Let’s put an end to the Sleeper Vs Seater Vs Semi-Sleeper Buses debate once and for all. We conducted a poll on our social media handles that revealed what Indian passengers prefer.

India is home to one of the largest bus networks in the entire world. From rickety, old, overloaded, rural buses to super luxurious coaches like Mercedes Benz Super High Deck & Volvo multi-axle buses, our roads are familiar with buses of all shapes, sizes, and seating layouts.

In the recent decade, after their inception in the 2000s, sleeper buses have started to enjoy super preference in India.

Especially when it comes to longer routes (500 kms+), sleeper buses have almost become the norm.

But what about journeys in the range of around 300 kms, which are very common throughout India? What type of buses does the Indian passenger prefer for such routes?

In order to get a proper understanding, we conducted a poll on our social media handles. While the engagement was high as expected, the results of the poll were very surprising.

While the results didn’t come as a surprise, it was very right in insights about passengers’ preferences. 

The results of this poll are going to be especially helpful to new bus operators in understanding what passengers on different routes actually prefer. You can also use this insight to decide the seating layout of your next buses. 

UPDATE: Before we dive into the details of the poll, let us take a moment to describe what each of these layout types are. 

A sleeper bus is a bus that has bunks or berths for sleeping, like the one in the image above. It normally features lower and upper bunks in a 2×1 layout.

This means, there are shared berths on one side and individual/single berths on the other. To know more about sleeper buses, read this article. 

A semi-sleeper bus is essentially a seater bus but with calf support. These buses normally feature 2×2 layout, with 2 seats on either side of the gangway. You can check out the calf supports in the seats in the picture above.  

Sleeper Vs Seater Vs Semi-Sleeper Buses: Key Insights of the Poll

About 60% of respondents vouched for Sleeper buses agreeing that they are especially drawn by the comfort and privacy that sleeper buses in India offer.

But a strong preference was seen for seater and semi-sleeper buses as well. 

Our Sleeper Vs Seater Vs Semi-Sleeper Buses poll revealed that there is a slew of deciding factors that passengers take into account while opting for a specific seating arrangement.

The major ones are listed below:  

1. Sleeper Buses are Preferred for Overnight Journeys.

Seems natural! Most passengers would want a good night’s sleep and what can be more comfortable than sleeper buses?

The poll revealed that the preference for sleeper buses in India is high, especially for overnight journeys. 

2. Distance Matters: Sleeper Buses are Preferred For Longer Routes

A sizable chunk of passengers commented they are more comfortable with semi-sleeper or seater buses when it comes to journeys of about 300 kms.

For journeys more than 400 kms, sleeper buses are the majority’s first preference. This is because sleeper buses are the most comfortable for taking a nap. 

Passengers’ preference is also skewed towards seater/semi-sleeper buses when it comes to hilly routes. 

3. Taller Individuals Prefer Seater Buses 

Passengers taller than 5’10 inches find it difficult to travel in sleeper buses and are more likely to prefer semi-sleeper seats, the poll revealed. 

This is because, on average, the length of a sleeper bus in India is around 5’9″ and can get pretty uncomfortable for taller people.

The same goes for people with obesity. The width of a single berth in a sleeper bus ranges from 24 inches to 26 inches and overweight people generally find it difficult to adjust in a single berth.  

So for tall or overweight individuals, the safest option is to either book a double berth or opt for seater buses. 

Key Takeaways of The Sleeper Vs Seater Vs Semi-Sleeper Buses Poll

To sum it up, if it’s a day journey of around 300 kms, the majority of Indian passengers prefer seater or semi-sleeper buses. For everything else, sleeper buses are the way to go. 

For passengers who are more than 5’10”, you will be better off selecting a seater or semi-sleeper bus, because you might find it hard to coop in the berth for longer duration.

Which Seat is Best in a Sleeper Bus?

This is one of the most asked questions – Which is the most comfortable berth in a sleeper bus?

Well, our poll also helped us get a real-world answer to that. 

It was also clear from that poll that the best seats in a sleeper bus in India are the upper berths. If traveling alone, you should opt for a single upper berth and have the best in comfort & privacy.

Also, the best position on a sleeping bus would be the second or third compartment. This is because these compartments are within the wheelbase and are least affected by bumps and jerking.

Moreover, in the event of an accident, the middle rows are strategically placed to incur the least damage, given their distance from both the front and rear of the bus.

Suggested Read: Sleeper Bus in India: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking a Ticket.

What about you?

What do you prefer? Sleeper, Seater, or Semi-Sleeper?

Do you think our poll was informative & useful? 

Let us know in the comments.