Best Air Mattress (2025): Tested by Five Certified Sleep Science Coaches

If you’re looking for an air mattress that delivers a stellar night’s sleep without breaking the bank, I recommend the Intex Dura-Beam Ultra-Plush Inflatable Pillow Top. At just $99 for a queen size at full retail, this mattress is affordable while containing multiple extra features that elevate its quality and value. When I tested this bed, it completely changed my perspective on air mattresses as a whole due to its comfort and support, ease of inflation and deflation, effective air retention, and value. With a 5-out-of-5 score in all of these categories, this air bed is one I’d be proud to present to any overnight guest.

Measuring in at a lofty 18 inches, the Dura-Beam offers supreme support, as well as a touch of plush comfort. Since this bed is taller than average, I felt more supported than I typically would on an air mattress — there was absolutely no risk of sagging to the floor. The classic firm feel helped keep my spine straight and joints happy in all three sleeping positions, but it’s somewhat softened by the pillow-top layer. There’s not deep sinkage, but I wouldn’t expect, nor desire, that from an air mattress. Overall, I’d be comfortable spending several nights on this bed and rated it 5 stars for comfort and support.

While this bed is comfortable to sleep on, it really stood out to me due to its built-in automatic air pump. This makes the setup process easy breezy, with zero manual labor required. Simply plug the attached cord into an outlet and turn the knob to inflate. The pump automatically stops adding air once the bed is full, which reduces the risk of overfilling and popping the bed. It took about three minutes for the bed to fill up, which is quicker than I expected and earned the inflation process 5 stars.

This automatic pump works the same when you’re done using the bed. Once I switched the knob to deflate, it took about five minutes for all the air to come out. This process was super simple and required no additional assistance to completely flatten out, so I rated the deflation process 5 stars. The air pump will keep going until there’s no more air inside, so no need to squeeze the air out yourself. 

Another perk of the built-in pump is its air retention. The knobs have an intuitive interface and are easy to open and close. Unless the switch is flipped, you won’t have to worry about air coming out, so I rated it 5 stars in this category. This is just one of many premium features I discovered from Intex’s air bed. My personal favorite was the attached headboard, which inflates and deflates with the rest of the bed. This not only allowed me to sit up in bed to read, but it also made me forget I was even on an air mattress.

While these features impressed me, the bed is not perfect, and it fell short when I evaluated it for storage and portability, earning 3 stars. While the inclusion of a carrying bag is convenient, I really struggled to fold the bed and fit it in. The bag is huge but still not large enough, and it takes up a significant amount of space in my closet. I also noticed that the attached headboard made it so I couldn’t pull a fitted sheet over the entire top of the bed and resorted to just tucking it in to the best of my abilities.

When inviting a guest to spend the night, you want to ensure they experience all the comforts of home, which includes their sleeping space. The King Koil Luxury Plush Pillow Top air mattress is my go-to choice when I’m hosting guests, not only because it’s aesthetically pleasing, but because it provides a great balance between firm support and plush pressure relief, earning 4.5 stars for comfort and support. You can even have your guest set up the mattress in a flash due to its built-in automatic pump that earned 5 stars for inflation and deflation. With an impressive construction that costs just under $100 for a queen size, this bed also earned 5 stars for value.

Air mattresses are designed to be pretty firm. This is to ensure the entire structure is evenly filled with air, which prevents the sleeper from dipping down to the floor and ensures proper spinal alignment. Even if your guest prefers a softer mattress, I think the pillow-top layer on the King Koil will satisfy their plush craving. While it won’t offer much body contouring, I found it cozy enough to relieve tensions at my body’s sensitive pressure points, regardless of which sleeping position I was in, so I rated it 4.5 stars for comfort and support.

The King Koil also proved itself worthy when I evaluated its inflation and deflation mechanisms. While automatic air pumps are common in modern air mattresses, this thing was powerful. In less than two minutes, the entire queen-size bed was filled to the brim and ready for me to add sheets. When it was time to put it away, the pump sucked all the air out, so I didn’t need to log roll across the surface to get rid of remaining air pockets. The entire setup and pack-up process was much speedier than I expected, so I awarded the mattress perfect 5-star scores for both inflation and deflation.

Once the bed is completely inflated and ready to use, you won’t need to worry about filling it up again due to its 4.5-star rating in air retention. When using the bed for the first time, the brand recommends allowing the bed to rest in its inflated state for 8 to 12 hours to allow the seams to properly stretch out. Topping it off with some air is normal for the first night, but you shouldn’t need to do it more than once.

My final highlight is the King Koil’s 5-star storage and portability. With an included carrying case and instructions on how to fold the bed, I was able to quickly pack it up and move it to my closet. While a queen size is naturally heavier and bulkier than a twin, I still found it pretty lightweight and easy to transport from room to room.

Before purchasing the King Koil air mattress, keep in mind that it’s not quite as tall as some of the other beds on this list and only comes in at 13 inches. While this is more than enough space between you and the floor, some sleepers with mobility issues may struggle to get onto the bed. If your grandparents are spending the night, they may need something with a higher loft to avoid bending or crouching down.

Bedtime can be tricky when you’re braving the elements. While I’m not very outdoorsy, my colleague and fellow expert tester Matt Schickling is an avid camper, and has experimented with lots of different types of air mattresses to make sleeping in a tent more comfortable. The Exped MegaMat 10 Duo stands out as his favorite due to its lightweight design, which earned 5 stars for storage and portability, and overall comfort and support, which he rated 4.5 stars. While the mattress doesn’t come with a built-in automatic pump, Matt found the inflation and deflation processes easy to manage, and he awarded the mattress 4.5 stars and 4 stars, respectively.

The Exped MegaMat has a simple 4-inch all-foam construction that Matt says “was surprisingly comfortable and supportive.” Although it’s not the tallest bed around, Matt thought the foam core and quality construction were firm enough to keep him lifted and supported in all three sleeping positions. As a heavy sleeper who weighs more than 230 pounds, he sometimes finds himself sinking too far towards the ground and “bottoming out” on air mattresses, but he experienced no such issue on the Exped and rated it 4.5 stars for comfort and support.

Since this bed is primarily made from foam, you won’t need to add a ton of air to it. In fact, the bed has the ability to self-inflate; the brand recommends you leave it to rise naturally for 5 to 15 minutes. Once the bed has reached its full self-inflation height, you simply grab the included hand pump and add air until it’s at your desired firmness. It took Matt 10 minutes and 35 seconds of consistent pumping to reach his preferred firmness level; however, he didn’t find it to be physically exerting and was pleased to be able to complete this process while out in nature, without the use of additional technology. Ultimately he rated the inflation 4.5 stars. 

While the air mattress takes some time to fully inflate, Matt thinks the all-foam construction helps it maintain shape overnight. He rated the bed 4 stars for air retention, saying, “You will need to lightly top it off with air each night for optimal firmness, but you will not bottom out over just one night.” However, what makes this bed good at holding air also makes it more difficult to deflate — a process that took Matt around 10 to 15 minutes. While he didn’t struggle with the deflation mechanism, it wasn’t anything fancy, so he awarded the bed 4 stars for this category, too.

Although Matt was primarily impressed with this bed’s performance, he admits that at $420 for full retail, its price tag is a bit higher than some campers are willing to spend. He thought the bed was high-quality, mentioning the polyester film laminate and honeycomb design that offers extra protection against the elements, and was grateful for its lightweight nature and side handles that made it easy to store and transport. However, we still don’t think the Exped’s price justifies its cost considering many of the beds on this list can be found for under $100, so it only earned 3.5 stars for value.

You might find yourself needing to rely on an air mattress for more than just a night or two. If that’s the case, you’ll want a product that’s durable and can withstand multiple nights of use without becoming uncomfortable or needing to be constantly refilled. We chose the SoundAsleep Dream Series air mattress as the best choice for everyday use because of its top-notch air retention, which earned 5 stars during testing, as well as its 4.5-star comfort and support that prevents you from waking up in pain. Additionally, this bed is easy to pack away when you’re done, earning 4.5 stars for deflation and 5 stars for storage and portability.

One of the reasons we chose the SoundAsleep as the best air mattress for everyday use is its ability to provide support in the side-, back-, and stomach-sleeping positions. Even if you’re a combination sleeper who switches between multiple positions at night, you’ll be able to do so easily on this bed. When certified sleep science coach and Sleepopolis managing editor Dan Caffrey tried the SoundAsleep, he said, “The mattress was very supportive and responsive. I didn’t feel any uncomfortable sagging or deflation like I have with other air mattresses, and I can definitely see myself being comfortable on this bed for multiple nights.” Since his spinal alignment was maintained in all positions, he rated the bed 4.5 stars for comfort and support.

Dan was also impressed by how easy this mattress was to set up, giving it a perfect 5-star rating for inflation. The process is as simple as turning a dial to “inflate” and watching the magic happen. “There’s no weird extensions or having to finagle a nozzle into a hole,” he said. “And if you’re confused about the steps, they’re inscribed onto the mattress itself, right next to the dial.” The entire bed fills with air in less than five minutes, so no need to worry about spending time setting up your bed every night.

Once the inflation process was complete, Dan was able to use the bed for a prolonged period of time, never needing to add additional air, so he rated it 5 stars for air retention. If you do require a top-off, you simply flip the dial back to “inflate” — no accessory party strewn all over the floor. Deflation is just as simple, with the dial being flipped the other direction. Dan found this quicker than inflation, but he did need to unplug the bed to allow the last bit of air to escape, so he rated deflation a nearly perfect score of 4.5 stars.

Another major pro is that you won’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on this air mattress. A queen size is currently available on Amazon for $150, which is pretty standard for a quality air mattress and earns the SoundAsleep a score of 4 stars for value. Amazon is known for its excellent customer service, so you’ll get fast action if an issue does occur during the ordering process.

One last note: The manufacturer states that this bed has a weight capacity of 500 pounds. If you’re planning to sleep with a partner, be conscious of your combined weight and whether this bed is compatible.

If you’re seeking a durable, no-nonsense queen-sized air mattress, consider the LostHorizon Air & Foam Camping mattress. While this bed was designed for outdoor sleeping, it provides all the basics you’d want from a blow-up mattress without unnecessary extras. This reliable bed is able to hold its shape exceptionally well, earning 5 stars for air retention, while remaining lightweight and easy to transport. With a 4.5-star rating for storage and portability, you’ll have no issue taking it on the go and making use of the automatic inflation and deflation mechanism, which earned 4 stars in testing.

In comparison to the other beds in this roundup, the LostHorizon is one of the firmest. While it doesn’t provide a ton of cushioning around the hips and shoulders, it’s supportive enough to prevent the sleeper from reaching the hard floor, despite its low height of 4.5 inches. When evaluating support and comfort, our expert tester and certified sleep science coach Sosha Lewis said, “The ole girl is firm, almost utilitarian. She’s going to support you and show up for you, but don’t try to have a ‘feelings talk’ with her.” While not necessarily cuddly and cozy, this bed gets the job done without feeling downright uncomfortable.

Sosha was also fairly impressed with the inflation and deflation process, which was designed to be automatic. The bed contains a foam core, which allows you to customize the firmness level when you add air; the more air you add, the firmer the bed will be. Simply open the valve and allow it to begin inflating. For an additional cost, you can opt for an electric pump that can speed up both inflation and deflation. When Sosha tried this accessory, she said, “It’s not whisper-quiet by any means, but it wasn’t obnoxiously loud.” The entire process was fairly seamless, but the pump does require 3 to 4 hours of charging time, so she rated both inflation and deflation 4 stars.

Although this mattress is pretty bare bones, it’s a durable and reliable option for anyone seeking a basic queen size. Despite the fact that Sosha’s LostHorizon had two teenagers and a dog lounging on it throughout the day, the air bed was able to maintain its shape and firm support without collapsing along the edge or dipping in the middle, so she awarded it 5 stars for air retention. After the day was done, Sosha was able to slip the bed into its carrying case and tuck it away. This process was easy to do with minimal effort required, which earned the bed 4.5 stars for storage and portability.

Before you run out and purchase this bed, know that the manufacturer does not recommend this product for backpacking because it’s a bit too bulky and heavy to comfortably carry. While it’s technically a camping mattress, it’s best if you throw it in your car and bring it to a campsite rather than trying to carry it miles and miles on a hike.

Many shoppers want a durable, high-quality air mattress, but few want to spend as much on one as they would a regular mattress. If you’re a budget shopper, we’ve got you covered with the Coleman GuestRest 18” Plush Top Double High air mattress. We purchased this bed for $80, making it the cheapest air bed on this roundup, yet it still has the comfort and quality of a pricier model. We rated its overall value 5 stars because what you see is what you get — a tall, no-frills inflatable air mattress that’s best for temporary use. While it doesn’t have an automatic air pump, it’s still easy to set up, earning 4 stars for inflation. You also won’t need to worry about the bed losing air throughout the night due to its 4-star air-retention abilities.

We tasked expert tester Nicole Davis with testing the bed, knowing her kids would put it through the ultimate durability test. Despite leaving it inflated for several days while her kids played on it, the bed was able to maintain its shape without popping or deflating prematurely. Nicole awarded the Coleman 4 stars for air retention because it didn’t need to be topped off with more air, which is something she’s noticed from other beds containing an automatic pump.

Speaking of automatic pumps, you won’t find one here. This air mattress comes with a simple valve, which requires the purchase of a separate device to pump in air. While she would have preferred a pump to be included, she found the entire inflation process to be simple, requiring only 2 minutes and 45 seconds of her time. However, since the pump wasn’t included, she knocked the overall inflation score down to 4 stars.

Once inflation was completed, Nicole assessed the Coleman for side, back, and stomach sleepers. She said, “This is a very standard air mattress based on my experience with them. It’s not the best for stomach sleeping — I don’t think many air mattresses are — but I’d be comfortable back sleeping or side sleeping for a night or two.” The 18-inch height helps add plenty of space between the sleeper and the floor but doesn’t provide much pressure relief around the sensitive pressure points, earning 3 stars for comfort and support.

One downfall to the bed is its deflation process. Since there’s no automatic mechanism sucking the air out, Nicole had to manually squeeze a lot of air out of the bed and gave it just 3 stars for deflation. Additionally, she wasn’t super impressed with the storage bag that came with the bed, finding it difficult to fit the entire folded bed in there, so she rated the storage and portability 3.5 stars.