Shepherd’s Hut Mattress Custom Foam Cutting
A shepherd’s hut mattress is a mattress cut to the hut’s own fixed bed, which is often an odd width, has a rounded or angled end, or sits under a low curved roof. Because hut makers build each bed to suit the hut, a standard size mattress rarely fits well. GB Foam Direct cuts high density and memory foam mattresses to your exact measurements or template, so the bed fills the frame edge to edge.
Key takeaways
- Shepherd’s hut beds have no standard size, so the mattress should be cut to the measured platform or a template.
- A common build is 10cm of Average Medium base foam laminated to about 5cm of memory foam, around 15cm in total.
- GB 55M memory foam has a density of 47.5 to 52.5 kg/m3 and works as a comfort layer over a firmer base, not on its own.
- Curved roofs limit headroom, so measure from the platform to the roof before choosing the mattress thickness.
- GB Foam Direct has cut foam in High Wycombe since 1976, works to ISO 9001 and gives a 5 year guarantee against faults in manufacture.
What Size Is a Shepherd’s Hut Mattress?
A shepherd’s hut mattress is whatever size the hut’s bed platform is, because there is no standard hut bed. Makers fit the bed to the hut’s internal width, the wheel arches, the stove and the door, so two huts of the same length can have different beds.
Many hut beds run across the end of the hut, often with a rounded or angled corner to follow the walls or clear a door. Others are fixed bunks or a bed that converts to seating. In every case, the mattress size comes from measuring the platform, not from a bed size chart.
If your measurements happen to match a standard size, a ready-made memory foam mattress may suit. If they are even a few centimetres different, a mattress cut to size avoids gaps at the edges or a mattress that bulges against the walls.
What Is the Best Mattress Build for a Shepherd’s Hut?
The best build for most hut beds is a high density polyurethane base with a memory foam layer on top. The base supports your body and the memory foam adds pressure-spreading comfort, while the total thickness stays low enough for a curved roof.
| Build | Total Thickness | Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10cm GB 33M Average Medium plus about 5cm GB 55M memory foam | About 15cm | Medium with a soft top | Most double hut beds used regularly |
| 10cm GB 33H Average Hard plus about 5cm GB 55M memory foam | About 15cm | Firmer support | Heavier sleepers or a firmer preference |
| 10cm GB 33M Average Medium only | 10cm | Medium, no memory layer | Low headroom or occasional use |
| Bed that converts to seating, GB 39H Luxury Hard | Up to 10cm | Firm | Seat cushions by day and a bed at night |
Memory foam on its own does not offer enough support for most people, so always use it over a firmer base. We can laminate the two layers together if you add a note at checkout. Our made to measure mattress guide explains the layering in more detail.
Which Shepherd’s Hut Mattress Should You Choose?
| Hut Bed Type | Recommended Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular bed, standard size | Ready-made memory foam mattress | Quickest option when the size matches exactly |
| Rectangular bed, odd size | Two layer mattress cut to size | Fills the frame with no gaps |
| Rounded or angled end | Two layer mattress cut from a template | Follows the curve or corner exactly |
| Low curved roof | Single 10cm layer or a thinner memory top | Leaves room to sit up in bed |
| Narrow door or lift-up storage | Mattress in two pieces with a full topper | Easier to fit and lift, join hidden by the topper |
If your hut bed is a standard single, double or king size, our ready-made memory foam mattresses come in those sizes, with super king in most of the range. For angled beds, start from our trapezoid or cutaway corner shapes on the foam cut to size and shape page. For anything else, send a template.
How to Measure and Order a Shepherd’s Hut Mattress
To order a shepherd’s hut mattress, measure the bed platform, make a template for any curves, check the headroom and access, then choose the build and order it cut to size.
Measure the bed platform. Measure the length and width of the bed base inside the frame or between the walls, at the height where the mattress will sit.
Make a template for curves. If the bed has a rounded end, an angled corner or a cut-out for a post or stove guard, lay paper over the platform, draw round it and mark which side is the top.
Check the headroom. Measure from the platform to the curved roof at the head, middle and foot of the bed so you know how thick the mattress can be.
Check the door and access. Measure the door opening and any tight turns, and decide whether the mattress should be made in two pieces to get it in or to lift a storage lid.
Choose the build. Pick a firm or medium high density base with a memory foam layer on top, and add a checkout note if you want the layers laminated.
Order and fit. Order the shape or send the template, then fit the foam into your cover on a slatted or ventilated base.
Our guide to measuring foam cushions shows how to measure an existing cover seam to seam, front and back.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Ordering a standard size by default. A hut bed a few centimetres narrower than a standard mattress leaves the mattress bulging against the walls.
- Forgetting the roof curve. A thick mattress under a low barrel roof can leave no room to sit up at the edge of the bed.
- Using memory foam alone. Without a firm base, memory foam lets you sink to the platform and wears quickly.
- Laying the mattress on a solid, unventilated board. Moisture from sleepers condenses on the cold board and can make the mattress damp underneath.
- Not checking the door. A one-piece mattress may not bend through a narrow hut door, so measure access before ordering.
Why Choose GB Foam Direct?
GB Foam Direct has converted foam in High Wycombe since 1976, and odd shaped beds for boats, campervans, caravans and huts are everyday work for our cutters. We cut on CNC machines and by hand, work to ISO 9001 and give a 5 year guarantee against faults in manufacture. You can order base foam, memory foam and laminated layers in one order, and our caravan mattress guide covers similar small space beds. Orders placed before 11am Monday to Thursday are eligible for next working day delivery.
Speak to Our Team
If you need help choosing a mattress for a shepherd’s hut or cabin bed, call us on 01494 441177, email sales@gbfoam.com or fill out our contact form. We are in the office from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 3pm on Friday.
Shepherd’s Hut Mattress FAQs
What size mattress fits a shepherd’s hut?
There is no standard shepherd’s hut mattress size, because each hut maker builds the bed to suit the hut’s width and layout. Measure the bed platform inside the frame and order a mattress cut to those sizes. If the bed happens to match a standard size, a standard mattress may fit, but many hut beds are a few centimetres off.
Can I get a mattress with a rounded end?
Yes, GB Foam Direct can cut a mattress with a rounded end or any curved edge from a template. Draw round the bed platform on paper, mark the top side and send it with your order, or send a digital template. Our CNC machines and freehand cutters follow the shape.
How thick should a shepherd’s hut mattress be?
A shepherd’s hut mattress is often around 15cm thick, for example 10cm of high density base foam with about 5cm of memory foam on top. Huts with low, curved roofs over the bed may need a thinner mattress so there is room to sit up. Measure the headroom before choosing the thickness.
What is the best foam for a shepherd’s hut mattress?
The best build for most hut beds is a high density polyurethane base with a memory foam top layer. The base gives support and the memory foam adds comfort, and GB Foam Direct can laminate the two layers if you ask at checkout. We often recommend 10cm of Average Medium foam with about 5cm of memory foam.
How do I stop a mattress getting damp in a shepherd’s hut?
Let air reach the underside of the mattress. A slatted or ventilated bed base helps, as does lifting or standing the mattress on its side when the hut is empty and keeping the hut ventilated. Condensation forms where a warm mattress sits on a cold, solid platform.
Can a hut mattress be made in two pieces?
Yes, a hut mattress can be cut in two pieces to get it through a narrow door, to lift a storage lid under the bed, or to make a bed that converts to seating. Measure each piece separately and allow for the join. A full length memory foam topper over the two pieces hides the join.
Can I get a mattress for a fixed bed that is not rectangular?
Yes, GB Foam Direct offers trapezoid and cutaway corner shapes as standard and cuts any other shape from a template. Choose the closest shape and enter its measurements, or select custom and send a template. This suits huts, cabins and garden rooms with angled walls or posts.
Cameron has emerged as a key marketing expert since joining GB Foam Ltd in 2017. A graduate of the University of Winchester, with a professional background in Public Relations; he has combined his content writing and brand awareness expertise with an in-depth knowledge of foam products and foam conversion technology to enhance the company’s marketing strategies and industry presence. Cameron has led numerous marketing campaigns, in both B2B and B2C segments, to further brand recognition and open up new business avenues worldwide.