California King Mattress vs King Mattress

If you want to live your life like a king, you’ve got to sleep like one. And there’s no better way to get the regal rest you deserve than sprawled out and snoring on a spacious king or Cal king mattress. But which one is best for you? And what exactly is the difference between a king and a California king mattress in the first place?

You have questions, and we have answers. Read on to learn everything you need to know about California king vs king bed sizes because, yes, size does matter.

What's the Difference Between a King and California King Mattress?

If you want to bring home a king-sized mattress, don’t assume that a king and Cal king mattress are the same. While the difference between the two isn’t anything major, it’s still enough to affect how you snooze and how the mattress fits in your bedroom. Making the wrong mattress choice can also lead to your feet hanging off the end of the bed or your new mattress not fitting properly on your bed frame — who needs a Goldilocks situation?

Purchasing a big mattress is a big job -- luckily, we’re here to make it easy.

Mattress Size

How big is a king-size bed vs California king?One of the main differences between the California king mattress and king mattresses is their size. While both mattresses are perfectly fit for a king, their mattress dimensions are made to fit different body types.

So, what are the dimensions of a California king mattress, and how big is a king-sized mattress? As you’ll see from the dimensions below, the Cal king bed has an additional four inches of length compared to the king mattress, while standard king beds have four additional inches of width.

So, how will this affect you when purchasing a mattress? Well, if you are a dreamer of average size, it probably won’t affect you too much. But if you’re of the big and tall variety -- as many kings throughout history have been -- California king vs. king dimensions are a pretty big deal.

If you’re taller, you’ll likely want a California king-size. However, if you love to have slumber parties (yes, please!) or fun family movie nights snuggled up in bed, you may prefer the extra width offered by a king mattress. Need more intel? Check out our post What Size Mattress Do I Need?

Mattress Surface Area

When it boils down to surface area -- which mattress is bigger? The answer might surprise you. Most people automatically assume that the Cal king is larger than a standard king, but when you compare the total surface area, it turns out that the king bed has more surface space.

California king mattress dimensions: 72 X 84 = 6048 square inches
King size mattress dimensions: 76 X 80 = 6080 square inches

We know -- so confusing, right?! Especially since all the other bed sizes are listed from smallest to largest. Although the California king mattress size is placed after the standard king on most charts, it’s slightly smaller.

Mattress Type

Upgrading to an extra-large mattress doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll finally sleep better. And purchasing a giant bed doesn’t always mean you’re getting a luxury mattress. You also need to consider how the mattress material will help you get a solid night’s rest because you deserve one: #self-care.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the top California king and standard king mattress types:

Innerspring mattress: Classic innerspring mattresses sleep cool but need more support -- which is different from what you want when you purchase a heavy-duty king bed! In fact, California king and king innerspring mattresses are notorious for buckling over time due to uneven pressure applied to the center of the mattress. So, it's not the best choice when looking to sleep like a king.
Foam mattress: Ah, the foam mattress. About a decade ago, it seemed as though everyone and their mom owned a foam mattress, but probably due to their lack of support, amongst other reasons, these babies have slowly left the limelight. And don’t even get us started on waterbeds.
Memory foam mattress: Memory foam is supportive and contouring, almost giving your body a little hug as you snooze. The problem? Not everyone wants to be hugged when sleeping — some of us have personal space issues, okay? Memory foam sleeps hot and tends to break down in less than ten years. And if we’re going to be hot in bed, we prefer it to be for an entirely different reason (wink, wink!). These mattresses are very dense and heavy, so if you plan on moving soon, you may not want to bring home an extra-large memory foam mattress.
Latex mattress: Latex is cooler and much more responsive than memory foam but comes with a steep price tag.
Hybrid mattress: Our fav is the hybrid mattress. This innovative mattress combines pocket coils with additional foam layers to boost comfort and support. While many hybrid mattress options are on the market, we love ours here at Big Fig. Why? Because it’s comfy AF!