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The most eco-friendly air mattresses are made from non-toxic materials that are built to last.
No air mattress is fully eco-friendly, because every one is made wholly or partly from plastic, but some are far more sustainable than others.
If you make the wrong choice, you end up with an air bed that can off-gas phthalates and is hard to recycle when it wears out.
I examined the leading air mattresses in the U.S. for material safety, comfort, and durability to find the greenest options.
If you need a guest bed, a camping bed, or an everyday inflatable without the chemical worries, the picks below are for you.
✔ Inflates Within 2 Minutes
✔ PVC-Free
✔ For Indoor or Outdoor Use
We Say: The BeyondHOME PVC-Free Air Mattress is made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), with no PVC anywhere in the bed. The mattress has no chemical smell out of the box.
BeyondHOME uses a double-layered TPU and polyester construction that supports up to 720 lb (327 kg), which is more than any other model on this list. The bed holds its air for months at a time, even under nightly use.
The built-in pump inflates or deflates the BeyondHOME bed in around two minutes and stops automatically when full. The mattress weighs 11 lb (5 kg) and packs neatly into its included carry bag when you need to transport it.
Inflated, the bed stands 15 inches (38 cm) off the floor and looks impressive when guests come to visit. The only potential downside is that it's so high you need deep-pocketed sheets to fit it.
✔ Full Queen Dimensions
✔ Excellent Sleep Quality
✔ Natural Body Support
We Say: If you’re not interested in camping and looking for a double-height air mattress with a built-in pump, then the King Koil is a perfect choice.
The internal pump inflates the mattress in two minutes.
The resulting sleep experience is incredibly comfortable thanks to the air coil beam support system and the slightly raised pillow end.
I also like that the sides are flocked in the same material as the top, giving this air mattress an extra feel of luxury over some of its competitors.
We Say: This is another excellent double-height option that would give your guests a great night's sleep for as long as they want to stay. The sleep surface is soft to the touch, and you could sleep on it uncovered if you needed to.
It’s just as good as the King Koil mentioned above. It was only pipped into second place because of two minor points:
The powerful built-in ‘one-click’ pump fully inflates the mattress in four minutes. And, with another click, it will deflate the mattress for you in the same amount of time.
Once inflated, this air mattress is supportive (thanks to the dual chamber construction and internal air coils) and big enough to take two adults.
I tested the Queen size option, but the following sizes are also available:
The PVC used for this air mattress is multi-layer 15 gauge and puncture-resistant. This does not mean it won’t puncture, though, so it’s best always to keep sharp objects away from air mattresses.
✔ Stable Metal Legs
✔ Unfolds Automatically with Built-In Pump
✔ Packs into Wheeled Suitcase
We Say: Thanks to the generous dimensions and frame support, this air mattress felt the closest to a standard bed out of all the options I tested. I slept like a baby on this framed air mattress!
It’s almost hypnotic watching this air mattress unfold, and the legs deploy in just three minutes and at the touch of a button.
I also love that it folds back down into a wheeled suitcase for easy storage and transportation.
We Say: This Coleman framed air mattress combo is an excellent alternative to the Simpli Comfy if you’re looking for framed support but need more weight support. You get an extra 100lbs max weight with this option.
With everything being separate, it's not quite as convenient as the Simpli Comfy. But the battery-operated pump means you can use this bed in places with no power outlets (camping, for example).
A separate pump means it’s easier to lose it. However, it's also easier to replace if it breaks, unlike a built-in pump.
We Say: The REI Kingdom Insulated Air Bed is designed for camping, and I’ve no doubt it would do a great job keeping you warm in a cold tent.
The soft-touch sleep surface is pretty luxurious for an air bed.
This air mattress is also comfortable enough to use as a temporary spare bed in your house. It’s not as comfortable or supportive as the King Koil, but it is considerably cheaper.
A REI Co-op membership (costing $30) saves you up to 10% on this purchase, and all future REI Co-op purchases, for life.
Free shipping is available on this item.
We Say: If you don’t mind sleeping low to the ground, this is a great budget option.
For well under 100 bucks, you get an extra-thick (Etek states their design is up to 20% thicker than other air mattresses) durable air mattress, and a rechargeable electric pump.
The pump is slightly underpowered, and inflation is slow. It gets there in the end, though, and the inflation time is acceptable for the price.
This air mattress was comfortable to sleep on (thanks to the innovative wave beam support system) and would be fine for camping trips in warmer weather or when guests come to stay for the weekend.
To choose an eco-friendly air mattress, consider material safety, likely usage, and durability. Pump type, disposal, and budget are additional factors affecting your choice.
The three main air mattress materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and laminated vinyl. These are all plastics, so none are eco-friendly. But some are less toxic than others.
PVC is the most toxic air mattress material. Some types of PVC can off-gas phthalates, plasticizer chemicals linked in animal studies to reproductive and developmental harm (ATSDR; EPA).
TPU is the safest of the three materials, because TPU is flexible on its own so does not require the phthalate plasticizers that are added to make PVC flexible.
We recommend choosing a TPU air mattress wherever possible. If you buy a PVC model, look for materials tested against California Proposition 65 limits for lead, cadmium, and phthalates, which brands state on the product listing.
Laminated vinyl is PVC in layered form, so it should also be Prop 65 tested to confirm safety.
Choose an air mattress that is appropriate for how you expect to use it. A basic single-height model is fine for a spare bed used a few nights a year. For nightly or extended sleeping, choose a double-height air mattress with internal support beams or air coils and a soft fabric sleep surface.
For camping, buy an insulated air mattress you can inflate without a power outlet nearby (either manually or with a battery-powered pump). Insulation stops the cold of the ground from reaching the sleep surface.
You can adjust the firmness of any air bed after you buy it. Let some air out for a softer bed, or pump in more for a firmer one.
Air mattress pumps come in three types (built-in electric, external electric, and external manual). A manual pump is the most eco-friendly of the three, because it needs no electricity and has fewer parts that can fail.
A built-in electric pump is the most convenient type. The built-in pump inflates and deflates the bed at the touch of a button, but if it breaks, it can leave the whole bed unusable unless there is an alternative inflation method.
An external pump is easier to replace if it breaks, and battery-powered models inflate the bed where there is no power outlet.
Whichever pump you choose, inflate the bed slightly firmer than you want it. Pump air is warm and contracts as it cools, so the bed softens a little after inflation.
The longer an air mattress lasts, the less plastic you throw away and the less you spend on replacements. The most durable air mattresses are made from multi-layer, puncture-resistant material. A thickness of 15 gauge (0.38 mm) is a common benchmark.
Puncture-resistant does not mean puncture-proof, so keep sharp objects away from any air mattress. Laminated vinyl holds its shape best on firm beds that run at high air pressure, because the lamination stops the vinyl from stretching. Check that the maximum weight rating supports the combined weight of everyone who will sleep on the bed at once.
A longer warranty usually signals a more durable product. Warranty length alone does not prove durability, though, so check owner reviews for reports of early leaks.
Cover the bed with sheets or a sleeping bag to protect the sleep surface. During extended use, deflate the bed every few days so the plastic can return to its original shape.
Plan to donate an air mattress while the bed is still in good condition, or to reuse its plastic once the bed leaks.
An old air mattress is difficult to recycle, whether the bed is made from PVC or TPU.
Price and quality are closely linked in air mattresses. Stretch your budget as far as it comfortably goes, because a better-made bed lasts longer and causes less waste in the long term.
If you cannot afford everything, spend on the material first, then durability, then convenience features.
Air mattresses can be toxic if they are made from PVC, because some PVC variants off-gas phthalates.
Every air mattress recommended on this page was chosen for low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the buying guide above shows you how to check the material of any bed before you buy.
No, air mattresses are not safe for infants because they are at risk of suffocation.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a safety alert that states that it has received "reports of deaths, mostly infants younger than 8 months of age who were placed to sleep on air mattresses."
Never put a baby down to sleep on an air bed. The convenience is not worth the risk.
Yes, pets can damage an air mattress. Claws can puncture the thin plastic sleep surface, and even a puncture-resistant bed is no match for a sharp claw. Keep pets off any air mattress you want to last.
Air beds come in two main types.
Yes, air mattresses can make you sweat during the night. Air beds are airtight by design, so the plastic sleep surface cannot breathe the way fabric does. Sleep on breathable sheets and bedding to stay cooler.
The best way to fix a leaky air bed is to patch it.
My guide to air mattress repair covers my favorite patching methods, including repairs to the fabric side.
Air mattresses have come a long way since my college days. You can now get some seriously comfortable air mattresses for everyday use that are genuine contenders to replace your traditional bed.
This was never going to be the most eco-friendly of topics because of the level of PVC used to make these products.
However, the best air mattresses can still be a good eco-friendly option depending on your circumstances.
For example, if buying a traditional bed for your spare room, you’d potentially need a new bed frame, foundation, and mattress. That’s potentially a high cost, both financially and in terms of resources used.
The right air mattress could do a great job putting up your guests for a few days/weeks without the significant outlay of money and resources. It also has the bonus of folding away in a cupboard and freeing up floor space when not being used.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully research and evaluate every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products featured in this article are recommended in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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