A Futon is a Japanese term used to describe a traditional Japanese bed.

Very similar to a Sofa bed, a Futon will consist of a single piece mattress (in most cases). When set up as a seat, the mattress will bend accordingly and will take up little space. When dropped into the sleeping position, the mattress will lie flat and take more space.

Usually, a Futon will fold and adjust to each position in one smooth motion. There can be variances of this technique, but more often than not, there are only two settings.

Mattress sizes for Futons can vary greatly. It is rare for a traditional sized mattress to fit, and furthermore, it is very rare for a standard mattress to be suitable for a standard Futon base. The reason for this is the bending required to sit well on a Futon.