What Type Of Mattress To Get For Your Camper van + How To Cut It

Do you want to create a bed design with a unique shape? Beds that turn into benches or fold up small are a great way to save space in a van. Sizing a campervan mattress is easy and can be done at home with just a few tools.

If you’re not sure what you want your bed to look like yet, read our post on 10 campervan bed designs to come up with some ideas.

Start With Measuring Your Van

You’ll be surprised to find that many campervans will be able to easily fit a queen-sized mattress or even larger! Mattress sizes are standard so you can use the chart below to see what is going to be the best fit:

Mattress Type	Dimensions (inches)	Dimensions (centimeters)
King	76 x 80	194 x 204
Cal King	72 x 84	183 x 214
Queen	60 x 80	153 x 204
Full XL	53 x 80	135 x 204
Full	53 x 75	135 x 191
Twin XL	38 x 80	97 x 204
Twin	38 x 75	97 x 191

Decide Which Type Of Mattress You Want To Buy

Memory foam mattresses are easy to cut at home and can be shaped to fit your van. They are relatively breathable and make a great choice for bench seats or cushions in addition to sleeping. There are two types of memory foam mattresses to chose from: gel-infused and standard.

A standard memory foam mattress is going to be less stiff and ‘cradle’ your body. A gel-infused mattress is stiffer and has a little more air-circulation. For our van, we chose to purchase a 5” gel memory foam mattress.

Gel-infused mattresses stay cooler than standard memory foam mattresses and can be cut in the same way

Height of your mattress is going to make a big difference in the comfort level. A 4-6” height is most popular among van dwellers. We went with a 5” mattress for a little extra comfort and have been happy with the results. Consider space constraints in the vehicle. Every extra inch is going to bring you closer to the ceiling with a mattress.

Tools To Cut A Mattress

Cutting a memory foam mattress in half is easy and can be done at home. Only a few tools are required and you probably already own them:

• Measuring Tape
• Rigid Ruler or Straight Edge
• Sharpie Marker
• Serrated Bread Knife or Electric Carving Knife
• Mattress protector

How To Cut A Campervan Mattress

Step 1
Remove the fabric cover or any extra outer layers encasing the foam.

Step 2
Measure your mattress and mark off the cutting areas with a sharpie. Use a rigid ruler or guide to keep your lines straight.

Step 3
Carefully cut the mattress using a serrated bread knife or electric knife. There’s no tricks! What’s the difference between knives? An electric knife will leave you with a cleaner cut that looks less choppy. Either tool will work fine. Cut slowly and be sure to hold the knife at a 90-degree angle to keep the edges straight.

Pro-tip: the longer the knife blade the better when it comes to cutting a mattress

Chances are, your mattress is not going to be taller than the knife blade when it comes to a van. If your blade does not cut all the way through however, flip your mattress over after the first cut, re-measure on the back side and cut again.

The video below demonstrates cutting through a foam mattress. This is quite a bit thicker than you will probably have but the process is the same.

What about Fiberglass?

Some foam mattresses come with a layer of fiberglass insulation meant to act as a fire retardant. When you cut into the mattress you may see this come off as tiny, shiny fibers. To keep the fibers contained (and off your skin) we recommend covering your freshly cut mattress with a waterproof mattress protector.

What Are Some Good Mattress Choices For VanLife?

Choose a mattress based on your available space and comfort level. We like the gel-infused memory foam because they are slim, breathable and easy to cut. Listed below are a few popular size options.

Mattress Size	Mattress Type	Dimensions (in)	Height (in)
King	Modway Aveline Gel Infused Memory Foam	76 x 80	6"
Queen	Modway Aveline Gel Infused Memory Foam	60 x 80	6"
Full	Modway Aveline Gel Infused Memory Foam	53 x 75	6"
Twin	Modway Aveline Gel Infused Memory Foam	38 x 75	6"

Mattress Size	Mattress Type	Dimensions (in)	Height (in)
King	Linenspa Gel Memory Foam Mattress	76 x 80	5"
Queen	Zinus Cool Gel Memory Foam	60 x 80	5"
Full	Zinus Cool Gel Memory Foam	53 x 75	5"
Twin	Zinus Cool Gel Memory Foam	38 x 75	5"

Folding Mattresses for a Camper Van

	Full Size 4″ Folding Portable Mattress • High density foam • Tri-fold design	Check Prices
	Queen Size 4″ Folding Portable Mattress • Removeable cover • Includes carry handles	Check Prices