Best cheap air mattress [buyer guide]

Looking for the best cheap air mattress that you can buy today? In this article I will find the best budget-friendly option for all types of people. I will cover options for people who will be using the air mattress as a temporary bed, but I will also talk about air mattresses that are optimized for camping.

As usual, you can get good quality at a low price. However, when shopping in the budget section it’s also very easy to end up with very low quality gear that will not hold up very long, resulting in having to spend more money…

Therefore, I always recommend people to do their research. Luckily for you, I have already done that research and I summed up my findings in this article.

Note that if you are looking for a temporary bed replacement you will have to spend a bit more than on a one-time camping air mattress. As I said before, I will cover all of these options.

 

List of the best cheap air mattresses.

The mattresses in this list are not necessarily ordered from good to bad nor from cheap to expensive. It are all options that are considered cheap and good, but the order is random. However, I will discuss the camping air mattresses more at the end of the list, so you might want to skip the first couple options if you are only interested in those.

 

1. SoundAsleep Air Mattress

The first option on the list is a great budget option for a temporary bed. The main benefit of this bed is definitely comfort. This is one of the most comfortable air mattresses that you can get for this price.

If you are planning on using this mattress a lot, you should be aware that issues could occur over time. The durability isn’t terrible, but it isn’t great either (even though they promote it as “super durable”). For reference, if you would use this bed everyday, you should expect it to last around 6 months. That said, an air mattress isn’t really meant to be used everyday. So, in most cases, the mattress will last longer.

Except for being comfortable, this cheap air mattress is also very convenient and super easy to set-up. It comes with a built-in pump that allows you to quickly inflate the mattress. Additionally, the pump is a lot quieter than most pumps.

Let’s quickly take a look at the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

  • Super comfortable
  • Has a quiet built-in pump
  • Convenient and easy to use
  • Fully inflated or deflated in 4 minutes
  • Available in twin, queen and king size

Cons

  • Not super durable

In the end, the SoundAsleep will allow you to get all the comfort you need in a mattress, and you will not have to spend an arm and a leg. It would perform great as a temporary bed or as a mattress for guests.

Since prices are constantly changing, you should check this product on amazon to find the latest price: SoundAsleep Air Mattress

 

2. Intex Dura-Beam Air Mattress

The next good option as a dirt-cheap air mattress would be the Intex Dura-Beam Air Mattress. The main benefit of this product is that it’s super cheap. It’s one of the cheapest options that you can buy today that’s not absolute trash.

So what about comfort and durability? Well, the air mattress is ok as long as you don’t move too much while sleeping. Also, if you are a side sleeper, this cheap mattress might not be the best fit for you.

It also has a built-in electrical pump and comes with a convenient carry bag.

About the pros and the cons:

Pros:

  • Super cheap
  • Good value for money

Cons: 

  • Not great for side sleepers
  • No king size available

All in all, it’s a solid product for easy sleepers on a tight budget. If you tend to move a lot during your sleep, or you are a side sleeper, maybe pass on this one.

Anyway, at this price, this is never a bad buy. You can check the latest price on amazon: Intex Dura-Beam Air Mattress

 

 

 

3. Intex Classic Downy Airbed

The next cheap air mattress is also suited for camping. It’s another product from Intex. However, this mattress is cheaper and lighter than the previous one. However, it’s not nearly as comfortable as the bigger version.

Because of these factors, this air mattress is more suited for camping and less as a temporary bed. However, if you are on a super tight budget, you could still get away with it.

It’s a pretty basic queen sized mattress. It comes with an external hand pump and 2 cute little pillows. All in all, it’s pretty basic, but it’s also the cheapest option on the list.

When it comes to durable and comfort it’s okay, but obviously not top-notch. It’s still pretty comfortable if you consider the price and the fact that it’s an air mattress more suited for camping .

Some people reported leakage issues. However, I would be really surprised if this wouldn’t be the case for an air mattress that is this cheap. As I said before, all inflatable items can leak. That said, most people are still very happy with their purchase and don’t have any real problems with this mattress.

Pros:

  • Super cheap
  • Good for camping

Cons:

  • Not super durable
  • Not super comfortable
  • Only 1 size

If you are on a super tight budget and you want to get the cheapest possible mattress, this is the one to go with!

You can check out the latest price on amazon: Intex Classic Downy Airbed

 

4. OlarHike Camping Queen Air Mattress

The next air mattress that is also suited for camping is the OlarHike Camping Queen Air Mattress. It’s a bit more expensive, but it’s more comfortable and more durable.

Is it worth it to spend a bit more money? I would definitely say yes. Unless, you really can’t spend more money, I would suggest to go with a slightly more expensive mattress like the OlarHike – which is still budget-friendly by the way.

This mattress comes with the following items:

  • Portable electric air pump
  • 4x repair patch
  • A nice carry bag

Let’s take a quick look at pros and cons

Pros:

  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Overall quality

Cons:

  • There are cheaper alternatives
  • Not available in king size

This cheap air mattress would definitely be recommendable for people who like camping and are on a budget, but still care about durability and comfort.

This product can be found on amazon: OlarHike Camping Queen Air Mattress

 

5. Etekcity Air Mattress

Another awesome budget-friendly air mattress is the Etekcity Air Mattress. Now, these come in many different forms and sizes. They have models that are perfect as a temporary bed, but they have also models that are more focused on camping.

All these models are pretty similar as in that they are made from the same fabrics etc. The overall quality of this mattress is pretty good for sure. Especially when you consider that it’s pretty cheap.

I personally have a pretty hard time choosing between this air mattress and the previous one on this list because they are pretty similar in quality and comfort. Additionally, they also are around the same price.

I would say you won’t go wrong with any of the two, so it basically comes down to personal preference. Or maybe if one is on discount and the other isn’t that could make the decision a whole lot easier.

Pros:

  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Overall quality

Cons:

  • There are cheaper alternatives
  • Not available in king size

As usual, you will have to take a look on amazon to discover the latest price. Make sure to select the right model for you before you do.

Temporary bed: Etekcity Air Mattress

Camping air mattress: Etekcity Camping Air Mattress

 

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a high-quality air mattress. However, you want to be extra careful when shopping in the budget section. Some cheap air mattresses are of really poor quality (even though they might have very high ratings, don’t trust these). So research is definitely required.

I came up with a list with various cheap air mattresses. Some are ridiculously cheap other are a bit more expensive but still affordable, some are meant as a temporary bed, others are purely meant for camping.

If you have tried any of these, I would love to hear about your experiences. Also, if you have positive experiences with other air mattresses, feel free to let me know in the comments below. I’m always trying to improve my content, and your experiences can really help me out with that.

If you haven’t found what you are looking for, you might also be interested in my other article about cheap camping cots.