Air beds really are a lifesaver when it comes to having guests over in small homes. Some of you might be lucky enough to have a sofa bed or, even better, an actual spare room. But even then, when it comes to Christmas and/or party season, oftentimes you need all the beds you can get to put up your mum, sister and great aunt Sue (seriously, who invited her?).
These days, the best air beds and air mattresses are actually pretty high tech, and you can even get ones that are self-inflating, thicker than your £££ pocket-sprung mattress or, for camping fanatics, lighter than a bag of apples.
Some brands may already be on your radar – namely, Coleman and Silentnight – while others you likely haven't heard of. For us, this Hikenture ultralight two-person air mattress is ingenius; complete with an inbuilt foot pump to save you purchasing one separately, as well as being small enough to pack up in a 35cm carry bag, its a top pick for campers and guests alike. We even tested it and, to be honest, it was comfier than some of the premium air beds we've tried before, perhaps even on of the best mattresses, too - say goodbye to middle of the deflation…
HIKENTURE Inflatable Double Camping Mat with Foot PumpSilentnight Double Flock Pump AirbedCOLEMAN Extra Durable Raised Double AirbedFor those of you that are in a rush, we've collated our top five airbeds right here so you needn't keep scrolling the rest of our buying guide (though, we definitely recommend you do before you make a purchase).
Best air bed at a glance
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Scroll for our full edit of air beds and buy yourself the best inflatable mattress today
Best air bed - expertly tested by usHIKENTURE Inflatable Double Camping Mat with Foot PumpSleeps? 2
Size: 120cm x 140cm
Weight: 1.47kg
Why we love it: Simple to set up and pack away, this pint-sized double air bed is not only handy for homes with limited storage, but is genuinely so comfy and doesn't deflate through the night.
Pros: Can be manually pumped up with the in-built foot pump in less than 10 minutes, it's super lightweight and small for travelling, and can be purchased with free delivery next day through Amazon Prime.
Cons: There's a knack to rolling it away and getting all the air out which takes a bit of learning, but once you've got it it's a breeze.
GLAMOUR tested review: I've taken this to Glastonbury, camping in a field in Surrey and my boyfriend even slept on it with his tall (read - heavy) friends. Everyone who's used it has been really impressed, it didn't need re-inflating once during the five days I was at Glastonbury and it doesn't sink in the middle like some of the more plush models. Can't recommend it enough.
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Bestway air bedBestway Airbed Mattress 1.37m x 22cm Full Handheld AC PumpSleeps? 2
Size: 137cm x 191cm
Weight: 3.4kg inc. pump
Why we love it: Reduced by £13 currently, this Bestway air bed comes from a brand that you'll likely be familiar with from your childhood inflatable rubber rings and the like. As such, they know what they're doing when it comes to durability, providing buyers with a comfortable and sturdy coil-beam structure to help distribute your weight, as well as an impressive 160 second inflation time.
Pros: Includes an airbed pump and can be packed away into the handy storage bag - something lots of budget models don't include.
Cons: None of note.
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Best air bed on AmazonSilentnight Double Flock Pump AirbedSleeps? 2
Size: 191cm x 137cm
Weight: 3.72kg
Why we love it: Branded as the Silentnight ‘Deluxe’ camping airbed, you know that the mattress, duvet and pillow brand have put you at the forefront of this inflatable's design.
Pros: Features an in-built pillow headrest chamber, a built-in foot pump and, like similar models on the market, a flocked finish to prevent that sweaty skin against plastic feel. Plus, with a generous 28cm of sleeping mat depth, it's 18cm deeper than the minimal camping recommendation of 10cm for comfort - in short, it's comfy AF.
Cons: With extra depth comes extra weight, and this one is over 300g more than its very similar counterpart from Bestway.
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Best air beds on the marketEurohike Flocked Airbed DoubleSleeps? 2
Size: 191cm x 137cm
Weight: 3.3kg
Why we love it: Simple and accessibly priced, this Eurohike camping mattress comes to you from a brand that have been making tents, camping chairs and all manner of outdoors equipment since the 1980s.
Pros: Features the same flocked finish and welded seams as some of its more highly priced competitors at a much more wallet-friendly cost.
Cons: You'll need to buy a hand pump or electric pump separately.
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Best air bed for campingVango Shangri-La II Self-Inflating Double Airbed, Cloud Grey/Sky BlueSleeps? 2
Size: 200cm x 132cm
Weight: 7.45kg
Why we love it: If you're a serious camper, and by that we mean you've got all the gear - the cool box, the camping stove, the way-better-than-a-festival-tent tent - then this wishlist airbed will be the next purchase for your camping holiday checklist.
Pros: Self-inflating, uses hard walls on the edges prevent that feeling of sinking that often accompanies airbeds, while the core-cutting technology makes for a smaller pack size for taking on-the-go.
Cons: Not a top pick for lightweight campers or those backpacking.
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Luxury air mattressCOLEMAN Extra Durable Raised Double AirbedSleeps? 2
Size: 198cm x 137cm (depth: 47cm)
Weight: 4.6kg
Why we love it: Thicker than our memory foam mattress that we have at home, this Coleman mattress is a top pick for buyers undergoing renovations, or something of the like, that means they're going to need somewhat of a semi-permanent solution before they can return to a full-time fabric mattress.
Pros: Top pick for heavy buyers as it supports up to 46 stone in weight, comes with its own repair kit and carry bag, and according to the Amazon FAQs is very comfortable.
Cons: No air pump included.
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Active Era air bedActive Era Camping Air Bed with USB Rechargeable PumpSleeps? 2 adults or 3-4 children
Size: King size airbed - 203cm x 150cm
Weight: 6kg
Why we love it: Our top pick for guests in homes without a spare bedroom, this Active Era airbed is highly reviewed with more than 1000 five-star testimonials.
Pros: Includes a car-friendly USB rechargeable pump and has puncture-proofing built into its PVC makeup.
Cons: While some airbeds can double as lilos for use on water, the Amazon FAQs report that this one wouldn't be suitable for use in a hot tub or pool.
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Intex air mattressIntex Inflatable Pull Out SofaSleeps? Not stated, but we'd estimate 2. The weight limit is 31.4 stone
Size: 221cm x 193cm (height - 66cm)
Weight: 8.83kg
Why we love it: What a find this was. For homes with a spare room but no budget to decorate just yet, this is the air bed you've been in search of. We're big fans of the built-in cup holders and it's giving us 90s blow up armchair vibes.
Pros: Includes a one-year guarantee and the sofa backrest doubles as a headboard when folded out.
Cons: Doesn't include a pump or a carry bag.
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Single air bedHI-GEAR Comfort Single AirbedSleeps? 1
Size: 191cm x 97cm (depth - 38cm)
Weight: 4.8kg
Why we love it: Often, it's always the couples that get to benefit from the plush camping accessories. They get to take the heavier camping items - read: awnings, double sleeping bags etc - because they can share the weight. No more, reader - plushness has arrived for the single camper, and it's not overpriced either.
Pros: Blows up in minutes and the flocked top will keep you warm in the colder months.
Cons: Heavier than some of the double airbeds even though it's a single.
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After more camping and holiday content? Make sure to check out our guide to luggage trackers, the best mattress toppers, handheld fans, best packing cubes and best travel shoe bags - happy holidays!
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