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- Best queen RV mattress: The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Best short queen RV mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Wanderlust Memory Foam
- Best king RV mattress: PlushBeds Deluxe 8-Inch Memory Foam RV Mattress
- Best RV mattress for back pain: Sleep Number Comfortaire R3 Bed
- Best custom RV mattress: Totcha Utopia Mattress
When it comes to sleeping in an RV, finding a comfortable mattress can mean the difference between a restful night and one spent tossing and turning in a too-tight space.
Most RVs come equipped with a thin mattress, and if you’re spending a significant amount of time sleeping in your RV, you’ll likely want to get a new mattress that makes you feel more at home. Luckily, living on the road does not require sacrificing comfort.
We scoured the internet to find the best RV mattresses available to fit your every need. Read on to find a full list of options for the road tripper.
Pros
- More comfortable sleep while on the road.
- RV mattresses can fit unique shapes and sizes compared with regular mattresses.
- RV mattresses are more durable than air mattresses and sleeping bags.
Cons
- Can be expensive, especially if you need a specific size that is hard to find.
- Can be more cumbersome to install inside your RV compared with an air mattress.
- RV mattresses need maintenance, like flipped every month or so, and need to be stored when not in use.
- Made for RVs. RV mattresses come in both RV-specific sizes, like short queens, and standard mattress sizes. Because the mattress size depends on the RV, we provided a range of sizes, along with companies that provide custom sizing. We took all of these elements into consideration, along with the all-important comfort factor.
- Customer reviews. When it comes to buying a mattress online, customer reviews almost always make or break a purchase. We chose mattresses with at least 70 percent 5-star reviews. Along with stars, we dug into reviews to understand the pros and cons of each mattress.
- Company reputation and transparency. We only recommend products from brands that have good reputations, create high quality products, and engage in ethical and transparent business practices. Each company goes through a strict vetting process that includes flammability standards, certifications, and Better Business Bureau ratings.
- Company policies. All of our picks come with at least 10-year warranties, which can help give you some peace of mind as you make your decision.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $200
- $$ = $200–$500
- $$$ = $500–$1,000
- $$$$ = over $1,000
Best queen RV mattress
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: memory foam
- Mattress height: 11 inches
While not specifically made for RVs, this Nectar queen-size mattress is one of the highest-rated mattresses on the market. Because most regular queen mattresses correspond with a queen-size space in an RV, you can more than likely buy a regular queen without issue — though make sure you measure your space.
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is made up of five layers, with a top layer made of breathable Tencel fibers that help provide a cooling effect. The memory foam layer is supposed to support proper spinal alignment, and the mattress is designed to minimize minimal motion transfer, which means you can move around without waking your partner.
Overall, reviewers express high satisfaction with the Nectar mattress, praising the comfort level and claiming that it improved the quality of their sleep. Even more, Nectar is so confident in the quality of this mattress that they provide a 365-day trial and lifetime warranty.
Buy The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress online.
Best short queen RV mattress
Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Wanderlust Memory Foam
- Price: $$
- Mattress type: memory foam
- Mattress height: 10 inches
The Brooklyn Wanderlust Memory Foam mattress comes in a wide variety of RV sizes and provides cooling comfort with gel memory foam. This mattress has a variety of height options ranging from 6 to 14 inches that correspond with mattress firmness, 6 being firm and 14 being soft-medium.
This mattress is designed with multiple foam layers, including a stain-resistant top layer of fabric. Reviewers rank the Brooklyn Wanderlust high in both comfort and quality and say the mattress is an excellent fit for an RV. However, pay close attention to the mattress height that you order to make sure you choose your ideal firmness.
The mattress comes with a 120-night risk-free trial and 10-year warranty, so you can try it out and decide for yourself.
Buy the Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Wanderlust Memory Foam mattress online.
Best king RV mattress
PlushBeds Deluxe 8-Inch Memory Foam RV Mattress
- Price: $$$
- Mattress type: memory foam
- Mattress height: 8 inches
The PlushBeds Deluxe 8-Inch Memory Foam RV Mattress is a mattress that will make any RV feel more luxurious. PlushBeds is committed to environmental sustainability and safety. All of their mattresses are Greenguard Gold certified, meaning they’re certified to meet the world’s most rigorous chemical emissions standards and are free of more than 10,000 harmful chemicals. The rating makes them a good option for people with any sensitivities.
The mattress is made of memory foam and PlushBeds’ foam, a formula the company says is three times as dense as regular foam and provides serious comfort, along with shock absorption from movement. The mattress also has a bamboo zippered cover. The luxuriousness of this mattress is fit for a king, making it a good option for the RV owner with more space for a large mattress.
This mattress is highly rated, with no rating lower than 4 stars. Reviewers say they wake up feeling more refreshed and that it helps improve the overall quality of their travels.
PlushBeds has a 25-year warranty and a 100-day return policy, along with a size verification policy that allows purchasers to exchange sizes for free.
Buy the PlushBeds Deluxe 8-Inch Memory Foam RV Mattress online.
Best RV mattress for back pain
Sleep Number Comfortaire R3 Bed
- Price: $$$$
- Mattress type: air mattress
- Mattress height: 9 inches
The Sleep Number Comfortaire R3 Bed is an adjustable bed that can be customized for each sleeper and has cushioning that specifically supports the neck, back, and hips. It is designed to allow individuals to customize their firmness preference and thus create their most comfortable sleep.
This mattress is the most expensive on the list. However, given its customizable features and technology that helps each sleeper find their ideal comfort and relief from pain — especially when sleeping on the road in an RV — this mattress might just be worth the price.
Reviewers say they woke up without aches and pain and are pleased with the experience of sleeping on it in an RV, with many saying they will never go back to a regular mattress.
Buy the Sleep Number Comfortaire R3 Bed online.
Best custom RV mattress
Tochta Utopia Mattress
- Price: $$$–$$$$
- Mattress type: memory foam
- Mattress height: 10 inches (can be customized between 4 and 10 inches)
Tochta is a great option for anyone looking to customize their mattress size with a high quality company. Tochta’s mattresses are made of memory foam that supports the body’s natural curve, which is beneficial for all sleepers. The mattresses are also made with gel foam that helps regulate temperature and keep the bed cool.
Tochta gets great reviews from people looking for less common mattress sizes. All you need to do is add in the dimensions of your RV bed to their online mattress builder and your new comfy RV mattress will be on its way.
Tochta mattresses are also made in the United States and come with a 10-year warranty.
Before you go ahead and purchase whatever RV mattress has the best rating on Amazon, it’s important to determine what exactly you need in a mattress.
RV mattresses come in a wide variety of sizes, types, firmness levels, heights, and prices. When deciding what kind of mattress to get, you want to first ask yourself questions like: Why am I buying a mattress? Is my RV my home or for travel? Is this mattress for just me or my family?
Once you answer those questions, you’ll have a better idea of how much money you want to spend and what other factors will make or break your purchase.
Here are the factors to keep in mind when making your purchase:
One of the best aspects of RV mattresses is that they come in many shapes and sizes. You can get narrow, short, and thin mattresses, but they also come in irregular shapes. Mattress size and shape vary by retailer, so pay close attention to the exact dimensions before you purchase.
The most common shape for an RV mattress is a rectangle. They’re commonly sold in eight sizes and can be broken down into two categories: mattresses that sleep one person or those that sleep multiple people.
The queen, Eastern king, RV king, or California king mattress sizes can accommodate more than one person or pets who may be traveling with you. Smaller mattresses include twin, truck, full, and bunk sizes. It’s important to note that the sizes of RV mattresses do not correlate with those of regular bed mattresses.
These mattresses generally come in foam, latex, or with innersprings, or as and hybrids.
Memory foam is the most common type of RV mattress. It’s comfortable and has automatic contouring that adjusts to your body’s shape. Some customers have said foam mattresses are warm to sleep on, but some come with a built-in cooling gel.
The innersprings type consists of a steel coil support system to support sleepers. The mattress shapes, styles, coil gauge, and number of coils may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Latex mattresses consist of foams, either natural or synthetic, that are cool and support the sleeper. One perk to latex is that it’s a naturally antimicrobial material and mildew resistant. So latex mattresses last longer. If you need a softer mattress, you might skip latex since it can be a bit firmer.
A hybrid RV mattress is built from a combination of materials.
RVs have limited space and weight limits, which is why RV mattresses come in a range of heights and weights. Mattress heights can range from 4 to 14 inches.
Some RVs may allow beds with greater heights, while others may be limited. It’ll likely depend on what sort of cabinetry or windows, for example, may be to the side of your bed space. Or you may not want a 14-inch mattress in a space meant for a 4-inch mattress, if that means you might be sleeping too close to cabinets above you and knocking your head on them in the night!
RVs can have small bedrooms with few windows. The space may get hot at night due to lack of airflow. Finding an RV mattress with temperature regulation may be an important factor for those sleeping in an RV.
Many mattresses are made with this in mind, so if temperature regulation is an important factor for you, look for mattresses with phase-change materials that can be added to the top layer.
Memory foam can cause heat buildup, so if you sleep hot, look for mattresses with a gel-infused foam top layer. Copper or graphite-infused beds may also prevent beds from heating up.
If you spend a lot of time on the road, spending your days sightseeing or otherwise active in the outdoors, you may need quality rest to support your body. Pressure relief and support are important elements to consider when purchasing an RV mattress.
Beds with coils (innersprings and hybrids) provide the most support without sinking in like foam. Memory foam also provides pressure relief. Hybrid mattresses that include both foam and springs are the best bet for people who need extra support.
If you need more support, look for thicker mattresses in the 8-inch and higher range. Make sure to check out the reviews to see how other customers rated the bed in terms of pain relief.
If you’re sharing a mattress with someone else or sleeping in close quarters with others, then noise mitigation and motion isolation may be important factors for you to consider when purchasing.
Motion isolation is important for couples, as it prevents the transfer of motion if someone moves, leaving your partner undisturbed. Foam mattresses are best for noise and motion isolation, though most hybrids will also do the job.
Off-gassing refers to the smell that comes from many new mattresses that comes from chemicals and flame retardants. While off-gassing usually dissipates within a few days, some customers find smell to be a problem.
If you’re sensitive to smells, look for organic and nontoxic mattresses that don’t use chemicals. Also, take a look at reviews, as previous customers are usually very vocal about off-gassing and how long it lasts.
Depending on the mattress size you purchase, you’ll want to make sure that you find corresponding sheets. Many companies that sell RV-specific mattresses also sell sheets, which is a good place to start. Also, if heat is a factor for you, look for sheets that are more breathable and better at regulating temperature.
One of the main differences between RV mattresses and regular mattresses is size. RV mattresses often have to fit into small spaces with length and sometimes weight constraints, so shopping for an RV mattress requires considering many factors besides comfort.
Check out this full list of mattress sizes to consider:
- twin
- twin XL
- full
- short full
- queen
- short queen
- Olympic queen
- king
- short king
- RV king
- California king
- RV bunk (various lengths and widths)
When it comes to RV mattress safety, one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing is the company. Make sure you’re purchasing from a company with a good reputation, strict flammability standards, and third-party certifications.
More and more companies are choosing to use nontoxic chemicals and materials in their manufacturing, so take that into consideration too. Also, check the reviews before purchasing to find out if other customers had issues that might be of concern.
Can I use a regular mattress in my RV?
While you can use a regular mattress in your RV, a specialized RV mattress has added benefits for life on the road. It’s lighter and less bulky. Plus, standard mattress sizes don’t correspond to RV mattress sizes.
How do I find the right size?
Measure the dimensions where the mattress will go inside your RV. Be sure to check the dimensions of the product your purchase.
Where can I buy an RV mattress?
You can purchase one from many online retailers, like Amazon, Overstock, and Wayfair, or in a brick-and-mortar store. Camping World and Walmart are two stores that sell mattresses for RVs if you like to touch and feel before purchasing.
How can I make my RV mattress more comfortable?
If you have an RV mattress but don’t love the way it feels, you can purchase a mattress topper for extra comfort. You can buy these toppers at the same places you can buy an RV mattress.
Whether or not you sleep in your RV occasionally or nightly, the quality of your mattress will affect not only the quality of your night, but your day as well.
RV mattresses come in a wide range of sizes, firmness, and prices. RV mattresses tend to be less expensive than standard mattresses, which can make finding an affordable and comfortable bed for on-the-road an easy task.
These mattresses tend to come in foam and hybrid varieties, so choose a brand that matches your body’s needs and the size of your space.
Most importantly, choose an RV mattress with an in-home trial period and generous warranty so you can be sure to find the bed of your dreams.
Lucia Whalen is a Chicago-based writer and multimedia journalist specializing in the intersection of health, science, and environment; she is also a cofounder of Trashy Magazine. Her writing has been featured in Atlas Obscura, South Side Weekly, MindBodyGreen, and other publications. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.