King-sized mattresses are the largest mattress size you can get, right? Surprise! It’s not just the standard king anymore. With king mattress size options these days, you’ve got territories, states, and split surfaces all involved. If you weren’t prepared for this pop quiz in mattress geography, worry not—I am. I’m a professional mattress tester of five years and, in this case, our expedition guide to walk you through it all. But if you need a full education in all things mattress, we have a guide on how to choose one.
All Hail the King
Standard king mattresses are 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. You get extra foot room, and for solo sleepers plenty of space to move around. It’s also plenty of space for co-sleepers, and maybe a dog and/or child. Standard king mattresses may also go by another name, known as Eastern king. Kind of like New York City being “The Big Apple” or Chicago being “the Windy City,” both names refer to the same thing.
California king mattresses are a bit longer than standard mattresses (not unlike the actual state of California). The width is shorter at 72 inches, but you have more length to work with at 84 inches. If you’re tall, this could be a perfect match for you. However, co-sleepers may want to keep the shorter width in mind, especially if one person tends to be a restless sleeper who infringes on their partner’s side of the bed.
Split king mattresses take on a more Tetris-like approach to achieving their size, which happens to be the same as a standard king at 76 inches by 80 inches. Two twin XL mattresses are put side by side, and each is 38 inches wide but 80 inches long. The idea behind this power-coupling can commonly be seen with adjustable mattresses and adjustable frames, where a split down the middle allows for a range of mobility you can’t get with other beds. If you’re a couple looking for adjustable firmnesses for your respective sides, or the opportunity to move the top and bottom of the bed, it’s likely you’ll wind up with a split king mattress.
Wyoming king mattresses are where things start to expand in the realm. This bed measures 84 inches by 84 inches. Very symmetrical, also like the state of Wyoming. Wyoming king mattresses are considered more of a specialty mattress, so if this strikes your fancy, it most likely will require a custom order from a company that makes it, like Wyoming King. Not to worry, though, because as specialty king mattress sizes become more popular, the offerings are becoming more plentiful. For my above-6-feet-tall people, stand up! Or, rather, lie down, because this is exactly a size that gives you the space you felt other mattress sizes lack.
Alberta king mattresses measure at 8 feet on both sides, or 96 inches long and 96 inches wide to be exact. No need to trek to Canada for an Alberta king mattress, as there are plenty of custom builders out there to get you situated. If you are above 6 feet fall, we are entering the mattress territory that you may find very accommodating. And of course, as is always the case with me, pun intended.
Texas king mattresses really up the ante, and I’ll spare you another state analogy. These beds are 98 inches long and 80 inches wide, so there are a lot of wide open spaces for sleepers. Like Wyoming kings, Texas king mattresses are plenty spacious—they easily fit three adults, or two and some kiddos. Or, maybe, one person with five Great Danes. Now that would be a party.
Alaskan king mattresses are the newest king-size territory to be explored. Standard kings are spacious, but the more sleepers you add, the more cramped it will become. That really goes for any size mattress, but Alaskan kings are exempt from that statement. These beds are an astounding 108 inches long by 108 inches wide, or 9 feet for both. Even the tallest of sleepers have something to work with here, as well as families or people with many, many pets.
Which Will You Crown?
Please, please, please take the tape measure out and confirm that your bedroom is going to be able to fit your king mattress of choice. It’s going to be awkward ordering an Alaskan king mattress and unboxing it only to find that it can’t fully unfurl on the frame, much less between the walls. Speaking of bed frames, make sure yours is up to the task of supporting the extra weight and square footage of a king-size mattress!
Also, where do you even get sheets for an Alberta king or Alaskan king mattress? Good news: Many of the mattress makers offering these custom sizes produce sheets that fit their products. With that said, enjoy spreading out and having extra sleep real estate to work with, especially if the kids, dogs, and partners are all crashing with you.
