing a little something about how much space it’ll take up. That way, you can gauge whether it’ll fit into the space you plan to put it in and how much of the room it’ll take up.
If you’re just getting started on purchasing a futon and want to know a little more about how they are sized, you’ve come to the right place. This guide has some basic information about how much space a futon will take up, as a couch and as a bed.
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What Are The Average Dimensions For a Futon? (Folded and Unfolded)
Futons come in a lot of different sizes, and aside from those styled as chairs more-or-less are sized the same way as bed mattresses: Twin, full, and queen. If you’re looking for one that can serve as both a chair and an occasional guest bed, you’ll want a full-sized or queen.
To size a futon, measure along the top of the couch back. When folded out, this will give you the length of the mattress. Most full-sized futons are between 70-75 inches long; queens are between 77-80 inches long. When folded out, a full-sized futon mattress is 54 inches wide; a queen is 60 inches wide.
Also available are futons called splits. These futons incorporate an ottoman, which usually is incorporated into the frame when it is used as a bed. When folded out they have the same dimensions as a regular bifold futon.
What Are The Dimensions For Small And Large Futons? (Folded and Unfolded)
There are smaller futons available, including those designed for use as chairs. Just as a twin-sized bed doesn’t work well as a bed for larger adults, a twin-sized futon or a chair futon would work well for children.
Twin-sized futons can either be a standard bi-fold or come with an ottoman. If you wish to use those kinds of futons as a bed, you’ll need to incorporate the ottoman. Folded out, they are 35 inches wide by 75 inches long.
If you have a chair futon, you’ll need to use an ottoman to make it long enough to work as a bed. When folded out and the ottoman incorporated, they are approximately the same size as a cot mattress, which is 28 inches wide by 75 inches long
How to Pick The Best-Sized Futon
To get the best-sized futon, you’ll need to know two things, how much space you have and what you plan to use it for.
The amount of available space is always going to be the primary driver for how big your furniture is. You want to adequately fill it so a room doesn’t look empty, but too much furniture can eat up a room and make it difficult to move around.
When it comes to putting a futon in, you’ll want to know how big it is when folded up as a couch or chair and when folded out.
A good rule of thumb is that when used as a couch, you’ll want to maintain a rule-of-thumb four to 10 feet between seating options to allow for comfortable movement throughout the room, and 18 inches between the futon and any coffee table.
You’ll also want to know the maximum height of the space available. If you plan to place it under a window, for instance, you’ll want to find one that is shorter than the distance from the floor to the windowsill.
Factor in how much use the futon will get as a bed. Smaller futons are suitable for very occasional houseguests, especially if they’re children. If you have adults over more than occasionally, you’ll want to look at a larger futon to provide a more comfortable sleep.
Final Thoughts on Futon Sizes & Dimensions
If you decide to purchase a futon, you’ll want to start by knowing how much space it takes up, both when folded up as a couch and when folded out to serve as a bed. That’ll help you to know how much space it’ll take up both vertically and horizontally.
Not every futon is the same size, of course. So, if you have a lot of space, you can get a bigger one, which might come in handy if you have married friends who need a place to sleep.
If you found this guide helpful, we’d encourage you to leave us a comment. You’re also invited to share it on your social media networks. You never know who else can use a bit of advice in furnishing their living space.