Our best futon mattress reviews 2019 provide you with our opinion of the best futons available online today. If you have a small house with limited sleeping accommodation, or even a bedsit or studio apartment, a futon could be your answer to unexpected visitors or even to the lack of space if you have children. Maybe you have enough bedroom accommodation for your family, but no spare room for overnight visitors. You are not alone, and many people have this problem to overcome every time extended family members, or even friends, need overnight accommodation for one or more nights.
Our best futon mattress reviews could help you choose appropriate sleeping facilities to supplement what you already have available for you and/or your family. We provide below our opinion of the best 5 futon mattresses from all those we have looked at. It is important that you use the most comfortable futon you can, and each of the five below has been chosen for its comfort, its particular properties, and its features.
A futon mattress can be used to convert a sofa into a temporary bed, or can even be laid on the floor as a comfortable sleeping surface for children or even adults. In fact, sofa beds may also be referred to as futons in the USA. The 5 best futon mattresses we have chosen are traditional folding or roll-out Japanese futons that can provide a comfortable bed for your visitors - or even for yourself. So what is the most comfortable futon? Here is our opinion on this:
1. FULI Japanese Traditional Shiki Futon (shikibuton)
This futon is a traditional Japanese Shiki futon, known as a shikibuton. Like most futons, once delivered you are advised to allow it to expand for 3 days after opening the package. The futon is composed of a cotton cover stuffed with polyester. Most people who have purchased this provide it with good reviews.
Check out our Buyer's Guide below for what to look for and expect in a good futon. If you find it too thin for you, as many westerners might with a genuine futon, you can use a thin mattress or a tatami mattress to make it more comfortable. The cover is 100% cotton, and the filling is polyester foam.
Editor's Notes: Those used to sleeping on traditional Japanese futons will find this an excellent option. At 2.5 inches thick, it is normal for a futon. However, some people may find it. Too thin, and too hard to sleep on. In that case, you can use a Tatami pad under it, or even a mattress pad or some other comfortable surface to spread the futon out on.
Purchase This Product on Amazon2. EMOOR Compact Japanese Futon
The EMOOR Japanese futon comprises a futon mattress (shikibuton), a pillow and a comforter (kakebuton). This is lightweight futon that is 76.8 x 37.4 inches (95 x 195 cm) in size with a 59 x 78.8 inch (150 x 200 cm) comforter. It is easy to store and can be rolled out on the floor when needed. This is an excellent futon if you find it comfortable to lie on a hard surface. If you prefer something softer, then you can use this futon on top of a foam mattress.
Editor's Notes: The EMOOR compact Japanese futon is a good example of this company's range of futon products. It comes with the kakebuton (comforter) and pillow. You may find it hard if used on a hard floor, but you can use it on a regular mattress, a mattress pad or on any other soft surface if you prefer. Futons tend to be thin by nature, unless you are referring to the alternative sense of the word: a sofa that can be used as a bed for overnight guests.
Purchase This Product on Amazon3. D&D Futon Trifold Mat
This shikibuton futon is a 3-inch thick tri-fold sleeping mat. It is intended for floor use, and is perfect if this is the type of futon you are looking for. It can be used anywhere: on a bedroom floor, in a nursery, guestroom, living room, mobile homes and RV trailers, and even on a patio on warm evenings. The fabric cover is 100% polyester poplin, and is manufactured using 1.8 lb high-density foam. It meets the required flammability standard CFR Part 1633.
Some parents use this type of futon mat for sleeping in a nursery beside their new baby, or beside a crib while the child is transitioning from sleeping in their parents' room to their own room. Its dimensions allow it to be folded up and stored beneath the crib.
Editor's Notes: This is an excellent futon mat intended for floor sleeping, although it can be used on a sofa or on a solid mattress base or foundation. There is no warranty or sleep trial information provided with this product. However, if you buy from Amazon, you get Amazon's own guarantee. It. Is good for an RV or trailer, and folds up for easy storage.
Purchase This Product on Amazon4. Merax Folding Futon Sofa Bed
The Merax folding futon sofa bed is a different type of futon that meets the American definition of 'futon'. It can be used a sofa or a gaming lounge chair, but most of all, as a futon. This is a piece of furniture you can sit or lie on, and use as your bed at night. It is ideal for a bedsit, small apartment or for your children to use for reading, watching TV, gaming and for sleeping (mostly in reverse order!). It is easy to fold and convert to a comfortable chair, stylish sofa or to a bed. It comes with a fleece cover and is both versatile and comfortable.
Editor's Notes: The Merax futon is not a traditional Japanese style of futon, but is what many Americans regard as meeting the definition. It lies somewhere between a traditional sofa-bed and a futon, and would certainly be useful to many people in need of a spare bed. Because of the way it has been designed and constructed, the bed mode is very comfortable. Some people use this as their main bed.
Purchase This Product on Amazon5. Mozaic Full Size Gel Memory Foam Futon
The Mosaic futon mattress fits any full-size futon frame. It is 8 inches thick and made using gel-infused memory foam which not only feels comfortable to sleep on but also helps keep you cool on hot nights. It fits a standard Full-size frame and both sides of the Mosaic futon can be used. It is designed for use either flat as a bed or folded such as on an upright sofa.
This American futon is thicker than most Japanese-style futons and may suit many Western preferences more than the thinner types of the futon. It is not rated higher because it is not a traditional type of oriental futon. Nevertheless, this is one instance where our #5 choice might be preferred by many people. The cotton twill cover will increase its life and makes it easy to clean. A futon frame is available separately for the Mosaic futon. Click Here for more details of the frame.
Editor's Notes: This is an excellent futon, although you will need to purchase a frame to make the best use of it. If you simply want to unfold it on the floor, then it is comfortable enough to accommodate that. We recommend that you purchase a futon cover than can be removed for machine washing since the cover provided is not removable and has to be washed with a steam cleaner.
Purchase This Product on AmazonBuyer's Guide to Futons
The above are our top picks, but before even considering buying a futon it is important to understand what a futon is. Most Americans envisage a sofa bed or some other substantial item of furniture. Many others understand the Japanese concept of a foldable or roll-out bed for the floor. If you are seeking a spare bed or two for your home, in case you get visitors who have to stay overnight, then both types of futon are good.
In Japan, the word 'futon' means 'bed'! Japanese futons are designed to be rolled out or laid on the floor. The various terms used for the futon parts and accessories are:
Shikibuton: Mattress
Kakebuton: Comforter or Duvet/Quilt
Makura: Pillow
Tatami: A floor mat, traditionally made using rice straw for the core. Today, a tatami may also be made using the compressed wood chip or even polystyrene foam. Whatever it is made from, it is a good base for a futon to rolled or placed on.
In the USA, the term 'futon' generally refers to the shikibuton, or mattress, and is designed to be used on a couch or a frame. It is thicker than a traditional Japanese futon. A Japanese-style futon is normally up to around 3 inches in thickness. This can be fairly hard for most sleepers, particularly side sleepers. Most stomach sleepers would normally find it a very comfortable sleeping surface. If properly looked after and maintained, a futon should last from 7 to 12 years, and perhaps a little longer if rarely used.
The vast majority of Americans will sleep on a tradition bed, and use the futon for guests - particularly for unexpected overnight stays. It is easy to store a futon in a cupboard and bring it out when needed. You are advised to turn or flip (where possible) a futon twice a month to equalize the wear and make it last longer. Here are some tips on buying the best futon for your needs.
Period of Use: Occasional Visitor or Main Bed
Is your futon intended as the main bed or for occasional visitors? This will make a difference to your approach when deciding which to purchase. A low-priced futon might be OK for a visitor sleeping just one or two nights. However, if it is intended as your main bed, then a higher quality and more expensive futon might be called for.
Futon Construction
Because Japanese futons are designed to be rolled out they tend to be made using fairly thin foam or batting. However, some American futons are available constructed with steel coils or springs. We did not present one of these in our five above, but we do recommend one: the Better Homes and Garden Wood Arm Futon with an 8" Coil Mattress This is a futon or sofa bed that will last, and that will provide a high-quality bed whenever needed.
This futon is constructed like a proper mattress with the purpose of providing good support. You may find a memory foam futon more suited to your sleeping position, in which case the American Mosaic cotton twill gel memory foam futon introduced in our list of 5 best futon mattress reviews would likely meet your needs. Japanese futon mattresses are intended to be rolled out on the floor, while the American type, such as that above, are thicker and intended for couch, sofa or frame use.
Types of Futon
When you are buying a futon it's important to understand the different types available. Some think of a sofa type while traditionalists may prefer a traditional futon mat. One of the benefits of a futon mat is that you can lay it out on a floor, on a tatami or even on a thin mattress or mattress pad as explained earlier. A futon frame is good for a thicker type of futon such as the 8-inch thick Mosaic futon we have reviewed.
Futon Pads: As explained above, a futon pad can be laid on the floor, either alone or on a comfortable surface such as a tatami or a mattress mat. You can use a futon pad on your mattress to protect it and extend its life. The cost of the pad will likely be less than what it would cost you to replace your mattress had you not used it. You can also use a futon pad to change the comfort level of your mattress to meet your needs.
Sofa Futons: American futons tend to be used as chairs, sofas, and beds. The futon itself is generally thicker than a Japanese futon - around 8 inches in depth as opposed to around 3 inches. They can usually be used as a sofa during the day, and stretched out at night as a bed.
Spring Futons: Some futons are manufactured using innersprings as the main support system. These are generally American innovations and not true Japanese futons. They are unable to stand up to the stresses of folding or rolling and tend to have a short life. If you prefer springs then forget the futon and choose an innerspring mattress.
That said, it is important that you get what you pay for, and understand what you are paying for when you purchase a futon. Our best futon mattress reviews provide you with the information needed to make the correct decision. This buyer's guide to futons is important in helping you make the right decision. We shall explain to you what to look for when purchasing a futon, and how to avoid the main pitfalls that Westerners face when purchasing oriental furniture.
Best Futon Mattress Reviews: FAQs
Here are some questions regarding futon mattresses that we frequently have to answer.
Best Futon Mattress Reviews 2019: Conclusion
Our five best futon mattresses have been chosen for their quality, versatility, and comfort. Our chosen five comprise three traditional Japanese types of the futon and two American futons, each of which doubles as a sofa or couch. They are all high quality at reasonable prices and each has its own advantages, depending on what you/ need from your futon.