Regular King size mattresses have one single area that must work to isolate movement from two people on the same slab. 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. When partners share a bed, you want to feel as little of their movement as possible in order to sleep deeply and well. Each partner can adjust their mattress to their liking.Īlso, we talk a lot about motion transfer here at Mattress Nerd. Using a Split King is also great with an adjustable base. Everything we’ve said about the traditional King applies to the Split King. Basically it’s two twin-sized beds placed side by side on a single box spring, base, and/or frame. The Split King is roughly the same size as a regular King but it comes in two pieces instead of one. I’ve known people who paid under $600 for a $3500 California King mattress because it was discontinued for so long that the store just wanted to get rid of it. That California King mattress might sit in the store’s warehouse for months, because California King are more rare. Some people get a California King special ordered, only to realize that they needed a regular King.

This one’s a bit of a stretch, but sometimes you can get a great clearance deal on California King mattresses.

If you have a long, narrow bedroom, a California King might fit into the room a little better.

So if you want to replace the waterbed mattress and keep the platform, you’ll need a California King mattress.

If you have slept in a King size waterbed, you were actually sleeping in a bed the size of a California King.

That’s the difference a Cal King can make for tall people. One sleeper who is 6-4 recently commented on this site that he doesn’t sleep with cold toes anymore. A California King gives you an extra 4 inches of length. If you’re taller than about 6’3″ or so, your feet might hang off of a regular King.

A California King is great for tall people.

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. Ditto if you allow kids or the dog to sleep with you. If you have a tosser/turner sleeping next to you, the extra overall space can make a difference in how much sleep each partner gets. If two people are sleeping in the bed, there will be less partner disturbance in a King.

As mentioned before, a King is bigger than a California King, so you have more space.

Because, well, you’re in California and it’s named after California, so it’s more readily available in California.) (Note: This won’t necessarily be true if you live California. Whereas you can usually get a King mattress immediately, a California King might take a few weeks to arrive.

Mattress stores stock King mattresses a lot more than California Kings.

Amazon has a big selection of Cal King accessories.) (This is not as big of a problem as it used to be with the internet. You’ll have a lot more choices and an easier time getting them.

It’s easier to find sheets and other accessories for King mattresses.

A California King (72″ x 84″) covers 6048 square inches.

A standard King (76″ x 80″) covers 6,080 square inches. King is the big mattress for most people.

Pros of a King MattressĪ 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. It has the surface area you want.ĭisclosure: By clicking on the product links in this article, Mattress Nerd may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. If you’re sleeping with another normal height human being and just need more space, the Eastern King is your choice. 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. (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. The California King is 4 inches longer, but 4 inches narrower than a regular or “Eastern” King. Overall, the California King mattress has a smaller surface area than a regular King mattress. People tend to think the Cal King is a larger mattress.

How big are california king beds