- Firmness
- Pressure relief
- Motion transfer
- Responsiveness
- Edge support
- Cooling
- Delivery, set-up, and customer service
We know that different sleepers have different needs, and our team of experts considers all different sleep positions, body types, and ages when testing each mattress.
Once our hands-on testing process is finished, we turn to our network of physical therapists, doctors, and other medical professionals to back up and verify any medical claims. Then, we share our findings to help make the buying process easier so you can find the right king size mattress to meet your needs.
For a full rundown of our mattress testing process (and to discover how much we nerd out on sleep technology), check out our full sleep product testing methodology.
Who Should Buy a King Size Mattress?
A king size mattress is undeniably luxurious, and it’s a great choice for several types of shoppers:
- Couples who need plenty of room to spread out while sleeping can benefit from the added space a king size mattress provides.
- Families or people who share a bed with children or pets often find that a king size mattress is the best choice to make sure everyone has enough space to sleep comfortably.
- Active sleepers, regardless of whether or not they share a bed, may find a king size mattress most comfortable since it’s roomier.
- Taller people may also find that a king size bed offers more space to stretch out, though it’s worth noting that a California king mattress is four inches longer than a king and may be an even better choice.
- People with large bedrooms may prefer the way a king size bed can help elevate the design of their space, as a smaller bed may leave it with empty wall and floor space.
Benefits of a King Size Mattress
A king size mattress offers sleepers plenty of space, which can be essential for people who sleep with a partner, child, or pet. A larger bed allows each sleeper to have room to sleep comfortably without feeling cramped, and if your partner is an active sleeper, a king size mattress can help minimize disturbances throughout the night. A king size mattress also offers a great place to have a family movie night for family bonding time, especially for people who have small children.
What You Should Look for in a King Mattress
From your preferred sleeping position to injuries or aches and pains, sleepers have different mattress needs. If you share your bed with a partner, a pet, or children, or you just prefer plenty of space to stretch out, here’s what you should keep in mind when shopping for a king size mattress:
Mattress Type
There are three main types of king size mattresses: foam, hybrid, or innerspring. Each excels in certain areas, but they are also not without their faults. For example, foam is typically more contouring and provides the best motion isolation, but can trap heat and frequently lacks edge support needed for stability. Innerspring mattresses are bouncy and responsive and promote airflow to keep you cool, but they don’t always have a plush, cloud-like feel. They usually feel firmer and often deliver better support than softer, cradling foam, but allow for more motion transfer. Hybrid mattresses run the gamut depending on their build.
Materials
Premium mattresses typically use higher quality foams and individually wrapped coils while budget-friendly mattresses use more affordable materials that may not last as long. For example, some of the best mattresses have an organic cotton cover, which is soft to the touch, yet breathable. Look for materials that are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they are free from harmful chemicals. Also consider organic and all-natural materials, which are often more eco-friendly.
Firmness
King mattresses come in several levels of firmness, ranging from soft to medium to firm with plenty of variation in between. The firmness of a mattress correlates to how much support it provides. For example, a soft mattress usually provides less support than a medium-firm mattress, which is considered the best choice for minimizing back pain. Our testers pointed out that side sleepers may sleep more comfortably on a softer mattress than back or stomach sleepers, which benefit from having more support to maintain proper spinal alignment. Firmness can also be somewhat subjective, as a person’s body weight, height, and shape can influence the way a mattress feels.
Motion Control
Many people who choose a king size bed plan to share it, making motion control a key factor in selecting a mattress. If motion isolation is a priority, look for a mattress that has features that help minimize motion transfer and reduce sleep disturbances if one partner is restless or active throughout the night. Foam mattresses are typically better at controlling motion than innerspring mattresses, which are often more bouncy and responsive.
Cooling
Maintaining a cool and comfortable environment is essential to getting good quality sleep. If you are a warm sleeper or you sleep with a partner who runs warm, look for a mattress that has one or more cooling features. Consider mattresses that have breathable, cool-to-the-touch covers (cotton, wool, and Tencel are good materials to look for). Innerspring and hybrid mattresses are usually the most effective at temperature regulation because the coils promote better airflow, as opposed to foam, which often traps heat.
Price
King size mattresses are often the most expensive purely because they are the largest. The price range also varies drastically. You can spend $500 on a budget king size mattress, but a luxury model can easily exceed $4,000. Pay close attention to a mattress’s overall value. While you may need to replace a $500 mattress every five years, a pricier model with a lifetime warranty may last longer and have a better value.
FAQs
What are the different types of king size mattresses?
The most common types of king size mattresses are standard king and California king. While a standard king mattress is 76″W x 80″L, a California king is 72″W x 84″L, making it a better choice for taller people. Less common king size mattresses include Texas king, which measures 80″W x 98″L; Wyoming king, which measures 84”” by 84″L; and Alaskan king, which measures 108″W x 108″L.
What does a king size mattress typically cost?
King size mattresses range in price depending on the build, materials used, and added features (like an extra cooling cover or lifetime warranty). Budget king size mattresses can cost as little as $500 while luxury models can cost several thousand dollars. Sometimes a mattress-in-a-box can be on the affordable side, but that’s not necessarily always the case.
Is a California king better than a regular king?
A California king mattress is better than a regular king mattress for taller people who need a longer mattress. Otherwise, it’s not very different from a standard king size.
What is a “king ridge”?
A king ridge is likely to form in the middle of a king size innerspring or hybrid mattress when there is uneven weight distribution. Basically, when two sleepers share a bed, the coils in the center push up while the coils on either side of the bed are compressed. Higher quality mattresses tend to last longer without forming a king ridge than cheaper, lower quality mattresses.
