Complete Guide to Buying a Replacement RV Mattress
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Alyssa Padgett is the author of the best-selling book, A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV. She loves all things #RVlife and travels full-time around the globe with her family of four.
If you're looking to replace your RV mattress that's worn out or uncomfortable, here are some tips on where to shop and buy the best RV mattress for your needs.
(After you decide on a mattress, be sure to also check out my Guide to Buying RV Sheets & Bedding!)
8 Factors to Consider When Buying a Mattress for an RV
Before deciding on a mattress for your camper or motorhome, it's important to determine what is important to you in a mattress. Here are some things to think about:
- Intended Use. Who will be sleeping on this mattress, and how often? A lightweight child is probably not going to complain about a cheap mattress used on a family camping trip just a couple of times per year. On the other hand, an adult who lives in an RV full-time is probably going to want an RV mattress of the same quality and durability that one would find in a residential mattress.
- Thickness. The thickness of a mattress contributes to its comfort as well as its cost. A thicker mattress means more materials, which increases the price but may also result in a better night's sleep.
- Weight. Something to take into consideration when buying a new mattress for a lightweight travel trailer is how much the weight of the mattress will contribute to the overall weight of the RV, an important safety consideration when towing a camper. This could actually be a good reason to choose a thinner mattress, especially for, say, an RV bunk that won't be used often.
- Firmness. This factor is somewhat subjective—a mattress that feels too firm to one person may feel too soft to another—but reading reviews can help you get an idea of the firmness of a particular mattress.
- Sleeping Position. Usually related to firmness, some mattresses are designed specifically for side sleepers, back sleepers, or tummy sleepers.
- Materials Used. Some of this comes down to preference. For example, some people like a gel memory foam mattress, while others prefer a traditional mattress with coils or a hybrid mattress. Other considerations might include whether the mattress uses cooling technology or is made from materials that are hypo-allergenic or environmentally friendly.
- How You'll Fit it Through the Door of the RV – Navigating a tight RV hallway with a giant, bulky mattress can be challenging! Some mattresses come rolled up in a box that may make it easier—provided the box fits through the door! It's probably a good idea to check the dimensions of the box and also measure your doorways before ordering.
- Size. RVs usually need special mattresses because standard sizes for RV mattresses are different than regular mattresses. Measure the bed in your camper and then check this guide to determine which terms to search for to help you find the size you need.
For example, “Short Queen” and “RV Queen” differ from “Standard Queen” by several inches, and “RV King” can refer to more than one size!
If your bed size isn't listed, you may need to order a custom mattress (which I'll talk about later in this article). Keep in mind that you're mainly measuring to make sure you can fit on the bed and that the mattress will fit in the space. It's okay if the mattress hangs over the edge of the bed platform a bit (if you have a walk-around bed). In fact many RV owners choose to replace their RV mattress with a regular residential mattress that is a bit longer than the original one.
Note: Some stores may use different terms to describe the same size. Be sure to check the measurements listed in the product description before you buy!
Where to buy an RV mattress
Once you know what kind of mattress you're looking for, where do you buy it? Of course, you can always check at local mattress stores to see if they sell RV mattresses. This will give you the advantage of being able to test the mattress before you buy.
However, by ordering online you can get a mattress in the exact size you need and likely save money too.
Additionally, if you order online the mattress will be shipped directly to your door, saving on delivery costs. Plus this will make it easier to get through the door of your RV—if you can open the box inside.
If you're looking for the cheapest RV mattress…
If cost is your most important factor, one good option is a memory foam mattress from Amazon. This one is around$200:
- General Note: Please allow 24 - 72 hours for your Mattress to regain its full shape. Any memory foam will expand faster in a warmer room. In cold temperature, at delivery, your mattress may take a bit longer to return to full sized from its compressed state.The expansion time of the mattress will vary as per the surrounding
I personally have used this Zinus mattress for four years and I still love it. It's definitely very affordable compared to other memory foam mattresses!
An even cheaper option is this inner-spring camper mattress from the same company:
- General Note: Please allow 24 - 72 hours for your Mattress to regain its full shape. Any memory foam will expand faster in a warmer room. In cold temperature, at delivery, your mattress may take a bit longer to return to full sized from its compressed state.The expansion time of the mattress will vary as per the surrounding.
Another inexpensive option: Buy a memory foam mattress topper
Another cheap option that can prevent you from having to buy a new mattress is adding a memory foam mattress topper to a firm mattress. This is just a sheet of memory foam ranging in thickness from about 1.5″ to 4″ and can be purchased online for under $100.
I've done this in multiple RVs. In my old Class C RV, I couldn't find the right size mattress to replace the 20-year-old existing mattress. It was an RV queen, plus the bottom corners were cut off to allow space to walk on either side of the bed. I grabbed a memory foam topper from Target and used scissors to cut off the corners to match the mattress.
(I did first leave the corners on, but my knees would always bump them when I tried to walk to the closet. Scissors fixed it perfectly!)
You can also order a custom mattress topper if you don't want to mess with cutting one yourself. This is surprisingly not too much more expensive than buying from your local store.
Mattress Insider
Mattress Insider offers memory foam RV mattresses at several different price points.
The cheapest RV mattress they offer is their “Sedona” memory foam mattress, but even their luxury gel memory foam mattress is more affordable than many RV mattress brands. They also offer a latex mattress with an organic cotton cover if you prefer a mattress with fewer synthetic chemicals.
I haven't personally slept on this mattress. But one thing that impresses me about Mattress Insider is that along with their 121-day trial period, they will also pay for return shipping if you decide the mattress isn't for you.
If you're looking for affordability without sacrificing quality
RVMattress.com
If you intend to spend many nights sleeping in your RV (especially if you're a full-time RVer), you probably want to find a mattress that's going to be comfortable and last a while, even if you're on a tight budget.
A mattress that I personally love and sleep on every night myself is the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid mattress from Brooklyn Bedding, sold in RV sizes on their sister site, RVMattress.com. Since it's a hybrid, it combines the best features of both memory foam and traditional mattresses. (I wrote an in-depth review of this mattress where you can read more about my experience with it.)
The same company offers a few other mattresses in a range of thickness, firmness, and cost.
This company offers a 120-night trial period along with a generous return/exchange policy. They will even cover return shipping for customers in the continental U.S.
Tochta Mattress Company
Tochta is another company that specializes in memory foam RV mattresses. I have a Tochta mattress in my RV, and I wrote a review of this mattress as well. The neat thing about this mattress is that it can be ordered in a custom shape or size, as I'll discuss in the next section.
The one downside is that although they do offer a 100-night money-back guarantee, they don't currently pay for return shipping costs if you decide to return the mattress.
Comfort Zone Brand Mattress from Camping World
Camping World sells a line of RV mattresses from a brand called Comfort Zone. I do not have personal experience with this brand, but some of these mattresses are more affordable than other RV mattress brands.
Mattress Insider
Mattress Insider also offers residential quality mattresses for RV-sized beds, such as their pocketed-coil mattress.
Their prices are among the most affordable of the RV mattress brands I've looked at. Their money-back guarantee (including return shipping) makes them an attractive option as well.
Where to buy an RV mattress in an unusual shape or size
Finding a comfortable RV mattress can be challenging if you need a mattress in a non-standard size or unusual shape. As I mentioned earlier, the cut corner RV mattress shape that's common for RV beds can be especially hard to find.
Or you might be shopping for a mattress to replace the cushions of a dinette booth or to fit a sleeper sofa you built yourself.
In that case, here are some options for you:
Where to order a custom RV mattress
The Tochta RV mattress company has an easy-to-use tool that lets you customize your mattress by selecting the length, width, thickness, and firmness. You can even order the corner cut off at an angle, rounded, or with a notch cut out!
As soon as you enter your customizations, the tool will immediately tell you the cost. Try it out here!
Mattress Insider also offers custom cut mattresses. They can also do beveled cuts and add a hinge (for a Murphy bed or a custom-designed sleeper sofa).They also offer attentive customer support, with real people you can talk to on the phone 7 days a week.
Don't forget to protect your new mattress!
If you're investing several hundred dollars into a new mattress, you might also want to spend a little more and get a waterproof mattress protector to prevent your mattress from being damaged.
How to prevent condensation under your RV mattress
Cold temps and humidity can cause condensation in your RV. This can be a problem in an RV, causing the bottom of a mattress to become damp and grow mold. You can prevent this by putting a HyPUR-FLO moisture protection barrier mat from Tochta under your mattress. (You can customize the size and shape of it as well).
Another product for this purpose is the Hypervent Aire-Flow Moisture Barrier from Mattress Insider. This product is sold by linear foot and can be cut to any size or shape you need.
Where to buy bedding for an RV mattress
Where to buy a mattress pad for the bed in your RV
You can find several styles of RV-sized mattress pads and mattress toppers on the Camping World website.
If you need a mattress pad for a non-standard-sized mattress, you can order one custom-made to fit the size and shape of your mattress from Tochta.com using their custom mattress pad builder tool.
Where to buy sheets for an RV mattress
Finding sheets that fit an RV mattress can be tricky since most home stores don't sell them.
Here are a few places to find them:
- Camping World – Camping World sells sheets to fit most RV mattresses. Your selection at a local store may be limited, but you can also order from their website. Most of their sheets are printed or embroidered with a camper-themed design.
- Etsy – Etsy probably isn't the first place you'd think to look for sheets for your RV, but there are actually quite a few sellers who specialize in making custom RV sheets, including some patterned with cute vintage campers.
- Amazon – Yep, you can get sheets for your RV on Amazon. Like these in multiple colors and sizes:
- SUPER SOFT & SMOOTH : Our 500 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Twin Size sheets are buttery soft and get even more, softer over time. You will get a perfect blend of softness, strength, durability, and luxury,
- CinchFit RV Sheets – If you have an unusual mattress size, such as a cut corner bunk mattress, CinchFit RV sheets are the perfect solution. Instead of having elastic like most fitted sheets, they are secured with a draw string that you tighten to fit the sheet to the shape of the bed.
- QuickZip RV Sheets – Changing the sheets on an RV mattress that's up against a wall will never be a headache again! QuickZip sheets zip on and off the bed when they needs to be washed! (These also come in a crib sheet size and would make a great baby shower gift!)
- Tochta.com – The same company that allows you to order a mattress in a custom shape or size also has a custom sheet builder tool so you can have custom-sized sheets made to fit your bed.
- MattressInsider.com – This company sells RV sheets in standard sizes as well as custom sheets to fit oddly shaped and sized beds. Their sheets come in several different color options.
Bonus Tip: If you don't want to spend the money on RV sheets, you can actually just use regular sheets you already own by using a set of elastic sheet clips to cinch up the extra fabric under each corner!
To read more about these and other options for RV sheets, mattress pads, bedding sets, and more, check out my blog post Best Places to Buy RV Bedding.
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