Top Air Beds for Guests and Camping in 2024
Looking for the best air bed to set up in the spare room when guests visit? We’ve taken numerous naps (all in the name of research) to find out which is the most comfortable and supportive. The best inflatable mattresses should also be quick to inflate and easy to store and should retain their firmness throughout the night: it’s also no fun waking up feeling like you’ve been sleeping on a bouncy castle. If you’re looking for a blow-up mattresses for camping in the great outdoors, you can read Phoebe Smith’s reviews of the best air beds for camping at the bottom of this feature. For this review, we’ve mainly focused on large air beds with built-in electric pumps. There is some crossover: respected camping brands such as Vango, Bestway, Hi Gear, and Intex also offer blow-up beds for home use that have the height of a standard bed and are roomy enough for two. You can read our full reviews below, followed by a useful guide on how to use, store, and care for them. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five:Which are the best air beds in 2024? At a glance • Best overall: Bestway Fortech • Best value air bed: Vango High-Rise Double Flocked Air Bed • Most comfortable air bed: Intex Queen Deluxe • Best double air bed: Active Era • Best air bed for camping: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTHERM NXTHow to choose the best air bed for you‘The choice of airbeds for occasional guest use has become a lot more sophisticated in recent years,’ says Jessica Alexander from the National Bed Federation. ‘While they are not intended as a replacement for a proper mattress – since they don’t provide the same support for your back – they are increasingly impressive in terms of comfort.’ Air beds range from simple air-filled lilo to ones that look like beds in size and height. Look for built-in pillows and good edge support to stop you from rolling out of bed. ‘The outer casing can be made from vinyl, PVC, or rubber, and the base should be tough,’ says Jessica Alexander. ‘The top surface can be a soft, non-slip material, for example, brushed cotton. Some contain additional comfort materials such as a layer of memory foam. Sometimes the inside of the mattress is divided into chambers – either vertically or horizontally arranged – to ensure better support.’ Bear in mind air beds with built-in electric pumps can be quite heavy when folded up. Much like folding up a tent after use, there’s an art to packing it away. The air beds we’ve tested come with a storage bag, which is great, but they aren’t the most robust bags we’ve seen.
Tina tests Bestway, Bethany and Will test Active Era and James tests Intex
I chose a range of double, king, and queen air beds from the likes of Argos, Decathlon, Dreams, and Active Era that have built-in pumps and can be manually pumped up too. I rated each air bed on its design, warmth, comfort, portability, and assembly. I took into consideration pillow and edge support, how easy it was to get in and off the bed, and whether it came with extras such as a puncture patch or storage bag. I asked a group of friends of varying height and age to test each bed, lying on their side and back and sitting up. To find out if the large beds could withstand a bit of rough treatment, I asked my two young kids to jump on each for two minutes – much to their delight, but against the advice of the manufacturers. If you’re looking for more comfortable sleep, by the way, be sure to read our guides to the best pillows (including the best pillows for side sleepers) and the best duvets. Best air beds 1. Bestway Fortech £75, Dreams Best overall, 9/10 We like: Large sleeping surface area, attractive finish We don’t like: Pale colorway is not ideal for hiding stains • Self-inflating with mains power, but can be pumped with a standalone pump too • Available in king size • H46 x L203 x W152cm when inflated • Weighs 10kg, comes with a drawstring carry bag • Maximum weight limit 350kg (55 stone) • Polyester fabric cover on PVC A smooth-to-the-touch greige polyester fabric covers the PVC structure on this air bed. I was impressed: I think it would blend well into most modern and classic design schemes. Like most air beds with a built-in pump, the Bestway is noisy to inflate and deflate, so this is something to bear in mind if you’re putting it up late at night, but it only takes five minutes each way, and the instructions are straightforward. A five-minute pump left the bed feeling too firm for my liking, so I used the dial to relieve the pressure a little and give the bed a bit of bounce. The Bestway can be a little noisy when turning from side to side. I managed to dampen squeaks with an extra blanket under me (I recommend doing this for warmth, anyway). I tried sleeping on the side, back, and front of the mattress, and I was pleased with how comfortable the bed kept me during the night. The raised sides, to stop you from rolling out at night, are quite thin compared to other air beds I tried, but this does give you more surface area to sleep on – something my 6ft partner Daniel, who also tested the bed, appreciated. My tester friend Tina also pointed out that she liked the feel of ‘wave beam’ structure on the top, as it made her feel secure. The box includes two repair patches and a grey drawstring storage bag. I did struggle somewhat to get the deflated bed folded as neatly as when it had been taken out of the box. There was a little plastic smell when I inflated it, but when deflating it was noticeable, so I opened the window. Overall, the Bestway offers the best combination of comfort and usability, at a price that seems fair. 2. Vango High-Rise Double Flocked Air Bed £60, Vango Best blow-up mattress, 8/10 We like: Light and easy to carry, inflates in under five minutes, soft flocked top We don’t like: Doesn’t come with a built-in pump, only one repair patch included • Not self-inflating – you’ll need a standalone pump • Available in double size • H38 x L210 x W157cm when inflated • Weighs 4.52kg • Maximum weight limit 234kg (37 stone) • Grey flocked top layer on PVC Refreshingly basic, you’ll need a hand pump or electric pump to blow up this air bed. I managed to do it in around five minutes by hand. Its flocked top adds softness to the surface, so it feels comfy to lay on. Coil beam construction adds support and comfort, and while it felt comfy in the night, it did get a little noisy when I moved around. The built-in pillow is a good size in relation to the length of the bed. At 38cm high, it’s noticeably lower than the other air beds I tested, but it has above-average legroom and a good deal of bounce. With no built-in pump, it’s lighter to carry, and while the storage bag is basic, it does the trick. Overall, I think this is an excellent option for camping since it raises you off the ground and adds a little luxury to your tent. The bed is surprisingly robust too, retaining the air well when the kids bounced on it. 3. Hi-Gear Comfort King Size Air bed £110, Go Outdoors Best air bed for back support, 8/10 We like: Great price for a design with a supportive pillow and tactile cover We don’t like: Only one repair patch included, a little noisy • Self-inflating with mains power, but can be pumped with a standalone pump too • Available in king size • H38 x L203 x W152cm when inflated • Weighs 6.9kg, comes with a large cloth carry bag • Maximum weight limit 300kg (47 stone) • PVC bed with flocked finish The Hi-Gear does a good job combining premium looks with a supportive design, including a built-in pillow, and soft-to-touch fabric. It uses ‘Tritech’ I-beam construction, which Daniel appreciated as the grooves helped align his spine while sleeping. The edges are ever so slightly raised, and the flocked fabric is designed to prevent users from slipping and rolling off the bed. I also made the fitted sheet hug the air bed more securely. The instructions in the box are basic, but advise that you shouldn’t inflate or deflate for longer than five minutes. I inflated it for five minutes, which created a steely firm tension. A slight plastic smell in the room soon disappeared. The Hi-Gear comes with a very large storage bag that doesn’t have a drawstring. While it makes it easier to put the bed back in the bag, storing the bed didn’t feel as neat. While I thought the bed was relaxing to sleep on, I did find that it needed a bit of topping up in the morning to bring it back up to a comfortable pressure. It’s usual for a PVC air bed to stretch a little, and the air inside contracts at night as the temperature drops, but this normally settles after the first few uses. A five-minute bounce from Bethany and William certainly didn’t help matters, but luckily there were no punctures to report. 4. Intex Queen Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Air Bed with Pump £85, Argos Most comfortable air bed, 9/10 We like: Smooth top layer, built-in pillow, darker finish that’s easier to keep clean We don’t like: A little noisy (easily dampened by an extra layer) • Self-inflating with mains power, but can be pumped with a standalone pump too • Available in queen size • H42 x L203 x W152cm when inflated • Weighs 6.4kg, comes with a drawstring carry bag • Maximum weight limit 273kg (43 stone) • PVC mattress and canvas I may not have my priorities right, but the first thing I wanted to do when inflating the Intex was to give it a stroke. Its top layer of wonderfully smooth fabric feels good to touch. Team that with the vertical lines spanning the bed’s length, and the Intex looks and feels very enticing to sleep on. While it is similar in size to the Bestway Fortech in terms of length and width, it’s just a tad lower and so easier to clamber onto. The bed’s ‘fiber-tech’ construction is designed to be firm and durable, and a small built-in pillow adds neck support at one end – although I felt it could be a little deeper. (Testers Tina and James both found it fine.) It took around three minutes to inflate and deflate, making the Intex one of the faster-to-assemble air beds in this roundup. The manual inflation port within the cord storage is also easy to find, which would come in useful if you’re camping and want to use your standalone pump. I slept comfortably on this bed overnight and didn’t need to inflate it in the morning. A two-minute bounce from Bethany and William soon changed this, but overall I was impressed at how well it retained its firmness. There was the odd squeak when I turned from side to side, but I managed to dampen this with an extra blanket on the bed. The box includes a single repair patch, a good instruction booklet, and a drawstring storage bag that made it easy to stash. While I found it a challenge to fold the bed up after use, the bag was big enough to allow for my clumsy folding. 5. Active Era Luxury King Size Air Bed £96.99, Amazon Best double air bed 8/10 We like: Luxurious velvety blue finish and curvaceous form We don’t like: Cheap-looking white PVC sides, deflation a little clumsy • Self-inflating with mains power but can be pumped with a standalone pump too • Available in king size • H56 x L203 x W152cm when inflated • Weighs 10.3kg, comes with a good size drawstring carry bag • Maximum weight limit 295kg (46 stone) • Blue waterproof flocked top layer on PVC ‘Inside this box is the best night’s sleep you’ll ever have,’ the Active Era confidently promises on the inner fold of its packaging box. I was keen to see whether it was indeed worth the above-average price tag. It is very quick to inflate, and it was up in under three minutes – a little too firm, but easily adjusted. Deflation was disappointing, however, and it took me a lot longer to pack away than the three minutes it took to inflate. It is reassuring to know that if the pump overheats, it will stop automatically. Its firmness didn’t last through the first night, however. As expected, I needed to top up in the morning. The instructions point out that like most PVC air beds, you will need to add air to the bed more frequently the first few times you use it as the fabric stretches to its natural shape. The bed did well to stand up to the kids jumping on it, however, and I found the large built-in pillow very comfortable. Both Tina and James found the flocked top sumptuous to lie on. Comprehensive instructions are included, as are three repair patches. Fortunately, none were needed after Bethany and William’s performance. 6. Touchxel Inflatable Air Mattress £65.99, Amazon Best self-inflating mattress: 8/10 We like: Quick to inflate, built-in pillow, repair patch included We don’t like: Grooves on top layer not the most comfortable we’ve tried • Self-inflating with mains power but can be pumped with a standalone pump too • Available in king size and twin • H47 x L203 x W157cm when inflated • Weighs 8kg, comes with a carry bag with handles • Maximum weight limit not stated • Blue polyester flocked top layer on PVC The Touchxel seemed a little noisier than the average air bed I tested, but this may be down to the fact that at the time of inflation it was late and I was tired. It’s constructed with 42 air coils for comfort, but I found the grooves on the top layer a little less inviting than some of the more streamlined designs. These grooves do provide grip, however, and kept me securely in place during the night. When inflated, there was a slight plastic odor in the room, but nothing too intense. The bed also did well to retain its firmness in the night, needing only a little topping up after the kids had a play on it. It also features a very subtle built-in pillow and raised sides that we all thought gave good edge support and made it easy to get in and out of. 7. Outwell Superior Double with built-in pump £96.99, Outwell Best blow-up bed, 8/10 We like: Compact double size, practical storage bag with drawstrings on either end makes it easy to pack away We don’t like: Not the most attractive design tested • Self-inflating with mains power but can be pumped with a standalone pump too • Available in double size • H45 x L195 x W160 cm when inflated • Weighs 5.9kg, comes with a drawstring bag with handles • Maximum weight limit 295kg (46 stone) • Blue flocked top layer on PVC With two drawstring pulls on either side, the bag that this air bed comes with is possibly the most practical of all the storage bags in this test. It’s also one of the lightest to carry. The built-in pump can be used for up to five minutes at a time to inflate and deflate, and I found that the bed was nicely blown up with a bit of squish at around the 4.5-minute mark. While this double is not as long as the king-size air beds in our test, the width gave me room to move about and get comfortable. While the edge support is not the most prominent I have discovered, my team of testers and I liked the size of the built-in pillow and feel of the flocked top. After a two-minute bounce from the kids, the air bed remained defiantly firm. Best air beds for camping Reviewed by Phoebe Smith 8. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTHERM NXT £224.99, Ultra Light Outdoor Gear Best for year-round wild camping, 10/10 We like: Tiny pack size (approximately the same as a 1-liter water bottle), warm year-round We don’t like: having to blow it up ourselves (though the pump sack helps) • Best warmth-to-weight ratio of any sleep mat on the market • Available in rectangular option and short, wide, and large options • H7.6cm x L183cm x W51cm when inflated (Regular length) • Weighs 440g, comes with a carry bag, pump sack, and repair kit • Maximum weight limit not given • Nylon guaranteed for expedition use When it comes to air mattresses designed for camping, Therm-a-Rest is the go-to classic that many others have tried to replicate. When the first models hit the market in the 1970s, they were a far cry from the foam pads that were the ubiquitous mainstay of the outdoor shops. Not only did they decide to make their model hybrid, utilizing foam and air to insulate campers from cold ground, but they also made them compact and self-inflating. Since then, things have come full circle, and they now offer technically advanced foam pads preferred by trail runners, uber comfy plush air mats for glampers, the classic self-inflater that birthed the company, and, in recent years, the NeoAir range ideal for those for whom weight and space are key. And they definitely are – with a tiny pack size taking up the same space as a water bottle, and a weight that’s comparable to that of a can of Baked Beans, this XTHERM NXT does both while still managing a decent thickness. While these don’t self-inflate, they do now come with a ‘pump sack’ that is an attachable bag you blow into and then roll the air down into the mat that allows for much quicker inflation. As someone who’d been using the non-pump sack version, this is certainly a welcome upgrade. The real standout of this mattress is the warmth it offers. With a core filled with honeycomb-like reflective segments, I’ve used it year-round in the UK and even on expeditions in Greenland and still enjoyed a toasty night’s sleep. In short, a wild camper’s dream. £224.99 Price at Ultra Light Outdoor Gear 9. Intex Kidz Travel Bed with Hand Pump £35, Argos Best for kids (3-6 years), 10/10 We like: raised size to stop little ones rolling off We don’t like: that they don’t make it for bigger kids • Hand pump supplied inflates in about 10 mins (can use electric – not supplied) • Available in rectangular option and short, wide, and large options • H12.7cm x L36.8cm x W33cm when inflated • Weighs 3.81kg, comes with a carry bag and hand pump • Maximum weight 22.7kg (3.5 stone) • PVC with flocked finish on top There’s an awkward stage with little ones when it comes to overnight’s away or sleeping in tents
