Air Bed Pros & Cons

Pro -- Easy to Store

• Because an air bed can be deflated and folded, it is easy to store. Many come with drawstring bags or other cases so they can easily be stowed in a closet, drawer or beneath your regular bed. The easy storage can be particularly helpful if your home does not have a guest room and you need to put overnight visitors in another room, such as your home office or family room, because you can put the bed out only when you need. It may also be an effective option if you live in a studio apartment and do not want to waste the limited space with a large, permanent bed frame.

Pro -- Portable

• The fact that you can deflate your air bed and place it in a bag makes it highly portable as well. If you are an avid camper, you can take it with you so you do not have to sleep on the hard ground beneath your tent. You can also bring it when you visit friends' homes if they do not have an extra bed or to a hotel if you are concerned about the comfort of your room's mattress.

Pro -- Customizable

• An air bed allows you to determine the firmness level of your mattress. You can fill it with enough air to make an extremely firm, supportive sleeping surface or add less air to create a softer mattress. Because you can deflate and re-inflate as often as you like, you can also change your mind from day to day in case you come down with injury or have a back ache that requires more or less support.

Con -- Prone to Punctures

• The chambers in an air bed are typically made from a strong plastic or synthetic rubber, which are highly durable. However, they can easily be punctured if they come into contact with a sharp object. Even something as harmless as pen or cat jumping on an unmade bed may be enough to cause damage. Once the bed is punctured, it will not hold air. A patch is usually not enough to make the bed usable again so you will probably need to replace it.

Con -- Lose Air

• While a high-quality air bed is designed to be airtight and maintain your chosen firmness level, it is not uncommon for the mattress to slowly lose some of its air. In particular, if you use the mattress several days in a row without re-inflating it, you may especially notice the problem. In fact, you suddenly begin to sink into the center of the mattress because it is not as firm as it previously was.