Growing up, my parents had a pull-out sofa bed that my friends and I used during sleepovers. It was the kind with a metal bed frame and a super-thin, foldable mattress that was about the thickness of a mattress topper. When I moved into my own house, I was glad to offer a guest bed to visitors, but sometimes my visitors outnumber the beds I have in my home, and someone has to sleep on the couch. For this reason, I was excited to find the Koala Sofa Bed, a stylish and compact couch that flips out to turn into a mattress. Unlike the sofa beds of yesteryear, there are no metal bed frames inside the Koala Sofa Bed. Instead, the cushions fold out and lie flat on the floor, so you can stretch out freely. Even if you have a small space, the Koala Sofa Bed makes it possible to host overnight guests.
I assembled a queen-size version of the 4th-generation Koala Sofa Bed and tested it for two weeks, relaxing on the sofa during the day and, in the evenings, folding it out into a bed to sleep on overnight. I previously tested the brand's 3rd generation version, so when they came out with the latest version, it was only natural for me to see the evolution of this small-space-friendly sofa bed.
Where the 3rd gen was super firm and supportive as both a sofa and a mattress, the 4th gen incorporates a slightly deeper seat; removable, washable, and water-resistant covers; and improved seat comfort with a plush pillow-top layer, zoned backrest, front-edge support, and a sturdy support base.
Keep reading to learn more about the Koala Sofa Bed and how it compares to the best sofas.
The small-space-friendly and stylish Koala Sofa Bed seamlessly folds out into a firm foam sofa bed. It’s easy to assemble with a generous trial policy and removable washable covers.
What we like
What we don't like
Design and customizations
The Koala Sofa Bed comes in four small-space-friendly sizes: king (81 inches wide), queen (70 inches, full (64 inches), and twin XL (46 inches). The queen and full versions resemble compact loveseats, while the twin XL looks more like an armchair. When unfolded, each matches standard mattress dimensions.
It's available in a mix of classic and premium fabrics. Classic options— like Olive Butter (what I tested), Morning Fog, and Cinnamon Sky — are water-resistant and made with recycled polyester, while premium fabrics (Silver Sand, Forest Dawn, and Moonlit Silver) have a dobby weave that blends polyester with recycled materials. There are also two corduroy options: Coastal Moss and Sand Stone.
The frame is made from FSC-certified timber, and the cushions use CertiPUR-US certified foam with layered support and comfort fillings. Additional pillows and seat inserts add softness, and all covers are removable and machine washable (air dry only). You can also swap out covers down the line, with replacements ranging from $500 to $1,050.
Delivery and setup
The Koala Sofa Bed shipped free via FedEx in five boxes. Delivery is quoted as 7-21 days, depending on where you live. (Note: when I tested, the delivery frame was much shorter, more like two to seven days.) I was able to easily move the boxes from my front porch into my living room.
As a single woman who lives alone, I hate asking a neighbor or friend to come over to help me assemble furniture. I was able to move the boxes myself and put everything together in about 90 minutes — no tools required. The provided instructions are clear, and the pieces slot together intuitively (like the arms sliding into latches on the back). Most of the time went toward stretching the removable covers over the frame, cushions, and foldable mattress, which takes a bit of effort. For comparison, the brand's 3rd-generation model took just 30 minutes since the covers came pre-installed. Koala also offers White Glove Delivery for $179, which could be worth it if you want to avoid the hassle of assembly.
Comfort and durability
I test mattresses quite often and have tested sleeper sofas in the past, so I am familiar with evaluating firmness. Overall, I found the Koala Sofa Bed cushions both comfortable and supportive to sit on. The seat cushions feel supportive yet comfortable, thanks to thin, removable inserts that add just enough softness without sacrificing structure. You get a slight "sink-in" feel, but the underlying cushions remain firm and supportive, whether you're lounging or working on a laptop. I especially like this newer version for its ability to deliver both comfort and support.
Perhaps most notably, I found the Koala Sofa Bed to be one of the easiest to convert from a couch to a bed, even quicker than assembling an air mattress. After removing the back and side pillows, all I had to do was unclip the back cushion from the back frame, and then pull the back cushion forward, and the bottom cushions followed. The cushions are connected so they extend out in one swoop onto the ground. It's as easy to close the sofa as it is to open it.
The cushions lie flat on the floor, which means you're only five or six inches off the ground. If your floors are dirty and you order a lighter-tone Koala Sofa Bed, there is a possibility that such grime will appear on the fabric when you convert it back to a couch. I have a rug in my living room, so I didn't have to worry about this, but it might be a good idea to place a sheet on the ground before opening the couch. I can see why many pull-out sofa beds have bed frames or legs to keep the bed off the ground. If for any reason the fabric does get dirty, you can always remove the covers and wash them.
For sleeping, the mattress part is noticeably firmer, and I found it more difficult to get comfortable at first. I'd rate it around an 8 out of 10 — great for back and stomach sleepers, but likely too firm for side sleepers, especially those under 170 pounds. It took me about five nights to adjust, and I still found there wasn't much pressure relief at the hips for side sleeping. There's also a slight seam between the cushions, which I noticed, though I was able to position myself so it wasn't disruptive. If you're taller, you may not be able to readjust. Fortunately, I didn't get hot, warm, or sweaty sleeping on the mattress (no matter what I wore) throughout the testing period.
As for the edge support, it was far better than I expected. Rather than fold the mattress into a couch every day, I sometimes leave it open and take Zoom calls while sitting on the edge of the mattress. I felt decently supported, which was no surprise since the mattress is on the firmer side. Lying near the edge of the mattress didn't cause any issues either. The edge didn't dip, and I never felt concerned that I'd roll or slip off.
The mattress's firmness shouldn't deter you from the Koala Sofa Bed. Your guests will manage just fine sleeping on it for a few days during their visit, though a soft mattress topper or pad wouldn't hurt to add. In my two weeks of testing, I haven't noticed any softening of the mattress cushions as of yet.
Cons to consider
I wouldn't necessarily say that the Koala Sofa Bed has "cons." It's more accurate to say that there are some preference drawbacks. The first is how low this sofa is to the ground. I like that gap between my couch and the floor, and if you do too, this is not the couch for you.
I should also add that the queen-sized Koala Sofa Bed is compact at 70 inches. You can only fit one large person or two medium-sized or smaller persons on it. In fact, it looks more like a loveseat than a couch, which makes it a great choice for a small living room or apartment. It might look too petite in a large home or living area.
Assembling the 4th-generation Koala Sofa Bed takes much longer because you have to add the covers to the entire frame, cushions, and pillows. If all that wasn't enough, it will take some strength and patience to properly stretch the cover over the frame so that the lining underneath is completely hidden.
Lastly, the sofa mattress is firm. It took my body about five days to get comfortable with the mattress's firmness, and that's coming from someone who prefers medium-to-firm mattresses. Your first few overnight guests may not like the firmness of the pull-out bed. At least the cushions are supportive, which is important for lower back health.
What are your alternatives?
While the Koala Sofa Bed is better suited to apartments or small living rooms, Koala's Byron Sofa Bed is a good option for those with the space for something larger. It comes in one size — queen — but is considerably wider at 92 inches. As a couch, it has an elegant, round-edge design with deep seating and plush arms. It has a similar fold-out design but differs thanks to concealed storage and a nifty slide-out platform base that the cushions sit on so they don't touch the ground. The Bryon Sofa Bed is about $200 more than the queen-sized version of the Koala Sofa Bed. The mattress also sits horizontally, following the length of the sofa. If you like a sectional design, there's also the Wanda Sectional, which employs a slideout mechanism to extend the full cushion to meet the reversible storage chaise. It's also Koala's largest sleeper offering, at 99 inches.
The Sabai Eclipse Sleeper Sofa is another small-space-friendly option, available in two lengths, with a similar queen-size fold-out design to the Koala Sofa Bed. (Sabai also offers an Eclipse Chair that converts to a single-size sofa bed.) It's made to order in many different colors, using hemp, recycled velvet, and upcycled poly fabrics. The Eclipse Sofa is a bit more expensive than the Koala, but that's likely due to the higher quality fabric sand the sustainable materials used in this sofa bed. For instance, the fabrics are free of PFAs, and the brand uses rubberized coconut fiber in the cushions. Read our Sabai Eclipse review.
Finally, Cozey offers the Neptune Sofa Bed 2 Seater, which is 64 inches wide, matching the full-size Koala Sofa Bed. However, the Neptune 2-Seater is modular and can be expanded with additional pieces in the future. Rather than a fold-out design, the back cushions of the Neptune shift down while the bottom cushions pull out to create a full-size bed. The Neptune cushions are a bit more prominent (they stick out in the middle) than the Koala Sofa Bed, so you're going to feel the dips between the cushions, which might not be comfortable. The cushions of the Neptune don't touch the ground. Read our Cozey Neptune Sofa review.
The bottom line
If I'd known a sofa bed like the Koala Sofa Bed 4th generation was around when I lived in an apartment, I would have absolutely invested in one. The Koala Sofa Bed is available in three sizes (king, queen, full, and twin XL) and multiple colors, with removable, washable covers that make it easy to refresh it over time without having to replace your sofa. It's stylish and cozy, and easily converts into a bed with its simple fold-out design. Sure, the mattress cushions are quite firm, but the seat inserts mean the sofa is more comfortable for how you're more often going to be using it: sitting. Koala also offers a 120-night trial and a five-year warranty, which is much more generous than other brands we've come across.
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