The importance of a good night’s sleep can never be underestimated, even if it’s just one night, so whether you’re camping or staying at a friend’s house overnight, a comfortable sleeping environment is a must.
Many of us will have endured a bad air bed, whether we’ve turned blue in the face after spending more than an hour trying to get it to inflate, or we’ve woken up at 3am lying flush to the floor. beneath us. Fortunately, many air beds these days have been designed for maximum convenience and comfort, with internal support structures, built-in pillows and sometimes even headrests.
When choosing the right air bed for you, consider whether you need a double or single, how raised off the ground you want it to be, as higher beds can be helpful if you have mobility issues.
While an air bed should stay plump enough for comfort throughout the night, remember that it’s normal for a small amount of air loss to occur when temperatures drop and the PVC, or other material it’s made from, will stretch after a few uses too.
My top pick is the Huddle never deflate air mattress with patented dual pump (£159, Amazon.co.uk), owing to its speedy inflation and handy nightlight and the USB charging port, but, below I’ve shared tried and tested buys for the whole family, for every preference and budget.
Read more: Best pillows, tried and tested for every sleeper
The best air beds for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Huddle never deflate air mattress with patented dual pump: Was £159, now £134.98, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Green Haven premium raised king-size air bed: £54.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for camping – Quechua inflatable two person camping mattress: £29.99, Decathlon.co.uk
- Best single air bed – Yawn air deluxe self-inflating air bed: £68.59, Amazon.co.uk
Read more: Best summer duvets for 2026, reviewed
Huddle never deflate air mattress with patented dual pump
Best: air bed overall
Dimensions: L200cm x W150cm x H46cm
Maximum weight: 272.2kg
Why we love it
- Quick inflation
- Silent second pump
- Comfort
Take note
- It's very big
- More expensive than other products
The ability to ‘never deflate’ is a big claim when it comes to air beds but Huddle has really put technology behind this statement with its trademarked duel pump. The bed has a regular pump to inflate it and then a super-quiet second pump, which can be left on throughout the night to make sure the air pressure doesn’t drop within the bed. This means you really are guaranteed a good night’s sleep, even if you had to share the bed with someone else. One feature we liked was that the pump automatically switches off once the bed has fully inflated and deflated.
We loved the fact that it has a USB port and nightlight as additional features, which would be useful whether at home or when camping. The king-size bed we tested is quite large, so you definitely need to consider where it would be used. The flocking on the top is soft and waterproof, so you could sleep on it without a sheet.
The bed comes with a carry bag, too, which is really useful, as it’s quite a heavy product, but it does fold down small, making it easy for storage or transporting in the boot of a car.
Buy now £134.98, Amazon.co.uk
Green Haven premium raised king-size air bed
Best: budget air bed
Dimensions: L203 x W157 x H47cm
Maximum weight: 300kg
Why we love it
- Wide bed
- Wallet friendly
- Easy-to-carry bag
Take note
- It’s takes up more space than others
This is another king-sized air bed that inflates in mere minutes and will give guests or campers a good night’s kip. We liked the fact that the pump is quieter than others we tested and the bed was inflated in three minutes. The bed feels sturdy, thanks to the 40 coil beams inside, which we felt mimicked a real bed really well and gave good back support.
The bed has a wider rim at one end, which can be used as a head rest or to prevent your pillows from falling off the end. At 157cm wide, this is the largest on this list, so you would need to take this into consideration but it will mean two people have plenty of space to spread out. We liked the roomy easy-to-carry bag and the fact that the bed was easier to fold down than the bulkier ones we tested.
Green Haven is a small family business that has become popular with fans of camping, gardening and festivals. And now it has some new fans after we tested this well-made and stylish bed.
Buy now £44.99, Amazon.co.uk
Bestway dreamair premium single air mattress
Best: single air bed
Dimensions: W97 x L191 x H46cm
Maximum weight: 120kg
Why we love it
- Built-in pump
- Comes with a carry bag
- Storage pocket on the side
Take note
- Noisy to inflate
This is an attractive air bed that inflates in less than three minutes and is a good size for a single sleeper. At 46cm high, the bed is a good height for anyone who would rather not have to get up from the ground.
This is a really sturdy bed, thanks to its inner coil beam construction. Other features that also make this bed a winner include the wavy design on the top, which is designed to reduce roll-off, and the raised sides. We also liked the feel of the soft polyester on top but we used a sheet when sleeping on it to add some warmth and to keep it clean. We liked the fact that it has a storage pocket, which would be useful when camping if you need to keep a torch or eye mask to hand. It also comes with a carry bag and puncture repair kit.
The main criticism of this bed is that it’s very noisy to inflate and deflate but this only had to be endured for a few minutes.
Buy now £80, Argos.co.uk
Active Era single comfort plus air bed
Best: air bed for comfort
Dimensions: L188 x W99 x H36.5cm
Maximum weight: 249kg
Why we love it
- Built-in pump
- Fast to inflate
- Carry bag included
Take note
- Pricey for a single bed
This is another air bed that mimics the feel of a real bed with its innovative and comfortable design. The adult testers appreciated the fact that it’s a higher air bed (36.5cm), which makes it easier to get on or off. We loved the fact that it could be inflated or deflated in just two minutes, and with a power cord of 160cm, it didn’t have to be dragged to a plug socket. If you’re going camping and won’t be close to a power source, the bed can also be pumped up manually.
The inflate and deflate function is incredibly easy to use and is less noisy than other beds on the list. We loved the sturdiness of this bed, which is thanks to the five ‘I’ beams designed to mimic the slats on a traditional bed frame. Just make sure the manual air vent is closed securely or, like us, you’ll be left wondering why it seems to be deflating right after you pumped it up.
The bed feels hard-wearing and we loved the feel of the velvety blue flocked top. The white PVC base isn’t the most attractive, especially with the ‘Active Era’ logo emblazoned on it but, otherwise, this is a very good bed, for a great price. It comes with a drawstring carry bag and easy-to-follow instructions, too.
Buy now £89.99, Mountainwarehouse.com
Yawn air deluxe self-inflating air bed
Best: air bed for back and neck support
Dimensions: L208 x W90 x H36cm
Maximum weight: 250kg
Why we love it
- Included a fitted sheet
- Carry bag included
- Headboard feature
Take note
- Noisy to inflate
- Hard to fold down
There’s nothing more annoying when you’re sleeping on an air bed than your pillow falling off the end of the bed in the middle of the night. This air bed has the perfect solution, with its built-in headboard.
We had a small hiccup the first time it was blown up, because someone (me) forgot to close the air vent, which led to much confusion as to why it wouldn’t stay inflated. But once this issue was solved, the bed inflated in less than three minutes and was ready to be put to the test.
This is a stylish bed, and with its comfort support structures it’s anything but style over substance. At 90cm, it’s not as wide as some of the other single beds on this list, but we found there is still ample room for sleeping and rolling over. The flocked cotton top feels very comfortable to touch and to sleep on and the rims will give parents reassurance that their children won’t roll off in the night. The adult testers liked the fact that the headboard means you can sit up and read/scroll before going to sleep.
This bed is slightly longer than others on this list, which will need to be taken into consideration when inflating it at home. It’s another bed that was very noisy to inflate and deflate. A fitted sheet, carry bag and two repair patches are included.
Buy now £69.99, Amazon.co.uk
Intex readybed double inflatable air mattress
Best: air bed for couples
Dimensions: L203 x W152 x H42cm
Maximum weight: 273kg
Why we love it
- Double height
- Manufacturer’s 1 year guarantee
- Carry bag and 1 repair kit
Take note
- More expensive than others
This is a very attractive bed, with its soft grey top and navy sides but that’s not where the quality ends. Pumped up in three minutes, the bed takes a similar amount of time to inflate as other beds with built-in pumps on this list. At 42cm high, the Intex bed is very easy to get on and off and with a width of 152cm there’s ample space for two adults to lie next to each other.
This bed comes with the addition of a wide pillow rest, which we thought was a great feature as only a few other options offered neck support. The bed held its shape really well on a cold night, thanks to its Fiber-Tech technology. While the grey top is soft to lie on, we used blankets to add some extra comfort and warmth.
The downside is that the size of the bed meant it was quite difficult to fold back down again and getting it into its carry bag was definitely a two-person job.
Buy now £85, Argos.co.uk
Quechua inflatable two person camping mattress
Best: air bed for camping
Dimensions: H17 x L200 x W140cm
Maximum weight: 220kg
Why we love it
- Carry bag included
- Repair kit included
- Great price
Take note
- Pump not included
- It’s low to the ground
We know there are a lot of air beds on this list that mimic the features of a traditional bed, so we wanted to include an option that might be more typical for a camping trip. Decathlon’s Quechua brand offers budget-friendly options for outdoor pursuits and this air bed would make a great choice for a few nights under canvas.
The carry bag says it takes just one minute 40 seconds to inflate but when using a manual foot pump it took us closer to three minutes. The double lock valve was slightly fiddly to undo and then tighten but it meant it was air-tight. Without an electric pump, the kids had a great time walking over the bed to deflate it in their own manual style but this didn’t make it a time efficient choice. If you’re using a car charger pump or other type of portable pump with a gauge to blow it up, it’s recommended you inflate to 0.02 BAR or 0.3 PSI.
At 140cm wide, this bed is a great size for two people and, when we tested it, there was ample space for two of us. However, it did feel very low after testing out the much higher products. The flocking on the top isn’t as soft as others on this list, so we used a sheet to make it more comfortable. The bed comes with a carry bag and repair kit, which makes it really useful for camping. It also packs down a lot smaller than other double air beds, which is great news when loading up the car.
Buy now £29.99, Decathlon.co.uk
Bestway single inflatable air bed
Best: air bed for sleepovers
Dimensions: W76 x L185 x H22cm
Maximum weight: 100kg
Why we love it
- Speed to blow up
- Competitive price
Take note
- It’s best for children
If your children are like our young testers and love sleepovers, this could be the perfect solution for little guests. This is a comfy single air bed which is quick to inflate and deflate and a great size for children. It comes with a pump included for the very reasonable price and inflates in less than two minutes.
While the bed material is soft, we found that a sheet or blanket needs to be put over it, because, while the coils give good support, it can feel a bit bumpy. The bed doesn’t come with a carry bag but it’s easy to fold down, and a repair patch is included. The Bestway single bed would make a suitable choice for a family camping trip as it’s comfortable but won’t take up lots of room in the car or tent.
Buy now £26.99, Amazon.co.uk
Your questions about air beds answered
What is the best air bed?
I chose the Huddle king-sized air bed as my top pick because of its clever duel pump technology, stylish design and other unique features. These include the nightlight and the USB charging port. The bed is wide enough to guarantee couples a good night’s sleep, whether they’re under the stars or somewhere more permanent. The main worry with an air bed is whether it will deflate during the night, or after one or two nights. The Huddle takes this worry away, which is why it’s our top choice for 2026.
How the best air beds were tested
The beds were tested by two sleep-deprived adults and three bouncy children who do also enjoy sleeping from time to time. The beds were inflated and placed in different rooms in our house and then put to the test by the whole family. Scroll to see my testing criteria.
What is the difference between an air bed and an air mattress?
The main difference between an air mattress and an air bed is that the former is designed to be used indoors, while the latter is for outdoor use.
What is the lifespan of an air bed?
The average air bed can easily last up to 15 years. Often, if you opt for an air bed that has a built-in pump, the pump will fail before the bed will.
How to choose the best air bed for you
There are a number of things to consider when choosing an air bed:
How to repair a punctured air bed
According to the Sleep Foundation, it’s completely natural for air beds to lose some inflation over time. However, if this happens regularly, it’s probably due to a puncture of some kind. If this sounds like a problem you’re dealing with, fear not, as DIY repairs are very common within the air bed community.
According to Lauren Fountain from the Sleep Foundation, to fix the leak, you’ll need to locate the hole and then clean the area. She goes on to say you then need to “use an adhesive and some plastic or vinyl patches to cover the leak” and “after letting the patch set for several hours, you can test the patch to ensure the mattress is no longer leaking”.
Some air beds come with a patch kit, which typically includes an adhesive, applicator and patches that match your air bed material. However, if you don’t have this kit to hand, you can either buy one (taking into consideration the colour and material of your mattress) or fashion something yourself. Substitutes for a patch include some kind of thin, plastic material, such as part of a shower curtain liner – and you’ll want to use a strong glue as your adhesive, so your DIY work dries tight.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Kat Storr has been a freelance journalist for more than 12 years. She began her career in digital news before her journey into parenthood shifted her interests more towards parenting, relationships, and health and well-being. With a little help from her three sons, Kat has tested everything from the best remote control cars to the best garden football goals, and knows how to spot a worthwhile product that will stand the test of time.
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