The 5 Most Common Ways to Insulate a DIY Camper Van — And the One We Recommend

Insulation is one of the first decisions that overwhelms new DIY camper van builders.

Search “how to insulate a camper van” and you'll find endless opinions about R-values, condensation, vapor barriers, foam, wool and dozens of different installation methods.

Our advice at TNTvans is simple:

Don't overthink it.

There are several effective ways to insulate a van, but for the average DIY builder, we think 3M Thinsulate is the most practical and straightforward choice.

Here are the five most common options.

1. 3M Thinsulate — Our Choice

Thinsulate is lightweight, flexible insulation that's easy to fit behind van walls and ceilings.

Why we recommend Thinsulate:

• Easy to cut and install

• Lightweight

• Fits curved and irregular spaces

• Moisture resistant

• Helps reduce road noise

• Well suited for automotive applications

This is how we would insulate our own van and what we recommend for most TNTvans customers.

2. Polyiso Rigid Foam Board

Polyiso provides good insulation for its thickness and works well on large, flat surfaces.

The downside is installation. A van isn't flat. Every curve, rib and cavity requires measuring and cutting another piece.

3. XPS Rigid Foam Board

XPS is durable, moisture resistant and affordable. It's particularly useful for camper van floors, where you're working with a relatively flat surface.

For curved walls and ceilings, however, rigid sheets become more difficult to fit.

Our take: A great option for floors, but not our first choice for insulating the entire van.

4. Spray Foam

Closed-cell spray foam can provide excellent insulation and air sealing while filling difficult spaces.

But it's also messy, more complicated to install and impossible to remove later.

Our take: Unnecessarily complicated for many first-time DIY builders.

5. Sheep's Wool

Wool is flexible, easy to work with and fits irregular cavities well. It's also popular with builders looking for a natural insulation material.

Our take: A good alternative, but we still prefer Thinsulate for its combination of low weight, moisture resistance, sound absorption and ease of installation.

So What's the Best Camper Van Insulation?

Here's what new DIY builders need to understand:

There isn't only one correct way to insulate a camper van.

All five of these methods can work.

The question is which one gives the average DIY builder the best combination of performance, simplicity and ease of installation.

For us, that's Thinsulate.

Cut it.

Fit it.

Attach it.

Cover it with your walls.

Then move on with your van build.

Don't spend weeks worrying that you're choosing the wrong insulation because someone online built their van differently.

Choose a proven material and keep moving forward.

To build your van the quick and easy way, click here.