Last Updated on June 19, 2023 by Rental Recon
As Airbnb Superhosts, we wanted the best mattresses for Airbnb that were comfortable, durable, and not very expensive. After using multiple mattresses over many years, we found that the mattresses below are the best options for hosts.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Your Airbnb Mattress
Comfort
Most importantly, the mattress you pick for your Airbnb must be comfortable for most of your guests. Good quality mattresses are made with three layers or more, a top comfort layer, a middle transitional layer, and a bottom support layer.
Mattress firmness for your Airbnb mattress is essential to consider before you make a purchase. Finding the right level of firmness is key to your guests having a good night’s sleep. More on mattress firmness later.
Thickness
As with the firmness of a mattress, there’s no rule of thumb for preferred mattress thickness. Everyone has different tastes. However, standard mattresses have an average thickness, between 8 and 12 inches. This thickness is ideal for side sleepers, which (if you didn’t know) make up the majority of sleepers, and will probably suit most other sleeping positions.
Replacement Costs
When picking a mattress for personal use, you’ll want to spend a little more money to get a high-quality mattress because you want it to last 10+ years. However, when purchasing a mattress for your Airbnb, you don’t want to purchase a high-ticket item. You will need to replace the mattress more often no matter how well you protect the mattress with a mattress protector. If you have a high occupancy rate, the mattress will show more wear and tear than your home mattress.
So your best bet is to pick somewhere in the middle. You could also buy an affordable mattress and top it with a premium mattress topper to provide more comfort to your guests.
Durability
Mattress durability is an important element when selecting the best mattress for your Airbnb. As discussed above, you don’t want to spend a fortune on a mattress that you will probably need to replace many times. However, if you buy a cheaper quality mattress, you may be replacing it so often that it won’t be cost-effective.
Many Airbnb hosts choose latex foam mattresses because they are made with durable materials. Also, make sure the mattress you purchase for your Airbnb comes with a lifetime warranty and that you use a mattress protector. The mattress protector will reduce wear and tear and help keep the mattress clean and stain-free, and protect it from bed bugs and other allergens.
What is the Best Bed Size for an Airbnb?
Generally, queen-size mattresses are the ideal size, because they are the perfect size for most couples. However, you will need to consider the dimensions of the room, other furniture in the room, and how many guests you want to sleep in each bedroom. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the room.
What is the Best Bed Configuration for an Airbnb?
Bed configuration for your Airbnb depends on location and your target market. While queen beds are the most popular bed size, you may want to offer multiple options. If you are looking to attract families, bedrooms with multiple beds or bunk beds for children is an ideal configuration. However, if mostly adults rent your Airbnb, king beds seem to be popular among Airbnb guests if your bedrooms will fit them.
For example, if you have three bedrooms, you could put in one king, one queen, and two twins. That would allow six guests maximum. This setup works great for a wide variety of groups – single or multiple adults, parents with kids, and friends staying together.
How Much Should You Spend on a Mattress for Airbnb?
As discussed above, replacement cost is an important consideration when deciding what mattress to buy for your Airbnb. You want to buy a mattress that is reasonably priced, but also comfortable and durable.
For an average Airbnb, a queen mattress between $350 and $1000 should get you a high-quality, durable, and comfortable mattress. For a luxury Airbnb, a good price range would be between $1000 and $1500.
Firm or Soft Mattress for Airbnb?
So do you pick a soft or firm mattress? This is a tough decision since some guests will prefer a soft mattress while others will choose a firm one. A good mattress should provide both comfort and support.
Your best bet is to pick something in between, so a mattress on the medium-firm firmness scale is ideal. This type of mattress will support multiple sleeping positions and keep your guest’s back, neck, and hip aligned while sleeping.
Another option used by Airbnb hosts is to have a softer mattress in one bedroom and a firmer mattress in another bedroom, and leave it up to your guests to figure out which they prefer.
Here are the Best Mattresses for Airbnb
Why did we list these specific mattresses? Because after years of replacing various mattresses in our vacation rentals, these ones received the most positive comments and reviews from our guests. They are listed chronologically with our favorite overall mattress at the top.
Another benefit of these mattresses is that they are fairly inexpensive. Since you will end up replacing mattresses over time, it is great there are some comfy and cost-effective solutions for hosts.
Our Top Pick: Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress
The Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress comes in an air-sealed plastic bag inside of a large cardboard box. Once the seal is broken, it quickly expands. Zinus suggests giving the mattress 24-48 hours to fill out completely, but I found that it happened sooner than this. I liked that it is delivered directly to the property and you can have a new mattress in just a couple of days. Especially useful if you have new guests arriving soon.
As you go up in thickness, the softness level increases. The 12″ was too soft for most, with guests mentioning that they sunk into the bed too far. The 8″ was fairly firm. The 10″ was a good balance, and this is the one we use in our rentals. Depending on your situation, you may want a firm option and a soft option in your rental to provide options for your guests.
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- THE RIGHT COMBINATION - Refreshing green tea and moisture-absorbing charcoal infused into three layers of top-notch foam. This mattress cradles every curve—alleviating those points of tension and allowing your body to recover as you rest.
- PATENTED CUSTOM CONTOUR SUPPORT - No more waking up feeling like you've been swallowed by your mattress. Zinus' patented Custom Contour technology is expertly layered in our high-quality memory foam to our super-dense base foam for ultimate support.
Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress Features
The Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress holds several different features, including:
- Pressure relief memory foam
- Green-tea-infused memory foam
- Soft, cooling, airflow-enhancing comfort foam
- Durable base support foam
- CERTIPUR US certified
- Compact packaging with simple setup
- 10-year warranty
Comfort Foam Improves Mattress Comfort
The mattress topping your guests would be laying on is made up of memory foam, while there is an added layer underneath of comfort form. The comfort form molds especially well to each sleeper’s body and keeps the bed from becoming too firm. The foam provides a fair amount of pressure relief, reducing pain levels and soreness that many individuals experience upon waking.
The Zinus Memory Foam Mattress is also durable. We have not noticed much wear on these mattresses. There is some slight pilling on the top of the mattress cover that has developed over time, but it’s not very noticeable.
Green Tea Infusion of Mattress
To maintain freshness in your Zinus Mattress, the manufacturer infuses it with a green tea extract. They say the scent is relaxing and comforting. I did not notice a green tea scent in these mattresses. If it is there, it is quite subtle.
Air Flow Through the Mattress
The Zinus model is made with high-density memory foam, but it is also designed with airflow in mind. The high density keeps your body from sinking into the mattress, while the design for airflow will help keep your body cool as you sleep. Without this feature, your guests could wake up feeling hot and sweaty multiple times throughout the night.
Highest Level of Comfort for an Airbnb Mattress
Unlike other mattresses, this one is neither too hard nor too soft. In fact, most of my guests did find it “just right”. Among the mattresses I have used, many of my guests have left positive reviews regarding the Zinus mattress’ comfort and firmness level.
The memory foam used stands up well over time and does not sink in right away. This means you can provide your guests with lasting comfort as they stay at your short-term vacation rental.
So, no need to purchase a new Airbnb mattress any time soon! For those looking for maximum comfort, the memory foam will help alleviate joint pain and provide pressure relief for any pain points.
This mattress conforms well to a wide range of sleeping styles. If you’re like me, you’ll have a wide range of guests using your Airbnb short-term rental at any given moment. So, you should use a mattress that all your guests could enjoy, not just a select few.
Ashley Furniture Signature Design – Chime Express Memory Foam Mattress
The Ashley Furniture Chime Express Mattress is one of the best mattresses for vacation rentals. This mattress is also known as a “bed-in-a-box”. Once unpacked, the mattress will fill out to be 12 inches thick after 72 hours and is compatible with all types of bed frames and platforms.
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- MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS: For sound sleep you've always dreamed of. This body contouring memory foam mattress delivers amazing support, pressure relief and comfort
- 12" PROFILE: Designed with layers of memory foam for support and pressure relief, all with a comfortable feel. The support foam core reduces motion transfer for peaceful, undisturbed sleep
- PLUSH SUPPORT: Thick layers of memory foam contour to your body and deliver amazing support, pressure relief and comfort for all types of sleepers
The memory foam mattress topper adjusts to each sleeper’s body and helps to relieve their pressure points. In our reviews, guests have mentioned how comfortable this bed was and how they woke up feeling refreshed and brand new throughout their stay.
Unpacking Your Mattress
The mattress comes conveniently rolled up in a box. All you have to do is cut the plastic away and unroll your new mattress, placing it on top of your bed frame or base. It will appear to be about 1 inch thick at first but will quickly fill out to be 12 inches thick as the memory foam adjusts to being unrolled.
Setting up this mattress is incredibly easy. Whether the base of your bed is a box spring or an adjustable frame, all you have to do is lay the mattress on top of the base, and you have an instant bed!
Keeping Your Airbnb Allergen-Free
This Ashely Furniture Mattress is hypoallergenic, which I promote in my Airbnb listing. It will repel dust mites, pollen, and other allergens and help to keep your Airbnb a sneeze-free zone. Having a hypoallergenic mattress option for our guests helped ensure that they wouldn’t be waking up with their eyes itchy, or their noses runny.
Stretch-Knit Mattress Cover
The design of the mattress cover is made with its memory foam core in mind. The cover provides for adequate stretching of the foam as it molds to the shape of the sleeper’s body.
This cover also keeps the memory foam from being exposed and ripping or tearing. I do not recommend taking the cover off the mattress, since you want to make sure that the mattress does not get damaged for your guests.
If there’s a stain or spill on your mattress, just lightly dab it with a soapy rag. There is no need to remove the cover. It is also safe to vacuum the mattress, should the need arise. The cover is there to help prevent the memory foam from becoming stained or damaged in any way.
Firmest Mattress for a Vacation Rental
The Ashely Furniture Mattress distinguishes itself as the firmest mattress on our list. This firm mattress model is especially good for people who normally experience aches and pains after sleeping.
My guests have stated that they have had the best sleep of their life on vacations at my Airbnb. If this mattress has made a difference with my guests, it certainly will make a difference for yours, and you could be certain to come away with 5-star reviews.
Classic Brands Cool Gel Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress
For those looking for a budget-friendly mattress for your Airbnb, the Classic Brands Cool Gel Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress provides the quality and value buyers are looking for when they purchase a memory foam mattress. This mattress will provide a substantial amount of firmness to sleepers, which lends itself to a comfortable night’s sleep.
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- Cool Gel Infused Memory Foam: Refreshing gel particles are infused into the high-density memory foam for a more comfortable sleeping surface which has a faster recovery factor than conventional memory foam.
- Pressure Relief: The Cool Gel Memory Foam mattresses offer premium pressure-relieving memory foam and resilient high-density base foam conforms to your body, supports your back, and prevents tossing and turning at night.
When I used this mattress, my guests reported waking up with fewer aches and pains from the support this mattress provided. The added gel foam layer also provided another level of comfort. While this mattress is an inexpensive option, the memory foam did sink in over time. I found myself having to replace this mattress a couple of times because it wasn’t as comfortable as it was when I first bought it.
Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress Features
This inexpensive mattress has a variety of features that will help your Airbnb stand out among the rest, including:
- Cool gel technology that will help regulate users’ body temperature
- Four-way stretch knit
- High-density memory foam
- Medium firm feel and can be used for adjustable frames
- Convenient packaging in a box and simple setup
Gel Comfort Mattress Technology
The top layer of memory foam on the Classic Brands Mattress also contains gel particles. These particles make this part of the mattress less dense and help the bed to be more comfortable and have a little more give and support than the other models.
The gel particles also serve to ventilate the mattress, which will keep your guests cool while they sleep.
Hypoallergenic to Keep Your Airbnb Allergen-Free
This is another great hypoallergenic option for your Airbnb. Using hypoallergenic amenities will go a long way toward keeping your guests comfortable. Particularly, your mattresses are important, because your guests’ faces will be in such close contact with the mattress they are using for the night. This mattress does not trap dust mites, pollen, or other allergens, which is also a great feature you can include on your Airbnb listing.
Best Mattress for Your Money
The Classic Brands Mattress wins the title of being the best budget-friendly option. The cool gel technology adds to the overall quality of the mattress. The denser foam underneath helps the mattress to hold its shape and to provide the comfort that users are accustomed to when it comes to memory foam.
For Airbnb hosts looking for the most value, this mattress is inexpensive but has all the perks of a high-quality, firm memory foam mattress for short-term rentals. The mattress comes in 6 different sizes, a twin, twin XL, full, queen, King and California King, and the price range is very affordable for hosts who have multiple properties.
Related Questions:
Yes! While memory foam options are more conducive to easy shipping, traditional box spring mattresses may be even less expensive and provide added support. The Zinus Armita 7 inch Smart Box Spring is a great choice. This mattress is made with durable steel to provide support for sleepers of all sizes and comes with a “peace of mind” 5-year warranty.
Another option is to choose a hybrid mattress that incorporates both memory foam and box springs. The Linenspa 8 Inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress provides a top layer of memory foam, which will contour to your body.
Under the memory foam are springs designed to provide additional support and keep the memory foam from sinking in as time goes by. This mattress has a medium-firm feel and is great for all sleepers, as its combination of springs, latex, and memory form is versatile for many sleeping styles.
Let’s face it. Providing a great night’s sleep for your guests will go a long way toward impressing them and collecting positive reviews for yourself as a host. If you already have your mattress, you might want to consider purchasing memory foam mattress toppers, which can provide an extra layer of comfort.
If the mattresses in your Airbnb are not of the highest quality, this is a purchase that is well worth your money, as mattress toppers can take a bed from uncomfortable to restful. You can choose different thicknesses for your mattress topper depending on your needs.
If you want your Airbnb to stand apart, you should provide the best amenities. This is especially true if you are a part of Airbnb Plus. You should choose your sheets carefully and avoid purchasing low-quality sheets.
Bamboo sheets or sheets made from Egyptian cotton are both good choices to impress your guests. With the right sheets, your Airbnb will rival any hotel out there.
Pillows are another important aspect of a good night’s sleep for your guests. Be sure that you have enough high-quality pillows for all guests. Just like the mattresses we have discussed, you can also purchase pillows with cooling technology that will help keep your guests from becoming sweaty and uncomfortable.
Check out our Airbnb Bedroom Essentials article to see all of our recommendations…
