Air Bed vs. Pull-Out Couch

Saving Space

• Air beds and sofa beds offer two kinds of space-saving options, depending on your needs. An air bed takes up significantly more space than a pull-out couch when in use. Pull-out couches fold and hide away, serving as a sitting area when not in use. You must deflate the air bed and roll it up to reclaim your floorspace. Electric pumps speed up the process, but it still takes several minutes longer than folding away a pull-out couch. Unlike a couch, however, air beds can be stored away in a closet or on a shelf.

Pull-Out Couch

• Pull-out couches tend to have very thin, firm mattresses to provide simple folding back into the couch frame. Mattress type and quality varies widely, with more comfortable mattresses typically costing more than more economic models. Most couches come with a spring-coil mattress, but higher-quality sofas may come with memory foam. The thin mattress means you can sometimes feel the support frame beneath you while you are sleeping, which many people find uncomfortable.

Air Mattress

• Air beds have a bit of give, especially if they're not overinflated. The mattress conforms slightly to your body and takes pressure off while still providing support. An air mattress that doesn't have enough air, however, can sink in the center. It won't provide as much support and may be difficult to get out of in the morning. Air mattresses that are overfilled may seem stiff and squeaky, and you may have trouble getting fitted sheets to stay on properly.

Durability

• Like any inflatable item, air beds are susceptible to leaks. Lower-quality mattresses with less-durable plastic are especially vulnerable, while more-durable air beds offer an option for daily use with proper care. Most air-bed leaks occur on or around the seams, where the pressure builds up. Inflating an air bed until it's taut, or completely firm, leaves it vulnerable to a hole or leak once you lay down, and you may wake up in the middle of a mountain of plastic or on the floor. Patch kits are available for air beds, but you must first find the leak by inflating the mattress, then listening for the leak while you run your hand or a tissue over the surface to see and feel the hole. None of these issues exist with a traditional pull-out couch, though mattresses do flatten over time. Spring coils break, and the mattress may eventually start to sag.