Top 6 Air Mattresses for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals

As a seasoned host, you should understand the significance of providing a restful sleep for your guests. Good sleep equals a better stay, meaning more positive reviews. And while we know you love your expensive spring mattresses, don’t count the humble air mattress out just yet.

Air mattresses are extremely comfortable and useful: not just for your guests, but for whoever extra stays the night. And by providing an air mattress at your Airbnb, you get the flexibility of hosting more people.

The best Airbnb air mattresses include:

• Intex Dura-Beam Series Essential Rest Airbed: Best Overall Air Mattress
• Intex 64149ED Air Mattress: Best Budget-Friendly Air Mattress
• SleepLux Durable Inflatable Air Mattress: Best Durable Air Mattress
• Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe With Headboard: Best Luxury Mattress
• Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress: Best Mattress With Frame
• BeyondHOME PVC-Free Air Mattress: Best Non-Toxic Mattress

How We Selected the Best Airbnb Air Mattresses

Selecting the best air mattresses for Airbnbs requires a strict selection criteria. To ensure our recommendations met the highest standards, we employed an approach that blended our expertise, research, and the insights of other seasoned hosts.

We evaluated these Airbnb air mattresses based on:

• Host Recommendations: We interviewed experienced hosts, who shared their firsthand experiences and recommendations with air mattresses.
• Online Reviews: Delving into the digital realm, we scoured online platforms to analyze reviews from verified customers.
• Support: We scrutinized the design, materials, and construction of each air mattress, ensuring they offered superior comfort and adequate support.
• Durability: Recognizing the importance of durability, we assessed the resilience and longevity of each mattress.
• Setup: A seamless guest experience is important, so we evaluated the simplicity of setup and inflation, seeking air mattresses that could be effortlessly prepared for guests' arrival.
• Value for Money: We considered the balance between quality and price, seeking air mattresses that offered exceptional value while aligning with varying budgets.

According to our criteria the best air mattress for Airbnbs is the Intex Dura-Beam Series Essential Rest Airbed. This mattress is extremely comfortable and durable, considering the price of under $100. No wonder it has over 10,000 positive ratings on Amazon!

The best Airbnb air mattresses are:

1. Intex Dura-Beam Series Essential Rest Airbed: Best Overall Air Mattress

For its reliability and affordability, we love the Intex Dura-Beam Series Essential Rest Airbed–this is our top pick for the best overall air mattress. You can get the 18” queen-sized model on Amazon, or check it out on the Intex website.

Crafted with innovative Fiber-Tech construction with a velvety-smooth surface, this mattress offers excellent stability and support, ensuring a restful sleep for your guests. Its plush, flocked top enhances comfort, while the built-in pump allows for effortless inflation and deflation in just under 4 minutes.

This mattress doesn’t have that many bells and whistles, but that just means less to deal with as a host. And although some users have reported occasional air leakage, the Intex Dura-Beam Series Essential Rest Airbed remains a solid pick for hosts seeking an all-around performer.

2. Intex 64149ED Air Mattress: Best Budget-Friendly Air Mattress

For hosts looking to strike a perfect balance between cost-effectiveness and guest satisfaction, the Intex 64149ED Air Mattress is our choice. Coming from a reliable brand like Intex, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the queen-sized mattress is on sale on Amazon (though it is more expensive on the Intex website).

This budget-friendly gem offers a relatively cozy sleeping surface with its soft flocking, while the built-in electric pump ensures quick and hassle-free setup in under 3 minutes. Though it may look thin, it promises to hold up to 600 lbs. without losing its shape, thanks to Intex’s Fiber-Tech beam construction and exceptional bottom ring stability.

Still, at 10” it definitely isn’t as comfortable as some of our other higher-priced options. It also doesn’t match the longevity of the others, but we still maintain that the Intex 64149ED is great for its low price.

3. SleepLux Durable Inflatable Air Mattress: Best Durable Air Mattress

When durability is a top priority, the SleepLux Durable Inflatable Air Mattress reigns supreme. Engineered with three puncture-resistant layers and a reinforced l-beam construction, this mattress withstands the test of time and frequent use. Get this on Amazon.

This mattress has a polyester mesh core sandwiched by two layers of thick PVC for extra support and stability, and it can hold up to 661 lbs. without sagging. Its velvety soft top is luxe, while the powerful built-in pump swiftly inflates and deflates in just 5 minutes. What’s more is that this air mattress comes with a 1-year manufacturer guarantee, plus a free repair patch in case of any holes or punctures.

Take note that despite their promises, a few customers have mentioned slight air loss over extended periods. This can be an issue, especially if your guests are staying for a few nights.

4. Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe With Headboard: Best Luxury Mattress

Elevating the humble air mattress to a new level of opulence, the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe With Headboard steals the spotlight as our choice for the best luxury air mattress.

Combining comfort, style, and convenience, this queen-sized mattress features a luxurious built-in headboard for added comfort and aesthetics. Like other Intex mattresses, this has Fiber-Tech construction that ensures superior stability, while the built-in electric pump makes inflation and deflation effortless.

Because of its premium features, expect this mattress to be slightly more expensive. It is available on Amazon, at almost three times the price of our top pick. Nevertheless, for hosts looking for a luxe air mattress that doesn’t sacrifice comfort, the Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe With Headboard is an excellent investment.

5. Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress: Best Mattress With Frame

Hosting extra guests has never been easier with the Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress, our top choice for the best mattress with a frame. This innovative air mattress boasts a built-in frame that unfolds and sets up in a matter of minutes, providing your guests with the comfort and convenience of a traditional bed.

The self-deploying design and built-in pump make setup a breeze–this can be inflated in less than 4 minutes and provides three options for the comfort of your guests (plush, medium, and firm). This can also be deflated and stored in the provided duffel bag that comes with wheels for extra portability, which is great as the frame adds some bulk and weight.

The mattress is durable, and provides great stability and support for up to 450 lbs. This also has a flocked top with 48 coils for more comfort.

However, the price of this mattress will make many hosts balk: available on Amazon, it is our most expensive air mattress pick. Still, this air mattress is the closest you can get to a real bed, and your guests will definitely appreciate having this one around.

6. BeyondHOME PVC-Free Air Mattress: Best Non-Toxic Mattress

Nowadays, people are getting more concerned about toxic materials and their effect on health. This goes the same for guests. For hosts prioritizing their guests' well-being, the BeyondHOME PVC-Free Air Mattress offers a non-toxic, odor-free sleep experience without compromising on comfort.

Available on Amazon, this isn’t the cheapest option. But this is a very small price to pay to ensure that your guests have the peace of mind while staying at your Airbnb.

This mattress is crafted from high-quality TPU, reducing the risk of off-gassing and potential health concerns. Its oval coil construction provides sturdy support, while the plush TPU and polyester top enhances overall comfort.

With its built-in pump, this mattress can inflate and deflate in under three minutes. It also deflates to a tiny size and weight of 14.2" x 13.8" x 7.5" and 12 lbs. for easier storage.

Note that some customers don’t find the top of the mattress supportive enough and complain about it being too slippery. But this is still our favorite non-PVC mattress, especially for its relatively affordable price.

Key Takeaway

Remember, the right air mattress can transform a good experience into an exceptional one, so don’t skimp on it. With these six air mattresses that cater to different needs, your guests–and their guests–can enjoy a delightful sleep despite not being on a regular mattress. Whichever one you choose to invest in, rest assured that your guests will genuinely appreciate the thought and care you've put into their comfort.