Mattress Ratings > Air Bed Reviews
Air Beds For Permanent, Regular Use → Reviews & Ratings Based on 1,809 Owner Experiences
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last updated January 8, 2012
| This page rates permanent-use air beds, not temporary-use air beds. |
Owner Satisfaction: Permanent-use air beds have 78% owner satisfaction based on 1,800+ owner experiences.
Price: $700-$4,500 for a queen depending on brand and model.
Pros: Adjustable firmness; above-average pain relief and longevity; fairly lightweight.
Cons: Some noise from air pumps; most models fairly pricey; assembly required.
What Are They?: Permanent-use air beds look like conventional beds but use air for primary support as opposed to innersprings, foam or water. Firmness can be adjusted by adding / removing air from the mattress using an electric air pump; each side of the bed can have an independent firmness setting.
Competition: Innerspring, memory foam, latex and water mattresses. Learn how air beds compare to these other bed types in the mattress reviews summary.
Permanent-use Air Bed Ratings – Overall as a Group
The ratings below are based on 1,800+ consumer reviews of permanent-use air beds. The data was gathered using an unbiased, accurate methodology. For ratings on specific brands, see the sections following this one.
| Owner satisfaction | B | With 78% owner satisfaction, air beds rate about the same as memory foam, latex, and water mattresses but significantly better than innerspring mattresses. Mid-priced air bed models tend to rate somewhat better than low- and high-priced models. |
| Durability | C | Air beds are more mechanical than other bed types – meaning more can conceivably go wrong with them, such as leaks and pump problems. These problems and others, however, can be fixed. (See next entry.) At least 20% of owners report the need to replace at least one part of the bed over the course of ownership. Problems that involve an inability to maintain air pressure may make the bed uncomfortable or unusable until the problem can be repaired. |
| Longevity | B+ | Air beds often have good longevity (on average about an eight-year life span) because they can be easily repaired by owners with replacement parts sent from the manufacturer. This is largely unique to air beds; if a bed of another type develops a problem, the entire bed often needs to be replaced. |
| Price | c | Prices are $700-$4,500 for a queen. The limited warranties of airbeds may require an owner to pay at least partial cost for any replacement parts needed. |
| Less pain | b+ | The ability of the air chambers to contour to one's body minimizes pressure points, provides support, and reduces pain, especially back pain, for many sufferers. About 10% of owners, however, complain that the bed causes pain for various reasons. (See mattresses and pain relief for more analysis.) |
| Firmness variety | a- | Firmness can be adjusted by adding or reducing the amount of air in the mattress. A bed with dual air chambers can have separate firmness adjustment for each side, allowing each person to have his or her own firmness level. 30% of air bed consumers say that firmness adjustability is a strong advantage of the beds. |
| Motion isolation | b- | This is usually a moderate strength for air beds, especially those with dual air chambers. A mattress that has good motion isolation localizes one person's movement so that another person on the bed is not disturbed much, if at all, by it. |
| Good for sex, spooning, cuddling | c+ | Opinions vary, but most owners say their air bed is ok for romance. Some air beds (especially the Sleep Number Bed) have a trench / intrusion / slope or some other problem in the middle where the two air chambers meet. Being intimate, say couples, on or near this area can be difficult and uncomfortable. See the mattresses and sex comparison for how air beds compare to other mattress types on this issue. |
| Easy to move on | b | Increasing the firmness can make it easy for a person to move around on the bed and get up off of it. Models, however, with thick pillow tops, especially those with memory foam, may offer some resistance to movement. |
| No initial odor / off gassing | b- | About 5% of air bed consumers report an initial off gassing / odor problem. Models with memory foam or latex generally have the most complaints on this issue. |
| No sleeping hot | b- | About 5% of air bed consumers report that the bed acts as a heat trap. Models with memory foam or latex generally have the most complaints on this issue. |
| Back sleep suitable | b+ | Air beds are likely best suited for back sleepers. |
| Side sleep suitable | b- | Side sleepers, owner data suggests, may prefer models with significant padding to minimize pressure points, as opposed to cheaper, less padded models. |
| Stomach sleep suitable | b | There are few complaints regarding suitability for stomach sleepers. |
| No noise | d | Air beds are the noisiest type of bed because of the air pump operation. Excessive air pump noise is a complaint for at least 8% of owners. |
| Dust mite resistant | c+ | Dust mites don't live in the air chambers, but they can live in other parts. Air beds are probably less likely to develop large dust mite populations than most other mattress types. See mattresses and dust mites for more analysis. |
| Ready to use | F | Permanent-use air beds require assembly that can take 1-2 hours. Other mattress types, with the exception of waterbeds, do not require assembly. |
| No rotating / flipping | b+ | The core of the beds do not need to be flipped and or rotated to avoid sagging and loss of support. However, some models have toppers that may need to be rotated / flipped occasionally to avoid uneven wear / compression. |
| Lightweight | b | Since the mattresses consist of air to a significant degree, they are usually lighter in weight than other bed types. At least 10% of owner reviews report that the low weight is a plus because it makes moving the bed and tucking in linens easier. Some owners, however, believe that their air bed is low quality because it is lightweight. |
| Warranties | c | Most airbed warranties are 20 years in length, but only the first few years are non-prorated. This means that after the first few years, owners will often need to pay at least 20% of repair costs. (See mattress warranties: what you should know.) |
Air Bed Ratings: By Brand – Part 1
Below are leading air bed brands. They are compared on criteria that may vary from brand to brand. Click on a mattress for more detailed research findings based on actual consumer experiences.
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| Sleep Number | Comfortaire | Premium Dual Digital / Innomax | ||||
| Sample size | 1,607 | 169 | 104 | |||
| Owner satisfaction | 78% | 83% | 77% | |||
| Price | $1000-$4000 | $700-$4500 | $800-$1500 | |||
| BBB rating* | A+ | A+ | A+ | |||
| # of BBB complaints* | 488 | 3 | 9 | |||
| Return policy | 30 days, you pay original & return shipping | Depends on retailer | Samsclub.com: 90 days+ | |||
| Warranty | 20-yr ltd, 2 yrs non-prorated | 20-yr ltd, 2-4 yrs non-prorated | 10-yr on cover & edge support; 20-yr on pump & chambers | |||
* "BBB" stands for Better Business Bureau. The number of BBB complaints is for the period of the past three years. The Sleep Number Bed far outsells the other two brands, and this fact should be considered when comparing the number of BBB complaints.
Also see the mattress comparison for how these brands compare to non-airbed mattresses including innerspring, memory foam, latex, futon and water.
Air Bed Ratings: By Brand – Part 2
The airbeds below are not included in the Part 1 comparison above because their sample sizes are too small. Click on a retailer / brand where available for more detailed ratings.
| Retailer (airbed models) | Owner satisfaction / sample size | Price (queen) | BBB rating / number of complaints past 3 yrs | Warranty | Comments | Return policy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbeds.com / Olejo.com (multiple models) | NA | $750-$3300 | a- / 25 | varies by manufacturer | Sells Boyd, Innomax, American National, others | 30 days; You pay restocking & send / return fees | |
| Air Beds Unlimited (Series 4-9) | 78% / 9 | $700-$2300 | A+ / 1 | 10-25 yr; 2-3 Years nonprorated on pump & bladder | Since 2003; Beds Made by Innomax | 30 days; You pay return shipping + $75 fee | |
| Denver Mattress / Furniture Row (MountainAir) | 63% / 8 | $1400-$2000 | B / 12 | 10-yrs; 2 years on air pump & bladder | Since 1995 | 30 days; You pay s/H | |
| Dream Number / Sleep Better | 66% / 9 | $700-$3000 | A / 16 | 20-yr ltd, 5-yr non-prorated | Since 2005 | 90 days; return shipping free | |
| Habitat Furnishings (Ascend, Arise) | 85% / 20 | $1900-$2600 | A+ / 0 | 20-yr prorated | Since 2001. Beds made by U.S. WaterMattress | 365 days; You pay $75 return fee | |
| Natural Form (Horizon, Garden, Equinox) | 74% / 44 | $1000-$4000 | A+ / 8 | 20-yr, 10-yr non-prorated | Since 1994. Beds use no pumps, motors or electricity. | 90 days; return fee likely | |
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