When inflated, the frame gives the bed a substantial look worthy of a temporary set-up in a small guest room. It should be noted that this mattress may move a little bit under shifting weight, and it has the potential to lose some air overnight. In terms of comfort, this mattress has a flocked surface but it wasn’t as plush as other options we tested. In fact, the mattress was in pristine condition after our testing, and we liked the fact that the storage bag includes handles to make it easier to tote the mattress from one location to another.
Air mattresses are traditionally convenient for camping when you don’t want to put your sleeping bag on the cold, hard ground — you could even throw one in a truck bed for sleeping under the stars. For example, the SereneLife Air Mattress, our “best splurge” bestway air mattress pick, boasts a built-in frame, internal air pump, and adjustable firmness settings. Budget-friendly picks like the Coleman GuestRest Double High Air Mattress may not come with all the bells and whistles of premium models but will still do the trick.
It’s also available in a California King size if you’re looking for more room to spread out. The King Koil Luxury Air Mattress (20-inch) was comfortable to sleep on and, like our top pick, holds air overnight without needing to be re-inflated. This 19-inch-tall mattress comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, and king sizes. And the SoundAsleep’s built-in pump was quieter than any other mattress motor we tried—this is a perk if you don’t want to wake sleeping children (or if you’re sensitive to noise).
These inflatable beds can stand up to everyday use, camping trips and more. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.
But airtightness is tricky to judge — even after you inflate an air mattress — and may reveal itself only over time. Others will give you 90 days and throw in a few vinyl patches to cover up a puncture wound. Finding the best air mattress for you means balancing adequate back support, overall comfort and feeling at least somewhat secure that the whole thing isn’t going to deflate overnight.
These airbeds with lovely plush tops will make you want to snooze all day. Browse through our large collection of airbeds to find the right pick for you. With a comfortable sleeping surface and sturdy construction, a great night’s sleep is right around the corner.
While deflating the mattress was also slow, the deflate function on the pump made it a simple process. Once packed into the included carry bag, we found it to be very convenient to carry and store. To find the best, we tested several air mattresses for everything from indentation over time and overnight leakage to puncture resistance and bursting strength in our Lab. We then had real consumer testers set up the mattresses and sleep on them at home to rate their ease of use and comfort. The picks ahead are the top-performers in our tests, along with newer models that have unique features and rave reviews from users.
The company says it takes about 4½ minutes for the mattress to reach the maximum fill level, but for us, it inflated to its full height of 18 inches in just under 4 minutes. In 2017, my husband and I slept (uncomfortably) on an air mattress in our basement for 21 consecutive nights as we waited for construction to be completed in our home. After researching dozens of air mattresses and testing seven, we think the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress won’t let you down. Its robust built-in pump, bedlike sleep surface, and reliable warranty make it the one to choose for guests. Below, you’ll find reviews of the best and worst single- and double-height air mattresses, based on our latest tests. Deflating the mattress was fast and easy, and it collapses to fit inside of a zippered duffel bag with wheels.
This model in particular stood out among competitors in our Lab tests with no overnight leakage after 170 pounds of weight were applied to the mattress for 24 hours. An air mattress is a convenient way to have a guest bed ready to go in a matter of minutes. And because they can easily be deflated and packed into a compact size, they’re ideal for taking on camping trips and other overnight visits. We purchased and tested a range of air mattresses from popular home and camping brands, including Aerobed and Coleman, to find the best options on the market.
During the testing, I thought the King Koil model came closest to mimicking the feel of a real coil mattress. At about 17 pounds, it was light enough to move around and inflated fully in just under 3 minutes. The flocked top and sides add some extra grip for sheets and minimizes the feeling of sleeping on a pool float (as opposed to the SoundAsleep, which is flocked on only the top). But this does mean that the sides can be more prone to gathering lint. The King Koil Luxury Air Mattress (20-inch) was one of the most comfortable mattresses I tested. It lasted an impressive 48 hours without needing to be re-inflated and deflated easily within 3 minutes—folding up perfectly in the included nylon tote.