Best King Size Mattresses of 2023

When a queen-size bed just isn’t enough, it’s time to consider a mattress fit for a king. King-size mattresses are more than a foot wider than queen mattresses, making them a great option for couples, restless sleepers who toss and turn, and anyone who needs some extra horizontal space.

We’ve compiled a list of today’s best king mattresses, using reviews and insights from our team of sleep experts. Compare our top picks, check out some shopping tips in our buyer’s guide, and find out which king-size mattress wears the crown.

Best King Size Mattress: Our Top Picks

• Best Luxury Mattress – Saatva Classic
• Best Affordable Mattress – Nectar
• Best Mattress for Durability – Helix Midnight Luxe
• Best Mattress for Heavy People – Titan Plus
• Best Mattress for Restless Sleepers – Nolah Signature 12″
• Best Mattress for Back Pain – The WinkBed
• Best Innerspring Mattress – Brooklyn Signature Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers – Bear Original
• Best Firm Mattress – Birch Natural Mattress
• Best Mattress for Couples – Emma Hybrid Comfort

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Saatva Classic

Why this is a great luxury king mattress:

A luxurious sleeping experience starts with a great mattress, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Saatva Classic. A quilted pillow-top, high-density memory foam, and tempered steel coils work together to bring you all the comfort and support you need to get your best sleep.

Since you’re shopping for a king-size mattress, you might be looking to share your bed with a partner. The Saatva is a good option for couples due to its overall durability, high edge support so you can really spread out on it, and firmness options to suit every type of sleeper. The mattress comes in plush, luxury firm, and firm. Whether you’re a larger-than-average person who sleeps on your back or a petite person who switches positions frequently, one of these firmness levels should work for you.

Pros:

• Excellent pressure relief: The mattress’s memory foam cradles your body to give you great pressure relief, which makes the mattress a great option for side sleepers. We gave it a 9/10 for pressure relief.
• Solid spine alignment: Another indicator that the mattress is a good one for back pain is its ability to help you maintain a straight or neutral spine while sleeping. The mattress performs so well at this that it’s been endorsed by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations.
• Good cooling: The Saatva is a good option for those who sleep hot due to the breathability of its dual-coil system and organic cotton cover. It earns a 9/10 for cooling.

Cons:

• Low motion isolation: The Classic gets below-average score for motion transfer, so if you sleep with a restless partner, you might be awakened by your partner’s movements.

Read our full Saatva Classic mattress review or check out more top-tier beds in our roundup of best luxury mattresses.

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Nectar

Why this is a great affordable king mattress:

King mattresses can really get up there in price, with prices that range from around $2,000 to well over $3,000. The original Nectar mattress, on the other hand, costs just $1,299 for a king mattress—but you wouldn’t know it based on the mattress’s high quality.

With scores of 8.5/10 or above on 10 out of our 14 evaluation categories, the Nectar performs as well as or better than many of its more expensive competitors. Couples should enjoy the motion isolation that this mattress provides, thanks to its 8.5/10 motion transfer score. And side sleepers can rest more comfortably due to the Nectar’s pressure-relieving abilities. Multiple layers of memory foam help the Nectar earn an 8.5/10 score for pressure relief.

Pros:

• Excellent terms: Nectar gives you a generous 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty.
• Good pressure relief: Nectar earns an above-average score for pressure relief. The mattress cradles your hips and shoulders and disperses tension, which makes it a great option for side sleepers.
• High responsiveness: Getting in and out of bed or rolling around the mattress is easy—the Nectar has high responsiveness, so you never feel like you’re sinking too far into its foam.

Cons:

• Sub-par spine alignment: The Nectar earns a 7.5/10 for spine alignment, which could be a red flag for people with back pain.
• Disappointing cooling: If you want a mattress that sleeps very cool, this mattress might not be the best option—it earns a slightly below average score for cooling.

Read our full Nectar mattress review or see other affordable beds in our roundup up of the best affordable mattresses.

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Helix Midnight Luxe

Why this is a great king mattress for durability:

The Helix Midnight Luxe is built for durability from the bottom up, starting with the DuraDense Foam Base Layer topped by a layer of 1,000 individually wrapped pocket coils. This foundation helps provide a support and stable base, while the top four layers supply pressure relief and cooling. In Mattress Advisor testing, the Midnight Luxe earns a 9/10 durability score due to this balance of structure, support, and comfort.

In addition to pressure relief, this premium hybrid mattress also earns high marks for spine alignment in our testing process, making it a good choice for side sleepers and people with aches and pains.

Pros:

• Good cooling: Despite its mostly foam construction, the Midnight Luxe scored 9.5/10 for cooling. Much of the credit goes to the Ultra-Cool Premium Pillow Top.
• Excellent for pain sufferers: The mattress earns above-average marks for both pressure relief and spine alignment, which suggests it’s a good one for those who suffer from back or joint pain.
• Super-responsive: The bed adjusts quickly to your movements and gives you a sense of buoyancy and bounce. This makes it easy to move around or get in and out of bed.

Cons:

• Not the best option for heavier people: Back sleepers and stomach sleepers who are on the heavier side might find the Midnight Luxe’s firmness lacking.

Read our full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review. You might also be interested in our roundup of best mattresses that won’t sag.

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Titan Plus

Why this is a great king mattress for heavy people:

If you weigh over 230 pounds, you probably need a mattress designed with larger frames in mind. The Titan Plus was specifically engineered to provide the right amount of pressure relief and support to heavier people while also maintaining its structural integrity night after night. It can support up to 1,000 lbs, or 500 lbs per side for two people sharing a queen-size or larger.

The Titan’s high firmness level (8/10) means that you won’t sink far enough into the mattress for your spine to be thrown out of alignment, but you will get enough sinkage for sensitive areas like your hips and shoulders to be cushioned.

Pros:

• Great motion isolation: If you plan on sharing your king size bed with a partner, you can feel confident that the mattress will support both of you comfortably and that you’ll be less likely to wake each other up with your tossing and turning. We gave the mattress a 9/10 for motion isolation.
• Near-perfect spine alignment: Good news for people with back or neck pain—this mattress earned high marks for spine alignment due to its ability to keep our tester’s back in an ideal neutral position.
• Super-durable: Thanks to high-density foam and strong pocketed coils, the Titan Plus should hold up long after the average mattress begins to sag and lose support.

Cons:

• Not enough pressure relief for many side sleepers: The mattress provides sub-par pressure relief due to its firmness, so average-weight and lightweight side sleepers might find that it causes aching shoulders and hips.

Read our full Titan Plus mattress review or check out our roundup of best mattresses for heavy people.

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Nolah Signature 12″

Why this is a great king mattress for combination sleepers:

Anyone who’s ever woken up feeling drained after a night of tossing and turning can appreciate the value of a highly responsive mattress like the Nolah Signature 12″. An unresponsive bed that leaves you feeling trapped in the layers can be particularly troublesome for restless sleepers. Fortunately for them, this AirFoam bed scores an outstanding 9.5/10 for responsiveness in the Mattress Advisor sleep lab.

Many combination sleepers will also benefit from the Nolah’s responsiveness as they change positions in the night, though side sleepers might see the best results—the mattress gets a 9.25/10 pressure relief score.

Pros:

• Amazing pressure relief: The mattress’s foam layers cradle your hips and shoulders, so you can sleep on your side without feeling tension build up.
• Good cooling: The Nolah Signature 12″ also has appeal for hot sleepers due to its breathable Airfoam layers and 8/10 cooling score.
• Responsiveness: The mattress makes it easy to move around at night and change positions—it earns high 9.5/10 marks for responsiveness due to its ability to adapt to your movements.

Cons:

• Hohum edge support: Seniors in particular might be disappointed with the mattress’s edge support (6.6/10 score). That means you might not feel as solid or supported around the sides of the bed.
• Pricey: A king-size Nolah Signature 12″ has a regular price close to $1,800, not counting promotions or holiday sale discounts. Still, it does come with a lifetime limited warranty and free delivery. You also get a 120-night sleep trial.

Read our full Nolah Signature 12″ mattress review. If you change sleep positions, see our roundup of best mattresses for combination sleepers.

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The WinkBed

Why this is a great king mattress for back pain:

The WinkBed is a top choice for sleepers who have back pain for a number of reasons, starting with firmness options. The Luxury Firm (6.5/10) or Firm (7.5/10) options should provide the surface stability you need to avoid sinking too far into the mattress and potentially putting extra strain on muscles, joints, and tendons. (There’s also the 8/10 Plus firmness option, designed specifically for heavy people.)

Additionally, this foam/coil hybrid features a foam enhancement layer designed to provide targeted support in the lumbar region, the lower spine area where many back problems originate. The WinkBed also earns an ​​8.75/10 Mattress Advisor score for spine alignment, a sign of a mattress that promotes a healthy and comfortable sleep posture.

Pros:

• Highly responsive: It’s easy to move around on the WinkBed—the mattress earned high marks for responsiveness due to its ability to maintain unflagging support as you move around.
• Near-perfect edge support: The mattress supports you all the way to its edges, which is a good overall sign of durability and makes it easier to get in and out of bed.
• Good terms: WinkBeds offers a lifetime mattress warranty, and you also get a 120-night sleep trial to try out your king-sized mattress.

Cons:

• Motion transfer: We gave the bed a low score for motion isolation—if you move around on it, it’s likely your partner will feel the ripple effects of that movement on the other side of the bed.

Read our full WinkBed mattress review or check out our roundup of best mattresses for back pain.

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Brooklyn Signature Hybrid

Why it’s a great innerspring king mattress:

Innerspring mattresses with coil layers provide increased support and durability over the long haul, making them a great option for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and people who like a firmer surface. The Brooklyn Signature Hybrid from Brooklyn Bedding ranks as our top pick in this category. The mattress is offered in three levels on the firmness scale, allowing you to customize the feel according to your preference and sleep position.

The top layer uses a cooling gel memory foam topper. Deeper inside are 900+ individually encased Ascension coils, designed to minimize sleep disturbance. (However, we give it a disappointing 7.25/10 score for motion transfer.) This hybrid mattress also features a layer of TitanFlex memory foam for enhanced responsiveness.

Pros:

• Good pressure relief: If you sleep on your side, you’ll appreciate the mattress’s contouring feel, which cradles your hips and shoulders.
• Solid spine alignment: Another good indicator that the mattress helps with back and joint pain, the spine alignment on this bed is top notch. We gave it an 8.5/10 for spine alignment.
• Great edge support: You can sleep or sit at the edge of this mattress without worrying about sagging or sliding off.

Cons:

• Sub-par motion transfer: Couples might be disappointed by the mattress’s motion transfer—if you’re a light sleeper, you might be awakened by your partner moving around.

Read our full Brooklyn Signature mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best innerspring mattresses.

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Bear Original

Why it’s a great king mattress for hot sleepers:

Finding a king-sized mattress that can keep you cool is a must for those who sleep hot or live in a humid location. The Bear Original incorporates several cooling properties, including memory foam infused with cooling gel and a Celliant cover. In Mattress Advisor testing, the Bear Original earns an impressive 9/10 cooling score.

If you have an active lifestyle, make note of the fact that Bear designs its mattresses with athletes in mind. The Bear Original scored high (9/10) for responsiveness, making it an easy mattress to change positions on. However, the 7/10 score for pressure relief might not bode as well for side sleepers or people with shoulder pain.

Pros:

• Good spine alignment: Bear scored an 8.5/10 on our spine alignment test—no matter whether you sleep on your back or your side, the mattress will help you maintain a comfortable, healthy posture.
• Solid edge support: You can spread out and sleep at the edge of this mattress—it maintains its structure and support all the way to the perimeter of the bed.
• Reasonable price and terms: A king-size Bear Original starts at just under $1,250. Every mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial, free shipping, and a lifetime warranty.

Cons:

• So-so motion transfer: Couples should take note of the motion transfer score ( 7.75/10), which is OK but not great.

Read our full Bear mattress review or check out other cooling beds in our roundup of best mattresses for hot sleepers.

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Birch Natural Mattress

Why this is a great firm king mattress:

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly latex hybrid with a sturdy and supportive feel, the Birch Natural Mattress checks all the boxes. At 8/10 on the firmness scale, the Birch Natural is one of the highest-rated firm mattresses we’ve ever reviewed. It earns an overall Mattress Advisor score of 9.2/10, with testing highlights that include 9/10 scores in spine alignment and responsiveness and a perfect 10/10 durability score.

The Birch also offers layer after layer of natural, high-quality materials—an organic cotton cover, sustainably produced Talalay latex, organic wool, and more. The core of the mattress is a layer of pocketed steel coils designed to provide firm support throughout the mattress, from the center to the outer edges.
Birch’s 100-night sleep trial is typical for online mattresses, but your king-size Birch Natural comes with a 25-year warranty that more than doubles the industry standard.

Pros:

• Excellent spine alignment and pressure relief: Two signs the mattress is good for back pain relief are its high scores for spine alignment and pressure relief. The Birch contours well to your body to relieve pressure, while also maintaining good alignment for your back and neck.
• Naturally responsive: The Birch’s latex layer gives it a bouncy responsiveness that makes it easy to move around the mattress.
• Very durable: We gave the mattress a 10/10 for durability due to its high-quality materials and ability to withstand wear and tear without showing any compression in the support layers.

Cons:

• Somewhat disappointing motion transfer: The Birch earns a 7/10 in this category—if you’re a light sleeper, you might be stirred awake by your partner’s nearby movements.

Read our full Birch Natural Mattress review or see our roundup of best firm mattresses.

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Emma Hybrid Comfort

Why this is a great firm mattress for couples:

For couples, finding the perfect king-size mattress is paramount. You want minimal motion transfer so you can’t feel your partner tossing and turning at night. But you also need good edge support for maximum mattress space, cooling for the excess body heat, and responsiveness for sex. Say hello to the Emma Hybrid Comfort, a bed that checks all the boxes.

The Emma Hybrid Comfort scored in 8/10 for motion transfer, so restless sleepers shouldn’t wake their partners up at night. A 9/10 edge support score ensures that you can make full use of the mattress surface area, thanks to the Hybrid Comfort’s high-density foam perimeter. Its moisture-wicking cotton cover, open-cell foam comfort layer, and breathable coils contribute to the mattress’s 8/10 cooling score. An impressive 9/10 for responsiveness makes this mattress bouncy enough for sex and combination sleeping.

Pros:

• Good price and terms: You can find a Hybrid Comfort queen for $1,199, and that’s before sales and discounts. Emma offers a rare year-long sleep trial, free shipping and returns, and a 10-year limited warranty.
• Excellent for heavier sleepers: The mattress is designed to support people who weigh 250 lbs and up, so it’s very durable and supportive.
• Very responsive: It’s easy to reposition or move around on this mattress—our tester described it as the next best thing to a latex bed in terms of responsiveness.

Cons:

• Too firm for some: At 8/10 firmness, it’s likely too firm (and doesn’t provide sufficient pressure relief) for lightweight or average-weight side sleepers.

Check out other beds in our roundup of best mattresses for couples.

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King Size Mattress Buyer’s Guide

When buying a new king mattress, take the time to consider your individual preferences and needs. Do you want a longer bed, or one with more width? What is your primary sleeping position? Are you looking for a cleaner, healthier option? Read on to discover how to find the best king bed for you and your family (pets included).

In this guide, we will cover:

• Who Should Get a King Mattress?
• King vs California King vs Split King
• What to Consider When Shopping

Who Should Get a King Mattress?

Although queen is the most popular mattress size, you might benefit more from king-size instead. While standard queen and king sizes are both 80 inches in length, a king is 16 inches wider (76″ vs. 60″). The extra length gives a king mattress a little over 42 feet of square footage. People who should consider a king mattress include:

• Heavy people (more width for people with larger frames)
• Families with children, pets, or both who sleep in the same bed (more room on chilly and stormy nights)
• Combination sleepers (more room to change sleeping positions)
• Couples with one or more restless sleepers (more room for tossing and turning)

A king mattress might cost $100 to $200 more than a queen, depending on the brand and model, but certain people might find the extra 1 foot and 4 inches of width well worth the cost.

Related: Best Queen Size Mattresses

King vs California King vs Split King

Once you’ve decided to upgrade to a king bed, there are several variations you will want to consider. You can purchase a king, a California king or a split king. While most shoppers believe the California king is larger than the king, this is incorrect.

The king bed is wider than the California king bed, while the California king bed is longer than the king bed. A king bed measures 76” wide by 80” long, and a California king measures 72” wide by 84” long. If you are tall and find that your feet hang off most beds, a California king could be the right option for you. If you frequently have pets or kids sharing your space, the greater width of a king bed may be a better option for your family.

A split king is another option to consider. If you sleep as part of a couple and find that motion transfer is a big issue, a split king could be the answer to your woes. This type of bed is essentially two twin XL mattresses combined on separate foundations.

This type of mattress is also much easier to move than a king or a California king bed. Some drawbacks to consider when buying a split king are that special bedding may be required, and there is a valley in the middle of the bed which some may not like.

What to Consider When Shopping

Type of Mattress

• Innerspring mattresses are the traditional option that most people are familiar with. They contain an inner coil system that delivers a springy, bouncy feel. They often come with a pillow or euro top for extra comfort. Innerspring mattresses are a good option for those who sleep hot, as they provide great breathability.
  They are also good for couples who may sleep near the edge of the bed. Innerspring mattresses are not ideal for pressure relief.
• Memory foam mattresses are usually made of polyurethane and other materials that bolster density and viscosity. They earned their name from the way they contour and “remember” your shape. Memory foam mattresses are great for providing pressure relief, and limiting motion transfer. These beds may not work well for those who tend to sleep hot, as they have the potential to hold in heat, or for heavier people, who may require the support of pocketed coils.
• Latex mattresses are great for people who want an eco-friendly mattress, as they have the potential to be green (depending on the manufacturing process). Latex mattresses are also ideal for those who want a long-lasting bed (they can last up to 15 years, which is longer than any other type of mattress). If you prefer to sink into a mattress, latex is not your best bet. These mattresses can also be on the pricey side, so those on a budget may want to look elsewhere.
• Hybrid mattresses are a combination of two materials, typically foam and coils. Their feel and firmness can vary greatly based upon the materials used, but they generally offer the contouring of memory foam with the support and durability of coils. Hybrid mattresses are good for those seeking a cooler mattress, as they are generally more breathable than all-foam mattresses. They tend to have a higher price tag, so they are not great for those on a budget.

Sleeping Position

• Side sleepers: If you sleep primarily on your side, you put a lot of pressure on your shoulders and hips. When searching for a new mattress, look for one that provides pressure point relief and contours to your body.
• Stomach sleepers: The rarest (and least healthy) sleep position, sleeping on your stomach requires a mattress that keeps the spine in alignment while reducing pressure on the midsection.
• Back sleepers: Those who sleep on their backs need a mattress that offers body contouring as well as the support to keep the spine in alignment.
• Combination sleepers: People who alternate between two sleeping positions, known as combination sleepers, often need a specific set of features to get the most restful sleep. Responsiveness is a key factor, since it measures how well the mattress responds to your movement.

Firmness

Mattress firmness is more than a matter of personal preference. You often need a certain amount of softness or firmness based on your sleeping position, body type, and other factors. Here are some general guidelines:

• Soft to medium: Side sleepers, especially those below average weight
• Medium to medium-firm: Side sleepers, combination sleepers, and some average-weight back sleepers
• Firm: Back sleepers, stomach sleepers and people over 230 lbs

What if you have back pain? It might seem that a super-plush bed is the answer, but a mattress in the medium-firm to firm range can prevent your lower back from dipping too far into the surface and causing pressure to build up.

Comfort Factors

Our mattress review process includes testing categories for motion transfer, edge support, pressure relief, spine alignment, responsiveness, and cooling. These factors can have a big influence on the comfort level of your mattress. Here’s what to think about when considering which one to buy.

Motion Transfer: A mattress that scores well for motion transfer is one that isolates the effects of movement—so the tossing and turning of a restless sleeper on one side of the bed doesn’t disrupt a light sleeper on the other side. This can be a big issue for couples who share a king-sized bed together.

Edge Support: Having good edge support means you can sit or sleep at the far reaches of the mattress without feeling like you’re going to slide off. It can also be a reliable indicator of the overall durability of the mattress’s support layers. When you’ve got a big bed, you want to feel like you can use all of it and don’t have to center yourself to get optimal support.

Pressure Relief: A mattress with good pressure relief cradles the pressure-sensitive parts of your body that press against the top comfort layer, such as your back, hips, and shoulders. Side sleepers in particular need sufficient pressure relief where their hips and shoulders make contact with the mattress.

Cooling: If your sleep is disrupted by night sweats, overheating, or a general stuffy feeling, you need a mattress with sufficient breathability and cooling. Mattresses can achieve this through the use of gel- or copper-infused foam, latex, and innerspring layers for improved airflow, as well as breathable fabrics within the surface layer.

Bed Frame

When purchasing a king mattress, it is important to have a foundation that will properly support your new bed. While you should check the requirements of the particular bed you choose, a bed frame can include box springs (that do not sag), a slatted platform, a bunkie board with a box spring, a slatted foundation, or an adjustable base. You can also place your bed on the floor if desired.

Price

King mattresses are more expensive than smaller models due to their larger size. You can reasonably expect to pay $1,500-$1,700 for a typical king-size mattress, although prices vary a lot by brand, model, and features. Knowing how much you’re willing to spend can help you frame you research around certain brands or particular features.

Mattress Accessories

When investing in the purchase of a high-quality king mattress, it is important to protect your investment. A mattress protector is an inexpensive way to shield your mattress from damage. If you want to add more contouring or a pillow top feel, a mattress topper can transform the feel of your mattress without the expense of buying a whole new bed. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative to a mattress topper, a mattress pad can provide an upgraded feel while protecting your mattress from damage.

Trial Period and Warranty

Almost all of the bed-in-a-box companies include a risk-free trial period. They typically last 100 nights, and allow you to test out the mattress in your own home. Some companies require you to keep the mattress for at least 30 days. After that, simply contact the company for a free return.

The majority of online mattresses also include a warranty. A 10-year warranty is typical, though some companies offer 15-year, 20-year, or lifetime warranties. They generally cover the repair or replacement of the mattress if it has manufacturer’s defects and only apply to the original owner.

Related: See more tips on choosing the right mattress in our comprehensive Mattress Buying Guide.

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Recap: Our Top Picks for Best King Mattresses

Mattress	Award	MA Score
Saatva Classic	Best Luxury Mattress	9/10
Nectar	Best Affordable Mattress	8.7/10
Helix Midnight Luxe	Best Mattress for Durability	8.7/10
Titan Plus	Best for Heavy People	9.2/10
Nolah Signature 12″	Best for Restless Sleepers	8.6/10
The WinkBed	Best Mattress for Back Pain	8.6/10
Brooklyn Signature Hybrid	Best Innerspring Mattress	8.8/10
Bear Original	Best for Hot Sleepers	8.6/10
Birch Natural	Best Firm Mattress	9.2/10
Emma Hybrid Comfort	Best for Couples	8.7/10

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Summary

There are many factors to consider when upgrading to a king mattress. Whether you need more space to stretch out or want the motion isolating performance, the ultimate goal in a search for a new bed is a better night’s sleep.

The expansive selection of bed-in-a-box companies ensures there is a great mattress for all sleep positions and comfort preferences. The sleep trial and warranties offered by these companies provide peace of mind when buying online, and the assurance that you will get a king or a California king bed you love.