The Best Futons - Buyer's Guide

The last time you slept on a futon might have been in college, or whenever you stayed over at a friend’s house. Do you recall your opinion of it then? If you swore off futons because your only memory of them is that metal bar in your back, it’s time to take another look. Futons today are more stylish, more comfortable, and just as versatile and affordable as they were back in the day. Here are our current favorites.

The Best Futons

Why Should You Invest in a Futon?

Originally, the futon was a Japanese solution that was simply a mattress on a low-profile bed frame, and when William Brouwer spent some time in Japan, he fell in love with the minimalist design. He introduced the concept to the rest of the world in the early ’80s. It was sort of a brilliant idea: sofa or chair by day, bed by night. So, why should you invest in a futon?

— Affordable

Futon beds and mattresses are traditionally less expensive than standard beds. The materials used to make these flexible pads are affordable, such as cotton, foam and polyester.

— Saves Space

It’s a suitable choice for studio-dwellers who don’t have a lot of living space. You can fold it up and into a seating area during the day, and bring it back down for sleeping on at night. It’s also a good choice to use in a guest bedroom – even if the room doubles as an office for you.

— Versatile Looks

You can easily change the look in your room by changing the cover of your futon. Even the frames are easy to switch out. Choose wood for a classic look, or metal for a modern look. And because futons and their accessories are so affordable, you won’t break your budget with a whole new design.

But … a Futon? OK, I get it. Futons often have a bad rap. The original design of the futon was meant to be placed on the floor for sleep. But inexpensive metal frames became the common bed frame for the futon. When lower quality materials of a cheap futon break down, you can start to feel those metal bars in your hip, shoulder, back, and legs. It’s no wonder the futon has a bad reputation.

However, these couches-turned-beds have improved dramatically over time. Believe it or not, there are such things as comfortable futons. The look of a futon gets a few laughs, too. Many say a futon looks like dorm furniture, no matter what you try to do to dress it up. Some of the best futon beds, though, have sleek appearances and look nothing like the futons of many years ago. You just have to know where to look.

Benefits of a Futon

The reasons you may buy a futon will vary, and I’ve covered these above. But, what are the benefits of owning and sleeping on a futon?

– Cleaning is Easy

A traditional Japanese futon is typically made of 100% cotton, which means it’s all natural and can easily be cleaned. Spill something on the cover? Unzip, toss it in the washing machine, dry it out in the sun and you have a fresh, clean cover. Even the mattress itself could be washed in an industrial-sized washer, or taken to a dry cleaner

– Great for Back Sleepers

You can toss the mattress on the floor and sleep comfortably – without feeling uncomfortable bars in your back. Even if you sleep on these mattresses on a bed frame, you can get a good night’s rest because the designs have improved so much.

– Easy to Move

If you’re always on the move, you know how difficult it can be to transport a large mattress and box spring from home to home. Some futon mattresses can be folded or rolled up and tossed in the back of your car – and you don’t need a team of people to move it. Most futons are typically quite lightweight, too.

How to Choose a Comfortable Futon

Choosing the right futon for you comes down to what you’re looking for, from design and comfort level to portability and materials. First, figure out whether you want to sleep on the mattress by itself, like a traditional Japanese futon, or you want that bed-to-couch transformer style futon. Then you can decide on which other features are important to you.

– Traditional vs. Modern Futon

If you’re looking for a futon mattress that you plan to sleep on every night, you want to look for traditional Japanese futon mattresses that are made of cotton. These mattresses are easy to roll, fold up and store. Modern futons are a great choice if you need extra seating that can double as a guest bed. These come in a variety of sizes, materials, and styles. Look for futons with wooden frame construction for sturdiness and more comfort.

– Consider Weight Capacity

A key difference between a futon and a regular mattress is the weight limit. Generally, futons can’t hold as much weight as a futon, so it’s important to consider a futon’s weight capacity when you’re buying one. Putting too much weight on the frame could bend or break it, and the materials of the mattress may break down quicker.

– Keep Space in Mind

While a futon is meant to save space, you still need enough room to unfold it. If you only host single guests in your home, then you could consider a twin or a full size, but generally, a queen-sized mattress is a better bet. You can find good futons that sleep two people that are still affordable and space-saving (at least, when it’s folded).

Once you’re ready to start the hunt for a top-rated futon, you should read through futon reviews, like the ones here. This is where you’re going to find details about the features, sizes, and quality of futons that will help you pick the right one for you.

Conclusion

Finding the right futon for you may not be about finding the most stylish futon frame, but rather the best futon mattress. Comfort is subjective, so if you don’t like a firm feel to your mattress, your best bet could be something else entirely. However, one of the best futons you can find for the price, longevity, comfort and design has to be the DHP Novogratz Brittany Futon. It’s a classic design that can work with almost any décor, it’s comfortable to sleep on and it’s sturdy with its 600 pound weight capacity. For the price, you get an upholstered piece of furniture that easily doubles as a couch, too!

Recent Updates

March 31, 2022: 5 new products have been added to our roundup due to increased popularity: the DHP Emily Futon, DHP Twin-Over Futon, Best Choice Products Faux Leather Folding Futon, Serta Rane Convertible Sofa Bed and the Etta Avenue Katherine Square Arm Sleeper. Additional Resources and FAQs have also been included to address common consumer queries.

Additional Resources

• Types of Futons
• Are Futons Good to Sleep on Every Night?
• Where to Buy a Futon
• Futon vs Sofa Bed
• Futon vs Couch