RV King Mattress Size: 72x80, 70x80 and Short King
The most common RV king mattress size is 72 x 80 inches, with 70 x 80 and the 72 x 75 short king as the other options. Measure your platform first, since a home king at 76 x 80 is usually too wide.
On this page (8 sections)
- What RV king mattress size fits your bed?
- How do you tell which RV king you have?
- Can an RV king get through your RV door?
- Will a home king fit an RV?
- Do toppers and protectors need the same size?
- Does weight matter for an RV king?
- Are all three mattresses the same thickness?
- Which RV king size should you buy?
An RV king mattress size is usually 72 x 80 inches, but you'll also see 70 x 80 and a 72 x 75 short king. These three sizes look close on paper, and a few inches decide whether a mattress fits.
A home king looks like the obvious upgrade, but it's usually the wrong size for an RV.
A home king measures 76 by 80 inches, which is why a standard king usually won't fit an RV bed. If your bed is a short queen instead, see our short queen mattress dimensions guide.
Our RV mattress sizes guide covers every common RV bed, from short queens to bunks.
What RV king mattress size fits your bed?
Three sizes cover most RV king beds: 72 by 80 inches, 70 by 80 inches and the 72 by 75 short king. The table shows how each one compares with a home king.
| Size | Width by length (inches) | Common name | Compared with a home king |
|---|---|---|---|
| RV king, wider | 72 by 80 | Narrow king | 4 inches narrower |
| RV king, narrower | 70 by 80 | RV king | 6 inches narrower |
| Short king | 72 by 75 | Short king | 4 inches narrower and 5 inches shorter |
| Home king | 76 by 80 | King | Standard size |
RV makers vary, so measure your own platform before you order.
The 72 by 80 RV king
It's also called a narrow king, and it's 4 inches narrower than a home king. It keeps the full 80-inch length, so the bed needs that room too.
EGOHOME's foam is CertiPUR-US certified and infused with green tea extract for a cooler feel, and its flame barrier is fiberglass-free.
The 70 by 80 RV king
The 70 by 80 size is the narrower RV king, used in some motorhomes, and it's 6 inches narrower than a home king. It's easy to mix up with the 72-inch version, so check the width before you buy.
WanderRest makes this size in the USA, calls the feel medium and backs it with a 10-year warranty.
Its pocketed coil core has an edge system that adds stability around the perimeter, and the coils also cut motion transfer between partners.
The 72 by 75 short king
A short king is 72 by 75 inches, so it suits a platform that's wide enough but only 75 inches long. A standard 80-inch RV king is too long for that platform.
MLILY rates the feel medium, about a 5 out of 10 on its firmness scale, and its foam is gel infused.
How do you tell which RV king you have?
Width is the first check, because 70 and 72 inches differ by 1 inch on each side. Measure the platform, not the old mattress, and match the numbers to the table.
- Clear the platform and measure the width at the head.
- Measure the width at the foot, since the two ends may not match.
- Measure the length down the middle, from the head edge to the foot edge.
- Match the numbers: 72 by 80 is the wider RV king, 70 by 80 is the narrower one, 72 by 75 is a short king, and 76 by 80 is a home king.
If the width falls between 70 and 72 inches, measure again before you choose, since the edges of an RV bed aren't always even.
A worked example
Say your platform reads 72 inches at the head and 70 inches at the foot. The foot is the narrower end, so a 72-inch mattress would overhang there, which points to the 70 by 80 size if the length reads 80.
Length works the same way, so use the shortest number you wrote down.
Say your platform is 72 inches wide but only 77 inches long. An 80-inch RV king won't fit, so the 72 by 75 short king is the match.
Common mistakes with RV king mattress sizes
The biggest mistake is assuming a king is a home king because of the name. Other slips are easy to make, too.
- Measuring the old mattress instead of the platform.
- Buying a topper or protector before checking the width.
- Trusting the name "RV king" without a width in inches.
- Forgetting that a short king is 5 inches shorter than the common RV king.
Can an RV king get through your RV door?
Often, if the mattress ships rolled or compressed, but measure your doorway and hallway before you order.
The EGOHOME is rolled and packed into a small box, and it expands to full size within two hours. The MLILY also ships as a mattress in a box.
WanderRest builds its mattresses to order, so ask about lead time before you plan a trip.
Will a home king fit an RV?
Usually not, because a home king at 76 by 80 inches is wider than every RV king size in the table. Those extra inches can hit walls, cabinets or a slide-out.
Our guide on whether a regular mattress fits in an RV covers the door, height and weight checks too.
Trimming a home king down is a one-way job, so buying the RV size that matches your platform is the safer move. If your bed is smaller than a king, see RV full and twin mattress sizes instead.
Do toppers and protectors need the same size?
Yes, a topper or protector should match the size you bought, or it can overhang the edge. A 72-inch topper on a 70-inch bed overhangs by about 1 inch per side, and a 70-inch topper on a 72-inch bed leaves a gap at each edge.
Pads with a stretchy skirt can hide that overhang, and the Kingnex protector below has one. Our best RV king mattress toppers roundup covers toppers in each size.
The cover is machine washable, and its waterproof back protects the mattress from spills. Kingnex gives two depth limits, 14 inches and 18 inches, so confirm which one applies before you pair it with a thick mattress.
Does weight matter for an RV king?
Yes, if your bed lifts on struts, because a heavier mattress puts more load on the lift. Check the lift's weight limit with the RV maker, and add the weight of any topper and bedding.
The EGOHOME weighs 54 pounds, the MLILY short king 52 pounds, and the WanderRest 70 by 80 a hefty 90 pounds. Thickness and cabinet clearance are a separate check, covered in how thick should an RV mattress be.
Are all three mattresses the same thickness?
Yes, the EGOHOME, WanderRest and MLILY mattresses in this guide are all 10 inches thick. A 10-inch mattress with a topper can rise noticeably, so check the space under your cabinets with the slide in before you add one.
Which RV king size should you buy?
Buy the size that matches your platform width and length, and never a larger one.
- Pick 72 by 80 if your platform is 72 inches wide and 80 long.
- Pick 70 by 80 if your platform is 70 inches wide and 80 long.
- Pick 72 by 75 if your platform is 72 inches wide and 75 long.
- Pick a home king only if your platform is 76 by 80 and your doors and slide-outs clear it.
Next, read how to measure an RV mattress before you buy so you have every number written down.
Frequently asked questions
Is an RV king the same as a home king?
No, an RV king is usually 70 or 72 inches wide, while a home king is 76 inches wide, and both run 80 inches long. That width gap is why a home king usually won't fit your platform, so measure before you buy.
Can a 72-inch RV king fit on a 70-inch bed?
It won't sit neatly, because a 72-inch mattress overhangs a 70-inch platform by about 1 inch on each side, so check the width at both ends first. A 70-inch mattress on a 72-inch platform works, but it leaves a gap of about 1 inch on each side.
What is the difference between a short king and an RV king?
A short king is 72 by 75 inches, while the common RV king is 72 by 80 inches, so the length is the main difference. Choose a short king when your platform is only 75 inches long, and check the length before you order a 72 by 80.
