Best King Size Mattress — (Reviews + Buying Guide)

Top 10 King-Size Mattresses Buying Guide 

Most people agree that king-size mattresses are the epitome of luxury. Once you’ve slept sprawled on such a large sleep surface, you won’t be able to downgrade easily. However, it isn’t an easy task to choose the best king-size mattress with the highest value. They are larger in size with a higher price tag, but it doesn’t mean every king-size mattress is better automatically. You still need to find the right mattress for your sleep needs. So keep in mind all the regular mattress buying considerations and a few others that we’ll discuss shortly.

But first, here are the top 10 king-size beds on the market: 

Best King Size Mattresses

1. Casper
2. Purple Original
3. Leesa Original
4. Amerisleep AS3
5. Aviya
6. Winkbed
7. Helix Dawn Lux
8. Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam
9. Lucid 12-inch Plush Gel Memory Foam
10. Sleep Innovations Shiloh Memory Foam

Benefits of Buying a King Size Mattress

You know it’s spacious, very spacious… but do you know what that really means? You’re about to experience the kind of comfort you could only dream about! According to Jessica Alexander of Sleep Council, the best bed size is when “you have enough room to lie down side by side with your hands behind your head and elbows not touching.” For many people, that’s a king-size bed. It offers you a lifestyle upgrade, that’s for sure.

Here’s how your king-size mattress is going to affect your sleep:

1. More Personal Space 

Pretty obvious, right? With a 76-inch width, a king bed gives each person 38 inches of unshared space. So you can stretch your arms and legs and sleep like a starfish if you wish without pushing your partner to the edge. The extra 8-inch space (as compared to a queen mattress) is especially important for those with a bigger body structure. Combination sleepers will also benefit immensely from a bigger bed.  

2. Enough Space for Family and/or Pets

Co-sleeping with pets can result in poor sleep quality. A study found that dogs are active 20% of the night and their owners were 4.3 times more likely to be disturbed by their movements. Similarly, sharing beds with kids results in frequent awakenings and prevents mothers from sleeping deeply. If you sleep with kids or pets, a king can be large enough to accommodate the whole family without disturbing anyone’s sleep. 

3. Undisturbed Sleep

Do you sleep light or are you the one who’s pushed to the edge by a partner? Bed-sharing couples with different sleep habits often complain of poor sleep. A 2019 study on 52 couples documents how one partner’s sleep problems can disturb the other’s rest. So if either of you tosses and turns in bed frequently, investing in a king-size mattress will ensure undisturbed sleep and a healthy bed-sharing experience.

4. More Room for Bedroom Shenanigans

Lovemaking boosts your health and a king-size mattress makes intimacy more fun. You can try different positions and roll around without worrying about falling off the bed. It’s a great size to snuggle post lovemaking, watching a movie, or just enjoying each other’s company.

5. Relieves Sleep-Related Aches and Pains

A king-size bed offers you a lot of personal space. That’s why it’s unlikely for you to feel stuck in an awkward sleep position or unable to move because you don’t want to wake up your partner accidentally. On a king, you can move as much as you like to find that one position where you feel comfortable without any neck stiffness, arm numbness, or leg cramps. Since quality king-size beds are super luxurious, they relieve your pressure points and save you from morning aches and pains as well.

6. Peace of Mind for an Unhealthy Partner

When you suffer from arthritis, stiff joints, or any health condition that doesn’t allow you to lie still, falling asleep can become a nightmare. But what can make you worry more is the possibility of disturbing your partner’s rest, right? On a king-size mattress, your partner is far enough from you to sleep peacefully. When you know your movements won’t accidentally wake up your partner, you feel comfortable despite your health. It increases your odds of having a good night’s sleep yourself. 

Overview of Best King-Size Mattresses

Let’s discuss our top king-size mattresses in a little bit more detail so you can decide which sleep surface aligns better with your needs and preferences.

1. Casper

GIVE IT A TRY

A Casper king promises regal comfort. This bed-in-a-box brand offers some of the best foam and hybrid mattresses. Of all the Casper models, the Wave is an excellent combination of five premium layers, including memory foam and latex. With lots of elbow room, medium firmness, and a height of 13 inches, the Casper Wave king-size mattress is a suitable choice for people of all body structures. The sleep surface is a thin layer of Flo foam. It regulates the airflow continuously and keeps you cool by distributing excess heat off of your body. 

The high-density polyfoam support core offers excellent pushback in conjunction with the gel pods above it. The gel pods offer ergonomic support to ensure pressure-relief and support in accordance with your body weight and structure. Memory foam contours the hips, shoulders, and back for side and back sleepers while latex keeps stomach sleepers from sinking too much into the mattress. 

In short, you can enjoy a perfect balance of comfort, support, and pressure-relief on the Casper Wave. Excellent motion isolation with an excellent bounce and responsiveness makes the Casper Wave a choice worth exploring. 

Best For: All-Around Best

2. Purple Original

GIVE IT A TRY

Purple brand is known for its superb customer support and quirky ads. The Purple Original is 9.5 inches thick with a three-layered foam mattress with the company’s unique patent layer on the top. The comfort layer is a hyper-elastic polymer grid which is quite stretchable. It makes the sleep surface flexible and bouncy so when you move, the mattress responds quickly to your changing positions. The medium-firm makes it a good choice for back and side sleepers. 

The grid lowers pressure on your body curves, including the hips and shoulders. The push back from the support foams keeps your spine aligned while you rest. If you’re a hot sleeper, Purple king keeps you cool due to its excellent airflow through the spaces in the grid. The grid structure, coupled with the dense base foams and edge support, gives the overall construction immense durability. However, overweight customers might prefer a thicker one like Casper mattress.

The Purple king absorbs motion disturbances well and offers you a perfect opportunity to enjoy 100% motion isolation. And, if you decide to sleep with your kids on the weekend, additional edge support keeps everyone safe and comfy on the bed. The mattress is also allergen-free, making it suitable for kids and people with sensitive skin.

Best For: Pressure-Relief

3. Leesa Original

GIVE IT A TRY

The Leesa Original king mattress is designed to sleep cool and comfy. It has a three-layered foam construction of 10 inches in total. The sleep surface features the company’s proprietary foam LSA200 Foam TechnologyTM which has an amazing response time and contouring abilities. This medium-firm mattress conforms to all body types and sleeping styles.

So whether you sleep on your back, stomach or sides, you won’t feel any undue pressure or pain on hips, shoulders, or back. The memory foam in the transition layer ensures pressure-relief for heavier body parts. The sleep surface is fairly breathable and the mattress maintains a refreshing sleep thanks to its patented foam technology.

So if you usually sleep hot, Leesa will keep your temperature normal in bed so you can enjoy a cooling snooze. The three Leesa king foams are durable and increase the lifespan of your mattress. If you like a balanced foam feel and sleep light, you can enjoy a peaceful rest on Leesa king. Being a foam bed, it minimizes motion transfer and since you’ll have enough personal space on the king bed, you’ll enjoy your freedom to move around in bed without any effort.

Best For: Quality and comfort

4. Amerisleep AS3

GIVE IT A TRY

Arizona-based Amerisleep is one of the most successful American mattress companies manufacturing luxury memory foam mattresses. AS3 is the brand’s most adaptable model, made specifically for people who tend to change sleep positions frequently at night. The 12-inch AS3 features three foam layers and provides a medium comfort level for a resilient yet conforming sleep surface. The special BioPur foam and HIVE technology offer remarkable pressure relief. The mattress features 7 zones of support to ensure proper spinal alignment in whichever way you sleep. As a result, it distributes your weight evenly and prevents undue stress on joints and muscles. 

The FDA approved Celliant cover is another highlighting feature of AS3. This advanced fabric takes your body heat and changes into far-infrared radiation (FIR). As a result, AS3 can help you manage pain and sleep problems related to fibromyalgia, arthritis, and similar conditions. Celliant fabric along with open-cell foams also keeps you cool in the bed. All in all, AS3 is a high-value and durable memory foam mattress for combination sleepers. Despite its size, it’s a very light mattress compared to other king-size beds. 

Best For: Combination sleepers

5. Aviya

GIVE IT A TRY

Available in three firmness levels, the 12-inch Aviya offers a traditional innerspring feel with a comfy sleep surface. You can choose the comfort level according to your preferred sleep position and body structure. The mattress has thin foam layers on top to prevent the formation of pressure points if you lie on your back or stomach. If you’re a lightweight side sleeper, the pocketed coils prevent any soreness on your hips or shoulders. Average or large side sleepers can experience some discomfort owing to the firm coil support offered by Aviya mattress. 

However, it aligns your body perfectly in any position you sleep and offer an excellent response to movements. That’s why Aviya is a superb choice for those with lower back pain or neck pain. Aviya transfers some motion but on a king-size bed, you’re unlikely to feel your partner moving or getting in and out of bed. On the flip side, Aviya offers a bounce active couples dream about. So, it’s a perfect bed if you’re looking to spice up things without sacrificing your peaceful snooze.

Best For: A traditional innerspring feel

6. Winkbed

GIVE IT A TRY

Winkbed makes the most luxurious innerspring mattresses on the market. The 14.5-inch Winkbed is available in three firmness levels, luxury firm, and firm. Each comfort level is suitable for a different sleeper profile and you can test the one that works for you the best. The mattress features a Tencel cover and memory foam pillow-top supported by a seven-zoned coil-n-coil design. It also features a lumbar pad for enhanced back support. The memory foam top and pocketed coils ease muscle tension through even weight distribution. 

The layered construction of Winkbed ensures balanced support and pressure-relief to ease aches and pains due to arthritis, fibromyalgia, or any other medical conditions. Moreover, the dual coil structure promotes air circulation for total relaxation and refreshing rest. The Winkbed king is suitable for master bedrooms with a large space because of its huge profile. The bounce and responsiveness of this mattress make changing positions easy. You won’t feel your partner getting in and out of bed. And, if you’re in for some family fun, the elite edge coils maximize the space for everyone to sprawl. 

Best For:  Backache and spinal support

7. Helix Dawn Lux

GIVE IT A TRY

The Helix Dawn Lux is specifically designed for back and stomach sleepers who prefer a firm mattress with no sinkage or give. In king-size, it’s a majestic bed with a 14-inch hybrid design featuring a quilted pillow top and zoned lumbar coils. The pillow top along with Helix Dynamic foam cushions your pressure points and fills the gap between your curves and the bed. As a result, your lower back gets enhanced cradling support for maintaining the natural spinal curve. That’s why this mattress is ideal for someone looking for a hard mattress for their low back pain relief. 

Moreover, Dawn Lux is firmer under your hips to prevent undue sinkage of heavier body parts. At the same time, it’s softer under the shoulders to prevent any soreness due to hard pushback support. If you sleep hot, Helix has a breathable Tencel mattress cover followed by a cooling gel visco-foam for maintaining a comfortable sleep temperature. Dawn Lux king-size is the right choice for couples who prefer harder beds or require back pain management.

Best For:  Back and stomach sleepers

8. Zinus Green Tea Gel Memory Foam 

GIVE IT A TRY

China-made Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam is one of the few budget offerings famous for its high-quality rest. It has a simple foam construction with the exception of charcoal and green tea infusion. The firmness level is medium-soft for 12-inch Zinus Green Tea Memory foam and becomes gradually firmer as you choose 10 or 8-inch models. The Zinus king is as cheap as a mattress can be with some excellent customer satisfaction ratings. The sleep surface is cooling gel foam for an instant fresh feel. It’s followed by soft ActivCharcoal foam that maximizes pressure-relief for your hips and shoulders and keeps the bed germ-free.

The support core has convoluted high-density polyfoam layers which also aid in airflow. Convoluted foams are usually less durable and that’s why you’ll need to rotate your Zinus Green Tea every three months to prevent the formation of permanent body impressions. The Zinus king is almost as light as the Amerisleep AS3 so if you expect to move or need an easily portable king mattress, you can choose Zinus for its affordability. And, if you sleep light or your partner moves about a lot in sleep, Zinus Memory foam mattress has almost no motion transfer. 

Best For:  Budget-friendly memory foam mattress

9. Lucid 12-inch Plush Gel Memory Foam

GIVE IT A TRY

The Lucid Gel Memory foam is another budget-friendly king-size mattress on this list. It too is a foam mattress with medium-soft firmness and a 12-inch profile. However, Lucid features a Tencel cooling cover which makes sleeping on Lucid a bit more refreshing for hot sleepers. The mattress also has cooling gel memory foam on the top followed by Bamboo Charcoal memory foam. The support core is made of high-density polyfoam. The Charcoal not only keeps the mattress odorless, but it also has pinholes for enhancing airflow. So if you sleep hot and need an affordable king-size mattress, consider Lucid. 

The 4-inches of memory foam makes it highly conforming for side sleepers. You won’t feel any soreness on your hips, shoulders or calves as you sleep on your sides. Lightweight back sleepers who prefer hugging foams will also find Lucid 12-Inch Memory Foam comfy. Unlike Zinus, Lucid king is a little heavier but the foams are non-convoluted and durable. However, you should still rotate Lucid every few months to avoid indentations. 

Best For: Affordable cooling memory foam mattress 

10. Sleep Innovations Shiloh Memory Foam

GIVE IT A TRY

Shiloh memory foam mattress is available in 12 and 14-inch profiles. It has a foam construction with medium to medium-firm comfort level suitable for people of all body structures and sleep position preferences. The Tencel cover is followed by cooling gel memory foam. Both ensure a refreshing sleep surface and maintain a normal temperature throughout the night. The support foam is dense and offers a firm pushback on deep compression. So, when you lie on Shiloh, the heavier parts of your body like hips and shoulders get more support to ensure spinal alignment. 

At the same time, the memory foam top hugs your curves for targeted support and soothing pressure points. The 14-inch Shiloh has a middle layer of convoluted foam to aid airflow and ease the body’s transition from softer comfort layer to firmer support foam. The Shiloh King is suitable for master bedrooms especially if you’re considering the 14-inch profile. Being a foam mattress, it has excellent motion isolation and base foam offers a subtle bounce for changing positions. However, if you require to sleep right on the edge, you might prefer a mattress with stronger edges. 

Best For:  Heavier individuals who prefer foam mattress

Difference Between a King and California King

A king mattress is wider than a California king but shorter in length. A typical king mattress has dimensions of 76-inch x 80-inch compared to the 72-inch x 84-inch for California king. If you need a mattress wider than a Queen, you get 16 and 12 inches of extra space on the king and California king respectively. However, the length of a king and a Queen mattress is the same i.e. 80-inch. So, if you need a taller bed you should go for a California king which gives you 4 inches of extra leg space. It’s important to remember that regular king size sheets, toppers, and protectors won’t fit a California king.

Difference Between King and Twin-Size Mattress

Of all the regular mattress sizes, Twin is the smallest whereas king is the largest you can buy. For an estimate, a king mattress is almost double in size compared to a Twin. Twin mattresses measure 38 x 75 inches. So, a Twin mattress is exactly half the width of a king. However, a king mattress is 80 inches long compared to 75 inches of a Twin. A Twin XL is 80 inches long and 38 inches wide; exactly half of a king mattress. So if you prefer a king-size bed but want the freedom to move it or place it in a smaller bedroom, you can instead opt for two Twin XL beds. Place them together to get a king-size bed or place them separately when needed.

Who Should Consider Split King Mattress?

Split king is quite a popular mattress option among bed-sharing couples. Apparently, it looks like a regular king-size bed with the same dimensions but each mattress half is different from the other. Each partner gets to choose the features they prefer for their side of the bed. 

The following are some of the reasons you might consider a split king option: 

Light Sleepers and Restless Partners

If one of you sleeps light and even minor movements disturb your sleep, a split king forms a physical barrier to stop motion transfer. A split king is especially important for couples who are combo sleepers or have a health condition that makes them restless while sleeping. 

Partners with Different Firmness Preferences

If you like a hugging sleep surface but your partner can only relax on a hard, firm bed, do you think you’re doomed for life? Many couples resort to different beds and miss out on nighttime intimacy before sleep. But all you need is a mattress with Split layers so you can have your favorite comfort level on your side of the bed. 

Partners with Mismatched Body Structure

Each body structure has unique requirements for support and comfort. So if one of you is lightweight while the other is overweight or one is bony while the other is petite, sleeping on one type of mattress can become a nightmare. But with a split king, you can each personalize your side of the bed for your best sleep.

Top Considerations While Buying a King Size Mattress

Sleeping on a king-size bed is pure luxury. But, like any other mattress hunt, you should know your personal sleep requirements and factors crucial for mattress selection. 

The following are a few points to consider when you’re in the market specifically for a king-size mattress: 

Mattress Features

Even when you’re buying a king-size mattress you first need to decide the mattress features important to you. King-size mattresses come in all types and their features depend on the materials they’re made of. Memory foam mattresses are best for pressure-relief while coils are more about bounce and support. Latex beds are quite responsive and have a unique buoyant feel. You can read more about their differences in our foam vs. spring mattress guide.

Life Situation and Bedroom Size

Whether you live alone or share your bed with a partner, a king-size mattress is an excellent option if you have room for it. A king bed can make a regular bedroom feel small and congested. Think about at least the next six to seven years. Will you be getting married or starting a family? Is there a chance you’ll need to move in the next few years? You may not have a big enough bedroom when you move. Similarly, your room might not be big enough today, but maybe you’re planning to move to a bigger place in the near future.

Intimacy Preferences

If you’re a couple who craves intimacy and love to sleep near each other, king-size may make you feel distant and cold. So, it’s best to test a king-size bed in the showroom to see how you two feel about the large space between you before jumping the gun. However, if you two prefer a personal space to sleep after your lovemaking session, king-size is a perfect match for bedroom antics and peaceful sleep. 

Budget Constraints

King-size beds are expensive. Even cheap and budget-friendly mattresses are upwards of $700 for quality beds of this size. Do not go for the cheapest king because it can severely affect your sleep quality. It’s better to buy a good quality Queen over a low-value king. A low-quality bed can result in bad backaches and become a headache for you in less than a year. 

Weight and Maintenance Considerations

If moving is in your cards in the coming years, better postpone your king mattress purchase. King beds are heavy and difficult to move. Likewise, they are difficult to maintain because it takes a lot of effort to rotate a king-size mattress. Moreover, when it’s time to clean your mattress, you will need at least two healthy persons to lift it and clean under it.

Bed Foundation and Accessories

When you upgrade your mattress size, you’ll need to upsize your mattress foundation and accessories too. Moreover, for your king-size mattress, you’ll need a high-quality durable bed frame. Your old box spring may not work as you need proper support for these heavier mattresses. Similarly, you will need to upgrade your mattress toppers and protectors as well. Fitted sheets can accommodate different mattress heights but a Queen-size sheet is unlikely to fit a king bed.

Choosing the right mattress size is crucial for your rest. Although the king is the best mattress size couples can get but not all mattresses are worth your money. We hope this guide will get you started in the right direction and help you find the best king-size mattress for your sleep. You can further narrow down your options through our mattress comparison tool.