A shaped mattress needs more information than width and length alone. The All Foam custom mattress builder is designed for rectangular mattresses, while curves, cut corners, tapers and other irregular shapes require a full-size template and discussion with the All Foam team before ordering.
A good template removes ambiguity. It shows the finished outline in one piece, identifies the top and bottom, and records features that cannot be described reliably with three measurements.
When do you need a mattress template?
You normally need a template when the required mattress is not a true rectangle.
Typical examples include:
- caravan beds with clipped corners
- campervan beds around wheel arches or furniture
- boat berths with tapered sides
- antique or handmade frames with unusual outlines
- beds with rounded ends
- mattresses that fit around posts or fixed fittings
- alcove beds with angled walls
- shaped day beds and built-in sleeping platforms
If the required mattress is a simple rectangle, use accurate width, length and thickness measurements instead. The online custom builder accepts rectangular made-to-measure sizes.
Our non-standard mattress sizes guide explains when a different width or length still counts as a straightforward rectangular order.
Why a few measurements are not enough for an irregular shape
A curve cannot be reproduced accurately from a single width measurement. The same applies to an angled corner or a taper that changes gradually along the length of a berth.
A written note such as "slightly rounded at the top" can mean different things to different people. A full-size template gives a physical outline that can be checked before foam is converted.
The aim is not to make the template look neat. The aim is to make it represent the required finished shape accurately.
Start with the bed base, not a worn mattress
Where practical, remove the existing mattress and work from the actual support platform or frame.
An old foam mattress can compress, spread or lose its original shape. If you trace a worn mattress without checking the base, you can reproduce the wear rather than the space the new mattress needs to fill.
Compare the old mattress with the platform, but use the actual sleeping area as the main reference.
This is particularly important in older boats, caravans and handmade frames where the sides may not be perfectly square.
Choose a suitable template material
The template material should lie flat, keep its shape and be large enough to represent the complete mattress outline.
Suitable options can include:
- large sheets of strong paper joined securely
- clean cardboard joined into one stable sheet
- robust plastic sheeting that does not stretch
- another flat material agreed with All Foam before use
Avoid thin stretch film, soft fabric or anything that changes shape when lifted. If the material can elongate or wrinkle significantly, it can introduce errors.
Before making or sending a template, contact All Foam so the team can confirm the preferred format for the particular job.
Make the template at full size
Do not scale a shaped mattress down onto A4 paper and expect the shape to be reproduced from the drawing alone.
For an irregular outline, a full-size template is much clearer because every curve, angle and cut-out is represented at the finished size.
Lay the template material directly on the mattress platform if access allows. Smooth it out without stretching it.
If several sheets are needed, join them firmly so they cannot slide relative to each other while you trace the outline.
Trace the actual usable sleeping area
Mark the internal outline where the mattress needs to sit.
Work slowly around:
- curves
- clipped corners
- tapered sides
- posts
- hinges
- cupboards
- wheel arches
- raised lips
- fixed furniture
Keep the marking tool upright so the line is not displaced by the thickness of the pen or pencil.
If the frame has a fabric side or flexible trim, identify the structural edge beneath it rather than pushing the template outward artificially.
Mark orientation clearly
A shaped template can be accidentally reversed if it is not labelled.
Write clearly on the template:
- TOP SURFACE
- HEAD
- FOOT
- LEFT
- RIGHT
- the customer's name or order reference when instructed
If one side must face a wall, door or window, add that information too.
Orientation marks are especially useful for asymmetrical boat and caravan beds where a mirror image would not fit.
Mark every cut-out and fixed obstruction
Do not assume a small corner detail is unimportant.
A post, hinge housing or furniture projection can prevent the mattress from sitting correctly even if the main outline is accurate.
Trace the complete obstruction and label what it represents. If the feature rises only part way up the mattress depth, tell All Foam rather than assuming the entire mattress needs the same cut-out.
A photograph of the empty bed base can help explain the template, but it should support the template rather than replace it.
Do not add arbitrary clearance
One common mistake is deliberately making the template much smaller because "foam will expand" or because a looser fit seems safer.
Another is adding extra width because the existing mattress has a gap.
Do not make either adjustment without a reason. The template should represent the finished size you actually require.
If you believe clearance is needed for bedding, hinges or access, explain this to All Foam before the foam is cut.
Check the template against the frame before removing it
Before lifting the template, inspect the whole perimeter.
Check that it:
- sits flat
- reaches the intended edges
- clears all fixed obstructions
- follows each curve accurately
- has not shifted at joined seams
- is not folded or stretched
- has clear orientation labels
Then lift it carefully and put it back into position once more. If it will not return to the same place cleanly, investigate before treating it as final.
Think about the mattress construction as well as the outline
Getting the shape right does not automatically decide the foam construction.
A mattress still needs an appropriate support base, total depth and surface feel. In the online builder, the base support layer forms the majority of the construction, with the permitted 4-inch 2 plus 2 arrangement as the specific balanced exception.
Memory foam is available only as a top comfort layer in a suitable two or three layer build.
Our how many foam layers guide explains the role of the support base and upper comfort layers.
Consider access before choosing a one-piece shape
A perfectly measured mattress can still be difficult to install if it cannot pass through the access route.
Before finalising a large shaped mattress, consider:
- doors
- staircases
- narrow companionways
- caravan doors
- boat hatches
- fixed furniture
- low ceilings
- tight turns
Do not assume that foam can simply be forced through any opening. If access is restricted, explain the route to All Foam before ordering so the practical options can be discussed.
Templates for caravans, motorhomes and boats
Mobile and marine sleeping spaces commonly combine tapers, rounded corners and furniture cut-outs.
Measure the actual base rather than relying on the vehicle model name. Different conversions of the same vehicle can use different layouts.
Our custom mattress guide for caravans, motorhomes and boats covers additional checks such as access, ventilation and support surfaces.
Quick answers about shaped mattress templates
Can I order a shaped mattress through the online custom builder?
No. The online builder is for rectangular custom mattresses. Curved, tapered, clipped-corner and other shaped mattresses require a template, so contact All Foam before ordering.
Should I trace my old mattress?
Use the old mattress only as a reference. Where practical, check the actual bed base because old foam can compress or change shape over time.
Does a shaped mattress template need to be full size?
A full-size template is the clearest way to communicate an irregular outline. Contact All Foam before preparing or sending it so the team can confirm the preferred format.
What should I write on the template?
Mark the head, foot, left, right and top surface, plus all cut-outs or fixed obstructions. Add useful overall measurements as a cross-check.
Can a photo replace a mattress template?
A photo is useful supporting information but does not reproduce a complex shape accurately. For a shaped mattress, the physical outline is the important reference.
Final template checklist
Before contacting All Foam, confirm that:
- the bed has been checked without relying solely on the old mattress
- the template represents the required finished outline at full size
- all curves, angles and cut-outs are shown
- head, foot, left, right and top are marked
- the material does not stretch
- seams between template sheets cannot move
- overall width and length have been recorded
- required mattress depth has been considered separately
- access into the sleeping space has been checked
- photographs are available for unusual details
- no arbitrary clearance has been added without discussion
A carefully prepared template makes a shaped custom mattress easier to specify and reduces avoidable uncertainty before production. For a simple rectangle, use the All Foam custom mattress builder. For any irregular outline, contact the team first so the template and construction can be reviewed before ordering.
