Are you sick of having so many choices, but not knowing where to start? The second you step foot into a mattress store or click on to a mattress website, you’ll be bombarded with many size beds, some of which look the same, but aren’t. One of the most popular questions asked is what the difference between between a king and California king is. Well, stick around and i’ll fill you in on exactly what king vs cal king comes down to.
King Size AKA Eastern King
The king mattress, also known as the eastern king, has the same length as a queen, but it has more width. It measures 76” wide and 80” long. This is a very common size found in master bedrooms.
The Pros and Cons
Pros
- More sleeping space for couples
- Better for those bigger in size
- Bed sets are easier to find
Cons
- Not easy to move around
- Costly
- May not be suited for taller individuals
Size
The size of the bed is ideal for couples who love their maximum sleeping space. It has adequate space for all bedroom activities and it can accommodate those extra sleepers such as pets and kids. The extra width also allows those restless sleepers to move around while their partner remains undisturbed if they have a good mattress with little motion transfer. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a wide bedroom, it may be a little tight for this size bed.
You can also choose this bed in a split size. Each piece equals to about the size of a twin bed. So if the time ever came and you couldn’t fit the whole king in your room anymore, you can split the bed into two different beds and use them in different rooms.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, having enough space to sleep would be a factor for me. If I have someone taking up all of my sleeping room and i’m balancing on the edge of the bed, i’m not going to sleep comfortably. The king mattress does offer a lot when it comes to comfort because there’s optimal sleeping space for both parties to sleep without giving up their own personal space. The only downside to this is that if you’re a restless sleeper and you move down the bed, you might find your feet hanging off of it. It wouldn’t be very comfortable for me, that’s for sure.
Accessories
Accessories for a normal king mattress are very easy to find. You can walk into just about any retail store and sheets, comforter sets, mattress encasements, and all other accessories will be there for your mattress, they’re also a lot cheaper.
Recommended Room Sizes:
For a regular King bed, the recommended room size would be 10’ x 12’ – 12’ x 13’. This all depends on how much walking room or other furniture you want.
Cal King AKA Western King
A lot of people think that the Cal King is bigger, but it’s not. Here’s the scoop. The Cal King is actually longer than a king, but it loses width. It measures 72”x 84” and it’s better suited for rooms that are longer than they are wide.
The Pros and Cons
Pros
- More foot room
- More Suited For Tall People
Cons
- Heavy
- Bed sets are expensive
- Less sleeping room width wise
Size
The size of the cal king is longer than a king, but it takes away from the width. It gives you and your partner less space to move around comfortably, but it still gives you a comfortable amount of room to sleep. As long as you have a mattress with good motion transfer control, you should be fine. Don’t let this scare you, though. You’re only losing 4” of width, so it’s really not that much. This may be a good thing, however, if you love to cuddle like my husband and I do.
Comfort
I find the California king mattress to be extremely comfortably in terms of foot space. I’m a scoocher. In the middle of the night I find myself down at the bottom of the bed. When I had my king bed, I found my feet always dangling off of the edge and cold from the fan. The cal king gives me the foot space I need. My husband is also very tall and it gives him the foot space he needs as well.
The cal king comes in a split size as well. So if at any point in time you need to split the beds, you can put them in different rooms or even use two beds in the same room.
Accessories
Accessories are much harder to come by when it comes to the cal king because they are more rare than the standard king. Searching for frames, box springs, protectors, sheets, and comforters are difficult and they all cost much more than the king versions would.
Recommended Room Sizes:
For a Cal King bed, the recommended room size would be 12’ x 12’ – 14’ x 12’. This is all dependent on how much walking room you want or how much furniture you want in the room.
King Vs. Cal King Comparison Table
| Mattress Size | Measurements | Point 1 | Point 2 | Point 3 | Point 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | 76 x 80” | Accessories are easier to find | Accessories are cheaper | More sleeping space | Less foot space |
| Cal King | 72 x 84” | Accessories are harder to find | Accessories are more expensive | Less sleeping space | More foot space |
The Verdict
You may want to check out: Best California King Size Sheets
Honestly, it all comes down to preference. Personally, I love the California king because of the added foot space, but if you are on a budget and need your personal sleeping space, the king would be the way to go. Accessories for the king are cheaper, they are easier to find, they are generally easier to move around, and they have more options. One other thing that it all comes down to are the room dimensions. If you have a wide room, but it isn’t very long, the king would suffice. If your room isn’t wide but it’s long, the California king would be a good choice.