A Buying Guide to the Best RV Mattresses

Whether you spend three or 300 nights in your RV each year, a comfortable RV mattress will make all the difference. There are plenty of creature comforts that you can do without when RVing, but a comfortable bed shouldn’t be one of them. No matter if you’re renovating an outdated trailer or just purchased a brand new rig, a mattress is a personal choice, and you’ll want to pick yours accordingly. 

What Makes RV Mattresses Different 

RV mattresses differ from standard mattresses in both weight and size. Mattresses in your RV need to be lighter to keep the total weight of the rig down. Many are also shorter and/or narrower to maximize space. Depending on your layout, you may need a light and flexible mattress so you can easily move it around. If you’re tight on space or have a particular bedroom layout, you can purchase corner-cut mattresses or even custom-made ones. 

There are also regular mattress toppers or pads. While some RVers use these as a quick fix to make the mattress that came with their rig more comfortable, mattress toppers don’t always solve the problem. In fact, you’ll probably find prices for top-line mattress pads and budget memory foam mattresses to be the same. 

There are a few other things that you’ll want to take into consideration when purchasing a mattress for your RV, like size, type, and budget.

RV Mattress Sizes

You’ll find a variety of different RV mattress sizes depending on the vendor, and there are a few unique-to-RV sizes to choose from in addition to standard mattress sizes.

• RV twin: 28 x 75 inches to 40 x 80 inches
• Bunk: 28 x 75 to 35 x 75 inches
• Trunk bed: 35 x 79 to 42 x 80 inches
• Three-quarter: 48 x 75 inches
• RV full/double: 53 x 75 inches
• Queen short or RV queen: 60 x 75 inches
• RV king: 72 x 75 to 72 x 80 inches

Some RVs can fit a king-size bed, but it’ll likely need to be narrower than a standard king. And, regardless of the type of mattress you’re outfitting for your RV, you’ll want to look for mattresses where the thickness is below 10 inches for full-size trailers and even less for smaller rigs. This will help keep the overall weight of your RV down. (For those wondering if you can put a regular bed in an RV: You technically can, just be mindful of the size and weight for your rig’s specifications.) 

The Best Types of RV Mattresses 

Just like for the bed in your home, there are a variety of different types of mattresses to choose from for your RV. The following are some of the best mattress options for an RV. 

Foam

Typically, foam mattresses are the most common and affordable types of RV mattresses. Foam does absorb heat more readily, so keep this in mind if you’re a hot sleeper. 

Memory Foam

It’s like regular foam, but fancier. Memory foam is a lightweight, comfortable option with a soft top and a sturdy base.

Gel Memory Foam

If you’re traveling a lot during the summer months, a gel RV mattress will help keep you cool. You’ll find plenty of RV sized options available in this material as it’s a popular choice for RVers.

Coiled

Innerspring or coil mattresses are popular options in the home, but they’re much heavier than foam options, which makes them less ideal for RVing.

Hybrid

These types of mattresses are exactly what they sound like: a combination of different mattress types. Note that these can sometimes get expensive. 

Latex

Natural latex mattresses (made from rubber trees) are often long-lasting and hypoallergenic for those with dust mite allergies in comparison to synthetic mattresses. 

Air

If you have kids or only use your RV occasionally, then it might make sense to use a high-quality air mattress. You’ll typically be able to find these in a variety of sizes, and they’re great to have on hand for extra guests to pop in a tent.

Other Types of RV Mattresses

Splurge Pick: If you believe good sleep comes at a price, Sleep Number makes its popular, customizable mattresses in a variety of RV sizes.

Murphy Bed Replacement: If you’re looking to replace the murphy bed mattress that came with your RV, Tochta has some good options. With RV murphy bed replacements, you’ll really need to watch the overall thickness and weight of the mattress, which may call for a custom-made mattress. And, depending on the fold-out type, you will need either a tri-fold mattress or a regular flat one.  

Where to Buy Your RV Mattress

RV mattresses are readily available at large-scale online retailers as well as outdoor-specific chains and specialty retailers. Here are some of our favorite places to shop for mattresses for our rigs.

• Amazon 
• Bear Mattress
• Brooklyn Bedding
• Camping World
• Mattress Insider
• Overstock
• Replacement Mattresses
• Tochta
• Wayfair
• Wilderness RV Mattress

Gear We Love

If a new RV mattress investment isn’t in your budget this year, these are some other ways to make your current RV bed more comfortable:

Bedding

• Beddy’s Comforter Set, ideal for bunks and murphy beds (pictured above).
• Brooklyn Bedding Accessories
• The Wilderness Pillow

Mattress Toppers

• Plush Extra Thick Mattress Topper, available in a short queen.
• 3-inch Cooling Mattress Topper, available in RV short queen, RV king, RV short king, and split head king.
• 2-inch Copper Infused Memory Foam Topper, available in a bunk, short queen, and RV king.
• Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Topper, available in a variety of RV mattress sizes and heights.
• 4-inch Tri-fold Mattress Topper, available in a variety of sizes.
• Electro-Warmth Mattress Pad, available in a variety of sizes.

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Whether you’re replacing your murphy bed, outfitting the kids with new bunks, or improving your mattress topper, improving your sleep is never a bad investment. So go ahead and make that upgrade.