Caravan Mattress Size Guide · South Africa
What size mattress does my caravan need?
Every caravan bed is a slightly different size, and most are not a neat rectangle. This is the plain-English guide to measuring your caravan bed, choosing the right size, and getting a mattress that actually fits, island beds and cut corners included.
The short answer
Most South African caravan beds take one of two standard footprints: a Double at 1370 x 1880mm, or an Island Bed (Queen) at 1520 x 1880mm. The catch is the shape. Island beds taper or round off at the foot, French beds have a cut corner, and dinette conversions are made up of cushions. So the size is only half the answer, the cut is the other half. We supply both standard sizes with free rounded corners on island beds, and we cut any other shape from a template you trace. From R5,999, delivered vacuum-rolled through a standard 65cm caravan door.
Caravan bed types and the mattress size each one needs
Find your bed type in the first column. The footprint is the size we cut; the shape column is what makes caravan beds different from a normal bed.
| Bed type | Footprint we cut (mm) | Shape | Common in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed double | 1370 x 1880 | Rectangular | Older and entry caravans, dinette-free layouts |
| Island bed (Queen) | 1520 x 1880 | Straight or rounded foot corners | Modern touring caravans you can walk around |
| French bed / corner bed | Cut to template | One foot corner cut away at an angle | Compact layouts with a corner bed |
| Dinette conversion | Cut to your seat base | Made up from seat cushions, often 1370 wide | Small caravans and pop-tops |
| Fixed single / bunk | Cut to template | Narrow, sometimes with a wheel-arch notch | Family caravans and bunk models |
Three things to check before you order
Answer these three and you will never order the wrong mattress.
| 1. What is the shape? | Straight rectangle, rounded foot corners, or a cut corner. Rectangles and rounded island beds are standard sizes. A cut corner (French bed) or wheel-arch notch needs a traced template so it fits flush against the wall and cupboards. |
| 2. What depth can it be? | Measure from the bed base up to the lowest thing above it: a cupboard lip, a window sill, a slide-out drawer. Most caravan buying guides suggest 75 to 100mm so the mattress clears everything. Tell us your clearance and we confirm the depth before it ships. |
| 3. Will it get in? | A caravan door is usually about 65cm wide. We vacuum-roll every mattress into a box that carries through a standard door and expands on the bed within a few hours, so a Queen goes in without a fight. |
How to measure a caravan bed (and trace an odd shape)
For a straight or rounded bed you only need three numbers. For a cut-corner or notched bed, trace it, it takes five minutes and it is the only way to guarantee a flush fit.
Sprite, Jurgens, Gypsey and the rest
South Africa's most common caravans, Jurgens, Sprite, Gypsey and the older Sprite Swift and Explorer models, mostly use one of the bed types above. Model years vary, so we do not guess your exact size off a badge, we work from your measurement. As a general guide:
| Brand family | Typical bed | Usual starting size |
|---|---|---|
| Jurgens (island-bed models) | Island bed, rounded foot corners | Island Bed (Queen) 1520 x 1880, rounded |
| Sprite (island-bed models) | Island bed, straight or rounded | Island Bed (Queen) 1520 x 1880 |
| Gypsey | Fixed double or island depending on model | Double 1370 x 1880, or Island 1520 x 1880 |
| Older / compact models | Fixed double or dinette conversion | Double 1370 x 1880, or cut to base |
Treat this as a starting point, not a final answer. Measure your own bed and, if it is an island or cut-corner, trace it. That is the only way we will let it leave the factory, because a caravan mattress that is 20mm too wide is useless.
Why order your caravan mattress from Mr Mattress
| Real published specs | 50kg/m3 SABS-approved high-density foam, printed on the page, not "high density" with no number. |
| Cut to your bed | Free rounded corners on every island bed, full custom cut for French beds, cut corners and wheel-arch notches. |
| Bed-grade, not camping foam | The same foam we put in our house mattresses, so it does not hollow out after a season like cheap OEM caravan foam. |
| Trial and warranty in writing | A 365-night trial and a 10-year warranty. As far as we can find, no other South African caravan mattress supplier offers a sleep trial at all. |
Frequently asked questions
What size is a caravan island bed mattress?
Our Island Bed (Queen) is 1520 x 1880mm, the South African queen size, and it fits most Sprite, Jurgens and Gypsey island beds. Island beds taper at the foot, so we cut free rounded corners on every island bed order. If your bed is an unusual shape, trace it and WhatsApp us a photo on 087 292 1957 and we cut it to match. A standard double is 1370 x 1880mm.
How thick should a caravan mattress be?
Most caravan buying guides recommend 75 to 100mm so the mattress clears cupboards and windows, but the right depth depends on your caravan. Tell us your available clearance when you order and we confirm the depth before it ships. WhatsApp 087 292 1957 with your measurement.
Can you make a mattress for a French bed or a cut corner?
Yes. French beds, corner beds and wheel-arch notches are cut from a template you trace. Tape paper or a plastic sheet over the bed base, draw the outline including the cut corner, and send us a photo. We cut the foam to match so it sits flush against the wall and cupboards.
Will a Queen mattress fit through my caravan door?
Yes. We vacuum-roll every caravan mattress into a box that carries through a standard 65cm caravan door. It expands on the bed within a few hours of unrolling, so even a Queen goes in without having to force it through the doorway.
How do I measure my caravan bed?
Measure the width at the widest point (wall to wall or cupboard to cupboard), the length from head to foot, and the depth clearance from the base up to the lowest cupboard, sill or drawer above the bed. Three numbers in millimetres. If the bed is not a plain rectangle, also trace the outline onto paper and send us a photo.
Caravan mattresses by region
National guide · Gauteng · Cape Town · KZN · Free State · Mpumalanga · Limpopo · Eastern Cape · North West