Four ways to get a murphy bed, priced honestly

Search "murphy beds for sale near me" and you get marketplace listings and store locators. No context, no prices, no guidance. Here is the context. There are exactly four ways to end up with a murphy bed: buy retail, hire a local builder, buy used, or build it yourself. They differ wildly in cost, quality, and hassle. This is the guide I wish existed before I built my first one.

Option 1: Retail stores

The furniture-store route. Dedicated murphy bed showrooms exist in most metro areas, and the big chains (Ashley Furniture, City Furniture) carry them or can order them. Expect $1,800 to $4,000 for a queen, plus $200 to $500 for delivery and installation. What you are buying: a finished product, a warranty, and someone else's problem if the piston fails in year two.

Visit the showroom even if you do not buy. Open and close every floor model. Smooth and assisted both ways is right; heavy either way means cheap or worn hardware. Check the cabinet is plywood or solid wood, not particle board, and ask whether they stock replacement pistons.

Option 2: Local builders and carpenters

The $100 plan feature creates a project guide with reference dimensions, materials guidance, and an assembly sequence. Confirm cut dimensions, drilling locations, and installation details with the exact hardware kit manual before building.

Ask to see a murphy bed they have actually built. The mechanism work is the specialized part, and a builder with three murphy beds under their belt beats a brilliant cabinetmaker doing their first. Get the piston replacement terms in writing.

Option 3: Used. Marketplace, consignment, and what to inspect

The used market is where the deals live. Facebook Marketplace regularly has murphy beds at $300 to $900, often from people moving or converting the room back. Estate sales and consignment furniture stores are the sleeper sources: consignment shops in particular get murphy beds from downsizers, usually priced at 30 to 50 percent of retail, and the good ones will let you open and close the mechanism in the store.

Inspect the mechanism, not the paint. Open and close it five times. Smooth with light assistance both ways is right. If it slams or needs muscle, the pistons are worn ($80 to $200 to replace). Measure the face diagonals: more than a quarter inch of difference means it was built out of square. Check pivot points for elongated holes or cracked wood. That is fatigue, so walk away.

Budget the move: a murphy bed needs a truck or trailer, a second person, and photos of the mechanism before disassembly. Plan $100 to $200 for truck rental.

Option 4: Build it yourself

The full DIY path: $100 for the plans, $250 to $400 for the piston hardware kit, $400 to $700 in lumber and sheet goods, and a weekend or two of your time. All-in, $750 to $1,200 for a queen that would retail at $2,000-plus. You also get exactly the dimensions, style, and finish you want, which none of the other options offer at any price.

The honest accounting: you trade money for time. New to cabinetry? Build a plywood bookshelf first. It teaches every skill the murphy bed needs except the mechanism. And you will build from plywood, not the particle board most retail units hide under veneer.

  • Set your budget first: used $300 to $900, DIY $750 to $1,200, retail $1,800 to $4,000, custom $2,500 to $5,000
  • Always test the mechanism in person: smooth both ways, no slamming, no grunting
  • On used units, measure the face diagonals and inspect pivot points for wear before paying
  • Check consignment stores, not just Marketplace. Downsizer murphy beds are common and fairly priced
  • Price the DIY path completely: plans, hardware kit, lumber, finish, and delivery of sheet goods

Frequently asked questions

Where is the cheapest place to get a murphy bed?

Used, on Facebook Marketplace or at a consignment store: $300 to $900 for a solid unit. Inspect the mechanism carefully. Worn pistons turn a bargain into a project. If you want new and cheap, building it yourself at $750 to $1,200 beats every retail option.

How much does installation cost?

Retail delivery and installation typically adds $200 to $500. A used bed costs you a truck rental and a strong friend. DIY installation is part of the build: anchoring to studs with lag bolts, which the plans specify.

Is it worth buying a used murphy bed?

Often yes, if the mechanism is sound. The cabinet is just a box; the pistons are what wear, and you can test them in 30 seconds. Avoid anything that slams, drifts, or shows cracked wood at the pivots.

Can a local carpenter build one cheaper than retail?

Usually not cheaper (expect $2,500 to $5,000), but better fitted to your space. The value of a local builder is custom dimensions and finish, not savings. For savings, build it yourself or buy used.