Larger, more elaborate air mattresses (known as "air beds" in British English speaking locations) [5] have come on the market in recent years that are intended for guest use or as permanent beds in the bedroom. Air mattresses are used for camping, temporary or full-time home use, and may be optimized to combine several uses (e. Select Comfort announced on March 30, 2017, that they were ceasing all third party retail sales, of the Comfortaire Line of products, essentially shutting down the Comfortaire Brand. Indoor Chemicals Linked to Respiratory and Allergic Effects in Children" Archived 2017-02-22 at the Wayback Machine, California EPA, 2008.

Air mattresses are sometimes used to protect bedridden people from pressure sores, which can create life-threatening ulcers. Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain; systematic review of controlled trials". Permanent use adjustable-firmness "airbeds" became popular particularly after market leader Select Comfort began a major marketing campaign around 2001.Sleeping pads are lightweight, reduced-size and reduced-thickness air mattresses intended for camping and backpacking, and may feature a layer of foam insulation under the air chambers. The European Union has made similar efforts to prevent the use of vinyl materials in toys and bedding.

Less expensive airbeds used for camping or guests include the Aerobed, sold by Jarden subsidiary The Coleman Company. Air mattresses can also improve the quality of life (and potentially provide some measure of relief) for people who suffer with back pain.Additionally there have been several recent governmental studies and regulations enacted due to the poisonous nature of the phthalate plasticizers contained within most PVC vinyl air beds and other soft vinyl products.

An inflatable air mattress for recreational use was advertised as one of the Li-Lo brand of products at the British Industries Fair in London 1949. Indoor Residential Chemical Emissions as Risk Factors for Respiratory and Allergic Effects in Children: a Review" Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine, Indoor Air Journal, vol.Higher quality air chambers use vulcanized rubber, covered in canvas or of polyurethane with a cloth shell or tick(ing). Additionally, air mattresses manufactured without the use of materials that may release VOCs or other toxic compounds from the manufacturing process (which can exacerbate allergies in children or other sensitive individuals) are available. Though 'raised' air beds are off the ground, they are not designed for full-time use, as the base of the bed is an air chamber and not a solid foundation. Bed sizes for temporary air beds range from twin to king size, but few guest bed manufacturers offer king size as most guest air beds are sold outside the United States where king-size mattresses are not standard.

The Li-Lo trademark for a rubberised material products was registered in UK on 19 Apr 1944 and in the USA on 25 Sep 1947 [11] by P. Air mattresses may have customized shapes, such as wheel cutouts for use in the cargo area of a pickup truck or SUV.An air mattress, also known as an airbed or a blow-up bed, [2] is an inflatable mattress made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or textile-reinforced urethane plastic or rubber. Permanent air beds will look almost like conventional beds with the exception of having a hose (one air chamber) or hoses (two air chambers) coming out of the head of the bed.