Written by Logan Block, Mattress Reviewer
Sleeping while traveling once meant tent-camping, taking a trailer, or staying in a hotel. The recreational vehicle, or RV, has changed all that. Millions of Americans now own RVs, which have made sleeping on the road not just comfortable, but luxurious.
If it’s time to furnish your RV with a new mattress, take a look at our top picks for RV mattresses. We’ve tested some great models in different price ranges and materials to help you find a RV mattress that rivals the comforts of home.
Our Top Pick for RV Mattresses
The Dreamfoam Essential mattress from Brooklyn Bedding earned our top spot on the Best RV mattress page because it is not only a comfortable bed to rest on after a long day of adventuring, but comes in a variety of RV-specific sizes, so you can fit it exactly to your set up.
Best RV Mattress 2023
- Best Overall – Dreamfoam Essential
- Best RV Mattress for Couples – Helix Midnight
- Best RV Mattress for Active Sleepers – Bear Trek
- Best Memory Foam RV Mattress – Nectar
- Best Luxury RV Mattress – DreamCloud
- Best Eco-Friendly RV Mattress – Tochta Utopia
- Best RV Mattress for Side Sleepers – PlushBeds MobilePlush
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| Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress | Helix Midnight Mattress | Bear Trek RV Mattress | Nectar Mattress | DreamCloud Original Mattress | Tochta Utopia | Original 6" MobilePlush RV Mattress | |
| Rating | |||||||
| Firmness | Multiple firmness options | Soft: 6/10 | Medium-firm: 7/10 | Soft: 6/10 | Medium-firm: 7/10 | -- | Soft: 5/10 |
| Material | Foam | Hybrid | Foam | Foam | Hybrid | Foam | Foam |
| Cooling | -- | -- | -- | -- | ✓ | -- | -- |
| Sleep Position | Back & Side | Back & Side | Back & Stomach | Back & Side | Back | Back & Side | Back & Stomach |
Best Overall – Dreamfoam Essential
The Dreamfoam Essential is a very affordable memory foam mattress that is available in multiple heights and firmness levels.
The Dreamfoam Essential is a very affordable memory foam mattress that is available in multiple heights and firmness levels.
The Dreamfoam Essential is a very affordable memory foam mattress that is available in multiple heights and firmness levels.
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
Available in several unique sizes to accommodate vehicles, the Dreamfoam Essential (formerly known as the Wanderlust) is the first RV mattress from Brooklyn Bedding. It’s made entirely of foam, with a top comfort layer of cooling gel memory foam over a support layer of high-density poly foam. When we laid down on the mattress, we experienced a little contouring and some nice pressure relief. It also has a Nano Stain Terminator finish, which should make for easy cleanup whenever there’s a spill on the road.
What our tester says: “When I was on my back my weight felt evenly distributed. I sunk into the memory foam comfort layer just a touch and enjoyed some body-contouring, while the firmer support layer ensured my hips stayed elevated and aligned with my spine.” — Logan Block, former Sleepopolis director of content and mattress tester
Who the Dreamfoam Essential is Best for
- All sleeping positions: The Dreamfoam Essential is available in several different heights, including 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, and 14-inch, so there’s something here for back sleepers, side sleepers, and stomach sleepers alike.
- Combination sleepers: For a foam bed, this is a fairly responsive mattress, so combo sleepers should be able to change positions with ease.
- Travelers with different vehicle sizes: The RV-specific sizes of this bed include several different measurements of RV Bunk, RV King, and many more.
Who Should Avoid the Dreamfoam Essential
- Some hot sleepers: There’s a chance that the memory foam could lead to the Dreamfoam Essential sleeping hot in certain environments, but you can remedy this with a set of cooling sheets.
Think the Dreamfoam Essential is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Dreamfoam Essential mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses.
Best RV Mattress for Couples – Helix Midnight
The Helix Midnight has a medium support level and bounce that will appeal to a wide range of sleep preferences. The Midnight also does an exceptional job of isolating motion, making it a great choice for couples that move around at night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Helix Midnight has a medium support level and bounce that will appeal to a wide range of sleep preferences. The Midnight also does an exceptional job of isolating motion, making it a great choice for couples that move around at night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Helix Midnight has a medium support level and bounce that will appeal to a wide range of sleep preferences. The Midnight also does an exceptional job of isolating motion, making it a great choice for couples that move around at night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
While many travelers prefer a mattress specifically designed for an RV, you can be just as comfortable on a bed designed for your home. Take the Helix Midnight, for instance. Made with a combination of cushy memory foam and wrapped coils, this hybrid bed creates a great balance of comfort and support for the road. When we tested it out, we experienced pressure relief, along with a slight lift. It also has low motion transfer results, meaning that it’s great for couples — especially if they’ll be resting in an environment that moves around a lot more than their home. They’re unlikely to feel each other tossing and turning, or the motion of the RV itself.
What our tester says: “I love that the Helix Midnight offers solid edge support — you can use the whole bed! It also has great motion isolation, which makes it a nice option for couples.” — Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
Who the Helix Midnight is Best for
- Back sleepers: The Midnight is slightly softer than medium-firm, which should accommodate back sleepers who need both cushioning and spinal support.
- Side sleepers: They should get the pressure relief they need at the shoulders and hips from the Helix Midnight.
- Hot sleepers: Between the airflow-promoting coils and a light, stretchy cover, this mattress sleeps cool — a crucial factor when there are two bodies to a bed instead of one.
Who Should Avoid the Helix Midnight
- RV owners with uniquely sized beds: Because it’s not specifically designed for an RV, the Helix Midnight only comes in the standard mattress sizes. While it should fit many RVs out there, you should make sure your vehicle doesn’t require a bed with more unconventional dimensions.
Think the Helix Midnight is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Helix Midnight mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for couples.
Best RV Mattress for Active Sleepers – Bear Trek
The Bear Trek is an all-foam mattress specifically designed for use in RVs. Like Bear's other mattresses, this bed is built with muscle-recovery for athletes in mind and has some great cooling features.
The Bear Trek is an all-foam mattress specifically designed for use in RVs. Like Bear's other mattresses, this bed is built with muscle-recovery for athletes in mind and has some great cooling features.
The Bear Trek is an all-foam mattress specifically designed for use in RVs. Like Bear's other mattresses, this bed is built with muscle-recovery for athletes in mind and has some great cooling features.
Bear Trek RV Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
5-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Bear Trek RV Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
5-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Bear Trek RV Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
5-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
If there’s one thing customers know about Bear, it’s that the company makes their mattresses with athletes in mind. The Bear Trek RV mattress is no exception, and it’s ideal if you like taking your RV to rock climb, hike, or even kayak. This mattress’ high-quality materials should not only help support your musculature, but also help with cooling. If you spend the evening on the trail, the gel-infused memory foam and breathable cover should prevent the body from overheating.
What customers say: Multiple Bear Trek customers said the mattress is a “welcome upgrade from the stock camper mattress” in their RVs, as well as noting the firm support the bed provides.
Who the Bear Trek is Best for
- Back sleepers: We think they should get the lumbar cushioning and spinal support they need from the Bear Trek.
- Couples: Memory foam tends to be good at isolating motion, so the Bear Trek could be the right match for anyone easily woken up by their partner.
- Budget shoppers: An RV queen size can often be found for under $500 after discounts.
Who Should Avoid the Bear Trek
- Stomach sleepers and heavy sleepers: They may not receive the support they need. We recommend they opt for a firmer mattress.
Think the Bear Trek is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for athletes.
Best Memory Foam RV Mattress – Nectar
The original Nectar mattress is a pressure-relieving, yet supportive, bed. It’s made with a thick layer of gel memory foam, which allows the sleeper to really sink into its surface.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The original Nectar mattress is a pressure-relieving, yet supportive, bed. It’s made with a thick layer of gel memory foam, which allows the sleeper to really sink into its surface.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The original Nectar mattress is a pressure-relieving, yet supportive, bed. It’s made with a thick layer of gel memory foam, which allows the sleeper to really sink into its surface.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
Anyone who wants to experience the slow-moving, sinking feel of memory foam on the road should consider the Nectar. When we lie down on its comfort layer of gel-infused memory foam, we feel deep pressure relief. The material conforms to our body and gives us plenty of cushioning, but we also feel supported from below by the bottom layer of high-density foam.
What our tester says: “After spending some time on the bed, I felt more cradled by it than lifted up by it. This deep sinkage and body-contouring could be nice for side sleepers or folks who like a pressure-relieving feel.” — Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
Who the Nectar is Best for
- Side sleepers: This is the sleeping position we think would be most comfortable on the Nectar. They should experience plenty of contouring at the shoulders and hips, where they put the most pressure while lying down.
- Back sleepers: Although the Nectar is undoubtedly a soft mattress, there’s enough support to keep back sleepers’ spines in a neutral alignment.
- Sleepers with hip pain: They should get the relief they need at their pressure points.
Who Should Avoid the Nectar
- Travelers with uniquely sized beds: The Nectar is only available in standard mattress sizes. While these should fit in many RVs, some vehicles may need a bed with different dimensions.
Think the Nectar is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Nectar mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best memory foam mattresses.
Best Luxury RV Mattress – DreamCloud
The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great combination of support and pressure relief that back sleepers will really enjoy.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great combination of support and pressure relief that back sleepers will really enjoy.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great combination of support and pressure relief that back sleepers will really enjoy.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
Expert Opinion
Just because you can’t fit a king size bed in your RV doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice luxury. That’s where the DreamCloud comes in; it’s a slightly firmer hybrid mattress with several luxurious features. Its cashmere cover provides a plush feel, its gel-infused memory foam promotes cooling and gives pressure relief, and its coils increase the bed’s overall support. When we tested out this luxury hybrid, we felt like we were sleeping on the type of mattress you’d find in a high-end hotel. And as long as you can find a size that will fit in your RV, you can bring this posh comfort on the road. It even has a shift-resistant cover with handles so you can transport it to your vehicle.
What our tester says: “I appreciate how well this bed could work for couples. They won’t overheat on the DreamCloud or feel too disturbed by each other’s movements.” — Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
Who the DreamCloud is Best for
- Back sleepers: They should get a lift from the DreamCloud’s strong coils, which can assist with a neutral spinal alignment. At the same time, they’ll get contouring at the lower back from the soft memory foam up top.
- Combination sleepers: The responsive coils make it easy for combo sleepers to switch positions and move around.
- Seniors: The DreamCloud is one of our favorite options for older folks, as its responsiveness makes it easy to get in and out of bed without causing pain. It also has reinforced edge support, allowing them to spread out and use the whole surface of the mattress.
Who Should Avoid the DreamCloud
- Side sleepers: They may not find the pressure relief they need on the springy and responsive DreamCloud.
Think the DreamCloud is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full DreamCloud mattress review.
Best Eco-Friendly RV Mattress – Tochta Utopia
This customizable mattress offers a classic memory foam feel that's particularly great for side sleepers!
This customizable mattress offers a classic memory foam feel that's particularly great for side sleepers!
This customizable mattress offers a classic memory foam feel that's particularly great for side sleepers!
Tochta Utopia
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Tochta Utopia
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Tochta Utopia
Material
Foam
Firmness
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
While you’re spending time in nature, you might as well get an eco-conscious bed for your RV. That’s where the Tochta Utopia comes in; it’s CertiPUR-US certified, so it reaches some of the most rigorous standards for content and emissions. With environmentally friendly cooling foams and high-density support foams, it also has a slow-moving feel that memory foam lovers are sure to love. When we laid down on it, we felt the foam adapting to our body and giving us a soft hug.
What our tester says: “I found that its all-foam design made for a super gentle feel. The top layers in particular are likely to provide the sleeper with some deep body contouring and pressure relief, which is especially good news for side sleepers.” — Logan Block, former Sleepopolis director of content and mattress tester
Who the Tochta Utopia is Best for
- Back sleepers and side sleepers: As long as they enjoy a softer feel, back sleepers should get the mixture of comfort and support they need. And side sleepers should get plenty of pressure relief at their shoulders and hips from the soft foams.
- RV owners of all stripes: What makes the Tochta Utopia truly unique is that you can customize the size. This makes the bed a great fit for just about any motor home.
- Combo sleepers: It should be responsive enough for combination sleepers who change sleeping positions at night.
Who Should Avoid the Tochta Utopia
- Stomach sleepers: People who sleep in the prone position tend to need a lot more firmness and support, which they probably won’t find in the soft foam construction of the Tochta Utopia.
Think the Tochta Utopia is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Tochta Utopia mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best organic mattresses.
Best RV Mattress for Side Sleepers – PlushBeds MobilePlush
Original 6" MobilePlush RV Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Warranty
20-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Original 6" MobilePlush RV Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
20-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Original 6" MobilePlush RV Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
20-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Expert Opinion
For side sleepers, there’s nothing like a mattress with deep pressure relief and proper support. With PlushBeds MobilePlush, the name itself implies the feel. While you should get the contouring you need, PlushBeds makes it a point to provide denser foams, resulting in additional durability. It’s sewn so that the mattress shouldn’t sag, so you should be able to get a great sleep on this RV mattress for several years.
What customers say: Several customer reviews note how “comfortable and supportive” the PlushBeds MobilePlush mattress is, citing excellent body contouring from the plush memory foam layers.
Who the PlushBeds MobilePlush is Best for
- Sleepers looking for a long-term investment: In addition to its anti-sag construction, the mattress comes with a 20-year warranty.
- Unsure shoppers: You can test this mattress out for 100 nights for free to see if it’s right for you. It also comes with free shipping.
- Sleepers with allergies: The mattress is made with CertiPUR-US and GreenGuard certified foams are hypoallergenic, and unlikely to activate sleepers’ allergies.
Who Should Avoid the PlushBeds MobilePlush
- Budget shoppers: While far from being a highly expensive mattress, the MobilePlush does cost significantly more than several of the other mattresses on this list.
Think the PlushBeds MobilePlush is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for side sleepers.
How We Picked Our Best RV Mattresses
The mattress you choose for your RV will be determined by the firmness, support, and size you usually prefer. Price is also a factor for many folks. When choosing RV mattresses to review, we focused on a few key metrics that are important to consider, regardless of the mattress brand or model. These points can help guide you through the buying process and help you select the perfect mattress for your next road trip.
Materials
The majority of RV mattresses are made from memory foam, latex foam, or poly foam. All-foam mattresses do not contain steel coils as hybrid and innerspring mattresses do. This can make them lighter, more flexible, and less bulky — all features that make for a great RV mattress.
Latex, poly, and memory foams differ in terms of feel and support. Let’s take a look at the unique features of each type of material.
- Memory foam is a viscoelastic polyurethane that reduces motion transfer and has a slow response to pressure. As a mattress material, memory foam is best known for sinkage and contouring to the body. Memory foam comes in a range of firmness options, from extra soft to extra-firm. To counteract memory foam’s tendency to retain body heat, many RV mattresses infuse this material with gel, copper, or other cooling material to improve ventilation and comfort.
- Poly foam is made from a type of polyurethane that lacks the viscoelastic properties of memory foam. Poly foam has a quick response to pressure and is typically used to complement memory foam or latex as a support or transition layer. It’s generally one of the more affordable materials used in mattresses.
- Latex foam is a natural product made from the sap of the rubber tree. A mattress made from latex will provide bounce, quick responsiveness to pressure, and cooling properties. Comfort layers made from latex can be cooler and cause less sinkage than memory foam or poly foam.
What Are Hybrid Mattresses?
While most RV mattresses are all-foam and don’t contain springs, you certainly could use a hybrid mattress in some RVs. A hybrid mattress simply uses more than one material, such as coils and memory foam or coils and latex foam. Coils add lots of durability, support, and general sturdiness to a bed, but also make them heavier and more expensive. Depending on how much time you spend in your RV, the extra cost and weight may or may not be worth it.
Firmness
Firmness describes how a mattress feels when you lie down on it. A firmer mattress provides more pushback against the body and has a level sleeping surface. RV mattresses are typically thinner than traditional mattresses and may feel firmer. Plush memory foam or poly foam comfort layers can improve the cushioning of RV mattresses and make them more comfortable to those who prefer a softer sleeping surface.
Mattress firmness is rated on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. We use 6.5 as the standard for medium firmness. The best firmness level for you will depend on your sleeping position, weight, and personal preferences.
How Weight Affects Perception of Firmness
Firmness is highly subjective — while we give beds a rating, we understand that rating is not the definitive firmness level, as other sleepers may experience the bed differently than we did. Weight is one factor that can affect your perception of a bed’s firmness. For example, lightweight sleepers (who weigh 130 pounds or less) tend to perceive a bed as firmer than average or heavy people, since they won’t sink into the material as much. Heavyweight sleepers (who weigh 250 pounds or more) may find beds softer than average if they sink in more, but also may find them firmer than average if they sink through the comfort layers and “bottom out” on the support layers.
Support
Firmness and support refer to different mattress characteristics. Firmness describes the degree of pushback of the mattress surface, while support refers to features that help keep the spine aligned and the neck in a neutral position. In a RV mattress, these features typically include high-density foam support layers. A supportive mattress also prevents excessive sinkage or “bottoming out” of the materials under body weight.
Heavier folks and stomach sleepers usually sleep best on a mattress with more support and firmer surface layers. Back and side sleepers are often most comfortable on a soft to medium-firm mattress that cushions their joints and helps keep the spine aligned.
RV Mattresses Vs. Traditional Mattresses
Though many RV mattresses utilize materials found in traditional mattresses, let’s take a look at the differences between the two types of models.
- Size: RV mattresses are typically smaller to fit into a more condensed sleeping space. RV mattresses may be described as “short,” which means they are a standard width for their size, but somewhat shorter depending on the brand and model. The majority of RV mattresses are approximately five inches shorter than their standard counterparts.
- Thickness: The thickness of an RV mattress may also be different from a traditional mattress. Most RV mattresses are between four inches and eight inches thick, though some luxury models may be thicker.
- Weight: While the average mattress intended for home use weighs between 50 and 150 pounds depending on size and material, the average RV mattress weighs no more than 75 pounds.
- Price: Their reduced size often means that RV mattresses cost less, but higher-end models can rival standard mattresses in terms of cost. Materials like latex that typically cost more when used in a traditional mattress can bump up the cost of an RV mattress as well.
- Toppers Vs. Mattresses: Some RVs may not provide space large enough for a mattress. In this case, a 1-inch to 3-inch mattress topper can fit well into small compartments or on a sofa or bunk bed. When shopping for a topper, look for models made of the same materials as quality RV mattresses.
Buying Tips
Still on the fence about which RV mattress is best for you and your family? Keep these tips in mind to help demystify the shopping process.
- Know how often you’ll use it: Some folks use their RV beds only on occasion while others live in their RVs year round. The more you plan to use your mattress, the more durable and supportive it should be.
- Go with what you know: If you love the mattress you use at home, look for similar features and materials when browsing for a model for your RV.
- Shop sales: If price is a factor, shop when RV mattresses are on sale. This may be during traditional holiday mattress sales or off-season when fewer folks are outfitting their RVs.
- Grab the measuring tape: RV bedding compartments differ widely, as do RV mattresses. Make sure you know how much available space you have and the mattress size and thickness you need.
FAQs
What sizes are available for RV mattresses?
Although they often have the same size names as standard mattresses (twin, queen, king, etc.), RV mattresses tend to have slightly different dimensions — usually shorter and/or narrower. And even within RV sizes, there may be some slight variation. For instance, the Dreamfoam Essential has three different RV king sizes (70 inches by 74 inches, 70 inches by 80 inches, and 72 inches by 80 inches). Then there are several different RV bunk sizes, short queen, short king, and so on. So the short answer is, there are many different RV mattress sizes, depending on the bed.
Can you use a standard-sized mattress in an RV?
Possibly! Every vehicle is different, so you’ll want to measure the dimensions of all of the beds in your RV before making a purchase. While there’s a good chance that a standard full, twin, queen, or king could fit in your RV, there’s also a chance you’ll need an RV-specific size.
Can you use a mattress topper on an RV mattress?
Absolutely! A topper can help adjust the firmness of an RV mattress and give it some added height. Once again, make sure you’re getting something that can accommodate the often unique dimensions of an RV mattress.
What’s the proper way to care for an RV mattress?
In terms of construction and materials, RV mattresses aren’t all that different from regular mattresses. The biggest difference comes from the size and the environment that the mattress is kept in, as RVs tend to have less ventilation than a regular bedroom. To make matters worse, many sleeping platforms in RVs don’t have as much room for airflow as a standard box spring or platform bed. This makes it easier for mold to form, which you can prevent by 1) putting a dehumidifier in the RV, 2) keeping the windows of the vehicle open when you can, and 3) storing the mattress on an elevated platform when you’re not using it — either inside the vehicle or somewhere else.
How We Chose These Mattresses
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has reviewed more than 220 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give each bed an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty. Click here to learn more about our methodology.
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Queen) | Coupon | Review |
| Dreamfoam Essential | Overall | $524 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Helix Midnight | Couples | $1,373.80 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Bear Trek | Active People | $699 | Bear Coupon | Review Coming Soon |
| Nectar | Memory Foam | $1,049 | Nectar Coupon | Read Our Review |
| DreamCloud | Luxury | $1,332 | DreamCloud Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Tochta Utopia | Eco-Friendly | $1,372 | Check Our Coupon Page | Read Our Review |
| PlushBeds MobilePlush | Side Sleepers | $1,336 | Check Our Coupon Page | Review Coming Soon |
