When we rounded up Affordable Sleeper Chairs & Ottomans as options for hosting overnight guests in small spaces last week, we heard from a lot of commenters that they rely on air mattresses. Indeed, air mattresses have come a long way. While they were once considered torture, they're now just as (and maybe more) comfortable than a lot of convertible sofas and chairs. Check out our top 5 picks for inflatable mattresses and weigh in with your own opinions in the comments. • EasyRest Inflatable Guest Bed from Frontgate $279.00 Although this bed would require a lot of space, with its built-in headboard it's sure to make your guest feel like they're in an actual bed. • Wenzel Insta-Bed Queen from Amazon $99.99 This bed has gotten great reviews on Amazon and also scored the top slot in Consumer Reports' list of best air mattresses. • Coleman Grand Canyon Raised Quickbed from Cabela's $99.99 Since it's intended for outdoor use, this bed will stand up to the toughest conditions.
• Serta Raised Pillow Top Airbed $156.15 With its pillow top, this option from Serta is the closest you're going to get to a real mattress while still having the ease of an inflatable. • Superior Inflatable Bed from Hammacher Schlemmer $159.95 Hammacher Schlemmer's bed has gotten great reviews, most citing its comfort and ease of use. Bonus points for looking like a proper mattress and box springs. MORE SMALL SPACE GUEST OPTIONS ON APARTMENT THERAPY • Hosting Help: Tips for Sleeping Comfortably on an Air Mattress • Small Space Overnight Guest Solution: Affordable Sleeper Chairs & Ottomans • Small Space Solution: Paq, Super Simple Armchair + Spare Bed • Bedroom in a Minute: All About Sleeper Sofas Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .
If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon Used & new (23) from $110.12 Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat PumpDetailsAmazonBasics Microfiber Sheet Set - Queen, Dark Grey FREE Shipping on orders over . DetailsSmart Home Bedding Super Plush Pillow Dust Mite Resistant Down Alternative (Queen/Standard, 2 Pack) FREE Shipping on orders over . Queen Pillow Top Bed Save Big On Open-Box & Pre-owned: Buy "Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump...” from Amazon Warehouse Deals and save 47% off the $209.95 list price. See all Open-Box & Pre-owned offers from Amazon Warehouse Deals. 18 x 60 x 80 inches The Insta-Bed Raised Air Bed with Never Flat™ technology makes getting into and out of bed easier and just might be the most comfortable air bed you've ever slept on. Able to maintain it's pressure throughout the night, Never Flat™ elimates sagging and loss of air pressure that is so common in airbeds.
Never Flat™ technology is an auto-engaging, whisper quiet pump that maintains constant air pressure throughout the night for an undisturbed, continuous night's rest that is never flat. Choose your desired comfort level--Plush, Medium, or Firm--and let the powerful Primary Pump inflate the bed. Once inflated, the Secondary Pump continusly monitors and senses when it needs to silently engage in order to maintain the chosen comfort level throughout the night. *The powerful, integrated primary pump enables effortless inflation and deflation of the air bed. *The automatic shut-off feature turns the Primary Pump once the bed is fully inflated or deflated, allowing you to turn on the pump and walk away without worrying about the pump getted burned out. *Clear dial settings for plush, medium, and firm allow for preferred personal mattress comfort levels. *Pressure sensing technology constantly monitors and adjusts to match the chosen mattress comfort level. *Pump silently, as neccessary, engages throughout the night creating a consistently comfortable feel.
*21 circular coils on the Twin Bed and 35 circular coils on the Queen Bed create a comfortable sleeping surface while vertical and horizontal reinforcements allow bed to maintain shape. *Flocked top keeps bedding in place. Guaranteed to stay inflated all night! Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies Domestic Shipping: Item can be shipped within U.S. Item model number: 8400160-PARENT #1,725 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors) in Home & Kitchen > Bedding > Air Mattresses & Accessories > Air Mattresses 5 star64%4 star14%3 star5%2 star5%1 star12%See all verified purchase reviewsTop Customer ReviewsSo disappointed...| I really like it!|Great Bed and Amazing Customer Service|Great features, horrible quality| Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump Twin Sized SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress with ComfortCoil Technology & Internal High Capacity Pump See and discover other items: camping air mattress full, prime inflatable pillow, sleep air mattress, camping beds
Whether you rarely entertain or you have a steady rotation of friends who sleep over, provide a comfortable accommodation for overnight guests with one of these eight top-rated best air mattresses, fit for a range of spaces and budgets. 12 Gorgeous Glass Coffee Tables at Every Price Point 10 Artful Decals to Easily Switch Up Your Wall Decor 10 Gorgeous Marble Tables That Elevate Any Aesthetic How to Make a Gigantic Knit Blanket in Less Than 4 Hours 10 Multiple-Use Ottomans for Stashing the Extra Stuff 10 Room Dividers That Stylishly Define a Space 9 Mardi Gras Party Accessories to Outfit Your Evening of Revelry 9 Incense Holders With Quirky, Artful Design 11 Ways to Add the Natural Beauty of Agate to Your DecorNo, you're not dreaming: Air mattress technology and design has advanced to the point where many temporary air beds are now as comfortable as beds costing hundreds or thousands of dollars more. This makes a blow-up mattress a great choice to keep around for overnight guests, family members who may visit regularly but don't need an everyday bed (like grandkids), or as a temporary solution for someone who has moved and has to wait for their regular bed to arrive.
The right air mattress or sleeping pad can also make camping trips a lot more comfortable, providing a layer of cushioning between your sleeping bag and the ground. Some outdoor air mattresses are, in effect, outdoor beds, bringing all the comforts of the double bed in your home to the great outdoors. Sleeping pads are lighter and thinner than regular air mattresses, making them suitable for folding and carrying in a pack. However, while sleeping pads are thin and lightweight, these self-inflating wonders still pack a lot of comfort in a small package. Queen- and twin-sized air mattresses are by far the most common, but some manufacturers make air beds in full or king size as well. It's important to check the actual dimensions on the blow-up mattress you're considering, however; some air mattresses are sized a bit smaller than the true mattress size. Air mattresses also vary in thickness, but in general they can be either single-height or double-height. A single-height air mattress sits anywhere from 7 to 13 inches off the floor, which can make it difficult for some to get in and out of, especially those who may have physical challenges.
A raised, or double-height mattress, by contrast, inflates to between 18 and 22 inches high, bringing it much closer to normal bed height. One caveat: that extra thickness might require you to buy deep-pocketed fitted sheet sets, which are less common and more expensive than standard sheets. Head on over to our separate report on bed sheets for our top recommendations. Some air mattresses are very basic, just blow up rectangles, but other air mattresses have extra features, such as raised bumpers or built-in pillows. Many people like those features because they help keep your bedding -- and your body -- from falling off the air bed if it's not up against a wall. Parents of small children are particularly complimentary of air beds with bumpers as they feel that those bumpers give their child a feeling of security. All blow-up mattresses, regardless of what they are used for, have one thing in common: they‘re inflated with a pump -- although some sleep pads are then topped off by blowing into a valve.
The pump that blows up the mattress may be built-in or a separate unit, and it may run on standard household current, battery power or muscle power (like a bicycle pump). Some mattresses do not actually come with a pump, which can be both a plus and a minus: you have to purchase the pump separately, but you can choose the type that's most convenient for you, and if it breaks you don't have to replace the whole mattress. Air mattresses should not be confused with permanent-use air beds such as the Sleep Number bed, which uses air-filled pockets in place of springs. Inflatable air mattresses like those covered in this report can be quite inexpensive and are intended for occasional or short-term use only. While some owners do report using an inflatable air mattress as their regular bed, manufacturers do not recommend using air beds for long-term or permanent use. Most of the poor reviews we saw related to our top-rated air mattresses were from people who groused that the mattress started to lose air after months of daily use -- something that's to be expected from using what is, essentially, a reinforced, rectangular balloon.
Also, since you are sleeping on air, blow-up mattresses, even those with pillow or flocked tops, tend to have poor insulation. Because of that, we recommend putting a blanket under your air bed and topping it off with a good, thick mattress pad before adding the rest of your bedding. Permanent air mattresses, on the other hand, are meant for everyday use and get excellent ratings for longevity and comfort, but they can also cost $1,000 or more -- at least as much as a traditional innerspring mattress. For more information about permanent air mattresses, see our separate report on mattresses. of the top six air mattresses based upon a large survey of owner satisfaction. , , a major retailer of camping and outdoor equipment. We looked at what users had to say about how comfortable each mattress is to sleep on, as well as how easy it is to set up and to break down for storage. We also paid a lot of attention to durability: how well the mattress holds air during the night and how likely it is to develop problems, such as a leak or a pump failure.