King vs. California King Beds: What's the Difference?

Many people often confuse California king beds as being larger than king beds, but this isn’t the case. 

Want a trick to help you remember the difference from a king vs. California king bed? California kings are longer, just like the shape of the state! 

California king beds are 72” wide by 84” long with a total surface area of 6,048 square inches. King beds are 76” wide x 80” long with a total surface area of 6,080 square inches. 

So California king mattresses are 4” longer than king size beds, but king size mattresses have a slightly larger surface area.

So how do you decide which is right for you? 

If you’ve decided it’s time to treat yourself to one of the kings, here are a few things to help you decide which of the mattress royalties might be best for you, along with some things to consider before taking the plunge.

Compare King vs California King Beds

	California King Mattress	King Mattress
Mattress Dimensions	72” wide x 84” long	76” wide x 80” long
Surface Area	6,048 square inches	6,080 square inches
Summary	Offers the most length for taller sleepers, but not as much width as a king	Offers the most width for couples who want more space between them
Good for…	Taller people who need extra length	Couples who need more space

If you’d like to learn more about bed sizes, check out our mattress size guide.

Related: King vs Queen Size Mattress

What are King Mattresses? 

Standard king size mattresses, also known as “Eastern King” mattresses are 76” wide x 80” long. A regular king mattress is ideal for people who share a sleeping space like couples because of its extra width. This allows for each person to have enough space to stretch out on the bed.

Pros of king beds:

• Good for couples
• Easier to shop for bedding and accessories
• Fits in bedrooms more conveniently

Cons of king beds: 

• Harder to move
• Expensive

What are California King Mattresses?

California king beds, also known as “Western King” mattresses or cal king mattresses  are 72” wide x 84” long. California king beds are ideal for taller people who need more leg room on a bed. 

Pros of Cal king beds: 

• Good for tall people
• Fits well in more narrow rooms

Cons of Cal king beds: 

• Harder to shop for bedding and accessories
• Expensive

See more pros and cons of a California king bed.

Should You Buy a King or California King Mattress?

As with most mattress decisions, deciding between a king or California king mattress really comes down to personal preference. But there are a few practical things to consider, like the size of your space, the size of the people who will be sleeping on the mattress, and cost.

Bedroom Size

Upgrading to a king size bed or California king mattress might seem like a great idea, but in order for it to be practical it needs to at least fit in your bedroom space. 

Before committing to a bigger mattress, make sure it a) fits easily in your bedroom, and b) still gives you space to navigate around your room.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is there room to walk around the bed?
2. Can you reach your clothes hamper?
3. Do your dresser and nightstand drawers still open?
4. Does your bedroom door open freely? Can you open the doors to your en suite bathroom or closet?
5. Can you reach the windows to open or clean them?
6. Is there an easy flow of movement around the room?
7. Is any furniture blocking your HVAC registers and returns?

If your bedroom orientation is long and narrow, then a California king might work better for you. 

If it’s wider, then a king might do the trick. If you’re not sure, you can use an online planning tool like Roomstyler 3D Home Planner to help you visualize your space. It’s free and easy to use (we tried it ourselves).

Who will be Sleeping on the Mattress?

Tall people may prefer a California king because it provides more length. However, this also means you’re sacrificing width and stretching out space by sleeping on a mattress that’s 4 inches narrower. 

If you’re sharing the bed with another person, a king mattress will provide more personal space for each individual so you aren’t hanging off the bed. A king is the only size that allows each sleeper as much space as a twin offers someone who is sleeping alone. 

If you have permanent or periodic guests, like pets or small children, you should also consider how and where they fit into the equation.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you decide:

1. If you’re tall, do you mind if you have to deal with your feet hanging off the bed?
2. Do you spread out or move around a lot while you sleep?
3. Will you share your mattress with pets or small children? If so, where do they typically sleep?

Cost

If you’re upgrading from a queen mattress to either a king or California king, you can expect to pay around 15 – 20% more for the mattress alone. However, a king and California king mattress of the same make and model are almost always the same prices.

But don’t forget, investing in a bigger mattress also means a new bed foundation, and new bedding accessories like sheets, a mattress protector, and comforter. These will be more expensive than your standard queen accessories.

Other Shopping Considerations

We’re not trying to scare you, we promise. Sleeping on a king or California king bed can be glorious. And we think you deserve it! 

But we just want you to be prepared. No one likes surprises when it comes to buying a mattress.

Here are a few more things to be aware of before you commit to a larger mattress.

• Aside from being more expensive, accessories for king and California king size mattresses can be more difficult to find, particularly for the Cal king.
• If you’re in temporary housing or are expecting to move soon, then keep in mind that a bigger mattress is going to be harder to move. You may need to recruit more muscle power.
• The bigger your mattress, the more important it becomes to have a strong, solid foundation. You don’t want sagging to occur. If you don’t have one already, you’ll want to invest in a sturdy platform foundation for maximum support. Slatted foundations and box springs can work, assuming they’re in great shape. For some mattresses, the floor can be a viable option as well. 

Still have questions about king or California king mattresses? Explore the best California king mattress and drop us a line in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we wake up from our nap.