ACalifornia king mattress is 72 inches wide and 84 inches long: 6 ft × 7 ft, or 183 × 213 cm. It is also called a Cal king. That is 42.0 sq ft of sleeping space, 36" each for two. Casper's minimum room size for it is 12' x 12'.
California King Bed dimensions in inches, feet and cm
| Unit | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | 72" | 84" |
| Feet and inches | 6' | 7' |
| Feet (decimal) | 6 ft | 7 ft |
| Centimeters | 182.9 cm | 213.4 cm |
| Meters | 1.83 m | 2.13 m |
Area: 6048 square inches, 42.0 sq ft or 3.90 m². Mattress thickness is not part of the size and varies by model.
Is every California king mattress 72" × 84"?
72" × 84" is the size listed by Better Sleep Council, Casper, Saatva, Sealy, and Tempur-Pedic. Some makers list or build it differently:
| Source | Size |
|---|---|
| Sealy (Cocoon, Posturepedic Spring, Icon)as built | 72" × 83.5" |
| Sealy (Posturepedic Hybrid)as built | 72" × 83" |
"As built" sizes are the measurements Sealy publishes for its finished mattresses. A fitted sheet with some stretch covers the difference; measure the mattress itself before ordering a frame or headboard that has to fit it closely.
What size room do you need for a California king bed?
- Casper: at least 12' x 12'
- Sealy: 12' x 12' to 14' x 12'
- Saatva: at least 10' x 10'
With the head against a wall and a 24-inch walkway on both sides and at the foot (Casper's minimum), aCalifornia king mattress needs a room at least 10' wide and 9' deep. For 36-inch walkways, which Casper says feel open and which match the minimum width of a wheelchair-accessible route in the ADA Standards, it needs 12' × 10'. Add the frame: Casper lists California king frames at 72–79" × 86–89".
Check your own room, including the frame:
The largest bed that fits a 10' × 12' room with 24" walkways is a king or California king.
- A California king leaves 36" on each side and 36" at the foot, with the headboard on one of the long walls. California king dimensions
- Walkways are measured from the mattress to the wall. Nightstands and dressers take space out of them.
California king sheet sizes
Buy sheets labeled California king. As an example, Brooklinen's California king Classic sheet set measures:
| Piece | Size |
|---|---|
| Fitted sheet | 72" × 84", 16" pocket |
| Flat sheet | 110" × 104" |
| Duvet cover | 106" × 90" |
| Pillowcases | 20" × 37" |
Brooklinen says its fitted sheets fit mattresses up to 16 inches deep, with 12 to 16 inches the best fit. Flat sheet and duvet sizes vary more between brands than fitted sheets do.
What size pillows for a California king bed?
Two king pillows (20" x 36") span exactly the 72-inch width. Casper describes king pillows as designed for California king beds.
- King pillow: 20" × 36" (51 × 91 cm)
See the pillow size chart for every pillow size and how many fit across each bed.
Queen vs California king vs King
| Size | Dimensions | Area vs California king | Width per sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | 60" × 80" | -21% | 30" each for two |
| California king | 72" × 84" | — | 36" each for two |
| King | 76" × 80" | +1% | 38" each for two |
- A California king vs a queen: the queen is 12 inches narrower and 4 inches shorter.
- A California king vs a king: the king is 4 inches wider and 4 inches shorter.
All sizes side by side are in the bed size chart.
Who is a California king bed for?
- The longest standard size: 4 inches longer and 4 inches narrower than a king. Casper suggests it for sleepers over 6' 2" who still want a wide bed.
- Each of two sleepers gets 36 inches, 2 less than on a king.
- King sheets do not fit it. The Better Sleep Council reminds buyers to get California king bedding.
Shopping for one? See our affordable mattress picks.
Sources
Checked October 7, 2026. Feet and centimeters are converted from inches; room sizes for a given walkway are this page's own arithmetic.
- Better Sleep Council (International Sleep Products Association), Mattress Sizes bettersleep.org/mattress-sizes/
- Casper, Queen Size Bed Dimensions: Size, Room Fit, and How It Compares casper.com/blogs/article/size-of-queen-bed
- Saatva, Mattress Sizes & Bed Dimensions Guide www.saatva.com/blog/guide-to-mattress-dimensions/
- Sealy, The Ultimate Mattress Size Guide www.sealy.com/sealy-living/the-ultimate-mattress-size-guide/
- Tempur-Pedic, mattress size guide (king mattresses page) www.tempurpedic.com/shop-mattresses/all-king/
- Sealy Help Center, What are the mattress dimensions? help.sealy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4419596498455-What-are-the-mattress-dimensions
- Casper, Bed Frame Size Chart and Dimensions Guide casper.com/blogs/article/bed-frame-size
- Brooklinen, Classic Core Sheet Set size guide www.brooklinen.com/products/classic-core-sheet-set
- Casper, Pillowcase Size Chart & Dimensions Guide casper.com/blogs/article/pillowcase-size-chart
- Saatva, Pillowcase Dimensions: Finding the Right Pillow Size for You www.saatva.com/blog/pillowcase-sizes/