You have built the perfect loft. You installed the perfect lighting and the safest ladder. Now comes the moment of truth: Getting the mattress up there.
Choosing a mattress for a tiny house is different from that for a standard home. You have three unique constraints:
- Height: A thick 14-inch pillow-top will steal all your headroom.
- Weight: Every pound counts when you are towing a house.
- Size: Most lofts and van platforms are built for "RV Short Queens" (60" x 75"), not standard Queens (60" x 80"). That 5-inch difference matters.
At Dream Tiny Houses, we have slept on the good, the bad, and the lumpy. Here is our guide to the best tiny-friendly mattresses on Amazon.
The Mold Factor (Crucial Step)
Before you buy the mattress, you need to buy airflow. In a tiny house loft, condensation collects under the mattress because of body heat meeting the cold floor.
If you put a mattress directly on plywood, it will grow mold. We highly recommend placing a Hypervent Aire-Flow Moisture Barrier or "Froli Sleep System" under whatever mattress you choose to let it breathe.
The Amazon Mattress Tier List
We have selected these based on weight, "squishability" (how easily they get into the loft), and comfort.
🥉 The "Budget" Pick: Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (6 or 8 Inch)
Best For: Guest lofts and Van conversions on a budget.
This is the most popular mattress on Amazon for a reason. It comes in a small box, expands quickly, and is incredibly affordable. For tiny homes, we recommend the 6-inch or 8-inch versions. They are light enough to lift overhead and low-profile enough to save your headroom.
Pros: Very cheap, easy to cut with a bread knife (for custom van shapes), lightweight.
Cons: Can retain heat (sleeps hot), softer support, not great for heavy sleepers.
👉 Zinus 8 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
🥈 The "RV Specific" Pick: DynastyMattress Cool Breeze Gel
Best For: Standard THOW Lofts (Short Queen).
If you built your loft to RV standards, this is the mattress you want. It is a dedicated Short Queen size, so it won't hang over the edge of your platform. It uses high-density foam, which is more supportive than Zinus foam, and features a gel layer to keep you cool in a stuffy loft.
Pros: Perfect fit for RV spaces, cooling gel technology, firmer support.
Cons: Heavier than the Zinus.
👉 DynastyMattress 10-Inch Cool Breeze Gel Memory Foam RV Mattress
🥇 The "Eco Luxury" Pick: Sleep On Latex Pure Green
Best For: Full-timers worried about mold and toxins.
Latex is the holy grail of tiny house bedding. Unlike memory foam (which is plastic-based), natural latex is breathable, mold- and mildew-resistant, and incredibly durable. It feels "bouncy" rather than "sinking." If you live in a humid climate, this is the safest choice for your health.
Pros: Naturally mold-resistant, no off-gassing chemicals, lasts 20+ years.
Cons: Heavy (bring a friend to help lift it), expensive.
👉 Sleep On Latex Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress Topper/Mattress
Final Thoughts
Don't just buy the mattress you had in your apartment. Measure your loft twice. Consider the weight. And if you are unsure, go with the Short Queen—those extra 5 inches of floor space at the foot of the bed make a huge difference in a tiny room.
Now that your bedroom is complete, let's head back downstairs to the kitchen. Stay tuned for our guide to kitchen organization hacks.
