Short answer: Aquaforte Velvet has the highest Martindale count we publish (more than 200,000), and it comes on our Orian and Atmosphere sleepers. Our Neptune does not come in Velvet, so its most durable fabric is Performance Basketweave at more than 100,000, with Aquaforte at 78,000 next. Performance Chenille (48,000) and Performance Textured Weave (54,000) are solid everyday choices, and we would skip bouclé and corduroy (both 15,000) for a sofa bed that is used nightly.
A sleeper sofa does two jobs, and the fabric has to cope with both: daily sitting and the occasional night as a bed. A rub count is a useful starting point, but it is only one measure. Below we explain what it tells you, compare each fabric, and show which fabrics each of our sleepers offers.
On This Page
- Do sleeper sofas wear faster than regular sofas?
- What does a Martindale rub count tell you?
- How do our sleeper fabrics compare?
- Which fabrics does each of our sleepers offer?
- Which fabrics are easiest to clean?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our sleeper sofas and fabrics
Do sleeper sofas wear faster than regular sofas?
We do not publish a test that compares a sleeper with a regular sofa, so we cannot give you a number. What we can say is where the wear comes from. The seat cushion covers carry the load whether you are sitting or sleeping, and a sofa bed that hosts guests simply gets more use than a sofa that only seats the household.
Each seat module on Neptune and Orian is designed to support up to 350 lb (159 kg). On Neptune, our assembly guide also notes one user on a single bed and two users on a double bed. Staying within those limits is part of keeping the cushions and covers in good shape. Our guide to cleaning and maintaining a sleeper sofa covers the routine after guests, and pull-out vs fold-down sofa beds explains how each mechanism converts.
What does a Martindale rub count tell you?
The Martindale test rubs a fabric against a standard abrasive until it wears, so a higher number means more rubs before wear shows. It is a good measure of everyday seat wear from sitting, which is exactly what a sleeper seat sees.
It does not measure what a claw does to a surface, how a fabric handles a spill or how much hair it holds. That is why we add our own assessment of pet suitability to the counts below, and why no fabric should be called scratch-proof or stain-proof. For the full pet comparison, read our guide to the most durable sofa fabric for pets.
How do our sleeper fabrics compare?
Here is every fabric we use across Neptune, Orian and Atmosphere, with the care text from our product pages. Pet ratings are our own assessment, not an independent test.
How do our sleeper fabrics compare?
| Fabric | Martindale rubs | Our pet assessment | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaforte Velvet | More than 200,000 | Excellent | Water-repellent and stain-resistant; check the care section on the product page |
| Performance Basketweave | More than 100,000 | Moderate | Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and air dry; avoid bleach and high heat |
| Aquaforte | 78,000 | Good | Wipe spills promptly with a damp cloth; for deeper cleans, machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and air dry |
| Performance Chenille | 48,000 | Good | Wash cold on a gentle cycle and air dry; avoid wringing, bleach and high temperatures |
| Performance Textured Weave | 54,000 | Not rated | Machine washable; follow the care text on the product page |
| Corduroy | 15,000 | Good, with limitations | Machine wash cold and air dry; use a soft brush after drying to restore the pile |
| Bouclé | 15,000 | Not advised for pets | Covers are machine washable, but we advise spot cleaning to maintain the look |
The pattern is simple. Dense, smooth fabrics with high counts suit the hardest-working sofa bed, while looped or ribbed surfaces such as bouclé and corduroy are better kept for a sofa that guests use occasionally.
Which fabrics does each of our sleepers offer?
The three sleepers do not offer the same fabrics, so the sofa you choose limits the fabric you can choose. Colours change over time, so check the configurator for what is available today.
Which fabrics does each of our sleepers offer?
| Sleeper | Fabrics and Martindale rubs | Covers you can remove |
|---|---|---|
| Neptune | Performance Basketweave more than 100,000 (Slate, Leaf, Latte, Fog); Performance Textured Weave 54,000 (Mocha); Aquaforte 78,000 (Sesame, Snowdrift, Basalt, Limestone) | Seat and back cushion covers; arm and base covers are fixed (they do not come off for washing) |
| Orian | Performance Chenille 48,000 (Sage); Performance Textured Weave 54,000 (Cerulean, Parchment); Aquaforte 78,000 (Basalt, Sesame); Aquaforte Velvet more than 200,000 (Aqua, Chocolate, Crumble) | Seat and back cushion covers; arm and base covers are fixed (they do not come off for washing) |
| Atmosphere Sleeper | Performance Chenille 48,000; Performance Textured Weave 54,000 (Mocha, Cerulean, Parchment, Lemon Zest, Ash, Tangerine, Nightfall); Aquaforte Velvet more than 200,000 (Aqua, Chocolate, Crumble); corduroy 15,000 | Covers across seats, arms, backrests and base; replacement covers are available |
Neptune is the only one of the three without Aquaforte Velvet. If you want the highest count and a sleeper, Orian or Atmosphere is the better starting point. Our comparison of Neptune, Orian and Atmosphere Sleeper covers the other differences, such as bed size and seat feel.
Which fabrics are easiest to clean?
The covers matter as much as the fabric. On Neptune and Orian, the seat and back cushion covers come off and go in the washing machine, but the arm and base covers are fixed and do not come off for washing, so those areas are spot cleaned. On Atmosphere, the upholstery is removable across the compatible seats, arms, backrests and base, which makes the whole sofa easier to refresh.
Aquaforte and Aquaforte Velvet are water-repellent and stain-resistant, so a spill tends to sit on the surface long enough to blot away. Stain-resistant does not mean stain-proof, so act quickly. As general advice, blot instead of rubbing, test any cleaner on a hidden spot first and let covers dry fully before refitting them. Our guides to spot cleaning a sofa and what stain-resistant really means go further.
Bouclé deserves its own note. The covers are removable and machine washable, but we advise spot cleaning them to maintain their look, and the looped surface can snag, so it is the fabric we would pick last for a sofa bed in daily use.
Our recommendation
- Guests most nights, or pets in the home: Aquaforte Velvet on Orian or Atmosphere, the highest count we publish and our top pet rating.
- You prefer Neptune's firm, upright seat: Performance Basketweave (more than 100,000), the highest count available on that sofa, or Aquaforte (78,000), which we rate Good for pets.
- A soft, textured look with good hair concealment: Performance Chenille (48,000), knowing claws can occasionally catch it.
- Mostly sitting, occasional guests: Performance Basketweave (more than 100,000) or Performance Textured Weave (54,000) are practical, and we rate Performance Basketweave as Moderate for pets.
- Unsure: order free swatches and test them against your own routine. Our guide to choosing a sofa colour can help with the shade, and the warranty page explains what is covered.
Explore our sleeper sofas and fabrics
Product specifications can change. Check the current colours and details on the product page before ordering.