Are you starting to feel cramped on your current bed? Maybe you're taller than average, or you’ve welcomed a few furry friends to sleep at your feet. If you’re yearning for room to stretch out—especially lengthwise—a California king bed could meet your needs nicely.
But before you upgrade to a Cal king, you’ll need to ask yourself what your priorities are when it comes to sleep and comfort. Do you covet natural materials? Do you want springs over foam? The best California king mattress for you will also put those priorities first.
To help your search, we’ve compiled a list of our top California king-size beds, as well as a buyer’s guide that answers common questions about this particular mattress size.
10 Best California King Mattresses
- Helix Midnight – Editor's Pick
- Nectar – Best Affordable California King Mattress
- DreamCloud Premier – Best California King Mattress for Couples
- WinkBed Plus – Best California King Mattress for Heavy People
- Saatva Classic – Best Innerspring California King Mattress
- Bear Star Hybrid – Best California King Mattress for Athletes
- Aurora Luxe – Best California King Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Nolah Original – Best California King Mattress for Back Sleepers
- Birch Natural – Best Natural California King Mattress
- Titan Plus – Best Hybrid California King Mattress
10 Top-Rated California King Beds, Reviewed
Editor’s Pick
Helix
HIGHLIGHTS:
- CertiPUR-US®
- Made in the USA
- 100-Night Trial
- 10-Year Warranty
The Midnight is a hybrid mattress from the Helix brand. The Helix Midnight’s medium-firm feel is very versatile, which should accommodate most sleep preferences and body types, including couples sharing a Cali-King bed.
The Helix Midnight’s construction includes multiple foam layers and a set of pocketed coils. Sleepers should feel quality pressure relief from the Memory Plus Foam and High-Grade Polyfoam. At the same time, the coil unit and DuraDense foam at the base should give sufficient body alignment to help prevent back pain and keep the sleeper from feeling stuck in the mattress. Topping off the Midnight is a soft-knit cover for breathability, which should help hot sleepers stay cool throughout the night.
What’s worth mentioning?
- The foams in the Helix Midnight are CertiPUR-US® certified, and these beds are manufactured in the United States.
- Customers get 100 nights to test out the Midnight in the comfort of their home before committing to their purchase.
Need more info? Read our Helix Midnight mattress review.
Best Affordable California King Mattress
Nectar
HIGHLIGHTS:
- CertiPUR-US® Certified
- 365-Night Trial
- Forever Warranty
Nectar has really made its name known in the industry and for good reason. Their Nectar Mattress is made from memory foam that should give you that classic contouring feeling. Its cooling cover and gel-infused foam layers should keep things breathable, and the soft conventional foam should allow a little more bounce than the average all-foam to make repositioning at night simple.
Nectar works on any foundation, including adjustable and platform bases, so buying your new Cal king bed frame should be a little easier when choosing this mattress.
What makes it stand out?
- Nectar has some high-quality features, and the average sleeper should find its medium firmness comfortable and pressure relieving.
- With a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty, and fair pricing, you should feel like you got a great deal when buying a Nectar.
Interested in more details? See our full Nectar bed review.
Best California King Mattress for Couples
DreamCloud Premier
HIGHLIGHTS:
- CertiPUR-US® Certified
- 365-Night Trial
- Forever Warranty
The DreamCloud brand cuts out the retail middleman in order to sell their high-quality mattresses at an affordable cost. Additionally, the 365-night trial and lifetime warranty they offer consumers is a great deal. The DreamCloud Premier is a hybrid bed that scored at a medium firmness, making it a versatile choice for those who share a bed with a partner.
The DreamCloud Premier stands at an impressive 14-inches tall, so you will have to consider that when choosing a new frame to fit this bed. The mattress may be somewhat tall for certain headboards or footboards.
Why we picked it
- DreamCloud Premier is covered in a lush Eurotop cover and combines foam and individually wrapped coils for optimum comfort and support.
- The coils in this mattress are individually wrapped to mitigate motion transfer. The foams on top should also help isolate motion so that couples don’t disturb one another.
Curious about this bed? Read our comprehensive DreamCloud Premier mattress review.
Best California King Mattress for Heavy People
WinkBed Plus
HIGHLIGHTS:
- CertiPUR-US® Certified
- 120-Night Trial
- “Any Reason” Guarantee
- Lifetime Warranty
- Made in the USA
Heavier individuals, this mattress is constructed for you. WinkBed Plus is a hybrid made from highly durable foam, latex, and a 5-zone pocketed-coil system. Just because it is durable does not mean it's uncomfortable; the soft gel-infused foam hugs your body in all the right places, and the coils make sure the hips, back, and shoulders are well-supported.
On top of all of that, the company offers a lifetime warranty and durability promise so you can feel comfortable spending your hard-earned cash.
What is special?
- This is the first luxury mattress made specifically for those over 300 pounds.
- Its highly dense foams are designed for resistance and to reduce sagging, and the coils are specially reinforced, so it should last for many years to come; in fact, the company boasts that it is “possibly the most durable mattress on the market.”
Looking for more details? Check out our WinkBed Plus review.
Best Innerspring California King Mattress
Saatva Classic
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Certified Organic Cotton
- CertiPUR-US® Certified
- 365-Night Trial
- Lifetime Warranty
- Made in the USA
Saatva offers a luxurious, pillow top innerspring bed that is also environmentally friendly. Although you can order Saatva online, it does not arrive in a box like most online-only mattress brands. With free white-glove delivery, you do not have to worry about removing your old bed or installing the new one.
Along with the innerspring base, there is a memory foam section in the lumbar area to give some relief to the hips and core. If you want the feel of a more traditional bed, this should be a comfortable choice.
Why is it special?
- With Saatva, you can choose the firmness and height of your bed. There are three firmness options (Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm) and two heights (14.5 inches or 11.5 inches).
- It has a coil-on-coil system, which should make this bed breathable and bouncy.
Looking for more info? Check out our full Saatva Classic review.
Best California King Mattress for Athletes
Bear Star Hybrid
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Medium-Firm Feel
- Celliant® Cover
- 120-Night Trial
- Lifetime Warranty
If you’re in search of a great bed for athletes, then consider the Bear Star Hybrid. This mattress provides a balance of supportive firmness and versatility to adapt to different sleep positions and body types.
The Bear Star Hybrid features a Celliant® cover, which is said to improve recovery, making this a great selection for athletic sleepers. Below the cover is a copper-infused memory foam for cooling and pressure relief. The following layer is a transitional comfort foam, followed by an 8-inch coil unit for responsive support and airflow. The Bear Star Hybrid’s base consists of a high-density support foam.
What’s worth noting?
- The Bear Star Hybrid’s use of foams and individually wrapped coils to help curb motion transfer, which is appealing for couples sharing a bed.
- Your purchase of a Bear Star Hybrid comes with an impressive 120-night trial and lifetime warranty.
Want to know more? View our full Bear Star Hybrid mattress review.
Best California King Mattress for Side Sleepers
Aurora Luxe
HIGHLIGHTS:
- CertiPUR-US® Certified
- 120-Night Trial
- 10-Year Warranty
- Made in the USA
If you’re a side sleeper, good pressure relief is going to be essential in your search for a new mattress. For Brooklyn Bedding, pressure relief is a top priority. The company’s Aurora Luxe model is a high-end hybrid bed that is 13 inches of quality foam and coils for a quality sleep experience.
Most notably for side sleepers, the Aurora Luxe is built with three comfort layers, including CopperFlex™ foam, TitanFlex™ foam, and gel memory foam. Customers can also choose from three firmness levels to find the most comfortable feel for their body frame.
What stands out?
- The Aurora Luxe helps hot sleepers stay with multiple cooling resources. TitanCool™ is the brand’s copper-infused gel foam that resists heat. They also use a latex alternative that should provide temperature regulation and give some bounce, and the pocketed coils should allow for plenty of airflow.
Need more details? Check out our complete Aurora Luxe mattress review.
Best California King Mattress for Back Sleepers
Nolah Original
HIGHLIGHTS:
- CertiPUR-US® Certified
- 120-Night Trial
- Lifetime Warranty
- Made in the USA
Nolah is a bed-in-a-box product made with three layers of varying foams certified by the CertiPUR-US® program for health and safety standards. Their AirFoam™ is made with little air pockets that help regulate heat, and the high-density foam should create a durable product that lasts for years.
Nolah is a medium firmness. This medium comfort level should be great for back sleepers since the firmer layers can keep the spine in good alignment while the top comfort layer relieves pressure in areas like the shoulders and legs.
What’s its best feature?
- Nolah’s commitment to American workers is impressive, especially for those who want to help the local economy. According to their site, all of their products are made in the United States, which means a Nolah purchase is 100% American-made.
- Nolah is shipped in an eco-friendly box and, if returned, is recycled or donated.
Interested in learning more? See our complete review of the Nolah Original.
Best Natural California King Mattress
Birch Natural
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hybrid Latex Mattress
- Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers
- Firmness Level: 6.5/10
- 100-Night Trial
- 25-Year Warranty
When it comes to eco-friendly, non-toxic materials, the Birch Natural mattress goes big. Each California King-sized Birch boasts an organic cotton cover, organic wool in place of man-made fire retardants, and natural Talalay latex derived from the sap of rubber trees.
As a hybrid bed, the Birch provides superior support with individually wrapped coils underneath its latex layer. The coils along the borders of the mattress have been reinforced so that sleepers don’t feel unstable when they’re on the edges, which means you can safely invite your partner (and pets) to spread out.
What makes it special?
- The Birch has earned multiple certifications for its natural components from multiple organizations, including GREENGUARD Gold and GOTS.
Want a closer look? We’ve written a full Birch Natural mattress review.
Best Hybrid California King Mattress
Titan Plus
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hybrid Mattress
- Great for Plus-Sized Sleepers
- Firmness Level: 6.5-7/10
- 120-Night Trial
- Made in America
The Titan Plus was made with heavier sleepers in mind, but anyone who enjoys a firmer mattress can benefit from this painstakingly constructed hybrid. Its foams and coils work together to form a supportive, robust California King-sized bed that doesn’t skimp on the comfort factor.
The Titan Plus has two layers of foam at its surface: a 1-inch layer of gel memory foam that should help with cooling, followed by a 2-inch layer of the brand’s patented TitanFlex™ comfort foam, which contours to the curves and pressure points of the body without letting it sink too deep. Beneath these foams are close to 1,000 individually wrapped TitanCaliber™ coils. These springs provide responsiveness and further support, all without sacrificing motion isolation.
What do we love about it?
- The Titan Plus can support up to 1,000 pounds, making it one of few mattresses on the market designed for plus-sized users.
- The coils along its perimeter are a higher gauge, permitting sleepers to spread out without dipping at the edges.
Want to know more? Consult our full Titan Plus mattress review.
What Is a California King Mattress?
A California king mattress is an alternate, longer version of a standard king-size mattress. California king beds are 72 inches wide and 84 inches long, whereas traditional king beds are 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. These mattresses are also called Cal kings, Cali kings, and Western kings.
The History of the California King Bed

California kings began as a status item; in the 1960s, the bigger the mattress, the fancier and richer you were. Celebrities in Hollywood wanted a bed to fit their large mansions. These beds originally started around king size, but soon mattress companies made these beds longer and narrower, hence the California (or Western) king.
California King vs. King Mattress
Many believe that a California king is larger than a king sized mattress, but that is not actually the case. A California king is slightly longer and more narrow than a standard king. For total surface area, the king size wins; Californias stand at 6,048 square inches, while a standard king is 6,080.
Kings tend to be best for couples because they offer more room side to side, while a Western king would be a good choice for taller folks.
View Our Full Comparison: King vs. California King
California King vs. Split King Mattress
Split kings are two mattresses the size of a twin XL pushed together to make a whole bed the size of a standard king. Less commonly, there are split California kings, this would be two narrower mattresses pushed together. This is great for couples who need different firmness levels or want bases that can be adjusted separately.
This option is easier to move because they are in two separate pieces rather than one larger one.
The Pros of Owning a California King Bed
If you or your partner are over 6 feet tall and do not like your feet dangling off the bed, this size should make bedtime a lot more comfortable. If you are a single sleeper, this size might make more sense, as well, because you will not need as much space from side to side but can use some more room from top to bottom (if you are tall, of course).
They also fit in your traditionally sized bedroom better because they are less square and more rectangular. Many bedrooms have two long sides and two shorter sides so other furniture, like nightstands, may fit a little bit better with a narrower king size bed.
The Cons of Owning a California King Bed
This size may not be for everyone, though. Couples who want more space between themselves and their partner may find a king bed to be a better option, especially if they are both of average height.
It is also more difficult to find accessories, as well. Bed frames are harder to purchase because many models do not come in this size, and you will not be able to find sheets at every store that will fit. These accessories may be more expensive due to this.
Luckily, online bed shopping is easier and easier these days, so it should not be too much of an issue, but if these things concern you, a standard king may be best.
What to Consider When Looking for a California King Mattress
Material Type

These mattresses come in all different materials; it really all depends on personal sleeping preferences. The most common choices are:
- memory foam,
- innerspring,
- latex,
- or hybrids (a combination of materials).
Each offers different features, which we touched on at the beginning.
Interested in learning more? See our guide for different mattress types.
Sleeping Position
What position you sleep in will make a huge impact on which bed you should choose, specifically when it comes to firmness levels. Typically, side sleepers may find better pressure relief on a softer bed, while back sleeping folks and exclusive stomach sleepers should like a firmer surface for spine alignment. The average sleeper should be comfortable on a medium mattress.
Trial Period
This is especially important to those who buy a mattress online without testing it out in store. You are going to spend a lot of your life sleeping on this bed, so be sure to choose one that comes with a solid trial period. The best can be up to 365 days, while many companies offer a 120-day trial.
Warranty
Since you will most likely be spending a grip of money on this new bed, make sure that you choose one with a great warranty. Your average bed should come with a 10-year warranty, while the more extensive ones can be covered for life, like Nectar, Layla, and DreamCloud.

Price
If you are looking to save a dollar, this size may not be the right choice. These can sometimes be the most expensive models, even a little more than your standard king because they are considered a luxurious option found in nicer hotels. Many manufacturers sell kings and California kings for the same price, but it depends on the brand.
As touched on in the previous section, sheets, toppers, and frames may also be more pricy than other sizes, so take this into consideration when making your decision.
Conclusion
Buying a perfect new bed is often stressful because of all the brands and features out there, especially since the emergence of the online mattress industry. Hopefully, you feel more confident knowing whether a Cal king is for you and in making a decision on what brand is right for your specific situation.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the mattresses listed above, check out our in-depth mattress reviews, where we talk more about the makeup of each layer, firmness levels, and other features in each specific brand.
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