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. Air mattresses tend to have a bad reputation for being uncomfortable, but it’s unrealistic to always have a spare bed for overnight guests.
A dual-pump air mattress eliminates the worries of waking up on a saggy, deflated bed. And if you’ve ever gone to sleep on an air mattress, only to wake up with it flat on the floor, you’ll especially appreciate a dual-pump option. While not all air mattresses are equipped with this feature, the Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress is our top recommendation for those that are. In our overnight evaluation, this option lost less than 1 inch of height while holding 100 pounds of weight. So if sleeping on a deflated mattress is a concern, the dual pump is very effective at preventing that. The 18-inch-tall air mattress is also comfortable and high enough to make it easier to get in and out of.
Below, you’ll find reviews of the best and worst single- and double-height air mattresses, based on our latest tests. CR all-access members can also view our full air mattress ratings. This article was updated by Grace Wu, a textiles product bestway air mattress 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.
The flocked top and sides add some extra grip for sheets and minimizes the feeling of sleeping on a pool float (as opposed to the SoundAsleep, which is flocked on only the top). But this does mean that the sides can be more prone to gathering lint. 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. If you can spend more money and have more storage space, you may want to consider a folding foam mattress, Japanese futon, or sleeper sofa instead.
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. Instead of using a dial that fills the air mattress to pre-set firm, medium, or plush settings, the Skyrise Raised Express Air Mattress uses an electric pump to inflate the bed to capacity. Then, you control the firmness with the one-touch adjustable comfort button on the mattress. This gives you the ability to adjust the air mattress to suit your needs, rather than relying on fixed settings or manually letting air out from the valve. It didn’t move when we lightly jumped onto the bed, and it lost less than 1 inch of air in our overnight weight test.
The picks ahead are the top-performers in our tests, along with newer models that have unique features and rave reviews from users. Erica Puisis has been a writer for The Spruce since 2017, specializing as a product researcher for home products, including mattresses, bedding, and small appliances. To find the best air mattresses, she compared the features and benefits of some of the most popular options on the market—paying special attention to design and comfort features. The research also relied heavily on firsthand testing reports from The Lab, where we tested 10 air mattresses for their stability, support, durability, portability, and more. Our recommendations all use electric pumps for faster inflation and deflation, and most have a built-in pump to further simplify the process. For a supportive and durable twin-size air mattress, the Intex Dura-Beam is a great option.