Written by
McKenzie Dillon
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
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McKenzie Dillon Writer
McKenzie, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and proclaimed mattress expert, has been writing sleep content in the wellness space for over four years. After earning her certification from the Spencer Institute and dedicating hundreds of hours to sleep research, she has extensive knowledge on the topic and how to improve your quality of rest. Having more experience with lying on mattresses than most, McKenzie has reviewed over 150 beds and a variety of different sleep products including pillows, mattress toppers and sheets. McKenzie has also been a guest on multiple radio shows including WGN Chicago as a sleep expert and contributed sleep advice to over 50 different websites.
Expertise Certified Sleep Science Coach, Certified Stress Management Coach, Bachelor of English.
With 5+ years of mattress testing experience, we use our different sleeping position and body type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews.
How we sort our mattresses
A California king mattress can be an excellent option if you're extra tall, sleep with dogs at your feet or just want some extra foot room in general. The key difference between a California king-size bed and a king-size bed is that a king is a little wider, while a California king has some extra length on the bottom. To be specific, a king bed measures 76 by 80 inches, and a California king bed measures 72 by 84 inches. Whatever your reason, we put a ton of mattresses to the test to find the best California king mattress to help you sleep comfortably.
My team and I have tested around 300 different mattresses, giving us a large pool to pick from when selecting the best California king mattresses. We paid extra close attention to supportive constructions for couples, accommodating firmness levels, feel and overall value when making our choices. Regardless of what mattress type you're looking for -- a memory foam mattress, an innerspring mattress or a hybrid mattress, whether soft or firm -- here are the best California king mattress options we've found.
(All prices listed are the regular, nonsale list price and reflect the costs of California king size mattresses.)
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best California king size mattresses for 2024.
What's the best California king mattress overall?
If you want a comfortable, supportive and long-lasting bed, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature is one of our go-to recommendations. It has a strong hybrid construction made with foam and over 1,000 coils, multiple firmness levels to choose from and a neutral-foam feel that most people will find enjoyable. Plus, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature offers great value for what you're getting.
Read more: Best Bed Sheets for Every Type of Sleeper
Best California king mattresses in 2024
Brooklyn Bedding Signature
Best overall California king mattress
Our take - When deciding on the best California king mattress overall, I wanted to pick a mattress suitable for singles, couples, all body types, most sleeping positions and most budgets. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature fits that bill to a tee and is more affordable than most competitors. Brooklyn Bedding manufactures its own mattresses, eliminating the need for a middleman, which allows it to sell you a mattress for less than the other big brands. You can get this quality California king bed for under $1,200 when you catch this mattress during a promo.
8 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
Soft: (3) Medium: (5) Medium firm: (7)
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Layla Hybrid
Best California king mattress for side sleepers
Our take - The Layla Hybrid tops our list as the best California king mattress for side sleepers, mainly because this king bed is conveniently flippable, with a softer and firmer side to choose from. The soft side is extra plush and pressure relieving, perfect for any side sleeper who wants a cushiony feel. The firm side isn't super firm. It's around a six out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it great for most sleeping positions. I also think heavier side sleepers will like the firm end because it'll feel like a soft mattress with a good balance of support.
8.5 /10
SCORE
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Type
flippable hybrid mattress
Firmness
Medium to medium firm: (6)
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Saatva Classic
Best firm California king mattress
Our take - The Saatva Classic is a supportive mattress with a combination of contouring latex foam, supportive innerspring coils and special lumbar technology that makes it great for back and stomach sleepers. The Luxury Firm model of this mattress is a solid medium-firm and its dual-coil construction is a unique feature that makes the Saatva bed incredibly supportive. As such, it's one of the best California king mattress models you can buy.
Read full review
9.3 /10
SCORE
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Warranty
lifetime warranty
Nectar Classic Hybrid
Best California king memory foam mattress
Our take - Nectar is a reputable bed-in-a-box brand that helped popularize the movement along with mattress bigwigs like Casper and Purple. The brand recently came out with its hybrid mattress models, taking what people loved about the Nectar Classic memory foam mattress and making it more durable and supportive.
8.3 /10
SCORE
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Type
memory foam hybrid mattress
Firmness
Firmness information not available
Warranty
forever warranty
8.5 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
Firmness information not available
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
Helix Plus
Best California king bed for heavy people
Our take - The Helix Plus is designed to offer a firmer mattress with extra support and comfort for those with larger- or taller-than-average bodies, making it an ideal plus-size mattress in the California king size. It also makes a great fit for just about all sleepers, regardless of size or sleep position preference.
Looking for a new mattress? With this CNET-exclusive deal, you can take 27% off Helix sitewide and get two free pillows with any mattress purchase. This is the biggest discount available -- you won’t find it anywhere else. Use code CNET27
Read full review
8.3 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
Medium firm: (7)
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Allswell mattress
Best California king bed under $1,000
Our take - The bigger the mattress size, the more you have to pay when it comes to buying a new bed. If you're in search of the best California king mattress that fits a more wallet-friendly budget, Allswell is a hybrid bed that offers a good bed for your buck. It's made by Walmart, which is known for its price-friendly products, and you can get a California king-size mattress for under $500.
Read full review
7.6 /10
SCORE
Photo Gallery
Firmness
Medium to medium firm: (6)
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
The CNET Sleep editors use their knowledge from their extensive mattress testing experience to curate our bedding best lists. They collectively have rolled around on 100-plus beds and are considered experts on the subject. With all the mattresses our editors have tested, some quality beds aren't able to make the cut, but we still think they deserve some credit.
Tuft & Needle mattress: If you want a large California king mattress but you're more of a budget-conscious shopper, the Tuft & Needle Essential mattress is a great option. It's only two layers and is a simple bed without any extra bells and whistles. It is a comfortable and accommodating bed for just about any sleeping position. It feels like your favorite soft couch, it's made with a neutral foam that's quicker to respond to pressure than memory foam is. Tuft & Needle is also one of the most prominent online mattress brands, so its beds are popular for a reason.
Layla mattress: This is the original predecessor to the Layla Hybrid mattress above. It omits the pocketed coil layer found in the hybrid, but it's a little cheaper and more affordable. This model is best for people who weigh under 230 pounds and who like the memory foam feel of Layla without the extra cost of the hybrid design. It's flippable, so you get one firm side and one soft side. It's also made with copper-infused memory foam, making it sleep cooler than the standard material.
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CNET editors select the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may receive a commission. Read more about how we test mattresses.
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Contrary to popular belief, California king mattresses are just longer than king mattresses, not wider. While standard king mattresses are 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, California kings are 72 inches wide by 84 inches long. Knowing the difference between the two helps you make better-informed shopping choices and ensures no unwelcome surprises. Remember, California king mattresses are all about length.
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A California king mattress is the best choice if you're on the taller side, say 6-foot-3 and above. With a California king-size mattress, you can stretch your legs and never stress about having too many decorative pillows up top. The California king bed frame also has the optimal dimensions if you have a particularly long and narrow or rectangular-shaped room. You get all the perks and grandeur of a luxuriously large and comfortable bed without sacrificing a set of nightstands.
The California king mattress and bed framework best in rooms with dimensions of at least 12 feet by 12 feet. If you're more concerned with having a wider bed than a longer one (like if you have a partner who loves to wiggle), a standard king mattress is probably the best mattress type for you.
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A California king bed will be worth the money if you have a lot of extra space in your bedroom, are a big and tall individual or want a mattress that offers more space for your furry friends. California king beds are narrower than a standard king but are longer to allow for more leg and foot room.
Many California king mattresses will cost you around $1,200 to $1,600, especially if you're looking for a premium bed. Luxury California king mattresses are known to retail for $1,800 or more, but you can also find a budget California king mattress like Allswell for under $500.
If you have animals that sleep on the bottom of your mattress, you're over 6 feet, 5 inches (or taller) or you just want the extra leg space, a California king is a good option because it offers more length than your standard king bed. If you expect your kiddos to be snuggling up next to you in bed, you might want a wider standard king bed to fit all your loved ones. It's worth noting that brands often price their king and California king beds the same, so you usually don't end up paying more for one or the other.