We Found Air Mattresses That You'll Actually Enjoy Sleeping On

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We updated this guide in March 2023 to ensure our top air mattresses tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and reflected accurate prices.

The right air mattress is key for a good night's sleep, even if it's just for a few days. Whether you're hosting overnight guests, going on an outdoor camping trip, waiting for your new mattress to arrive or are in a temporary living situation where you need to use one every day, a quality air bed that doesn't break the bank or feel uncomfortable to sleep on is ideal. For the most comfortable and convenient experience, you'll want an inflatable mattress that's easy to set up, compact to carry and store and won't leak air overnight while you're using it.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab tests all kinds of mattresses, including inflatable air mattresses, smart mattresses, cooling mattresses, soft mattresses, and mattresses for side sleepers and more, to help narrow down the top performers among the thousands available online. Our analysts tested air mattresses for durability, overnight leakage, puncture resistance and more in the Lab. We then had real consumer testers set up the mattresses and lie on them to rate the ease of use and comfort. The picks ahead are from brands that have done well in our tests along with newer models that have unique features and rave reviews from users.

Our top picks:

Read on to learn how we test air mattresses and more about tips on how to shop for your best air bed.

Best Overall Air Mattress

SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress

With over 52,000 Amazon reviews and an average 4.4-star rating, this is one of the most popular air mattresses you'll find online. It has 40 air coils for support, a grippy bottom for slip resistance and a built-in pump that can inflate and deflate in under four minutes. It's also 19-inches tall, making it easier to get on and off the mattress when needed. Our experts love that the mattress features thick, waterproof flocked material on the top, making it perfect for everyday use (i.e., more than just a night or two), and appreciate the durable materials and multilayer construction. The bed is also an Amazon best-seller and has impressed tons of users: One online reviewer even said once he inflated it, he didn't need to add more air for a solid two weeks, even though he slept on this mattress every night. On top of all that, it comes in a variety of sizes, whether you’re looking for a smaller Twin size bed or a large King size for multiple users.

Best Value Air Mattress

Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed

Don’t be fooled by the low price: This mattress from Intex still has all the bells and whistles. It’s available in a 22-inch height, and it's also quick to set up; the manufacturer says that it takes under five minutes to fully inflate and can support up to 600 pounds — meaning two people can share the bed. One of our experts routinely uses it in her home for overnight guests and movie nights with her kids and notes that the mattress feels substantial and doesn’t sag under your weight. She also appreciates that it's high enough to easily get on and off of and how “you don’t feel like you’re sleeping right on the floor” with this air mattress. Plus, while it comes with a built-in electric pump, a manual pump can also be used, making it great for situations when an outlet might not be accessible. Just keep in mind that our analysts recommend being patient when deflating the mattress, as we’ve found that applying unnecessary force on the inflating component can permanently damage it.

Best Dual-Pump Air Mattress

Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress

This two-pump system uses unique technology to prevent sagging. The first pump is used to inflate and deflate and has an automatic shut-off when it's full with air, while the second pump stays on all night and automatically adjusts the air pressure to keep it fully inflated. The circular coils and 18-inch height help make it feel more like a real mattress and the flocked finish means you won't notice any plastic underneath your sheets. Insta-Bed’s air mattresses have performed well in our evaluations, standing out as one of the top performers in puncture resistance tests. The brand also impressed our analysts with its easy and fast deflating process compared to other inflatable options we tested.

Best Adjustable Air Mattress

Lazery Sleep Air Mattress

Sleeping on an air bed doesn't mean you have to settle for sub-par comfort: This one comes with an attached remote control that lets you pick from seven firmness levels ranging from "soft plush" to "extra firm," allowing any user to match the bed to their preferred firmness. The attached remote can also be used for both inflation and deflation, thanks to the built-in pump. Plus, the pump automatically shuts down once the desired firmness is reached or once the mattress is fully deflated for added safety and convenience. Our analysts were impressed by the brand’s thoughtful, comfort-first design, including its ComfortCoil technology with 40 air coils, and appreciate the simple customizable options, from the adjustable firmness levels to the seamless inflation/deflation process. While this option is on the pricier side compared to some on our list, users say it's worth the splurge, thanks to its superior comfort and ease of use.

Best Extra-Long Air Mattress

King Koil Luxury Air Mattress

If you’re on the taller side, sleeping on an air mattress means you’ll usually have your feet dangling over the edge — ugh! But this pick from King Koil is available in a California King size, providing that much-needed extra length so your entire body can feel evenly supported at night. While there aren’t many air beds available in California King, this mattress stands out for much more than being a game-changer for taller users: It’s got all the top of the line features our experts look for in an inflatable mattress. The bed not only has coils for added support and a built-in pump with a speedy two-and-a-half-minute inflation time, but it also has flocked materials on the top — so you won’t feel like you’re sleeping on plastic — and the bottom to prevent any slippage at night. Plus, it has tens of thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon from users who rave about the comfort of the bed and the brand’s customer service.

Best Air Mattress for Camping

Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Airbed

No matter the situation, this air mattress is ready. The set comes with two twin-size mattresses that can be used separately, attached to make a king or stacked and secured with a clip to make a taller, more supportive single bed. Once you're ready to head home, the unique “Wrap ‘N’ Roll” storage system lets you roll the mattress right into the attached bag as soon as it's deflated. The one catch is that you'll need to purchase a pump separately. When we tested this mattress bundle, it inflated and deflated in less than a minute and received top scores for its great puncture resistance. The bed’s convertible design also impressed experts and consumer testers alike, with many raving about the versatility. Just note that after leaving 170 pounds of weights on the mattress for 24 hours, this pick lost a little more air than some of our other picks.

Best Air Mattress for Kids

The Shrunks Travel Bed

This air mattress is the perfect solution if you don't want to use an adult-sized air mattress for your child. It's built with inflatable safety bumpers around the entire perimeter of the mattress, and even if your child were to accidentally roll off, the bed is just a few inches off the ground. It’s a favorite of Good Housekeeping's senior parenting and relationships editor Marisa Lascala, who calls it a game-changer for any trip away from home and loves that “[her] 3-year-old actually sleeps in it all night without falling onto the floor or waking up in anguish demanding to hop into bed with Mommy and Daddy.” The bed comes with a pump for easy inflation and has a sheet-tuck design that lets you use your own sheets, so your child can feel at home and you won’t worry about the sheets slipping off at night. Plus, it stays inflated nicely overnight without sagging and deflates into a small storage bag. Just remember that the bed doesn't conform to AAP safe sleep guidelines for infants, so don’t use it unless your kid is at least 2 years old.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: My Daughter Wouldn't Sleep Away From Home Until We Got This Toddler Travel Bed

How we test air mattresses

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab evaluates all sorts of mattresses and begins the process by researching offerings from top brands, analyzing materials and specifications, evaluating specific features and taking note of any additional claims. In our last air mattress test, our analysts put several top contenders through a series of rigorous Lab tests to gauge inflation time, deflation time, ease of packing, overnight leakage, tensile strength and puncture resistance using standardized testing methods and other industry standards. We then worked with consumer testers to set up and sleep on each mattress to collect feedback on overall comfort, ease of use and clarity of any accompanying instructions. From these tests, we analyzed over 160 data points to determine the best air mattresses available.

What to look for when shopping for the best air mattress

Finding the perfect air mattress can feel complicated — especially when many online options look the same. Here are a few key features to keep in mind as you shop for your next air bed to help simplify the process:

• Pump: Options include manual, battery-operated and outlet plug-in. Most air mattresses come with a pump (either attached or separate), but sometimes you'll need to purchase one separately.
  

• Inflation time: The mattress should be able to inflate and deflate in just a few minutes. This is typically listed as a specification from the manufacturer.

• Height: A taller air mattress that's at least 18-inches high is typically more comfortable, but a lower profile one is easier to roll up and carry. It comes down to personal preference and whether you're using it at home or on-the-go.

• Air chambers: The most supportive air mattresses have vertical air chambers or coils that help distribute weight. Air beams that run side to side can still feel comfortable, but you may notice some sagging when you lie down. You can spot the difference by looking at the surface: Ones with the less supportive air beams look like rows.

• Flocked fabric: The material feels like suede and can be found on the top side of air mattresses (so it doesn't feel like you're sleeping on plastic) as well as the bottom (to prevent slipping on hardwood floors).

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

This article was written by GH Institute Textiles Lab executive director Lexie Sachs, who has a B.S. in fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Lexie joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has extensively tested all types of bedding — including mattresses, sheets, pillows, comforters and more — using specialized lab equipment and hundreds of consumer testers.

This article was most recently updated by Grace Wu, a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has researched and evaluated hundreds of mattresses using feedback from thousands of consumer testers and survey panelists, and has written articles about latex mattresses and mattresses for adjustable beds. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a masters of engineering in materials science and engineering and a B.S. in fiber science from Cornell University.

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