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What is an Eastern King Size Bed?

Mattress Comparison
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FAST FACTS
  • The standard or eastern king mattress, measuring 76 by 80 inches, offers ample width and is ideal for couples who appreciate space and those with large master bedrooms. It provides the same sleeping space as two twin XL mattresses combined.
  • Despite its advantages, a king-size bed comes with drawbacks, including difficulties in moving it and its higher cost compared to smaller mattress sizes. Additionally, it requires a room size of at least nine by 10 feet, making it unsuitable for smaller spaces.
  • King size mattresses come in various variations, including the split king, California king, Texas king, Wyoming king, and Alaska king. These variations cater to different preferences and room sizes.

The standard or eastern king is a wonderful mattress size for a variety of purposes. Couples will appreciate its width. Those with large master bedrooms will enjoy the way it fills them out. And just about anyone can appreciate all the room in the world to toss and turn.

However, the eastern king does come with its drawbacks. For one thing, a bed this size can be tough to move. For another, kings are expensive. They also don’t fit in any room size. Below, we’ll talk about who should be sleeping on a king and whether this is the right bed size for you.

Eastern King Mattress Dimensions

The regular king size bed is 76 by 80 inches. That makes it the biggest bed size in the standard size run by total surface area. The California king is longer, but it’s also narrower. That means its total sleeping surface is slightly less than the standard king’s 6,080 square inches.

Best King Mattress Overall: Amerisleep AS3

  • Price Range

    See Price

  • Mattress Type

    Memory Foam

  • Thickness

    12 Inches

  • Firmness

    5 to 6 out of 10 (Medium)

  • Warranty

    20 Years

  • Sleep Trial

    100 Nights

Mattress Highlights
  • Plant oils used to create a partly natural comfort foam
  • HIVE® transition foam offers targeted pressure relief
  • Industry-leading warranty thanks to base foam
Recommended For
  • Couples
  • Side, back, and combination sleepers
  • Shoppers seeking an eco-friendly memory foam bed

Couples who want a versatile king size bed that can accommodate a variety of sleep styles and body types. The medium feel of the AS3 and plant-based memory foam offer cooling and contouring comfort to just about anyone.

The AS3 creates its signature feel by combining a comfort layer of breathable Bio-Pur® memory foam with a HIVE® targeted pressure relief transition layer. These foam layers work together to offer the right pressure relief in all the right places. They also have the added benefit of fighting common allergens like mold and dust mites.

The comfort foams sit atop the Bio-Core® support layer. This ultra-dense foam is special because of its ultra-durability. Not only does it offer amazing spine aligning support. It also will resist sagging and soft spots for a full two decades. That’s why the AS3 is backed by a 20-year manufacturer warranty.

AMERISLEEP AS3

  • Breathable plant-based foam is cooling and contouring
  • Stiff shoulders and hips soothed by hexagonal cutouts
  • Ultra-dense foam support core means this mattress will last at least 20 years

Current Promotion

$300 Off All Mattresses

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Best Value King Mattress: Zoma Mattress

  • Price Range

    See Price

  • Mattress Type

    Memory Foam

  • Thickness

    12 Inches

  • Firmness

    5 to 6 out of 10 (Medium)

  • Warranty

    10 Years

  • Sleep Trial

    100 Nights

Mattress Highlights
  • Memory foam has added gel infusions for coolness
  • Transition foam increases the bed's adaptability
  • Durable and structural base foam
Recommended For
  • Back and side sleepers
  • Active sleepers
  • Hot sleepers

This king size Zoma Mattress offers excellent quality at an unbeatable price. A ventilated AirCloth cover combines with perforated gel foam to help keep air flowing around your body and conduct heat away from you all night long. That makes this bed an amazing option for hot sleepers who don’t want to sacrifice contouring.

Underneath these cooling layers rests a layer of Reactiv™ foam. This material increases the bounce in the Zoma Mattress by speeding up its response time. That means active sleepers won’t spend their nights waiting around for their bed to spring back into place when they change positions.

On the bottom of the Zoma, you’ll find a layer of high-density Support+ foam. This foam offers lots of support to keep your spine in a neutral position. It also means this mattress will fight aging for a full ten years.

That means you get a decade of comfort for less than $1,000. It’s not easy to find a quality king size mattress for less than $1,000, but the Zoma pulls it off no problem!

ZOMA MATTRESS

  • Perforated gel memory foam helps keep you cool all night long
  • Reactiv™ transition layer puts the bounce back into this bed
  • AirCloth cover works with the gel memory foam to wick away heat and moisture

Current Promotion

$150 Off All Mattresses

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Who Should Sleep on a King Bed

The standard king was designed to act as a mattress for couples, providing the standard amount of sleeping space two adults would get sleeping on a single bed. It offers the exact same sleeping space as two twin XL mattresses put together. This makes the king size bed the perfect choice for couples, especially couples who like to toss and turn or spread out.

The king bed is also a great choice for those whose master bedrooms are overlarge. Queen beds can leave big masters looking empty, though they are an excellent size for couples with smaller rooms. But king beds will fit right into a large bedroom.

Ideal Spaces for a King Bed

The king size bed won’t fit into any old bedroom. It needs a room that’s at least nine by 10 feet to give you enough clearance to move around the room. However, a room that small will only offer you enough space to fit a bed and nothing else.

So if you want a king size bed frame and additional bedroom furniture, you’ll need a room that’s 10 by 10 or even 10 by 12 feet.

Average Cost of a King Bed

King beds are expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere from a hundred to several hundred dollars more for a king than a queen size mattress of the same model. The material also plays a big role in the price of your king size bed, determining whether it’s one of the best mattresses under $2000.

You can get a king size memory foam mattress for less than $1,000, or a traditional innerspring mattress for about the same, though you can also pay much more than that. However, expect to pay well over $1,000 for a king hybrid. And king size latex mattresses can easily run several thousand dollars.

Standard King Variations

In addition to the regular king size mattress, you’ll also find several king variants. Some of these come in the standard mattress size run. However, some of them are also oversized mattresses.

Split King

The split king and the regular king are the same size. The only difference is that a split king bed is made of two twin XL size mattresses laid in the same king size bed frame. Split kings offer couples the option to sleep in the same bed while also fulfilling their individual needs.

They can choose different firmness levels, different materials, and different adjustable base settings, all while sleeping in the same bed.

California King

The California king bed is also part of the standard mattress sizes. California king mattresses are 72 by 84 inches. That makes them an excellent choice for couples where one partner is well over six feet tall. If your feet dangle in a regular king, consider a Cal king.

See our California king vs king mattress guide for a full comparison of these two sizes.

Texas King

The Texas king bed is one of several oversized beds. It’s 80 by 98 inches. That makes the Texas king mattress a fantastic option for couples who sleep with small kids.

Wyoming King

The Wyoming king bed is a great choice for couples who want extra wiggle room and extra legroom alike. At 84 by 84 inches, the Wyoming king mattress is a perfect square. So if you’re tall and love to toss and turn, consider this oversized mattress.

Alaska King

The Alaskan king bed is the biggest mattress size of all. At 108 by 108 inches, the massive Alaskan king mattress is a cool nine by nine feet. That’s as big as some bedrooms! This bed is made to fill out truly gigantic master bedrooms. So don’t even think about it if your bedroom is less than 16 by 16 feet!

Smaller Bed Sizes

If you want a smaller bed than a king, you have several other mattress sizes.

Twin

The twin bed is the smallest mattress size, coming in at 38 by 75 inches. This makes a twin size mattress an excellent option for bunk beds, dorm rooms, and other compact spaces.

Twin XL

The twin XL bed adds an extra five inches of length to the regular twin size mattress, making it 38 by 80 inches. As a result, the twin XL size mattress is a wonderful option for taller sleepers who still need a bed for a compact space.

Full

The full or double bed is 54 by 75 inches. This makes the full mattress best for single sleepers under six feet tall. The extra width offers some more wiggle room to toss and turn.

But keep in mind the full size mattress is not wide enough for most couples to sleep comfortably on it. It offers each partner the same amount of space as a crib mattress.

Queen

The 60 by 80-inch queen size bed is the most common mattress size because it’s so versatile. It fits in masters and guest rooms alike. It can accommodate couples and single sleepers. It’s long enough for sleepers of almost all heights.

Best of all, the queen mattress is a more affordable mattress than most kings.

FAQs

What size mattresses go into a split king bed?

Twin XL mattresses fit into a split king. This is why a split king bed is the most convenient “split” bed to do. You can just go out to any mattress retailer, buy whatever twin XL mattresses and bed bases you want, and rest assured they will fit in your king bed frame. You can even create the look of a standard king with a king size mattress topper.

You can create split queens or split California kings, but the mattresses for these bed types have to be made specifically for that purpose. That means you’ll have way fewer options to choose from for split queens or Cal kings.

Should I put my king size mattress on a box spring set?

That depends on what type of mattress you have. Whether you can use box springs depends on your bed’s construction, not its size. So if you have a king size innerspring mattress, you can put it on a king size box spring set or a pair of twin XL box springs.

However, if you have a foam or hybrid mattress, it cannot go on box springs regardless of its size. These foam mattresses are too heavy for box springs. They need sturdier supports like mattress foundations or platform beds. Adjustable bases can also work for foam or hybrid beds.

Is the standard king the best mattress for couples?

The standard king is the largest mattress size in the standard size run, and it was literally designed with two sleepers in mind. King size bed dimensions offer couples the same sleeping surface as a twin XL apiece. So if you want the same amount of sleeping space you would get in a single bed, you’ll need a king bed.

However, a king size bed isn’t a requirement for all couples. Couples who don’t need to spread out or toss and turn while they sleep may be perfectly comfortable on the more affordable and more compact queen size bed.

Can I sleep on a standard king if I’m tall?

Tall sleepers might not be comfortable on a twin or full size mattress, but most are perfectly happy on an 80-inch bed. That means they have the choice between twin XL, queen, and king size beds.

However, if you’re well over six feet tall, you may find you need to purchase a California king. The 84-inch length offers those several inches over six feet extra legroom to keep their feet from dangling.

What’s the best king bed frame?

That depends on what you’re looking for in terms of style and function. Those looking for a low-profile bed with a sleek and modern style should consider a platform bed. This type of bed frame comes with its own slats, so it doesn’t require an additional bed base.

Consider the more common bed frame and bed base combination if you’re interested in a more classic look. A regular king bed frame will offer you a higher profile because you have to lay a mattress foundation or box spring set in it.

Bottom Line

The king size mattress is an amazing choice for couples who want plenty of room to spread out and those with large master bedrooms alike. If you want a luxurious bed size that’s a pleasure to sleep on, a king might just be the best mattress for you.

Harrison Wall is Sleep Junkie’s business strategist and sleep analyst. He also authors posts on bedding and mattress accessories. Harrison regularly coordinates with new mattress companies and tests their products to determine what really helps you get better rest and have brighter mornings.

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