The ultimate guide to choosing the best sleeper sofa – the stores to shop, the models to buy, and the tips to follow

We're galloping towards the holiday season and for most of us, that means it is also hosting season. If you're looking to create extra space for additional loved ones to stay with a new sleeper sofa, this is the guide for you.

Overnight guests are a big part of the festive season’s charm. For anyone looking to maximize their space without sacrificing style, a quality (and good-looking) sleeper sofa is an ideal solution. Not only can a good sleeper provide your guests with a restful place to sleep, but you won't have to sacrifice comfort for convenience.

When you shop at the best home stores, you can choose the mattress that suits your sleep needs, arrange the chaise to fit your space, and find the fabrics that complement your color palette. Soon, you'll be able to host guests without a guest room in total confidence.

From plush sectional sleepers to sleek, compact designs perfect for small spaces, we've scoured the specifications and read countless reviews of each sofa to make sure we're bringing you the best sleeper sofa recommendations out there.

'In terms of comfort, a sleeper sofa is a few steps above an air mattress, but it won’t feel as supportive as the best mattress for a guest room might,' explains our resident Sleep Editor Emilia Hitching, whose job it is to review and recommend the best sleep products on the market.

'As a kid, I slept on a sleeper sofa for six months while my house got renovated. I loved pulling out my bed from the couch at the end of every day: it felt like a never-ending sleepover. My parents loved it, too: our sleeper sofa was quick to fold and convenient to store.'

'Don't get me wrong: even the best sleeper sofa is no substitute for a real bed. Your standard sleeper sofa features a thinner, less supportive mattress for the sake of storage space. I wouldn't recommend sleeping on one of these sofas for more than a night or two at a time: otherwise, you're putting yourself at risk of aches and pains.'

'In order to give your guests the most comfortable night’s sleep, you should keep in mind these key considerations:

Space

'Before you buy a sleeper sofa, consider the shape and size of the space,' she advises. 'If you’re working with awkward angles and tight corners, you might opt for an L-shaped sectional sofa. If you’re trying to fit a sleeper sofa into a very small space, you might need to go for a chair bed or a twin-sized sofa.'

'Ideally, you want to find a room with enough space for a queen-size sleeper sofa, so you can comfortably accommodate two people. You’re looking for something around 84 inches wide and 90 inches long: consult my mattress size chart if you’re unsure.'

Mattress types

'A click-clack sofa bed, or an armless sleeper, might do for one night, but it’s insufficiently supportive for longer stays. You need to find a sleeper sofa with a real mattress inside. Which mattress type is best for you depends on your sleep style. Bear in mind that a sleeper sofa mattress is likely to be a lot thinner than a free-standing mattress: we’re talking about five or six inches at most.'

• Memory foam: great pressure relief and motion isolation (good for couples), but tends to trap heat.
• Gel memory foam: the same cushioning comfort and pressure relief, without heat retention.
• Innerspring: filled with supportive steel coils and topped with wool or cotton; won’t feel as comfortable for sitting or sleeping.

Materials

'As you consider the look and feel of a fabric, think about its durability. Something like leather is able to withstand wear and stains much better than, say, linen. Ideally, you want a sofa that’s easy on the eyes and easy to clean.'

'Inspect the base of your sleeper sofa. You want something solid and supportive, ideally made from wood, with screws or dovetail joints for strength. Avoid plywood and particleboard, which are less capable of withstanding weight.'

Where to shop the best sleeper sofas

Whether your aesthetic leans traditional or modern, there’s a sleeper out there that can seamlessly integrate with your style while still offering a comfortable night's sleep for family and friends. Keep reading to explore our top picks for where to buy sleeper sofas – plus our favorite models from each brand.

Pottery Barn

The best thing about shopping for sleeper sofas at Pottery Barn is their handy rating system. On each item, if you scroll down a little, you'll find their 'How It Sits' rating which gives you a sliding scale on the seat depth, seat height, seat softness, and overall sit (which discusses how relaxed vs upright it is). This then means you can get a really good idea of all the crucial features of a couch while shopping online – a hard thing to achieve.

Some of the best sleeper sofas can cost upwards of $5,000. Though most of the time, you get what you pay for, you can find quality pieces at lower prices at Pottery Barn. There are slipcovered sleeper sofas for quick and convenient cleaning, as well as Chesterfield-style sofas with dramatic deep tufting, and plenty of custom fabric choices, too.

Typically their pieces come fully assembled, you can select from a standard flat delivery or white glove delivery and returns of eligible items can be made within 30 days of receiving.

Pricing: $$-$$$$

Wayfair

If you're budget-conscious but of course still want a really good purchase, Wayfair is the destination for you. Sleeper sofas at Wayfair are typically hundreds of dollars (if not thousands) cheaper than elsewhere and they allow you to opt for free white glove delivery so you can leave things to the professionals.

The best bit? You can filter by top customer ratings, so you can be sure that the couch you order has been tried-and-tested by lots of other real people in real homes. Sure, you can likely find better fabrications or more stylish shapes elsewhere but for bang for your buck, Wayfair is it.

Pricing: $-$$

Serena and Lily

Serena & Lily sells some of the most expensive sleeper sofas on the market, but you really do get what you pay for in terms of style and quality, especially if you're looking for something that suits a coastal or traditional home.

They only have an offering of 10 to choose from but each piece is handcrafted in North Carolina and made from sustainably sourced materials. These deep-seated sofas can accommodate king-sized mattresses to accommodate multiple guests and taller sleepers.

Best of all, they're highly customizable: you can choose from hundreds of fabric finishes.

Pricing: $$$-$$$$$

West Elm

The best sleeper sofas are just as comfortable couches as they are spare beds, making the sleeper sofa selection from West Elm suitable for daily as well as nightly use.

Most of West Elm's sofa's back cushions are wrapped in fiber, rather than foam, for greater give, and supported with high-gauge sinuous springs. These sofas are handcrafted and expertly joined to last for decades.

We have filtered their selection by bestsellers to show you the couches that are the most popular on West Elm for their style, comfort, and functionality. We also really like their 'how to measure for delivery' feature that helps you tell that the item actually fits into your home when it arrives.

Pricing: $$-$$$

Anthropologie

At first glance, Anthropologie has a limited selection of sleeper sofas. But those that they do offer are a perfect balance of comfort and style for those looking to make a fashion statement with their sofa.

Each Anthropologie sleeper sofa comes in a range of fabric types and finishes. Most Anthropologie sleepers are made to order, though the Athena Sleeper Sofa is ready to ship with a wait time of 2-4 weeks. White glove delivery can also be chosen, starting at $149.

If you're looking to really swot up, Anthropologie offer a comfort guide for sofas and sectionals to help you find your perfect pick.

Pricing: $$-$$$

How to choose sleeper sofas

We've written a whole feature on how to buy a sleeper sofa that suits your needs. But the key considerations are shape, size, material and budget.

Which is the best sleeper sofa?

For our money, the Pacifica Trundle Sleeper Sofa from Pottery Barn is one of the best you can get. With sink-in cushions and slender track arms, it's just as comfortable a couch as it is a bed. Plus, it's pretty affordable for a multifunctional piece.

With that said, the best sleeper sofa is the one that best suits your needs. Customers should consider whether they want to use their sofa primarily for sitting or sleeping and shop accordingly. The best sofas have solid wood frames, soft and squishy seat cushions, and come in a wide range of colors. Meanwhile, the best beds come with the best mattresses that support you while you sleep.

If you want space to sprawl, your best bet is a chaise, corner, or sectional sleeper sofa. These couches have long, plush cushions so that you can stretch your legs.

What is the best sleeper sofa mattress?

Which mattress material is best all comes down to who's sleeping on it.

The best mattresses for side sleepers are soft and supportive, designed to alleviate pressure from your joints. Most often, these are memory foam mattresses. Front sleepers need a firmer surface to maintain the natural alignment of their spine. Old-school innersprings tend to be firmer than modern memory-foam mattresses.

If you want to host multiple guests, all of whom have different sleep needs, then your best bet is a medium-firm mattress, which should suit most sleep styles.

If a sleeper sofa just isn't for you, but you're still looking for an affordable and adaptable spare bed, consider a futon mattress. These flexible folding beds are ideal for relaxing or hosting overnight guests, and they fit right into smaller spaces.