For anyone who requires a little extra space during their slumber, investing in a king size bed is common sense. But for some people, purchasing a California king size bed is a better choice. First, let’s start with the basics: what exactly is a California king? A California king is four inches longer than a traditional king mattress, but that also means you may have to sacrifice a certain amount of width. For tall sleepers (especially anyone over 6’4”), this extra length makes a huge difference.
The history of this bed goes all the way back to the post-WWII era when a mattress merchant from LA had the thought that Californians had large enough homes (and lifestyles) to justify this oversized bed. As he started churning them out for celebrity mansions, they gained popularity all over the world.
You might also opt for a California king if you have pets that like to sleep at the foot of your bed, or if these dimensions fit better in your bedroom. Another reason people prefer these beds is because of the appearance it provides. Generally, a narrower bed can make your bedroom appear more spacious, offering a well-balanced aesthetic. Just remember to take dimensions before purchasing, so you can figure out what size of bed works best for your specific living space.
To help you get started, we compiled the top 10 California king mattresses in a range of materials. Be sure to check out our guide to the best sheets for California king beds, too. The Fourtht of July weekend is coming up soon, and historically mattress companies have provided huge discounts around this time of year. That makes this the perfect time to find the best California king beds for a good night’s rest.
Related Stories
1. Saatva Classic Mattress
BEST OVERALL
Saatva’s highly rated classic hybrid innerspring mattress brings sleepers unparalleled comfort and construction. It’s available in three different comfort levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm, making the Saatva Classic one of the most customizable mattresses in our roundup. A dual-coil interior combines the feeling of a classic innerspring with cushiony foam and a plush pillow top, providing joint and back relief and elimination of back pain. A truly luxurious hybrid option for those who don’t want memory foam, and their 180-night trial helps you make a risk-free decision.
2. Casper Original Mattress
RUNNER UP
If you do love memory foam, it doesn’t get much better than Casper’s simple but fool-proof foam blend. It contains a perforated layer to promote breathability, while the second layer promotes spinal alignment. The third layer meets our most important criteria, which is that it doesn’t have that sinking-in sensation that many memory foam mattresses fall culprit to. They sell both a fully foam construction and a hybrid, that blends traditional memory foam with springs. And good news for the environment: every mattress cover is created with up to 57 recycled bottles.
ON SALE NOW
3. The Purple Mattress
MOST UNIQUE PICK
Purple mattresses aren’t foam, nor are they spring-based. Instead, it’s constructed of a polymer that feels more like silicone or a gel. Unlike memory foams that heat up fast and give in to wear and tear over time, Purple’s top layer is made out of a cool, soft, and flexible polymer material that can be stretched without worry of ripping. Its top layer is set up in a grid formation, creating hundreds of tiny squares across your mattress’s surface. It’s just the right amount of support, whether you’re a back, side, or stomach sleeper.
4. Classic Brands Cool Gel 2.0 Chill Memory Foam Mattress
BEST MEMORY FOAM PICK
This all-foam, 14″ bed-in-a-box distributes weight and heat to avoid sweaty nights or lumpiness, while cool gel foam and proper ventilation keep you cool and comfy all night long. This mattress has a medium-plush feel with solid support, and one customer writes, “I used to wake up and turn side to side 4 to 6 times an hour. Sleeping flat on my back was impossible. Side sleeping would result in severe deep throbbing in my numb areas. Now I wake only 3 or 4 times a night.” It also comes with 2 free memory foam pillows.
5. Signature Design by Ashley Chime 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam Mattress
BEST BUDGET PICK
Signature Design by Ashley’s popular Chime mattress clocks in at under $450.00, and though it comes in a small box, it expands to an impressive 12 inches, with a medium-firm texture. Nearly 35,000 Amazon reviews can vouch that this affordable mattress will bring you a better night’s sleep. It can support a range of sleepers, with one buyer commenting, “I LOVE this bed, I am a big guy 6’3 300lbs and I fit comfortably on it and it forms to body.” Other buyers who dislike overly plush beds found that the “slightly firm” texture was ideal.
6. Tuft & Needle Original Foam Mattress
BEST COOLING PICK
Unlike other mattresses constructed with latex or memory foam, T&N’s Adaptive foam mattress uses an open-cell structure with a flexible sleep surface that molds to your body. Unlike these other materials, the Tuft & Needle Adaptive foam pulls heat away from the body thanks to cooling graphite and gel beads hidden inside. As one Amazon reviewer puts it, “Memory foam beds used to burn me up but I’m perfectly cool in this bed.” There are zero harmful chemicals typically associated with foam mattresses.
7. iDealBed iQ5 Luxury Hybrid Mattress and Adjustable Bed Sleep System
BEST SPLURGE PICK
There are so many bells and whistles on this adjustable 14” mattress and frame that we don’t know where to start. Sleepers can control the angle of the bed via remote control, which also enables multi-smart mode massage. Apart from doubling as a masseuse, there are also features like under-the-bed lighting, built-in USB ports, programmable memory positions, and an ultra-quiet motor that can lift up to 850 lbs. One buyer says “wonderful comfort and utility” while another calls it a “truly amazing” solution to her husband’s snoring.
8. Avocado Green Mattress
BEST ECO FRIENDLY PICK
Keep that carbon footprint practically invisible with this handmade mattress, which has been praised for its 100% organic construction.. Engineered with organic natural latex, cotton, and wool, users can sleep soundly knowing that their latex is harvest from organic rubber farms that Avocado owns, and GOTS certified organic wool and cotton. They’re also the first mattress brand to be Climate Neutral Certified, which means that they’ve reached net-zero carbon emissions, from farm to factory. It’s also fantastic for relieving back pain, with over 1,000 individually wrapped steel coils.
9. Layla Sleep Copper Infused Mattress
MOST SUPPORTIVE
Layla combines a thermal gel infused with copper to keep you cool all night long and prevent heat from being trapped. It does have a medium firmness level that may be too soft for some sleepers with back or joint pain. Their unique foam layering provides motion transfer control, but the most innovative factor in the Layla mattress is its ability to be flipped. One side is firmer while the other is softer, bringing the incredible value of two mattresses for one.
Big Fig Mattress
BEST FOR PLUS SIZE SLEEPERS
You don’t often find beds that are designed specifically for people with a bigger figure, but this is the demographic for whom comfort is most important. For plus-sized individuals, foam mattresses often have poor edge support or swallow you up entirely. That’s why Big Fig’s hybrid construction was carefully engineered, with a stronger-than-ever foundation that combined comfort and support. Say goodbye to sweaty sleep nights with the cooling ThermoGel technology that’s activated by the presence of body heat. Fans of the brand say it’s “worth every penny” with “no sagging at all”.