Hide-a-Bed Sofas, Reinvented: Which Koala Sofa Bed Is Right for You?

If you grew up calling it a hide-a-bed sofa, you probably remember the ritual: heave off the cushions, wrestle a squeaky metal frame, and spend the night feeling a support bar through a thin fold-up mattress. Good news — the hide-a-bed grew up. Today's sofa beds convert in seconds, with no clunky mechanisms and real foam comfort built in.

Here's how Koala's three hide-a-beds compare, and how the new mechanisms actually work.

What Is a Hide-a-Bed Sofa? (And What It's Called Now)

A hide-a-bed sofa is a couch with a fold-away bed hidden inside the frame. The name started as a brand: the Simmons Bedding Company introduced the Hide-A-Bed in 1940 — a sofa with a fold-out spring and mattress — and made it until the 1980s. While "Hide-A-Bed" stuck around in living rooms as a catch-all term, the furniture industry eventually moved on. Today you'll see the same piece of furniture listed as a sleeper sofa, sofa bed, pull-out couch, or convertible sofa — they're all descendants of the hide-a-bed. Yes, they're still made. The difference is what's inside: instead of a thin innerspring mattress folded over a metal frame, modern designs like Koala's use full foam sleep surfaces and simpler fold-flat or slide-out mechanisms.

Koala's Hide-a-Bed Sofa Range: Which One Is Right for You?

Koala makes three hide-a-bed sofas: the Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] for most homes, the Byron [3rd Gen] for deep-seat lounging and couples, and the Wanda for 4-in-1 versatility. All three carry a 120-day free trial, a 5-year warranty, and tool-free, slide-and-click assembly.

#1 Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] — Best Overall

The Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] is the rare hide-a-bed that works equally well as a sofa and as a bed. Its FlipBed™ design converts from sofa to bed with no clunky mechanisms, and the integrated Kloudcell™ topper uses the same open-cell foam as Koala's mattress range. It's also the only one of the three that comes in multiple sizes — 46" Twin XL, 64" Full, and 70" Queen (sofa widths, not mattress sizes).

• Best for: Everyday use — living rooms that double as guest rooms, compact apartments

• Sleep surface: Integrated Kloudcell™ topper; folds out flat with no bars or springs

• Sizes: 46" Twin XL / 64" Full / 70" Queen

• Assembly: Tool-free, slide-and-click; ships via FedEx in 5 boxes, 2–7 days

• Trial & warranty: 120-day free trial, 5-year warranty

• Price: From $1,450 (46" Twin XL; $1,550 in Premium Fabric) · 64" Full $1,850 ($1,950 Premium) · 70" Queen $1,990 ($2,090 Premium) — at the time of writing

• Pros: Fastest conversion in the range; machine-washable, water-resistant covers; deep 23.5" seats; three sizes and three fabric tiers (Classic, Luxe, Premium corduroy); 4.8 stars across 2,045 reviews at the time of writing

• Cons: No storage built into the sofa itself (the matching Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman adds hidden storage); bed mode needs 88" of open depth

#2 Byron Sofa Bed [3rd Gen] — Best for Couples and Overnight Guests

The Byron Sofa Bed [3rd Gen] is the deep-seat lounger of the range — 42" seats built for stretching out, with a queen-sized bed mode underneath. It's the only Koala sofa bed with Zero Disturbance™ motion isolation, which makes it the pick if two people share the bed and one of them moves around at night. A 6-inch integrated Kloudcell™ sleep surface and a machine-washable topper keep it guest-ready between visits.

• Best for: Couples, guest rooms, and living rooms where lounging comes first

• Sleep surface: 6" integrated Kloudcell™ sleep surface with washable topper; Zero Disturbance™ motion isolation

• Size: 92" Queen only

• Assembly: Tool-free, slide-and-click; 5 boxes via specialty carrier, 7–21 days from dispatch

• Trial & warranty: 120-day free trial, 5-year warranty

• Price: From $2,195 ($2,395 in Premium Fabric) — at the time of writing

• Pros: Large hidden storage for bedding; FlipBed™ conversion; water-resistant, removable, machine-washable covers; boucle Premium Fabric option; 4.8 stars across 585 reviews at the time of writing

• Cons: One size only — measure for the 92" width; deeper footprint than a standard sofa

#3 Wanda Sofa Bed — Best 4-in-1 with Storage and Chaise

The Wanda Sofa Bed is the most versatile hide-a-bed Koala makes: sofa, chaise, daybed, and queen-size bed in one 99" frame. The bed mode is a slide-out queen-size sleep platform with a Kloudcell™ topper — no bumps or gaps — and its elevated sleep height makes getting in and out easier than a floor-level fold-out. The chaise flips to either side and hides the largest storage compartment in Koala's sofa bed range.

• Best for: Families, frequent hosts, and larger rooms that need one piece to do four jobs

• Sleep surface: Slide-out queen-size platform with Kloudcell™ topper (note: not a FlipBed™ design)

• Size: 99" Queen only, reversible chaise

• Assembly: Tool-free, slide-and-click; 4 boxes via specialty carrier, 7–21 days from dispatch

• Trial & warranty: 120-day free trial, 5-year warranty

• Price: $3,295 — at the time of writing

• Pros: 4-in-1 versatility; biggest storage in the range; elevated, seamless sleep surface; each seat holds a 265-lb static load, tested to EN 12520; 4.9 stars across 209 reviews at the time of writing

• Cons: Covers are spot-clean only (not machine-washable); largest footprint of the three; single fabric tier

Hide-a-Bed Mechanisms Explained: Pull-Out vs Fold-Out vs Slide-Out

Modern hide-a-beds use three main mechanisms, and the one you choose matters more than any other spec. Here's how each works.

Pull-Out

A pull-out hides a folded mattress and metal frame under the seat cushions — remove the cushions, grab the strap, and unfold. This is the mechanism people picture when they hear "hide-a-bed," and it's the source of the category's bad reputation: thin mattresses, support bars, and a heavy two-step setup. Koala doesn't use it.

Fold-Out (FlipBed™)

A fold-out converts the sofa itself into the bed — the seat and back fold flat, so there's no separate frame to unfold. Koala's FlipBed™ design, used on the Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] and Byron Sofa Bed [3rd Gen], works this way: "sit-to-sleep in seconds," with no mechanical parts to fight and Kloudcell™ foam where the old metal bars used to be.

Slide-Out Platform

A slide-out design pulls a dedicated sleep platform out from under the seat, often at bed height. The Wanda works this way: a queen-size platform with a Kloudcell™ topper slides out at an elevated height, which makes it the easiest of the three to get in and out of overnight.

Quick Comparison Table

What to Look for in a Hide-a-Bed Sofa

The right hide-a-bed sofa comes down to four questions. Answer these before you compare models.

How much space do you have?

Measure the footprint open, not just closed. The Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] needs 88" of depth in bed mode; the Byron opens to 70" deep; the Wanda's platform slides out from a 99"-wide frame. Sofa width labels aren't mattress sizes — a "70" Queen" is a 70-inch-wide sofa with a queen-sized bed mode. Tight layouts and lofts have their own math — see our guide to the best sofa beds for lofts, and if you're outfitting an RV, the best sofa beds for campers.

How often will someone sleep on it?

For nightly or weekly use, prioritize the sleep surface over everything else. All three Koala models use Kloudcell™ — an open-cell foam from the same technology as Koala's mattress range — rather than the thin fold-up pad of the old hide-a-beds. The Byron's 6" integrated surface and washable topper make it the strongest dedicated-guest-bed pick.

Who's sleeping on it?

Couples should look at the Byron — it's the only model in the range with Zero Disturbance™ motion isolation. Guests who find low beds hard to get out of will do better on the Wanda's elevated slide-out platform.

How much cleanup can you live with?

Kids, pets, and guests are the whole point of a hide-a-bed, so check the covers. The Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] and Byron have removable, machine-washable, water-resistant covers; the Wanda's covers are spot-clean only. If machine-washing is non-negotiable, choose the 4th Gen or Byron — replacement cover packs are available for the 4th Gen too.

The hide-a-bed grew up — meet the Koala Sofa Bed. Real Kloudcell™ comfort, sofa-to-bed in one flip, and a 120-day free trial to prove it. Shop the sofa bed collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hide-a-bed couch called today?

A hide-a-bed is now called a sleeper sofa, sofa bed, pull-out couch, or convertible sofa. The terms are used interchangeably — Koala's US range uses "sleeper sofa" and "sofa bed" for the same products.

Do they still make hide-a-bed couches?

Yes — they just go by different names and use better mechanisms. Koala's current range replaces the old metal pull-out frame with the fold-flat FlipBed™ design (Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen], Byron [3rd Gen]) and a slide-out queen platform (Wanda).

How does a hide-a-bed sofa work?

A bed is concealed inside the sofa frame. Depending on the design, you either unfold a metal frame from under the cushions (the traditional pull-out), fold the sofa itself flat (fold-out designs like FlipBed™), or slide a sleep platform out from under the seat (like the Wanda).

How much does a hide-a-bed sofa cost?

Koala's hide-a-bed range runs from $1,450 for the 46" Twin XL Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] to $3,295 for the Wanda, at the time of writing. The 4th Gen Queen is $1,990, and the Byron Sofa Bed [3rd Gen] starts at $2,195; Premium Fabric options add about $100–$200.

Are hide-a-bed sofas comfortable enough for everyday sleeping?

Modern ones can be — the deciding factor is the sleep surface. Koala's sofa beds use Kloudcell™, the same open-cell foam technology as its mattress range, instead of a thin pad over a metal frame, and the 120-day free trial means you can test sleep on one at home before committing.

The Verdict

The Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] is the right hide-a-bed sofa for most homes — the only one in the range with three sizes, machine-washable covers, and a sit-to-sleep conversion with no mechanisms to fight. Choose the Byron [3rd Gen] if couples or frequent guests will sleep on it, and the Wanda if you want one piece of furniture that's a sofa, chaise, daybed, and queen bed with the most storage in the range. Whichever you choose, you'll never fight a metal bar again — compare all three in Koala's sofa bed collection, backed by a 120-day free trial and 5-year warranty.