Beds With a TV Built In - A Complete Guide to How They Work

Yes, beds with a television built into them are a real product, and they are more established than most people realise. The proper name for them is a TV bed. The television sits hidden inside the footboard of the bed and rises up at the press of a button using a motorised lift system. When you are finished watching, it lowers back down and disappears completely, leaving you with what looks like an ordinary upholstered bed frame.

If you have seen one in a hotel, a showroom or a friend's house and wondered what it was called and how it worked, this guide covers everything: the lift mechanism, the sound systems, the storage, what separates a well-made TV bed from a cheap one, and the questions we get asked most often.

How the TV actually rises out of the bed

The heart of every TV bed is the TV lift system. This is a motorised mechanism housed inside the footboard that raises and lowers the television on a smooth vertical track. On most beds it is operated by a remote control, and on some newer designs you can also raise and lower the TV using voice commands.

A few things worth knowing about how this works in practice:

The footboard on a TV bed is deeper than on a standard bed. It needs to be, because it houses the television, the lift mechanism and the wiring. A good design hides all of this completely, so with the TV lowered there is no visual clue the bed is anything other than a normal frame.

The wiring is managed inside the bed. Power for the TV and the lift runs through internal channels, and the whole bed typically connects to the wall through a single plug. Better designs include hidden media trays inside the footboard where you can sit a Sky box, games console or streaming device out of sight, with the cabling already routed to the TV.

Lift quality varies more than anything else. Some lift systems are slow, noisy or jerky. Others are near silent, smooth and include memory functions that return the TV to your preferred height. This is one of the biggest differences between budget and premium TV beds, and it is almost impossible to judge from photographs. If you can, watch a video of the lift in motion or see one working in person before you buy.

Is the TV included?

It depends on the bed. Some TV beds are sold as complete packages with the television included and pre-fitted. Others are sold as the frame only, designed to accept a TV of a stated maximum size, usually 32 to 43 inches, depending on the bed and the width of the footboard.

There are advantages both ways. A package deal means everything arrives tested and ready to go. Buying the frame only means you can choose your own television or use one you already have, provided it fits within the size and weight limits the manufacturer specifies. Always check the maximum supported TV size before buying either the bed or the television, because the fit is precise: the TV has to sit within the footboard housing and clear it cleanly as it rises.

One more detail that catches people out: the TV connects to the bed's sound system, where one is fitted, using either an optical audio cable or HDMI ARC. Both are simple single-cable connections, and most modern televisions support at least one of them, but it is worth confirming your TV has the right output.

The part nobody expects: a good TV bed is a sound system

This is the point at which TV beds stop being a novelty and start being a genuine piece of home cinema. Many TV beds include built-in speaker systems, and the range runs from simple stereo setups to full surround sound.

The numbers you will see on product listings, such as 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1, describe the audio channels. The first number is the count of main audio channels, and the .1 is a dedicated bass channel or subwoofer. A 2.1 system gives you clearer, fuller sound than television speakers ever manage. A 4.1 or 5.1 system positions speakers around the bed itself so the sound wraps around you rather than coming at you from the front. At the top of the range, Dolby Atmos systems add height channels, so audio feels like it moves around and above you, which is the same technology used in modern cinemas.

Here is the honest advice: the sound system is where the real quality separation between TV beds happens, and it is also where appearances deceive. A large speaker grille or a soundbar-style panel across the footboard does not tell you how many audio channels sit behind it. Two beds that look almost identical in photographs can sound completely different in the room. If you want to understand this properly before choosing, our TV Bed Tech Centre and its Audio Explained section break down every system without the jargon, and you can browse beds grouped by sound system, from 2.1 speaker frames through 4.1 surround sound and 5.1 cinema surround up to the Dolby Atmos collection.

And if you simply do not want built-in audio, that is a valid choice too. TV beds without sound systems cost less and still give you the rising TV, and you can always run the sound through the television or a soundbar you already own.

Storage: the footboard is not the only clever part

Most TV beds pair the television with ottoman storage. The whole mattress platform lifts on gas-assisted struts to reveal a large hidden storage area underneath, big enough for spare bedding, out-of-season clothes and everything else a bedroom accumulates.

Two design details are worth looking for. The first is a floating floor, a raised solid base that sits above the bed's wiring and mechanisms, so your stored items rest on a clean surface rather than among cables. The second is the quality of the lift struts and base construction, because an ottoman you use weekly needs to open easily and hold its position safely.

For a bedroom where space is tight, the combination is hard to beat: the TV takes up no wall or unit space, and the bed itself replaces a chest of drawers' worth of storage. You can see the full ottoman storage range for an idea of what fits where.

What separates a well-made TV bed from a cheap one

TV beds combine furniture, electronics and moving mechanical parts, which means there are more ways for a cheap one to disappoint than with an ordinary bed frame. These are the things that matter, roughly in order:

The lift mechanism. Smoothness, speed, noise and longevity. This is the component you will use every single day, and it is the first thing to fail on poorly made TV beds.

Real audio channels, not just grilles. As above, count the channels, not the speaker fabric. Ask for the specification if it is not listed.

Build quality of the frame and base. The footboard carries a television and a motor, and the base may be lifted daily for storage. Solid construction matters more here than on a standard bed.

Connectivity done properly. Hidden media trays, tidy internal cabling and simple plug-and-play setup are signs of a bed designed by people who thought about how it would actually be used.

Warranty and aftercare. A bed with electrical and mechanical components should come with a meaningful warranty and a retailer who can support it. Five years is a reasonable expectation for a quality TV bed; treat anything much shorter as a signal.

Sizes and fitting one in your room

TV beds are available in the standard UK sizes: small double, double, king size and super king. Two measurements matter beyond the usual footprint check.

First, footboard depth. A TV bed is a little longer than a standard frame of the same mattress size because of the housing, so measure your room against the bed's external dimensions, not the mattress size.

Second, clearance above the footboard. The TV needs free space to rise, so avoid placing shelves, a windowsill ledge or anything else in the lift path at the foot of the bed.

Beyond that, they fit anywhere a normal bed fits, and because the TV disappears when not in use, they often suit smaller bedrooms better than a wall-mounted television does.

Frequently asked questions

What is a bed with a TV built in called?

It is called a TV bed. Some retailers also use the terms smart bed or tech bed for models with additional features, but TV bed is the standard name for a bed with a television that rises from the footboard.

Does the TV come with the bed?

Sometimes. Some TV beds are sold complete with the television fitted; others are sold frame-only for you to add a TV within the stated size limit, commonly 32 to 43 inches. Check the listing for each bed.

Can I use my own TV?

Usually, yes, on frame-only beds, provided it fits the size and weight specification and has an optical or HDMI ARC output if you want to use the bed's speakers.

How does the sound work?

Built-in speaker systems range from 2.1 stereo with a subwoofer up to 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos. The TV connects to the bed's audio through a single optical or HDMI ARC cable.

Do TV beds need a special mattress?

No. They take a standard mattress in the matching size. If the bed has ottoman storage, a mattress within the recommended weight range will keep the lift mechanism working smoothly.

How long do the motors last?

A quality lift system should last for many years of daily use, which is why the warranty matters. Look for a bed backed by a five-year warranty and buy from a retailer who offers genuine aftercare.

Are TV beds expensive to run?

No. The lift motor only draws power for the few seconds it takes to raise or lower the TV, so the running cost is effectively the cost of running the television itself.

Still comparing systems and features? Our TV Bed Tech Centre explains the technology behind every TV bed we sell, from audio channels to lift systems, in plain English.