King vs. California King: What’s the Difference?

The AS3 mattress is easily our most popular model, and it owes much of its success to its versatile feel. Couples often seek a mattress like our AS3 when they’re searching for a king size mattress. The AS3 suits most sleeping styles, so two people can compromise without giving up what makes each of them feel comfortable.

The medium feel balances pressure-relieving cushion with supportive features and can support different sleeping positions and body types. The AS3 may be just what you need if you want to upgrade your bedroom with a king size bed, whether it’s a regular king or a California king.

Three foam layers make up the AS3 mattress, regardless of what size of mattress you choose:

• 3 inches of Bio-Pur® foam
• 2 inches of Affinity foam with HIVE®
• 7 inches of Bio-Core® foam

The top layer is Bio-Pur® foam, a plant-based material. While traditional memory foam is wholly synthetic, we replace some petrochemicals with plant-derived oils. As a partly plant-based memory foam, Bio-Pur®improves upon many qualities of traditional memory foam, aside from just its sustainability.

Thanks to its construction, Bio-Pur® adapts within seconds to a person’s movements, making it easy to move across the surface. The design of Bio-Pur® foam also promotes airflow through the surface, which enables heat dispersion for uninterrupted sleep.

Next, is the Affinity foam with HIVE® layer. Affinity foam has hexagonal cutouts arranged in five distinct zones. The hexagons in the shoulders and hips areas are placed to establish pressure relief and increase cushion, while the head, torso, and feet are focused on pure support.

The Bio-Core® foam base helps the mattress stand up against years of wear and tear, a particularly beneficial feature when it comes to making an investment on a king size mattress. After all, you don’t want to pay a king’s ransom for a king mattress only to have it sag within a few short years.

We designed the Bio-Core® foam to minimize the chances of sagging. Just how confident are we in the durability of Bio-Core®? Well, Bio-Core® foam is the main reason we back all of our memory foam mattresses with a 20-year warranty.

Quick Summary

• Medium feel supports people with conflicting sleep styles
• Five support zones for adaptable comfort and pressure-relieving cushion
• Sag-resistant, supportive base foam for greater mattress durability

What to Consider with California King vs. King

Whether you choose a king or California king size mattress, look at room dimensions, cost, and sleeper height. Also, take into account if you’re part of a couple that likes to sleep close to each other or prefer more personal space.

Room Dimensions

Allow at least 2 feet of space on three sides of the mattress for more room to walk around and space to add furniture without feeling overcrowded. If you have a narrower room, a California king sized mattress might be better to save on space compared to a king size. If you plan to install a headboard, consider the space that will take up as well.

If you’re limited on space, then a queen mattress might be the better option —the queen size provides room for couples and is also a good choice for single adults. If you’re looking for a bed for one sleeper, queen or full size mattress are excellent options.

Cost

Both king and California king mattresses have the highest cost on the market due to their large size and the number of materials they contain, particularly if they have a taller mattress thickness.

Since Cal king mattresses aren’t as widely available as a king-size, you may end up paying more. This also applies to accessories, like bed frames, comforters, and bed sheets.

Sleeper Height

Height is another important factor to consider before choosing between a king and a California king mattress. How tall you are directly affects how comfortably you can stretch out on a sleeping surface, with shorter people having an easier time of it.

For those 6 feet tall and shorter, a regular king mattress is the perfect fit. For those taller than 6 feet, a California king bed is better, with more space to stretch out.

Couples

If you’re part of a couple and trying to decide between a king or California king mattress, consider how you both like to sleep —if one or both of you prefer more personal space, a king-size mattress is a good option. If you both like to sleep close to each other, a Cal king size bed is a great choice.

Of course, some couples don’t want to share the same bed because their comfort preferences are so different, but they may still wish to stay close at night. For these couples, we recommend the split king mattress, which gives each partner their own twin XL size mattress laid side by side.

These can even be a dual firmness mattress, with two twin XL mattresses offering unique feels for each person. Such partners can even have separate blankets for couples for further individualized comfort, though others may want king sheets and blankets over their twin mattresses for a uniform look.

Mattress Foundation

The type of foundation you use with the bed is more dependent on the mattress type, not the size. You can use an adjustable base with both kings and Cal kings, as well as box springs, platform beds, or slatted frames. Just make sure you use the right bed foundation with your mattress type, which should be specified in the mattress warranty.

Other Standard Mattress Sizes

While king and California king mattresses are the pinnacles of expansive comfort, they’re not the right choice for everyone. If you don’t have the room space or budget for either, there are four other standard sizes to consider.

Mattress Size	Mattress Dimension	Recommended Room Size
Queen	60 inches by 80 inches	10 foot by 12 foot
Full	54 inches by 75 inches	10 foot by 12 foot
Twin XL	38 inches by 80 inches	10 foot by 10 foot
Twin	38 inches by 75 inches	10 foot by 10 foot

Twin

The smallest size mattress an adult can comfortably sleep on is a twin size mattress. It’s an affordable option for sleepers under 6 feet tall, able to squeeze into most smaller bedrooms and studio apartments. However, for taller sleepers, it may be worth the extra cost to get a twin XL bed instead.

See also twin vs twin XL mattresses.

Twin XL

The twin XL mattress is a small step up from the standard twin mattress, giving taller sleepers more room to stretch out with their legs. If you’re an adult sleeper looking for a compact yet comfortable mattress, a twin XL size mattress might be your best option.

See also twin XL vs. split king mattresses.

Full

A full size mattress, occasionally referred to as a double bed, is excellent for sleepers who want a smaller mattress with room to sprawl. Despite its alternate name, we can’t recommend a full or double bed to sleepers who plan to share with a partner. Each person would end up with a sleeping space roughly the size of a crib mattress.

See also:

• King vs. Full Mattress
• California King vs. Full Mattress

Queen

The queen size mattress is the largest mattress of the four smaller sizes, and it is the only one we would recommend to couples who aren’t considering king mattresses. Measuring 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, a queen bed can provide enough space for two people to sleep without feeling pressed too close. Still, those who enjoy their personal space at night might prefer one of the king beds.

See also:

• Queen Mattress vs. California King Mattress
• King vs. Queen Mattress

FAQs

Is a California king bigger than a regular king?

The king size mattress has a greater total surface space than a California king size —6,080 square inches compared to 6,048. Still, for many sleepers the difference is negligible. Both king sized bed options can usually provide the personal space that two people require.

How much bigger is California king than a queen?

A California king size is both wider and longer than a queen size mattress. A California king size mattress measures 72 inches by 84 inches. Meanwhile, a queen size measures 60 inches by 80 inches. While many sleepers will feel comfortable on a queen or California king bed, the added foot room can keep sleepers over 6 feet tall from having to lie down with their feet dangling over the edge.

What is the point of a California king bed?

Though the idea of a Cal king may not make much sense, it’s a great option for tall sleepers or couples with a small, narrow master bedroom. With a California king, each sleeper (or single sleepers) still have plenty of space, but the bed doesn’t take up as much room width-wise.

However, partners who aren’t over 6 feet tall and have wider bedrooms should find standard king mattresses perfectly satisfactory.

What is an Alaskan king bed?

An Alaskan king measures 108 inches by 108 inches, or 9 by 9 feet. Alaskan kings are rare, but the largest variation of king beds and perfect for two sleepers who needs lots of room or even parents who co-sleep with their kids. Most mattress retailers don’t carry Alaskan kings, so you may need to special order one if you want one.

See also California King vs. Alaskan King.

Why is it called a California king?

The California king got its name from where it was invented—Los Angeles, California. The creator of the mattress thought most Californians had houses big enough for a bed six feet wide and seven feet long. It’s sometimes also called the Western king since it was made in the western U.S., while the traditional king is called the Eastern king.

The Perfect Size

Both king and California king are the largest standard mattress sizes on the market. Both are excellent choices for a master bedroom in providing adequate sleeping space.

While a standard king mattress is wider and shorter, a California king size is longer and narrower. Either can be the most comfortable mattress for you, whether you’re sleeping alone or with a partner. Depending on your personal preferences and available space, both king size beds are excellent choices for any master bedroom.