If you’re just looking for an answer to the question, “are camper mattresses standard size?”, then the simple reply we would give you is “no”, hoping you don’t follow up by asking “well, what size is a camper mattress?” This completely depends on the manufacturer, as well as the base vehicle and which of the campervan layouts you have.
You may be looking for best van for a camper conversion and considering the most comfortable bed options, or replacing a mattress from your current van – either way it can be a bit laborious to find a camper mattress when they’re not a standard size.
Where do I start with choosing a camper mattress?
Before you start thinking about the best bedding for a campervan, you need to sort your mattress. The first things to consider are:
Payload: Motorhome weights will play a part here – do you have plenty of weight allowance to play with or do you need something lightweight?
Shape and size of sleeping area: make sure to measure your sleeping area at the widest and longest points and establish accurate measurements. Does your mattress need to fold up or be in sections?
Material: motorhome and campervan mattresses are typically made from foam like memory or reflex along with latex, cooling materials and removable covers.
Most commonly, you’ll see sleeping capacity referred to as ‘berth,’ while specific measurements differ between models and manufacturers. This just means how many designated areas there are for sleeping without the areas having to comply with a standard size e.g. one fixed bed and two singles = a four berth van.
Although each model will have its own size of mattresses, it’s relatively safe to assume that each of these will be able to accommodate one adult (even if their feet might be a bit squashed!).
What sizes do camper mattresses come in?
Since sleeping areas vary so much from van to van, it makes sense that the mattress do, too. This is without considering the shape the mattress needs to be in order to accommodate any irregularities in the shape of the sleeping area.
The most common options you’ll see (give or take a few cm) are:
- Single: 190cm x 90cm
- Euro single: 200cm x 90cm
- Small double: 120cm x 90cm
- Double: 190cm x 135cm
In larger vans and motorhomes, you could see a standard double mattress (190cm x 135cm) or an island bed, which sometimes measures in a bit wider. For instance, Pilote offers vans with island beds measuring a generous 190cm x150cm , even in some of their low-profile models as well as their A-class options. So, as you can see, a smaller van doesn’t necessarily mean a smaller bed – it just depends on your priorities.
What if I don’t have a fixed bed?
Although motorhomes lend themselves to a fixed bed, even some of the best campervans don’t allow for this luxury so you’ll be dealing with a fold-out, drop down or rock ‘n’ roll bed (if you’re thinking “I’ve just got my head around Euro singles, what is a rock ‘n’ roll bed?!” you’ll most commonly see it in VW campers or smaller camper conversions).
Over-cab beds – which can include drop-down beds – tend to be slightly smaller, usually measuring up as small doubles or three-quarter mattresses. Rock ‘n’ roll beds are also generally smaller than a fixed bed and their size mostly depends on the wheel base of the vehicle. For reference a short wheel base van, such as a VW T5 or T6, would accommodate a bed of around 185cm x 145cm.
How thick should a camper mattress be?
Just as crucial as the length and width of your mattress, is the thickness. Ideally, you don’t want anything less than 8cm thick, since you’ll start running into problems with comfort. Of course, there is plenty of good advice on how to make camper van beds more comfortable that you can adapt to your kind of mattress.
A good option is a mattress topper, but that will add some height to your existing mattress. Depending on what type of van you have, choosing the best mattress topper for a VW camper van can add a lot without necessarily having to change your mattress.
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