logo
What is an RV mattress and how do you choose the right one for you?

What is an RV mattress and how do you choose the right one for you?

Tom's Guide05-06-2025
You don't need to leave good rest in the rearview mirror when you head onto the open road — from cheap air beds to luxury organic RV mattresses, your motorhome can be a sleep sanctuary.
While only a handful of the best mattresses you can buy online come in RV sizes, this is a rapidly expanding market and in this guide we're exploring the ins and outs of RV mattresses, including cost, sizes and materials.
But before we get started, the most important part of choosing any RV mattress is getting the measurements right, So break out the tape measure and let's get going.
An RV mattress is a specialist mattress designed to fit the smaller living spaces of an RV.
Admittedly, RV beds often come with a mattress already installed but these are generally thin, inexpensive builds that provide minimum comfort.
A good RV mattress will pair the quality and support features of a standard residential mattress with the necessary restrictions resulting from an RV (size, weight) for a bed setup that will provide better sleep wherever your motorhome takes you.
RV mattresses and regular residential mattresses have a lot in common, including the materials used to make these beds. However, RV mattresses differ from the beds in your home in two key areas: size and weight.
Standard mattress sizes typically range from twin to Cal king (although you can find variations and unusual sizes, including the massive Alaskan king and the wide Olympic queen.)
But RV mattresses need to fit smaller, and often unusually shaped, living quarters. For that reason, RV mattresses tend to have less width and length than standard residential beds. (We'll dive into this more below.)
In terms of weight, RV mattresses are, on the whole, lighter than their residential counterparts for an important reason.
All RVs come with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and / or a GTWR (Gross Trailer Weight Rating) which determines how much weight the RV can safely carry.
That includes all cargo, fuel, passengers and, yes, mattresses.
A heavy residential mattress can contribute a lot of weight to your RVs overall gross amount, meaning you might have to cut back on cargo to avoid exceeding your limits.
RV mattresses, on the other hand, use less dense material to create a lighter build, reducing the weight added to your motorhome.
RV mattress sizes often share a name with their at-home equivalents but that doesn't mean these sizes are interchangeable.
We highly recommend measuring your space and double checking the dimensions before purchasing an RV mattress. To misquote an old saying: measure twice, buy once, sleep eight hours.
Below we've rounded up some of the most common RV mattress widths and lengths but our guide to RV mattress sizes has a full breakdown.
Some specialist stores also offer custom RV mattress sizes, ordered to fit your exact need. These are less common (and can come at a premium) but also a surefire way to get the perfect dimensions.
Name
Width
Length
RV twin
25"
75 - 80"
RV bunk
28 - 35"
75 - 80"
RV full
54"
75"
Three-quarter
47"
74"
RV queen / short queen
60"
75"
Queen
60"
80"
RV short king
72"
75"
RV king
72"
80"
RV Cal king
72"
84"
Gone are the days when your RV mattress was simply whatever happened to fit the space. Nowadays, RVers can find a mattress to suit their specific sleep needs, ensuring a better night's rest wherever you spend the night.
With that in mind, while we typically recommend prioritizing your sleep needs when choosing a mattress, if you're kitting out an RV, a few considerations come first.
Measure and measure again before buying an RV mattress to ensure your new bed will fit the space available.
Then double-check those measurements against the dimensions listed by your chosen retailer.
Depth is also an important consideration when choosing an RV mattress. We typically recommend a mattress thickness of 10 inches for an adult but in an RV, a thinner mattress might be easier to move (and less dominating in the space.)
A thinner mattress is also likely to weigh less (although it's not a guarantee, as materials also contribute to weight.)
But depth is a good way to add some coziness and pressure relief to your mattress, so weigh up the dimensions carefully... and literally. Check the weight of the mattress before you buy, so you can factor it into your GVWR.
As with standard mattresses, RV mattresses are available in a variety of types and builds. They tend to be thinner (and therefore use fewer layers) than a residential mattress, but the most common types include:
In a standard bedroom we recommend leaving several feet of space around the bed and the walls.
In an RV, you might not have this luxury which can make unboxing, setting up and making the bed difficult.
For that reason, we recommend choosing a lighter, thinner mattress for your RV. This will allow you to navigate the bed with (relative) ease.
We also recommend buying a mattress that's easy to clean, so you can keep your sleep space shipshape. A mattress protector is a must for quick cleans.
RV mattresses are becoming increasingly common with many of our favorite brands now offering RV sizes alongside the standard collection. We've rounded up some of our favorites below.
We also recommend exploring third-party retailers, such as Amazon, Walmart and Wayfair, where you can often find good deals on affordable RV mattresses.
Camping and outdoor retailers are another good option — check out the Cozyway selection at Camping World — particularly for inflatable designs.
Brooklyn Bedding RV mattressesMany models in Brooklyn Bedding's mattress line-up are available in RV sizes, offering a diverse choice to suit your sleep needs. Our top RV pick is the DreamFoam Essential mattress, an affordable all-foam bed with a whopping 22 size options and five heights to choose from.
GhostBed RV mattressesFrom the brand behind some of our favorite cooling mattresses, GhostBed's RV collection features both all-foam and hybrid designs. A good choice if you're traveling around warmer climates.
PlushBeds RV mattressesKnown for both its luxury and organic designs, PlushBeds RV mattresses are for those who want their camper to feel like a home away from home — there's even an organic latex option for those who want eco-luxury sleep.
As the variety of RV mattresses has expanded so has the potential price point — there's an RV bed for almost every budget.
The cheapest RV mattresses are typically inflatable air beds. You can pick up a short queen air bed for around $50 to $150, but keep in mind these inexpensive options have reduced longevity.
Innerspring RV mattresses are another affordable choice, while all-foam mattresses encompass a wide price bracket: expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $950 for a short queen, with depth an important factor in price.
At the other end of the scale are hybrid and latex RV mattresses. A short queen can cost between $350 (for a thin hybrid) to upwards of $1,000 (for an organic latex mattress.)
✅ You have an unusual bed size: The primary reason for choosing an RV mattress is the size, as these specialist beds are designed for the confined spaced of a motorhome.
✅ You use your RV regularly: If you spend a lot of time in your RV, choosing a mattress that properly fits the space and your sleep needs will make your trips more comfortable.
✅ A standard size mattress doesn't quite fit: We love a bargain — just check out our mattress sales hub — but forcing an ultra-cheap or second hand standard size mattress into a non-standard space risks damaging the interior, causing it to degrade faster. The result? Spending more on a replacement.
❌ You have space for a standard size mattress: While you don't have to avoid RV mattresses, if your motorhome has room for a standard bed size, you'll have more options to choose from.
❌ You don't spend much time overnight in your RV: For quick trips and overnight stays, you might be able to get away with the mattress pre-installed in the RV (or a sleeping bag.)
❌ You're on a very tight budget: If a new mattress is too high an expense, consider investing in one of our favorite mattress toppers instead. Measuring roughly two to four inches tall, a topper can add a layer of much needed comfort to your regulation RV bed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wind turbine blade crashes onto Maryland interstate
Wind turbine blade crashes onto Maryland interstate

E&E News

time2 days ago

  • E&E News

Wind turbine blade crashes onto Maryland interstate

A wind turbine blade fell from a trailer on a busy Maryland highway Monday morning, injuring one person and blocking traffic for several hours. A tractor trailer was towing the turbine blade westbound on Interstate 70 in Washington County in western Maryland at around 5:30 a.m. when the blade struck a guardrail and fell from the trailer, toppling across the median and blocking eastbound lanes, according to Fox News. Officials initially reported no one was hurt but later confirmed that one person was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to DC News Now. Advertisement The crash shut down all westbound traffic at exit I-81 and two eastbound lanes until about 8:30 a.m., according to an X post from the Maryland State Highway Administration.

I drove the Renault 5 E-Tech. This chic French EV has one silly feature you'll never find on a Tesla.
I drove the Renault 5 E-Tech. This chic French EV has one silly feature you'll never find on a Tesla.

Business Insider

time5 days ago

  • Business Insider

I drove the Renault 5 E-Tech. This chic French EV has one silly feature you'll never find on a Tesla.

The Renault 5 E-Tech is an electric reincarnation of a legendary, hugely popular French car. It's the European car of the year and has proved popular with buyers on the continent. I loved its quirky touches — it's the only car I've ever driven that comes with a baguette holder. It's the accessory you didn't know you needed: a baguette holder. Yes, the Renault 5 E-Tech has just such a feature in the passenger footwell — a gimmick, of course, but a brilliantly quirky touch nonetheless that reminds you you're driving a French voiture. I was going to include a picture of an empty baguette holder, but then I found this one from the car's launch showing Olympic gold medal-winning British diver Tom Daley with an actual baguette in the holder instead. You could also use the holder for a bunch of flowers, should you be so inclined. As you might have guessed from the E, the revived 5 is indeed electric, and there is no gas equivalent. It came about after now-departing CEO Luca de Meo rashly promised in a speech that Renault could make a new car in just 24 months — a very tight timeline in the auto world — and managed to do so only a few weeks past that target. The 5 made its debut way back in 1972 and was an instant hit, becoming the best-selling car in France for 14 years, with about 5.5 million vehicles sold during that period. While it was available in the US in the late 1970s, as Le Car, it didn't exactly bewitch American drivers. Souped-up versions appealed to boy racers, and a turbo model won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1981. The new 5 is Europe's car of the year 2025, beating the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroën C3-ëC3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster and Kia EV3. It was back-to-back wins for Renault, after the Scenic — a small MPV — took the crown last year. To find out why the 5 won, I took a train on a very warm Friday afternoon earlier this month to the northern edge of London to pick up an R5. It had a 52kWh battery, 150 HP engine, and came in vibrant "Pop! Green." Buying this car would set you back a shade under £27,000 ($36,300), and has a decent WLTP range of 251 miles. This configuration represents the best value for money, according to What Car? The range starts at about £23,000. I hit the M40 motorway bound for the picturesque town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. I was able to do the speed limit of 70 miles an hour for most of the journey and got there in about two hours. As I failed to connect my iPhone to the audio system before setting off, I tuned into the top 40 singles countdown on BBC Radio 1 — Sabrina Carpenter ended Alex Warren's 12-week run at the top of the chart, by the way. The audio system sounds superb — and was apparently created by Jean-Michel Jarre, the legendary French electronic music artist. For a small-ish EV, the 5 packs a punch, doing the speed limit effortlessly with plenty in reserve, had I wanted to risk a speeding fine. I can't say it's the quietest car I've ever driven, but I can't fault the ride and handling. As well as the baguette holder, there are plenty of charming/weird touches, such as the "5" battery indicator on the hood that lights up. It's part of the car's "modern lighting signature with cheeky welcome and goodbye sequences," as Renault puts it. The 5 is a lot of fun to drive — more than the quite boring MG I tested earlier this year. Not everyone may love its many quirks, such as the fabric on the dashboard and ceiling, and I found the four—yes, four—control stalks plus controls on the steering wheel to be quite bewildering. Maybe I'm just easily confused, but I still failed to master the automatic transmission before having to give the car back. And I still have no idea what the "Multi-Sense" button does. I had about 50% left and didn't want to risk running out of charge on the trip back to London, so I found a charging station in a fairly dismal retail park in Banbury. This was actually the first time I've charged an EV, and it took me a minute to work out the right plug (yes, I am a slow learner). Fortunately I didn't have to create an account to use the charger and could just tap my credit card to release the power. Getting the charge up to about 80% took about 15 minutes and cost just over £15 (about $20). Public chargers are not that cheap in the UK, and had the car been close to flat, it would've set me back about £50 (almost $70) to reach 100% — not too much less than a tank of gas. If you don't have a garage or driveway, the economics of an EV become considerably more complicated, which is one reason hybrids are becoming increasingly popular. In April, the 5 E-Tech was the UK's best-selling EV for retail buyers. In both April and May, it helped Renault take the top spot for private registrations of pure EVs. According to Renault, the car also leads its segment in Europe. Car Dealer magazine also made the 5 its car of the year, calling it the "right car at the right time." "The Renault 5 has both added some much-needed excitement to the lower end of the electric car market, and given Renault dealers some fire in their bellies. This small car is delivering a huge impact," says editor in chief James Baggott. I'm inclined to agree. And you know what's coming now, don't you, American readers? It appears Renault has no plans to bring the 5 E-Tech to the US. Désolé.

Josh Shapiro Reveals NASCAR Are Considering Race in Philadelphia
Josh Shapiro Reveals NASCAR Are Considering Race in Philadelphia

Newsweek

time24-06-2025

  • Newsweek

Josh Shapiro Reveals NASCAR Are Considering Race in Philadelphia

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that the state is in talks about the arrival of a NASCAR race in Philadelphia. The state government official was at the Pocono Cup Series Race and talked to the media about the state's sports event coming up. At the event, he announced that Pocono had sold out for the third straight time on Sunday, selling more than 50,000 tickets to fans. NASCAR is rumored to have an interest in holding a race at Franklin Field in Philly as one of many potential additions to the schedule. Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania speaks to the crowd before the game between the La Salle Explorers and the Saint Joseph's Hawks at John Glaser Arena on March 8, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania speaks to the crowd before the game between the La Salle Explorers and the Saint Joseph's Hawks at John Glaser Arena on March 8, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo byShapiro didn't reveal the exact nature of the talks, but he confirmed that there are conversations about adding a second race stop in Pennsylvania. "There's some conversations," Shapiro said at the press event. "First and foremost, we don't want to do anything that undermines Pocono. But as Ben (says), the more NASCAR, the better. The more racing, the better. "The more we can turn people on in communities that haven't been to Pocono yet, to get excited about racing, and then make that trip to Pocono next year, the better. I want to see more NASCAR, more racing. I also just want to see more sports in general." More than a month ago, NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell spoke to the Associated Press about potentially adding a race in Philly. He made it clear that the race could come down the line, but it is still a way from coming together. According to O'Donnell, Franklin Field could become an Olympic-sized track like the LA Coliseum. "When you look at opportunities, one of the places we looked around with the Coliseum was in Philly, Franklin Field. It was one of the only ones that we could put a race track inside of because of the Olympic size track," O'Donnell said. "Those are the types of things in a city we're going to look at because the days of just building a rural track are over. "If you look at Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and you look at short track racing, there's a huge, hardcore short track market with a lot of local fans who love racing in general." For NASCAR fans in Pennsylvania, the success of Pocono means its future should be secure and that the track will stay on the schedule for the foreseeable future.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store