Best RV mattress replacement: our top picks by size

The best RV mattress for most people is a memory foam or hybrid mattress bought in your rig’s exact RV size, which is usually an RV Short Queen at 60 by 75 inches, five inches shorter than a residential queen. A quality bed-in-a-box like a Linenspa hybrid or a Zinus memory foam runs about $150 to $280 and beats the thin stock mattress most RVs ship with.

The mattress that came with your RV is almost always the first thing owners want to replace. Manufacturers cut costs on it, so it is usually thin, firm, and uncomfortable.

The catch is size: RV mattresses are not the same dimensions as home mattresses, so you cannot just grab a queen off the shelf. Below is the size chart, how to measure, and the best replacements by size and type.

RV mattress sizes explained

RV beds use their own sizes, and most are shorter or narrower than the home mattress of the same name. The most common by far is the RV Short Queen, which trips up buyers because it is five inches shorter than a regular queen.

These are the common figures, but your rig may differ by an inch or two, and bunk sizes especially are all over the map. The chart tells you what to expect; your tape measure tells you what to buy.

How to measure your RV mattress

Measuring takes two minutes and saves an expensive return. Check three things before you order.

1. Width and length Measure your existing mattress edge to edge, both ways, and write down the numbers. Match them to the closest RV size, and if you are between sizes, size down so the new one is not crammed in.
2. Thickness and clearance Measure how much vertical space you have, especially with under-bed storage that lifts, a bunk above, or a slide. An 8-inch mattress often fits an RV better than a tall 12-inch home mattress.
3. Corner shape Some RV mattresses have rounded (radius) or cut corners to fit the bed frame. Note the shape, because a square mattress may not sit right in a radius-corner space.

Memory foam, hybrid, or innerspring?

Three mattress types dominate the RV world, and the right one depends on how you sleep and how much space and weight you can spare.

Memory foam: the most popular for RVs. It is lighter, easy to maneuver through tight RV doorways, ships compressed in a box, and molds to you. It can sleep warm, so look for gel-infused or breathable foam.

Hybrid: foam over springs. It gives more support and bounce and sleeps cooler than all-foam, at the cost of more weight. A great all-around choice if it fits your clearance.

Innerspring: the traditional coil mattress. Cheaper and cooler, but usually less comfortable than foam or hybrid, and often what you are replacing.

The best RV mattresses

Here are our picks by type and budget. All come in RV Short Queen and most other RV sizes, so match the pick to your measurements before you order.

Best overall for most RVers: Linenspa 10-inch hybrid

For most RVers, the Linenspa 10-inch memory foam and spring hybrid is the best all-around replacement. The springs give it real support while the foam on top adds comfort, and the coils help it sleep cooler than an all-foam bed.

It comes in RV Short Queen and other RV sizes, ships compressed in a box so it fits through a narrow RV door, and lands around $200. It is the easy upgrade from a thin stock mattress.

Best memory foam: Zinus 10-inch Ultima

If you prefer the contouring, motion-isolating feel of memory foam, the Zinus 10-inch Ultima is a proven pick. It cushions pressure points and stays quiet when your partner moves, which matters in a small RV bed.

It is fiberglass-free and made with CertiPUR-US certified foams, so you avoid the fiberglass fire barrier some cheap foam mattresses hide. It comes in RV Short Queen and other RV sizes.

Best budget and for bunks: Zinus 8-inch memory foam

If you are on a budget, or you are replacing a thinner bunk or storage-bed mattress, the Zinus 8-inch memory foam is the value pick. The lower profile fits tighter spaces where a 10 or 12-inch mattress would not clear.

It is light, ships in a box, and costs around $150, which makes it an easy choice for a second bed, a bunk, or a first upgrade. You give up a little plushness for the lower price and height.

Best for odd sizes and radius corners: a custom RV mattress

If your bed is an unusual size, has rounded or cut corners, or sits in a tight nook that boxed mattresses do not fit, a custom RV mattress is the answer. Specialists like Tochta and Mattress Insider build to your exact measurements and corner shape.

You pay more and wait for it to be made, but you get a mattress that fits perfectly where an off-the-shelf one never could. These are sold directly by the makers rather than on Amazon, so order from their sites.

How to choose an RV mattress

Three questions get you to the right mattress. Answer them and the choice is usually clear.

1. What size and shape is your bed Measure width, length, thickness, and corner shape first. This rules most options in or out before you even think about comfort.
2. How much clearance and weight you have Tight bunks and lifting storage beds want a thinner 8-inch mattress; a walk-around bed can take a 10-inch hybrid. Foam is lighter to wrestle through the door.
3. How you like to sleep Want contouring and quiet? Choose memory foam. Want support and a cooler sleep? Choose a hybrid. Odd size or corners? Go custom.

The bottom line

The stock RV mattress is an easy, high-impact upgrade, as long as you buy the right size. Measure your bed first, match it to the RV size chart, and remember that Short Queen is shorter than a home queen.

Most RVers should get the Linenspa hybrid for balanced support, choose Zinus memory foam if you want that contouring feel, drop to the 8-inch Zinus for bunks and budgets, and go custom for odd sizes and radius corners. Any of them beats the thin board your rig came with.

Kitting out the rest of your rig? See our must-have RV accessories and browse all our RV gear guides.