You have reached the end of our best inflatable mattress in the UK list and by now you should have a fairly good understanding of what makes the best air beds so great. Now, all that is left is to make a decision based on your own personal needs and preferences but, before you do, let’s review our Editor’s choice. This air mattress isn’t cheap but it’s one of the lightest around at just 560g - and it comes with a lifetime guarantee. You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/sports-and-leisure/camping-and-caravanning/air-beds/c:30507/brands:intex/" on this server. The top surface can be a soft, non-slip material, for example, brushed cotton. Some contain additional comfort materials such as a layer of memory foam. Sometimes the inside of the mattress is divided into chambers - either vertically or horizontally arranged - to ensure better support.’

The raised sides, to stop you rolling out at night, are quite thin compared to other air beds I tried, but this does give you more surface area to sleep on – something my 6ft partner Daniel, who also tested the bed, appreciated. My tester friend Tina also pointed out that she liked the feel of ‘wave beam’ structure on the top, as it made her feel secure.

Best air beds at a glance

It took around three minutes to inflate and deflate, making the Intex one of the faster-to-assemble air beds in this round up. The manual inflation port within the cord storage is also easy to find, which would come in useful if you’re camping and want to use your own standalone pump. With two drawstring pulls on either side, the bag that this air bed comes with is possibly the most practical of all the storage bags in this test. It’s also one of the lightest to carry. The built-in pump can be used for up to five minutes at a time to inflate and deflate, and I found that the bed was nicely blown up with a bit of squish at around the 4.5 minute mark.

Livivo portable air beds are a great choice for anyone seeking added edge support, a sturdy base, or the best single airbed. They are available in a UK double or single air bed size. Pavillo air mattresses measure only 12cm tall making them compact and easy to transport when deflated. They also feature a screw valve to make inflation and deflation faster and easier.This mattress has a rapid inflation time and Copplestones boasts it will take less than 30 seconds to completely inflate their beds when you use the included electric pump. Thanks to its more compact size, standard-sized crib sheets and bedding work well on the inner mattress component. This children’s air bed is highly portable as well so you can take it camping or to a friend’s house for a sleepover with the included carry bag. Air beds range from simple air-filled lilo to ones that look like beds in size and height. Look for built-in pillows and good edge support to stop you rolling out of bed. ‘The outer casing can be made from vinyl, PVC or rubber and the base should be tough,’ says Jessica Alexander. For ease of storage, there’s a “wrap and roll” bag attached to the bed - you literally just roll up the air bed once deflated, wrap the bag around it and it’s ready for storage. The Active Era Advanced air bed features a rapid three minute inflation time via its built-in electric pump that connects to mains. It also has an optional manual inflation valve for use outside the home. To enhance support, the Advanced air bed features six I-Beams that mimic the support found on a traditional mattress.

Like other self inflating mattresses, this one has foam that takes on air as soon as it’s unrolled. Most manufacturers advise that children under eight should not sleep on an air bed. Each design will also have a maximum weight capacity for the user. The Bestway Fortech design has a total weight capacity of 350kg (55 stone), for example.

To help make getting into and out of bed easier, even for the mobility impaired, this air mattress has an elevated height that stands 45cm tall. It also has a 250kg maximum weight limit making this a great bed for couples and heavier individuals. You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/sports-and-leisure/camping-and-caravanning/air-beds/c:30507/size:double" on this server.

If you’re looking for a camping or sleepover solution with minimal fuss, try this one from ReadyBed. Our top choice for the best value is the Pavillo air bed. It is available in single, double, queen, and king sizes. Inflated bed: 152 x 203 x 42cm (approx.), Deflated: 212 x 168cm (approx.), Carry bag: 67.3 x 58.4cm (approx.) THE best air beds should be durable, comfortable and easy to inflate - and they don’t have to cost a fortune.

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The materials used to make air mattresses are significantly more fragile than a traditional mattress so you want to make sure you choose an air mattress with elevated durability. Many of the best inflatable beds come with a warranty which speaks to the company’s confidence in their product. Another way to recognize increased durability in an air mattress is if they feature a double layer of PVC. Get the Best Air Bed for You I chose a range of double, king and queen air beds from the likes of Argos, Decathlon, Dreams and Active Era that have built-in pumps and can be manually pumped up too. I rated each air bed on its design, warmth, comfort, portability and assembly. I took into consideration pillow and edge support, how easy it was to get in and off the bed and whether it came with extras such as a puncture patch or storage bag. I slept comfortably on this bed overnight and didn’t need to inflate it in the morning. A two-minute bounce from Bethany and William soon changed this, but overall I was impressed at how well it retained its firmness. There was the odd squeak when I turned from side to side, but I managed to dampen this with an extra blanket on the bed. Fortunately there are lots of different styles depending on whether you’re looking for a portable one for camping or a luxury one to treat your overnight guests. Like most air beds with a built-in pump, the Bestway is noisy to inflate and deflate, so this is something to bear in mind if you’re putting it up late at night, but it only takes five minutes each way and the instructions are straighforward. A five-minute pump left the bed feeling too firm for my liking, so I used the dial to relieve the pressure a little and give the bed a bit of bounce.