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An air mattress is the ultimate way to expand the sleeping capacity in your home without adding any square footage or extra furniture, like a sofa bed. Simply roll it out and pump it up to create an instant guest room wherever you have floor space. And of course, an air mattress is handy for camping in comfort or when you need a place to temporarily crash while waiting for a new mattress to arrive.
The SoundAsleep Dream air mattress has a built-in air pump that puffs the sleep surface up in four ... [+] minutes or less.
Sure, inflatable mattresses have a bad reputation for deflating in the middle of the night or sagging in weird places, but that usually only happens if you purchase a lesser-quality option. If you haven’t shopped for an air mattress in a while (or ever), you’ll be surprised at what’s out there. Today’s best air mattresses are much sturdier than their older counterparts, and many include handy features like built-in pumps to make set up and take-down effortless. Inflatable headboards and air pressure monitors that instantly respond to dips in mattress puffiness can also be found, all with the goal of making your sleep experience as pleasant as possible.
To help you make the right purchase, we narrowed the field by first looking at the best-selling air mattresses and then analyzing them for features like sturdiness, quality materials and ease of use. Air mattresses also got bonus points for affordability and user-friendly features. Below, we rounded up the best air mattress options you can buy right now. (Pro tip: For an extra-comfy air mattress setup, don’t forget to add a mattress topper.)
Made by mattress company Serta, this air mattress has a lot going for it. One of its biggest features is a built-in dual air pump system. One pump inflates and deflates the mattress, while the other continuously monitors and silently maintains your preferred air pressure during the night. The mattress has 35 circular coils for extra support and is lightweight enough to easily tote from room to room.
The SoundAsleep Dream mattress is an Amazon bestseller with almost thousands five-star reviews. It has a dual, double-height chamber for extra cushioning and is built for durability with its extra-thick, waterproof flocked top made of puncture-resistant PVC. And when it comes to set up, there’s no messing around: This mattress has a built-in air pump that puffs the sleep surface up in four minutes or less. Want it firmer? Just click on the pump again. Once blown up, the SoundAsleep Dream Series can stay at your desired firmness level for days.
It’s always smart to stick with reputable brands and this air mattress from Beautyrest is incredibly tough. It features extra-thick fabric on top that’s also puncture-resistant to keep you floating on a comfy cloud all night long. Plus, it’s not just the topper that’s sturdy: The sides and base of this mattress are made from a highly durable vinyl that can support up to 750 pounds. An included pump lets you easily inflate and deflate the mattress and a built-in button lets you customize firmness to your preferred comfort level. This pick also features coil-in-coil construction for added spinal alignment and support.
We don’t actually recommend cheaping out on an air mattress you plan to have for longer than a few months—you’ll save money in the long run by investing in a more durable model. But if you need an air mattress STAT and don’t want to spend more than $50, the Intex Dura Beam is your best bet. It’s mind-blowing to be able to get a decent queen-size air mattress with a built-in pump for around $40. It’s got a velvety sleep surface plus the company’s own Fiber-Tech inner construction for stability and support, with a pillow rest for added comfort. When you’re done, simply set the mattress to deflate.
At over $400, the AeroBed is pricey, but you’ll definitely get what you pay for—plus, it’s the closest thing you’ll get to having a real bed, frame and all. Thanks to its built-in inflatable headboard, the AeroBed provides a little extra support behind sleepers’ heads. This mattress features a built-in pump with an auto shutoff feature, so you can set it to pump up and walk away. It also has a secondary pump that silently inflates the mattress if it slowly begins to deflate. There’s a carrying bag included, so you can easily stow your bed away when it’s not in use.
The best air mattresses for camping offer comfort and convenience, and the EZ Inflate checks both boxes. For starters, it’s waterproof, puncture-resistant and has a flocked top for extra cushioning so you can sleep well under the stars. It’s also extremely portable, with a built-in pump that allows for simple setup and eliminates the need to lug a separate pump along. The whole thing folds up into an easy-to-tote bag when it’s not in use, making it ideal for taking on the go.
If you have trouble getting that just-right level of firmness, this EnerPlex air mattress is a great option. It uses a two-pump system to help you get a perfect feel. The first pump is used to quickly inflate and deflate, while the second pump allows you to easily adjust the air pressure to either blow your mattress up more or lower the pressure. Best of all, it’s designed to feel like a real mattress thanks to circular coils that create a strong and supportive foundation. Quilt top flocking gives you a smooth feel and helps prevent those dreaded air mattress squeaks when you move.
Having a built-in pump is the ultimate in air mattress luxury: Simply flip a switch and your sleep surface is ready in minutes. The King Koil mattress fully inflates in under two minutes, leaving you barely enough time to whip out your sheets before it’s ready to go. It also features a thick, sueded quilt top for comfort and to keep your bedding from slipping around during the night. When you’re ready to pack your mattress away, just hit the deflate knob, stand back, and let it go to work for you.
The Brookstone Innovations Perfect Air Bed has a built-in pump that fully inflates in an impressive two minutes. Even better? It stays inflated for days. It also has little bells and whistles that other mattress don’t, like a built-in storage port for the power cord, an adjustable dial that lets you customize firmness and a cozy plush top. When you’re ready to stow the mattress away, simply set the dial to “deflate” and let it do the work for you.
This Englander air mattress will be your new go-to. The microfiber surface is cool, cozy and sturdy and comfortable enough for regular use. A built-in pump inflates this air bed in about 90 seconds and deflates itself at a similar speed. The whole thing is puncture-resistant so you can sleep easy without worrying about waking up on the floor.
It’s understandable to have questions about air mattresses, including whether it’s okay to sleep on them for longer periods of time. Mara Vucich, D.O., a doctor of physical and rehabilitative medicine at Baltimore’s Mercy Medical Center, has answers.
Technically yes, although there isn’t really any data to show which type of mattress is best for your back—inflatable or otherwise, Vucich says. “It really comes down to the position that your neck and back are in when you're lying down on any mattress,” she explains. Your neck and lower back have a natural curve (called a lordosis) and maintaining that alignment “will result in less pressure and pain on your neck and lower back,” she says. And yes, she adds, this is also true on an air mattress.
It’s not necessarily good or bad as long as it’s supportive, Vucich says. “I wouldn’t say an air mattress is not supportive, but it’s better to blow it up to a firmer level. Certainly if there isn’t enough air, at some point you’ll lose firmness and can feel sore in the morning.”
Each retailer and product is slightly different. However, an air mattress that’s used infrequently can last for six years or more. If you use it more often or if it’s your regular mattress, it may develop signs of wear and tear sooner. Of course—as with most things—quality is key.
Along with making sure your mattress is inflated to a firm level, Vucich says that your alignment and positioning when you sleep can make a big difference. “If you’re sleeping on your back, you may want to have a flatter pillow to fill in that lordosis in your neck,” she says. “If you’re on your side, you need a thicker pillow to make up the space between your ear and your shoulder.” She also suggests putting a pillow between your knees when you sleep on your side to keep your spine in a comfortable position. Further, marshmallowy mattress toppers, supportive pillows and sumptuous bed sheets can all contribute to a cozier sleep experience.