RV Mattress Sizes and Dimensions Guide

RVs have been around for a little over 100 years. These transportable homes are compact, managing to fit a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom all within less than 400 feet of space. Despite being so small, they fit numerous sizes of mattresses.

Compared to standard mattress sizes, RV mattress sizes are usually slightly smaller to fit tight and narrow campers. However, RV mattresses don’t come in standard sizes, so there are some slight variations in the beds. For this reason, we recommend measuring the mattress compartments in your RV before deciding on a mattress.

RV mattresses come in a wide range of sizes, starting from a tiny RV twin to an RV king.

RV Twin Mattress

RV twin mattresses are one of the most common RV mattresses sizes since they’re small and can fit in virtually all RVs, motorhomes, or travel trailers. RV twin mattresses are 28 inches wide by 75 inches long, so they’re 7 inches thinner than a regular twin size bed. You can also find RV twin XL mattresses, which are 28 inches wide by 80 inches long. which are 10 inches narrower than a standard twin XL mattress.

RV twin mattresses are great for single sleepers of any age. They fit on bunk beds, pull-out beds, and murphy beds in an RV.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress for Tall People

Truck Mattress

Truck mattresses have their name because they were originally used in semi-truck cabins, but they’re still fairly common in RVs.

Truck beds are roughly 35-42 inches wide by 79-80 inches long. They’re both wider and taller than RV twin beds, so they’re a good option if you’re taller or just looking for a bit more room to spread out. Regardless, a truck mattress is still compact, so you won’t have to worry about losing too much room if you choose this over an RV twin.

Bunk Mattress

Bunk beds are common in family-friendly RVs and are perfect if you’re traveling with multiple people. Mattresses for bunk beds are compact and often fairly thin for less weight.

Bunk mattresses also come in various sizes. Bunk bed mattress sizes range between 28 to 35 inches wide and 75 to 80 inches long to fit different types of RV bunk beds.

But with such a wide range, be sure to double-check the size and dimensions of your bunk beds and the size of the bunk mattresses you’re interested in to be sure that they’re compatible.

Three Quarter Mattress

A three quarter mattress is 75 percent of the width of a standard queen mattress. They’re 48 inches wide—versus 60 inches wide on a standard queen mattress—and 75 inches long, or 5 inches shorter than your standard queen.

Three quarter mattresses are convenient for narrow or oddly shaped RVs and are wide enough to fit two younger children.

RV Full Mattress

RV full mattresses—also called RV double mattresses—are 53 by 75 inches. They’re one inch slimmer than standard full size mattresses to fit better in narrow campers. RV full beds work well for a single sleeper, but they can get too cramped if you’re taller than feet or are a couple.

Short Queen Mattress

A short queen mattress is quite literally just a queen mattress that’s shorter than a standard queen. At 60 inches wide and 75 inches long, an RV short queen is 5 inches shorter than a queen bed. Short queen mattresses are good for saving space in your RV while still being large enough to fit two adults or two to three children if needed.

RV Queen Mattress

Although short queens are more common for RVs than RV queens, you may be able to find an RV suitable for an RV queen bed. RV queen mattresses are 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, or the exact same size as a standard queen mattress. A queen bed can fit two adults and squeeze three children in a pinch.

Short King Mattress

A short king mattress is narrower and shorter than a standard king size bed, also referred to as Eastern kings. Short king beds are 72 inches wide and 75 inches long, 4 inches narrower and 5 inches shorter than an Eastern king mattress.

Since short king beds are so wide, you’ll need a large camper to accommodate them. Short king mattresses are wide enough to fit a couple or three to four children.

RV King Mattress

RV king mattresses are a bit narrower than standard king mattresses, measuring 72 inches wide and 80 inches long. Not only are they a good choice for couples who are taller than 6 feet, but they can also fit up to four small children.

Types of RV Mattresses

Although because RV mattresses come in odd, non-standard sizes, you can still find many types of mattresses to use in your RV. Just like mattresses for the home, you can find memory foam, latex, innerspring, and hybrid RV mattresses. There are also air mattresses for campers, too.

Memory Foam

If you use your RV mattress frequently and need something supportive and long-lasting, consider a memory foam mattress. Memory foam mattresses conform to your body’s curves and are great for relieving pressure points and pain.

Memory foam is also good if you need a mattress for a Murphy bed inside the RV. If the mattress is folded away during the day, the dense foam of a memory foam bed resists slumping better than a spring mattress.

One issue with memory foam is that some memory foam mattresses can get quite hot. So, if you plan on camping in hot and humid conditions and your RV doesn’t have air conditioning, consider choosing a memory foam mattress infused with cooling gel or copper as they are more breathable.

Memory foam mattresses can cost between $400 to over $1000 depending on the size and brand you choose.

Latex

Latex mattresses are breathable, eco-friendly foam beds made from rubber trees. They’re similar to memory foam mattresses since latex contours to your curves and relieves pressure. However, unlike memory foam, a latex bed won’t be uncomfortably cradling or nearly as hot.

Natural latex is hypoallergenic, a feature that’s especially nice when traveling or camping frequently, which potentially introduces bugs and dust into your RV.

Latex is generally pricier than memory foam, with latex beds costing between $900 and $1500.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are a traditional type of bed. They feature a coil support layer that provides lots of bounce, support, and breathability.

Innerspring beds a have pillow-top comfort layer, but pillow tops aren’t always the best. They tend to flatten out and develop lumps quickly, so you’ll need to replace them sooner than with other beds.

Although innerspring beds are cheap, costing around $250 to $600, it may be worth investing in something more comfortable.

Hybrid

Hybrid beds feature a pocketed coil support system and at least a 2-inch latex or memory foam layer. Hybrid mattresses are durable, bouncy, and supportive. Getting a hybrid bed is a good idea if you enjoy foam beds, but dislike how hot foam can get. With a hybrid bed, the coils promote more airflow through the mattress despite having a foam upper layer.

Since hybrid beds have a complex construction, they can get quite heavy and expensive, costing between $1200 and $2000.

FAQs

Can you put a regular mattress in an RV?

It depends on the size of bed platforms you have in your RV. Most standard mattress sizes are wider and longer than RV mattresses, though some RVs can fit a standard queen.

It’s best to measure the exact platforms in your RV and determine whether a standard size mattress will fit in that space or not. If your bed is too big for the platform, it’ll hand off the edges of the platform and may sag.

Where can you buy RV mattresses?

Retailers who sell RVs often sell mattresses to go alongside them. If not RV retailers, sporting goods stores, and outdoors and camping stores also sell RV mattresses and their accessories. You can also look for customizable mattresses from manufacturers that let you determine the exact dimensions you want.

How thick are RV mattresses?

RV mattresses are low profile, usually being between 5 to 6 inches thick because thin beds are lightweight and easily transportable. You can use a thicker mattress for your RV bed, but be aware of the overhead clearance. Too thick of a bed can make it difficult to sit upright in your bed and you may end up bonking your head.

How can you make an RV bed more comfortable?

RV beds may seem uncomfortable because they’re usually smaller and thinner than the average mattress, but they don’t have to be.

Choose a high-quality mattress for your RV. Some RVs have built-in mattresses that you cannot easily remove, and if so, use mattress toppers over them for extra comfort and support.

Don’t forget to use high-quality pillows, sheets, and blankets to meet your needs and preferences. After all, even with a great mattress, the accessories can make or break your comfort at night.

Are RV sheets different from regular sheets?

Since most RV mattresses are different sizes than standard mattresses, RV bed sheets are different from regular bed sheets. Most retailers who sell RV size mattresses will sell corresponding bed sheets for you to use. Another option is to use sheet clips to secure standard size sheets to your bed, but that might be more of a hassle.

 Conclusion

Since RV mattress sizes can be inconsistent, it’s best to measure your RV, camper, or motorhome to determine which bed will fit best. Also, RVs are compact as it is, so don’t be tempted to buy a mattress bigger than you need. After all, you need space in your RV to walk, change, eat, and live.