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Air mattresses are designed to be used on the ground or the floor, but you can still put an air mattress onto a standard bed frame. Depending on how you do this, it can turn out to be a successful project or a failed one. We’ll guide you through all the details when it comes to raising an air mattress above the floor.
Frames for Air Mattresses
The first thing you should know is that there is such a thing as a special bed frame for an air mattress, but there are also quite a few options on the side. Some air mattresses are even sold together with frames. So if you want to have as little fuss about it as possible, you can just buy an air mattress with its accompanying frame.
Indoor or Outdoor?
There are two types of frames – for home use and for outdoor use. Home frames are similar to regular bed frames, except that they have more supporting slats and they need to be completely flat.
Camping frames are interesting because they are lightweight (at least lighter than regular ones) and can be folded for carrying and storing. One of our favorite outdoor air mattress + frame combos is the Coleman Camping Cot – no. 4 on our Best Air Mattresses for Camping list.
You can use these at home as well, especially if the only use for an air mattress will be for guests. In that case, you can always assemble and disassemble an entire bed whenever you need it. And, when stored away, it would take a tiny amount of space. On top of that, you can even add a bed skirt to make it look as “normal” for your guests as possible.
Air Beds Don’t Need a Frame
Air beds, as their name says, are supposed to replace an entire bed, not just a mattress. An air bed is usually as tall as a regular bed – with both the frame and the mattress. If you’re planning to buy an air bed, you should avoid putting it on a frame, unless you’re really tall. If so, choose a bed frame that has raised slates on the sides. Since it’s like a box, it should hold such a tall air bed well enough.
Regular Bed Frames and Box Springs
A regular bed frame (such as a metal bed frame) may have too few slats for proper grip and support of an air mattress. They may also damage or even puncture it. To make it work, you should put a thick sheet of plywood on top of the wood or metal frame. If you have a saw, it shouldn’t be a problem to cut the plywood to the exact measurements as the frame. Then sand the sharp edges to ensure you don’t get hurt or get the air mattress damaged. The plywood board should be at least an inch thick or even thicker. Then put some thick fabric like tarp or other material that can’t be punctured easily. This is to protect your air mattress from splinters.
A box spring is a bit different. You can put a box spring on the floor or on a frame. As the name says, it’s just a box with a simple structure that gives additional support to your mattress. If you opt for a box spring as a base, you may also put some non-penetrable protection on top, just in case. Although springs poking through isn’t a likely scenario, you may decide to ensure the protection of your mattress. Some don’t even have sharp wire parts, like the Zinus box spring.
How to Properly Place an Air Mattress on a Bed Frame
First, check these things:
- Air mattress size and bed frame size need to match perfectly.
- The frame should be flat.
- The plywood board should be thick (1 inch or more) and cut to fit the bed frame.
- Make sure you have some tarp or other similar material.
- Add up your weight to the plywood, mattress, and bedding weight and see if you’re not crossing the weight limit of the bed frame. Also, check the weight limit of the air mattress itself.
Pro tip: placing a rubber non-skid rug pad under the air mattress will prevent it from sliding. You may also use a thin Pilates mat or other non-slipping materials.
Then, follow these steps:
- Place the bed frame or box spring in the part of the room where you wish to sleep. If you’re a couple, leave two feet on each side of the bed from the wall so that each partner can get up comfortably.
- Put the plywood on top and cover it with thick non-penetrable fabric.
- Put a layer of non-sliding material over the fabric.
- Blow up your mattress. Some air mattresses have a built-in pump and others don’t. If you don’t have one, don’t worry, there are still ways to blow it up even without a pump.
- Place the air mattress on the frame and add your bedding.
- Sleep tight!
Common Issues with Having an Air Mattress on a Frame
The worst thing that can happen when you’re sleeping on an air mattress is that it gets leaky and loses all air while you’re sleeping on it. But this scenario is really rare and even if it did happen, it’s possible to fix most of the holes and punctures in your air mattress.
The majority of problems with air mattresses on bed frames are due to them not being installed properly. Here are three of the most common issues:
- Air mattress slides right off the bed. Unless you have a frame with raised edges, this is bound to happen. That’s why we advise putting non-slipping material under the mattress to fix the problem. Easy as that.
- Bad support. If a frame is not completely flat (some slatted frames have a curve), your air mattress may not give you proper support. Also, slats create an uneven surface and that’s why we recommend using plywood. Another reason for painful back or pressure points is that the air mattress may be too firm. You can try making it softer by releasing some air from it or putting a mattress topper or some blankets over the air mattress.
- Air mattress releasing air. An air mattress may become loose at the seams, at the seal, or simply to get punctured. The frame itself can damage an air mattress if you don’t add any protection. Otherwise, it’s normal for air mattresses to release some air after a period of use. Pump your inflatable mattress regularly to keep the firmness on the right level.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Raise Your Air Mattress off the Floor
It´s a multiple-night solution
If you are going to be using the air mattress for over a week, you may like it more when it’s as similar to a normal bed as possible, especially if you have guests over. It just feels and looks better.
Dust allergies are your concern
When you’re higher up from the floor, you won’t be inhaling as much dirt. Just remember that on a sunny day when rays of the sunshine peak through your window, you can easily see how much dust gets into the air from simply walking across the room. This is even worse if you’re lower to the ground. So raise your mattress if you have allergies, breathing problems, or just want to avoid breathing in all the bad stuff.
Getting in and out of bed is easier
Higher beds don’t require you to get up from an almost squatting position. The elderly, the people with bad hips and knees, and pregnant women will appreciate a higher bed (some may even be completely unable to get up from a low one).
FAQ’s
Air mattresses slide from bed frames easily. You need to put something under the mattress to add friction and prevent you from falling down. Use a non-skid rug pad as it’s super thin and prevents any slipping. You can also purchase thin exercise mats/pads.
One option is going for a foldable camping frame – it’s easy to set up and easy to store.
You may use a regular bed frame if it’s completely flat and is the same size as your inflatable mattress. You’ll need to put some plywood on a wood or metal bed frame to make the surface sturdy and even. This also allows the weight and pressure to distribute properly across the bed. Don’t put an air mattress directly on slats.
You can also use a box spring. Most box springs have a cover but if you deem it necessary, you can place another non-penetrable cover to prevent springs from sticking out.
Finally, if you prefer to be on the floor level but just want something to place under the air mattress, there are a few solutions. You can use a tatami mat, an exercise mat, foam, or some blankets. If you’re camping, then foam and Dri-Dek materials would probably be the best.
Air mattresses aren’t great at pressure relief and they won’t match everyone’s sleep preferences, but they aren’t necessarily bad for your posture. Inflatable mattresses need a sturdy flat base. If you place yours on an old sagging box spring, it will give you really bad support, poor sleep, and a painful back. One plus with these mattresses is that you can regulate firmness and adjust it to what feels best for you. However, don’t expect the same level of support like that of a regular mattress. After a long period of time sleeping on an air mattress, you may find yourself feeling stiff and in that case, you should invest in one of the regular mattresses or at least a mattress topper.
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