Murphy Bed vs Wall Bed: Are They the Same Thing?

By DWALS Team · Last updated October 2026

Murphy bed vs wall bed: is there a real difference? In everyday use, no. Both names describe a bed that folds up into a cabinet against the wall when you’re not using it and comes down when you need it. Some makers use the two names to mean slightly different designs, but they don’t agree with each other on what that difference is. So the label on a quote tells you very little. What matters is the mechanism, the build and who services the bed after it’s installed.

This guide explains where the “Murphy” name came from, why sellers use both names, how the main lifting mechanisms differ, and what to ask any maker, whatever they call their bed.

Short answer: the names overlap

A Murphy bed and a wall bed are, for practical purposes, the same kind of furniture. Wikipedia’s entry for the Murphy bed lists “wall bed”, “pull-down bed” and “fold-down bed” as other names for it (Wikipedia: Murphy bed).

Much of what you’ll read online comes from makers abroad, and their definitions conflict. One will say a Murphy bed uses springs and a wall bed uses pistons; another will draw the line somewhere else entirely. Neither split is an industry standard. If two quotes in Mumbai say “Murphy bed” and “wall bed”, don’t assume they’re different products. Compare what’s inside them.

DWALS uses both names for the same beds.

Where the name “Murphy bed” comes from

The name comes from William Lawrence Murphy, an American who applied for his first folding-bed patents around 1900. The story goes that he was living in a one-room flat in San Francisco. In 1989, a US appeals court ruled that “Murphy bed” had become a common term, so it could no longer be protected as a trademark. That’s why any maker can use it today.

The history explains the name, but it tells you nothing about the mechanism or build of the bed you’re being quoted.

What people usually mean today

When someone in Mumbai asks for a Murphy bed or a wall bed, they usually mean the same thing:

A cabinet fixed to the wall, which holds the bed when it’s closed.
A bed frame hinged at the base, carrying the mattress, which folds down to sleep on.
A lifting mechanism that carries the weight, so the bed can be raised and lowered without lifting the full load yourself.
An orientation: vertical, where the bed folds down lengthwise, or horizontal, where it folds down sideways from a lower, wider cabinet.

Many beds add something around the cabinet, such as side storage, a desk or a sofa in front (Murphy bed with sofa). Those additions don’t change the name either.

Spring mechanisms vs gas-strut mechanisms

This is the difference that actually matters, and it has nothing to do with the name. A wall bed needs a counterbalance, something that carries the weight of the frame and mattress so you only guide the bed. Wikipedia notes that modern Murphy beds use either piston lifts or torsion springs for this.

Spring mechanisms use springs to balance the weight of the bed. Designs vary from maker to maker, so ask how the springs are set for your mattress and how they’re adjusted later.

Gas-strut mechanisms use gas springs, also called pistons, to carry the weight. Here too, ask how the force is set for your mattress and whether it can be re-tuned.

Neither name, Murphy bed or wall bed, tells you which mechanism you’re getting. So ask:

Which mechanism does the bed use: springs or gas struts?
How is it set for my mattress’s thickness and weight?
Can it be re-tuned if I change the mattress later?
What load and how many open-and-close cycles is it tested to, and is that in writing?
Who services it, and are spare parts kept in stock?

What DWALS builds

DWALS builds cabinet wall beds with gas-strut mechanisms, made to measure for Mumbai flats. Here’s what we publish about them:

The mechanism: gas spring struts rated for 300 kg and cycle-tested to 40,000 open-and-close cycles. Every mechanism is cycle-tested on our floor before it leaves our Pune factory. The struts are sealed, self-damping units of the kind used in car tailgates, and they don’t rely on springs or cables.
Set to your mattress: we ask for your mattress’s thickness and weight at the measurement visit and set the strut force to match. If you change the mattress later, the struts can be re-tuned.
Everyday use: the bed opens with one hand. The struts carry the weight; you pull the handle and guide it down. The mattress stays strapped to the frame, so your bedding stays on.
Closed depth: a closed DWALS bed projects 12 inches from the wall.
Vertical or horizontal: we build both. If the ceiling is under 7 ft 2 in, or a window or beam is in the way, we build the bed horizontal instead. Our guide on how to choose a horizontal or vertical wall bed explains the choice.
Fixing: the cabinet is fixed with anchors sized for brick, RCC or block walls, through a few points along its back, with no civil work.
Handover: our own team installs the bed. At handover, a professional shows everyone in the household how to open and close it, so the first time you do it, we’re in the room.

If you also want seating in the same space, our Murphy bed with sofa (a wall bed with a real three-seater in front) keeps seating by day and a proper mattress bed by night — from ₹1,25,000 in Mumbai.

Vertical or horizontal: does the name change?

No. A vertical bed and a horizontal bed can both be called a Murphy bed or a wall bed. Orientation is about your room: ceiling height, windows, beams and the wall you have. It isn’t about the label.

Questions to ask any maker, whatever they call it

Whether a quote says Murphy bed or wall bed, ask the same questions:

What mechanism does it use, and what is it tested to?
What is the cabinet made of, and how are the edges finished?
Which wall types do you fix to, and is any civil work needed?
Is the bed made to my measurements, or a standard size?
Who installs it, and will they show my family how to use it?
What does the warranty cover, for how long, and what does it exclude?
Who comes for service later, and what happens if I move house?

Our wall bed buying guide goes through each of these in more detail, along with payment stages and installation.

Talk it through with us

Whatever you call it, the right bed is the one that fits your wall, your mattress and the way you’ll use it. DWALS measures your wall for free, designs the bed for your room and installs it with our own team.

Book your free space consultation today. Call or WhatsApp +91 906 706 5557, or email contact@dwals.in.

FAQ

Are a Murphy bed and a wall bed the same?

For practical purposes, yes. Both names describe a bed that folds up into a wall cabinet when it’s not in use. Some makers use the names for slightly different designs, but they don’t agree on the difference, so compare the mechanism and build rather than the label.

Why do makers use both names?

“Murphy bed” comes from William Lawrence Murphy, who patented folding-bed designs in the early 1900s, and it later became a common term that any maker can use. “Wall bed” describes where the bed goes. Both names are in common use, so many sellers, DWALS included, use both.

What mechanism does a modern wall bed use?

Modern wall beds use either springs or gas struts, also called pistons, to carry the weight of the frame and mattress. The name doesn’t tell you which one you’re getting, so ask the maker.

Does DWALS make Murphy beds or wall beds?

Both names fit. DWALS builds made-to-measure cabinet wall beds with sealed gas spring struts rated for 300 kg and cycle-tested to 40,000 open-and-close cycles. Every mechanism is tested before it leaves our Pune factory.

Does the name change for a vertical or horizontal bed?

No. Vertical and horizontal beds can both be called Murphy beds or wall beds. The orientation depends on your room, such as the ceiling height, windows and beams.

What should I ask any maker, whatever they call it?

Ask which mechanism it uses and what it’s tested to, what the cabinet is made of, which walls they fix to, who installs it and shows you how to use it, what the warranty covers and for how long, and who services it later.