Spencer Roll-Arm Sofa Blue/Brown/Coral vs Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam: which is safer?

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam is the clear pick. Ethan Allen Spencer Roll-Arm Sofa Blue/Brown/Coral carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Ethan Allen Spencer Roll-Arm Sofa Blue/Brown/Coral

Ethan Allen

Spencer Roll-Arm Sofa Blue/Brown/Coral

PFAS grade

Poor 45/100

Overall grade

Bad 5/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

upholstered fabric, likely polyester blend with stain-resistant finish

Confidence

45%

LikelyFlame retardants in foam and batting

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from adhesives and coatings

ReportedStain-resistant finish degradation and leaching

Our pick

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam

Joybird

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Poor 39/100

Verdict

Buy with care

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

polyurethane foam

Confidence

72%

LikelyVolatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off-Gassing

PossibleFlame Retardant Chemical Content

PossibleFormaldehyde in Adhesives and Binders

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Flame retardants in foam and batting, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from adhesives and coatings, Stain-resistant finish degradation and leaching and Azo dyes in colored fabrics on the Ethan Allen and not on the Joybird.
  • We flag Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off-Gassing, Flame Retardant Chemical Content, Formaldehyde in Adhesives and Binders and Foam Degradation Over Time on the Joybird and not on the Ethan Allen.
  • The Ethan Allen is upholstered fabric, likely polyester blend with stain-resistant finish where the Joybird is polyurethane foam, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 30 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Joybird is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Ethan Allen grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More upholstered furniture, see the full ranking