The Bottom Line: California King Vs King Mattress
If you don’t know which one to shop for, there are clear-cut pros and cons for the standard king vs. California king bed.
California King Size Mattress
California king beds are suitable for long and narrow rooms, taller people, single sleepers, and couples. Because of its more narrow width, California kings are not ideal for co-sleeping or sharing with pets.
Instead, California kings are meant to serve tall people who otherwise have a hard time finding mattresses that fit their height. An estimated 15% of American men and women are over 6 feet tall, which puts them at or well over 72 inchesjust a foot under the California king length, leaving plenty of room for movement, stretching, and staying under the covers.
Standard King Size Mattress
Standard king beds are good for short and wide rooms, single sleepers, couples, and co-sleeping families that involve children and pets.
Because standard kings are wider than California kings, they are better for multiple sleepers or couples who want a little extra stretching room.
How Old Is Your Mattress
The first question to think about is how old your mattress is. This can identify whether or not you need a brand-new one. Normally, your mattress will need to be replaced if youve had it for over 8 years. Nevertheless, this is not a standard by any means.
If youre experiencing new pains in the early morning, are you having trouble discovering a comfortable position in the evening, or have you discovered brand-new dips in your mattress that cant be repaired by turning it frequently, it might be time to bid farewell to your old bed.
Is A California King Bed Bigger Than A King
No, the standard king is the biggest bed available. It measures 76 inches wide and 80 inches long and has a sleeping surface of 6,080 square inches.
A California king measures 72 inches wide and 84 inches long. While its longer than a standard king, it loses a few inches in its width and its total sleeping surface is 6,048 square inches.
The king size bed offers 32 more square inches of surface area.
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What Are The Main Differences Between King And California King Mattresses
That was a little bit of history, but now lets get back to modern times now.
Today, California King mattress dimensions are 72 x 84, which makes this size the longest available on the market to date. At the same time, the regular King measures 76 x 80 and is currently the widest mattress available .
If you have a King bed, theres an easy way to imagine the approximate size of a Cal King one. Just take 4 inches off your Kings width and add it to the length instead.
Of course, the difference in dimensions has both advantages and drawbacks. Let me explain them below.
Who Is Cal King Most Suitable For
Now, if youre having trouble choosing between the King vs California King mattress, youll be in the favor of the latter if:
- you or your partner are more than 6 feet tall
- your pets sleep with you, on or in your bed
- your bedrooms dimensions require a mattress that is narrower than a regular King.
And thats not all:
For couples who have different preferences concerning their perfect sleeping surface, some manufacturers even offer split King and Cal King sizes in the same mattress.
Split means your mattress comes in two different twin-sized pieces. Thus, you can pick the firmness and the materials suitable exactly for you. And your partner can do the same.
Another benefit of getting a split Cal King mattress is the excellent motion isolation during sleep. When sharing a bed with your partner, you surely want to feel as little of their movement as possible to sleep well throughout the night. And split options allow for exactly that.
Plus, they are easier to move around, which is a great bonus when it comes to moving to another house.
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Best Overall California King Mattress
Saatva Classic Mattress
- Type: Hybrid
- Height: 11.5 to 14.5 inches
The award-winning Saatva Classic is a luxury hybrid innerspring mattress. Its designed to reduce back and joint pain with a top layer of cushioning comfort, while the individually wrapped coils at its core help support proper spinal alignment. Plus, you can choose between three firmness options at no extra cost.
The Saatva classic routinely earns high praise from reviewers, and its made in the United States. As a true hybrid, it may not be the best option if you prefer a memory foam mattress. But with a 180-night home trial, you can test that out for yourself.
I Comparison Chart: King Vs Queen Mattress
| California king | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cost | The rarer of the two so can be costlier for bed as well as accessories. | The more common sized King bed should cost less. Bedding should be lower in cost than the California as it will be more readily available in stores. |
| Space Used | ||
| The California King is longer in length than a King, but slightly narrower. | The King is 4 inches shorter than the California King but 4 inches wider. | |
| Summary | Europeans refer to the California sized King as a Western King. | The original King sized bed is often referred to as a Standard King. In Europe, the King is also called an Eastern King. |
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Do You Really Need A New Mattress
Its a question that plagues many a sleep-deprived customer: do you truly require a new mattress, or can you use an old one? The response, as they say, is it depends. While you certainly dont want to sleep on a mattress thats so worn it feels like youre sleeping on the floor, its worth considering whether the mattress will last much longer before you change it.
If youre ready to make a couple of adjustments, you may be able to get another year or 2 out of it.After seven to 8 years, youll probably require a brand-new mattress Naturally, this depends on the quality and product of the mattress .
Who Should Buy A California King Mattress
Because its 4 inches longer than a standard king, a California king mattress is a good choice if youre tall. Those extra inches will give you room to stretch out without your feet hanging off the bed.
California king mattresses are also convenient if you have pets who sleep near the foot of the bed. Plus, the narrower footprint may be a better fit in some bedroom layouts.
Both the California and standard king mattresses are big beds, but the narrower width of the California king can be a good option if you like to sleep a little closer to your partner.
Keep in mind that both the mattress itself and accessories like sheet sets tend to cost more.
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Choosing The Best Mattress For Your Height
Since a standard king is the widest, it’s great for wide people or those who want more room to roll, but it may be too short for tall people . Since the California king is narrower but longer, this bed is ideal for tall folks.
If you’re not super tall, you might want to consider opting for a standard king. This is because of one big issue: bedding. It will be much easier for you to find bedding to fit your standard king.
What is the difference between a king and California king?
King size is the widest: 76 inches wide by 80 inches long.
California king is the longest: 72 inches wide by 84 long.
Memory Foam & Foam Mattresses
If you have a memory foam or foam mattress, it can be bent in half because theres no border rod to worry about. Actually accomplishing this, however, is more difficult than it sounds. Manufacturers use special equipment to help them compress, fold, and pack the mattresses into those small boxes, but you probably dont have access to these tools. There are a few different tactics you can use to get your foam mattress up the stairs, but depending on how dense the foam is and what type of mattress you have, your mileage may vary.
Dont try this alone – you will most likely need at least one or two people to help you.
| PRO TIP: Some memory foam and foam mattresses have multiple layers that can be damaged when folded for extended periods of time, so dont store it folded for longer than necessary. |
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Finding Sheets To Fit A California King
Sheets for a king-sized mattress are easy to find. However, one of the biggest drawbacks to the California king is that it can be hard to find sheets and bedding that will properly fit. Those sheets you bought for a regular king bed won’t fit .
If you have a Cali king bed and can’t find any great sheets in the store, your best bet is shop online. This is why most people opt for a standard king.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Using The Bed
It is also important to think about who is going to be using the bed. If you are the only one that is sleeping on the bed, then this is going to be more than spacious enough to accommodate you.
However, if you are planning on sharing the bed with someone else, you should consider the amount of space that you will have and evaluate if this is going to be enough to provide you both with a comfortable nights sleep. If you have dogs or children that also like to jump into bed with you, then you are quickly going to run out of room. In this instance, you might find a King size more efficient.
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How Much Does A Mattress Weigh
Many potential customers believe that the more a mattress weighs, the higher the quality. However, weight is only a by-product of quality, not a determinate. Mattress type, thickness, and size
Many potential customers believe that the more a mattress weighs, the higher the quality. However, weight is only a by-product of quality, not a determinate.
Mattress type, thickness, and size are significant factors that determine mattress weight. Heavier mattresses contain more materials and are more difficult to move. In our article, we go over each mattress type and size, outlining different features that could influence weight.
How Much Does The Nectar Cal King Mattress Weigh
Since they began in 2016, Nectar is now one of the big names in the bed-in-a-box mattress group. The companys flagship model is their Nectar Memory Foam Mattress as seen in their website. Across the varying sizes, each Nectar Mattress consists primarily of four layers which boast temperature regulation, pressure relief, adequate support, and movement isolation. Your wallet will not cry with the more budget-friendly prices that the Nectar Mattress have compared to its competitors. The company claims that the lower price point does not necessarily mean that customers are far from sacrificing quality, as the materials used are industry standards.
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Do Cali King Sheets Fit King Size Bed
Typically the sheets do not work on both types of mattresses, provided you buy specific ones. However, there are regular flat sheets which measure 108 x 102 inches which would fit both types. Keep in mind, though, that if you buy a snuggle-fit sheet set for your king-size mattress, its unlikely to fit the Western King one as well. This is something to consider.
Improves Back Health And Pressure Point Relief
The hybrid innerspring mattress has been designed utilizing back-alleviating technologies. It has a memory foam pressure-relief layer and a spinal zone active wire assistance.
Lying on the Saatva mattress will reduce the pain youre experiencing if you suffer from neck or back discomfort. It can likewise reduce discomfort around your hips, shoulders, and joints.
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Iv Room Size Requirements
With a King bed being 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, add 2 feet on either side, and to the foot of the bed. Total width needed around the King bed, with the head against a wall, is 10 feet, 4 inches by 8 feet, 8 inches. The room will also need to be wider to fit dressers and other furnishings.
The California King at 72 inches wide by 84 inches long will have two feet added to each side and the foot. This will make the room needed around the bed for it to fit comfortably to be 10 feet wide by 9 feet deep. Remember you need to add more footage to accommodate any additional furniture.
California King Vs King
Many believe that a California king is larger than a king sized mattress, but that is not actually the case. A California king is slightly longer and more narrow than a standard king. For total surface area, the king size wins Californias stand at 6,048 square inches, while a standard king is 6,080.
Kings tend to be best for couples because they offer more room side to side, while a Western king would be a good choice for taller folks.
View Our Full Comparison:King vs. California King
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Most Comfortable California King Mattress
The WinkBed
- Type: Foam
- Height: 13.5 inches
The WinkBed is a hybrid design featuring a Euro pillow top infused with gel. It gives the mattress a luxurious, pillowy feel, without sacrificing support. It also has individually wrapped coils that provide targeted support and helps protect against mattress sagging. The mattress is offered in four firmness levels at no additional cost.
Reviewers say this mattress is an incredibly comfy and high-quality option thats been a game changer for their sleep. WinkBeds also makes it easy to exchange your mattress if youre not loving the firmness you originally chose.
Best For Motion Isolation Puffy
- lifetime warranty for your peace of mind
- gel-infused foam for cooler sleep without neglecting proper pressure relief
- firm core support layer to ensure proper weight distribution and tension alleviation.
The Puffy surely deserves to be among the best California King mattresses, and there are multiple reasons for that. The main one, however, is the slow response of the foam this model uses. Not only does it work to deliver close conforming and adaptive pressure alleviation, but also absorbs shock from motion to ensure undisturbed partnered sleep.
Another cool thing about this mattress is that the Puffys warranty duration exceeds even some of the more expensive competitors. I mean, lets compare the 25-year warranty of the Botanical Bliss and the Puffys lifetime warranty. To me, the Puffy seems like a real steal for the money.
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Size Comparison Guide: California King Vs King Mattress
Close in size, choosing between a California King and a King bed depends on a couple of key differences. See which mattress size is right for you.
Choosing a bed can get overwhelming, especially when discovering the many choices of sizes. When you have the luxury of sharing a large bedroom with your mate then the perfect mattress size for both of you will be a type of large bed made for a King. That being said, you now have the choice between the traditional King bed and the California King bed. Both are grand in size but there is a difference between California King and King bed, particularly in dimensions. Depending on your own needs and room size will determine which King bed is best for you.
What Is A California King Size Mattress
A California king size mattress, sometimes called a western king, is one of the larger standard bed sizesits 72 inches wide by 84 inches long. As the longest standard bed size, its perfect for people who are 6 feet or taller.
A Cal king bed is an excellent choice for couplesand if your partner likes the bed softer or firmer than you do, you can opt for a split cal king, which lets you tailor your side of the mattress to your sleeping preferences.
A Cal king size Zoma Mattress is $850.
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What Sleep Position Do You Prefer
The mattress you pick depends upon the kind of sleeper you are. An innerspring mattress is a company mattress made of coils that provide soft, medium, or firm support, while an air mattress is a firm mattress with an air chamber that supplies soft, medium, or firm assistance. .
When youre picking a mattress, think about which sleep position youre in most often, and select a firmness level that will supply sufficient assistance for that position.
Back Sleeper.I have actually discovered that back sleepers prefer bed mattress that inhabit a series of 5.5-7/ 10 on the firmness scale, with 1 being the softest mattress on the planet and 10 being the firmest. For reference, 6.5 is usually considered to be a standard level of medium firmness.
Side Sleepers.When it concerns side sleepers, they require deep pressure relief at their hips and shoulders. This means theyll generally choose a softer mattress that contours to their curves to prevent pain throughout the night.For me, softness is anything in between 4 and 10 on a firmness scale. We are comparing these measurements to the market standard of 6.5 for medium firmness.
Stomach Sleepers.Those who swallow sleep will require a mattress that is ultra-firm to keep their hips in line with their shoulders. A soft mattress will trigger the hips to sink out of positioning, so they need to look for highly supportive models.
What Mattress Firmness Do You Need?
