People tend to think the Cal King is a larger mattress. It’s not.
Overall, the California King mattress has a smaller surface area than a regular King mattress. The California King is 4 inches longer, but 4 inches narrower than a regular or “Eastern” King. (See where we do the math below.) That means a King mattress has more overall surface area and will offer more space between you and your partner than a California King does.
One overall rule of thumb when mattress shopping and deciding between the two sizes: If you’re on the tall side, like taller than 6-feet-2, get the Cal King. It has the length you need. If you’re sleeping with another normal height human being and just need more space, the Eastern King is your choice. It has the surface area you want.
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A regular King mattress is the “standard” version of the size, so the reasons to get a regular King sized mattress instead of California King will apply to more people. King is the big mattress for most people. For example:
Those are all compelling reasons to choose an “Eastern” King, but the California King would not exist if it didn’t offer different characteristics that serve other sleeper needs. For instance:
Yes, another wrinkle. The Split King is roughly the same size as a regular King but it comes in two pieces instead of one. Basically it’s two twin-sized beds placed side by side on a single box spring, base, and/or frame. Everything we’ve said about the traditional King applies to the Split King.
Using a Split King is also great with an adjustable base. Each partner can adjust their mattress to their liking.
Also, we talk a lot about motion transfer here at Mattress Nerd. It is important. When partners share a bed, you want to feel as little of their movement as possible in order to sleep deeply and well.
When you have two mattresses on the base, it’s like two pockets of space that isolate movement and do a better job confining it to that area. Regular King size mattresses have one single area that must work to isolate movement from two people on the same slab.
Before you get too excited about buying a bigger bed, slow down and consider the actual space in your bedroom.
With a King or a Cal King in the room, can you still open the doors to the room and your closet? Will you still be able to walk around the bed? Do the drawers of your dresser and/or nightstand still open? Is the bed blocking anything important like the vents to the AC or the heater?
One way to visualize the space a King or Cal King will take up and determine if there is enough livable space is to use an online room planning tool. There’s one called the Roomsyler 3D Home planner that is available for use free of charge.
Also, speaking of weights and measurements, how big and tall are the people who will be using the bed? Taller people might find the Cal King a better fit. But heavier people may want more surface space that you get with a King for their wider bodies.
If you’re upgrading from a queen-sized mattress, you’ll normally pay 15-20 percent more for an upgrade to either the King or the Cal King. But the same make and model of a King and the Cal King are usually priced the same across the board.
Also remember, if you’re going from a queen to any king, you’ll need new sheets, blankets, frame, platform, etc. It’s kind of the same principle when you lose a lot of weight: you gotta replace all of the things that don’t fit anymore.
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For most people, a King sized mattress is a correct size to get. Don’t get a California King unless you have a very specific reason to do so (e.g. you’re exceptionally tall, you’re replacing a waterbed, etc). I hope this has cleared up this common misconception.
We have a softsider waterbed that was sold as Eastern King (in Florida). The dimensions are 72 wide, 75 long, and 7.5 deep. We are having a LOT of difficulty finding sheets that fit. Any help?
Have you ever heard of an Egyptian King Mattress? A particular size mattress? I was handed down a “king” bedframe from my mother and neither the Cal King or standard King fit quite right? its long enough for the cal king mattress but its go 4″-6″ to spare on both sides.
Another advantage of Ca King mattresses: more space for pets to sleep on the end of the bed! bed
Is there a bed bigger then a king or a cal. King.i have this bed that was given to me it measures out to be a Cal king. I bought bedding to fit a cal. King & the sides of the comforter is to short. So now I don’t know what to do any advice . Disgusted with my Cal King
Not in a standard size. There are custom sizes that are bigger. I’ve heard some people mention a “Texas King” which is a bit bigger, but no major mattress comes in that standard.
Costco is selling a Thomasville California split king and a king split adjustable matress but states that the cal. King is39.5x 83 and the king 39 x 79.thus stating the king to be wider than the cal king. Is this possible?
I’ve never heard of such a size. I guess anything is possible, but I wonder if it’s a typo on their part. Cal King bases are generally about 36 inches wide.
Correction: Sorry, OOPs…tiny bit over 5″X5″ (NOT 4″X4″) My bad! (All said, still less than the size of a handprint…which we’ve never missed one bit.)
Well….I’m only 5’8″ and DH 6′ but we hated the 80″ length of our Queen. NOTE: 80″ is the -same- length as an eastern/standard King. We had no desire for 16″ more width…we’d be roomies instead of mates with so a wide mattress. Yes, 4″X4″ less ‘space’ for a Cal King…so? Approximately the size of a softball? It’s a negligible loss. Anway, we LOVE the extra length at the foot of the bed! This MIGHT be related to two furry-family cat-boys who sneak onto our bed when it’s cold: they want body heat from ‘their’ humans. We do like a cool temps for sleeping. MOST of the time, just DH and I though, and we are SOOO happy we switched to Cal King size. Possible negative consideration: We’ve not had any trouble located lovely mattress covers, pads, sheets, etc. BUT actual Cal King blankets are another story. We find King does suffice just fine. There are ‘extra long’ King Blankets out there, but it’s not necessarily truly extra long. Read the measurement info…and consider shrinkage of fabric involved. It’s been no problem for us though. Cal King rocks!
All the info in this article is super helpful and great.
I think your math may be off on the surface area though.
72×84 = 6,048
76×80 = 6,080
which means Cal king is slightly more surface area.
.. although, like you stated, still not best for most couples due to lack of width.
6,080 is greater than 6,048.
The regular king has slightly more surface area. My math is spot on.
Is there anywhere in the US where I can purchase an Eastern King mattress set? I currently have one, but it needs replaces. The dimensions are 200 cm by 200 cm. Please help.
That’s not an Eastern King, at least not as we use the term here. A king (or Eastern King as it’s sometimes called) is roughly 193cm by 203cm.
Can one buy a mattress wider than an Eastern King?
There are some custom sizes that are bigger, but they’re more rare. If you’re not too tall, you can always turn the King mattress sideways to gain 4 more inches of width.
I’ve heard of something called a “Texas King,” but in all my years of doing this, I’ve never seen one, and I’m starting to think it’s an urban legend.
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