Most of us have slept on an air mattress at one point or another. Depending on the quality of the air mattress you slept on, you may remember it as being a favorable experience. If the quality was bad, you may remember waking up on the floor feeling sore and stiff. The good news is that air mattresses have changed a lot in the last decade and the best ones out on the market now don’t disappoint!
To choose the best air mattress for overnight guests at home or your next camping trip, it’s important to take several important factors into account.
For example, if you’re looking for an air mattress for at-home use, weight might not be as much of a factor as comfort (depending on who it’s for). If you’re searching for a mattress to bring camping, you might want something more durable and lightweight.
The four best air mattresses to sleep on are:
- Best Overall: King Koil
- Best for Couples: Sound Asleep
- Best for Tall People: Fox Airbeds
- Best Budget Buy: Intex
Before purchasing an air bed, it’s always a good idea to determine how long the air mattress will last for as well as your primary use for it. This will not only save you the hassle, but it’ll give you an idea of the typical range of air beds there before you set out to buy one. Continue reading to learn about the air mattress for your spare bedroom, dorm or camping and what features to consider.
Buyer’s Guide
Air mattresses have changed a lot over the years. Many of the top air mattresses come with a built-in pump that lets you inflate and deflate your mattress in minutes. Others have a built-in pump with the option to use an external one if needed, or you can go old school and get a simple air mattress that you need to pump manually.
Other features to look for are things like the materials used to make the air mattress and how it’s built. There are mattresses with extra layers that offer more support and comfort while you sleep, as well as memory foam and flocked-top mattresses for enhanced comfort. Many airbeds are made with waterproof material that protects the mattress from spills and water damage too.
How do air mattresses differ from the rest?
Air mattresses make great temporary beds. They are more comfortable than other options like futons, cots, and air foam mattresses that are used for similar purposes but are more bulky and difficult to store away when they are not in use.
Most air mattresses are made for occasional use, not daily use. Choosing to use an air mattress daily may void your warranty, but some people still do it as a temporary solution.
Air mattresses are meant to be used every once in a while, on a camping trip or when you have guests staying over for the weekend.
Are air mattresses more expensive than other mattresses?
Most types of mattresses are available in a wide variety of prices, from cheap and simple to fancy and expensive. Where a regular mattress might be priced anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, blow-up mattresses are generally a little cheaper (although expensive ones do exist).
Typically, air mattress prices range from less than a hundred for something simple, to several hundred for better quality ones.
Are air mattresses comfortable to sleep on?
While there are still some cheap duds out there that won’t be any more comfortable than the old one-layer air mattresses you remember from the past, there are many air mattresses out there now that are very comfortable. How comfortable you are on an air mattress will also depend on your own preferences, so keep in mind that it might be different for everyone.
Typically, the thicker the air mattress the more comfortable it will be. Two layers, for example, equals double the support, like a mattress and box spring. Soft, (flocked) tops are usually better for light sleepers because they don’t make as much noise when you move around. Some air mattresses are adjustable, so you can control the firmness if you have back problems or come in memory foam.
Are air mattresses heavy to carry?
Air mattresses come in a range of weights just like they come in a variety of types. A kid’s air mattress might only weigh about five pounds, whereas a fancier, thicker air mattress weighs roughly 20 pounds for a Queen size.
Are air mattresses safe to sleep on?
When used properly, air mattresses should be perfectly safe to sleep on. However, there are a few concerns that come up with inappropriate use. Long-term use, for example, can create issues with temperature regulation (leaving you too hot or too cold at night). Sleeping on an air mattress daily can also cause discomfort in the back and joints from improper support.
There’s also evidence to show that infants under 15 months should not sleep on air mattresses in case of accidental strangulation or suffocation. While a relatively small number of infant deaths have been attributed to accidents involving air mattresses, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re looking for a guest bed for young children, it’s best to steer clear of air mattresses.
Do air mattresses retain heat?
Because of the types of materials used to make air mattresses, they can make it a little difficult to regulate your body temperature while you sleep. This could mean you end up with an air mattress that gets cold or retains heat. If you’re looking for an air mattress to keep you warmer, one with a flocked (soft) surface provides extra heat. Cooler bedding on an air mattress that’s too warm is another solution.
Are air mattresses durable?
When we think of air mattresses many of us immediately think of slow leaks that cause the mattress to sag during the night. These days, most air mattresses last longer if you know what to look for. Models made with materials like PVC, rubber, vinyl, nylon are more durable. Other features that improve durability of an air mattress are a thick base, textured bottom, and waterproof material.
Best Air Mattress in the US
1. Best Air Mattress (Indoor & Outdoor): King Koil
Why you’ll love it: King Koil’s Luxury Raised Air Mattress is a great addition to your home providing all the comfort of a traditional mattress with great full-body support and maintained air pressure throughout the night. We particularly like the 1-year guarantee this air mattress offers along with the built-in charger for inflating and deflating.
King Koil’s Luxury Raised Air Mattress is an exceptional inflatable airbed with a built-in pump. This air mattress comes in twin, queen and California King size and is built for superior comfort with several features that make it stand out above the rest. This starts with a soft flocking layer and built-in pillow for maximum comfort. The soft layer keeps you warm and comfortable while helping to eliminate noise when you shift.
The cosy suede quilted cover is not just for comfort – it’s super thick, waterproof, and the material is chosen specifically to keep bedding in place overnight. This firm mattress uses coil-beam construction, so you maintain good sleeping posture and great spinal support, ensuring a perfect night’s sleep all around. Inflating and deflating this air mattress is fast, quiet and easy, taking only three minutes. Watch this short video to learn more about its set up.
Other reasons to choose this air mattress over similar ones on the market are it’s one-year guarantee and superior manufacturing. King Koil is the only air mattress manufacturer endorsed by the International Chiropractors Association for promoting proper spinal alignment and healthier sleep. Because of its durability and comfort, this air mattress is perfect for at-home use and on camping trips.
2. Best for Couples: SoundAsleep Dream Series
Why you’ll love it: The SoundAsleep’s Dream Series Air Mattress is another five-star rated air mattress featuring a “sure-grip” bottom to prevent it from sliding, a waterproof top and a carry bag for easy transportation! This air mattress is great for couples, has air coil technology for comfort and controls to find the optimal firmness level for you.
This queen-sized Air Mattress from Sound Asleep Dream Series is made with ComfortCoil Technology, a system that uses 40 internal air coils to provide the mattress with extra support and durability, giving you a better night’s sleep. This air mattress “double-height” with dual chamber construction measures 78″ x 58″ x 19″ when inflated, providing support that rivals a true mattress and box spring. It also has a grippy bottom to prevent sliding.
The Dream Series air mattress is designed with a patented 1-click internal pump that allows for easy inflating and deflating in just four minutes. The built-in pump makes it easy to top off the mattress with more air as needed. While made for at-home use, this air mattress is still built durable with an extra thick waterproof flocked top and puncture resistant, eco-friendly PVC material.
Customers love this comfortable, durable mattress, and the company’s helpful customer support. As a bonus, this air mattress comes with a convenient carry bag for easy transportation and storage. Even better, SoundAsleep’s air mattress is designed to be 20% quieter during inflation than its competitors, meaning less worry about disturbing people with a loud pump that takes forever late at night! We also like the no-quibble 1-year guarantee!
3. Best Air Bed for Tall People: Fox Airbeds
Why you’ll love it: The Fox Airbeds Plush High Rise Air Mattress boasts maintained air pressure throughout the night, is comfortable and stable. This air mattress is slightly pricier than our two other options because it’s feature-rich is great for taller folks, and comes in four different sizes.
Fox Airbed’s Best Inflatable Bed is a plush high-rise mattress and comes in Twin, Full, Queen (82 x 62 x 18 inches) and King sizes. Unlike similar air mattresses, it inflates to its advertised size right out of the box. This top-rated inflatable bed uses an all-new pillow top Air Flow system to make sure that air is evenly distributed, so you don’t sink into the middle of the bed. This technology provides you with the comfort and support you need for an undisturbed night’s sleep.
In addition to top of the line comfort Fox Airbed’s air mattress is also extra durable, made using 43% thicker vinyl to avoid pesky puncture holes and has virtually no odor from the get-go. No more infamous slow leaks here – your air mattress stays inflated all night long. A built-in two-way pump makes this airbed easy to inflate and deflate and allows for use of an external pump if necessary.
This air mattress comes recommended from satisfied customers that find it more comfortable than competing airbeds and highly durable featuring also a 90-day warranty. Like the competition, Fox Airbeds’ inflatable bed takes just about four minutes to set up and stays inflated even after several nights of use. Although some customers find this bed a little cold, its firmness makes it a good air mattress if you have back issues and the coldness issue can easily be fixed with an electric blanket or memory foam topper.
4. Best Budget Buy: Intex
Why you’ll love it: The Intex Comfort Plush Airbed is a must if you’re looking for an inexpensive bedding solution for overnight guests or kids’ sleepovers or if you’ve recently moved and are waiting for furniture to being delivered. This inflatable bed features a built-in pump, duffel bag for storage, full-body support and a waterproof top.
Intex’s Comfort Plush airbed comes in Queen (80 x 60 x 18 inches) or Twin size and is perfect if you’re looking for a more affordable airbed for at-home use. Depending on your needs, you might need the extra comfort and durability provided by more expensive air mattresses, but for occasional use this is a great, comfortable option. This Dura-Beam air mattress is made with Fiber-Tech construction for strength and support.
Despite its cheaper price, Intex’s Comfort Plush air mattress has a lot of the same features it’s more expensive counterparts, including a waterproof flocked top for durability and comfort. The sides of this air mattress are indented to help make sure your bedding stays secure throughout the night. A built-in, high-powered electric pump makes inflation and deflation a breeze, taking about four minutes to set up.
Another convenient feature of this air mattress is the included duffel bag which makes for easy storage and transportation when not in use. Compared to other air mattresses on the market, this one has mixed reviews. Some customers are satisfied with the value for the price, the height, and how easily it inflates. Others note that the quality isn’t as good as some and that the mattress loses a small amount of air pressure, but will keep you buoyed overnight.
So, which air mattress will work for me?
Forget those times when you settled for a sub-par night’s sleep on a leaky air mattress. Things have changed. Whether you’re looking for an air mattress for yourself, your family, or guests, you deserve better. Modern air mattresses like the ones offered by King Koil, Soundasleep, Fox, and Intex are made stronger, smarter, and more comfortable than the air mattresses of the past.
For a reasonable price, you can get an air mattress that inflates and deflates in under five minutes and is built to last so you can avoid annoying leaks and tears. If you’re worried about how sleeping on an air mattress will affect your own or your guests’ sore back and joints, there are special air mattresses built with the extra support you need.
When comparing different air mattresses, keep in mind warranties that can help protect your investment and that some companies are known for being more helpful than others if you run into any problems. Checking out customer reviews online can give you an idea of what companies are known to offer their customers consistent quality and customer service.