--- title: "Futon vs Daybed for a Room That Seats by Day and Sleeps a Guest" description: "Futon vs daybed for a room that seats by day and sleeps a guest: mattress sizes, trundles for a second guest, seat depth, floor space and dated prices." url: "https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-daybed/" lang: "en" published: "2026-09-09" modified: "2026-09-09" author: "Cal Hewitt" tags: ["comparison","sofa-beds","small-spaces","buying-guide"] image: "https://plushpick.com/og/blog-futon-vs-daybed.jpg" --- comparison # Futon vs Daybed for a Room That Seats by Day and Sleeps a Guest By [Cal Hewitt](https://plushpick.com/about/), September 9, 2026 ![A narrow daylit study with a plain wooden futon in its seating position along one long wall and a plain metal daybed along the opposite long wall, the two facing each other across a clear aisle of bare floorboards, photographed from the short end at standing height](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-daybed/featured.jpg) **Affiliate disclosure.** If you buy through a link on this page, PlushPick may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That never changes which products are named or what is said about them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [How this works](https://plushpick.com/disclosure/) The difference that decides it is what you sit on. A futon folds its mattress into a sofa shape, so during the day you sit on the bed with a back at an ordinary angle behind you. A daybed is a twin bed frame with a back and sides along one long edge, so you sit sideways on a twin mattress and the cushions you add do the job of a sofa back. That shape carries through to everything else. A daybed takes standard twin mattresses and can sleep a second guest on a pull-out base or a trundle, which makes it the easier fit for a room where people stay often or two at a time. A futon keeps a conventional seat and one folding pad, which makes it the easier fit for a room that is mostly for sitting. How comfortable either one is comes down to the mattress and cushions you put on it, so the figures below are the ones to check before you choose. ### Key Takeaways #### What you sit on A futon's seat is its folded mattress. A daybed's seat is a twin mattress you sit on sideways. #### 38 1/4 by 74 3/8 inches Each of the two mattresses IKEA's HEMNES daybed takes, capped at 5 1/2 inches thick. #### A second guest HEMNES and FYRESDAL pull out into a double; VIHALS, Elliot, Penny and Harlow add a trundle. #### A 39-inch seat The Pottery Barn Elliot's mattress space, front to back, which the back cushions have to fill. #### About 7 feet of wall The twin daybeds here run 78 1/2 to 82 inches long. #### $328 to $428 IKEA daybed frames with one ÅSVANG twin mattress on ikea.com as of September 2026. ## What you sit on, and what your guest sleeps on The dictionary and the regulations describe the two pieces in a way that explains how each one lives in a room. [Cambridge Dictionary](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/futon) defines a futon as a mattress, originally from Japan, that can be rolled up, or a bed or seat made from one. On the daybed side, the glossary of the federal mattress flammability rule at [16 CFR 1633.9](https://ecfr.io/Title-16/Section-1633.9) describes a daybed as a foundation, usually on coil or flat springs, mounted between arms, with a mattress placed on it. So, a futon is one surface that changes position, and a daybed is a bed that stays a bed. The reviewers at [The Wooden Stars](https://thewoodenstars.com/daybed-vs-futon/) put the practical version plainly: a futon folds into a sofa with a conventional seat height and needs no separate bolsters, while a daybed behaves more like a bed pushed against a wall and needs firm bolster cushions to sit on well. They also describe the sleeping side: a daybed holds a complete mattress on slats, and a futon sleeps on a folding pad of about 6 to 8 inches with a hinge running across it. If you are still deciding between a futon and a pull-out sleeper as well, [whether the seat and the bed are one surface or two](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-sofa-bed/) is the comparison that sorts those out. This page stays with the futon and the daybed. Futon and daybed, side by side | Question | Futon | Daybed | | --- | --- | --- | | What you sit on | The folded mattress | A twin mattress, sideways, against back cushions | | What the guest sleeps on | The same pad, laid flat | A twin mattress on its own base | | A second guest | A wider futon mattress, where the frame takes one | A pull-out base or a trundle with its own mattress | | How it opens | The frame folds flat, and the depth grows | The daybed stays put; the trundle rolls out in front | | Back support by day | Built in, at a sofa angle | Whatever cushions you add | QuestionWhat you sit on FutonThe folded mattress DaybedA twin mattress, sideways, against back cushions QuestionWhat the guest sleeps on FutonThe same pad, laid flat DaybedA twin mattress on its own base QuestionA second guest FutonA wider futon mattress, where the frame takes one DaybedA pull-out base or a trundle with its own mattress QuestionHow it opens FutonThe frame folds flat, and the depth grows DaybedThe daybed stays put; the trundle rolls out in front QuestionBack support by day FutonBuilt in, at a sofa angle DaybedWhatever cushions you add ![A plain white-painted wooden daybed with its roll-out trundle drawn fully out from beneath it on low castors, the trundle's bare mattress lying well below the daybed's mattress so the two sleeping surfaces read as two separate levels, photographed at a front three-quarter angle](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-daybed/roll-out-trundle.jpg) A trundle rolls out from under the daybed, so a second guest sleeps on a mattress of their own, lower to the floor. ## Sleeping one guest, and a second on a trundle A daybed is sized around a twin mattress. The makers publish both the size and a thickness limit, and the limit is the one to read before you buy a thicker mattress for a guest. ### Mattress size and the thickness limit [IKEA's HEMNES daybed](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/hemnes-daybed-frame-with-3-drawers-black-brown-60421446/) takes two mattresses of about 38 1/4 by 74 3/8 inches, and IKEA recommends that each be no more than 5 1/2 inches thick. The two stack on top of each other when it is used as a single bed and go side by side when the base is pulled out as a double. [FYRESDAL](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/fyresdal-daybed-frame-black-30424366/) works the same way, with the same 5 1/2-inch limit, and IKEA pairs it with its ÅSVANG twin mattress at 4 3/4 inches thick. The [VIHALS daybed](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vihals-daybed-frame-white-20595090/) takes one twin mattress, and IKEA matches it with the 4 3/4-inch ÅGOTNES. The Pottery Barn pieces publish their platforms instead. The [Pottery Barn Kids Penny](https://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/penny-daybed-and-trundle/) is sold as a twin bed with a trundle, and the [Pottery Barn Elliot](https://www.potterybarn.com/products/elliot-upholstered-daybed-trundle/pip-print.html) takes a twin mattress with 39 inches of interior depth for it. Why the thickness cap matters: the sides and back of a daybed are built around a mattress of a certain height, and on a pull-out model the lower mattress has to slide under the upper one. Before you buy a plush 10-inch guest mattress for a daybed, check the maker's maximum, and if the listing does not give one, ask the seller for it in writing. ### Trundles and pull-out bases A second guest is where the daybed has the clearest structural advantage, and the trundles are not all the same size. - **IKEA HEMNES and FYRESDAL** have a pull-out base under the daybed. Pull it out, put the second twin mattress on it, and the two sit side by side as a double. - **IKEA BRIMNES** has the same kind of pull-out base, making a second twin sleeping surface, according to the [BRIMNES listing](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/brimnes-daybed-frame-with-2-drawers-white-40228708/). - **The IKEA VIHALS trundle** is a separate roll-out bed that sits under the daybed. It takes a **31 1/2 by 79-inch mattress no more than 4 3/4 inches high**, which is narrower and longer than a US twin, so buy the mattress to that size. The [VIHALS trundle listing](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vihals-trundle-bed-white-70595115/) adds that it has a safety lock and is not meant to be used on its own. - **The Pottery Barn Elliot trundle** has a mattress space of 74.5 by 38 inches and accepts a mattress of 5 to 8 inches. - **The Pottery Barn Kids Penny trundle** takes a twin mattress, with a recommended maximum of 6 inches. - **The Pottery Barn Kids Harlow** uses a roll-out trundle with a [40 by 75-inch trundle mattress platform](https://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/harlow-daybed-and-trundle/). A futon sleeps two only if its mattress is wide enough, since there is one surface and no second bed underneath. A full-size futon such as the [Winston Porter Johnte frame, sold at Wayfair with a full-size innerspring mattress](https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/winston-porter-johnte-full-size-futon-frame-and-full-size-innerspring-mattress-w008511167.html?piid=23688493%2C23688502%2C78630396), is the kind to look for if two guests will share it. The futons and futon-style sleepers compared in [the futon guide, ranked on seat and bed together](https://plushpick.com/guides/best-futon/) open to beds from 35 3/8 to 56 3/4 inches wide, and anything under about 38 inches is a one-person bed whatever the listing calls it. Owners describe both working. One owner in a [Reddit r/interiordecorating thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/interiordecorating/comments/1h3mvp6/how_is_something_like_this_for_an_occasional_guest_bed/) said a daybed with two good mattresses was comfortable for guests. In an [r/Frugal thread about replacing a futon with a daybed](https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/16pz30y/i_want_to_replace_my_futon_with_a_day_bed_but_is_this_a_good_idea/), a futon owner said upgraded futon mattresses had made theirs comfortable enough to sleep on as a bed. In both cases the mattress was what they changed. ![A daybed seen from its end rail at seat height, looking along the length of its mattress with a row of plain firm rectangular back cushions standing against the back rail, the band of mattress left in front of the cushions reading as the actual seat](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-daybed/bolsters-along-the-back.jpg) On a daybed you sit sideways on the mattress, and the cushions along the back decide how deep the seat feels. ## How each one sits during the day A futon sits like a sofa because it folds into one. The back rises at an angle behind you, the seat has a front edge you can get up from, and there is nothing to add. The limit is that you are sitting on the same pad your guest sleeps on, and that one surface takes both kinds of wear. A daybed sits differently, and the numbers show why. The Elliot's overall depth is 42.5 inches and its mattress space is 39 inches deep. The Penny is 41.5 inches deep overall, and the Harlow is 42 inches deep with a 6-inch siderail. On a daybed, that mattress width becomes the seat depth, so without cushions the back rail sits roughly 38 to 39 inches behind the front edge. That is deeper than [the sofa seats compared on depth](https://plushpick.com/guides/best-deep-seat-sofa/), so to sit upright you will need something behind you. The cushions close that gap. None of the daybed makers here publishes how many inches its bolsters or back pillows take off the depth, so measure it yourself at home: 1\. Put the back cushions or bolsters you plan to use against the back rail. 2. Sit the way you would to read or work, and measure from the front edge of the mattress to where your back meets the cushion. 3. Compare that with a sofa or chair you already find comfortable, measured the same way. I have dealt with back pain since I was 18, so support behind the lower back is the first thing I look for in any seat, and on a daybed that has to be a daily seat this is the measurement I would take before anything else. Firm bolster cushions are what The Wooden Stars recommends for the same reason. Owners who use a daybed as seating report that it works when it is set up for it. In the r/Frugal thread, one person who swapped a futon for a daybed described using the room as a reading and tea room, and in the r/interiordecorating thread an owner said that two good mattresses improved how the daybed sat as well as how it slept. ![A plain wooden futon caught partway between its sofa and bed positions, the back section tilted halfway down toward flat and the mattress bending softly over the hinge line, standing in an empty daylit room, photographed square on from the side at standing height](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-daybed/futon-mid-fold.jpg) A futon unfolds forward, so the open bed reaches further into the room than the frame does when it is closed. ## The floor each one takes, closed and open A twin daybed needs about 7 feet of wall. The Elliot is 82 by 42.5 inches closed, the Penny is 79 by 41.5 inches, and the Harlow is 78.5 by 42 inches. On a 10-foot wall, which is 120 inches, the Elliot leaves 38 inches beside it for a door swing, a desk or a nightstand. Open is where the makers stop publishing. None of the daybeds here gives the fully extended depth with the trundle or pull-out base all the way out, so the safe way to plan is a worst-case sum from the published figures. Worst-case open depth in a 10 by 10 foot room, from published figures | Daybed | Closed depth | What pulls out | Open depth, at most | Floor left in a 120-inch room | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pottery Barn Kids Harlow, twin | 42 in | Trundle, 40.5 in wide | 82.5 in | 37.5 in | | IKEA HEMNES, as a double | 42 1/8 in | Second twin mattress | 76 1/2 in of mattress alone, plus the frame edges | Under 43 1/2 in | | IKEA VIHALS with trundle | Not given for the frame | Trundle frame, 40.5 in wide | Frame depth plus 40.5 in | Ask IKEA for the frame depth | DaybedPottery Barn Kids Harlow, twin Closed depth42 in What pulls outTrundle, 40.5 in wide Open depth, at most82.5 in Floor left in a 120-inch room37.5 in DaybedIKEA HEMNES, as a double Closed depth42 1/8 in What pulls outSecond twin mattress Open depth, at most76 1/2 in of mattress alone, plus the frame edges Floor left in a 120-inch roomUnder 43 1/2 in DaybedIKEA VIHALS with trundle Closed depthNot given for the frame What pulls outTrundle frame, 40.5 in wide Open depth, at mostFrame depth plus 40.5 in Floor left in a 120-inch roomAsk IKEA for the frame depth The Harlow line is the sum of the daybed's 42-inch depth and the trundle's 40.5-inch width, which assumes the trundle comes all the way clear of the frame; if it stops partly underneath, you keep more floor. The HEMNES line is the two mattresses side by side at 38 1/4 inches each, which is the least the open bed can take. Ask the seller for the fully extended depth before you order, and tape that rectangle on the floor next to the closed one. A futon grows the other way. Its frame folds flat, so the whole piece gets deeper when it opens, and a wall-hugger frame is the kind that opens without being pulled away from the wall first. [How each one opens and what it costs the room](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-sofa-bed/) has one futon frame's closed and open depths if you want a figure to tape out. Whichever you choose, [measuring the route into the room](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-to-measure-a-sofa/) comes before measuring the room; IKEA ships the HEMNES in four packages, and the VIHALS trundle comes in one. ## Weight limits for each sleeping surface The Pottery Barn pieces publish a limit for each surface, which is the figure to check when two adults will sleep on the daybed and the trundle. - **Pottery Barn Elliot:** 300 pounds on the daybed and 300 pounds on the trundle. - **Pottery Barn Kids Harlow:** 300 pounds for the twin daybed, 500 pounds for the full daybed and 500 pounds for the trundle. - **Pottery Barn Kids Penny:** a 300-pound recommended maximum for the twin bed, and 300 pounds for the trundle bed. The IKEA daybed listings for HEMNES, BRIMNES, FYRESDAL and VIHALS do not give a weight limit for the top sleeping surface. If a heavier adult will sleep on one, ask IKEA customer service for the figure before buying. Futon frames publish their load figures in different ways, so read each one against its own product rather than lining them up. ![A newly assembled plain metal daybed frame with no mattress in it, and a separately bought twin mattress still tightly rolled in plain clear wrap lying across the bare slats of the frame, photographed at a front three-quarter angle](https://plushpick.com/blog/futon-vs-daybed/mattress-still-rolled.jpg) Many daybed and futon frames ship without a mattress, so price the frame and the mattress together. ## What each costs with a mattress, as of September 2026 A daybed frame is usually sold without its mattress, so price the two together. These are IKEA's prices on ikea.com as of September 2026, with the matching ÅSVANG twin mattress at $129 and 4 3/4 inches thick. IKEA daybeds, frame plus mattress, September 2026 | Daybed | Frame | With one ÅSVANG twin | With two, for the pull-out | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | VIHALS | $199 | $328 | Trundle priced separately | | FYRESDAL | $249 | $378 | $507 | | BRIMNES | $299 | $428 | $557 | | VIHALS with one ÅGOTNES mattress, sold as a set | $288 | Included | Trundle priced separately | DaybedVIHALS Frame$199 With one ÅSVANG twin$328 With two, for the pull-outTrundle priced separately DaybedFYRESDAL Frame$249 With one ÅSVANG twin$378 With two, for the pull-out$507 DaybedBRIMNES Frame$299 With one ÅSVANG twin$428 With two, for the pull-out$557 DaybedVIHALS with one ÅGOTNES mattress, sold as a set Frame$288 With one ÅSVANG twinIncluded With two, for the pull-outTrundle priced separately BRIMNES also had an IKEA Family in-store price of $229 for the frame, which is promotional and was stated to run from September 8 through December 24, 2026. The Pottery Barn Elliot and Penny sell their daybed and trundle mattresses separately, and neither listing gives a matching mattress price, so ask for the full cost with both mattresses. The Elliot's White Glove Service includes in-room delivery, unpacking and full assembly by a two-person team. For futons, the same rule applies with more force, because the frame and the mattress are often sold apart. The futon guide linked above has dated prices for complete futons and for a frame sold without its mattress. ## Which one suits how your room is used Start with how many nights a year someone sleeps there and how many sleep at once, then how many hours a day someone sits there. A guest room that sleeps two people at a time points to a daybed with a pull-out base or a trundle. Each guest gets their own mattress, you can buy those mattresses to the maker's published size and thickness, and the Elliot and Harlow publish a weight limit for each surface. A home office where someone sits every day and a guest stays a few nights a year points to a futon, or to a daybed only if you are willing to set it up with firm back cushions and measure the seat. If I were furnishing that room, I would measure the daybed seat with its cushions in place before deciding, because that is the number that tells you whether it will get used as a seat. A small room where the open bed has to leave a walking path depends on the published depths. Tape out the worst-case open rectangle for the daybed you are considering, or the open depth of the futon frame, and keep the one that leaves you a way to the door. **Quiz: Would you choose the right one?** 1. On a daybed, what sets the seat depth before you add cushions? - The height of the back rail - The width of the twin mattress, about 38 to 39 inches **(correct answer)** - The length of the frame 2. An IKEA HEMNES daybed recommends mattresses no more than 5 1/2 inches thick. What should you do before buying a 10-inch guest mattress for it? - Nothing, any twin mattress fits a twin frame - Check the thickness limit, because the frame is built around it **(correct answer)** - Buy a full-size mattress instead 3. The IKEA VIHALS trundle takes a 31 1/2 by 79-inch mattress. What does that mean for your shopping? - Any US twin mattress will fit - Buy the trundle mattress to its own size **(correct answer)** - It needs no mattress at all 4. A daybed listing gives no fully extended depth with the trundle out. How should you plan the floor? - Use the closed depth - Add the daybed depth and the trundle width as a worst case, and ask the seller **(correct answer)** - Assume the trundle stays under the frame ## Frequently asked questions **Can you sleep on a futon every night?** People do, and the mattress decides how well it goes. The reviewers at The Wooden Stars say nightly use of a futon's folding pad, which has a hinge across the sleeping surface, may become tiring, while a futon owner on Reddit said upgraded futon mattresses were comfortable enough to use as a bed. If it will be slept on nightly, budget for the better mattress first. **Can a daybed sleep two people?** Yes, if it has a pull-out base or a trundle. IKEA's HEMNES and FYRESDAL pull out into a double with two twin mattresses side by side, and the VIHALS, Elliot, Penny and Harlow add a trundle with its own mattress, so each guest sleeps on a separate surface. **Can I use a regular twin mattress on a daybed?** On the top surface, usually yes: the Penny is sold as a twin bed and the HEMNES takes mattresses of about 38 1/4 by 74 3/8 inches. Check the thickness limit, which is 5 1/2 inches on the IKEA daybeds, and check the trundle separately, because the VIHALS trundle takes a 31 1/2 by 79-inch mattress rather than a US twin. **Which takes less room, a futon or a daybed?** Closed, a twin daybed takes about 7 feet of wall and roughly 42 to 45 inches of depth, and a futon depends on its frame. Open, both grow into the room, and not every daybed or futon frame gives the figures you need, so tape the worst case on the floor before you order. ### Terms for a room that seats and sleeps Tap a term to see what it means. **Trundle.** A second, lower bed that rolls out from under a daybed on its own frame. On the IKEA VIHALS it takes a 31 1/2 by 79-inch mattress and locks in place. **Pull-out base.** A drawer-like platform under the daybed that slides out to hold the second twin mattress level beside the first, turning the daybed into a double. **Bolster.** A firm, long cushion set against the back rail of a daybed so a seated person has something to lean on, filling part of the 38 to 39 inches between the front edge and the back. **Maximum mattress thickness.** The tallest mattress a daybed maker recommends for its frame, such as 5 1/2 inches for the IKEA HEMNES, so the mattress sits properly inside the sides and clears the pull-out. **Wall-hugger.** A futon frame that opens by moving the seat forward, so it can convert without first being pulled away from the wall. Tape the closed and open rectangles on the floor, decide whether the room sleeps one guest or two, then shop within that type with the figures above in hand. [PlushPick](https://plushpick.com/) has [the futons compared on what the seat costs you](https://plushpick.com/guides/best-futon/) for the rooms where sitting comes first. [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fplushpick.com%2Fblog%2Ffuton-vs-daybed%2F) Cal Hewitt Writer at PlushPick. I compare sofa specs, comfort, durability, and value so you can buy with clearer expectations. [About Cal and how the guides are researched](https://plushpick.com/about/) ## Read next - [3:4AnswerPower vs Manual Recliner: Warranty, Repairs, Cost and Fit](https://plushpick.com/blog/power-vs-manual-recliner/) - [3:4AnswerHow Much Does a Recliner Cost? Real Prices, $280 to $3,895](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-much-does-a-recliner-cost/) - [3:4AnswerHow Much Does a Sleeper Sofa Cost? Prices by Bed and Mattress](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-much-does-a-sleeper-sofa-cost/) ## The latest - [1:1AnswerPower vs Manual Recliner: Warranty, Repairs, Cost and Fit](https://plushpick.com/blog/power-vs-manual-recliner/) - [1:1AnswerHow Much Does a Recliner Cost? Real Prices, $280 to $3,895](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-much-does-a-recliner-cost/) - [1:1AnswerHow Much Does a Sleeper Sofa Cost? Prices by Bed and Mattress](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-much-does-a-sleeper-sofa-cost/) - [1:1AnswerHow Much Does a Futon Cost? Frame, Mattress and Full Sets](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-much-does-a-futon-cost/) - [1:1AnswerDoes Medicare Cover Lift Chairs? What Part B Pays, Who Qualifies](https://plushpick.com/blog/does-medicare-cover-lift-chairs/) - [AnswerHow to Keep Couch Cushions From Sliding, by Upholstery Type](https://plushpick.com/blog/how-to-keep-couch-cushions-from-sliding/)