Several users were surprised that the bed conformed to their bodies for a more comfortable feel than most air mattresses they’ve tried. 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. Our team of editors and testers spent 12 hours testing ten air mattresses in The Lab in Industry City, Brooklyn. We timed how long each one took to inflate (and also deflate for storage), how loud the pump was, and how simple and convenient the setup process was in general. Once each mattress was inflated, we judged them on their design and visual appeal, including practical factors such as cord length. A flocked surface and generous 18 inches of height made this bed feel extra comfortable while testing.
And unlike with many other air mattresses, you can choose from three different exterior colors. Serta’s air mattresses have performed well in our evaluations, standing out as one of the top performers in puncture resistance tests. This model also inflates and deflates relatively quickly, with the Queen-size style taking just shy of two and a half minutes to fully bestway air mattress inflate. Consumer testers shared that they fell asleep easily on the bed, but some noted that those who toss and turn may find the bed noisy. The caveat is that the mattress needs to be plugged in all night because otherwise, it may deflate over time. The right air mattress is more important than you think, even if you’re only sleeping on it for a few days.
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. There’s nothing worse than an air mattress that deflates while you’re sleeping on it. A few things to keep in mind is that you don’t want to over-inflate your air mattress, which will put excess strain on the seams. You should also make sure to pay close attention to the weight limit of the air mattress. The King Koil has a fully-flocked top layer, so we found it soft and comfortable to lay on. 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.
It’s also available in a California King size if you’re looking for more room to spread out. 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. 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).
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. 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. 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.
Once I had a pretty good idea which ones were the finalists, I left those inflated for an additional 24 to 48 hours to see how long they held air. Besides all the official overnight tests, I also spent many hours lounging and napping on them with my 6-year-old child and husband when we got hit hard with COVID-19. Air mattresses are a great option for guests and short term use, but the reality is, they will never be as comfortable as a normal bed. Thankfully, there are a couple of tricks you can use to make your air mattress more comfortable. Intex has struck a compelling balance between price and value with the Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam air mattress.
This article was updated by Grace Wu, a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute who oversaw recent air mattress testing both in Lab and with at-home sleep testers. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in materials science and engineering and a B.S. 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.
The first pump is used to inflate and deflate the bed and has an automatic shut-off when the mattress is full. The second pump stays on all night and automatically adjusts the air pressure to keep it fully inflated. In addition, Serta’s model allows you to select from three firmness levels prior to inflation for your personalized comfort. 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. Get a great night’s sleep or relax with family and friends with the Bestway® Airbeds and Inflatable Furniture ranges. In these three simple steps you can enjoy the entire Bestway® inflatable furniture and airbed range.
That means you should probably think twice about storing your air mattress in a basement or garage. Ideally, store it in a dry, cool location, either in a sturdy container or the provided storage bag. According to SoundAsleep, you can clean your air mattress with water and a mild soap solution and let it air-dry. And yet many air mattresses, whether they’re stretched out or not, do leak over the course of a night. And there are some beds that are simply more durable and better constructed than others.