How to Make a Custom Mattress Topper Or Special Order (Short Queen & More)

Click To Expand Table of Contents

Is the camper mattress in your RV uncomfortable? Are you yearning for a great night's sleep while camping? It might be time to make a custom mattress topper.

Let's face it - mattresses that come with RVs aren't the comfiest. They're thin, not well-padded, and can make for sleepless nights at the campground. A memory foam mattress topper helps give your sleep surface better support to cushion your body and relieve back pain for a more comfortable night's sleep. With a custom-sized mattress topper, you can rest assured you will wake up feeling refreshed and ready for your road trip.

Here's everything you need to know about customizing your mattress topper for a better sleep, and how you can make the best short queen mattress topper without paying for a custom order.

5 Easy Steps to Cutting Your Mattress Topper

What you need:

Sharp knife
Marker pen
Long ruler/ tape measure

Step 1: Determine the Size and Dimensions of the Custom Mattress Topper You Want

Before you get started, you first need to know the ideal thickness for your space. If you fit your mattress topper into smaller spaces, like vans or boats, it shouldn't be too tall. Because memory foam can easily lose its form over time, it's better to have medium-density mattress toppers overlaid on top of very high-density foam mattresses. This will prevent your bed from flattening and also ensure comfort. That said, it's wise to go for custom mattress toppers that feature different types of foam.

Another factor to consider is the dimensions you want for your RV. How much head and foot space do you need? These considerations are vital when cutting foam mattress toppers for boats or vans. You can use this list of different bed types with their measurements for your reference.

California King - 72" x 84"
King - 76" x 80"
Queen - 60" x 80"
Full - 53" x 75"
Twin XL - 38" x 80"
Twin - 38" x 75"

Step 2: Take Off the Mattress Cover

If your mattress topper has a cover, unzip it first and place it somewhere safe and clean. You can also use a pair of cloth scissors to cut it open (if it doesn't have zippers). Make an initial cut to help you get into the fabric, then press the scissors against the cloth to make a vertical cut. Just cut as much as necessary to help you take out the topper.

Step 3: Measure and Mark the Sections You Want to Cut

Use a tape measure or a long ruler to measure where you wish to cut. Mark these sections using a marker pen and make indents every 18 - 24 inches. A drywall T square can help you cut long memory foam pieces straight. Alternatively, you can measure out the preferred dimensions onto a cardboard and then use it as a template for the foam cutting task.

Step 4: Cut the Mattress Topper Carefully Without Compressing It

Before cutting, place the topper on a flat, stable surface. Also, make yourself aware of the blade angle. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that the blade is parallel to the height of your mattress topper unless you wish to create an unusual shape.

As you cut the topper, don't put pressure on it as the shape might easily be changed. If you're using a short knife that can't cut through, start by making shallow cuts followed by deeper ones. Keep in mind that the base layer might be of a different density, affecting the procedure.

More rigid foam is challenging to cut, while the soft foam is more likely to warp out of place. So, if you're cutting soft mattress toppers, place cardboard or drywall squares on either side of them to avoid warping the topper.

When cutting a thick memory foam mattress topper, it's wise to use electric carving knives, like the ones you used on thanksgiving day, to carve a turkey. This will help you make more precision cuts, especially if your sharp knife or bread-like knife (that has ridges) isn't doing a good job.

Step 5: Trim Off the Excess Foam and Refit the Mattress Cover

Trim off the excess foam but don't concentrate too much on presentation as you'll still put the cover back on. Since the topper is now smaller, you can opt to buy a new mattress cover, fold over the excess fabric, or re-stitch the old cover. Before you cut the excess material into small pieces, think about what you'll do with it, as it could help make a mat or even a pillow.

Related Content: How to clean memory foam mattress topper

What's the Best Mattress Topper You Can Buy?

Most mattress toppers fall into these categories, and the perfect fit for your trucks typically comes down to personal preferences.

Latex Mattress Topper

Latex mattress toppers are well-known for their responsive support. Compared to memory foam toppers, they're more firm and cooling, but both provide excellent motion isolation and pressure relief.

These toppers are also antimicrobial and non-toxic, making them a perfect alternative for those with allergy sensitivities. Chiropractors often recommend them to relieve back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Side and back sleepers typically love the contouring and cushioning effects of memory foam. While these toppers tend to run warmer, new technologies feature gel foam that helps with increased airflow. Memory foam toppers offer a soft, cradling comfort feel and exceptional pressure relief for a good night's sleep.

Featherbeds

Featherbeds offer a classic pillowtop experience. They're plush and common in down and alternative down fabrications. Although they're the most breathable and cooling, they provide less pressure relief and support.

Wool

Like featherbeds, wool provides an all-natural and allergen-free sleep surface, with increased moisture-wicking and temperature regulating properties. Wool toppers give a bit of padding but are not as thick as most latex or memory foam options. These models are usually harder to find and have the most expensive price tags.

Why GhostBed's Mattress Topper is Better

Most traditional memory foam toppers break down easily and trap body heat, causing sleepers to wake up sweating and with sore backs. Whether you've been hunting, fishing, or hiking the whole day, you need a supportive surface that cradles your tired muscles and allows you to sleep cool and dry.

The GhostBed mattress topper offers dense cushioning and maximum breathability as it's built using only the best and high quality materials. This cooling 3-inch topper is designed with gel-infused memory foam that has unmatched pressure relief. It also helps you sleep cool and has five different zones for maximum comfort and support.

You can purchase the GhostBed mattress topper in Queen or King sizes and then cut it down to size for Short Queen or King to get the perfect topper to fit your mattress. It comes with a zip-off cover that you can easily remove to cut the foam to size.

Alternatively, you can order a custom mattress topper from GhostBed. However, GhostBed can only assist if you're changing the size to square-like shapes. They don't offer custom services for round or unique heart-shaped designs.

Note that custom orders won't ship out within the standard 24 hours as they slow down production in the factory. But once you agree to the quote, GhostBed will send you a discounted invoice which you can pay by credit card or finance for 0% APR. They then take about 2 to 3 weeks to make and ship out, depending on how busy the US or Canada factory is at the time of purchase.

Closing Thoughts

That does it for our post. We hope this guide will help you find the right custom mattress topper for your comfort needs. Remember to check the tag of your topper before attempting to cut it. If it features fiberglass, don't cut it.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of making your own custom mattress topper, GhostBed has got you covered. They create high-quality foam toppers for RV beds that will truly help you transform your sleep space. For the custom orders, GhostBed charges depending on the size requested, closest to the standard mattress topper size, plus a $600 custom order fee. Contact us here, and we can get you a quote with a $50 discount.