Electric beds (motion beds) that let users adjust the bed angle to fit their body with wired or wireless remotes are gaining traction in the domestic market. In the past, they were widely perceived as beds for patients with limited mobility or older adults, but these days they are becoming popular as more people read books or watch videos on smartphones in bed. In major overseas markets such as the United States and Australia, motion beds have already established themselves as a key product category.
On the 8th, according to related industry sources, Tempur pioneered the market in Korea after first unveiling a motion bed in 2011. Korean bed manufacturers, noting the growth potential of motion beds, have recently released several related products. Shinsegae Casa's sleep brand Materasso launched the motion bed "Le Move" last year, and Sealy Bed also introduced "Motion Flex" last year. Simmons launched the N32 motion bed under its foam mattress brand in 2023.
The industry is focusing on motion beds because bed activities are expanding beyond sleep to rest and leisure. As more consumers watch over-the-top (OTT) services or read books in bed, beds—once just furniture for lying down—are gaining sofa and recliner functions.
Functions are also becoming more advanced. In the past, adjustments were limited to lifting the head or leg sections, but recently features that distribute pressure on the body or adjust posture to ease snoring have been added. Adjusting posture via smartphone has become commonplace, and some high-end models even analyze sleep via smartphone and automatically adjust the bed angle.
The market outlook is also positive. According to market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global adjustable bed market, including motion beds and compatible mattresses, is projected to grow from $8.91 billion (about 12 trillion won) in 2025 to $9.7 billion (about 13 trillion won) this year, and to reach $19.22 billion (about 26 trillion won) in 2034. That translates to an average annual growth rate of 8.92% over the next eight years.
The domestic picture is similar. Last year, 6 out of 10 customers who bought Tempur mattresses also purchased motion beds. Motion bed sales in the first half of this year rose 30% from a year earlier. At Simmons, motion bed sales from January to August last year increased sevenfold from the same period a year earlier. In July this year, Simmons supplied motion beds to Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul in Seoul, expanding its sales channels into the hotel market.
An industry official said, "The future of the mattress market is heading toward motion beds," and noted, "Most new products to be released are highly likely to be developed with compatibility for motion bed functions in mind."