Adjustable airbeds are a unique mattress type that allow users full control over the firmness and feel of their bed. By pumping air into or out of air chambers, sleepers can customize the bed to fit their unique needs. Most airbeds that are queen size or larger have split air chambers so that sleep partners can each choose the firmness they prefer.
Airbeds are among the most expensive mattress options on the market, so the process of selecting one can feel particularly fraught. Choosing the right airbed requires an understanding of how they work, the different features they offer, and how to maintain them over the years.
After putting the leading models through a rigorous testing and review process, we’ve identified some of the best airbed mattress choices across several categories. After introducing you to our top picks, we’ll walk you through the buying process to ensure you have the information you need to make your decision.
Best Overall
Solaire
Sleep Doctor
4.7
Details
Trial Length 365 Nights ($99 Return Fee)
Warranty Lifetime, Limited
Trial Length / Warranty
365 Nights ($99 Return Fee) / Lifetime, Limited
Type Airbed
Firmness Adjustable – Soft (3) to Firm (8)
Price $2,595 – $4,995
Sleep Doctor’s Take
The adjustable Solaire airbed epitomizes the luxurious construction and strong performance that have come to define the Saatva brand. You can choose from 50 different firmness levels, and memory foam and latex layers cushion and contour to your body for excellent pressure relief.
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Highlights
Drawbacks
The Saaatva Solaire is a high-end airbed with a complex design and several luxury touches. Featuring a slick design and an impressive array of firmness levels, the Solaire is among the most versatile mattresses we’ve tested.
How Does It Feel?
The Solaire stands apart from the average airbed by offering 50 firmness settings. Our testing team determined that the settings range from soft (3) to firm (8), making the mattress suitable for all sleep positions and body types. The air chambers are made from vulcanized rubber and protected from moisture by polyfoam and PVC sheeting.
Beneath a quilted Euro-top is an ergonomically zoned layer of Talalay latex that provides targeted support and a more responsive feel than synthetic foam. Meanwhile, a layer of gel-infused memory foam provides more substantial contouring and pressure relief.
Why We Like It
The Solaire is one of the most versatile mattresses our team has tested, even by airbed standards. All 50 firmness levels are distinct, and you can feel the surface softening and firming up as you adjust the air levels.
The use of memory foam and latex in the comfort system was another welcome addition. Regardless of the firmness level you choose, these layers provide deep cushioning and — as our tests showed — excellent overall pressure relief.
Twin XL and full size mattresses contain one adjustable air chamber, while sizes queen and larger have two chambers and a remote control for each side of the bed. Deliveries in the contiguous U.S. include free White Glove mattress setup, as well as free mattress and foundation removal. The Solaire has a 365-night sleep trial and a limited lifetime warranty.
Best Value
Night Air Adjustable Airbed
Sleep Doctor
4.1
Amazon
3.8
Details
Trial Length 100 nights
Warranty 20 Year, Limited
Trial Length / Warranty
100 nights / 20 Year, Limited
Type Airbed
Firmness Adjustable – Soft (3) to Firm (8)
Sleep Doctor’s Take
The Night Air Adjustable Airbed offers customizable comfort at a sticker price that falls well below average for this type of mattress. You can adjust the mattress to 100 different settings, and choose from two-chamber or six-chamber designs depending on your personal needs.
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Highlights
Drawbacks
Airbeds are the most expensive type of mattress on average, with prices often exceeding the $3,000 mark. Night Air’s Adjustable Airbed is one of the most affordable airbed models we’ve tested, yet the mattress offers the same wide firmness range and reliable performance as many of its costlier competitors.
How Does It Feel?
The mattress offers 100 unique firmness levels ranging from extra soft to extra firm. You can program these levels using the wired remotes on both sides of the bed. Dual settings allow you and your partner to customize your respective sides of the bed without disturbing the other person. You can also add your favorite setting as a memory preset.
The Adjustable Airbed also contains a memory foam comfort layer and polyfoam transitional layer. Another notable feature is the polyester cover, which can be removed and machine washed as needed. Most competing mattresses have non-removable covers that can only be spot cleaned.
Why We Like It
Our team tested the dual-chamber 13-inch model, but you can choose from multiple profiles and designs. Our team noticed subtle differences between the firmness levels as we adjusted the mattress from soft to firm and vice versa. Regardless of the firmness level, our testers found that the memory foam and polyfoam layers cushion the body and contour evenly. This can reduce pressure buildup and help you wake up without pain or soreness.
Aside from light whirring as the air chambers filled, the mattress operates quietly — we don’t foresee many noise-related sleep disruptions for couples. Thermal mapping showed some heat buildup during our temperature control tests, but but none of our testers felt uncomfortably warm.
While the Night Air Adjustable Airbed is still a significant financial investment, it offers the same versatility and performance as many competing airbeds at a much more accessible price. Prices and model availability for the Night Air Adjustable Airbed vary by seller. If you order through Amazon, your purchase comes with Night Air’s 100-night sleep trial. The mattress is further backed by a 20-year warranty against various defects.
Best Pressure Relief
Natural Form Refresh Mattress
Sleep Doctor
4.4
Details
Trial Length 100 nights
Warranty 10 Year, Limited
Trial Length / Warranty
100 nights / 10 Year, Limited
Type Airbed
Firmness Medium (5) to Firm (8)
Price $2,199 – $4,145
Sleep Doctor’s Take
A thick foam layer cushions the Natural Form Refresh Mattress, resulting in a deep, even contour for your body as you adjust the firmness levels. The support system made up of zoned air pods also delivers excellent reinforcement, especially for areas of the body with higher weight concentrations.
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Highlights
Drawbacks
While the Refresh Mattress from Natural Form is less versatile than some of its competitors, it has a unique design meant to provide customers with exceptional support and pressure relief. By twisting a dial on either side of the mattress, users can adjust the Refresh for a medium (5) to firm (8) feel.
How Does It Feel?
The Refresh features a highly pressure-relieving comfort layer of high-resilience polyfoam. Since this particular polyfoam is adaptive, it contours closely to the body to create a supportive cradle. However, it also feels more responsive than memory foam, making the Refresh easier to move on than many all-foam mattresses.
Proprietary Pressure-Free air pods on each side of the bed are designed to support heavier areas like the midsection while relieving pressure points elsewhere. The removable merino wool cover is breathable and wicks away moisture, although the foam layers retain some heat and the Refresh sleeps somewhat warm for an airbed.
Why We Like It
The Refresh earned superb marks from side sleepers on our testing team over 130 pounds and back sleepers under 230 pounds. Some side sleepers under 130 pounds commented that they preferred a wider firmness range, since even when positioned at the lowest setting it felt a little too firm for their tastes.
Our team was also impressed with the Refresh’s modular design. This eases the process of replacing components over time, which in turn extends the overall lifespan. We also found the Refresh much more supportive than the average airbed, especially at higher firmness levels.
Natural Form offers free shipping within the contiguous U.S., with additional shipping fees for orders to Alaska and Hawaii. White Glove delivery is available for an additional fee for residents in the contiguous states. The Refresh comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty.
Our team, which has decades of combined experience in the sleep product industry, personally researches and tests the products we feature at SleepDoctor.com. To avoid bias and deliver the reliable, accurate information our readers need, all mattresses undergo a rigorous and carefully structured testing process with sleepers who have different sleep position preferences and a diverse range of body types.
Instead of using a traditional support core, such as coils or polyfoam, airbeds support sleepers with air-filled chambers. Air can be pumped in or out of the chambers to adjust the bed’s firmness and feel, allowing sleepers to customize the bed to their needs with the touch of a button.
The unique part of an airbed mattress is its support core. Multiple air-filled chambers, usually made from vulcanized rubber or another durable material, are connected to an air pump that is either outside the mattress or integrated into it. Adjusting the amount of air in the chambers is usually done with a remote control, though some use buttons or dials on the bed and some also offer a smartphone app.
Like traditional mattresses, airbeds also have comfort layers to prevent sleepers from sinking against the air chambers. The bed may also have reinforced foam or coils to provide edge support. Airbed mattresses can also be taken apart to access parts that need repair, so assembly is usually required when your new airbed arrives.
Airbed mattresses typically last about eight years, compared to the average lifespan of six to eight years for traditional mattresses. A high-quality, well-maintained airbed may last 10 years or more. However, the mechanical parts inside an airbed may need replacing before the bed itself does.
Given that it may require repairs, anyone buying an airbed should look closely at the warranty terms. Airbed warranties typically span 10 to 25 years while also being partially prorated. This means that repairs are usually free for an initial period, often around 10 years, but after this period owners are required to pay part of the cost of replacement parts, as well as transportation fees. The longer you own your bed, the more you’ll generally pay for repairs and replacement parts.
Most airbeds cost between $2,000 and $2,400 for a queen size model, though budget models can sell for as low as $1,500 and luxury airbeds can cost well over $5,000. This price range makes airbeds the most expensive category of mattress.
Some airbed manufacturers offer optional luxury features for an additional fee. These can include zoned support chambers, memory settings for easier adjustment, and heating components for cold weather.
While airbeds are comparable to ordinary mattresses in most ways and are intended for daily use, inflatable air mattresses are meant for temporary use, such as when camping.
Airbeds have advanced, adjustable air-based support as well as comfort systems comparable to standard mattresses. Inflatable air mattresses, on the other hand, offer minimal support and have few, if any, comfort features. Letting out air doesn’t make them feel softer, just less supportive.
Accordingly, there is a significant gap in pricing. Airbeds are among the most expensive mattresses available, while inflatable air mattresses have an average cost of around $100.
Although they tend to be expensive, airbeds can be well worth the price for some sleepers.
Couples with different mattress preferences can sometimes struggle to find a bed that suits them both. Airbeds with two adjustment zones allow each person to choose the firmness and feel that works best.
Since sleep position is a key factor in choosing a mattress, combination sleepers sometimes have to sacrifice comfort in one position to ensure support in another. An airbed is easy to adjust according to how you want to sleep on any given night.
Buying a mattress requires an understanding of what you need from a bed, including the ideal firmness for your weight and preferred sleeping position. If you’ve had trouble finding the right mattress for you, an adjustable airbed allows you to try a range of firmness options.
Airbeds can be a practical purchase, but they can also be fun. The range of options and the ability to customize your bed at home can be particularly appealing for tech-savvy individuals.
In most cases, sleeping on an airbed feels a lot like sleeping on a high-quality standard mattress. However, airbeds have a variety of features that can impact how they feel.
While buying a standard mattress requires you to have an idea of what firmness level suits you, an airbed allows you to try different options at home. However, there are some guidelines to consider when adjusting your airbed’s firmness.
Your body type plays a major role in the firmness you should choose. People who weigh under 130 pounds usually prefer soft beds, while those over 230 pounds generally fare better with a firmer feel.
Besides your weight and build, you should also take your preferred sleep position into account when choosing a firmness level. Side sleepers often prefer a soft mattress to allow for more pressure relief at the hips and shoulders. Back sleepers typically enjoy a balanced feel with strong lumbar support, while stomach sleepers generally need a firmer mattress to prevent their midsection from sinking too far into the bed’s surface.
While adjustable airbeds are generally easy to use, their firmness settings aren’t a set-it-and-forget-it system. Natural changes in barometric pressure and room temperature can affect the air pressure in the bed’s chambers and require minor firmness adjustments. You may also want to change your bed’s firmness for other reasons, such as fluctuations in your weight or a change in sleeping position.
About The Author
Garen GlazierStaff Writer, Product Testing Team
Garen is a health and lifestyle content creator. She realized the importance of sleep when her children made getting a good night’s rest more challenging. Garen is always learning something new about the wide world of sleep and sleep products. Married with two girls, ages 7 and 11, she is a book nerd and a lover of pop music, travel, and the Pacific Northwest.
Have questions about sleep? Submit them here! Each week Dr. Breus will pick a few questions to answer in our weekly video series, Ask Sleep Doctor. You can also send us an email. Please note, we cannot provide specific medical advice, and always recommend you contact your doctor for any medical matters.
Air mattresses tend to have a bad reputation for being uncomfortable, but it's unrealistic to always have a spare bed for overnight guests. An air mattress makes a compact and convenient alternative. The very best air mattresses are surprisingly comfortable, so you may end up using yours a lot more than you think.
Finding the best air mattress for you means balancing adequate back support, overall comfort and feeling at least somewhat secure that the whole thing isn't going to deflate overnight. Air mattresses are traditionally convenient for camping when you don't want to put your sleeping bag on the cold, hard ground -- you could even throw one in a truck bed for sleeping under the stars. Our team of sleep experts slept on all of the air mattresses on this list and tested them for comfort and durability. Here are our picks for the best air mattresses on the market.
We know that there are a lot of air mattresses to choose from right now. Our team of sleep experts slept on numerous air beds and determined that the best air mattress is the SoundAsleep Dream Series. It is 19 inches tall, spacious and has a built-in pump. This air mattress is also the most durable of all we tested thanks to its 40 internal air coils. While it is the most expensive on this list, we think it will last you for a long time (and if for some reason it doesn't -- there's a one year warranty).
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
This popular, highly rated SoundAsleep Dream Series inflatable air isn't cheap -- but it does what mattresses are supposed to do. Priced at $150, the SoundAsleep air mattress is more expensive than most of the other models we tested in its height range, but it's durable and if you ask us, it's the overall best air mattress on the market. This mattress has more than 11,000 five-star reviews testifying to its durability and comfort. (Fakespot, which grades the trustworthiness of Amazon testimonials, gives this bed's reviews an "A.")
SoundAsleep calls this a double high air bed, and it is on the taller side -- you're sleeping a good 19 inches off the ground. An air coil design helps the mattress to maintain its shape but like many inflatable bed models that come with a built-in pump, it's plenty heavy, weighing about 19 pounds. This quality air mattress has 40 internal air coils for added durability and support. The built-in pump is loud but powerful. It took a reasonable 3.5 minutes to fully inflate the mattress -- and I mean fully -- and about the same to deflate it.
Pros:
Cons:
Intex has struck a compelling balance between price and value with the Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam air mattress. Though it's on the cheaper side, the Intex Comfort Dura-Beam air mattress is sturdy and impressively firm, with horizontal air chambers. While it may not be the overall best air mattress, it's comfortable enough to sleep on and a great pick for everyday use.
The integrated, plug-in pump isn't as fast to inflate as others but it's plenty powerful and the bed ranks among the firmest blow-up mattresses that we tested. The top and sides of the mattress are coated in a velvety treatment that Intex says makes it more puncture-resistant. That may be true, but it also means that if you do spring a leak, you'd better hope it's on the bottom panel, which is the only place a patch will stick. However, the Intex Comfort Dura-Beam is also one of the tallest air mattresses we tested, measuring 22 inches high when fully inflated. The bed is quite stable, so movements of a person on one side shouldn't bother a companion. The mattress comes with a duffel bag for storage. And, compared with the others, I didn't find it particularly smelly.
Pros:
Cons:
As one of the leading air mattress brands, Intex offers many different models of air beds. The Dura-Beam Plus model -- which is technically a step down from the Deluxe model, above -- comes with a built-in pump, a raised pillow rest at the top and inflates to be 16.5 inches high. I found it to be just as great as the Deluxe and at an even better price.
I like that the top of the Dura-Beam Plus is a bit more plush than the Deluxe. Its vertical air chambers protrude a bit more on its velvety surface, making it a bit more bouncy. It is also sturdy and should fit two people comfortably. However, if you are looking for a flat surface, go with the Deluxe. The Plus also isn't as tall as the Deluxe, and I had a hard time shoving the cord back into its plastic compartment. All in all, not a bad air mattress for the price.
Pros:
Cons:
One of the most annoying things about air mattresses is that they sometimes deflate during the night. The Serta Raised Air Mattress addresses this problem with its two-pump design. The large pump is used to initially fill the mattress, and a second pump works (quietly) during the night to keep the air pressure constant. In theory, this would keep your air bed from ever sagging on you. Keep in mind that if you want the second pump to work, the mattress has to be plugged in all night -- which is a drawback.
A great feature of this air mattress is its firmness levels. On the initial pump, there is a dial you can set to your desired firmness level (plush, medium or firm). This way you won't have to guess how much air you need, and the bed will automatically fill it up for you. While the top of the air mattress is not as pillowy as the Dura-Beam Plus, it still feels supportive.
Pros:
Cons:
The Beautyrest Hi Loft twin air mattress comes equipped with a plug-in electric pump that screws on to the mattress. Once attached, it inflates the mattress in about 2 minutes -- though not as fully as I would've liked. Once it's inflated, you need to quickly unscrew the pump and replace the valve cap. It's not the most elegant solution.
The Beautyrest air mattress has the same pack-of-hot-dogs design as the Bestway air bed and the precarious feel of a pool float. (Many companies that make air mattresses also make inflatable pools and pool accessories. Go figure.) It lacks the stability of other air mattresses and I nearly tipped it over by lying too far to one side.
Keep in mind it may not be the best air mattress for you if you're tall. Simmons lists its dimensions at 80x60x17 inches, but my measurements put it closer to 76 inches long, which means that anyone taller than 6 feet will likely hang off the end.
The mattress is constructed from a softer type of vinyl than others, making it easier to roll up and fold into a compact shape for storage.
The epitome of a cheap air mattress, the Bestway air bed is compact, lightweight and relatively quick to inflate with its integrated pump.
On the downside, this air mattress is only available in one size -- and it's not comfortable at all. It sits low to the ground at 12 inches high, and the pump isn't powerful enough to inflate it fully, so it makes for a rather squishy ride. The tubular design gives it the look of a pack of hot dogs, and the one raised, horizontal hot dog that's meant to approximate a pillow rest sets the mattress askew, which makes it more unstable.
The Bestway air bed has plenty of negative reviews on Walmart.com that cite slow air leaks, fast air leaks, burst seams, spontaneous bubbling and terrible customer service -- as well as dozens of very positive ones. And though Bestway's comically vague manufacturer's warranty doesn't instill confidence, warranty isn't a crucial consideration here given the price. Still, Walmart's policy states that most products can be returned with their original packaging for a full refund within 90 days.
We tested the best mattresses the only way you can -- by sleeping on them. We've taken the best air mattresses that are highly rated on Amazon and other major retail sites (including Target and Walmart) and put them through a battery of hands-on testing to see which might potentially offer comfortable sleep. This included repeatedly inflating and deflating air beds, evaluating their durability and construction, and subjecting them to the rigors of camping and a series of acrobatically inclined children's sleepovers to test them for comfort, air pressure and how puncture-resistant the air chamber is (after all, air leaks are counterproductive to a great night's sleep). We also made sure to assess each air mattress on its price and reviews. We wanted to know if people experienced punctures or low leaks during use.
To narrow down the best mattress options, we confined testing for our buyer's guide to queen size mattress models, and included comfort and price comparisons.
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read more on how we test mattresses.
There are a few general things to consider when shopping for the best air mattress.
Price will be the primary criteria for most people searching for the best air mattress. You can get a queen-size bed for as little as $30, while the most expensive air mattresses can cost hundreds of dollars. But a higher price doesn't always mean a tall air bed, a better air mattress, better air pressure, a self-inflating mattress, a better sleeping surface, more comfort or a decent night's sleep.
The best air mattresses have a built-in electric pump that plugs into a wall socket. Some have a battery-powered external rechargeable pump, which usually runs on four D-cells. And a few come with a manual hand pump. The plug-in pumps are usually powerful but heavy and loud. Battery-operated pumps are lighter and don't require a wall socket but are typically less effective and less capable of fully inflating a mattress. A manual pump or a flat pump, on the other hand, can deliver a degree of firmness the others can't match and needs neither batteries nor outlet -- but will require a significant amount of physical labor to operate.
Though most queen-size air mattress options measure approximately 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, height is both a variable and a selling point. In fact, it may be a primary consideration for older or disabled people who would have trouble getting on or off a bed that's too low to the ground. Likewise, a mattress that's overly mushy will be harder to dismount.
If you've ever tried to get a good night's rest on a bad air mattress before, you know that the touchstone for quality is how reliably it holds air. And nearly every air mattress is beset by customer reviews complaining about air leaks. You can tell that this is an industry that's familiar with these complaints: Every bed we tested was imprinted with disclaimers about how all air mattresses stretch when you inflate them and that you shouldn't just assume that they're leaking if they temporarily lose that initial level of firmness.
And yet many air mattresses, whether they're stretched out or not, do leak over the course of a night. Repeatedly. And even if you top them off. This mitigates the credibility of some manufacturers' claims. And there are some beds that are simply more durable and better constructed than others. But airtightness is tricky to judge -- even after you inflate an air mattress -- and may reveal itself only over time. As such, most manufacturers offer a one-year warranty or guarantee. A few extend that to two years. Others will give you 90 days and throw in a few vinyl patches to cover up a puncture wound.
Nothing is worse than dragging out your air mattress for a guest and then the next morning they wake on the ground. Holes are the death of air mattresses. And unfortunately, they happen all too often. The good news is that you can find and patch holes in air mattresses. Let's go through how.
How to find a hole in an air mattress:
How to patch an air mattress:
Just because there is a hole in your air mattress, doesn't mean that you have to buy a new one. There are air mattress patches you can use. However, if you're looking to go down the DIY avenue, there are plenty of options. Start by deflating your air mattress and degreasing the area around the hole.
When shopping for the best mattress, always look at product and customer reviews. It's beneficial to get the perspective of real customers and product reviewers who have physically slept on the air mattress because they can give more honest insight on whether or not it's a good product.
No, you shouldn't sleep on even the best air mattress as your main bed. Air mattresses are a good short-term solution when you need a comfortable place to sleep that's not the ground or a couch, but they aren't meant to be slept on every night. Air mattresses can lack proper support to keep your spinal alignment over the long term and promote back pain.
You can find air mattresses both online and in stores, it just depends on how you prefer to do your shopping. Amazon has some great options, but you can also check your local Walmart or REI.
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.
How long your air mattress will last will depend on how much you use it. Regular and consistent use offers more opportunities for punctures or holes to develop in your mattress. Alternatively, if you only use it once a year, you can expect to hang on to it for a long time. You should expect to get at least two to five years out of a regularly used air mattress and up to 10 if you don't use it often.
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. Finally, deflate the air mattress every morning after use.