Best Air Mattresses

SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress sits at #1 in the A tier of our consolidated board, ranked across independent research runs over current expert reviews. The broader sentiment of distrust towards larger air mattresses applies here, indicating possible quality or longevity concerns.

AeroBed Air Mattress ranks #2 (A tier). Similar to the Coleman model, it faces criticism due to general anxieties about large air mattresses' durability and performance.

Our research places EZ Bed Air Mattress, Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush (Twin), Serta Raised Air Mattress, Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush Inflatable Pillow Top, Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush (Single) in the bottom tiers (D/F). While appearing in a somewhat negative context regarding family living arrangements, its presence indicates common usage and availability.

Buy a queen for two adults or for one adult who wants room to turn, and a twin for one adult or a child. A queen needs about five feet by seven feet of clear floor, so measure the room or the tent first. Raised or double-height beds are easier to get in and out of and sit closer to a normal bed height, which matters for older guests. On our board the Coleman SupportRest Plus 16” Twin Airbed is the raised twin option and the Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush (Twin) is the flat twin, while the Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush (Single) is the compact single that reviewers found too thin.

An air mattress is a thick inflatable bed with an electric pump, meant for a guest room or car camping where weight does not matter. A sleeping pad is a thin, light inflatable you blow up by mouth or with a small bag, meant to be carried in a backpack and to insulate you from cold ground. On our board the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress and AeroBed Air Mattress are guest-bed air mattresses, while the Nemo Tensor Air Mattress and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite are backpacking pads. Buy by how you will use it, not by the name on the box.

On our board SoundAsleep and AeroBed hold the two A tier places, and both are credited with durable construction that stands up to frequent use. Intex is the most widely stocked brand, but its models land between C and F tier, and the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Air Mattress is singled out for a higher leak rate and no reinforced seams. Across the board, reviewers voice a general distrust of large air mattresses, so no brand is exempt from longevity questions.

A guest-bed air mattress used a few nights a month usually lasts several years. Nightly use, pets, and storing it inflated shorten that sharply. On our board the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress and AeroBed Air Mattress are rated durable enough for frequent use, although reviewers still raise longevity concerns about large air beds in general. The EZ Bed Air Mattress is the one with frequent punctures reported, so expect a shorter life from it.

Leaks are the main failure, usually at a seam, the valve, or a pinhole from a pet claw or floor grit. The next most common faults are a built-in pump that stops working and a bed that sags as the vinyl stretches in its first weeks. On our board the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Air Mattress tends to leak and offers poor support, the EZ Bed Air Mattress punctures often and inflates to a poor pressure, and the Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush Inflatable Pillow Top leaks more often than the standard Ultra-Plush and its pillow top sags.

Not for a guest-bed air mattress with a built-in electric pump. The SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress, AeroBed Air Mattress, Coleman SupportRest Plus 16” Twin Airbed and EZ Bed Air Mattress on our board all inflate from their own pump. A built-in pump needs mains power, so for a tent without electricity choose a bed with a battery pump or carry a separate one. Backpacking pads such as the Nemo Tensor Air Mattress and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite inflate with a pump sack or by mouth and do not need an electric pump at all.

Usually it is not a leak. Vinyl stretches during the first few uses, and cool night air contracts, so a bed inflated in a warm room feels soft by morning. Inflate it fully, leave it a few hours, then top it up before sleeping, and expect to top it up again for the first week. If it goes flat in a single night after that settling period, it has a leak. On our board the Serta Raised Air Mattress and Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush (Twin) are credited with reinforced seams and reliable inflation, which is where slow leaks usually start.

Inflate the bed fully, then listen and run a hand over the seams and valve. If you cannot find it, wipe soapy water over the surface and watch for bubbles. Dry and clean the spot, apply the vinyl patch from the kit that came with the bed, press it firmly, and leave it for several hours before inflating. A patch on a seam rarely holds, so a seam leak usually means the bed is done. Patch kits are one of the most searched items alongside air mattresses, which tells you how common this job is.

For a healthy adult it is safe, but it is not a good long-term bed. Air gives little pressure relief, which is why long-term use can leave you with back or hip soreness, and vinyl sleeps cold in winter. Do not let an infant sleep on an air mattress, as the soft surface is a suffocation risk. On our board the Nemo Tensor Air Mattress is the one credited with excellent pressure relief, but it is a camping pad, not a nightly bed.

Avoid beds without a built-in pump unless you are carrying them on your back. Avoid any model with a known leak record, which on our board means the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Air Mattress, the EZ Bed Air Mattress and the Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush Inflatable Pillow Top. Avoid the Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush (Single), which is in F tier for its overly thin construction. Check the weight rating before buying a bed for two adults, and check that a queen will actually fit where you plan to use it.

Deflate it fully, wipe it down, let it dry, and fold it loosely in its bag somewhere cool and dry. Do not store it inflated or under heavy items, and keep it away from heaters, which soften the vinyl. Put a sheet or mattress pad on it, which protects the surface and makes it warmer to sleep on. Keep pets off it and clear grit from the floor or tent before you lay it out.