Air Mattress Sizes: Inflated Dimensions, Heights and What Fits Where
Inflated width, length and height of twin, full, queen and king air beds and camping pads, plus how they fit in tents and guest rooms and which sheets go on them.
A queen air mattress is about 60 × 80 in (152 × 203 cm) and a twin about 39 × 75 in (99 × 191 cm) when inflated, close to regular mattress sizes. Height is what varies: single-height air beds are 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) tall and raised (double-height) models 16 to 22 in (41 to 56 cm).
- Queen
- About 60 × 80 in
- Twin
- About 39 × 75 in
- Single height
- 8–10 in (20–25 cm)
- Raised
- 16–22 in (41–56 cm)
On this page
Air mattress size chart
Air mattresses borrow the names of regular mattresses, and most come within an inch or two of them. They are measured inflated, at the outside of the side walls. Because those walls bulge, the flat area you lie on is usually 2 to 4 in narrower than the listed width.
| Size | Width × length (in) | Width × length (cm) | Regular mattress for comparison | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38–39 × 74–75 | 97–99 × 188–191 | 38 × 75 in | 1 adult or child |
| Full | 53–54 × 74–75 | 135–137 × 188–191 | 54 × 75 in | 1 adult, or 2 children |
| Queen | 58–60 × 78–80 | 147–152 × 198–203 | 60 × 80 in | 2 adults |
| King | 72–76 × 78–80 | 183–193 × 198–203 | 76 × 80 in | 2 adults with room |
Twin and queen are by far the most widely sold sizes; full and king air beds are offered by fewer brands, and their dimensions vary more. A product page that lists only the deflated size is not useful for planning; look for the inflated figure. Regular mattress sizes are in the mattress size chart.
Air mattress heights
Height is the main difference between models, and it decides how the bed feels to get in and out of, which sheets fit and how much air the pump has to move.
| Type | Height | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping pad | 2–4 in (5–10 cm) | Backpacking, inside a sleeping bag | Narrow; one person only |
| Single height | 8–10 in (20–25 cm) | Car camping, kids' sleepovers | Low to the floor; hard for some adults to stand up from |
| Mid height | 12–14 in (30–36 cm) | Tents with enough headroom, guest use | Fewer models available |
| Raised (double height) | 16–22 in (41–56 cm) | Guest rooms; feels like a real bed | Heavier, bulkier, more side-to-side sway |
A raised queen puts the sleeping surface 16 to 22 in off the floor, close to the 20 to 25 in that a regular bed sits at. That height, not the width, is why raised models are preferred for older guests. Regular bed heights are compared in the mattress depth guide.
Weight limits and number of sleepers
Manufacturers list a maximum load on the box. Typical figures run from about 300 lb (136 kg) for a twin to roughly 500 to 600 lb (227 to 272 kg) for a queen, but they vary by model, so read the label. Exceeding it strains the internal beams or coils that keep the top flat.
- Two adults on a full each get 27 in of width, the same as on a regular full, minus the bulging edges.
- A queen air bed gives two adults about 28 to 30 in each, and rolling toward the middle is more pronounced than on a real mattress because the surface dips under weight.
- Children under 12 months should not sleep on an air mattress. The AAP advises a firm, flat sleep surface such as a crib mattress, and an air bed is neither.
Fitting an air mattress in a tent, car or guest room
Tents
A tent's rated capacity assumes sleeping pads, not air beds. A queen air mattress is 5 × 6.7 ft, and it needs a floor of at least about 7 × 8 ft to leave room for bags and getting in and out. Sloping walls matter too: a raised air bed only fits where the tent is still tall near the walls. Floor areas for common tent capacities are listed in the camping tent size guide, with more general sizing in the tent size chart.
| Setup | Mattress footprint | Tent floor to look for |
|---|---|---|
| One twin air bed | 39 × 75 in (3.3 × 6.3 ft) | About 5 × 7 ft |
| Two twin air beds | 78 × 75 in (6.5 × 6.3 ft) | About 8 × 8 ft |
| One queen air bed | 60 × 80 in (5 × 6.7 ft) | About 7 × 8 ft |
| Queen plus one camping pad | 80 × 80 in (6.7 × 6.7 ft) | About 8 × 9 ft |
Cars and SUVs
A twin air bed at 39 × 75 in only fits an SUV or minivan cargo area with the second row folded, and 75 in (6.25 ft) is longer than many mid-size SUV cargo floors. Measure from the back of the front seats to the closed tailgate first, and between the wheel arches, which are usually the narrowest point.
Guest rooms
Allow the same walking space as a real bed: at least 24 in on one long side and at the foot. A queen air bed with that clearance needs a clear floor area of about 7 × 9 ft. Keep it 6 in or more from radiators and heaters, which soften the vinyl.
Sheets, toppers and pumps
- Sheets: a single-height queen fits standard queen sheets with a 12 to 14-in pocket. A raised queen 18 to 22 in tall needs an extra-deep pocket of 20 in or more. Pocket depths are explained on the bed sheet size chart.
- Toppers: foam toppers tend to slide on vinyl. A fitted pad that wraps the whole mattress stays put better; see mattress topper sizes for the difference.
- Built-in pumps sit in one end of raised models and add a few inches of rigid housing to the footprint. External pumps keep the bed lighter for camping.
- Packing: deflated, a single-height twin folds to about the size of a rolled sleeping bag; raised queens with built-in pumps are much heavier and bulkier. For a lighter camping kit, compare with sleeping bag sizes.
Why an air mattress loses firmness
Many apparent leaks on the first night are not leaks. Two effects make an air bed feel softer by morning:
- The material stretches. New PVC and vinyl give for the first few uses. Inflate fully, sleep on it, then top it up the next day.
- The air cools. At the low pressure inside an air bed, the air volume falls in proportion to absolute temperature. Inflated at 22 °C (295 K) and cooled to 10 °C (283 K), it loses about 4% of its volume, enough to feel. Inflate in the room where it will be used, after the room has cooled for the night.
- If it still goes flat, check the valve seal first, then the seams, by spraying soapy water and looking for bubbles.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is a twin air mattress?
Most twin air mattresses are 38 to 39 in (97 to 99 cm) wide and 74 to 75 in (188 to 191 cm) long when inflated. The rounded side walls make the flat sleeping surface a few inches narrower than the listed width.
How does a queen air mattress compare with a twin?
A queen air bed (about 60 × 80 in) is roughly 21 in wider and 5 in longer than a twin (about 39 × 75 in). It has about 64% more surface and is meant for two adults, while a twin suits one adult or a child.
What size is a typical camping air mattress for one person?
Single-person camping air pads are usually about 20 × 72 in (51 × 183 cm), with long and wide versions around 25 × 76 to 78 in (64 × 193 to 198 cm). Inflatable twin camping beds are larger, at about 39 × 75 in and 6 to 10 in tall.
Do regular sheets fit an air mattress?
Usually, if you match the size and height. Twin and queen fitted sheets fit single-height air beds of the same name. Raised air beds 16 to 22 in tall need extra-deep pocket sheets, and air beds an inch or two narrower than a real queen leave the sheet slightly loose.
Why does my air mattress go soft overnight?
Often it is temperature, not a leak. Air contracts as it cools: a drop from 22 °C to 10 °C (72 °F to 50 °F) shrinks the air volume by about 4%, which you feel as sagging. New mattresses also stretch for the first few nights, so top them up before deciding they leak.