What are a queen short mattress dimensions?
A short queen mattress measures about 152 cm by 190 cm. A queen short dimensions make it about 13 cm shorter than a standard queen-size mattress.
Some manufacturers call a short queen size an ‘RV queen mattress’ instead. They do this because it’s the perfect size to fit in many campers, motorhomes, and travel trailers. You can downsize a short queen even more to be a three-quarters RV mattress, which comes at 122 cm by 191 cm.
Since there’s less demand for RV mattresses, they can be more expensive. It can also be hard to find the right sheets, toppers, and tools for them.
In this article, we did the research for you. We’ll cover popular RV mattress pads, protectors, and more for your short queen mattress shopping,
Short Queen Mattress Types
Before we look at what size a short queen mattress and its accessories, here are the materials that short queen mattresses can come in.
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam mattresses have material made of high-density, low-resilience form. They’re thick enough to support your body but soft enough to mold to your natural shape.
That shape relieves different pain points in your body. For example, if you sleep on your side, it will let your hips sink in instead of bending in an awkward position. On Overstock, you can find 8 to 10-inch memory foam RV mattresses available.
The biggest advantage of a memory foam bed is that it reduces back and neck pain. However, it might also be heavier to carry around. And that can be a downside if you don’t like difficult storage in the RV.
Also, memory foam works by using your body heat to adapt. So, it tends to get warm. If you’re a hot sleeper, you may want a cooling memory foam topper, like Linenspa’s 3-inch gel topper.
Innerspring Mattress
Innerspring mattresses have been popular since the 1800s. They have steel coils at the bottom and fabric layers stacked on top for comfort. Since the coils bend, they make it easy to adjust your sleeping position.
Innerspring mattresses tend to be more accessible and affordable than other types. So, it’s a great option if you only use your camper for short vacations.
However, it’s not for everyone. If you live in the motorhome full time, you may want to add a memory foam topper to it. Foam has a way of absorbing movement. But with innerspring only, your partner might feel you tossing around.
Thankfully, you can find hybrid mattresses that come with both memory foam and springs built-in already.
Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Gel foam is nearly the same as standard memory foam. However, manufacturers add cooling gel beds to the materials. The beads combined with the foam allow you to both feel contoured in the bed, and cool off at the same time.
This type of mattress can be pricey. But if you like taking your RV to vacation in warm places, it can be worth it for the comfort. Not only is it more comfortable, but gel beds can offset odor, too. After all, when you heat up in a bed, you can start to release body odor.
Manufacturers kept this in mind to make gel foam mattresses like Zinus’. This short queen size has gel infused with green tea to balance off other scents.
Ideal RV Mattress Size Comparison
We shared how people sometimes call the short queen an ‘RV mattress’ instead. Still, that doesn’t account for how different RV sizes can be. For example, a short queen might have a harder time adapting to a Class C motorhome than a 5th wheeler.
Below, we’ll cover some of the most common RV size options. From smallest to largest, we’ll compare the short queen size to RV bunk beds, three-quarter, full size, standard queen mattress, and king size mattresses.
RV Bunk Beds
Similar to twin sizes, bunk beds often run between 71 by 190 cm to 88 by 200 cm. If your trailer’s roof is tall enough, it can save worlds of space to stack two of these mattresses on top of each other. They each fit one person, making them perfect to accommodate kids.
Three Quarter Size
A three-quarter size mattress is bigger than a bunk but smaller than a full size. Some people call it a ‘small double bed’. When you’re shopping for these, you’ll tend to find the range starting from 121 cm by 190 cm.
While two people can technically share a three-quarter bed, we don’t recommend it long-term. It’s better if you’re living solo in a camper and need to save space while still having wiggle room.
Full-Size Mattress
A full-size bed will run 137 cm by 190 cm. If it’s the only mattress you’ll have in your trailer, it might work just fine. But if you’re combining it with mattresses for guests, it can get tight quickly.
Thankfully, many sofas come with pull-out bed options. And usually, the bed is full size. They may not be comfortable alone, but you can always supplement them with the mattress toppers in our Accessories section.
What Is the Difference Between A Queen and An RV Queen Mattress
A regular queen-size mattress measures about 152 cm by 205 cm. Meanwhile, an RV short queen is about 152 cm by 190 cm. This difference means that on average, an RV queen is 15 cm shorter than a standard queen mattress.
Taller people might need a standard queen size so your feet don’t hang off the bed. If not, the ~15 cm will be negligible for comfort, but important to fit in your trailer. It’ll also help shed off some weight, helping you move the RV without reaching maximum capacity.
RV King Size vs Standard King Mattress Size
Yes, the short queen mattress has a short king, too! A standard king mattress runs at 193 cm by 203.5 cm. That means you can accommodate 2 adult sleepers and a child or pet together. For comparison, an RV King will measure about 182 cm by 190-200 cm. So, it can be both narrower and shorter, depending on your model.
An RV King Size is great if you want to share space with your pet instead of keeping a separate dog bed in the RV. While it might be large for campers, Class A motorhomes and 5th wheelers can benefit from it.
Bonus: Air Mattresses
Air mattresses can come in many sizes. But the main reason you might consider it is because of how easy it is to roll up and store. But you should know both the pros and cons of a short queen air mattress.
Unfortunately, air mattresses are prone to leaking. They also usually deflate a little bit overnight. In the best-case scenario, they deflate minimally. But at worst, you can end up sleeping on the floor.
We’re not trying to talk you out of an air mattress completely, though. If you have guests spending just one night in the travel trailer, and don’t have a sofa, it’s good to have one for backup. But if you want a regular mattress to sleep on, look for a memory foam or innerspring option instead.
Short Queen Mattress Accessories
Maybe you already have a short queen mattress, but the foam is too hot. Or, you might just want to make it more comfortable without shelling out cash for a new mattress. In any case, tools like box beds, toppers, mattress cover, and pillow tops can make it more accommodating.
Below, we share tips to make both the mattress and how it fits in your RV more comfortable.
Mattress Toppers
A mattress pad is a 1 to 3-inch layer that changes how your mattress feels to sleep on. They come in different materials to personalize how comfortable it is. Companies manufacture them with materials like foam, latex, wool, feathers, and more.
Don’t confuse toppers with mattress pads. While both of them can make your RV bed more comfortable, mattress pads tend to be thinner. Their goal is to protect your mattress from wear and tear, so they tend to attach to a sheet. Sometimes, they’re small enough for you to push in the washing machine, too.
Meanwhile, toppers are separate from sheets. You put them on a mattress, and secure it all together with a tight sheet on top.
Mattress toppers are wonderful for RVs that already come with beds. Built-in beds can be stiffer than you would like. Still, you might not want to spend money on a new mattress. So, a topper can make the bed more comfortable without breaking the bank.
Quilted mattress toppers are one way to make your bed feel fluffier. If your bed has tufts, the quilt pattern helps make it even again.
AB Lifestyles has a great Short Queen quilted mattress pad that makes your bed’s top layer feel plusher. Although it’s not a topper, it shows how even your bed pattern can help contribute to your comfort. Like we said earlier, your bed’s problem might be that it gets too hot. If your mattress doesn’t have built-in gel, you can always find a cooling mattress topper instead.
Here’s one great cooling topper by Best Price Mattress that’s CertiPUR-certified. You’ll notice it has deep grooves in its foam pattern. It might look uncomfortable at first glance, but it’s made of super-soft foam that lets your body melt into it. So, don’t let the first appearances make you feel skeptical.
CertiPUR-US Certified Foam.
The CertiPUR-US label isn’t an accessory, but a tool to help you shop. If you decide to look for other mattress foam toppers for your short queen, look out for this label. It helps identify mattresses built without any harmful chemicals to your health.
To become CertiPUR-US Certified, a mattress must meet the following criteria:
- No ozone depleters.
- No PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP flame retardants.
- No heavy metals.
- No phthalates.
- No formaldehyde.
- Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions.
If you’re between two mattresses that feel almost the same, knowing this label could help you make a decision. It’ll help you feel both comfortable on your new mattress, and about your health.
Some of the most popular Aussie mattress brands like Koala have this label. Although they don’t tend to have short queen sizes, you can still shop for supplemental pillows and sheets through them.
Pillows for Back Pain
You may not know that your bed density affects how much your back hurts. For example, medium to medium-firm mattresses helps mitigate pain if you sleep on your back.
However, side sleepers may do better on medium to soft mattresses. The softness helps heavy body parts like the hips melt in and accommodate your spinal curve. Without that flexibility, your hips would stay up, forcing your spine at an awkward angle.
These factors are important to make a mattress decision. But how does it relate to pillows?
The answer is that some pillows are made with memory foam material, too. So, you’re looking at similar criteria to buy a pillow as you would for a mattress. Even with the right mattress, your body could be in pain. So, you might want to adjust your pillow density to create the perfect bed.
When you’re shopping for a pillow, don’t just look at its foam. Look at how wide it is, too. If two of you are sleeping in a short queen, you don’t want your pillows to hang off the edge. So, make sure you read the lengths of each before you buy.
One great pillow option is Emma’s foam pillow. They are 70 cm long, meaning you could fit two within a 152 cm wide short queen.
An even smaller option is Sleep Republica’s 60 cm long foam pillow. Two of these pillows would leave a foot leftover from your short queen bed. And with that foot, you could have more wiggle room to stretch your arms.
Hypoallergenic Sheets
Have you heard of dust mites? They’re pesky, microscopic insects that are responsible for many people’s morning allergies. They feed off our dead skin cells and thrive in warm places. Naturally, that makes the bed an attractive option for them.
Manufacturers figured out that using plastic materials helped keep them at bay. Mites live in pillows and mattresses but move through the threads to reach your skin. But when plastic is between you and them, they lose access to their food and die off.
Manufacturers used to make anti-dust mite pillows with crinkly plastic toppers. Now, though, they’re a lot more comfortable.
Today’s hypoallergenic pillowcases have breathable materials like nylon, polycotton, or 100% cotton. They come with tight-woven threads that stop dust mites from traveling between you and the pillow or mattress anymore.
We recommend you always have anti-dust mite pillowcases no matter where you sleep. But for your camper, you might take seasons off to live at home. That break means you need to leave your mattress wrapped up and tucked away. Yet, it can still collect humidity, and leave dead skin behind. So, dust mites might stick around.
To mitigate this problem, invest in an antimicrobial mattress protector. Four Seasons has one in a short queen size. In one sheet, it’ll keep your mattress safe from mites. It includes a waterproof layer to keep your mattress safe from spills, too.
Box Bed Frames
You’ve probably seen people use box bed frames as decorative mattress foundations. But in a camper, a box frame is both practical and decorative. You can find a model with drawers to keep extra tools stored under your bed.
Another way to make your bed frame RV-friendly is to get an adjustable one. You can get one that lets you pull it in and out of your RV wall. That extra space where your bed was makes it great to have visitors over.
Places to Shop
We’ve given you a few recommendations for short queen mattresses and accessories. If you’re still shopping, here are a few more places to help you.
Amazon carries plenty of materials. For example, you can get a 100% cotton-thin mattress topper from Martex. It may look thin, but users felt it was super comfortable and held up through washes.
For mattress protectors, check out RUN2BED’s waterproof, hypoallergenic sheet. It comes with a 10-year warranty and has a near 5-star rating.
To decorate your short queen mattress, look through Rajlinen’s options. These 400 thread-count sheets come in light blue, ivory, dark grey.
Moreover, there are some popular brands for mattresses in Australia. We checked these sites, and sadly, most of them don’t carry short queen mattresses. Still, you can find good accessories for your pillows or blankets here:
Unsure of which mattress to buy? No problem, just ask the company what their return policy is. Most of them let you return a mattress if it’s not working for you. So, you don’t have to sweat it too much during checkout.
FAQs
Final Thoughts For Shopping
What size is a short queen mattress? When you start shopping, it’s helpful to remember that not all sites call it a ‘short queen size’. Some manufacturers will list it as a ‘camper mattress’ or ‘RV mattress’ instead. Keeping that in mind will save you from headaches and extra research. If all else fails, you can order a bed with custom dimensions instead.
We hope that this guide will help you find the perfect new mattress for you. With the right short queen mattress, you’ll be able to enjoy more space in your RV and great sleep at the same time.
