Click-Clack vs Pull-Out vs Electric Sofa Beds Explained
By Alex at SOFGO ·
When you shop for a sofa bed, three phrases keep appearing: click-clack, pull-out and electric. They describe how the sofa becomes a bed — and that choice affects how much clear floor you need, how quickly you can make up a guest bed, and how the surface feels overnight.
This guide explains each type in plain English, compares space and comfort, and shows which SOFGO ranges use which wording on the live product pages. One honest note: many of our corner sofa bed pages list both a click-clack mechanism and a pull-out sleeping area. We will not invent which action is the "main" one when the page lists both. If you need a walkthrough for a specific sofa, message us with the product name.
How each mechanism works
Click-clack
A click-clack sofa bed has a backrest that folds down to lie flat with the seat. The name comes from the sound the hinge makes. Typically you lift or tip the seat until the mechanism clicks, then lower the back. Seat and back together form the sleeping surface. Many designs also have a halfway recline for lounging.
Opening is quick, and nothing has to slide far into the room in front. You do need room for the back to drop, so the sofa often has to come a little away from the wall first.
Pull-out
On a pull-out sofa bed, an extra section slides out from under the seat to extend the sleeping area forwards. On a corner sofa bed this usually creates a larger sleeping surface alongside the chaise, often with the seat cushions used to level it off.
The sofa can usually stay against the wall, but you need clear floor space in front. The coffee table has to move for the night.
Electric and electronic
Some SOFGO models are named Electric or Electronic in the product title — for example the Lindorf Electric Corner Sofa Bed With Storage X100, the Kelmscott Electronic Corner Sofa Bed Collection, and the Gillingham Rise 3-Way Electronic Corner Sofa Bed.
On the live pages we checked, those models still list the same feature lines used across many of our corner sofa beds: "Click-clack mechanism opens in seconds" and "Pull-out sleeping area for two adults". The body copy does not spell out which part is powered. Treat "Electric" / "Electronic" as the product name, and ask us how a particular model opens if that detail matters before you buy.
Comfort for sitting vs sleeping
Sitting comfort and sleeping comfort are not the same checklist.
For daytime sitting, look at seat depth, seat height, back support and whether you want a chaise. For overnight sleeping, check:
- The sleeping area on the product page (where listed). A UK small double is 120 × 190 cm; a standard double is 135 × 190 cm.
- How flat and even the surface is once open — a join between seat and back, or seat and pull-out section, is normal; a mattress topper softens it if you want.
- How often it will be used. Occasional guests tolerate a firmer surface; everyday use needs more attention to the sleeping area and bedding storage.
If the bed will be used often, pick the sleeping area and storage first, then check the opening action.
Space needed to open each type
Tape the open footprint on the floor before you order:
- Behind the sofa. Click-clack designs often need a little gap so the back can drop.
- Floor in front. Pull-out sleeping areas need clear space where the bed extends.
- Above the chaise. Storage lids need clear space when they lift — the Verity photo above shows that.
| Model | Price | Assembled size (as listed) | Sleeping area (if listed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verity M84 | £779 | 222 × 133 × 72 cm | — (page lists pull-out for two adults) |
| Goldcrest Mini M04 | £699 | 235 × 150 × 91 cm | 218 × 130 cm |
| Gillingham Rise | £1,299 | 310 × 156 cm | — (meta: pull-out for two adults) |
| Kelmscott CL05 | £1,298 | 283 × 165 × 98 cm | 80 × 208 cm |
| Lindorf X100 | £1,819 | 258 × 208 × 87 cm | — (page lists pull-out for two adults) |
Normal prices re-checked on the live product pages on 3 October 2026; sizes as checked on 30 September 2026. Where a sleeping-area measurement is not listed, ask us rather than guessing.
Everyday use vs occasional guests
Occasional guests: pick the layout that fits your room. If the sofa must stay against the wall and you can clear the coffee table, a pull-out-style footprint works. If floor space in front is tight but you can pull the sofa forward, click-clack-style opening may suit you better. Storage under the seat keeps bedding out of the way — see how to choose a sofa bed for a guest room.
Everyday use: prioritise a sleeping area that suits the people using it, a surface that lies reasonably flat, and storage for bedding. Ease of opening matters more when you convert the bed often. Start with our corner sofa beds with storage from £699 round-up if budget and size come first.
Care and longevity
A sofa bed works harder than a fixed sofa:
- Open and close it properly — do not force the mechanism.
- Plump and rotate seat cushions so wear is spread evenly.
- Keep storage dry and clear; bedding belongs there, damp towels do not.
- Vacuum seams and the base so grit does not reach the moving parts.
- If pets or children share the sofa, Easy Clean (a fixed £199 upgrade where offered) is a water- and pet-resistant weave that wipes clean — see our Easy Clean fabric guide.
Which SOFGO ranges use which
What the live product pages said on 30 September 2026. We quote the page wording; we do not assign a single mechanism where both lines appear.
Pages that list both click-clack and pull-out
- Verity M84 — £779 (Easy Clean £978). Meta leads with click-clack; feature list also includes pull-out for two adults. Reversible corner; full-width storage.
- Goldcrest Mini M04 — £699 (Easy Clean £898). Same feature pairing; sleeping area 218 × 130 cm.
- Many other storage corners in the corner sofa beds with storage shop use the same two feature lines.
Named electric / electronic
- Lindorf Electric X100 (Left Corner Only) — £1,819 (Easy Clean £2,018). Feature list still includes click-clack and pull-out.
- Kelmscott Electronic collection — seven products from £1,298 (CL05) to £1,398. CL05 lists click-clack, pull-out, reversible corner and storage; delivery 2–5 weeks.
- Gillingham Rise 3-Way Electronic — £1,299 (Easy Clean £1,498). Meta describes a pull-out sleeping area; feature list also includes click-clack. Overall size 310 × 156 cm, reversible. (Linked from page text only — some listing photos show a straight sofa rather than a corner, so judge shape from the dimensions and description, or ask us.)
Every order includes free UK mainland delivery, with free assembly in the room of your choice and packaging removed when you pick that option. You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind (unused, original packaging). Payment options on many pages include card, Klarna or Clearpay (subject to eligibility), and pay on delivery where shown.
FAQs
How does a click-clack sofa bed work?
The backrest folds down to lie flat with the seat after a click of the hinge. Seat and back form the sleeping surface. You typically need a little space behind the sofa so the back can drop.
Is a click-clack or a pull-out better?
Neither is universally better. Click-clack suits rooms where floor space in front is tight. Pull-out suits rooms where the sofa stays against the wall and you can clear the space in front. On many SOFGO corner sofa beds the page lists both feature lines — ask us how a specific model opens if you need to be sure.
What is an electric corner sofa bed?
At SOFGO, "Electric" or "Electronic" appears in the product name on ranges such as Lindorf, Kelmscott and Gillingham Rise. Those pages still list click-clack and pull-out feature lines. For what is powered on a particular model, message us with the product name before you order.
Can I use a corner sofa bed every night?
Some households do. Check the sleeping area, how flat the surface lies, how easy it is to open, and whether there is storage for bedding. A mattress topper helps if you want a softer feel.
Do SOFGO sofa beds come with storage?
Many of our corner sofa beds include a full-width storage compartment under the seat or chaise. Check the feature list on the product page.
Is delivery and assembly free?
Free UK mainland delivery is included. At checkout you can choose free delivery to the door, or free delivery plus assembly in the room you choose with packaging removed. We don't deliver to Northern Ireland, the Scottish islands, Caithness and the far north of Scotland (KW postcodes), the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands or the Isles of Scilly.
Not sure which mechanism suits your room? Message our team with how often the bed will be used and your room measurements — or email support@sofgo.co.uk. Browse corner sofa beds with storage, compare models from £699, or read how to choose a sofa bed for a guest room.
Alex at SOFGO