Shopping The 9 Best Air Mattresses of 2023 We love the comfort, plush fabric, and back support of the Beautyrest Skyrise Air Mattress. By Erica Reagle Erica Reagle Erica Reagle is marketing communications specialist and a freelance writer focused on interior design and the home. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens, Bob Vila, and Better You. She enjoys traveling and tasting wine from all over the world.Following an editorial internship for StyleLine magazine early in her career, this Michigan native served as writer and event coordinator for SHE! magazine, a student-run fashion and pop culture magazine. She covered human interest and fashion articles for the magazine and online.Erica spent several years as a contributing writer for Her Campus, a print and online magazine targeted to college women and recent graduates.When Erica isn't traveling (10 European cities one summer!), this self-described Type A personality works as a marketing communication specialist for Clayton & McKervey. There, she generates content for webinars and targeted programs and manages the social media strategy for the company, but returns to her interests of home, decorating, travel, food and wine in her writing. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on September 27, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process What to Know Before Shopping Your Questions, Answered Who We Are We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Amazon Having a comfortable place to sleep is important, and there’s nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed. However, sometimes you need a more temporary solution to a good night’s sleep that’s a step above sleeping on the couch or floor. The best air mattresses are comfortable, supportive, and durable, allowing you to sleep peacefully and wake up feeling well rested. “With any sleep surface, it needs to provide you with both comfort and support,” says Mary Helen Rogers, VP of marketing and communications at The Better Sleep Council. “When lying on the bed in your sleeping position, your head, neck and spine need to be in proper alignment.” We extensively researched the category and even tested a few of the most popular models, considering factors like size and height, weight capacity, and inflation method to inform our overall recommendations. Here are the best air mattresses for every sleeping need. Our Top Picks Best Overall : Beautyrest Skyrise Air Mattress at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Air Mattress at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Brookstone 24-Inch Perfect Airbed at Walmart Jump to Review Best Adjustable : Lazery Sleep Air Mattress at Amazon Jump to Review Best With Dual Pump: Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress With NeverFlat Pump at Amazon Jump to Review Best Heavy Duty: King Koil Luxury Air Mattress at Amazon Jump to Review Best With Frame: Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress with Frame at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Camping : Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Kids: hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Beautyrest Skyrise Full Raised Air Mattress with Electric Pump 4.6 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Lowe's Why You Should Get It: With a similar feel to a regular mattress, this comfortable air mattress provides back support and a cozy sleeping environment.Keep in Mind: The external pump isn’t very intuitive–it took us longer to inflate and deflate than others we tried until we figured out how to use the separate inflation and deflation feature. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to nap for an hour or a place to sleep for the night, the best air mattress should provide a comfortable spot to catch some zzz’s. With a similar feel to a regular mattress, our top pick is the Beautyrest Skyrise Air Mattress. This air mattress earned perfect scores for design, stability, support, durability, and overall value. It also scored high on comfort, setup, and portability. Our testers raved about the cozy feel, back support, and plush fabric. During testing, we discovered that using the separate inflation and deflation feature on the external pump requires some practice. Once you become familiar with the pump, it’s easy to inflate the mattress, but you have to push in and hold the button on the rubber stopper to deflate it. Our testers also had to lie on it to make it deflate more quickly, which is arguably an easier job for two people. This adjustable air mattress comes with a drawstring bag, but our testers wish it had a handle so it was easier to carry. Available in three sizes, this air mattress can accommodate up to 700 pounds. We tested the full size air mattress—and it felt smaller than a standard full size—but our testers would highly recommend it for shorter adults or kids. Price at time of publish: From $75 Product Details: Sizes: Twin, full, queen | Height: 14, 16, 18 inches | Weight Capacity: 700 pounds | Inflation Method: Electric pump Best Budget Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Airbed 4.4 Amazon View On Amazon Why You Should Get It: This air mattress was easier to deflate than others we tried thanks to the built-in electric pump and “deflate” setting.Keep in Mind: This twin size air mattress is an ideal size for children and young adults, but it might not be as comfortable for large adults. This affordable twin air mattress is a great size for children and young adults. Our testers gave it perfect scores for setup, design, comfort, durability, portability, and overall value. As a deluxe version of the Pillow Rest Raised Bed, this air mattress offers new vertical beam construction for added support and stability. It also comes with a built-in pillow and perimeter frame for additional comfort, factors you might normally see in more expensive air mattresses. You can easily inflate and deflate this air mattress in about two minutes using the built-in electric pump. There’s also a dial so you can adjust the firmness. At 16.5 inches tall, this air mattress is easy to get in and out of, and you won’t feel like you’re sleeping on the floor. During testing, we learned that it’s easy to store and transport this air mattress in the included carrying case. Our testers didn’t notice any apparent odor when opening up the air mattress, which can sometimes be the case with other choices. Available as a twin, this budget-friendly air mattress has a lot of great features like a built-in pump, deflate setting, and storage case. Price at time of publish: $60 Product Details: Size: Twin | Height: 16.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Inflation Method: Electric pump Best Splurge Brookstone 24-Inch Perfect Airbed Courtesy of Walmart View On Walmart Why You Should Get It: This luxury air mattress comes with a built-in air pump, fitted sheet, and storage bag.Keep in Mind: At 24 inches tall, this air mattress can be difficult for some people to get in and out of. This high-profile air mattress is worth the splurge–complete with an air pump, fitted sheet, and storage bag. Setup is simple with the built-in air pump and auto stop inflate and deflate button. The best air mattresses inflate quickly, and the Brookstone 24-Inch Perfect Airbed is no exception–inflation only takes about one minute. You can also adjust the firmness to your desired comfort level by turning the deflate dial. The power cord can be tucked away into a hidden storage port, adding to the sleek design of this air mattress. Another feature worth highlighting is the flexible support beams that respond to your movement and contour your body while you’re lying down, providing a comfortable night of sleep. There’s also an included storage bag so you can easily pack up this air mattress and bring it with you while traveling. This air mattress could be difficult for some people to get in and out of since it’s raised 24 inches above the floor, but we still recommend it because of great features like automatic inflation, simple storage, and bonus sheets. Price at time of publish: From $219 Product Details: Sizes: Twin, full, queen | Height: 24 inches | Weight Capacity: 550 pounds | Inflation Method: Built-in air pump The 10 Best Cooling Mattress Toppers To Improve Your Summer Slumber Best Adjustable Lazery Sleep Air Mattress Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Why You Should Get It: This adjustable air mattress has seven settings so you can choose the ideal level of firmness from soft plush to extra firm.Keep in Mind: It might take some time to find the most comfortable firmness level. The best air mattresses allow you to select your ideal level of firmness for the most comfortable night of sleep. The Lazery Sleep Air Mattress has a built-in electric pump and remote control so you can adjust the firmness level from soft plush to extra firm. You can try different firmness levels until you find the one that’s most comfortable for you by clicking the up and down arrows on the LED remote. No matter what your preferred firmness level is, this air mattress is made out of leak-proof material so you don’t have to worry about it deflating during the night. This air mattress only takes about four minutes to inflate and comes with an auto shutoff function for safety and convenience. It’s easy to fold, store, and transport in the included bag. This raised air mattress has a special grip bottom that prevents it from sliding. Combining the comfort of a regular mattress with the flexibility of an air mattress, our best adjustable pick has 40 individual air coils for even weight distribution and support. Available as a twin or queen, this air mattress can accommodate up to 500 pounds. Price at time of publish: $148 Product Details: Sizes: Twin, queen | Height: 18 or 19 inches | Weight Capacity: 500 pounds | Inflation Method: Built-in electric pump Best With Dual Pump Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress With NeverFlat Pump 4.4 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Lowe's Why You Should Get It: This air mattress comes with NeverFlat technology designed to prevent deflation.Keep in Mind: Our testers noticed the motor is louder than other air mattresses on our list. This air mattress comes with two pumps–one for quick inflation and deflation, and the other for monitoring and maintaining air pressure. Our testers gave this air mattress high rankings for support, durability, and portability. At 18 inches high, the Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress With NeverFlat Pump is easy to get in and out of. It’s a comfortable air mattress with edge support, but it doesn’t come with a built-in pillow. The best air mattresses do not deflate while you’re sleeping, which is why features like NeverFlat technology are so important. This dual pump technology prevents the mattress from deflating during the night, which can sometimes be a problem with other air mattresses. When we tested this air mattress, we could still hear the motor after it was fully inflated due to the NeverFlat technology. The motor was also louder than the other air mattresses we tried. This might not be a concern if you like white noise, but could be distracting if you prefer total silence while sleeping. Our testers also noticed this air mattress has more of a smell when taken out of the bag compared to other air mattresses on our list. Price at time of publish: $140 Product Details: Size: Queen | Height: 18 inches | Weight Capacity: 500 pounds | Inflation Method: Electric pump We Put 31 of the Best Pillows to the Test & These 11 Were the Most Comfortable Best Heavy Duty King Koil Luxury Air Mattress 4.6 Amazon View On Amazon Why You Should Get It:This heavy duty air mattress has enhanced coil construction for extra spinal support.Keep in Mind: This air mattress is best for indoor home use. This heavy duty air mattress has an extra thick waterproof comfort quilt top with extra spinal support, a soft flocking layer, and built-in pillow. Built with enhanced coil technology for maximum comfort, this air mattress is endorsed by the International Chiropractors Association to help promote proper spinal alignment and a healthier night's sleep. It’s also designed to keep its shape and firmness. The best air mattresses can withstand normal wear and tear without sinking, which is one reason why we love the King Koil Luxury Air Mattress. This durable air mattress is made out of puncture-resistant PVC and soft waterproof flocking on the top and sides for a soft sleeping surface. There’s a skid-resistant bottom to prevent it from sliding across the floor and a sueded top to keep your sheets in place. It also comes with a patch kit in case of accidental tears. You can quickly inflate and deflate this air mattress in 90 seconds using the built-in pump and adjust the firmness to your preferred comfort level using the separate inflation and deflation valves. This heavy duty air mattress comes with an oversized bag so you can easily fold, store, and carry it with you. Price at time of publish: From $100 Product Details: Sizes: Twin, queen, California king | Height: 13, 16, or 20 inches | Weight Capacity: 350, 600, or 650 pounds | Inflation Method: Built-in wired pump Best With Frame Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress with Frame & Rolling Case 4.3 Target View On Amazon View On Target View On Home Depot Why You Should Get It: With an included frame, this air mattress is a good option for guests who do not want to sleep on the floor.Keep in Mind: It's a little heavy and bulky for one person to carry (especially up and down stairs) so our testers recommend keeping it stored on the same floor where you will use it. If you’re looking for an air mattress that is the same height as a standard bed and mattress, consider the Ivation EZ-Bed Air Bed. Our testers gave this air mattress high rankings for setup, design, comfort, and durability. The setup is simple and takes just a few minutes—all you have to do is unzip the air mattress, select a firmness level (plush, medium, or firm), and move the dial to “inflate”. As the mattress automatically inflates, the built-in metal frame extends. It’s quick and easy to deflate this air mattress as well. Unfortunately this air mattress folded in on itself overnight during testing, and there wasn’t a locking mechanism or instructions for keeping the mattress inflated. However, our tester still recommends it. This air mattress is also a bit large and difficult to carry up and down the stairs, but it collapses into a duffle bag with wheels and a handle so it’s easy to move around on the same floor where you will be using it. Our testers would recommend this air mattress to someone who is looking for a raised spot for their guests to sleep, and has the available space to store it. Price at time of publish: From $300 Product Details: Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Height: 22 or 24 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 or 450 pounds | Inflation Method: Electric pump The 10 Best Hammocks for Lounging, Camping, and Everything in Between Best for Camping Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Why You Should Get It: This convertible air mattress can be used as two twins, a king, or a double high twin, making it a good choice to accommodate your camping group.Keep in Mind: You have to purchase a pump separately in order to inflate and deflate this air mattress. When you go camping, space is at a premium and finding a comfortable spot to sleep can be a challenge. The Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed is functional and customizable with multiple sleeping configurations. It can be used as two twins, a king, or a double high twin for extra support. Suitable for outdoor use, this air mattress has a solid coil construction that provides comfort and support. It also has an airtight system and double lock valve to prevent leaks so you don’t have to worry about your mattress deflating in the middle of your camping trip. Storing and transporting this air mattress is easy thanks to the wrap-n-roll storage system. All you have to do is fold and roll it and it’s ready to pack up until your next camping trip. Unlike the other air mattresses on our list, this one doesn’t come with a pump so you’ll have to purchase one separately. Price at time of publish: $94 Product Details: Size: Twin | Height: 8 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Inflation Method: Coleman 120V or rechargeable pump (sold separately) Best for Kids hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers 4.7 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Why You Should Get It: This portable toddler air mattress has four extra tall and long bed rail bumpers, making it a safe choice for children.Keep in Mind: The included pump might be a bit tricky to figure out. If you’re looking for a safe and comfortable place for your children to sleep at home or on-the-go, check out this lightweight toddler air mattress. Complete with four bumpers, this toddler air mattress provides maximum safety and durability. It’s made out of inlay-enforced vinyl and smooth velvet for a durable build and soft feel. You can easily inflate this air mattress in under 30 seconds using the included electric turbo pump. There’s also a heavy duty air valve that prevents air leakage. This air mattress fits standard sized crib sheets and blankets, and it also comes with an oversized travel bag, making it easy to fold, roll, and carry with you. However, you won’t be able to take it on international trips because the pump only works in the U.S. Built for kids, this air mattress is a great size for transitioning from a crib to a regular bed. Price at time of publish: $80 Product Details: Size: Toddler (62 x 39 x 12 inches) | Height: 12 inches | Weight Capacity: 310 pounds | Inflation Method: Electric pump The 9 Best Cooling Pillows for Every Sleep Position, According to Testing The Bottom Line Overall, we recommend the Beautyrest Skyrise Air Mattress because it feels similar to a regular mattress and offers ample back support—our testers raved about the cozy feel and plush fabric. Plus, it’s available in three sizes and can accommodate up to 700 pounds, an impressive feature that not many air mattresses have. Our Testing Process We tested some of these air mattresses in our testing Lab. First, we timed the unboxing and setup procedure for each air mattress, noticing how long the process took, whether the instructions were easy to follow, and how noisy the pump sounded. We also timed how long each mattress took to deflate. Next, we considered each air mattress’s design, including any built-in extras like edge support, a pillow, multiple firmness settings, or a headrest. We then tested each air mattress’s portability. To do this, we considered the weight of each mattress right out of the box and how easy or practical it would be to put it up on a closet shelf or carry it from room to room. We then inflated the mattress and evaluated how easy it was to move around. Once each mattress was deflated and rolled up, we tested how easy it was to get it back into the bag or case. Next, we tested comfort. We observed how easy it was to get in and out of the mattress, and then evaluated how comfortable it was to lie on. Any rough textures, dents, annoying sounds, and unpleasant odors were considered. We then determined each mattress’s effectiveness. We started by using a tape measure to record each fully inflated height; then, we placed weights on it overnight. The next day, we measured to see if the mattress lost any air or support. Our final test was focused on durability. We took note of whether the air mattress tore or had anything break off of it during testing, and also whether the material degraded or suffered in any way. Finally, testers received the price of each air mattress and evaluated the overall value of each product. What to Know About Air Mattresses Before Shopping When it comes to choosing the best air mattress, you'll want to find one that’s comfortable, durable, and portable with easy setup and plenty of room for you or your guests. Pay attention to these key factors when you’re shopping for the best air mattresses. Size and Height Air mattresses come in a variety of sizes, typically twin, full, and queen and sometimes even king and California king. It’s important to pick the right size air mattress to accommodate who’s sleeping in it as well as the available room (or campsite) space. “The mattress needs to be big enough for you and your partner, if applicable,” says Rogers. Height is another factor to consider when shopping for the best air mattresses. If you don’t mind sleeping close to the floor, choose a low profile air mattress. If you prefer the feel of a regular mattress and bed, look for a taller air mattress. Air mattresses typically range from about 12 to 24 inches tall, with some as low as 8 inches. The height of the air mattress will impact how easy it is to get in and out of bed. Weight Capacity The weight capacity of an air mattress dictates how much weight it can hold. This varies by air mattress and ranges from about 200 pounds to 700 pounds. Following the weight capacity limit will provide a comfortable sleeping environment and prevent the air mattress from deflating. Inflation Method When comparing different air mattresses, the inflation method is an important factor to consider. Most of the air mattresses on our list come with built-in electric pumps; however, some require external air pumps. Inflation typically only takes a few minutes. Some air mattresses also have separate buttons for inflation and deflation. Your Questions, Answered How do I stop my air mattress from deflating? Most air mattresses will lose some air during the night, but you can prevent them from deflating by keeping the room warm, avoiding sitting on the mattress when you’re not sleeping on it, and following the weight limit restrictions. Is it OK to leave an air mattress inflated? Yes—it’s fine to leave an air mattress inflated while in use, but they should be completely deflated before storing. How do I know if my air mattress is full? Your air mattress is full when it’s at your ideal level of firmness—whether that’s soft or firm. There’s no need to inflate the air mattress 100 percent. Who We Are Erica Reagle is a freelance writer focused on interior design and the home. To write this story, she spent a couple weeks researching the best air mattresses, recording important features like size and height, inflation method, and weight capacity, and comparing these details to insights gathered during testing in our Lab. She also spoke with Mary Helen Rogers, VP of Marketing and Communications at The Better Sleep Council. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit