Ratings > Temporary-use Air Mattress Reviews Air Mattresses For Temporary / Occasional Use Unbiased Review & Ratings Based on 25,889 Owner Experiences This page reviews air mattresses for temporary use, not those for regular use. THE GOOD: Often well suited for short-term, limited use • storable • lightweight • generally affordable • adjustable firmness • little or no break-in period. THE BAD: Durability and longevity often fair at best • fast air loss possible • high maintenance • non elevated models difficult to get up off. THE MATTRESSES: Air mattresses are made of vinyl and often have a flocked top for warmth. A hand-powered or electric air pump is used for inflation. The mattresses are designed mainly for guest use, sleep overs, travel, and camping. THE COMPETITION: See the mattress price comparison for ratings on other low-priced mattresses that are often used on a temporary / occasional / light basis. Air Mattress Ratings: Overall As a Group
The ratings – based on 25,000+ consumer reviews – show how temporary-use air mattresses compare to the average mattress. Air mattresses overall have 73% owner satisfaction. Owners who use them occasionally or for a short time tend to be more satisfied than owners who use them regularly or for an extended time. There can be variation in owner satisfaction among the many brands / models. About 75% of owners describe comfort as good or better. The rest say their mattress is uncomfortable due to an inability to hold air or due to excessive firmness. Some owners add a topper to improve comfort. About 25% of owners report durability / longevity problems, mainly air leaks resulting from punctures, splitting seams, and or valve problems. Air mattresses have a lifespan on average of no more than one year with regular use. With occasional use, 1-4 years. $8-$185 depending on size / model / features. Some come with an air pump, others do not. Despite the low price, 20% of owners say value is average or worse because of poor durability / longevity.
Easy to get on and off Getting on and up off a standard elevation air mattress placed on the floor can be difficult. Height tends to range 8 to 22 inches. Most air mattresses have a weight capacity of around 300 pounds. A significant chemical or plastic-like odor is reported by 8% of owners. The odor can last for several days or even weeks in some cases and can make sleeping on the bed unpleasant during this time. Moving on the bed may produce some noise, say about 9% of owners. About 6% of owners report sleeping cold, while virtually no owners report sleeping hot. Firmness can be adjusted by adding / removing air. However, filling to maximum firmness may increase risk of developing air leaks. Unlike most conventional mattresses, air mattresses require little if any break-in period. Air mattresses are generally not well suited for couples. The movement of one person will often disturb another person on the bed with an up and down motion. The need to regularly add air is often required as the mattresses tend to lose a significant amount of air daily.
Easy to move, lift, handle Air mattresses typically weigh 8-20 lbs making them easy to transport carry and store, unlike conventional mattresses. Warranties tend to range from no warranty to one year. Successfully filing a claim is often difficult. The table below compares air mattresses that have 77% or higher owner satisfaction based on a sample of 1000+ owner experiences. AeroBed Inflatable Bed for Kids Sound A sleep Dream Series InstaBed Raised with Never Flat Pump Intex Pillow Rest with Built-in Electric Pump 50 by 25 inches has 4" surround safety cushion. above average customer service. has 2nd pump to monitor and maintain air pressure. pump often not included unlike other models listed here. Standard Elevation Vs Raised Air Mattresses Standard elevation air mattresses are 10 inches or lower in height, while raised air mattresses are over 10 inches high. Raised have the advantage of being more like a conventional bed in terms of height which makes getting on and up off of the bed easier.
Raised have the disadvantage of being up to three times more expensive than standard elevation. Raised can also be somewhat wobbly and lack stability due to their height. About Our Temporary-Use Air Mattress Ratings and Research Ratings are based on 25,000+ consumer reviews of air mattresses including Aerobed, Sound A Sleep and Intex brands. Data was gathered using an unbiased, accurate methodology. – About 25% of temporary-use air mattress owners report quality issues, mainly air leaks from punctures, splitting seams, or valve problems. Air leaks usually cause the mattress to be unusable. – Air mattresses tend to have little or no warranty protection. – Most owners say their air mattress is easy to use at least initially because inflating and deflating is simple and fast. – The mattresses are often considered high maintenance as air must be added on a regular basis. – About 75% of owners describe comfort as good or better. The rest say the bed is uncomfortable mainly due to an inability to hold air or due to excessive firmness.
At Amazon: A Top-Rated Air Mattress may appear on this page, will earn revenue if a product(s) is purchased through such a link(s).Best air mattress for kids Blow-up mattresses are available in the same size ranges as permanent mattresses, although queen- and twin-sized air beds are by far the most popular choices. In this section, we name a Best Reviewed queen, twin and king-sized mattress, plus a couple of worthy runners-up. If you're more interested in air mattresses or sleeping pads for camping, we discuss those elsewhere in this report. First introduced to the air mattress market in 2013, the queen-sized SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress (Est. $150) has blown up the competition. At 58 by 78 inches, it's slightly smaller than a true queen-sized bed, but very few reviewers note that as a negative, with many owners saying there is plenty of room for two people to sleep comfortably. And comfort is the adjective we see the most when reading reviews of the SoundAsleep Dream Series.
Owners can't rave enough about this supportive, yet adaptable, mattress. We even noted a few comments from husbands who tried to get themselves in the dog house so they would have an excuse to sleep in the guest room (not that that's something we recommend). The Dream Series also comes in a twin size (Est. $100) if you only need room for one. The SoundAsleep Dream Series features a network of 40 internal air coils that, combined with its tall, 19 inch height, feels as if you're sleeping on a true box spring and mattress, as opposed to an air bed, reviewers say. However, that 19-inch height also makes it hard to get a regular sheet set on this mattress, you'll have to shop for fitted sheets with deep pockets, which may be pricier than regular sheets. (See our separate report on bed sheets for some recommendations.) The built-in pump on the SoundAsleep Dream Series means that it inflates quickly -- four minutes or less according to the manufacturer, and users agree that inflating and deflating this air bed is super quick and easy.
The SoundAsleep folds up to a fairly manageable 12 by 12 by 24 inches. The air mattress comes with a storage bag with handles. As highly praised as the SoundAsleep Dream Series beds are, there are also a few caveats. First of all, it's only for indoor use and only for occasional use. We saw several complaints from people who used it for several months at a time, and then groused about it losing air or no longer inflating; we also saw some complaints from those who used it for camping and said it didn't last. Neither of those are intended uses, as the manufacturer makes very clear. Also, the Dream Series beds, like most other blow-up mattresses, will gradually lose air as you use them and will need to be "topped off" after one or two uses (although a few reviewers say they use their SoundAsleep air beds for a week or more with no deflation). The majority of users understand this and have no problem. Others are irritated that they have to occasionally add air to their air mattress.
The Intex Pillow Rest Queen Air Mattress (Est. $45) doesn't get quite as much praise for comfort as the SoundAsleep Dream Series, but it comes pretty close -- and at about a third of the price. This queen-sized air mattress is true-to-size, measuring 60 by 80 inches, making it slightly larger than the SoundAsleep. At 16.5 inches thick, the Pillow Rest doesn't feel quite as "bed-like" as the SoundAsleep, but that's still plenty of padding for a very comfortable sleep, users say. It's also thick enough that you'll probably still need deep-pocket sheets. The built-in pillows and easy-to-use, integrated air pump also get a lot of love -- the blow-up mattress inflates and deflates in about four minutes. The main issue with the Intex is durability. Over time, the chambers that hold air can burst, resulting in a lopsided mattress. Some reviewers report that they burst with alarming "pops," waking them in the middle of the night, others say it was quieter and more gradual. However, these complaints are often made by those who use this air bed on a regular basis instead of a standard mattress and box spring set, or who have owned the Intex for years.
Air mattresses are meant to be a temporary sleeping arrangement and a $45 air mattress can't be expected to last forever. If you need a comfortable, occasional solution to accommodate overnight guests, the Intex Pillow Rest will be a great choice. Although king-sized air mattresses are not quite as popular as queen-sized models, since they take up more space, couples love turning to the Fox Air Beds Plush High Rise (Est. $180) king size air mattress in a pinch. Many couples who are in the process of moving across the country say they purchased this air bed to use until their furnishings arrive; others say they use it for camping in family-sized tents. It's also a popular choice to set up in a guest room, since it's so accommodating of more than one sleeper. The Plush High Rise measures 80 by 76 by 25 inches, which is true king size; again, you will need deep pocket sheets for the 25 inch thickness. Fox Air Beds are also available in queen (Est. $160), full (Est. $130), and twin XL sizes (Est. $120).
Many users who have had to use the king-sized Fox Air Bed for an extended period say that it holds up better than most inflatable beds. However, like all air beds, it will deflate slowly over time -- sometimes more quickly than others -- and needs to be topped off when it does so. Also, although the manufacturer touts the inflatable bed's durability, and users say it seems durable, the short, 90-day warranty gives us pause. Having said that, the Fox Air Bed is very easy to inflate and deflate, owners note, with a simple dial control that activates the built-in pump. Also, unlike most air mattresses with a built-in pump, the Plush High Rise can also be inflated by any type of external pump -- for example, a hand or battery-operated pump in case you have no access to AC electricity. The biggest complaint we see about all air mattresses is that they gradually lose air through the night. This is because no material that is comfortable enough to sleep on will also hold air forever.
Insta-Bed has largely has solved this problem with the Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump (Est. $140). There are two built in pumps. The main pump inflates the mattress in about four minutes, then the secondary pump monitors and maintains that air pressure. The air mattress also deflates quickly, and owners say that it is very easy to handle and store. This twin Insta-Bed measures 74 by 39 inches -- true twin size -- and the 18-inch depth makes users feel as if they're sleeping on a "real" bed, although it does require deep pocket sheets. It's also available in full and queen sizes. The Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress series gets some of the best reviews we've seen for comfort, with many users saying that they like it better than their regular bed, because of its soft, yet uniform support, thanks to its 21 circular air coils (35 on the queen size). It's particularly popular with back-pain sufferers. While most air mattresses can be adjusted by adding or removing air, the Insta-Bed has three preset firmness levels, plush, medium or firm, and the secondary pump maintains whichever level you choose.
This twin-sized raised air mattress is reported as very durable, and comes with a one-year warranty. Air mattresses for kids are a great idea not only for visits to grandma, but also for camping or any type of traveling where there might be a limited number of beds. No kids' air bed gets better reviews than the AeroBed Mattress for Kids , a mini air mattress that keeps small children snug and comfortable. It's for ages 4 and up, but many parents say they even use it as a travel bed for toddlers and it works very well. At 50 inches long and 25 inches wide, this bed is roughly the same size as a crib mattress, and reviewers say that crib sheets will fit this air mattress. The AeroBed has a raised bumper all the way around the edge to keep children from rolling off and a fitted, washable cover made of soft fleece. Owners say it inflates quickly and easily with the hand-held electric pump, and most say that their kids find it very comfortable to sleep on. It's also reported as very durable, with some users saying they've owned the AeroBed blow-up mattress for 5 or 7 years and it's still going strong.