Is Black Friday the best time to buy a TV bed?
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The short answer
For us, yes. Black Friday is when we put out our biggest offers of the year.
But a good price only counts if the bed fits your TV, your room and the way you actually use it. And sale week is the worst time to be working that out. The best deals go first, and a TV bed isn't something you can size up in a hurry.
We've been selling TV beds for years from our showroom in Bury, and the same handful of issues come up again and again. The most common one? Check that your TV fits! So here's what to sort out now, before the sale starts. Do this, and you can order in five minutes on the day, knowing the bed will work.
1. Measure your TV, not just its screen size
TV sizes are sold by the diagonal. TV beds are limited by width. The lift cabinet in the footboard has a fixed internal width, and the TV has to slide up and down inside it without catching.
So measure your TV edge to edge, including the frame. Don't rely on the number on the box. Two 55-inch TVs from different brands can differ by a few centimetres, and that can be the difference between a perfect fit and one that won't go in.
As a rough guide, here's how the screen area of a standard widescreen (16:9) TV converts to width. The frame adds a little on top.
| Screen size | Approx. screen width |
|---|---|
| 32 inch | 71 cm |
| 40 inch | 89 cm |
| 43 inch | 95 cm |
While you've got the tape measure out, check three more things:
- Weight. Every lift has a maximum load. Most modern flat screens are well within it, but older or larger sets can be heavy.
- Mounting. The TV attaches to a bracket inside the lift, so the stand comes off. Check the holes on the back of your TV (the VESA pattern) match the bracket.
- Depth. Very thin TVs are easy. Older sets with a deep back panel may not fit the cabinet.
If you're planning to buy a new TV at the same time, check the bed first. It's far easier to pick a TV to suit the bed than the other way round. Importantly, most TV beds (whether we sell them or not) will only take a 43-inch TV Bed.
Measure the room, and note that a TV bed is longer than a standard bed of the same size, because the footboard houses the lift. Check the total length of the bed you like against your room, and leave enough space to walk round the end.
Then look up. The TV rises out of the footboard, so anything above the foot of the bed matters: a low windowsill, a shelf, a wall light, or a sloping ceiling in a loft room or dormer. Measure from the floor to the lowest point above where the footboard will sit, and compare it with the bed's height with the TV fully raised.
Two more things people often miss:
- A plug socket near the foot end. The lift motor and the TV both need power. Extension leads trailing across the floor aren't ideal, so check where your nearest socket is.
- The route into the bedroom. Narrow hallways, tight turns on the stairs and low landings can all cause problems on delivery day. Measure doorways and stair widths now.
3. Decide on sound before sale day
Thin modern TVs have thin sound. In a living room, you'd fix that with a soundbar. In a TV bed, built-in speakers do the job without extra boxes and cables, and this is the decision that changes the price most, so make it before the sale rather than during it.
The two formats you'll see are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Both are object-based surround sound, which places sounds around and above you rather than just left and right. We carry an exclusive Dolby Atmos range.
One thing to check: to get the full effect, the films and shows you watch need to be available in that format, and your TV or streaming device needs to pass it through. Most recent smart TVs and streaming sticks do, but it's worth a quick look in your TV's settings. If you mostly watch the news before sleeping, you may not need built-in sound at all. If you watch films and sport in bed, it's the upgrade our customers mention most.
4. Know what to ask about the lift, storage and mattress
The lift is the part of a TV bed that works hardest, so it deserves the most questions. Whoever you buy from, ask:
- How loud is the motor? You'll hear it every night. A good lift is smooth and quiet.
- What happens in a power cut? Some lifts can be lowered manually. Know before you need to.
- Does it stop if something's in the way? Worth asking if you have children or pets.
- What's the warranty on the mechanism, not just the frame?
- Storage is the next choice. An ottoman base lifts to reveal storage under the whole mattress, which is ideal in a smaller bedroom. Drawers are easier to reach day to day but hold less. Our guide to ottoman TV beds covers the pros and cons in detail
Finally, the mattress. Check whether it's included, and what depth the bed is designed for. A much deeper mattress raises your eye line and changes where the screen sits when you're sitting up in bed.
And assembly. Some TV beds take an afternoon to build. Our Echo is designed to plu and play.
5. Plan around delivery, especially if you want it for Christmas
Black Friday is our busiest week of the year, so delivery slots fill quickly. If you want your bed in place before Christmas, try and order by mid-December (depending on whether we have got the model you want in stock or not). Ordering early in the sale gives you the best chance of the delivery slot you want.
It's also worth thinking about the week itself. If you're replacing an old bed, who's taking it away, and where will you sleep in between?
Your pre-sale checklist
Tick these off before the sale starts, and you'll be ready to order as soon as it goes live.
- TV measured edge to edge, including the frame
- TV weight and mounting holes checked
- Room length and walkway space measured
- Clearance above the foot of the bed checked
- Plug socket near the foot end
- Doorways, stairs and landings measured
- Built-in sound or not decided
- Ottoman or drawer storage decided
- Mattress size and depth decided
- Christmas delivery date noted
- Shortlist of one or two beds saved
- Stuck on any of these? Call us or pop into the showroom before the sale and we'll help you work it out.
Frequently asked questions
Are TV beds cheaper on Black Friday?
Ours are. Black Friday is when we run our biggest discounts of the year across our full range of TV Beds.
What size TV fits in a TV bed?
It depends on the bed. Each model has a maximum TV width, weight and depth. Measure your TV edge to edge, including the frame, and check it against the bed's specification rather than relying on the screen size alone.
Can I fit a TV bed in a loft room?
Often, yes, but check the ceiling height above the foot of the bed. The TV rises out of the footboard, so a sloping ceiling can get in the way.
How far ahead should I order for Christmas delivery?
Order as early as possible to give yourself the best chance of delivery before Christmas.
About this guide
Written by the team at TV Beds Northwest. We've specialised in TV beds for years, selling from our showroom in Bury and delivering nationwide. The advice here comes from the questions our customers ask us most, and the problems we help them avoid
