Key takeaways
- Ceiling height: Pur and vertical Full models need 88-90 inches of clear vertical height when closed. Add 2 inches for baseboards and crown molding.
- Floor space: Allow 86-88 inches of clear floor depth when open plus 24 inches of walkway at the foot. In a 10×10 ft room, a Queen Pur leaves only 22 inches on the sides — choose a Full instead.
- Mattress thickness: Stay at or below 10 inches. An 11 or 12-inch pillow-top will prevent the door from closing and strains the pistons.
- Wall: Must be flat and level within 0.5 inches over 65 inches, otherwise doors will not align and the bed will rock.
What's inside
A Bestar murphy bed is worth it if you want a full-size wall bed with integrated storage for under $2,000 and don’t mind engineered wood construction and a two-person, half-day assembly — if you want solid wood or a lightweight mechanism for daily use, other brands are a better value.
How Bestar Murphy Beds Work
All Bestar murphy beds use a spring or piston-assisted folding mechanism mounted inside a freestanding cabinet, not a wall-anchored steel frame like high-end Next Bed or Wallbeds Company models. The cabinet is made from laminated particle board and MDF with a melamine finish, which keeps costs down and allows for matching storage towers, but adds significant weight. Unlike DIY Lori Wall Beds or metal-frame competitors, Bestar units are designed as bedroom furniture first: they look like a wardrobe when closed and require no wall anchoring for basic stability, though anchoring is strongly recommended for safety.
Mattress support is a slat system or a wood platform depending on the generation. Most Bestar murphy bed models require an 8 to 10-inch innerspring or foam mattress without a box spring, with a maximum mattress weight of around 50 to 60 lbs to keep the lift mechanism balanced. Piston mechanisms are dual-action and lock in both the open and closed positions, but they are stiffer than gas-spring mechanisms when new and need two hands to operate smoothly.
Bestar’s Most Popular Models Compared
Bestar organizes its wall beds by collection rather than by mechanism. The three models you will see most often in 2026 are the Pur, the Full Wall Bed (sometimes listed as the Classic 65W or Full Murphy Bed), and the Full Murphy Bed with Storage Units. All use the same core folding hardware but differ in footprint, storage, and orientation.
| Model | Bed Size | Closed Dimensions (W x H x D) | Open Depth Required | Mattress Limit | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pur Queen Wall Bed – 265W | Queen (60 x 80 in) | 65.8 x 89.1 x 18.8 in | 87.5 in from wall | 10 in thick, up to 60 lbs | Two shallow cabinets with dual power/USB module |
| Pur Full Wall Bed – 210W | Full (54 x 75 in) | 62.9 x 87.4 x 18.8 in | 84.0 in from wall | 10 in thick, up to 55 lbs | More compact width, same dual-piston lift |
| Full Murphy Bed 65W + Storage | Full (54 x 75 in) | 65.2 x 83.7 x 19.8 in (bed only) | 82.5 in from wall | 9 in thick, up to 50 lbs | Bundled with 2 x 25W storage towers with shelves/drawers |
| Full Cabinet Bed (Space-Saver) | Full (54 x 75 in) | 62.4 x 44.2 x 21.5 in | 78.0 in from wall (folds out like a cabinet) | 6 in tri-fold foam included | Horizontal fold, no vertical clearance needed |
1. Bestar Pur: Best for a Primary Bedroom Look
The Pur is Bestar’s flagship bestar murphy bed. The Queen version is 65.8 inches wide closed, which means you need a solid, uninterrupted wall of at least 68 inches. When open, the Pur projects 87.5 inches into the room, so in a standard 10×12 ft bedroom you will have about 32 to 36 inches of clearance at the foot of the bed if placed on the 10-foot wall, just enough to walk around. It includes integrated side cabinets that are only 10 inches deep — useful for books and linens, not hanging clothes — and a built-in charging station.
Price range is usually $1,400–$2,000 for the full set with cabinets. Assembly is the most involved of the lineup due to the extra panels and wiring channel for the USB module.
2. Full Murphy Bed with Storage Towers: Best Value for Small Apartments
This bundle is the most common entry point. The bed cabinet itself is narrower than the Pur and the two separate 25-inch wide towers create a full wall unit about 115 inches wide when placed together. You can install the towers detached if your wall is shorter. The advantage is actual storage: each tower has a wardrobe section with a rod and 1-2 drawers, holding about 35-40 lbs per shelf. The trade-off is depth; with towers, the unit is 19.8 inches deep closed, so it sits further from the wall than a closet-style bed.
This configuration usually costs $1,100–$1,700 depending on finish and whether drawers are included. It fits best on a 12-foot wall where you want the murphy bed to replace a dresser and closet.
3. Full Cabinet Bed: Best for Low Ceilings and Renters
Unlike vertical wall beds, the Cabinet Bed folds horizontally out of a low credenza. Closed height is only 44.2 inches, so it works under windows and in rooms with 7.5-foot ceilings where a vertical 89-inch Pur would feel overwhelming. It uses a tri-fold 6-inch foam mattress that stores inside the cabinet, so you don’t need to buy a separate mattress, but comfort is firmer than a traditional 10-inch mattress. Open footprint is smaller (78 inches deep) but you lose the integrated shelving.
Price is usually $900–$1,300. It is significantly easier to move than vertical models because it ships in fewer, lighter boxes.
Material and Construction: What You Are Actually Buying
Bestar does not use solid wood. Understanding the trade-off is essential for durability expectations.
| Material | Used In | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminated Particle Board / MDF | Bestar Pur, Classic, all storage towers | Low cost, stable finish, color-matched storage | Heavy (400-550 lbs total), chips on edges if moved often, cannot be sanded/refinished | Stationary installations in apartments or guest rooms |
| Solid Wood (e.g., poplar, maple) | Lori Wall Beds, Night & Day Sagebrush | Lighter for its strength, repairable, holds screws better over years | Usually $1,800–$3,000+, requires sealing/painting, grain variation | Daily use, homes where you will keep the bed 10+ years |
| Powder-Coated Steel Frame | Wallbeds Company, Expand Furniture, industrial models | Strongest mechanism, thinnest profile (14-16 in deep), highest weight capacity | Utilitarian look, must be bolted to wall studs, less storage integration | Small studios needing daily transformation |
Bestar’s melamine finish resists scratches and moisture well, but the particle board core is vulnerable at unsealed edges and screw points. Overtightening during assembly is the most common cause of stripped hardware. Weight distribution is also critical: each storage shelf is rated for 30-45 lbs, and the bed platform is rated for 600-800 lbs total including mattress and sleepers, which is sufficient for two adults but not for jumping or concentrated loads.
Assembly, Moving and Long-Term Durability
Expect assembly to take 3 to 6 hours with two adults. Bestar ships in 2 to 4 boxes weighing 90 to 150 lbs each. Box dimensions are typically 80 x 22 x 7 inches, so measure your doorway, hallway, and elevator — a 29-inch apartment doorway is too narrow to carry a box flat. You will need a Phillips screwdriver, a rubber mallet, and a power drill with low torque. The piston mechanism comes pre-assembled, but you must install it under tension; follow the manual exactly and keep hands clear.
What wears first is not the piston but the particle board around the hinges and the laminate edge banding on the foot of the bed where it contacts the floor. Place a rug or felt pads under the support leg to prevent peeling. Once assembled, the units are not designed to be moved assembled — disassembly often damages cam locks. If you are a renter who moves every 1-2 years, a metal-frame or solid wood murphy bed will survive moves better.
Room fit checklist before ordering:
- Ceiling height: Pur and vertical Full models need 88-90 inches of clear vertical height when closed. Add 2 inches for baseboards and crown molding.
- Floor space: Allow 86-88 inches of clear floor depth when open plus 24 inches of walkway at the foot. In a 10×10 ft room, a Queen Pur leaves only 22 inches on the sides — choose a Full instead.
- Mattress thickness: Stay at or below 10 inches. An 11 or 12-inch pillow-top will prevent the door from closing and strains the pistons.
- Wall: Must be flat and level within 0.5 inches over 65 inches, otherwise doors will not align and the bed will rock.
Bestar vs. Competitors: Value Decision
Bestar wins on integrated storage and price. A comparable solid wood Lori Wall Bed with side cabinets usually costs $500–$800 more before finishing, and a metal-frame wall bed with attached shelving from Expand Furniture is often $2,200–$3,500. Bestar’s advantage disappears if you need daily, one-handed operation — its piston is stiffer and the heavy doors make it less convenient for twice-daily use than a counterbalanced steel frame.
Choose Bestar if you want a guest room or home office that converts occasionally (2-4 times per week), you need matching storage without custom carpentry, and you have a budget under $2,000. Choose solid wood or steel competitors if the bed will be your primary nightly bed, you weigh over 250 lbs per sleeper and want extra support margin, or you need to assemble and disassemble frequently.
Which Bestar Murphy Bed Should You Choose?
| Your Situation | Recommended Bestar Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small apartment (10×12 ft or smaller), need storage for clothes | Full Murphy Bed 65W + Storage Towers | Full size saves 6 inches of width and 5 inches of open depth vs. Queen; towers replace a dresser |
| Guest room / home office that must still look like a bedroom | Pur Queen Wall Bed | Most furniture-like finish, built-in USB/power, best aesthetics when closed |
| Low ceilings, basement, or renter who cannot block a wall | Full Cabinet Bed | Only 44 inches tall closed, no tall wall needed, easiest to relocate |
| Daily sleeper with back pain needing a quality mattress | Pur Full (with aftermarket 10-inch medium-firm mattress) | Full accommodates a standard 10-inch mattress; Queen Pur is too heavy for daily flipping if you have limited strength |
| Kids’ room or playroom | Avoid vertical murphy beds; consider Cabinet Bed | Vertical pistons can close with force; horizontal cabinet bed is lower risk and lighter to operate |
FAQ
Do Bestar murphy beds need to be attached to the wall?
Bestar includes a wall tether kit and recommends anchoring to studs, especially with storage towers. The unit will stand without it on a level floor, but it can tip forward when opening if not anchored or if a child climbs on the open frame.
What mattress works best?
Use a standard Full or Queen without a box spring, 8 to 10 inches thick, under 60 lbs. Memory foam and hybrid mattresses work well because they flex during folding. Avoid ultra-plush pillow-tops over 10 inches and latex mattresses over 60 lbs, as they make the bed front-heavy.
Can one person open and close it?
Yes, once assembled, one adult can operate it, but the initial lift requires about 30-40 lbs of force to overcome the piston resistance. The bed should not be operated by children.
How long do Bestar murphy beds last?
With stationary use and proper assembly, the mechanism typically lasts 7 to 12 years before pistons lose tension. The cabinet structure lasts longer if kept dry and not moved, but frequent moves shorten its life due to particle board screw holes loosening.
