Choosing between 6 or 7 available mattress sizes is confusing enough. Now, we have to decide which the best Cal king mattresses are out of the bunch.
Many people often ask what the difference between a California king bed and a King bed is. They also wonder whether the upgrade is worth it.
Hang on tight because we’ll show you the answers in just a few minutes.
Whenever you’re ready, let’s roll down to see for yourself!
Contents
- 1 California King Bed and King Bed Difference
- 2 Is A California King Bed Worth It?
- 3 Mattress Selection Criteria
- 4 Top 5 Best California King Mattresses
- 4.1 Ashley Furniture Signature Design – 12 Inch Chime Express Memory Foam Mattress
- 4.2 Classic Brands Cool Gel and Ventilated Memory Foam 12-Inch Mattress
- 4.3 Modway Jenna 14” California King Innerspring Mattress
- 4.4 Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam 12 Inch Mattress
- 4.5 BedStory Lavender Memory Foam Mattress
- 5 It’s Your Turn to Pick!
California King Bed and King Bed Difference
The main difference between the two is size. California King is longer than our normal King bed.
To give you some specific numbers, King beds are usually 76 x 80 inches.
Whereas California King beds are measured 72 x 84 inches.
Okay, Cal King is 4 inches longer. But, as you can see, Cal King beds are not as wide as King ones. Indeed, they are 4 inches narrower.
These differences are why Cal King mattresses make a great choice for folks who are very tall. We’re talking about sleepers who are 6’2” or even taller.
When sleeping on a Cal King, your feet won’t get dangled over the bed, which makes it more comfortable.
King beds are super wide. This is why they are great for two people or plus size folks who like to stretch or roll around when they sleep.
Is A California King Bed Worth It?
If you’re a tall sleeper who like a little bit more leg room when sleeping, then we’d definitely say a Cal King bed is worth it.
As a matter of fact, it doesn’t cost that much higher compared to a normal King bed. Some models are even cheaper.
That’s why if you think it will give you much better sleep quality, then definitely go ahead and get one for yourself.
Mattress Selection Criteria
Brands
To decide which brands are trustworthy, we looked at the number of years they have been in business.
Then, we headed over to some of their social media pages to see what the community is saying about them.
Brands that have more positive comments in the majority and a solid customer base were selected.
CertiPUR-US Certification
When buying a mattress, you should be aware of this particular certification.
This is the certification issued to manufacturers who pass rigorous tests and safety standards in terms of their materials.
In other words, this means their mattresses are free of toxic chemicals like mercury, phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and so on.
Safe and healthy mattresses are important for your body and even your younger kids.
Bed in a Box
If you’re short on time, going to a furniture store doesn’t sound like a practical thing to do.
That’s why we turned to another alternative, specifically bed in a box.
Many parents or customers are nervous before buying a mattress of this type.
We advise you to not be. From our careful research, many families have bought their mattresses this way.
It’s timesaving, easy, and hassle-free. What they do, essentially, is they suck the air out of the mattress to compress it.
They then roll it up inside a neat little box and ship it straight to your door.
There’s really nothing to worry about as you’re backed by many money-back guarantees and returns.
Mattresses that passed these criteria are shown to you next!
Top 5 Best California King Mattresses
Ashley Furniture Signature Design – 12 Inch Chime Express Memory Foam Mattress
Ashley is the favorite brand for many American households. This is one of their signature series that’s guaranteed to give you the best bang for your buck!
Firstly, the mattress itself looks awesome. It is made out of high-quality memory foam.
As you probably know, this type of foam is very supportive for your body. It helps reduce motion transfer and pressure points as well.
This means your back, neck, hips, shoulders will be nicely supportive when sleeping on it.
In terms of maintenance, this mattress is incredibly easy to maintain. In fact, it may not require your attention for a long time.
The mattress is made from hypoallergenic material. Because of this, dust mites, pollen, or any nasty stuff will be kept away.
This is a great choice for adults with a weak immune system or even little kids.
If you’re around 6’5” and 280 lbs, you’ll have sound sleeps on this bed.
What we really like about the mattress is that it arrives in a box with WHEELS!
This is super great for folks with back pain because you don’t have to drag the box all the way to your room anymore! Certainly, a major plus for Ashley!
Because the mattress reduces motion transfer, you won’t bother your partner when you toss and turn. The bed is very quiet.
It’s so comfy that you don’t even want to flip during your sleep. Just lie down and sleep like a baby!
One small drawback, however, is that the firmness may not be everyone’s favorite. Some people find it too hard for them while others are just fine with it.
If you’re looking for an affordable Cal King bed with great value, just go for this one! It’s totally worth every dollar!
Pros
- Amazing value
- Hypoallergenic material
- Highly supportive
- Long lasting
- Comfortable
- Comes in a box with wheels
Cons
- Maybe too firm for some sleepers
Classic Brands Cool Gel and Ventilated Memory Foam 12-Inch Mattress
Hey, here’s another great one for you.
The reason we went with the 12-inch model is that it will give you and your partner the most support for your combined weight.
Sometimes when your body heats up during your sleep, you’ll get somewhat irritated and start to toss and turn. This may bother your partner.
The sleep temperature on this mattress is very nice. It’s made from gel infused memory foam, which keeps the optimal temperature at night for your sleep.
If you have an adjustable base at home, this mattress will fit it perfectly.
You’ll also get great support thanks to the traditional memory foam. It will also help you relieve some pressure on your hips, neck, or shoulders.
All of this will make sure you get a deeper, more restful sleep every night.
The firmness is somewhere in the middle. Compared to an innerspring mattress, it is softer. Compared to some other foam mattresses, it does give you a firmer feel.
It holds up very well over time. A sleeper around 270 lbs can sleep on it for months without any visible signs of “boating”.
Again, the firmness issue may happen. Some folks think this one is too firm. We also don’t recommend the mattress to those who like to sleep hot.
Other than that, you’ll get a great deal of value out of this one. Do have a look at it yourself!
Pros
- Optimal temperature
- Quiet mattress
- Neat packaging
- Great support
- Holds up well over time
Cons
- Not for folks who like to sleep hot
Modway Jenna 14” California King Innerspring Mattress
If you and your partner don’t like an innerspring mattress, well, we guess you can skip this one.
But if you do consider it, stay here because this may just be your new favorite!
What’s so amazing about innerspring mattresses, in general, is that they are so long-lasting.
Yes, you could have this mattress for years without any issues of indentation.
We absolutely love the design of the bed. Its construction, well, is a bit like how you stack your burger up.
At the bottom is a layer of felt liner, then the strong coils, another layer of felt liner, then 2 layers of foam, and the top cover. Pretty impressive!
What all of this means is you’ll get phenomenal support from the base coils and great comfort from the foam layers.
Even though it’s made up of metal coils, the mattress is very quiet. It has excellent motion absorption. You won’t bother your partner at all when you toss.
On the firmness scale, we’d say it’s somewhere in between. It feels just right.
Your bad back will be in love with this mattress. It’s very supportive and contouring.
Setting up the bed is hassle-free and easy. You may notice some odor when you open the box. For some, it takes a couple of minutes for the smell to air away.
When sleeping on the mattress, you don’t have to use any other sleeping aids like drugs or such. You’ll fall asleep within 15-30 minutes and get a full 8-hour sleep every night.
You can buy it now or be mad sometime later because you didn’t pull the trigger earlier. In any case, it’s your choice. We definitely recommend it!
Pros
- Durable
- Excellent motion transfer
- Noise reduction
- Great support
- Comfortable
Cons
- Slight odor
Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam 12 Inch Mattress
Zinus is no stranger in the house! They are a reputable brand that many customers trust and love.
This Ultima Comfort series is one of their most popular and best-selling models!
If you love sleeping on foam all the way, this is the one!
At the base, you’ll find a high-density foam layer. Next is another comfort foam layer. Finally, you’ll get a nice memory foam plus a knitted top.
The bed, overall, is very conforming. It supports your back as well as the other high-pressure points.
What’s nice about this one is that it’s not too hot or too cool. The sleep temperature is neutral.
We do like the green tea aroma they infused into the bed. Some folks, however, don’t like this smell. It’s helpful to fight bad bacteria in many cases, though.
The foam they used is called BioFoam. As you guessed, it’s more on the natural side. They replace some petroleum-derived materials with natural plant oil.
This helps keep the mattress fresh and is healthy for you. This is why the mattress passed the CertiPUR-US certification without any issues.
Usually, Zinus recommends you wait 48 hours for the mattress to fully decompress. From our experience, this is true.
There may be some odor upon opening. But, to us, that’s bearable.
The mattress doesn’t leave visible “body impressions” over the years. Many sleepers have never slept so well as they do on this one.
Some are going back to buy their second or third beds. We do recommend it if you’re interested!
Pros
- Great support
- All foam
- Nice green tea scent
- Safe materials
- Holds up well
- Neutral temperature
Cons
- Some unpleasant odor
BedStory Lavender Memory Foam Mattress
Finally, look at what we have here!
This is a beautiful mattress that also smells great. The most unique thing about it is that it has lavender aroma infused into the layers.
If you’re somewhat unfamiliar, lavender is this kind of purple flower that many people, including aromatherapists, use widely to help them relax and drift off to sleep nicely.
You’ll get very strong high-density foam support at the base. Topping it up are layers of air-circulation foam and a fire-resistant barrier. Woah, definitely a lot of unique things about this mattress!
The expansion happens pretty quickly. You can give it a couple of hours or 24 hours.
In terms of support, it is amazing. The foam layers give your whole body even support. They also help align your spine in a natural position for deep sleep.
The mattress is extremely comfortable for even heavier folks. Some people find it way too soft while others think it is just right.
In any case, this is a well-worth-it mattress that we highly recommend to you! You’ll be glad you make the purchase.
Pros
- Lavender scent
- Strong support
- Comfy
- Fire-resistant barrier
- Easy to set up
- Durable
Cons
- Maybe too soft
Watch this if you’re interested:
It’s Your Turn to Pick!
At this point, we hope you’ve picked some very good ones for your families. If you think they suit you well, don’t hesitate and go right ahead! You deserve the best sleep after all of your work. Thanks for reading once again & we’ll see you next time!