14 Best Futons to Buy in 2023

Jul 21, 2023

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The most comfortable, stylish and affordable futons to buy right now.

Futons notoriously get a bad rap for looking cheap, childish (think, college dorms) and unfashionable — when in reality, many of the best futons are just as stylish and comfortable as your everyday sofa. Not to mention, futons are incredibly versatile: they act as a sleeper sofa for overnight guests, typically accommodate small living rooms and tend to be more affordable than the average sofa. Most futon couches are also lightweight and easy to assemble, making it possible to relocate them as needed. We've rounded up the best futons to buy right now, whether your style is modern, mid-century or a little bit vintage.

Although we've included a few splurge-worthy futons, the majority of these affordable sofas cost under $500 and a few are even less than $200. We scoured online reviews for top-rated picks that offer a great value, considering important factors like style, quality, comfort and ease of assembly. Hint: Most of these futons can be assembled yourself within less than an hour. You'll also find fashionable sofas for small spaces, a queen-size futon that works well for everyday sleeping and a Japanese floor futon if you'd prefer something portable.

Scroll our top picks from some of the best online furniture retailers, like Amazon and Wayfair, plus shop a variety of the best couches from Walmart until you find a sofa bed that pairs with your living room design. You'll be surprised by how many chic options there are!

With over 13,000 five-star reviews on Wayfair, this velvet futon from Mercury Row is our overall pick because it's a great size, available in a number of colors and won't break the budget. If you're looking for a futon that acts as your everyday sofa, this is a great option because it does not sacrifice on style — note the wood frame, brown tapered legs, vertical tufting and square arms.

Most online reviewers were impressed by the quality (considering it's less than $500), loved the color options (many were on the hunt specifically for a green sofa) and found it easy to assemble. One writes, "This is exactly what we needed and the quality is amazing. Very easy to put together, I did it alone."

Voted the best value sleeper sofa by our textile experts, the Serta Rane Sofa Bed is a popular and well-rated choice on Amazon because it's affordable, great for small spaces and easy to assemble. The sofa locks into three different positions: upright, reclined and flat. Choose from a number of colors, including black, charcoal, java and navy blue — all at slightly different price points, but currently starting for less than $150.

While some online reviewers found it to be a bit firm, most seem to be happy with the quality given the price point, mid-century look and small size. One writes, "This is a very well-made futon. It's comfortable and firm, assembly is nearly nonexistent."

Available in faux leather, linen and velvet, the Emily Futon isan affordable and versatile option for college students or adults living in smaller spaces. It's only 71" wide, lightweight and arrives in a singular box — plus, online reviewers agree it's quick and easy to assemble. One writes, "I had it set up within 5-10 minutes as the instructions were straightforward and had very few steps."

The split back design allows for a number of different lounging and sleeping positions. If you are shopping for a child or teen, there's a number of bolder color options including pink, green and navy. But there's chic neutrals as well, like vanilla and camel faux leather.

If you're looking for a futon that doubles as a chic home accent, consider this vintage-inspired tufted sofa, which also features a split-back design. It's available in 12 different colors, including playful hues like mustard, light green and pink and neutral options like black, light gray and white.

The thick cushions, sleek arms, tapered wood legs and a button tufted design give it a luxury look — no one will suspect it costs less than $300. As with all sofas from Walmart, a fast, easy assembly is a priority.

A bestseller at Walmart, this fabric futon is equipped with a USB port, so teens and college students can charge their laptop, cell phones or iPads as they lounge. Plus, it's small size (only 66" wide) makes it a practical fit for dorm rooms or apartments where space is limited. The modern sofa is available in three colors: black, blue and charcoal. And, this affordable find has three different adjustable positions for sitting, lounging and sleeping.

If you don't have space for a futon sofa, you might want to consider a futon chair. We love this pick from Amazon, which converts from an armchair into a recliner or flat bed. The footrest and ottoman piece can be stored underneath the chair, making it easy to pull out and up as needed. For a low price, the convertible chair is also a lightweight alternative to a traditional recliner. It's also available in a ton of colors, from bold hues like green, pink and yellow to subtle shades like navy, light grey and beige.

RELATED: Best Sleeper Chairs Guests Will Actually Want to Sleep On

This modern (and cheap) memory foam futon is a bestseller at Walmart. In addition to its pillow-top cushions and tapered legs, what stands out is that this pick has adjustable arms, so you can choose whether or not to lounge with arm rests. There's also a split back, which adds to its versatility. For less than $200, this supportive sofa is currently available in camel, blue and gray faux suede upholstery or black faux leather.

Unlike futon sofas, Japanese futons are quilted sleeping pads that can lay directly on the floor. It's the perfect solution for those who like to host overnight guests, but don't have space for another piece of furniture. When you're not using the floor mattress, it folds up and can be stored in the included storage bag. Plus, this one is available in twin, full or queen sizes. According to online reviewers, this pick provides a pretty good night's sleep.

To pair with your modern home style, consider this chic futon sofa with five tapered legs and three adjustable angles for the backrest. It's available in a ton of trendy colors, including teddy fabric and tufted velvet (think everything from white, grey and pink to teal, mint and mango).

Amazon reviewers agree it's easy to assemble, a great idea for small spaces and surprisingly sturdy given the low price point. One writes, "Obsessed with this piece. It’s moderately comfortable. Very easy to assemble (15 min/less). Fits perfect in my home office and can easily be transported to different rooms if need be!"

This faux leather futon — equipped with a middle armrest and two cup holders — is a stylish choice for college dorms, bachelor pads, game rooms or small living rooms where entertaining is top of mind. When it's time to convert it into a bed, the armrests can be removed (you can also use them as a pillow!) and the back rest reclines.

According to Walmart, the compact sofa is easy to assemble and arrives with detailed instructions. It's available in five neutral shades: black, brown, espresso, gray and white — a color to pair with every home style. Probably the most notable feature? It looks way more expensive than it actually is.

While most futons are great for providing extra seating or hosting last-minute overnight guests, the Albany sleeper sofa can be your everyday sofa. It has a kiln-dried hardwood frame, stainless steel legs and is available in a number of modern color options (including vegan leather, fabric and velvet). Although it's still compact enough to accommodate smaller homes or apartments (about 88" wide), the sofa is spacious enough to sprawl out or comfortably seat three.

The modern sofa transforms into a bed quickly (the back legs are tucked behind a hidden zipper and the back reclines). Note that most futons aren't always the most attractive from the back, but this one looks just like a regular sofa!

While you may not want to use this one as your everyday sofa, it's one of the better options for everyday sleeping since it has a hardwood frame that converts into a queen-size bed frame. According to online customers, it's sturdy and comfortable. One five-star reviewer writes, "This is NOT your old college futon! Comes in three pieces but they all arrived the same day. The quality is great, the mattress is very comfortable and all the pieces fit together like a dream!"

Just note, this arrives in three larger boxes and you may need two people to carry and assemble this one. Available in chocolate, black or navy suede.

Available in black or camel faux leather, this mid-century modern sofa has a split-back design, wood construction and wide track arms. According to Amazon customers, it's easy to assemble and offers a lot of value for the price (currently less than $500!). One writes, "This was *super* easy to assemble. All you have to do is screw on the legs, and then slide the backrest to the seat of the chair."

Other online reviewers note that the faux leather appears high quality and that the style is more beautiful in person. Although it's a great pick for smaller spaces, some reviewers found it was bigger than expected so check your measurements!

Affordable, well-rated and easy to assemble, this memory foam futon is our favorite velvet sofa. It's has a vintage-inspired design with button-tufted arms and seat back, plus it's available in trendy colors, including blue, gray, green, pink and mustard. Overall, Amazon reviewers are happy with the quality of the fabric, colors and how comfortable it is — especially when considering the price point. One writes, "Amazing! It’s super comfortable and lots of room to move around. Super easy to assemble as well!"

To put together this list of the best futons, Associate Lifestyle Editor Alyssa Gautieri considered all of the best places to buy furniture online and scoured online reviews to find the best-rated options that did not sacrifice on style. She also took a look at the best sleeper sofas and the best sleeper chairs to include a few of Good Housekeeping Institute's top-tested picks. Other factors that were considered include material, color options, price, ease of assembly and overall aesthetic.

While most sleeper sofas have a hidden bed mattress, a futon does not have a hidden mattress — which means they may not be as comfortable as some sofa sleepers. Instead, futons are couches that transform into a bed by adjusting the backrest into a flat position. Futons tend to be the more affordable option, and they can also be converted into a bed very quickly. If you're looking for a more comfortable options, some futon couches are actually made of a mattress material.

While some splurge-worthy options, including those with a mattress, may provide a great night's rest, futons are generally not suggested for everyday sleeping. Futons tend to be a little bit firm and most only open to the size of a full bed. Most of these futons are affordable and stylish, and offer a great place for guests to sleep from time to time.

As Good Housekeeping's associate lifestyle editor, Alyssa Gautieri covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she worked for various home publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine, in addition to brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries. She covers home brands on a daily basis and is constantly hunting for stylish, quality and highly-rated products.

Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.

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