Nobody Will Complain About Having to Sleep on These *Actually* Comfy Air Mattresses

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Unless you love camping or playing host to your friends from out of town, odds are you may not own an air mattress. But you should. The fact is, you just never really know you need an air mattress until, well, you need one. And wouldn't you rather be prepared so you can sleep better than be stuck on the floor after your parents surprised you with a weekend visit? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Whether you're hosting overnight guests, going on a camping trip, or planning a grand road trip adventure, it's always good to have a sturdy air mattress on hand. But not all air mattresses are created equal—or comfortable. You'll want to invest in an air mattress that's easy to inflate, deflate, store, and, most importantly, that won't pop a seam in the middle of the night and leave you on the cold, hard ground. And if you're in the market for the best air mattress around—well, I gotchu covered.

Just like finding the right anything, you don’t want to buy a bogus air mattress. What makes for a quality mattress is one that provides the right amount of support without deflating overnight. Add to that, it's also gotta be comfortable, somewhat lightweight, and portable. I've gone ahead and done the research, so you can take your pick from 13 air mattresses worth shopping for, below.

Lumbar Lift Express Tri-Zone Support Raised Air Bed Mattress

This air mattress is specifically designed to provide more lumbar support than your traditional coil beam design. And, thanks to its 12” height, it’s much gentler on your back when you get up—so you don't have to worry about ending up on the floor in the morning.

THE REVIEW: “So far, I love this mattress,” one tester notes. “It was easy to inflate, felt great to lay on. Did not even need a sheet to cover the mattress because the texture is so nice. I hope it lasts forever.”

Dream Series Luxury Air Mattress

The SoundAsleep Luxury Air Mattress has over 50,000 reviews on Amazon, and for good reason. The mattress is designed with a waterproof, extra thick topper for comfort and durability, and has an internal pump you can turn on with a simple switch. It’s so comfortable, multiple reviewers say they use it as their nightly mattress.

THE REVIEW: “This is the most comfortable bed I have slept on in many, many years,” one reviewer writes. “I keep the bed inflated all the time and, so far, have only had to add air to it about every four to five days for 20-30 seconds and the mattress is back just where I like it.”

Camping Air Mattress with Built-in Pump

If you love the great outdoors but hate sleeping on the ground, this is the air mattress for you. The EnerPlex Never-Leak air bed comes with an external pump that attaches to the mattress, and while you do need electricity to power the pump, the bed comes with a power cord that can be plugged directly into your car or a battery pack — in addition to a regular power cord that will work with wall outlets.

THE REVIEW: “It really is big,” writes one reviewer. “Feels more like a mattress than any other air mattress I’ve ever had.”

Durable Inflatable Air Mattress with Built-in Pump

Not only is this air mattress inexpensive, it’s also got a built-in pillow, USB charging port, and integrated cord storage for easy storage. At 22" high for the queen and king sizes, it offers a good amount of height, making it easier to get in and out of.

THE REVIEW: “We’ve used this bed every night for the last month or so and have only had to add air a total of maybe 3 times,” a tester writes. “I love that it’s taller than the others, the built-in pump and little discord storage cubby are extremely handy, and it sleeps well. I don’t have one complaint about this air mattress.”

Luxury Queen Air Mattress with Built-in High Speed Pump

Unlike most other air mattresses on this list, the King Koil Luxury Air Mattress comes in a variety of sizes and heights, so you can really customize it to your preference. This mattress also features a water resistant finish and a raised edge that can be used as a built-in pillow.

THE REVIEW: “This was the most comfortable air mattress I’ve ever slept on,” writes one reviewer. “I’d come home from work sore and exhausted, so by the time I’d get washed up and crawl into bed this was absolute heaven. Wasn’t too firm and wasn’t too soft.”

Comfort Plus Air Bed Mattress

What sets this air mattress apart is its cooling mattress topper, which provides a nice cushion and will keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night.

THE REVIEW: “Very pleased with this product. It was very easy to inflate and deflate and stores so nicely,” one user writes. “Comfortable and not too low to the ground as normal inflatables.”

Cloud Supreme Air Mattress

Most air mattresses don’t come with any kind of extra bedding, except for this one. The Nautica Cloud Supreme air mattress features a removable, cotton pillow top to keep you cool and comfortable through the night. And, if you’re not convinced, you can add a 2-year protection warranty for just $30.

THE REVIEW: “We have regular guests who stay over and we needed a robust airbed that was easy to use and easy to store,” one tester writes. “This bed ticked all the boxes. Great value for money!”

Air Mattress with Headboard

It can be a difficult adjustment going from sleeping on a regular mattress to an air mattress, especially if you rely on a headboard to prop you up. This AERFA air mattress gets rid of that concern with a removable headboard that snaps into place, so you have extra pillow propping and support.

THE REVIEW: “This is not like an inflatable mattress; this is basically a full size twin bed. It is a lifesaver for guests and kids’ sleepovers,” one reviewer writes. “It inflates fast (about 2 minutes), and is super supportive and comfortable.”

Dura-Beam Deluxe Ultra Plush Headboard with Built-in Pump

The internal pump makes inflating and deflating this air mattress a breeze. And the headboard adds a little drama, in case you care about aesthetics. Pro tip: put this baby right in front of the living room TV for a chill movie night.

THE REVIEW: “I slept on this bed for a week while waiting for the movers to arrive with my furniture,” one reviewer writes. “It was easy and super-quick to inflate and very comfortable to sleep on.”

Kingdom Insulated Air Bed

This insulated air mattress from REI is specifically intended for campers and other outdoorsy types who want a bed that doesn’t require electricity and will help keep you warm and protected in low temperatures. Be warned: the pump is manually operated, so be ready to use those arms.

THE REVIEW: "Great mattress," one reviewer writes. "This was a great addition to our camping gear and gave us a great place for two adults to sleep during a recent national park adventure."

EZ-Bed Air Mattress

If you're looking for an air mattress that's off the floor, go for this one that comes with legs. This airbed also has two pumps (one to set your comfort level and the other to maintain it through the night), plus a speedy inflation/deflation time. IDK about you, but these sound like allllll good things to me!

THE REVIEW: “Exceptional quality, ease of set up and breakdown make this a must have,” writes one reviewer. “The speed that it inflates as well as deflates is crazy.”

EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed

I've never met a four-in-one I didn't like, and this airbed is another reason why. It is, essentially, two twin-sized mattresses connected as one. You can either fold it out side-by-side for a roomy king-sized bed or stack it over and onto itself for a super cushy mattress.

THE REVIEW: “So far, I’ve used it only once for camping. Super easy to inflate and deflate,” one one tester writes. “It has a nice thickness to it, so it was very comfortable on the uneven, cold ground.”

Car Bed Mattress

Car naps are a thing, and true nap queens do not settle for sleeping in the reclined passenger seat. This mattress is easy to inflate and has options that accommodate vehicles where the seats can be let down. Amazon reviewers who gave this airbed a thumbs up drove cars such as Honda Civic Sedans, Ram Crewcabs, Honda Priuses, and Jeep Cherokees—so if you have any one of these, then you can betcha it'll work for your ride.

THE REVIEW: "Used this for a trip from Florida to Montreal," a tester writes. "I have severe back issues, but this, along with a blanket to cover it, worked great in the back of our SUV."

Sherpa Puffy Blanket

No matter where you're using your air mattress—indoors, outdoors, in the backseat—you're going to need a blanket to go with it. This sherpa puffy blanket form Rumpl is made with a recycled polyester shell to keep you safe from the elements and a sherpa fleece lining to keep you cozy.

How to choose the best air mattress for you

Ready to make your pick? Consider these factors before hitting purchase.

Will you use your air mattress outdoors or indoors?

Not all air mattresses are designed for outdoor use, and doing so could cause a puncture, which would really ruin your camping trip. If you want an air mattress that you can use both indoors and outdoors, I'd suggest picking one specifically intended for outdoor use.

Consider the size of your space

Determine where you'll be using the air mattress (your living room, a spare room, your car, outside, etc) and then select which size mattress is best suited for the space. You'll be thankful you thought ahead when you inflate your air mattress and it actually fits in that empty spot between the bookcase and the coffee table. And, no, inflating an air mattress a little bit less than necessary so that it doesn't take up as much space is not a viable workaround—unless you enjoy feeling like you're on a bed of quicksand.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Cosmo's shopping team is constantly curating the internet to bring you the best options like it's our job (because it is, heh).

Each of our shopping articles adheres to the 15 Percent Pledge and includes pieces for all sizes. And you better believe we read those product reviews (and test many of the brands IRL) so you don't have to. You're welcome!

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