The Best Air Mattress

When looking to buy a new air mattress, the first consideration should be how you plan to use it. Do you plan to use the inflatable mattress for camping or other types of travel? Will you mostly be using the inflatable bed in your home to accommodate overnight houseguests? Some people even use blow-up beds as a long-term substitute for traditional mattresses.

Once you determine how your air mattress will be used, you can consider other elements, including construction, inflation and deflation times, pump types, and the overall quality and durability of the inflatable mattress.

From a construction standpoint, there are two primary types of airbeds: Those made with coil construction and those made with a traditional beam construction. You’ll recognize a coil air mattress by the pockets on the mattress top that look similar to the pockets on a regular mattress whereas a traditional beam construction typically has seams running the length of the mattress. Coil construction is generally more supportive and comfortable.

If you are purchasing a blow-up bed to be used in your home for guests and plan to use it with some regularity, a double height or double high airbed would be a good choice. These mattresses generally blow up to be 16 to 22 inches off the ground and more closely resemble the height of a standard bed than a single height mattress.

The top-rated air mattresses on the market today, such as the Sound Asleep Dream Series — our No. 1 ranked air mattress — have traded off super-fast inflation times for enhanced durability and comfort. Those extra minutes spent inflating and deflating a mattress seem worth it when you consider you’re buying an air mattress that won’t deflate while you sleep, will last for more than a few uses and offers comfort that’s akin to a regular mattress rather than a pool float.

Most high-quality double-height air mattresses offer a pillow top design for enhanced comfort. Some even come with an attached inflatable headboard, which lends the mattress even more of the feel of a traditional bed.

Single height or single high air mattresses tend to fold up smaller than the double-high beds and are a more compact choice for camping or storage. Single height inflatable mattresses generally come with an external pump while many double-high mattresses have a built-in pump. Our No. 4 ranked air mattress — the Intex Pillow Rest single-height mattress — come with an automatic bump, so you won’t exhaust your lungs or arm muscles trying to fill it manually.

If you plan to buy an air mattress to accommodate two large adults, you’ll want to pay attention to the suggested maximum weight. This is generally included as a standard spec from the manufacturer. Our No.  2 ranked air mattress — the Fox High Rise queen-size bed — relies on thick vinyl and strong seams to support up to 750 pounds, but not every queen air mattress is able to hold that much weight.

Some air mattress pumps plug into a wall outlet while others rely on batteries. Inflation and deflation speeds will vary based on the size of the mattress and the pump. Our No. 3 ranked mattress — the Insta-Bed Raised queen-size air mattress — will fill to its full 18-inch height in approximately four minutes, for example.

Be sure to check whether the air mattress fills with an automatic or manual pump. All of our top-rated mattresses will fill up on their own when the pump is activated.

Air mattresses range in size from twin to king. Prices start as low as $10 and can cost as much as $500 in some cases. You should be able to find a decent air mattress to fit your needs for a price between $40 and $200.

• Don’t be surprised if your new air mattress deflates a bit overnight during the first couple uses as the PVC stretches out. You may also smell a plastic-y odor on your mattress. Most air mattress owners report that the odor lessens with use.
• Repair kits are there for a reason. Don’t throw your air mattress away because of one small leak. Most airbeds will come with a repair kit, and if not you can buy one for cheap.
• Don’t rush your repair process. Make sure you let the glue on your air mattress patch dry completely before re-inflating it.
• Air mattresses with a flocked top (flocked means it has a velvet-like texture) will help to keep sheets from slipping. Some users also report a flocked top helps with temperature control. (Editor’s note: All four of our top-rated air mattresses offer a flocked top.)
• While many airbeds and air mattresses come with a warranty, claims can be difficult to file.
• Blow-up beds are not designed for infants due to the risk of suffocation if the mattress deflates.
• Inflation and deflation times vary widely from under a minute to several minutes.
• Want to ensure you’re getting a good bang for your buck? When it comes to your budget, consider how often you plan to use your air mattress. If you’ll be using the inflatable mattress for a one-time camping weekend, you may not require the same durability and comfort as someone who purchases an air mattress to accommodate frequent guest visits.
• If you plan to take an air mattress camping, you should pay close attention to its power source and find one that fits your needs and the electricity sources you’ll have available to you.
• Most air mattresses today use an automatic pump, but this is something you should double-check before purchasing. A manual pump may be necessary if you are filling your mattress somewhere without electricity. Otherwise, an automatic pump will save you time and energy.