King-size mattresses are among the largest out there, and they’re the go-to size when you want to get a bed for the whole family. However, it’s not always ideal, and it can be a bit too snug for taller people in particular. So, what can you do if you need just a little more length but don’t want to get something overly large, like a grand king or an emperor?
Well, that’s what the California king size mattress is there for. It offers just a bit more length while having roughly the same cost as a king mattress. It’s the ideal solution, and today I’m going to take a look at the best California king mattresses out there – come and check them out along with me.
How Large is a California King Mattress and Should I Buy One?
How to Buy a California King Mattress Near Me?
A Comparison of the Best California King Mattresses on the Market
Top 19 California King Mattresses of 2020
The Benefits of a California King Mattress
The First 4 Things You Need to Consider When Buying a California King
How to Stop Your Mattress from Sagging – Easy DIY Tips
Mattress FAQ
How Large is a California King Mattress and Should I Buy One?
The standard size of a California king mattress in the US is around 72 by 84 inches, give or take an inch based on the manufacturer and whether the mattress expands fully. This makes it 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a standard king mattress, and the surface ends up being slightly smaller than a king – 6048 square inches as opposed to the 6080 square inches of the king.
There are no significant differences in most regions either, especially since most, like Europe and South America, don’t have a California king size mattress. If you find yourself in New Zeeland, though, be aware that their California king is 80 by 80 inches, while the Japanese variant is 76 by 81 inches.
1California King vs. King
If you’re still unsure about buying a California king over a king mattress, here’s how they stack up against each other – take a look and make your pick. As mentioned, the sizes are roughly equivalent, with the king being 4 inches wider and 4 inches shorter and a bit larger in total surface size – 6080 square inches versus the 6048 of the cal king.
The price of the two is roughly equivalent, but California king mattresses are usually a bit more expensive, so the king wins out in that regard. Accessories are easier to find for king mattresses, and there are more variants of king mattresses on the market.
However, you’re more likely to find air or water beds in California king-size, which is a plus if that’s what you’re interested. California king mattresses are also easier to fit in small rooms due to their less awkward shape. That’s the short version, and you can read more here if you want a bit more info on the matter of king vs. California king.
2The Downsides of a California King Mattress
So far, I’ve been mostly singing the praises of California king mattresses, but there are some bad things about them that you should be aware of if you want to make an informed purchase.
For starters, finding a bed frame or a box spring that can comfortably fit a California king mattress is harder than finding one for a king or queen mattress. You will find some for sure, but your choices will be more limited. It will also be more difficult to find sheets which will fit, and sheets made for a king mattress won’t be useful.
Another downside is the cost – yes, it’s not that much higher than the cost of a king mattress, but it is a bit steeper. The cost of accessories, like bedding, is also higher for the Cal king and you’ll have less choice than with a king.
The lack of width is also a downside since you won’t have as much space to move around and it’s easier to wake up your partner when you get up. If you toss and turn a lot, the cal king is not ideal, even if you’re sleeping alone.
3When Should You Get a California King Mattress?
So, who is the California king mattress for? Who should buy one? Well, tall people primarily. If you lie down on a king mattress and your feet are dangling off the foot of the bed, then a cal king is probably the right choice for you.
If you need additional space for a pet to sleep at your feet, a cal king is also a good solution. You might also find that its size fits better in a certain room than a king would. If you’re short on space and those four inches of difference would allow you to fit it into a room where it otherwise couldn’t, get it.
However, if you do choose to get a California king mattress for yourself, you should also be aware of their bad aspects, which I’m going to talk about next.
How to Buy a California King Mattress Near Me?
If you’re looking to get a California king mattress as soon as possible, you might want to find a shop close to you that sells some. But, how do you find a California king mattress shop?
You’ll find all the shops that sell California king mattresses in your general area marked on this map. You can click on each one to get the general info about it, user reviews and a link to their website if they have one, and more. Now the only question that remains is – how to find a good shop?
How to Find a Good Mattress Shop
That’s the question of the day – and it’s fairly easy to do if you know the right steps. I’ll tell you a little bit more about it right now, so stick with me.
The first thing to check out about a shop is – does it have its own website? If it’s a larger shop and it doesn’t that should be a warning sign – it means they are deliberately hiding info or they just don’t care and are behind the times.
For smaller shops, it’s fine to lack a website, and it can still be good – they just might not have the resources.
Just having a website is not good enough to get a pass; the website needs to be good. It should contain all the relevant contact info, shop locations, working hours, product info, info on the warranties, current discounts, payment options, and so on.
This info should also be up-to-date – if the prices don’t match up to those you see when you enter the shop, you should get out of there.
You should be able to find this info on the website, but you should still ask when you enter the shop, just in case. A mattress shop that doesn’t allow you to test their products is most likely selling relatively bad merchandise.
Even smaller shops should have a test model or two for their most popular sellers, while larger shops should have a test model for each product they have on sale.
The price isn’t the only thing you should look out for when you’re choosing a shop – you should also see what type of warranty the shop offers. At the least, a shop should allow you to return a defective product and get your money back.
However, good shops should let you have a trial period with your mattress during which you can return it, no questions asked. They should also offer an extended warranty that lasts for years.
Be sure to check the exact conditions of the warranties, though – don’t just go in blind. Sometimes, companies will offer long warranties, but they might have extremely specific conditions for them which means that you won’t be able to claim it in most cases. Always read the small print.
This is the final test that a shop should pass – the customer satisfaction test – and everything else is for naught if this goes badly. Yes, all the previous categories are important, but this is the clincher.
On Google, you can see the general reviews for the shop from customers who visited it and the score they gave it, as well as the average score. If it’s below 4 stars, the shop is probably not worth visiting.
However, that’s only true if there are hundreds of reviews – if there are only a few, you should read them thoroughly and check the details. You should do that anyway, though. That way you’ll have a better idea of what’s potentially bad about the shop. You’ll also be able to tell if the bad reviews are just made by someone with a grudge, or if the good reviews are fake.
A Comparison of the Best California King Mattresses on the Market
If you’re looking to quickly gauge which of these is the best California king mattress available, this quick and easy comparison chart should be able to help you out. But if you’ve got the time, be sure to read my detailed California king mattress reviews down below.
Top 19 California King Mattresses of 2021
This section is reserved for the detailed reviews of top California King mattresses on the market in 2019. I’ve made the extra effort on each one of those to help you make the best possible decision for yourself, and select the mattress that will improve your sleep for the years to come.
Linenspa 8 Inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid MattressThe Best Budget California King Mattress
This hybrid mattress from Linenspa is quite an underrated choice, but I think it’s potentially the best budget cal king hybrid mattress on the market. It’s made with a soft and comfy knit cover that encases strong metal coils wrapped in cotton and cushioned between two layers of high-quality memory foam.
It claims to be medium-firm, and that’s about right across most of the surface, and it’s fairly supportive. The edges are the only major sore point, and they’re easy to slip off of. Due to the hybrid construction, it ends up being rather breathable, and it stays fairly cool even when it’s hot outside.
While it is affordable, the construction is rather solid, and it will stay good for years to come, and it even comes with a 10-year warranty included. The only other major problem is the smell – that chemical, new mattress smell. It takes a long time to go away after you unpack it and it gets on you and your clothes. Still, it’s a great affordable mattress, and you’ll rarely see a hybrid this good at this price so go for it.
Pros 
- The price is incredibly affordable for what you get
- It has great support and a medium-firm feel
- Relatively cool even in the summer months
- Durable despite what the low cost might suggest
Cons 
- The edge support is incredibly poor
- There’s a strong smell to it when you unpack it, and it lasts for a long time
Foam mattresses tend to have the worst edge support while innerspring mattresses tend to have the best – hybrids are usually somewhere in-between. If you need good edge support, keep that in mind when purchasing.
Tuft & Needle Cal King MattressThe Best California King Mattress in a Box
There’s a good reason why Tuft & Needle is such a well-known company these days – they make great mattresses, and this is their signature product. It’s made using adaptive foam, which gives it a few great properties that you won’t see elsewhere.
The mattress is bouncy, yet it has minimal motion transfer, making it great for some nice bedroom exercises if you know what I mean. However, you still won’t wake up your partner when you get up.
It’s highly supportive and firm, but the firmness adjusts a bit to your need due to the properties of adaptive foam. This makes it great for couples who have slightly different preferences when it comes to firmness.
You’ll also find that the mattress stays relatively cool in the summer months unlike a lot of other foam mattresses. With that said, it’s still relatively expensive for what you get, but you are covered by a 10-year warranty, so you do have a bit of a safety net. I’d say it’s worth buying.
Pros
- It has barely any motion transfer, so you’re not going to wake up your partner
- It’s bouncy which makes it great for some lovemaking
- Nicely supportive and adequately firm
- Stays cool when it’s hot outside
- The materials used to make it are high-quality, and it’s very durable
Cons
- The price is quite high even though it’s a quality product
- Smells horribly when it’s first unpacked
You shouldn’t be too afraid to pay a bit more for a quality product that you’re going to get a lot of use out of and which you might need for pain relief.
King Koil California King Luxury Raised Air MattressThe Best California King Air Mattress
Here’s an incredibly interesting design from King Koil – an extremely thick air mattress with ‘air coils’ on the inside, allowing it to provide you with amazing support. It can hold up to 600 pounds of weight, easily.
However, if you feel that it’s too firm, you can always let out a bit of air or, alternatively, add some, to adjust it to your liking. However, it does make a lot of noise when it’s inflating, so watch out for that.
It uses a built-in electrical pump to pump in the air so it can be inflated fully in a matter of minutes. You can’t inflate it without power, though. When fully inflated it’s 20 inches thick making it easy to use without a bed frame.
It’s also incredibly comfortable with a soft quilted top layer and an in-built pillow. Taking it anywhere with you is not difficult since it’s rather small and light when deflated and it even comes with a carrying bag.
The only major downside here is the fact that the warranty on it is quite short, so it’s not exactly a safe purchase. However, it’s fairly affordable so you won’t lose out on much if it does get punctured after more than a year.
Pros
- The price is low for what you get making this mattress a good deal
- Portable and highly adjustable since it can be inflated or deflated at will
- It has a built-in pillow, and the soft top layer makes it incredibly comfortable
- There’s a built-in electrical pump that inflates it fully in 5 minutes
- Durable materials that hold up to long-term use
Cons
- The warranty is quite short – only 1 year
- Can’t be inflated without electricity and gets quite noisy
If you choose to get an air mattress, make sure that you have a good place to put it. Today they’re safer than they used to be, but it’s still easy to puncture them if a curious kid or a badly behaved pet gets to it.
Best Price Mattress 12-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Thick, Firm and Highly Supportive
This offering from Best Price is one of the best rated California king mattresses around, and it’s not tough to see why. It offers amazing comfort and support at a price that’s not too high or too low. It’s made out of quality materials, and it’s definitely made to last and to stand up to long-term use.
The firmness is up to par, but it’s also comfortable due to the thick comfort layer on the top. It’s 12 inches thick too, so it can withstand a lot of weight, and it will be great if you’re a heavy-set person.
You also get a mattress protector with it, and when it’s unpacked, it will quickly expand to its full size. You’ll get a few weeks of a nasty chemical smell though, but you’ll have to put up with that.
However, it’s not all good, and you will sleep hot on it, especially in the summer months, so be prepared for that. It retains a lot of heat. Still, it’s far from being a bad mattress, and if you can put up with some of the cons, it should be quite good for you.
Pros
- Quite firm, offering great support for a foam mattress
- Made out of good materials and it stands up well to long-term use
- Comes with a great mattress protector included
- Comfortable feeling due to a thick comfort layer on the top
- Expands quickly once you take it out of the packaging
Cons
- The chemical smell is horrible, and it persists for months
- You might find that it’s not too breathable and you’ll sleep hot on it
There are a few options for dealing with a mattress that gets too hot, but the best one is probably to get a cooling mattress topper for it.
Casper Sleep California King Bed in a Box MattressThe Coolest California King Foam Mattress
Casper made a lot of waves on the market when it first appeared, and it continues to be a great force in the mattress industry. This is their signature product, and you can say it does live up to the hype. It offers almost everything you might want from a foam mattress.
The multi-layered construction draws heat away from you, ensuring that you will sleep cool. The base layer is incredibly supportive making this probably the best California king mattress for back pain, at least when it comes to foam mattresses.
There’s next to no motion transfer at all, and it’s quite soft and comfortable despite the support it provides. You won’t ever feel that it’s too hard. To top it all off, the materials are great, and it will definitely last for years and years to come.
With all that said, the price is incredibly high, and it’s difficult to justify it, even with all the benefits the mattress offers. You do get a 100-day trial period, which gives you a bit of a safety net, so you can try it out, and it is at least worth a try.
Pros
- You can return the mattress within the first 100 days, no questions asked
- The motion transfer is almost non-existent
- The amazing multi-layered construction keeps you cool during the night
- Incredibly supportive for a foam mattress
- Durable materials that can last for more than 10 years
Cons
- The price is incredibly high, and not a lot of people can afford it
- It lacks proper edge support
While it is worth paying a little bit extra for a quality product you still shouldn’t pay too much if you can get something similar at a lower cost. Never go for the first or second option and explore all avenues before you decide which mattress you want to buy.
LINENSPA 5 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress The Most Affordable Gel Foam California King Mattress
LINENSPA are known for their well-made, but affordable products and this one is not an exception in that regard – you’ll get a lot out of it despite how it may look at the price. It’s quite firm and supportive at first, but you do have to let it expand fully before it reaches that point – which takes a few days.
Still, it performs well, at least for a year or two, but then it’ll be noticeably less supportive. It’s highly breathable due to the gel foam used in the construction which makes you feel cooler while sleeping on it.
Overall, it’s good while it lasts and you do have a 10-year warrant covering you in case it goes completely bad after a few years. Even when it starts being less supportive, it still remains more than usable, and it still doesn’t feel hot. For a lower-priced gel mattress, this is a fine product.
Pros
- Breathable due to a 1-inch layer of gel foam on top of it
- The price is great and highly affordable
- Highly comfortable and supportive at first
- Lightweight and easy to move and rotate
- Backed with a 10-year warranty
Cons
- It’s a relatively thin mattress, and you’re going to feel it
- Not too durable and it starts getting saggy within a year
- It takes a long time to expand fully, sometimes a few days
Buying a cheaper mattress can be a gamble, so do your research and make sure you’re buying something decent that you will like.
California King 10 Inch Thick, 4 Pound Density Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress The Best California King Mattress for Side Sleepers
This mattress from Memory Foam Solution is made using a special type of visco-elastic memory foam combined with gel foam to create a foam mattress that’s flexible, supportive and soft. However, it’s not as breathable as you would expect and you might get hot while sleeping on it.
Still, that’s not a problem that brings it down too much, since it has a lot of other good qualities. The materials it’s made of make it a great for side sleepers, for example, since it conforms well to your body while still remaining incredibly supportive.
You can put a lot of weight on it as well, and if you’re a bit heavier, it will fit you well. It’s also got decent edge support, at least for a foam mattress – nothing spectacular, but better than most.
Overall, it doesn’t have a lot of downsides, besides the fact that it will smell bad for a few months and there’s no good way to avoid that. It’s a decent mattress at a decent price, and it’s definitely worth considering.
Pros
- Flexible and seems to be made out of durable materials
- Its thickness and the good base make it quite supportive
- Soft and conforms well to your body, especially if you sleep on your side
- The price is more than decent for what you get here
- Decent edge support for a foam mattress
Cons
- It retains a lot more heat than you would expect
- There’s a strong smell to it that can last for months
If a manufacturer makes wild claims like ‘this mattress feels like you’re in zero gravity’ they’re probably overselling it a bit. However, that doesn’t mean that the product is bad and you should still take a good look at it.
DynastyMattress 13” Gel Memory Foam MattressThe Best California King Mattress for Pain Relief
DynastyMattress is a company known for making luxury mattresses fit for a king at a cost affordable to the common man. This mattress is no exception. It’s made specifically with pain relief in mind, and it uses a combination of a few different memory foam types, including gel foam, to achieve a responsive and comfortable surface.
The luxurious cover contributes to that – it feels awesome and looks beautiful while also being easily removable for washing. The breathability is also great, and you won’t sleep hot on this mattress at all no matter the time of year.
Here’s the final kicker, though – this isn’t a California king mattress, but two mattresses which combine to a full cal king size. Some won’t like this, but they combine rather seamlessly, and I think it just adds extra versatility.
The cost is not cheap, but not too expensive either and you get a free 120-day trial to see if you like it! You are also covered by a 30-year warranty, one of the best in the business. Overall, I’d say this is the best California king mattress under 1000 dollars, and it’s hard to find fault with it – but there are a few.
For a start, it is a bit too hot and retains quite a lot of heat, so it’s not ideal if you tend to sleep hot. It’s also quite firm, uncomfortably so for some people, especially those with a lighter frame, so be aware of that when buying it. Still, you can test it out and see that for yourself, so I suggest you do that.
Pros
- It has a great-looking cover that’s comfortable and easy to remove and wash
- Comes with 2 free gel foam pillows included
- This is a split cal king which means you can use it as two separate beds if you want
- You get a 120-day free trial along with a 30-year warranty
- All the parts are highly durable
Cons
- It does retain heat, and you’ll have problems if you sleep hot
- Can be uncomfortably hard for some people, especially those that don’t weight a lot
If a mattress comes with a free trial that’s great, but always check the experiences of the people who tried to return it and see if it was a hassle. Sometimes, manufacturers that offer such trials deliberately make the return process difficult.
Swiss Ortho Sleep, 12-Inch MattressThe Best Orthopedic California King Mattress
This hybrid cal king mattress from Swiss Ortho Sleep is designed with orthopedic use in mind, and it shows. It’s made with high-quality coils independently wrapped in cotton and designed to allow for optimum airflow through the mattress.
They’re situated below a 1-inch layer of wave foam and a 0.5-inch layer of comfort foam, and it’s all covered in a breathable bamboo cover, allowing this mattress to be as breathable as possible.
It’s also made to reduce as much motion as possible and to be as comfortable as it can be, removing the feeling of springs under your back while still staying as supportive as possible.
You can definitely put a lot of weight onto it without worrying, and it will support it marvelously. However, the edges do lack that type of supportiveness, and they tend to collapse under your weight.
The mattress also doesn’t expand to its listed size most of the time. It is supposed to be 12 inches thick, but people have reported it expanding to only 10 or 11 inches. It’s still good despite those kinks, but they’re more than worth noting.
Pros
- Highly breathable due to the materials used in the construction
- The motion transfer is almost non-existent which is great for a hybrid
- It is able to support tons of weight
- Durable and made out of high-quality materials
- The price is more than approachable for the average buyer
Cons
- The edges are not firm enough and aren’t supportive
- It doesn’t expand to its full size and will lack an inch or two of thickness
Not all mattresses that claim to be therapeutic actually deliver on that promise. Most use it as just another marketing buzzword.
6-inch Visco Elastic Memory Foam MattressA Thin But Worthy Mattress
This is a relatively thin mattress from Accu-Gold, but that’s not necessarily a knock against it – it’s still more than good and not just in its category.
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat – yes, the thickness is only 6 inches, but it’s more than enough most of the time, and you’ll sometimes feel the base beneath it, but not always.
The good thing about a slightly thinner mattress, especially one like this, using open-cell structure, is the fact that it’s highly breathable and retains less heat. It’s also more supportive and firm than you might think at first and it can hold a lot of weight due to the good base layer of foam.
One thing that sets this mattress apart from most foam mattresses are its hard edges. They’re more supportive than the rest of the mattress in fact and might feel too hard to some, but you can safely sit on its sides.
The motion transfer is also minimal, and it comes with a free waterproof mattress cover. Now, the cover is a bit flimsy as is the rest of the mattress and the price is steeper than you might expect, but it’s still a more than decent product overall.
Pros
-
- Uses an open-cell structure which makes it highly breathable
- The edges are hard and highly supportive
- It’s firm and more than supportive enough
- The visco-elastic foam makes it comfortable while reducing the motion transfer to a minimum
Cons
- It is only 6 inches thick, and you might feel it depending on the bed frame
- The price is a bit high for a mattress like this
- Not the most durable mattress around
A thicker mattress is not necessarily always better – it can definitely end up being too hard, too stuffy or too heavy for comfort. Give some thinner mattresses a shot, and you won’t regret it.
Supremus GrandBreeze Mattress 12-Inch Gel Memory FoamSturdy and Cool
The GrandBreeze mattress from Supremus really does live up to the name – it’s grand, and it’s breezy! Due to its 4-layer construction, using gel foam, premium memory foam, breeze airflow foam and a 6-inch support base made with ventilation in mind, it’s one of the coolest mattresses around.
It’s grand as well, with 12 inches of thickness and an amazingly soft cover that makes it extremely comfortable. You can rest easy on it knowing that it will support you well.
The price it comes at is a bit steep, but you can rest easy knowing that you get a 120-day trial to try it out and you’re covered by a 20-year warranty if you decide to keep it for good. For the most part, it’s sturdy, and it’s highly supportive. The price is decent, and you get two free memory foam pillows with it as a bonus.
However, it does have a few issues, the main one being motion transfer – it’s quite noticeable and the fact that it’s a cal king only makes it worse. The edge support is quite bad too. That’s not enough to bring it down though, and it’s still a good mattress overall. Just try it out and see – it’s risk-free after all.
Pros
- Comes with a 120-day free trial and you get a 20-year warranty
- You get two free memory foam pillows along with it
- Quite thick and able to support a lot of weight
- Sleeps cooler than most other mattresses around
- Sturdy and able to withstand repeated use
Cons
- There are some motion transfer issues with it
- The edge support is lackluster at the best of times
When you try a mattress on a free trial, try it for at least a few weeks, don’t return it after only a few days. However, don’t wait until you get close to the deadline either.
Memory Foam Solutions 12-inch Thick Visco Elastic Memory Foam MattressThe Not-quite California King
This mattress from Memory Foam Solutions might be the solution you’re looking for some relief for your sore back. It’s quite supportive even if you’re a bit heavy-set and it’s more than firm enough. However, that doesn’t mean it’s less comfortable or not soft enough.
Another great thing about is its breathability which is definitely above average, and you won’t feel too hot while sleeping on it. There’s no chemical smell to it when you get it either, unlike with most foam mattresses. It also easily expands to its full size – but that’s where a problem comes in.
While this mattress is billed as a California king, that’s not exactly true – the dimensions of this one are 70 by 82 inches, falling two inches short in both width and length.
It’s a strange size, and I’m not sure why that is – it is a huge problem, and it might be a deal breaker for most. The steep price also doesn’t help too much. In the end, it’s up to you to decide.
Pros
- When you get it, there’s next to no chemical smell on it
- It’s definitely supportive, even for heavier individuals
- The mattress is decently firm while still being soft and comfortable enough
- Sleeps relatively cool even in the hotter months due to the gel foam
- Due to its supportiveness, it’s great if you have back problems
Cons
- It’s not a true California king mattress since it’s only 70 by 82 inches
- The price is quite steep for what you get here
Always check the exact dimensions of the mattress that you want to buy – don’t rely on labels like ‘king’ and ‘California king’ since some manufacturers might use them incorrectly.
GhostBed Mattress Cal King 11 Inch Cooling Gel Memory FoamThe Best California King Mattress for Reduced Motion Transfer
If you haven’t heard of GhostBed so far, this mattress will probably get you to take notice of them – it’s a high-quality, unique product that offers quite a few great benefits.
For a start, it uses an interesting mix of materials – latex combined with gel memory foam placed on a high-density support core. This gives the mattress incredible breathability, but that’s just the start.
There’s practically no motion transfer at all, yet the bed is decently bouncy if you need that for certain activities.
It’s also incredibly comfy and conforms to your body, but you won’t sink into it, and it’s quite firm and supportive. It can even support more heavy-set people without them sinking into it.
The price is a bit high, but it’s a latex mattress after all, and you get a 100-day trial which allows you to try it out and return it. It’s also backed with a 20-year warranty.
If you’re not good with tools, you might have some trouble setting up the foundation of this mattress since it’s not a straightforward process that anyone can do. However, after that, you should have no problems with it, and it’s definitely a mattress worth checking out.
Pros
- Uses both latex and gel foam for an incredibly breathable feeling
- Comes with a 100-day free trial backed with a 20-year warranty
- The mattress covering is great, and it feels incredibly comfortable
- It’s quite firm and might even be too firm for some
- More than supportive enough and good for dealing with back pain
- There’s practically no motion transfer at all
Cons
- The price of this mattress is quite high
- The assembly for the foundation can be a bit difficult
Always be sure to check the instruction on what you should do when you get the mattress – otherwise, you might mess it up for good. No pressure!
AmericanMade DreamDNA 12 Inch Thick MattressAmerican Made and Proud
AmericanMade is the company that makes this mattress, and it’s definitely true – it’s completely made in the US. It has a great 4-inch layer of gel foam laid on top of a high-quality base made of dense foam, allowing it to have amazing breathability.
The gel foam is also quite soft and comfortable; you sink into it a bit but not too much. However, if you’re a bit heavier, you might sink in too far in which case you’ll feel a bit hot and like the mattress isn’t supportive enough. There’s almost no motion transfer on it, and you’ll feel good getting up during the night since you won’t wake up your partner.
However, there’s one big problem with this mattress –it’s not durable enough. The cost is quite high though, so it’s rather hard to justify the relatively poor quality of the materials used to make it. It’s up to you to make the final decision though – you might think it’s worth it.
Pros
- Uses a thick 4-inch layer of gel foam to provide great breathability
- There’s next to no motion transfer on it
- Comfortable and cozy to sleep on
- It doesn’t take long to expand to its full size after you unpack it
- Lightweight and incredibly easy to move
Cons
- Not too good for heavier sleepers since it doesn’t provide enough support
- Not too durable which is quite a shame since it’s not cheap
Buying a mattress as a disposable good is perfectly fine, especially if you intend to move in a few years and see taking the mattress with you as a hassle. Just make sure it’s a mattress that will fit you while it lasts.
Sleep Innovations Shea 10-inch Memory Foam Mattress The Best USA-made California King Memory Foam Mattress
This memory foam mattress from Sleep Innovations is a USA original and completely made in the country. It’s made with care as well, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best-sellers.
Its design is relatively basic – a top layer of memory foam on top of a layer of base foam – but it’s incredibly effective, and the high-quality materials used in the construction are what makes it all work. Due to the strong and dense base foam, it’s able to provide superior support without feeling too hard or firm.
The materials are durable which is why it’s able to stand up to long-term use. There are no weird smells when you first get it, and it reliably and quickly expands to its full size, every time.
You can put a lot of weight on it without a worry in the world, and it seems to be as soft as a cloud. However, it does fall into some usual trappings of memory foam mattresses – it definitely retains too much heat, and the edges are not supportive enough.
Those are some downsides you might expect and prepare for, though, and beyond that, this mattress is as great as they get.
Pros
- The base is great and provides you with incredible support
- High-quality materials used in the construction ensure the longevity of the mattress
- No off-gassing or weird smells when you first get it
- It quickly expands to its full size and does so reliably
- Soft and comfortable but able to hold a lot of weight
Cons
- Not a lot of ventilation, so it does get hot after a while
- The edges are definitely not supportive enough
Reliability is something that’s to be valued – no matter what types of lofty promises a product makes, it’s no good if it can’t consistently deliver on them.
CoutureSleep 8 1/2 Inch Summer Gel Memory Foam Mattress The Best Budget California King Gel Foam Mattress
CoutureSleep made a strange choice by making the thickness of this mattress 8.5 inches, but you won’t notice it too much. It’s definitely thick enough.
While the layer of gel foam on top of it is not too thick, it’s more than enough to keep you cool most of the time, and it feels rather soft and comfy. Maybe even a bit too soft.
Even though this mattress is rated as a medium-firm one, it’s actually softer than that would suggest. It won’t be firm enough for most people, especially for those that weight a bit more than average. Just be aware of that when buying it.
It’s also heavy and if you need to move it around you’ll be in for a bit of an exercise.
However, it does avoid some problems that foam mattresses tend to have. For example, the edge support is not terrible; it expands quickly after you take it out of the box and there are no weird smells that last for weeks.
Overall, I’d say it’s a good mattress, especially for the price and if you’re looking for a cooler mattress to get on a budget, this is not a bad one at all.
Pros
- Comfortable and soft on the surface
- It’s fairly breathable, and you won’t sleep too hot on it
- The price it comes at is absolutely amazing
- It expands quickly and doesn’t come with a weird chemical smell
- It’s more durable than you would expect a mattress of this price to be
Cons
- Heavy and difficult to move around if you need it
- Definitely not firm enough, especially for heavier individuals
Serta Perfect Sleeper Elite Plush Super Pillow Top 800 Innerspring Mattress The Best Pillow Top California King Mattress
This amazing Serta California king mattress is incredibly comfortable and supportive due to a unique hybrid construction. It uses gel foam along with individually wrapped coils to deliver an incredibly breathable mattress that offers tons of support while still conforming closely to the shape of your body.
The result is an incredibly comfortable sleeping experience and a mattress which helps solve a lot of common sleeping problems and provide you with pain relief for your back and neck.
This is probably the best pillow top California king mattress out there, and the outside casing, in general, is incredibly soft and comfortable, adding to its value.
It can also support a lot of weight, making it ideal for heavier individuals and allowing you to sleep on it worry-free. It’s unlikely to break or sag due to the quality materials used to make it.
Overall, it’s just a great package with next to no downsides – but there are some. It’s heavy, and it will be difficult to move it if you ever have to, but that’s not the worst thing in the world.
No, the larger problem is the incredibly steep price – it will be hard to afford this mattress. You don’t even get any safety nets, like a free trial period. So, make sure that this is exactly the thing you want before you put your money on the table.
Pros
- Incredibly cool due to the gel foam used in the construction
- Highly supportive and firm
- Incredibly soft and comfortable due to the pillow top
- TYou can put a lot of weight on it without breaking it
- Durable materials that make it unlikely to start sagging any time soon
- There is next to no motion transfer while sleeping on it
Cons
- The price is definitely steep, and you don’t get a safety net of a free trial period
- Extremely heavy and difficult to move around
If you’re not sure that you can afford a mattress but still want it, look for a shop that sells it and allows you to pay in monthly installments. It will up the price, but it will be spread out, allowing you to get it.
Serta Killner Gel Memory Foam Mattress The Best Edge Support from a Foam Mattress
The Serta Killner is a foam mattress which avoids the general problem of foam mattresses – heat retention. It uses a thicker layer of gel foam to cool you down and reduce the buildup of heat.
However, that’s not the only thing it has up its sleeve – it avoids another pitfall of foam mattresses, poor edge support. You can actually sit on the edge of the bed with this mattress! I know, it’s crazy to think about it.
It’s also highly supportive overall, even though it’s made completely out of foam. Even if you put a lot of weight on it, you’ll find it to be supportive, and it will be able to take a lot of wear and tear.
However, the price is quite high, and it needs to be put on a support system to get the most of it – which is bought separately. So, it’s good overall, but the pricing model is a bit busted, and you should consider that before purchasing it.
Pros
- Uses cool action gel memory foam to eliminate heat retention
- Highly supportive while only using foam in the construction
- Has a soft and comfortable feeling
- The edge support is decent, unlike with other memory foam mattresses
- You can definitely put a lot of weight on it, and it will hold up
Cons
- The price is definitely high when compared to similar mattresses
- You need to buy a support base separately which costs extra
Be wary of products that need you to buy something else for them to be ‘complete,’ thus raising the price point. You could unwittingly buy something that’s useless without an expensive add-on, and it’s a tactic often used in the mattress industry.
Serta iCOMFORT BLUE 500A Non-Typical Foam Mattress
The iCOMFORT Blue 500 mattress from Serta is an incredibly versatile mattress which can work with a wide variety of bed frames – it’s compatible with slatted frames, box springs, adjustable foundations and more. It also uses Ultimate Edge Foam core to make the edges more supportive than in most other foam mattresses.
It avoids some other foam mattress problems as well –for example, it’s shipped completely expanded, and there’s no horrible smell when you unpack it, which is just delightful. Sadly, it costs way too much for what it offers, and the 10-year warranty it comes with seems rather sketchy.
Also, even though the manufacturer claims otherwise, this bed should be used with a foundation, and the warranty does suggest that, which just seems shady. Overall, it’s a good mattress, but it’s up to you to determine is it good enough to spend this much money on it.
Pros
- Amazingly versatile and able to fit well with most types of bed frames
- The edges are strong and supportive thanks to the Ultimate Edge Foam Core
- Breathable and stays cool no matter which time of year it is
- Thick, supportive and able to carry a lot of weight on it
- It’s shipped fully expanded and the setup time is minimal.
Cons
- Incredibly high price with no testing period available
- Unreliable info about the use of a foundation and mattress pad
If a company says one thing about a product, but the legal documents where they have to tell the truth say otherwise, that’s probably a sign that you should take your business elsewhere and they’re trying to trick you. Not a good look.
The Benefits of a California King Mattress
California king mattresses might seem similar to king mattresses but they have a few unique benefits of their own to bring to the table, and I’ll list them all here, so keep reading!
If you’re a taller person, you’ll greatly appreciate the amount of foot space offered by the California king. You’ll also appreciate it if you have large feet or you like to sleep a bit lower on the mattress.
It’s also ideal if a pet is sleeping with you – this additional space near the footrest allows them to comfortably spread out near your feet instead of trying to cram in with you and bothering you while you’re trying to sleep.
Yes, the California king mattress is slightly smaller than the king mattress, but it’s also got a less awkward shape, especially when you’re trying to fit a bed into a narrow space.
The more elongated shape of the cal king is easier to fit into smaller rooms, and it’s less likely to block doors and entranceways since it’s not so wide. It will save more space than you might think, especially in the places where you need it the most.
When you’ve got a larger mattress, you’ll probably sleep better since you’ll have more space and you’ll be able to take any position you want. With a California king mattress, you’ll sleep much better if you struggle a lot with your feet or have something like restless leg syndrome.
The additional space will make it all much easier on you and provide you with some much-needed pain relief. No more hitting the wooden footrest with your feet in the middle of the night!
The First 4 Things You Need to Consider When Buying a California King
When you’re buying a California king mattress, you need to consider some different things than with other mattress sizes, but other things are just like buying any other mattress. Anyway, without further ado, here’s what you need to consider.
1The Type of Mattress
The first thing to consider when you’re buying a mattress is which type you want to buy since that will impact almost everything about it and especially the pain relief it provides.
There are many different mattress types out there, probably too many to count – so I’ll just tell you about some of the most popular types out there and who they’re good for.
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Foam
One of the most popular types of mattresses today, they used to have some major problems with providing support and being hot. However, these days they can provide you with almost anything you want and be as cool and supportive as other types of mattresses.
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Innerspring
Using metal springs for support, usually connected to a metal frame, these mattresses are the traditional choice. They provide some of the best support around, though they are sometimes lambasted as being too uncomfortable and rigid.
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Hybrid
Trying to combine the best parts of foam and innerspring mattresses, hybrids often use coils which are independently encased and situated between layers of memory foam. This allows them to provide both the comfortable contouring effect of a foam mattress with the support of an innerspring, but they are expensive.
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These mattresses were always thought off as gimmicky and next to useless, but these days they’re anything but that. Portable, easy to adjust to your liking and not that expensive, they’re quickly gaining in popularity.
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Water
A staple of frat houses back in the day, these mattresses have come a long way from the wavy, bouncy-house, puncture-hazards they used to be. Today they’re versatile, adaptable and great for therapeutic purposes, but they are costly.
2The Materials Used to Make It
Even mattresses within the same type can be made of wildly different materials, which can affect their properties greatly.
For example, getting a foam mattress which uses latex foam will give you a bouncier and more durable bed, but it won’t conform to your body that much. On the other hand, the gel-infused foam will not be as bouncy, but it will be cooler.
If we’re talking about innerspring mattresses, the metal used for the springs is also important – stainless or tempered steel is great, and you should generally avoid mattresses using aluminum springs since they’re not as durable.
The material used for the casing can also impact the performance of a mattress more than you might think. A plush California king mattress will feel more comfortable, especially in the case of innerspring mattresses.
On the other hand, a thin or badly stitched casing will end up making you replace your mattress much sooner than you wanted. Take a good look at every part of the mattress and consider the materials used to make it with care.
3The Firmness
The firmness of a mattress can make your sleep experience or break it, and different people have wildly different preferences when it comes to that.
If there was an objective scale for determining firmness, everything would be easy, but it’s not that simple. You mostly have to rely on manufacturer estimates and their 1-to-10 firmness scales or labels like “medium-soft” and so on.
The best way to see if a mattress is firm or soft enough for you is to test it out at the shop, which will give you an idea of what that particular manufacturer labels as firm or soft.
Firmness is also important in relation to the sleeping position you prefer. Generally speaking, firmer mattresses will be better for those with back problems and people sleeping on their back in general. Softer mattresses will be good for those who experience neck pain and for side sleepers or stomach sleepers.
4The Size and the Weight
Why do I mention to check the size when you’re buying a California king? Well, that’s because a lot of manufacturers tend to call their mattresses California kings even though their size doesn’t match up to that name. Always be sure to check what the exact dimensions of a mattress are.
You should also be mindful of the weight, especially if you’re not paying for a white glove delivery service and want to install it on your own. Lugging something that weighs 150 pounds up 5 flights of stairs is not a good feeling.
The weight is also important if you intend to move and bring the mattress with you or if you just want to flip it over regularly or take to a cleaner’s sometimes.
How to Stop Your Mattress from Sagging – Easy DIY Tips
Sooner or later, no matter how good your mattress is and no matter which type of mattress you have, it will start to sag. You’ll notice it too – not just by the visible dent, but also by the pain in your back or neck and the lack of quality sleep. So, what can you do about it? Just get a new mattress?
Well, yes, that’s one option, but not everyone has that luxury. Luckily, there are ways to extend the life of your mattress a little bit and get rid of the sagging, at least for a while. Here’s how to deal with sagging, on your own, in your home, for different types of mattresses.
1Innerspring Mattresses
Be aware that this particular solution will only work for innerspring mattresses and some latex mattresses. It also won’t work if the mattress is more than 14-inches thick.
First, measure the depth of the sagging area. This is important, so you don’t add too much material and end up having a lump on your mattress. If the sag is over 3 inches in depth, you should get a new mattress instead of trying this method.
How to measure the sag depth? Place a wooden plank over the entire mattress, so it goes over the sagging area and the normal areas. Then, take a measuring stick and measure the distance from the deepest part of the sag to the plank.
Next, buy a sagging support material – you can get some easily on Amazon – and place it between the foundation of the mattress and the base of the bed, to temporarily fix the sage.
Make sure the material has a thickness roughly equal to the depth of the sag. That’s about it – it should be able to fix your mattress, at least for the time being.
2Foam Mattress
There are a few different fixes for sagging foam mattresses, but I’ll give you one of the easiest and cheapest ones here.
First, measure the depth of the sag on your mattress and only try to fix it if it’s around 2 inches or lower. Anything beyond that is not worth fixing since it probably means the support layer has deteriorated.
Find a pillow that you’re not using, preferably a hard one, which is around the same thickness as the depth of the sag and a bit larger than its surface.
Gel foam pillows work the best for this purpose, and some mattresses do come with free gel foam pillows included, which can certainly be helpful down the line. Place that pillow under the mattress, and that should relieve the sagging area.
Alternatively, you could also place the pillow between the foam layers of your mattress, if possible. If your mattress has a support layer made of thicker foam, place the pillow over it and under the thinner comfort layers.
You can also do this with some of the mattress fixers sold online, but that will cost you a bit more than just using an old pillow.
3Other Solutions
There are a few more common solutions to the sagging problem, and they involve buying things like gel mattress toppers which can be placed on top of any mattress to even it out a bit.
You can also buy an air bladder to place under the mattress for additional support. They’re great because their thickness can be adjusted to fit the sagging portion.
Some people also add wooden planks between the mattress and bed frame to even out sagging portions, but this can make the mattress feel uncomfortable.
The best way to deal with sagging is to prevent it for as long as possible – you can do this by regularly flipping and rotating your mattress. Do this at least once per month, and you should reduce the risk significantly.
Mattress FAQ
California King Mattresses – The Final Word
We’re at the endgame now, and I hope you managed to get as much out of this article as you could – and most of all, that you enjoyed reading it. I sure did enjoy writing it! There’s only one thing left for me to give to you – and that’s my pick for the best California king mattress on the market right now.
For me, that would definitely have to be the DynastyMattress 13” Gel Memory Foam Mattress – I just love the split design which makes it so incredibly versatile. It’s also just a great mattress in most regards, which is why it’s my top pick.
In case a split cal king doesn’t appeal to you though, I would suggest you check out the Serta Killner Gel Memory Foam Mattress. It’s a high-quality mattress that offers almost everything you might want, and even though it costs a lot, I think it’s worth the price.
For those of you on a budget – don’t worry, I got you in mind. The best budget California king mattress is, in my opinion, the Linenspa 8 Inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress. This hybrid costs barely anything, but it offers so much and at a fraction of the cost of most mattresses.
That’s a wrap, folks! I hope to see you in the next one and, until then, sleep well!
References
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- Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2014) Mattresses for Chronic Back or Neck Pain: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263383/ (Accessed March 24, 2021)
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- Jacobson BH1, Wallace T, Gemmell H (2006) Subjective rating of perceived back pain, stiffness and sleep quality following introduction of medium-firm bedding systems [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19674684 (Accessed March 30, 2021)
- Enck P, Walten T, Traue HC (1999) Associations between back pain, quality of sleep and quality of mattresses. Double-blind pilot study with hotel guests [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12799934 (Accessed March 27, 2021)
- Radwan A, Fess P, James D, Murphy J, Myers J, Rooney M, Taylor J, Torii A (2015) Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain; systematic review of controlled trials [Online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29073401 (Accessed March 22, 2021)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2018) Restless Leg Syndrome Fact Sheet [Online] Available from: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Restless-Legs-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet (Accessed March 27, 2021)
