The 8 Best Air Mattresses of 2023, Tested and ...
In our testing in The Lab , we evaluated the ease of setup, portability, and comfort of each air mattress. And if you're concerned about deflation, not to worry—we conducted an overnight air leak test to assess durability, determining how much air escaped each mattress when loaded with 60 to 100 pounds of weight. Based on our tests, the below list features a wide variety of air mattresses, including options with internal air pumps, adjustable firmness settings, and built-in frames. But they all have a couple of things in common: They're convenient to use and comfortable to sleep on for a night or two.
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. Whether you have a small apartment or want to revamp your guest bedroom for a different purpose, an air mattress offers the flexibility of quickly converting a space without dedicating too much usable space within your home. 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.
Best Overall
King Koil Luxury Air Mattress
Amazon
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Our Ratings
What We Like
Extra-tall mattress height
Available in Twin, Queen, and California King sizes
600 pound weight capacity
What We Don't Like
Lacks dual-pump design
Flocked sides aren’t as noticeable as we’d like
No adjustable firmness settings
After testing many different models in our lab, the popular King Koil Air Mattress is our best overall air mattress. If you are looking for a comfortable mattress that is simple to set up and easy to carry, this is the choice for you. Equipped with a built-in pump, this mattress offers fast inflation and deflation using two separate knobs to control these functions. In fact, the whole set-up process took only seven minutes, and the deflation process was just as easy.
The King Koil has a fully-flocked top layer, so we found it soft and comfortable to lay on. Plus, the suede-like surface helped keep bed sheets in place. We did note that the sides of the mattress weren’t as plush to the touch as expected, so the sheets were as snug around the mattress as they could have been.
Like other mattresses we tried, it did move an inch or two when we jumped on it during stability testing. We suspect that a grippier bottom or more flocking would help the mattress hold its position better. But even with the slight movement, it felt stable to use. And with its weight capacity of 600 pounds, this is also a great option for couples. It’s also available in a California King size if you’re looking for more room to spread out.
Overnight, we challenged this mattress with 100 pounds of distributed weight. It deflated from 21 inches to 19 inches, but this isn’t overly surprising for a mattress that lacks a secondary pump for overnight inflation. We also think it's an excellent value—it's neither the most expensive nor the cheapest air mattress on the market. But it’s priced right for its features, and that's just one of the many reasons it's our top pick.
Price at time of publish: $170 for 20-inch queen size
Inflated Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 20 inches (Queen) | Inflation Method: Built-in electric pump | Weight Capacity: 600 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
Best Budget
Coleman GuestRest Double High Air Mattress with Built-In-Pump Queen
Target
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Our Ratings
What We Like
120-volt pump for quick set-up
Plush top
Reinforced construction
What We Don't Like
Only supports up to 300 pounds
For a basic but comfortable sleeping solution, look no further than the Coleman GuestRest Double-High Air Mattress. It costs less than many other options we tested but impressed us in the Lab with its comfort, stability, and support. Plus, it is durable enough for indoor and outdoor use and includes a built-in pump and carrying case. Whether you plan to take this budget air mattress on a camping trip or set it up in your home for overnight guests, it inflates quickly and can be ready for use in about five minutes, according to our experience with it.
A flocked surface and generous 18 inches of height made this bed feel extra comfortable while testing. There are no extra features like a built-in pillow or adjustable firmness (you must manually turn the pump off when inflating the mattress). However, it's a great, budget-friendly option that is comfortable and easy to get in and out of. It doesn't have extra bells and whistles, but it is easy to inflate with the built-in pump and will keep you or your guests comfortable.
This mattress didn’t budge when someone jumped on top of it, and it didn’t lose any height when we tested it overnight with 100 pounds of weight. We do wish that the carrying case included a handle to make it easier to transport around the house or in and out of the car while camping.
Price at time of publish: $86 for queen size
Inflated Dimensions: 78 x 60 x 18 inches (Queen) | Inflation Method: Built-in electric pump | Weight Capacity: 600 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
The Spruce / Tamara Staples
Best Splurge
SereneLife Air Mattress with Frame & Rolling Case
Amazon
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What We Like
Adjustable firmness
Included rolling case
Built-in frame
What We Don't Like
Heavy
Elevate the air mattress experience with premium features like those found on the SereneLife EZ Air Mattress. We found that the extra features of this air mattress make it a convenient choice for anyone not wanting to deal with the typical hassles of air mattresses. These features include an internal air pump, a built-in frame, and adjustable firmness settings.
The manufacturer promises a quick and easy setup, taking only three minutes to inflate and deflate. It also automatically opens and closes by itself, allowing for a largely hands-off experience. The dial on the side of the mattress controls the pump’s operation, and you can adjust the firmness level through the amount of air you let in. When you’re ready to pack up this air mattress, simply turn the dial to deflate.
Like other high-end air mattresses, this version has air coils for added support and comfort, as well as a flocked surface designed to hold sheets in place. At 45 pounds, this air mattress is on the heavier side, but we appreciate that it comes with a rolling case for easy transport.
Price at time of publish: $260 for twin size
Inflated Dimensions: 80 x 62 x 20.25 inches (queen) | Inflation Method: Built-in electric pump | Weight Capacity: 330 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
Best with Frame
Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress with Frame & Rolling Case
Target
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Our Ratings
What We Like
Height of a standard bed
Rolling storage case
Adjustable firmness settings
What We Don't Like
Heavy to carry up or down stairs
Deflated more than other air mattresses tested
Our top pick in this category, the Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress, offers a unique design with a self-deploying frame that gives the bed a standard height of 24 inches. Of the ten air mattresses we tested in the Lab, this option was one of the easiest to set up—even with a frame! An air mattress with a frame elevates the sleeping area, making it easier to get in and out of bed. It also gives any spare room the feeling of a proper guest room when you need it.
The process of setting up this mattress was largely hands-off, and it took only six and a half minutes to complete. You just unzip the case, select the firmness level, and move the dial to inflate. In just a few minutes, you'll have a comfortable bed for guests.
The Ivation EZ-Bed features dozens of support coils and adjustable firmness levels, including plush, medium, and firm. A flocked top gives the bed a softer feel and keeps sheets from sliding. 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.
We had no concerns about durability during our tests. Deflating the mattress was fast and easy, and it collapses to fit inside of a zippered duffel bag with wheels. It would be easy to roll this air mattress out of a closet, but it’s worth mentioning that the case is a little heavy and bulky. It may be challenging for one person to carry it up a flight of stairs and would probably best be stored on the same floor where you plan to use it.
Price at time of publish: $450 for king size
Inflated Dimensions: 79 x 61 x 24 inches (full size, includes mattress frame) | Inflation Method: Built-in electric pump | Weight Capacity: 450 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
The Spruce / Tamara Staples
Tip from The Lab
Since nights are typically cooler than daylight hours, the air in your mattress is bound to condense overnight, causing some deflation. Additionally, while many models are good at storing air, they're not airtight. A small gap or opening on the mattress closure can slowly release air. Many air mattresses come with adhesive patches to repair any tears or rips.
If deflation is a concern for you, you may want to opt for an air mattress with a dual pump that will help maintain the air pressure overnight.
Best Queen
SoundAsleep Products Dream Series Air Mattress with ComfortCoil Technology & Internal High Capacity Pump
Amazon
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Our Ratings
What We Like
Pump is quieter than other models
Holds shape and firmness
Compact storage
What We Don't Like
Cord for the pump is short
Can feel a bit too firm
Took longer than expected to set up
If you are specifically looking for a queen-sized matress, the Dream Series from SoundAsleep was one of several queen air mattresses we tested, and it stood out for its comfort, durability, and design. When fully inflated, its dimensions are just shy of a queen mattress—it’s 78 inches long and 58 inches wide, rather than 80 inches long and 60 inches wide. However the small difference in dimensions wasn’t noticeable in our testing, and we appreciate that this mattress has a substantial 500-pound weight limit.
This 19-inch-tall queen air mattress has 40 internal air coils to evenly support the weight. A flocked top adds to the nice appearance and comfortable feel of this mattress. It’s also equipped with a built-in pump that assists with inflation and deflation functions, but it should be noted that the pump could have worked more quickly. It took seven minutes to fully inflate this queen air mattress, which is longer than others with a built-in pump. 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.
Price at time of publish: $210
Inflated Dimensions: 78 x 58 x 19 inches (queen) | Inflation Method: Built-in electric pump | Weight Capacity: 500 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
Best Twin
Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Airbed
Amazon
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Our Ratings
What We Like
Built-in pump
Easy inflation and deflation
Convenient to store and transport
What We Don't Like
May shift with excessive movement
No firmness settings
For a supportive and durable twin-size air mattress, the Intex Dura-Beam is a great option. This version is as long as a standard twin mattress (75 inches) and also provides an inch of extra width. Standing 16.5 inches tall, we appreciated the mattress’s lofty feel during our testing process. Ideal as an extra bed for one overnight guest or a child, the Intex Dura-Beam twin air mattress uses a built-in electric pump for easy set-up. It took six minutes to assemble the bed, and we also found that the pump made it faster and easier to deflate the air mattress, too.
This air mattress is designed to be comfortable for a single sleeper and features a flocked surface, built-in pillow, and raised edge. We found it well-designed, comfortable, and durable, but we did note that this air mattress wasn’t as stable during our testing process, moving an inch or two when we jumped onto it. However, given the fact that the twin-size mattress has less surface area in contact with the floor, we weren’t surprised to see it shift a little. Convenient enough to store or transport it for camping, this air mattress folds into a bag with handles when deflated.
Price at time of publish: $60
Inflated Dimensions: 75 x 39 x 16.5 inches (twin) | Inflation Method: Built-in pump | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
Best for Kids
Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers
Amazon
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Our Ratings
What We Like
Raised edges for safety
Quick inflation time
Travel bag and grab handle included
What We Don't Like
Shorter than a standard twin-sized mattress
External pump
If you host sleepovers or have frequent visitors with small children, the Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed is a must-have. Intended for children 18 months and older, it has raised bumpers around the edges, which can help keep young ones from rolling off onto the floor. It also has a removable mattress section for easy cleaning in case of any accidents or spills.
We also love that the mattress has a built-in grab handle and comes with a travel bag, making it easy to take on the go. The mattress and pump would fit on a shelf or in a corner of your closet, and they are light enough to transport to a friend’s house or camping. Keep in mind that this air mattress is shorter than a twin-sized air mattress; it measures 62 inches long when inflated, in comparison with the 75 inches that is standard for twin beds. So if you have taller kids coming over, you may need a twin option instead.
The air mattress is made with heavy-duty vinyl, reinforced seams, and a velvet top for both durability and comfort. Although it lacks a built-in pump, the manufacturer claims that the air mattress should inflate in around 30 seconds or less.
Price at time of publish: $85
Inflated Dimensions: 62 x 39 x 12 inches (one size) | Inflation Method: External electric pump | Weight Capacity: 310 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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The Spruce / Tamara Staples
Best Adjustable
Beautyrest Skyrise Full Raised Air Mattress with Electric Pump
Amazon
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Our Ratings
What We Like
Offers good support
700-pound weight capacity
One-touch comfort button to adjust firmness
What We Don't Like
External pump
Takes more time to inflate and deflate than other models
We tested several air mattresses with adjustable firmness, but if it is a priority for you, we recommend the Skyrise Raised Express Air Mattress from Beautyrest. In our lab testing, this mattress was very comfortable, felt similar to a standard mattress, and provided sufficient back support. The only thing standing between this air mattress and a perfect rating for comfort is the fact that its inflated dimensions were shorter (by 1 inch) and narrower (by 2 inches) than a standard full-size mattress.
Instead of using a dial that fills the air mattress to pre-set firm, medium, or plush settings, the Skyrise Raised Express Air Mattress uses an electric pump to inflate the bed to capacity. Then, you control the firmness with the one-touch adjustable comfort button on the mattress. This gives you the ability to adjust the air mattress to suit your needs, rather than relying on fixed settings or manually letting air out from the valve. Once filled, this mattress is durable, stable, and supportive. It didn’t move when we lightly jumped onto the bed, and it lost less than 1 inch of air in our overnight weight test.
Take note that this adjustable air mattress uses an external electric pump rather than a built-in pump. In our testing, it took longer to inflate this air mattress than other models—over nine minutes in total. Once we figured out that the pump featured separate inflate and deflate functions, the process became more efficient, but we think deflating is a job best accomplished by two people.
Price at time of publish: $79 for 18-inch queen size
Inflated Dimensions: 75 x 54 x 16 inches (queen) | Inflation Method: External electric pump | Weight Capacity: 700 pounds | Pump Included: Yes
The Spruce / Tamara Staples
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.
You’ll quickly know when you’ve got a crappy air mattress—whether it has a slow, steady sink from a leak or a sputtering pump that calls it quits before the job is done.
Like our top pick, this mattress is comfortable and remained firm for 48 hours, but the company’s customer service gets mixed reviews.
Our top pick since 2016, it has the best combination of comfort, customer service, availability, and owner satisfaction of any mattress we tested—and it has the quietest motor.
We found that air mattresses under $60 usually lack in quality and comfort; anything over $150 had unnecessary extra features.
Air mattresses are notoriously prone to failure, so good customer service and a decent warranty are essential.
An air mattress will never be as comfortable as a real one, but at the very least it should hold air and not deflate overnight.
We only looked at mattresses with built-in electric pumps, since they are the easiest to inflate and deflate.
There’s no such thing as a perfect air mattress, but we’ve been testing the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress since 2016, and it still holds air after many, many uses.
It was among the most comfortable air mattresses we tried (it didn’t deflate noticeably in the night and so provided better back support), and you can control the level of inflation.
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).
In case the pump breaks or the mattress springs a leak, SoundAsleep also offers responsive customer service and a one-year warranty.
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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.
The pump inflates or deflates the mattress in about 3 minutes, and we found it easy to re-pack inside the included tote bag.
In previous years, the King Koil mattress lost a significant amount of air overnight, but the company told us it has redesigned the mattress, and the improvements were noticeable. However, its customer service record is spotty: Our phone calls resulted in prompt callbacks, but emails sent to service@kingkoilairbeds.com often went unanswered. (We recommend purchasing through the Amazon storefront so that you have recourse to the 30-day return window in case anything goes wrong.) We’ll keep an eye on durability and customer service while we continue testing the King Koil mattress.
Bear in mind this mattress has a designated “top” of bed with a slightly elevated built-in pillow, which means you may not be able to get the power cord close to an outlet if you are using it in a tight space.