King vs California King Mattress: Which Should You Choose?

The mattress size you choose is incredibly important, not only from a comfort standpoint, but also a design standpoint. The mattress must fit in your bedroom without overpowering the space (you don’t want a cramped bedroom where you can barely fit a side table).

When choosing between a King vs California King mattress, you’ll want to know who you will be sharing the mattress with (or if you’re single and want to keep it that way), what size bedroom you have, and just how tall is considered tall in the mattress industry (one of these mattresses is much better for a person who is over 6 feet).

This blog post will dive into the differences between Cal King vs King so that when you are ready to shop for your next mattress, you will select the right one for your needs!

What is the difference between King and California King?

When comparing a King vs Cal King, the first thing you will look at are their dimensions. One mattress is wider than the other and one mattress is longer than the other. This is a very important distinction.

Let’s break it down. While dimensions may slightly vary based on the manufacturer, these are the standard dimensions followed in the mattress industry.

King Mattress Dimensions: 76” width x 80” length

California King Mattress Dimensions: 72” width x 84” length

How much bigger is a California King than a King?

A California King mattress is 4 inches longer. However, it is also 4 inches less in width.

Alaskan King vs California King: Which is larger?

An Alaskan King mattress is 108” in width and 108” in length, so it is 9 feet by 9 feet.

An Alaskan King mattress is much less popular because of how large this mattress is, not fitting easily in most bedrooms. It is also much more expensive than standard size mattresses. Alaskan King bedding is also not as readily available, nor are platform beds. These are all factors to consider if you are looking at an Alaskan King.

King vs Cal King: How do you choose?

When trying to decide between the two sizes, here are important factors to consider and questions to ask yourself:

• How big is my bedroom?
• Will I have additional furniture in my bedroom? If so, what are the dimensions?
• Will I be sleeping alone or with a partner?
• If I’m sleeping with a partner, how tall is my partner?
• Am I over 6 feet tall?
• Will I have pets or children in the bed?
• Do I have an existing platform bed that is King or California King that I may want to use for my next mattress?

Considering the Pros & Cons of King Mattresses & California King Mattresses

A pro / con list is also helpful when trying to make a decision on a large purchase. We list the major pros and cons for both of these mattress sizes below.

The Pros of Choosing a King Mattress

• Best option for couples who also have pets or children in the bed since it has significant width (76 inches)
• Plenty of space for couples who like to sleep on opposite sides of the bed
• Typically slightly less expensive than a California King mattress
• Popular size–never have issues finding bedding or a platform bed
• Better in wide bedrooms

The Cons of Choosing a King Mattress

• May not have enough length for a person who is over 6 feet tall
• Not the best option for narrow bedrooms due to the width of the mattress

The Pros of Choosing a Cali King Mattress

• Excellent for people over 6 feet tall due to the longer length (84 inches)
• Better option for bedrooms that are less wide

The Cons of Choosing a Cali King Mattress

• Bedding and platform beds are still readily available, but not as popular of an item as King size
• Not a good option for bedrooms that lack length

What Size Bedroom is Best for a King Mattress?

12 feet x 12 feet is ideally the best size for a King, but a larger bedroom works as well! A bedroom smaller than 12 feet x 12 feet may feel too cramped with a King. We would then recommend a Queen mattress, or if the bedroom is significantly smaller, a Full.

What Size Bedroom is Best for a Cali King Mattress?

We recommend a bedroom that is at least 12 feet x 14 feet. That extra length to the bedroom will accommodate the fact that the California King mattress is longer than a King mattress.

What other large mattresses are available besides a King and California King?

• Alaskan King: 108” x 108”
• Alberta King: 96” x 96”
• Wyoming King: 84” x 84”
• Texas King: 80” x 98”

Time to Choose A Mattress

Savvy Rest offers several different mattress models for various price points, but the most popular mattress is The Serenity, made of three layers of natural latex. It is completely customizable, so you and your partner can each choose your own desired density levels. It is available in sizes Twin – California King!

Shop all Savvy Rest organic mattresses here.