The Best California King Mattresses in 2023

There’s no greater luxury in life than having plenty of mattress space to stretch out your arms and legs while you sleep. While queen and king sizes technically provide enough room for two people to comfortably snuggle, California king mattresses are unequivocally the most spacious.

With 84” in length and 72” in width, these super-sized beds provide plenty of legroom for tall folks and couples who prefer to sleep with a little wiggle room between them. But with so many mattress brands on the market, how do you choose which one to buy? Worry not—we’ve shortlisted the best California king mattresses that offer maximum comfort and support.

The Best California King Mattresses in 2023

• Best Overall — Bear Mattress Elite Hybrid
• Best Budget — Nectar Original
• Best For Couples — Emma CliMax Hybrid
• Best For Side Sleepers — Helix Midnight
• Best For Hot Sleepers — Brooklyn Bedding Aurora
• Best For Heavy Sleepers — Titan Mattress Plus
• Best Pain Relief — Winkbeds
• Best Hypoallergenic — Birch Natural
• Best Plush — Saatva Classic

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Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress

A lot of mattresses hone in on one key feature that’ll maximize sleep for a specific kind of sleeper. But the Bear Mattress Elite Hybrid is one of the few that offers the complete package. It combines a hypersoft hand-quilted cushion cover that’s made of Phase Change Material (PMC) to regulate temperature, along with a layer of breathable copper-infused memory foam for contouring support.

Underneath all that cushiony foam, you’ll find individually encased coils that create a supportive base for pressure relief and motion isolation, making this mattress ideal for all types of sleepers—regardless of size or preferred positioning. So if you want a cozy, plush sleeping surface that does it all, the Bear Mattress Elite Hybrid is a great choice.

Pros

• Great for back pain, given its high marks for pressure relief and spine alignment
• Highly responsive

Cons

• Not the best edge support

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Nectar

Not everyone wants (or can afford) to spend big on a mattress upgrade. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sleep in complete comfort. The Nectar Original mattress is a great budget option for folks who don’t want to sacrifice quality and support.

It features three layers of foam: a gel memory foam top layer, a dynamic response layer, and a supportive base layer—all encased in a cool-to-the-touch cover. Falling right in the middle of firm and soft, this mattress offers plenty of support without feeling too stiff. And with a 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty, you can be sure that your dollar is well spent.

Pros

• Excellent sleep trial and warranty
• Good pressure relief
• Very responsive for a memory foam bed

Cons

• Sub-par spine alignment
• Sleeps warm

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Emma CliMax Hybrid

The Emma CliMax Hybrid is designed to keep everyone happy. With five layers of plush, cloud-like foam, and responsive, individually encased coils, the mattress offers enough give and bounce to keep couples from disturbing one another when tossing and turning. Its ultra-supportive construction also makes it a great option for heavy sleepers.

And if one of you tends to snooze on the warmer side, this mattress has you covered. Its moisture-wicking and climate-regulating top layer is not only breathable but removable. So you can whip that sucker off and toss it in the washing machine for easy cleaning whenever you want.

Pros

• Good price for a mattress that supports sleepers of all sizes
• Very responsive
• Compact design that doesn’t require deep-pocket sheets

Cons

• You might encounter some availability issues

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Helix Midnight

Side sleepers have a hard time getting the comfort and targeted support they need from a traditional mattress. Enter: the Helix Midnight. With one layer of specially blended memory foam and two layers of high-grade polyfoam, this hybrid mattress is constructed to give side sleepers extra cushioning and contouring at the hips and shoulders.

This ergonomic design ensures that your spine remains in proper alignment as you sleep. The mattress also hosts thousands of individually wrapped coils that eliminate motion transfer while providing superior support. On top of that, it’s encased in a stretchy and naturally breathable TENCEL cover for added cooling.

Pros

• Excellent support around the edge of the mattress
• Made in the USA from natural materials
• Maintains good spine alignment

Cons

• Might not suit all budgets

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Brooklyn Bedding Aurora

If your internal body temperature tends to rise when you rest, the last thing you want is to be stuck with a mattress that traps excess heat. Brooklyn Bedding’s Aurora Luxe Cooling Mattress is designed to do the opposite, with a super-breathable construction that absorbs heat and promotes optimal airflow.

This ultra-luxurious mattress is built with cooling PCM foam that’s open-cell, meaning it’s airier than traditional foam and better at dissipating heat. While the cloud-like pillow top feels like a cushiony dream, it’s also made with cool tech fibers that actively draw heat away from the body. So you can say goodbye to sweat-filled nights.

Pros

• Isolates motion well
• Good for all sleep positions
• Excellent for those with back pain

Cons

• Slight off-gassing smell when unboxing

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Titan Mattress Plus

Heavy sleepers need plenty of support to keep their spine in proper alignment—something that the Titan Mattress Plus Luxe has in spades. With a thick hybrid construction that features a layer of coils surrounded by three layers of body-responsive foam, this mattress is reinforced for extra durability, so it can handle up to 1,000 pounds of body weight.

While the gel memory foam top layer definitely makes for a cooler sleeping experience, you also have the option of adding on the brand’s GlacioTex Cooling Cover to moderate temperature even further. No matter what you choose, you’ll be sleeping soundly on a mattress that was built to last.

Pros

• Durable
• Good value
• Excellent responsiveness for ease of getting in and out of bed and changing positions

Cons

• Side sleepers might not find enough pressure relief

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Winkbeds

Consistently waking up with pain or discomfort is a good sign that your mattress isn’t providing the support you need. Winkbeds is one of the best hybrid mattresses for pain relief, thanks to its layer of pressure-relieving foam and pocketed coils that provide deep contouring and body-hugging cushioning for extra comfort.

The top layer is made of an eco-friendly eucalyptus-incused Tencel fabric that both feels like silk and helps regulate moisture. And, if you want to adjust the feel of your mattress, Winkbeds also offers four different levels of firmness—softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus—so you can customize the comfort level to fit your preferences. Read our review of the “luxury firm” if you want to know more.

Pros

• Good edge support
• Durable
• Excellent spine alignment

Cons

• Doesn’t isolate motion well
• Hard to set up

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Birch Natural

If you’re looking for a mattress that’s all-natural and free of chemicals, look no further than Birch Natural. Crafted with pure organic wool, cotton, and natural Talalay latex, this mattress is 100% hypoallergenic, making it perfect for those with allergies or skin sensitivities.

Derived from the sap of rubber trees, the natural latex used in this mattress offers great pressure relief and contouring without causing your body to sink too far into the mattress. It also has a supportive pocketed coil system that limits motion transfer and provides extra support for your back and joints. Plus, the cotton cover and Birch wool regulate temperature just as effectively as more conventional materials.

Pros

• Eco-friendly materials
• Great for couples
• Helps with back pain

Cons

• Light side sleepers might get more pressure relief from the Saatva
• Doesn’t limit motion well

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Saatva Classic

We can’t compile a list of great mattresses without mentioning the Saatva Classic. This luxe hybrid mattress is known for its plushness and cloud-like topper. But don’t let all that cushion fool you—the responsive dual-coil steel springs prevent sagging and sinking while providing superior support.

On top of that, the mattress is encased in a stretchy and naturally breathable organic cotton cover that promotes cooling airflow. It’s definitely a great pick for those who want a plush sleeping experience without sacrificing support.

Pros

• Firmness options
• Works for all types of sleepers
• A hotel room favorite

Cons

• Pricey

Why Buy a California King Mattress?

You don’t necessarily need a reason to upgrade your bed size, but here are a few good ones:

• You’re over 6’5”: If you’re taller than 6’5”, a California king mattress is the only size that will give you enough room to stretch out without feeling cramped.
• You sleep with a partner: If you share your bed with someone else, having more space can make for a better sleep experience all around.
• You want a luxurious feel: A California king mattress is the largest size available and will give you enough room to experience ultimate relaxation.

How to Find the Best California King Mattress

The best mattress for you will depend on your personal preferences and body type, so it’s important to do your research and take time to test out different kinds before making a purchase.

Here are a few tips that can help:

• Consider the firmness: Some people may prefer a softer mattress, while others may need extra support, so it pays to test out different levels of firmness before settling on one.
• Look for quality materials: Durable, high-quality materials like high-density foam, organic latex, and pocketed coils can make all the difference in how well your mattress holds up over time and how comfortable it is.
• Check the warranty: A good mattress should come with a generous warranty, so make sure to read all the fine print before deciding on one.

Recap

Our list of Cali King mattresses has a little something for everyone in search of a super-sized bed. Our overall pick was the Bear Mattress Elite Hybrid because it hit all the marks for comfort, quality materials, and support for nearly every sleeping style. Other options may be better if you’re looking for something hypoallergenic, temperature controlled, or luxury. Here’s a recap of our picks.

Model/Average Overall Score

MATTRESS	AVERAGE SCORE (OUT OF 10) FOR PRESSURE RELIEF AND SPINE ALIGNMENT
Bear Mattress Elite Hybrid	8.9/10
Nectar Original	8.7/10
Emma CliMax Hybrid	8.7/10
Helix Midnight	8.7/10
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora	8.8/10
Titan Mattress Plus	9.2/10
Winkbeds	8.6/10
Birch Natural	9.2/10
Saatva Classic	9/10

 

Summary

A California king mattress is a great choice for anyone who wants to upgrade their sleep experience. With more surface area than a standard king mattress, a California king can offer extra comfort and support—especially for tall sleepers and couples. Provided you find a California king made from quality materials with a good warranty that matches your preferred level of firmness, you should be able to enjoy your new super-sized mattress for years to come.