California King and King are both popular mattress sizes, but they have some differences that are important to consider when choosing the right size for your bedroom.
Below we’ll go over their size differences, and who might benefit the most from the two different sizes. This way, you’ll know for certain that you’re making the right decision before you go out and drop hundreds to thousands of dollars on your new bed.
California King vs King: What’s Bigger?
Many people are surprised to learn that the California King isn’t the overall winner for bigness. There seems to be a common misconception that the California King mattress is the biggest-sized mattress you could possibly get, however, that isn’t actually true. In terms of overall size, the California King and King-sized mattresses are actually pretty similar. The main difference is that one mattress is longer and one is wider.
A king-size mattress is typically 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, while a California king-size mattress is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long. This means that a California king is longer and narrower than a king mattress.
Specifically, the California King is 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer. So what it lacks in width is made up for in length. This is why when someone asks me which bed is the biggest I tell them that both beds are pretty much equal and that a California King size isn’t really the biggest bed you could possibly get.
Who Would Benefit From a California King vs King-Sized Bed?
A California King-Sized bed is usually a popular choice for taller individuals. It’s also more popular in the bedroom that a longer and narrower, as the bed fits the size of the room better.
If however, you aren’t a particularly tall person and your bedroom doesn’t have a shape that would compliment this sized mattress, I might recommend staying away from a California King. California King bedding and accessories are generally harder to find and often more expensive than king-sized items. So you may pay a higher cost of ownership for your California King bed than you would for a regular king-sized bed.
Who Would Benefit from a King-Sized vs California King-Sized Bed?
While a California king may be more comfortable for taller people who need extra legroom, a standard king mattress is usually the better choice for couples who want more space to sleep comfortably. Some people even jokingly say that a king bed is the best bed for parents who often have little children elbowing their way into the middle of the bed during the night. Every inch counts when your precious bed space is being stolen.
The slightly wider king-sized bed is also better for sleepers who are sprawlers. If arm space, rather than leg space, is what you seem to be constantly running out of, the king-sized bed is definitely a better choice than the California king-sized mattress.
Unless you have a particularly narrow room, the king-sized mattress generally looks balanced in almost any bedroom.
It’s also worth noting that bedding and accessories for a California king can be harder to find and may be more expensive than those for a standard king. So you could definitely save a few dollars by purchasing the more common king-sized bed.
Ultimately, the choice between a California king and a king-size mattress comes down to personal preference and the size and layout of your bedroom.
When it comes to California King vs. King, which mattress do you prefer? Share with us in the comments below!
