Air Mattress With a Built-In Pump: How It Works and Why It Beats a Separate Pump

What Is an Air Mattress With a Built-In Pump?

An air mattress with a built-in pump has a small electric pump housed right inside the bed; this way, you don't have a separate system to worry about. The internal air mattress pump runs on a power cord, so you only have to plug it into a wall outlet instead of hunting down a separate pump system. Furthermore, one control system inflates the mattress, and on most models, the same control lets the air back out of the mattress. Pretty neat, right?

You'll also see these innovative air mattresses called an air mattress with an inbuilt pump, a blow up bed with a built-in pump or an air bed with an electric pump. They all mean the same thing: the pump comes with the bed, and it can't get left behind when you take it with you on the go.

And the best part? That convenience comes from a pretty simple piece of hardware.

How Does a Built-In Air Mattress Pump Work?

Since an air mattress is filled with air, you might be asking yourself, "Where is the pump even housed? And how does it work?" Luckily, the idea is simple. A small electric motor spins a fan, and the fan pulls in room air and pushes it through a one-way valve into the air chamber, sort of like a car tire. The valve keeps that air from leaking back out while the pump is off, and it also works in reverse when it's time to deflate the air mattress.

Typically, there's a dial or switch on the control panel tells the pump what to do: inflate, deflate or stay off. To deflate, the pump reverses the job and pulls air out of the chamber, which is much faster than waiting for it to escape on its own.

Two features on that panel make the biggest difference night to night: auto shut-off and firmness control.

What Does Auto Shut-Off Do?

Auto shut-off stops the pump once the bed is full, so there's no risk in breaking one of the best air mattresses on the market. Therefore, you don't have to stand over it and guess when to turn it off, and you're less likely to overfill it. In fact, on our internal pump air mattress, the automatic shut-off is also there to help keep the pump from overworking.

Can You Adjust the Firmness on an Internal Pump Air Mattress?

One of the best features of our air mattress with an internal pump is that, yes, you can. What's more, firmness settings are some of the best parts of a built-in pump. Just add a little air if the bed feels too soft, or let some out if it feels too firm.

Finally, because the pump is always attached, a quick adjustment takes seconds instead of a trip to the closet or breaking your back with an old bike tire pump from the garage.

Built-In Pump vs. Separate Pump Air Mattresses

Now, for the big question, is an internal pump better than a separate pump mattress? To start, and while our air mattress has an internal pump, we have to concede that separate pumps still have their place, especially where there's no outlet.

That being said, for most people setting up a bed at home or for guests, though, the built-in option wins on almost every count. In the chart below, we show you how the three main options compare.

At the end of the night, the pattern is clear, and you'll see that it's all a bit situational. A built-in pump trades a little flexibility on power for a lot less hassle. For this reason, if you'll always have an outlet nearby, it's the easiest way to inflate an air mattress every single time.

How to Inflate an Air Mattress With a Built-In Pump

One of the best parts of inflating an air mattress with a built-in pump is the fact that it's easy to do and takes a few minutes. In fact, you'll find that internal air mattress pump setup only takes just a few steps. Below, we cover the routine that works for most beds with a built-in pump.

Once the air mattress is full, make it up like a regular bed. A tall air mattress fits best with deep pocket sheets in a standard twin or queen size, so the corners stay put all night.

How to Deflate an Air Mattress With a Built-In Pump

The whole deflation part is something that lot's of people struggle with, but the good news is that internal pumps make the process a breeze (literally).

More often than not, you'll find that deflating an air mattress is just as easy, and doing it right makes it much simpler to pack away. Below, we cover the general steps; make sure you check your manual for the exact controls on your model, and for our inflatable pump air mattress we offer plenty of instruction.

One last thing: store the air mattress it somewhere dry and away from sharp objects, and it'll be ready the next time someone needs a comfy bed to sleep on.

Is a Built-In Pump Worth It?

Now, a built-in pump for an air mattress is not cheap. That said, for most people, yes, the premium price is worth it for a premium air mattress. This is because there's nothing to lose between visits, setup is quick, and you can tweak the firmness anytime without digging out extra gear. Plus, don't forget that it also makes deflating and packing up far less of a chore.

Of course, internal pump air mattresses do have their limits. For example, a built-in electric pump needs an outlet to inflate, deflate or top off the bed. That makes it a great fit for guest rooms, cabins, RVs and car camping with a power hookup, but not for backcountry trips with no power at all.

Meet the Performance® Pillowtop Air Mattress

At BEDGEAR, our Performance® Pillowtop Air Mattress has its pump built right in. The electric pump inflates the bed quickly, deflates it for packing and adjusts firmness, then shuts off automatically when it's done. The rest of the bed is built to feel less like an air mattress and more like a real bed that you can sleep on.

Each of those features answers a classic air mattress complaint, from a hard vinyl surface to a dip in the middle. Together, they make it a bed your guests won't dread, and you can save a little money on your guest room if you want to make this a more permanent solution.

One of the best parts is that the pillowtop cover comes off when guests head home, so the bed is fresh and easy to prepare for the next visit.

Built-In Pump

Performance® Pillowtop Air Mattress

A built-in electric pump with automatic shut-off, a zip-off pillowtop and air coil suspension units. Available in twin and queen.

Shop the Pillowtop Air Mattress

It comes with a storage bag and is backed by a 10-year limited warranty when you buy it on our site. Our travel collection also has everything else you need to sleep well away from your own bed, and this includes pillow travel bags and smaller versions of our Storm, Flow, and Night Ice pillows!

Air Mattress With a Built-In Pump: The Bottom Line

At the end of the night, an air mattress with a built-in pump takes the hardest part out of setting up a spare bed in your guest bedroom. Plus, they make traveling a breeze (literally). The internal pump lives inside the mattress, it inflates quickly from a wall outlet, and the same control handles deflating and firmness settings for your sleep system. So, there's nothing to forget, charge or lose.

So, in the air mattress with an internal pump vs. an air mattress with an external pump debate, you'll find that it comes down to your power source. If you'll have power where you're sleeping, it beats a separate pump for convenience every time. Plug it in, make the bed and get some sleep. Whether you're hosting guests for the holiday season or plan on building a budget-friendly guest room, we always have your back at BEDGEAR.