The Best Campervan Mattress for Van Life (DIY & PreCut Options)

Choosing the best campervan mattress is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you start living in a van. With van life, you won’t have all the luxuries of home, but you can have a nice mattress!

In our first van, a Chevy Astro, I slept directly on the folding bench seat cushions while my partner Tom used a thin REI Thermarest camping mat on top of a board. Classy, right?

Now that we have a Sprinter van, we have even more space for a better campervan mattress. We chose to get Sailrite foam for this van, as it’s super high-quality foam. We have one inch of firm foam and two inches of medium foam. It’s seriously the most comfortable bed I’ve slept in yet!

There are many options out there for a campervan mattress – but the most popular remains foam. In this post, I’ll tell you about DIY mattress options and where to go to buy a pre-cut mattress you can slide right on top of your bed platform.

BEST CAMPERVAN MATTRESSES AT A GLANCE:

Types of Campervan Mattresses

There are several types of mattresses most popular with van lifers:

Foam

Foam is probably the type of mattress most often used in campervan builds. Foam is easy to cut to size to fit your particular van build, or you can order a custom-cut mattress. Foam comes in different densities and firmness levels (soft, medium, firm and sometimes even extra-firm). According to marine foam maker Sailrite, the higher the density, the better foam quality. A higher-density foam is usually more expensive and means you won’t feel your bed frame beneath your campervan mattress.

Memory Foam

NASA first designed memory foam back in the 1960s for use in seats and seatbelts. Tempurpedic was the first brand to turn memory foam into a mattress in the 1990s. There are now a plethora of memory foam brands on the market. People love memory foam as it molds to your shape using body heat and pressure, relieving hot spots or pressure points. You’ll also feel less disruption when your partner moves around in bed.

Memory foam is sometimes used as a mattress topper on firmer, high-density foam. One issue with memory foam is that it can get quite hard if you’re in a colder climate.

Futon

Some van lifers choose futons as their mattress of choice. Futons are easy to convert quickly between a bed and a couch and come from the Japanese word for mattress. Futons are lightweight and frameless, making them easier to roll, fold and store.

The mattress filling is made from compressed layers of material such as organic cotton, wool, and latex. Some futons, like those sold by FoambyMail.com are made out of foam.

We used a futon in our Prius camper, the first vehicle we lived in.

Latex

Natural latex mattresses are a popular choice among van dwellers. As well as being eco-friendly and sustainable, they can be cut to size, which makes them perfect for van life.

A natural latex mattress is durable and comfortable, similar to a memory foam mattress but with more ‘bounce-back’. They are more expensive, though.

These mattresses are all natural, so there aren’t any chemicals to worry about, and they’re perfect for support if you move around in your sleep. Natural latex is harvested from rubber trees.

Air Mattress

An air mattress might seem like a funny choice for van life, but there are higher quality options on the market now. Air mattresses are best for smaller vans, SUVs, minivans or cars that don’t have much space. You can deflate the air mattress and put it away during the day.

Luno Life makes air mattresses for all types of SUVs, cars and minivans.

Camping Pads

Using a camping pad or two is probably one of the most economical campervan mattresses out there. We’ve been really happy using REI mats in our campervan bed so far. David Swanson, who lived in his Prius for 6 years, highly recommends the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir X-Therm.

Pre-Cut Mattresses

If you’re converting a Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit and don’t want to deal with cutting and finding a cover for a mattress, you can consider ordering a pre-cut mattress.

The Best Foam Campervan Mattresses

While foam mattresses are the most popular for campervans, I read a lot about people being able to feel their bed slats through foam that’s 5″ or 6″ thick. This shouldn’t happen and means the foam isn’t high-quality or dense enough. If you can’t afford a higher-quality foam mattress, you can consider a memory foam topper, which will keep you from feeling your bed frame beneath.

Many van lifers are putting 10″ foam in their vans, which leaves little space for overhead cabinetry, or even headroom in a van. The denser the foam, the fewer inches you will need, saving precious space.

We’re going to spend a little more time on foam campervan mattresses as they are the most popular.

Sailrite has long been known in the sailing world for creating excellent foam mattresses for boat berths and both indoor and outdoor cushions but hasn’t caught on with van lifers yet. Many boat berths have hardly any space, meaning there’s no way you could put a 10″ mattress. You’ll typically find 3″ foam in many liveaboard sailboats, including ours.

Sailrite has many different types of foam, but the best foam for daily use is High-Density Polyurethane Foam. This foam lasts for 12 years and can stand up to lots of wear and tear. Sailrite confirmed to me that their foam does not contain any fiberglass.

You can find High-Density Polyurethane Foam in both Firm and Medium, ranging in thickness from 3″-6″ on Sailrite’s website. This foam is easy to cut with an electric carving knife or electric bread knife, as we did for three of our sailboat’s berths.

We have 3″ foam and don’t feel our boat’s wooden bed frames at all. We plan on using Sailrite for our new Sprinter van conversion as they use such high-quality materials.

You can also choose to layer Sailrite foam to complete the thickness, firmness and density of the campervan mattress you desire.

If you’re not sure which foam to get, Sailrite sells a Foam Sample Box.

Many van lifers have had great luck ordering foam mattresses from FoambyMail.com. This company offers foam, memory foam, latex and futon mattresses. You can either cut the foam yourself or order a custom cut, although it will be more expensive.

Some people choose a firmer foam and then add a 2-inch memory foam topper.

FoambyMail confirmed to me that their mattresses do not contain fiberglass, which is sometimes used in foam and memory foam as a flame retardant. All their foam mattresses meets CertiPUR-US® certification, meaning they meet new health, environmental, and safety regulations.

There are lots of foam mattresses to choose from on this site, such as regular foam, higher-density foam, poly foam and super soft foam. What you choose will depend on your preferences for thickness and firmness.

You can choose between foams ranging in 1″-6″ thick. Like Sailrite, FoambyMail.com does offer a sample box of various foams.

Van lifers are also happy with the Meistervik foam mattress from Ikea. This polyurethane mattress comes in three sizes: twin, full and queen. You can easily remove the cover and throw it in the wash if need be.

Ikea’s mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, is firm, and roll-packed. It would work for either a permanent or convertible bed.

Memory Foam Mattresses for Van Life

Memory foam is different from regular foam in that it shapes and conforms to your body. You can get a mattress that’s memory foam in its entirety, or just add a memory foam topper to a regular foam mattress, futon, or latex mattress.

Keep in mind that some memory foam mattresses do use fiberglass as a fire retardant. It’s often hard to see in the listing whether there’s fiberglass or not. But you should be able to see it on the label listed as glass fiber, fiber glass, etc. One van lifer said she used gloves to take off her mattress to cut it and didn’t notice a fiberglass issue.

Pros And Cons Of Memory Foam Mattresses

Pros

• Customizable. Memory foam mattresses can be cut to size.
• Comfortable. These van life mattresses conform to your body and relieve pressure on the spine.
• Quiet. There are no squeaks or creaks with memory foam mattresses. They’re really quiet.
• Clean. Hypoallergenic materials are used, and memory foam mattresses are dust mite resistant.
• Easy. Very little maintenance is needed, and you don’t need to flip a memory foam mattress.

Cons

• Weight. Some people complain that these van mattresses are too heavy.
• Too Warm. Unless you buy a memory foam mattress with cool gel or open cell, they can tend to be quite warm, which some people dislike.
• Expensive. This best campervan mattress can be quite pricey, making other mattress options more attractive to some.

The Modway Aveline best campervan mattress comes in many different sizes and thicknesses ranging from 6″-10″.

This open cell memory foam mattress relieves pressure on your back, neck and neck while you sleep. The foam inside is CertiPUR-US certified so you can be sure it’s made without formaldehyde, heavy metals, PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (”Tris”) flame retardants, and is low on VOC (off-gassing when you first start using it)

One interesting aspect of the Modway Aveline is that it comes with a gel-infused top layer to help keep you cool in hot temperatures.

It includes a cover, which you can remove to cut the memory foam mattress to fit your campervan bed.

This is another popular choice if you want to go the memory foam route. The LinenSpa mattress also has a 1-inch gel-infused memory foam topper to help relieve pressure and keep you cool while you sleep. You’ll also get 4-inches of high-quality dense foam beneath the gel topper.

This mattress gets mixed reviews on Amazon but several van lifers in van build Facebook groups have enjoyed this mattress so far.

Like the other best memory foam campervan mattresses on this list, Lucid offers a 1-inch gel layer to reduce heat while sleeping. Below that, the mattress has 5 inches of dense bamboo charcoal infused memory foam. The Lucid brand also is certified by CertiPUR.

The charcoal in this mattress helps reduce odor, keeping your mattres fresh for a long time.

Lucid memory foam mattresses come in 5″, 6″ and 8″ thicknesses.

If you have a convertible bed in your campervan, you might enjoy this Milliard Tri-Fold mattress. It’s easy to fold and put away when your bed isn’t in use.

The tri-fold is plush, soft and breathable, but is labeled as “firm.” The mattress comes with a removable bamboo cover which is machine washable. To cut this mattress to fit your vehicle, you’ll just remove the cover and use an electric turkey carving knife.

The Milliard is also CertiPUR-US Certified and is the best campervan mattress for smaller vans.

How to Cut a Foam Mattress for Van Life

When you order a foam or memory foam mattress for your campervan conversion, you’ll most likely need to cut it to fit. Doing so is easy. First, you’ll remove any cover that came with the mattress and get to work.

We’ve cut Sailrite foam before and used an electric carving knife to do so, which worked like a dream. This knife is cheap and you can buy it pretty much anywhere.

We used a paper template to first as a way to measure our bed space, then layered the paper on the foam, using a pen to outline the cut marks. Then, we cut away and it fit perfectly!

Here’s a helpful article and video from Sailrite on how to cut foam:

The Best Latex Foam Mattresses

Latex is another comfortable mattress to use in a campervan conversion. Latex has the same support as foam and memory foam, but is much more expensive, often 2 or 3 times the price. These mattresses are environmentally-friendly and hypoallergenic.

Latex comes from rubber trees and the mattresses are 100% natural. If you’re sensitive to certain odors or textiles and want an eco-friendly option and have a higher budget, you might consider latex.

Pros And Cons Of Natural Latex Mattresses

Pros

• Customizable. This is a great van camping mattress, because it can easily be cut to size.
• Eco-Friendly. As long as you don’t buy a synthetic latex mattress, you can feel good about your purchases. 
• Durable. You don’t have to flip this best campervan mattress, and it’ll last for around twenty years.

Cons

• Cost. Natural latex mattresses can be quite expensive, although their durability can make the price Worth it.
• Allergies. Some people have a latex allergy, which would make this a mattress to avoid.

FoamByMail also offers a latex mattress, which is about twice as expensive as its foam counterpart. The latex is really breathable and sleeps cooler than other mattress types.

Choose between three different cover options when ordering a Latex foam mattress through FoamByMail: Poly-cotton knit, gray-and-white striped cover and beige terrycloth.

Only food-grade materials are used in manufacturing, and the bed has consistent density and firmness throughout. This mattress comes with a 10-year warranty.

This certified organic mattress is made in the U.S. and is firm, providing lots of good back and neck support. It has organic latex foam, organic cotton and organic wool.

According to the product listing on Amazon, “This firm mattress is great for stomach sleepers and those who prefer sleeping on a very firm surface. It is very strong and supportive but has just enough give to help alleviate pressure points.”

Pure Green also sells latex mattresses in Medium.

These natural latex foam mattresses have tiny air chambers throughout that allow air flow and help keep you cool during your night’s sleep.

Futon Mattresses for Van Life

Futons are usually very affordable, and are an excellent choice for van-life as they can be cut or ordered to size. However, you’ll need to re-sew the cover to keep the mattress in place if you cut it smaller.

Futons are known to be quite firm, but different firmness levels are available. Another thing to consider is that some of the filling materials used can provoke allergic reactions. 

A futon mattress is a great choice for a van life mattress because it’s fairly lightweight, and can be folded for use on a sofa bed.

Pros And Cons Of Futon Mattresses

Pros

• Inexpensive. Futons are definitely one of the most cost-effective options when it comes to the best campervan mattress.
• Customizable. Not only are the mattresses themselves customizable, but you can also buy or make different covers to spice things up!
• Easy To Clean. Futon mattresses can be wiped down with a cloth, but the cover can also be easily-removed and cleaned

Cons

• Not For Everyone. Futons can be quite firm, and not everyone will find them comfortable.
• Need To Be Flipped. To keep this van camping mattress even, you’ll need to flip it quite often.

This budget-friendly best campervan mattress is great for a non-permanent bed as it rolls up neatly when not in use. The mattress is made out of microfiber, polyester and memory foam.

While this futon gets a lot of good reviews on Amazon, some people say it’s not thick enough to be comfortable. You could combat that with a memory foam topper.

FoamByMail also offers a futon mattress, which is 6″ thick and comes in a variety of colors. The mattress works equally well in an upright seated position or laying flat as a mattress. This mattress is most likely more comfortable than other foam mattresses as it’s made from a high-quality foam core.

This futon mattress only comes in the “full” size.

Pre-Cut Best Campervan Mattresses

If you have a larger budget for your campervan, you might want to consider a pre-cut mattress.

These are super easy to install and you can even work with a company like Roam Rest to create a custom mattress for your van.

RoamRest offers a high-quality mattress that will fit in almost any standard van. Their custom-made campervan mattresses are exceptionally hand-tailored for comfort, undergoing rigorous craftsmanship and meticulous assembly to ensure a perfect night’s sleep on the road.

One of RoamRest’s most popular campervan mattresses is the Ultimate Tri-Fold Van Mattress. It comes in the five most common campervan bed sizes and has contoured corners to ensure a perfect fit in most campervan bed designs. 

The mattress is 5” thick and offers two different densities; medium-firm and soft. Both comfort levels have layers of soft conforming foam, performance medium foam, and a supportive base. The medium-firm option has an additional layer of cool gel memory foam. 

RoamRest campervan mattresses have a soft polyester top fabric with nylon-coated, low-slip side fabric that’s easy to clean and resistant to water spills and abrasions. 

RoamRest also offers campervan mattresses designed to directly replace the stock mattress for the most popular campervan models. These include Flatline van Co., Adventure Wagon, Storyteller, and Revel. 

If you want to upscale your sleep comfort with a durable campervan mattress, a RoamRest mattress is a great choice.  

An Air Mattress for Your Van Bed

Air mattresses have come a long way since those squishy, uncomfortable things you’d find in a relative’s spare bedroom.

Air mattresses are lightweight and easily transportable. If space is at a premium in your van, an air mattress could be the way to go.

This is also an ideal van life mattress just to have around; you might have guests along for the ride sometimes, or kids who sleep on the floor. Either way, an air mattress can be quickly inflated and easily stored.

Air mattresses have come a long way, and many now offer cool features like LED lights, and USB charging ports. Although some of these make perfect van mattresses, you might not have enough power in your van to make it a viable option.

Manual pumps are an option, of course, but inflating a mattress manually can take a long time.

Pros And Cons Of Air Mattresses

Pros

• Custom Firmness. You can inflate this van camping mattress as much or as little as you want, within reason of course!
• Separate Chambers. Air mattresses usually have two separate chambers which can be individually inflated. 
• Cost-Effective. This could be the best campervan mattress due to its price point, which is way lower than other mattresses.

Cons

• Inflation Time. Unless you can afford the power to inflate the mattress with a motorized pump, it’ll take time to inflate.
• Faulty Pumps. Things go wrong with pumps, and you could be stuck!
• Shorter Warranty. Generally, an air mattress will come with a much shorter warranty than a more expensive mattress style

While more expensive than other air mattresses, the Luno air mattress is our top pick for car camping and small van life. The Luno inflates in just a few minutes for either 1 or 2 people. Plus you can inflate for a soft or firm mattress.

This mattress is built with durable, 300-denier fabric and a pack-down size that fits into your carry-on luggage. It also comes with a 1-year warranty.

The Luno 2.0 can fit over 1,800 vehicle types – you just pick your rig in the drop-down menu. Your purchase includes a full-size air mattress, two Base Extenders™, a 12V air pump, a repair patch kit, and a carrying case to store the entire system. 

Although this mattress is budget-friendly, it packs in the features and is actually one of the best mattresses for van camping that we found.

It comes with a built-in electric pump, and takes mere three minutes to inflate, so setup time is quick and easy.

There’s a manual pump, too which makes this best campervan mattress even better value for money.

This van life mattress is 13” high, and can support up to 600 pounds. It provides stability and support by busing Fiber-Tech technology. Thousands of polyester fibers are used in the construction, which make this a really sturdy air mattress.

This van mattress also has indented sides for fitted sheets, and velvety panels which are puncture resistant.comes with a built-in electric pump, and takes mere three minutes to inflate, so setup time is quick and easy.

There’s a manual pump, too which makes this best campervan mattress even better value for money.

This van life mattress is 13” high, and can support up to 600 pounds. It provides stability and support by busing Fiber-Tech technology. Thousands of polyester fibers are used in the construction, which make this a really sturdy air mattress.

This van mattress also has indented sides for fitted sheets, and velvety panels which are puncture resistant.

A Camping Mat for your Van Mattress

For van dwellers who want to keep it simple yet effective, a camping pad mattress might just be the best campervan mattress.

These camping pads are usually meant for tents, but they work just fine in cars and vans.

This best mattress for van camping is super simple, easy to use and even quicker to set up than an air mattress.

The best part about this van life mattress is that it can be easily folded when not in use, and because it’s been designed for camping, it takes up hardly any space. 

Many camping pad mattresses self-inflate, but remember that you get what you pay for, and not all camping pad mattresses are created equal.

You may have to spend a little more to get a van mattress that’s durable enough for daily use.

Pros And Cons Of Camping Pad Mattresses

Pros

• Quick Setup. Because these awesome mattresses often self-inflate, it’ll be no time before you’re as snug as the proverbial bug!
• Space-Saving. Camping pad mattresses fold up neat and small.
• Cost. Although you will have to be selective, this is a great budget option for the best campervan mattress.

Cons

• Breathability. This type of van mattress doesn’t breathe as well as other mattresses.
• Comfort. Not everyone will find sleeping on this type of mattress to be comfortable long-term.
• Damage. Camping pad mattresses can become damaged, but can also be easily fixed.

We think this camping pad mattress could be the best camper pad mattress out there for folks who want an easy yet elegant sleeping solution.

The Megamat Duo comes in two sizes, the Long Wide Double, and the Medium Double. Both mattresses are almost 4” thick and weigh less than 10 pounds.

This best mattress for van camping is made from an airtight, laminated material, and the surface is designed to keep you from sliding around.

Best of all, the mattress has a high R-value of 8.1, which means that it insulates the sleeper from the cold.

We think this is the best campervan mattress for van lifers who like to camp out at their favorite skiing spot.

The Megamat self-inflates in minutes, and even includes a mini pump, to be used for fine-tuning the firmness.

This Thermarest Neo Air XTherm mattress gets great reviews from people who sleep in vehicles. The mattress is insanely warm, great for cold weather camping, and has a tapered end, making it easier to store gear.

The mattress is a combination of air and foam, and is soft and packable.

What To Consider When Looking For The Best Campervan Mattress

There are quite a few things to consider when thinking about the best mattress for van camping.

Not everyone has the same needs when it comes to sleeping well, and if the van mattress is going to be shared by a couple, both will have to be in agreement about which mattress to use.

Sleep Habits

The first thing to consider is your personal sleeping needs. Ask yourself questions about how you sleep. For example, are you a side-sleeper, or a back sleeper? Do you move around a lot during the night? If you’re a side-sleeper you might need a thicker mattress for more cushion for your hips and shoulders. Stomach sleepers might want something a bit more firm to protect their back.

Cost

Another thing to consider is how much money you want to spend. Mattresses can be very expensive, especially if you’re thinking about buying a custom van mattress. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good night’s sleep, but it’s very easy to do!

Climate

This is something that a lot of people don’t think about when they are choosing a van mattress. Some mattresses are better suited to dry climates but don’t perform well in areas with high humidity. Memory foam doesn’t work as well in cold climates, and if you’re in a hot climate, you’ll want a gel-infused memory mattress to cool you off.

The last thing you want if you’re in a hot climate is a van life mattress that retains too much heat!

Size

Many mattresses come in standard sizes, which don’t always work in vans. If you’re building out a van yourself, you might be able to design the sleeping platform so that a standard-size mattress can fit.

Otherwise, you’ll need to have a custom mattress made, or else find the best camper van mattresses that you can cut to fit.

Bed Type

If you have a fixed bed in your van conversion, the best campervan mattress for you can be just about any kind that will fit. If you have a convertible bed, though, your options for the best campervan mattress will be limited to those that can be folded, such as tri-fold memory foam, an air mattress or camping mat.

Mattress Topper

If you already have a van mattress, but it isn’t comfortable enough, a mattress topper is something you might want to consider. This is essentially a thin layer of mattress material that’s designed to add a layer of comfort to existing mattresses. This could be a cheap and easy way of transforming your life! Many people choose to have a memory foam topper.

Conclusion On The Best Campervan Mattress

As we’ve seen, there are so many mattresses to choose from that it can feel overwhelming!

However, there’s an ideal van mattress out there for everyone.

We hope you find a comfortable mattress with just the right thickness for a restful sleep.