RV King Mattress vs. Regular King Mattress

When you think about memorable road trips or outdoor adventures such as camping, the sleeping component of your trip is not likely the most noteworthy. Unless, of course, the quality of your sleep on that adventure was absolutely dreadful, then your lack of sleep might actually be the most memorable part of the trip. Truth be told, sleeping in an RV or camper can make or break a trip. RVs, campers and travel trailers typically come equipped with a mattress, but that mattress usually is not of the highest-quality and may not suit your comfort needs. What does this mean for your sleep? That you will likely be on the hunt for a mattress upgrade sooner than later. However, finding a mattress upgrade for RVs or travel trailers is no easy task due to some notable differences in RV mattress sizes when compared to standard mattress sizes. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between RV and standard mattress sizes, the RV king mattress and regular king size mattress specifically.

History of the King Size Mattress

A king size mattress is one of the most popular bed sizes, but this was not always the case. For a notable portion of the 20th century, twin mattresses were considered the standard American bed size. Well into the 1940s, Americans primarily slept in twin beds. Manufacturers did not introduce larger mattresses, such as the standard king size, until the late 40s, and these new mattress sizes did not gain popularity with customers until the 1950s. Two factors really helped the concept of a king size bed take off. The first being its affordability, with the average price ranging from $69 to $79 and every extra inch in size only costing an additional dollar. The second factor was that Americans themselves were getting larger. In 1900, only 4% of adult men were 6 feet in height or taller but this number jumped to 20% by 1959. With the combination of affordability and a true need for a larger mattress, the king bed soared in popularity and has remained popular since.

Regular King Mattress

If you did not already know, the king size mattress is the largest standard size mattress on the market. Measuring 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, the king size bed sits at 16 inches wider than a traditional queen mattress, and total sleep space actually adds up to slightly more than a standard California King size mattress. Where queen size mattresses provide ample breathing room for partners who sleep together, king size mattresses prove to be comfortable for restless sleepers and families! The extra space of a king size mattress can allow restless sleepers substantial space to change sleep positions without disturbing a partner, or families to share the bed with their young kids or a pet. While some larger RVs and campers may come stocked with an RV king size mattress, it is important to note that this does not equate to a standard king size mattress. Unfortunately, one size does not fit all when it comes to RVs, campers and travel trailers.

RV King Mattress

This leads us to explore the difference between RV mattress sizes and standard mattress sizes. RV mattresses measure smaller in length, width and often thickness than their regular mattress size counterparts. This is a direct result of the generally limited space an RV might have compared to an in-home bedroom. RV manufacturers design the interior in a way that takes advantage of all available space, but they most often will not accommodate a standard mattress size (unless otherwise altered or customized). This makes shopping for RV mattress upgrades more difficult, which is why mattress retailers who specialize in on-the-road comfort like SleepDog®, have developed several standard RV king mattress sizes. At SleepDog® mattress, we offer an RV king mattress that measures 72 inches wide by 75 inches in length, coming in at only 5 inches shorter than a traditional king size mattress. Our RV king mattress is available in both of our mattress models, the SleepDog® and the BigDawg mattress™, meaning we have options for every type of sleeper. Both of our RV king size mattress models measure slightly smaller in thickness than most residential mattress options, either 7 inches or 9 inches in height constructed specifically for the smaller spaces you find in campers and RVs. However, every travel trailer is different, so we highly suggest measuring your current mattress setup before you purchase a new mattress to ensure compatibility with your sleep space.

Different But Not Better

While there are notable differences between a regular king mattress and an RV king mattress. These differences don’t make one better than the other, they are simply better suited for different spaces. While we do not offer standard king size mattresses at SleepDog®, our sister company BedInABox® offers six different mattresses in the standard king size. If you are still not sure which size mattress best suits your sleep space, please contact our Customer Service specialists who will be happy to help.