This time of year, everybody seems to be hosting family and friends, and I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be complicated! There's nothing wrong with blowing up some air mattresses for a "pop-up" guest space. That being said, I know we've all had not-so-great air mattress experiences, so I wanted to do some testing to find the absolute best air mattresses for you, for me, for all the family we're hosting this season!
Recently, my four best friends flew to North Carolina for my birthday, and I set up a little "blow-up" sleepover room so that we could have a good old-fashioned slumber party. I bought five of the three most highly-rated air mattresses on Amazon, and we put them to the test!
All of these mattresses are twin-size, double-height, with an internal pump. The extra height and internal pump are non-negotiables to me. If I'm sleeping on an air mattress or have guests sleeping on one, I want it to feel comfortable and convenient to use!
Here are the contenders:
This one had the most 5-star reviews on Amazon, with over 50,000 reviews! Now, it says it's an XL twin, but I'll be honest... It's only about 1 inch longer than the other air mattresses that are listed as standard twins! It's also narrower and shorter. So much for XL!
At first glance, this mattress is so cute. The coloring of the product photos is slightly different than in person, but I actually prefer the softer blue top and subtle pink sides. The top has a soft, velvety waterproof material, and the sides are made of a durable, puncture-resistant PVC material!
Compared to the other two, it took twice the time (2 minutes) to inflate. That's definitely not a deal breaker, but something to note.
Comfort wise? Although we each laid on all of them, this happened to be the one that I slept on. It wasn't as comfortable as the others, but it was still super comfy and held up throughout the night!
This wins for the most attractive air mattress! Both the sides and top are made of this waterproof material that's sleek. The top is a really pretty tan color, and the horizontal grooves were really comfy on the lower back.
Fill-up time took just over a minute, as did the King Koil mattress. Really comfortable to sleep (and sit) on, and I would say this one is neck-and-neck with the King Koil!
This air mattress has the same velvety, microfiber waterproof material as the top of the SoundAsleep mattress, but it's all over! I figured this would help the sheets not to slip and slide, but none of the sheets moved on any of the mattresses. The top is a pretty beige color, and although all of the air mattresses have a raised edge, this one has extra bump in the pillow area. I think you could sleep on this without a pillow and be fine!
Overall, really really comfortable and so attractive.
Rug | Comforters | Armoire | Flush Mounts | Baskets
I set up the sleepover room on a Wednesday, and guests arrived Friday. We only had to top them off with a bit more air which felt like a testament to their durability. They stayed full all night long and everyone said that they slept great. Even my friend Kelsi, who's 25 weeks pregnant, slept like a baby.
Four of the mattresses are 20-in deep, and the one SoundAsleep was 18-in. I put on twin sheets, all with an 18-in depth and they worked perfectly and stayed in place all night long. To top off each bed, I put on a queen-sized comforter, and the extra length on the sides was perfect! You would never guess that these beautifully made beds were actually air mattresses.
The Best Air Mattress
We all agreed the King Koil was the best air mattress! The aesthetics, comfort, and durability were above expectations, and if I ever need to buy any more air mattresses, this is the one I'd get again and again.
The Englander is a close, close second. It's a slightly lower price for still a really great quality, so if you feel like saving a bit of money, you cannot go wrong with it!
Although the SoundAsleep was excellent, I feel like you can get a better air mattress at a better price with the other two options.
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Thank you for reviewing these! I am not in need of a twin blow up mattress, but I will remember this for the future. I LOVE how you set up your adult slumber party. So cute!!
Recently bought this one and had total raves from our family who used it. Has a headboard (!) which feels and looks awesome, much more like a real bed. Only $80, so pretty, loved by our 68yo aunt with back issues, and held up to 7-9yo kids jumping on it — basically a total winner in my book.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Durabeam-Headboard-18-Queen-Air-Mattress-with-Built-in-Pump/853317743?wl13=3114&selectedSellerId=0
I was worried about the fitted sheet not staying on properly bc the headpiece is attached, and I even bought some elastic to sew on in case we got desperate, but didn’t use it bc all worked fine.
This was so helpful! Thank you. I'd love to know what's tucked into those baskets you put out for your guests. :)
Fun! We love love Exped sleeping mats. Yes, they are thin, but they are by far the MOST comfortable blow-up bed we have ever slept on and bonus, can use for camping too! When we bought ours, the checkout person told us they used the Exped as their everyday mattress. Thought they were a bit out there, but after using it, I get it. They really are great.
Our guest space can only accommodate an air mattress and we learned something key: if you're hosting on an air mattress in winter or in a cold room, you NEED a mattress topper for warmth. Body heat dissipates really quickly into an air mattress (vs a regular mattress which is way more insulating). Our first guests struggled to stay warm, even under lots of extra blankets. We slept on it ourselves to test it (which we should've done from the get-go) and yeah, we were cold too. We added a puffy mattress topper and it helped the mattress stay much cozier.
I totally agree with this. When it's cold you need a mattress topper for sure. It also helps to have a carpet/rug under the mattress, for warmth and also noise issues.
Same! I don’t mind sleeping on air mattresses but always need to double comforters underneath. I don’t have the space to store a thick topper but a thicker mattress pad plus 2 blanket layers works fine. They go under the fitted sheet to keep from moving around.
An unzipped sleeping bag also works as a good topper in a pinch, as does a down comforter. Bonus points if you use them together!