We tested several air mattresses with this feature but if adjustable firmness is a priority for you, we recommend the Skyrise Raised Express Air Mattress from Beautyrest. In our lab testing, this mattress was very comfortable, felt similar to a standard mattress, and provided sufficient back support. Not surprisingly, it earns high marks for both design and comfort.
After testing many different models in our Lab, the popular King Koil Air Mattress is our best overall air mattress. If you are looking for a comfortable mattress that is simple to set up and easy to carry, this is the choice for you. Equipped with a built-in pump, this mattress offers fast inflation and deflation using two separate knobs to control these functions. In fact, the whole set-up process took only seven minutes, and the deflation process was just as easy.
The top of the mattress has a powder-blue flocked velvety material that keeps sheets from slipping around, provides a softer feel, and minimizes the impression one might have of sleeping on a pool float. We had no problem getting our queen-size fitted sheets to grip the mattress snugly, which wasn’t always the case with other testers. We also like that the SoundAsleep comes in five sizes (including full and twin XL), compared with the King Koil, our runner-up, bestway air bed which comes in only three. The most important qualities an air mattress has are reliability and comfort. No air mattress is going to be as comfortable as a real mattress, but the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress comes as close as possible—it doesn’t lose air overnight and feels supportive. 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.
Of the ten air mattresses we tested in the Lab, this option was one of the easiest to set up—even with a frame! The process was largely hands-off, and it took only six and a half minutes to complete. The setup for this bed couldn’t be any simpler, as you just unzip the case, select the firmness level, and move the dial to inflate. To find the best, we tested several air mattresses for everything from indentation over time and overnight leakage to puncture resistance and bursting strength in our Lab. We then had real consumer testers set up the mattresses and sleep on them at home to rate their ease of use and comfort.
High-quality airbed mattresses cost similar to other luxury mattresses, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The price depends on the size, quality and number of additional features offered, such as the ability to raise or lower various parts of the mattress, the way hospital beds can be adjusted. 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. “My 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,” she said.
And with its weight capacity of 600 pounds, this is also a great option for couples. It’s also available in a California King size if you’re looking for more room to spread out. I also noted how easy or difficult it was to repack them back into the original storage bag. 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. 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.