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Best air beds 2024
A mini army of testers help us find the best air beds and tell us which ones are most comfortable to lie on.
We also discover which are the best air beds for durability, which ones are noisy if you toss and turn and which deflate the most overnight.
We test the most popular air beds with built-in pumps from brands such as Yawn, Argos, Active Era, Intex, Bestway and more. We also test a few manual blow-up beds to investigate whether these are just as good or perhaps even better than inflatable beds with built-in pumps.
Our tests prove that you don't have to spend a lot for a comfy night's sleep – the best air beds revealed in our tests are frequently on sale for less than £100, and you can often get a good air mattress for less than £60.
The best air beds from our test
Only logged-in Which? members can view the air bed test results below.
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Air bed | Deflation test | Comfort on side | Comfort on back | Ease of getting on and off | Where to buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | ||
Good | Good | Good | Good | ||
Good | Good | Good | Good | ||
Good | Good | Good | Good | ||
Good | Good | Good | Good | ||
Excellent | Good | Good | Good | ||
Excellent | Average | Average | Good |
Date tested: April 2022, January 2023 and March 2024. Page last checked: July 2024. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The air beds we tested
All the air beds we've tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best air beds from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Active Era Premium King Size Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 250kg
How do you inflate it? There's a built-in pump, but it can also be inflated with a manual pump so it's suitable as a camping air bed
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 42 x 148 x 197cm, folded 17 x 41 x 38cm
Need to know In-built raised pillow, soft touch waterproof flock top
AirzzZ Inflatable High Raised Double Air Bed
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Date tested March 2024
Max user weight 200kg
How do you inflate it? There's a built-in pump, no manual inflation
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 36 x 150 x 190cm, folded 17 x 41 x 33cm
Need to know Soft touch waterproof flock top, comes with a carry bag
Bestway AlwayzAire
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Date tested March 2024
Max user weight 300kg
How do you inflate it? In-built plug-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 44 x 150 x 196cm, folded 42 x 17 x 37cm
Need to know Carry bag, soft top, in built pump but also allows for manual inflation with your own pump
Bestway Comfort Quest Soft Back Double Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 300kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 45 x 130 x 187cm, folded 21 x 46 x 41cm
Need to know Carry bag, headboard, soft flocked top
Bestway Dreamair Premium King Size
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Date tested January 2023
Max user weight: 200kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in plug-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 44 x 148 x 193cm, folded 40 x 22 x 36cm
Need to know Side pouches for a phone, walled sides, carry bag, soft flocked top
Bestway Fortech Air Bed King Size
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 350kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 43 x 148 x 198cm, folded 19 x 41 x 46cm
Need to know Flocked top, carry bag
Bestway TriTech King Size
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 300kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in plug-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 35 x 140 x 190cm, folded 40 x 19 x 36cm
Need to know Carry bag, in-built pillow
Bestway TriTech Air Mattress Queen
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Date tested January 2023
Max user weight 300kg
How do you inflate it? In-built plug-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 44 x 148 x 200cm, folded 42 x 21 x 37cm
Need to know Carry bag, walled sides
Dreamcatcher Deluxe Air Bed Double
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? In-built pump, but can also be inflated with a manual pump so it's suitable as a camping air bed
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 49 x 139 x 190cm, folded 22 x 42 x 34cm
Need to know Carry bag, soft flocking cover material
Ecasa Avenli High Raised Air bed
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Date tested March 2024
Max user weight 200kg
How do you inflate it? In-built pump or manual inflation
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 45 x 140 x 200cm, folded 20 x 51 x 38cm
Need to know Soft top, carry bag included
Green Haven Premium
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Date tested March 2024
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? In built pump, manual inflation also possible
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 49 x 139 x 190cm, folded 22 x 42 x 34cm
Need to know Soft flocked top, carry bag included
Hi-Gear High Rise Flock King Air Bed
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Date tested March 2024
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? Built-in plug-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 50 x 146 x 190cm, folded 40 x 22 x 36cm
Need to know Carry bag, in-built pillow, walled sides, soft flocked top
Hi-Gear High Rise Foam King Air Bed
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Date tested January 2023
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? Built-in plug-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 44 x 150 x 200cm, folded 52 x 27 x 60cm
Need to know The sleeping surface is a foam layer on top of the inflated bed, carry bag, walled sides
Hi-Gear Comfort King Air Bed
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Date tested March 2024
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? Built-in plug-in pump, no manual inflation
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 37 x 148 x 200cm, folded 52 x 27 x 60cm
Need to know Soft top, carry bag
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I Air Mattress Double
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Date tested January 2023
Max user weight 295kg
How do you inflate it? With an in-built plug-in pump, or through a manual valve
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 44 x 148 x 200cm, folded 41 x 20 x 34cm
Need to know Carry bag, walled sides
Outwell Flock Superior Double Airbed with Built-in Pump
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump, but can also be inflated with a manual pump so it's suitable as a camping air bed
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 40 x 150 x 193cm, folded 17 x 41 x 43cm
Need to know Flocked top, carry bag
Pro Action Double Flocked Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 295kg
How do you inflate it? It's manual inflation only and there's no built-in pump.
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 15 x 128 x 182cm, folded 12 x 30 x 30cm
Need to know Flocked top cover
Quechua Double Air Mattress
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 220kg
How do you inflate it? It's manual inflation only, there's no built-in pump
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 14 x 138 x 188cm, folded 21 x 18 x 37cm
Need to know Velvety finish
Silentnight Deluxe Double Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight Not stated
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump, also has a built-in foot pump if you want to use it on a camping trip
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 16 x 126 x 190cm, folded 12 x 34 x 36cm
Need to know Built-in pillow, flocked top
Tuomico Inflatable Double Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 300kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump, can also be inflated with a manual pump so it's a suitable camping air bed
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 44 x 149 x 199cm, folded 34 x 22 x 42cm
Need to know Raised edges around the side to stop you rolling off, flocked cover material
Vango Blissful Double Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 227kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump, Constant Comfort pump auto inflates when the bed loses firmness
Dimensions (H x W x D) inflated 45 x 135 x 186cm, folded 36 x 18 x 54cm
Need to know Flocked top, carry bag, Constant Comfort pump auto-inflates when the bed loses firmness, in-built pump has auto-cutoff so you can't over-inflate the bed
Yawn Air Bed
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Date tested April 2022
Max user weight 200kg
How do you inflate it? Built-in pump, but it can also be inflated with a manual pump (if you're camping, for example)
Dimensions (H x W x D): inflated 45 x 133 x 192cm, folded 36 x 21 x 42cm
Need to know Carry bag, built-in headboard, raised edges around the side to stop you rolling off, flocked cover material.
After a mattress you don't need to inflate? Compare our mattress reviews and see what we've rated as the best pillows, best eye masks for sleep and best ear plugs for sleeping.
How we test air beds
The best air beds should be comfortable, durable and able to stay inflated overnight.
But more than that, if you invest in a decent air bed, you'd expect it to be easy to set up and tidy away, to not make an irritating squeaking noise when someone turns on it and not have an unpleasant odour.
A mini army of testers assess the comfort of all our air beds. Each tester spends time lying on each bed in turn. They rate each one on how easy it is to get on and off. They also mark how comfortable the air bed is when lying on their back, front and preferred side. We find a reassuring degree of consensus from this test.
There's not much that's more important than a good night's sleep. Make sure you get yours with the best mattress and best duvet brands
We then assess and measure the following to find the best air beds
- Deflation: Each bed is inflated to its firmest setting, weighted down with heavy benches and left for 18 hours overnight. In the morning, we note which beds have stayed firm and which ones are noticeably spongier than the night before.
- Durability: Each of the beds is jumped on 10 times and poked by a sharp point with 50 newtons of force to assess its long-term durability, and how well it stands up to general wear and tear or a bit of rough treatment.
- Ease of use: We test how long it takes to inflate each bed, and how long to deflate and tidy the bed away. We also asses how easy it is to achieve the desired firmness setting and how easy it is to fit a standard fitted sheet to the bed.
- Smell: An unpleasant rubbery smell can really upset a good night's sleep. Our testers sniff each bed and marked air beds down if they have a strong whiff of rubber. The best don't have any odour at all.
- Noise: We rate each bed on how noisy it is with a tester turning and shifting their body weight on it. Some beds make a terrible racket, but the best handle the wriggliest of sleepers with barely a squeak.
We buy every air bed tested, so you can be confident in getting an honest and unbiased review.
Plus, we regularly revisit the air beds on sale to see if there are more popular models that need testing and when we find them, we do.
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