Murphy Bed Won't Stay Down? 5 Causes and Safe Fixes

Quick answer: If your murphy bed won’t stay down, the usual cause is a mattress that is lighter than the lift mechanism is set for. Springs or gas pistons are balanced for a weight range, and a light mattress lets them push the platform back up. Weigh it, compare the number to your manual, then rebalance springs or ask the maker about pistons.

One check comes first. If the cabinet itself moves, rocks or pulls away from the wall as you lower it, stop using it today, because that’s a different and far more dangerous problem than a bed that drifts.

Why It Happens

Think of a seesaw. Springs or pistons push up while the frame and mattress pull down, and a well-tuned unit sits just past the balance point so it stays wherever you leave it.

When yours keeps floating up, the “up” side is winning. Here are the likely causes, most common first:

1. The mattress is too light. Bestar lists its full-size wall bed for mattresses of 60 lbs to 90 lbs, 8 inches to 10 inches thick, and no futons. Go under that range and the pistons overpower the platform.
2. You swapped mattresses. A new foam model can weigh far less than the original. Same frame, different balance.
3. Too many springs, or too much tension. Spring units are tuned by count. Wilding says you add springs for heavier mattresses and remove them for lighter ones.
4. Wrong thickness. Anything outside the stated thickness changes how weight sits on the platform, so check that limit too.
5. A loose or out-of-level cabinet. If the box has shifted, the geometry changes. This one is a safety issue, not a tuning issue.

Murphy Bed Won’t Stay Down: Find Your Branch

I’d treat this as a decision tree. Don’t skip the first question.

• If the cabinet moves, tilts or shows a gap at the wall: stop. Keep people clear and read what to do when a Murphy bed is not attached to the wall.
• If you changed mattresses recently: go to Fix 1.
• If it’s the original mattress, it’s within range, and you have springs: go to Fix 2.
• If it’s within range and you have gas pistons: go to Fix 3.
• If nothing above explains it: call the manufacturer.

How to Fix It

Fix 1: Weigh the Mattress

You need a number, not a guess. A bathroom scale does the job.

1. Weigh yourself and note it.
2. Hold the mattress, or have a helper balance it with you, and step on again.
3. Subtract the first reading from the second.
4. Compare the result with the weight and thickness range in your owner’s manual or on the maker’s product page.

Under the minimum? The honest fix is a heavier mattress inside the range. A topper might add enough, but only if total thickness still fits.

Fix 2: Rebalance a Spring Mechanism

This is the easy case. Wilding’s Studio series ships with 18 springs, 9 per side, and a queen generally runs 7 per side. Lighter load, fewer springs.

• Follow your model’s manual for removing springs. Steps differ by brand, including whether the bed should be open or closed.
• Change both sides equally. An uneven count twists the frame.
• Make one small change, then test lowering and raising.

Springs store a lot of energy. When I can’t find the procedure in a manual, my advice is simple: phone the maker before touching anything.

Fix 3: Gas Pistons

Harder. Wilding’s description of its piston models doesn’t mention any owner adjustment, and pistons are generally sized for a load range rather than tuned at home.

My take: don’t buy random replacement cylinders online. Give the manufacturer your model number and mattress weight, then ask whether a different piston or a different mattress is the right answer.

Also check the legs. Wilding’s piston beds have locking legs and can’t come down until both are lifted, so confirm they’re fully deployed before blaming the cylinders.

When to Stop and Call the Manufacturer

Get the maker or a professional installer involved if:

• The cabinet shifts, creaks at the wall, or screws look loose.
• You can’t tell whether it uses springs or pistons.
• It slams shut or drops hard. Wilding advises against slamming because it strains the lift system.
• Parts rub or collide in motion. Wilding asks owners to contact customer service for an adjustment.
• Your model appears in a CPSC recall. Dorel’s 2024 recall covered about 69,300 units that could detach from the wall, after 22 reports of falls and 10 injuries.

Honestly, drifting is annoying. A moving cabinet is dangerous. Keep those two problems separate.

How to Keep It Balanced

• Write the mattress weight inside your manual so the next owner knows it.
• Recheck balance after every mattress replacement. The Better Sleep Council’s rule of thumb says a mattress around 7 years old is due for replacement, so expect at least one swap.
• Don’t store heavy things on the folded platform.

For mechanisms and orientation, see our Murphy bed vs wall bed comparison, or browse space-saving beds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Murphy bed keep lifting up?

The mechanism pushes harder than the load weighs. A mattress below the maker’s range, or too many springs, is the usual reason.

How heavy should a Murphy bed mattress be?

It depends on the model. Bestar lists 60 to 90 lbs for its full-size version; your manual gives yours.

Can I adjust the pistons on a Murphy bed?

Usually not at home. Ask the manufacturer for the correct part rather than guessing.

Is it safe to sleep on a Murphy bed that won’t stay down?

Not until you know why. If the cabinet is solid and the platform only drifts, fix the balance first. If the cabinet moves at all, stop.

Last updated: November 10, 2026. Sources: Bestar full Murphy bed specifications, Wilding Wallbeds: spring vs piston mechanisms, Wilding Wallbeds: installation Q&A and CPSC: Dorel wall bed recall.