An air mattress is one of those household essentials that's always good to have on hand whether you're hosting family, accommodating last-minute guests, or going on the occasional camping trip. It not going to offer the same experience as the best mattress, but they should be comfortable enough for short term use. The best air mattresses are quick to set up, easy to store, and provide enough support for a full night's rest.
After testing 12 of the most popular models, we found that not all air mattresses deliver the same sleeping experience. We evaluated each one for comfort, firmness, durability, and convenience. Our top pick, the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress, feels supportive and stable — I almost forgot I was on an air mattress — while the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Plush Air Mattress offers great quality for the price and is available in three heights.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.
Our picks of the best air mattresses
Best overall: SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress - See at Amazon
Best budget: Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Plush Air Mattress - See at Amazon
Best with an automatic pump: Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump - See at Amazon
Best twin: King Koil Air Mattress - See at Amazon
Best self-inflating: EZ Bed - See at Grandin Road
Best for camping: REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL Self-Inflating Deluxe Bed - See at REI
Best overall
Sleeping on the SoundAsleep Dream Series feels like you're resting on a giant soft pillow; it's a durable, comfortable option for in-home use.
What we like
What we don't like
So comfortable, I almost forgot I was sleeping on an air mattress. The SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress has discs on the surface that are meant to mimic the firmness and bounce of a spring mattress to provide balanced distribution of air throughout the mattress.
Fast and easy set up. The queen-sized air mattress inflated relatively quietly and in under four minutes. The pump is built into the mattress, so all you have to do is plug it in and set the dial to inflate until you've reached your desired firmness. The bottom of the mattress has a grippy material to ensure it stays in place. The whole mattress is made with puncture-resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which makes it extra durable and waterproof. While it initially had a plastic odor, the smell disappeared after a couple of hours.
An overall great experience for an air mattress. The mattress's soft, velvety surface prevented my deep pocket sheets from slipping off and also helped maintain the right temperature throughout the night. It's raised 19 inches off the ground, a good height for climbing out of bed in the morning. I had to give it a quick top-up on the fourth night of testing, but I didn't notice any air loss during the first few nights. The integrated cord storage and carrying bag are convenient additions.
Best budget
This sturdy, budget-friendly air mattress with a built-in pump has a plush, supportive surface. It's available in three heights including 13 inches, 18 inches, and 22 inches.
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Great value with multiple options. The Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Plush Air Mattress is an affordable upgrade to the brand's previous Pillow Rest model I tested, offering a sturdier, taller, and more supportive design for guests or short-term use. I tested the 18-inch queen size, but it's also available in 13- and 22-inch heights.
An unfussy design. The built-in AC pump inflated the queen-size mattress in about four and a half minutes. Setup was simple, just plug it in, turn the dial, and let it do the work. The 18-inch height made it easier to get in and out, and the reinforced edge construction ensured stability and security.
Its soft, flocked top felt plush to the touch and helped sheets stay in place overnight. There was a faint plastic odor at first, but it disappeared within a day. The mattress lost a bit of air on the first night as the material stretched, then stayed firm for the rest of the week. It deflated quickly and packed easily into the included carry bag.
Best with an automatic pump
The Serta is a durable, supportive air mattress with a quiet dual-pump system that automatically maintains your preferred firmness throughout the night.
What we like
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An upgraded experience. The Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump is one of the most reliable air beds I've tested. It inflated in about three and a half minutes with the built-in AC pump, and I liked that I could choose between plush, medium, or firm settings. Once it reached my selected firmness, it automatically shut off, which made setup virtually hands-free. No guessing or overinflating.
Won't go flat during the night. The NeverFlat secondary pump quietly maintains air pressure throughout the night, and I didn't wake up sinking into the bed even on the first night. The backup pump was quiet enough that I barely noticed it. The flocked top features a soft, velvety texture, and the overall design feels durable and supportive.
This is the one I'd recommend if you're hosting guests for more than a night or two. It holds its shape, adjusts automatically, and feels like something you could sleep on every night without thinking twice about it. It also comes with a carry bag for storage and a two-year warranty, which is more than most brands offer.
Best twin
The King Koil is not your average air mattress. It inflates twice as fast as the others and is great for at-home use or camping.
What we like
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A quality air mattress for a single sleeper. The twin-size King Koil packs a lot of features that will make you feel like you're sleeping on your normal mattress. A strong pillar support system ensures that you won't wake up with the mattress sagging in the middle of the night.
Most people will stay comfortable. I found the mattress maintained temperature and breathed well thanks to the pocket-like dimples on the sleeping surface, allowing for better temperature control. The smaller-sized pillow stop will accommodate most pillow sizes but could be underwhelming for side sleepers. Its compact package will leave sleepers over 6 feet tall, limited in coverage but snug enough.
Durable design features. The mattress has a puncture-proof finish and a velvet texture that keeps sheets right in place. This is important for restless sleepers who may untuck their sheets. The bottom has a nonslip surface to ensure it doesn't move around and the thick PVC walls add extra durability.
Easy fuss-free set up. To set it up, simply turn the inflate valve and press the on switch. In my testing, it inflated quickly in under 40 seconds. It did not need to be re-inflated during my testing.
Best self-inflating
This self-inflating, easy-to-store air mattress is a must-have for short-term overnight guests and can accommodate up to 450 lbs.
What we like
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Closely resembles a bed. Beyond its elevated design, raised 24 inches off the ground, the major selling point of the EZ Bed is its self-inflating design. With the push of a button, the caterpillar-like metal legs automatically unfurl to create the bed's frame before inflating the mattress. The auto-shutoff pump inflates to the selected firmness (there are four to choose from) and then shuts off automatically. The process of deflating is basically the reverse of the setup. It is also stored in a case with wheels for easy portability.
Average comfort, but suitable for short term stays. Contributor Colleen Sullivan used the bed to host family members and slept on it herself when her husband was sick. She found that adding a mattress pad helped tailor her comfort even more. Her queen-sized sheets were a bit loose around the mattress and slid a bit on the PVC finish, but the company sells its own custom sheet set that includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet with a 14" deep pocket, and an attached dust ruffle to disguise the metal legs.
A more complicated design means more things could go wrong. One of the biggest drawbacks of the EZ Bed is that the mattress is not available separately from the frame, should you run into any issues outside the one-year warranty. Though billed as puncture-resistant, it does include a repair kit and instructions should a pinhole develop.
Read our full EZ Bed review.
Best for camping
REI's Camp Dreamer is a great option to take along for camping trips; It's lightweight (6.6 pounds) and packable. It inflates to four inches thick with a manual pump sack that can also be used as a pillow.
What we like
What we don't like
Campsite friendly. The REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL Self-Inflating Deluxe Bed offers the ideal mix of comfort, insulation, and convenience for campers. Once unrolled, the foam core begins to pull in air on its own, and the included pump sack makes it easy to top off to your preferred firmness. The whole setup took around six minutes and didn't require much effort.
Built for a wide range of conditions. The pad feels sturdy and well-cushioned, with sufficient thickness to smooth out uneven ground. The materials and fabric feel durable yet soft to the touch. Its R-value of 6.6 makes it a great option for colder temperatures; it stayed warm and supportive through chilly nights without losing air or making noise. I also appreciate that it stayed in place and didn't shift around during the night.
Portable for taking on-the-go. The included pump sack doubles as a storage sack and can even be stuffed and used as a pillow, a small but thoughtful touch. Rolling it tightly enough to fit back in takes a little effort, but the overall warmth, comfort, and ease of setup make it our top pick for camping.
Our top air mattresses, compared
| The winner | Height | Inflation | Adjustable firmness | Size | |
| Best overall | SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress | 19 inches | Built-in pump | Yes | Twin, twin xl, full, queen, king, Cal king xl |
| Best budget | Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Plush Air Mattress | 13, 18, or 22 inches | Built-in pump | Yes | Twin, full, queen |
| Best with an automatic pump | Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump | 18 inches | Built-in, automatic adjusts to maintain | Plush, medium, firm settings | Twin, queen |
| Best twin | King Koil Air Mattress | 13, 16, or 20 inches | Built-in pump | Yes | Twin, full, queen, Ca king |
| Best self-inflating | EZ Bed | 24 inches | Built-in pump | Four firmness settings | Twin, queen |
| Best for camping | REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL Self-Inflating Deluxe Bed | 4 inches | Manual | No | Twin |
How we test air mattresses
To determine the best air mattress on the market, I used my knowledge of sleep science from two years in sleep research and implemented what I learned from sleep expert Bill Fish, formerly president at Sleep Doctor, and Steven Shoshany, chiropractor at NYC Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression Center, on how to properly test air mattresses. I slept on every air mattress in this guide for at least four consecutive nights.
During the testing period, I examined:
Inflation: I took notes of the unboxing process for each air mattress, including how easy it was to assemble (if necessary) and whether or not the product came with instructions. I also timed how long each air mattress took to inflate and noted whether or not the air mattress emitted any strong chemical odors.
Firmness: This was the most important factor since a good air mattress should be firm enough to support you throughout the night. I paid close attention to any air loss over the course of four nights by measuring the air mattresses with a ruler after each use. Then I took notes on my sleep quality and how refreshed I felt after waking up.
Comfort: I noted how comfortable each air mattress was to sleep on over four nights, including any major issues with temperature regulation. I also recorded if the air mattresses made any noise when I moved, or whether my pillow and sheets fell off during the night. I also considered how easy it was to climb on and off each mattress.
Durability: At the end of the four days of sleeping on each air mattress, I used an uncapped pen to test the durability of the air mattress by poking it in three different places and noting if it punctured. Fortunately, all the air mattresses passed this test.
Deflating/packing up: I recorded how long it took for each air mattress to deflate. I assessed the difficulty of folding up and packing the air mattress into its respective carry bag and also noted the ease of storage considering its weight and size.
Size: I noted the dimensions of each air mattress, including length, width, and height, both when fully inflated and when packed up and stored. I also noted each mattress's weight and method of inflation.
Meet the expert behind the guide
Suzy Hernandez, contributor: I've tested everything from the best pillows for neck pain to the best cooling comforters. I use my background as a certified sleep scientist and background in sleep research to make informed insights about what improves rest.
Air mattress FAQs
What kind of air mattress should I buy?
A medium-firm air mattress tends to result in better sleep quality, according to a scientific systematic review in the journal Sleep Health. The material should be durable, and the bed should have a high weight capacity. "Spinal alignment is key to getting a good night of sleep, and an air mattress is no different," Bill Fish, former president at Sleep Doctor, said. "It's best to have an air mattress supported on one side to prevent too much movement," added Steven Shoshany, chiropractor at NYC Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression Center.
How do I clean my air mattress?
To clean your air mattress, first lay it out flat on the floor and use a handheld vacuum to remove any crumbs and dust on the surface. To remove stains, you can inflate the air mattress, unplug it, and use a soft cloth and a mild soapy solution to spot clean. Don't use any harsh chemicals or cleaning products as they could damage the air mattress.
Why is my new air mattress losing air?
Due to the elastic materials, you might think that the air mattress is losing air during the first couple of uses. There's nothing wrong with your air mattress: it usually takes a few inflations for it to completely stretch to its full shape. Manufacturers recommend inflating your brand-new air mattress a few hours before using it and then topping it off before sleeping on it.
What type of air pump do I need?
There are three main types of air mattress pumps: manual, electric, and automatic. A manual pump is one that you operate by hand or foot. These can be a great option for situations where you don't have access to electricity. An electric pump, the most common type, uses electricity to inflate the mattress with no manual labor required. These pumps can either be separate from or built into the air mattress. An automatic pump is a built-in electric pump that automatically inflates the mattress to your desired firmness, stops when full, and periodically adjusts the air to maintain the right firmness levels. Most of our top picks feature built-in designs.
How long does an air mattress last?
An air mattress won't last you as long as your regular mattress. Most air mattresses are designed for occasional use and should not be used to replace an actual mattress. Proper use and care can keep it in good condition for more than five years. The best way to extend the life of your mattress is to avoid opportunities for punctures. Use it on clean floors, don't allow pets on it, don't jump on the bed, and avoid overfilling it with air. If the mattress comes with a dust bag for storage, be sure to use it, especially when storing it in a garage or anywhere damage could occur.
Does my warranty cover a hole in my air mattress?
If your mattress came with a warranty, it's likely limited to only manufactured defects. Holes caused by use or puncture will not be covered. You can usually contact the company for a patch kit, however.
Can I recycle an air mattress?
If your air mattress is beyond repair, check with your local recycling center to see if they accept items made of PVC and similar materials. Otherwise, you'll have to throw the mattress away. If you want to get rid of a blow-up mattress in good condition, consider giving it to a local shelter or donation center.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@bjinnox.com.
