Futons used to be thought as a practical and cheap way to furnish a dorm or apartment, but they weren’t much in the looks department. Nowadays, 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 couch. Most futons 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.
We scoured online reviews for top-rated picks that offer a great value (some are even less than $200!), considering important factors like style, quality, comfort and ease of assembly. Hint: Most of these futons can be assembled by yourself within less than an hour. You’ll also find a Queen-size futon that works well for everyday sleeping, a chair futon for extra-tight spaces and a Japanese floor futon if you’d prefer something portable.
1
Best Overall
Mercury Row Perdue Velvet Convertible Sofa
With over 14,000 five-star reviews on Wayfair, this velvet futon from Mercury Row is a comfortable size without being too big or too small. It’s available in a number of colors, won’t break the budget and 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 online customer wrote, “This is exactly what we needed and the quality is amazing. Very easy to put together, I did it alone.”
2
Best Value
Serta Rane Convertible Sofa Bed
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 four colors, including black, charcoal, java and navy blue — all at slightly different price points, but currently starting for less than $150.
While some online Amazon reviewers found it to be a bit firm, most seemed to be happy with the quality given the price point, mid-century look and small size. “This is a very well-made futon. It’s comfortable and firm, assembly is nearly nonexistent,” one online customer wrote.
3
Most Splurge Worthy
Pottery Barn Shasta Square Arm Storage Futon (87″)
Guests will never be able to tell that this elegant sofa from Pottery Barn is actually a futon. While the back of most futons are not always the most attractive, this one looks like a regular couch. It has a modern style with square arms, removable solid rubber wood legs and you can choose from six fabric options (including basketweave, boucle, linen, velvet, chenille and plain weave), each with multiple color options.
Host guests during the day on the comfortable and firm-feeling cushions, then transform the sofa into a futon for your guests to spend the night. Plus, save more space in your home and store extra blankets in the hidden storage under the seat cushions of this futon. It’s one of the priciest options on our list, but our GH furniture experts rank Pottery Barn as the best place to buy a couch (so the quality will meet the price tag!).
4
Easiest to Assemble
DHP Emily Futon
an affordable and versatile option for college students or adults living in smaller spaces. It’s only 71″ long, lightweight and arrives in a singular box — plus, most Amazon reviewers agreed it’s quick and easy to assemble. “I had it set up within 5-10 minutes as the instructions were straightforward and had very few steps,” one reviewer wrote.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.
5
Best Color Options
Ember Interiors Tufted Futon
Futons can double as a chic home accent, such as 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 of the best couches from Walmart, a fast, easy assembly is a priority.
6
Best for Dorm Rooms
Alden Design Fabric Convertible Futon
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. It’s extra small size (only 66″ long) 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.
7
Best Futon Chair
Esright Convertible Futon Chair
If you don’t have room for a full-sized sofa, you might want to consider a futon chair. This chair from Amazon converts from an armchair into a recliner or a flat bed. The footrest/ottoman piece can be stored underneath the chair, making it easy to pull out and up as needed.
For a great low price, this convertible chair is a lightweight alternative to a traditional recliner. It’s also available in subtle shades like navy, light grey and beige as well as a bold yellow.
8
Best With Folding Arms
Mainstays Memory Foam Futon
Credit: Mainstays Memory Foam Futon
This modern (and budget-friendly) memory foam futon is a best seller 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.
9
Best Japanese Floor Futon
NeuType Futon Mattress
For the ultimate space-saving option, 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.
10
Most Modern
Antetek Futon Sofa Bed
To pair with your modern home style, consider this chic futon sofa with five tapered legs and three adjustable angles for the backrest. It comes in teddy fabric and tufted velvet in a ton of trendy colors (everything from white, grey and pink to teal, mint and mango), with price points varying between $200 and $240.
Many Amazon reviewers agreed it’s easy to assemble, a great idea for small spaces and surprisingly sturdy given the low price point: “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,” one online customer wrote.
