The company says it takes about 4½ minutes for the mattress to reach the maximum fill level, but for us, it inflated to its full height of 18 inches in just under 4 minutes. In 2017, my husband and I slept (uncomfortably) on an air mattress in our basement for 21 consecutive nights as we waited for construction to be completed in our home. 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. Below, you’ll find reviews of the best and worst single- and double-height air mattresses, based on our latest tests. Deflating the mattress was fast and easy, and it collapses to fit inside of a zippered duffel bag with wheels.
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 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.
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 gave the process a perfect rating for its simplicity. We also found that the pump made it faster bestway air mattress and easier to deflate the air mattress, too. If you are specifically looking for a queen-sized option, this is our top choice in that category. The Dream Series from SoundAsleep was one of several queen air mattresses we tested, and it stood out for its comfort, durability, and design.
This model in particular stood out among competitors in our Lab tests with no overnight leakage after 170 pounds of weight were applied to the mattress for 24 hours. 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. 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.
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.
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.