Single day beds give you a comfortable place to sit during the day and a proper single bed at night, all in the footprint of one piece of furniture. At Land of Beds, we've been helping people across the UK choose the right bed for over 50 years. Our single day beds are upholstered in soft fabric with a sofa-style back and arms, and come in various colours . They suit guest rooms, home offices, teenage bedrooms and any room that needs to do more than one job. Free delivery on orders over £100, our Price Promise Guarantee and honest, expert advice come as standard.
Browse our single day beds below, or read on for help with sizing, mattresses and how a day bed compares with a sofa bed. Our team is available seven days a week if you'd like a personal recommendation.
Choosing a single day bed usually means a room has more than one job to do. It might be a study that needs to sleep a guest, a teenager's bedroom that doubles as a place to hang out, or a box room you want to use every day rather than once a year. Getting the size, mattress and build right means your day bed looks good as a seat and sleeps well as a bed. We've been helping people make this kind of decision for over 50 years, with honest advice and no hard sell.
Three things decide whether a single day bed will work in your room. Get these right and colour and style become the easy part.
| Factor | Why It Matters | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Room size and placement | A day bed sits lengthways against a wall, so it feels less dominant than a standard bed. It still needs the full length of a single along one wall. | Wall length, door and radiator positions, space to walk past the front |
| Mattress fit | The back and arms surround the mattress, so the size needs to be exact. If the mattress is too deep, it can sit above the arms and spoil the sofa-style look. | Standard single mattress size, recommended mattress depth on the product listing |
| How you'll use it | A day bed used mostly as a seat needs a mattress with a firm, supportive edge and some cushions. One used every night needs a mattress chosen for sleep first. | Daily seating or nightly sleeping, regular sleeper or occasional guests, any need for space underneath |
Not sure where to start? Speak to our team or use the quick decision guide further down this page.
Single day beds are built around a standard UK single mattress, but the frame itself is larger because of the back and arms. Use this table to check the fit before you order.
| Measurement | Typical Size | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress size | Standard UK single, 90 x 190cm (3ft) | Order a mattress that matches this size exactly |
| Frame footprint | Wider and longer than the mattress, as the back and arms add to the overall size | The external dimensions on each product listing |
| Room size | A single bed generally needs a room of at least 2.1 x 2.4m | Walking space in front of the bed, plus extra if a trundle pulls out |
| Getting it into the room | Varies by design | Doorway, stair and landing widths along the route to the room |
If your day bed has a pull-out trundle, allow enough clear floor in front of the bed for it to open fully.
See our UK Bed Sizes Guide for room-by-room measuring advice.
A single day bed is one of several ways to fit an extra sleeping space into a room. Here's a plain comparison with the other options we stock.
| Type | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Single day bed | Sofa-style back and arms, takes a standard single mattress, ready to sleep on with no setting up | Guest rooms, home offices and teenage bedrooms that need a seat by day |
| Sofa bed | A full sofa when closed, folds or pulls out into a bed, seats more people | Living rooms and spaces where seating comes first |
| Guest bed | Fold-away or pull-out designs that store away between visits | Occasional guests in rooms where floor space is tight |
| Single bed frame | Headboard rather than back and arms, wide choice of materials and storage | Rooms used mainly for sleeping |
Choose a single day bed if:
Choose a sofa bed if:
Choose a guest bed if:
Choose a standard single bed if:
Our team often speaks to customers who start out looking for a sofa bed for a spare room, then realise the room is used far more as a study or a teenager's den than as a guest room. In a room like that, a day bed tends to suit better, because there's nothing to unfold and the bed is ready whenever it's needed.
Judith Ackers, Land of Beds Chief of Staff and sleep and behaviour advisor: "For teenagers, a bedroom is study space, social space and sleep space all at once. With a day bed, moving the cushions off at night becomes a simple signal that the day is over, and small routines like that help young people wind down."
In a small room, the space under the bed matters. Here's how the main options compare.
| Option | Pros | Things to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-out trundle | A second sleeping space for sleepovers or guests, hidden away when not in use | Included on some of our single day beds. Needs clear floor space in front to pull out, so check the listing for the models that include one. |
| Underbed storage boxes | Flexible, low-cost storage for spare bedding and pillows | Measure the clearance under the frame before buying boxes |
| Built-in drawers | Easy daily access with no lifting, neat finish | Needs space in front of the bed for the drawers to open |
| No underbed use | Lighter look, easier to clean underneath | You may need storage elsewhere in the room |
Our current single day beds are upholstered in fabric and come in a variety of colours. Here's how fabric compares with other day bed materials you'll come across when shopping around.
| Material | Performance and Maintenance | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstered fabric | Soft, padded back and arms that are comfortable to lean on. Quiet, with no metal joints to creak. Spot clean marks quickly and follow the care advice on the listing. Lighter colours show marks more easily. | Guest rooms, teenage bedrooms and snugs where the day bed is used as a seat |
| Wood | Hard-wearing, and solid wood can be refinished. Firmer to lean against, so cushions make a big difference. Wipe down to clean. | Classic or Scandi-style rooms |
| Metal | Strong and easy to clean. Open frames allow good airflow but can creak if fixings loosen over time. Needs cushions for comfortable seating. | Minimalist or vintage-style rooms |
A day bed gets more use than most single beds, because it's sat on during the day as well as slept on at night. That makes build quality worth checking whatever your budget.
| What You're Paying For | Why It Matters | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Frame construction | The back and arms take weight every time someone sits or leans on them | Frame materials and guarantee length on the listing |
| Upholstery | Fabric on a day bed gets touched far more than fabric on a headboard | Fabric type and care instructions |
| Mattress | Comfort for both sitting and sleeping depends on it | Recommended mattress depth, as mattresses are sold separately |
Mike Murray, Land of Beds Managing Director: "A day bed works harder than most single beds. It gets sat on, leaned on and slept on, often by different people in the same week, so the frame and the mattress both need to cope with everyday use rather than the occasional guest."
Our Price Promise Guarantee means you won't pay more than you should. Finance options, including interest-free terms on eligible orders, can help you spread the cost.
Not sure whether to choose a day bed or a sofa bed? Here's a plain comparison.
| Day Beds | Sofa Beds | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Always set up as a bed, with a back and arms for sitting | A sofa by day, folded or pulled out into a bed when needed |
| Mattress | Takes a standard single mattress that you choose | Usually built in, and often thinner than a standard mattress |
| Seating | Seats one or two people along its length | Seats two or three, like a standard sofa |
| Space needed | Same footprint day and night | Needs clear floor space in front to open out |
| Best for | Rooms where someone sleeps regularly or guests stay often | Living rooms and occasional guests |
Neither is objectively better. It depends on whether the room needs a bed that's always ready or a sofa that sometimes becomes a bed. Read our guide: How to Choose the Best Sofa Bed for Your Room, or browse our sofa beds.
Inclusion varies by product. As a general guide across our range:
| Item | Typically Included? |
|---|---|
| Day bed frame | Yes - always |
| Slats | Yes - included |
| Pull-out trundle | Included on some models - check the listing |
| Cushions or bolsters | Sometimes - check the listing |
| Assembly fixings and instructions | Yes - always included |
| Mattress | No - sold separately. Browse our single mattresses |
Always check the individual product listing for full details on what's included before purchasing. This varies between products.
| What We Offer | Why It Matters to You |
|---|---|
| 50+ years of expertise | Deep product knowledge across beds, mattresses and space-saving designs |
| Day beds from our own Land of Beds range | Our team knows these designs well and can answer detailed questions before you buy |
| Free delivery on orders over £100 | Every single day bed in our range qualifies. Some outlying postcodes may incur a charge - see our delivery page |
| Price Promise Guarantee | We'll match any like-for-like price you find elsewhere |
| Finance options | Spread the cost, with interest-free terms available on eligible orders. See our finance page |
| Expert advice, 7 days a week | Real people via phone, chat or in-store, with no scripts and no pressure |
| Family-run, independent retailer | We recommend what's right for you, not what's easiest for us |
| 10,000+ verified Trustpilot reviews | Real feedback from real customers across thousands of orders |
Not sure whether a day bed or a sofa bed is right for your room? Our team has helped thousands of customers with this kind of decision, and there's no pressure to buy. Chat online, call us, or visit our showrooms in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. We're open seven days a week.
| How to Reach Us | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Live chat | Fast responses for quick questions. Available during opening hours. |
| Phone (01928 242829) | Speak directly with a bed expert. Best for detailed advice on sizing and mattresses. |
| In-store (Cheshire / Greater Manchester) | See our wider range in person. Call ahead to check which day beds are on display. |
| Help Centre | Buying guides, size guides and FAQs available 24/7. |
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the best type of single day bed? | It depends how you'll use it. If the day bed will be sat on most days, an upholstered design with a padded back and arms is the most comfortable to lean against. If guests or sleepovers are the priority, look for a model with a pull-out trundle. If storage matters, check the underbed clearance on the listing. Use the quick decision guide above to find the right starting point. |
| What size mattress fits a single day bed? | A standard UK single mattress, 90 x 190cm, sometimes listed as 3ft. Match the size exactly so the mattress sits neatly inside the back and arms. Check the product listing for the recommended mattress depth too, as a very deep mattress can sit above the arms. You can browse our single mattresses to find the right fit. |
| Can you sleep on a day bed every night? | Yes. A single day bed takes a standard single mattress, so it can be used as an everyday bed. Slats are included, so the key is choosing a mattress for sleep rather than just for sitting. If someone will sleep on it every night, it's worth treating the mattress choice the same way you would for any main bed. |
| Are day beds with trundles worth it? | They are if you regularly have someone staying over. A trundle gives you a second sleeping space that slides away under the main bed, which suits children's sleepovers and guest rooms. You'll need clear floor space in front of the bed for it to pull out, and only some of our single day beds include one, so check the individual listing. |
| How long should a single day bed last? | A well-made day bed should give you many years of use. Because a day bed is sat on as well as slept on, the frame, upholstery and mattress all take more wear than a standard single bed. Looking after the fabric and checking fixings from time to time will help it last. All our current single day beds come with a 1 year guarantee. |
| Does a single day bed come with a mattress? | No. Our single day beds come with slats but are sold without a mattress, so you can choose the mattress that suits how the bed will be used. You can buy a standard single mattress separately from our single mattresses range. |
| Does a single day bed need assembling? | Yes. Day beds need home assembly, and fixings and instructions are always included. We don't offer an assembly service on day beds. If you'd like to talk through what's involved before you order, call our team on 01928 242829. |
| Do you offer free delivery on single day beds? | Yes. Delivery is free on orders over £100, which covers every single day bed in our range, although some outlying postcodes may incur a charge. Lead times vary by model, so check the individual listing. See our delivery page for full details. |
| Can I buy a single day bed on finance? | Yes. We offer finance on eligible orders, including interest-free options on selected terms. See our finance page for eligibility and how to apply. |
| What's the difference between a day bed and a sofa bed? | A day bed is always a bed, with a back and arms that let it work as a seat. A sofa bed is a sofa first, folding or pulling out into a bed when you need it. Day beds take a standard mattress and need no setting up, while sofa beds usually seat more people and suit living rooms. See our sofa beds page if you're weighing up both. |
| Can adults sleep on a single day bed? | Yes. A single day bed takes the same 90 x 190cm mattress as a standard single bed, so it suits adults as well as children and teenagers. If you're tall, check the internal length and the height of the arms on the listing, as the arms sit at both ends of the mattress. |
| What guarantee comes with a single day bed? | All our current single day beds come with a 1 year guarantee. Check the individual listing for the details on your chosen model. |
