All Things Snooze

What Is An Eastern King Size Bed?

February 24, 2021 | Casper Editorial Team

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If you’re treating yourself to a new bed or indulging in the idea of it, you’ve probably seen a few different terms for a king size bed. But what do they all mean? More specifically, what is an Eastern king bed? What’s the difference between an Alaskan king bed vs California king or a Texas king vs California king? Can you use standard king sheets with an Eastern king?

An Eastern king bed size is simply another term for a regular king mattress. Generally speaking, there are only two types of standard king size beds:

King – Also called a standard king size bed, traditional king, or Eastern king bed size
California king – Sometimes referred to as the Cal king or Western king bed

Since an Eastern king mattress and a king are essentially the same size, you might argue that the “king size bed mattress” has too many nicknames. We’ll explain why.

How the Eastern King Got Its Name

Despite how it sounds, this has nothing to do with Eastern rulers and emperors in the 12th century, though that would be a pretty cool dream.

According to mattress lore, the Eastern king was nothing more than a counter to the California king, created by a Los Angeles merchant shortly after the Second World War. The first iteration of the so-called “Big Bed” was long and narrow. When manufacturers across the country designed their own Big Beds, they ditched the California measurements in favor of a more square-shaped creation.¹

These new mattresses were called Eastern kings to distance themselves from their Californian predecessors. As this new mattress size became the norm throughout most of the country, the “Eastern” appears to have been dropped by manufacturers in favor of a simpler title, the king bed.

So, what’s the difference between a king and an Eastern king? Well, just which name do you like more?

The Basics of an Eastern King

An Eastern king size bed has the same dimensions as a king bed: 80 inches long and 76 inches wide. This makes it almost a perfect square. The California king, on the other hand, is skinnier and longer: 84 inches long and 72 inches wide.

Many people think of the California king bed as being the bigger of the two, designed for big Californian dreamers. It’s actually the other way around — 6,080 square inches for the Eastern king and 6,048 square inches for the California king.

Not much difference, but it leans slightly in favor of the Eastern king.

Which is better? That all depends on your personal preferences and circumstances. Most people choose an Eastern king mattress in the following situations:

They have a wide, spacious bedroom that can easily accommodate a king size bed.

They’re not especially tall and don’t need the extra length that a California king mattress provides.

They’ll be sharing their Eastern king bed with a partner (and perhaps a four-legged friend or child now and again) and want ample space between them.

A California king size mattress is also spacious enough for couples (and families) to share, but you’ll be giving up some side-to-side wiggle room for the additional top-to-bottom length.

California kings are suitable for slightly narrower bedrooms and suites. If you’re a taller individual, you’ll find this to be your ideal mattress — it is, after all, the longest standard size mattress on the market. And if you can convince your lovable (but sometimes entitled) furry friend to sleep across the bottom of the bed, rather than wedged in between you and your significant other like they own the place, you have another reason to opt for a California king mattress.

And if you and your partner have different preferences when it comes to mattress firmness and elevation, both of these sizes can be offered in split king options as well. What is this mattress option, you ask? Check out our blog to learn what a split king bed is.

Other King Sized Mattresses to Know

There are several mattresses that measure even larger than the California or Eastern king, including the Wyoming, Alaskan, and Texas king mattresses:

The Wyoming king is just a bit longer and wider than the standard king size mattress.

The Texas king is a similar width with an added 14 inches on top of the California king. This is also called a super king or grand king.

The massive Alaskan king comes in at 108 inches by 108 inches, a whopping nine feet in each direction.

Shopping for an Eastern King with Casper

If you’re hoping to live like royalty, there’s nothing more luxurious than a king size mattress. But not all kings are created equal.

Regardless of which mattress size you’re looking for, Casper Kings come in several uniquely comfortable designs:

The Wave Hybrid King – This complex creation combines three layers of breathable foam with cooling gel and traditional box springs for increased lift and airflow.

The Original (Hybrid) King – The Original also uses the cooling technology of perforated breathable foam in either an all-foam or hybrid formula with box springs. It has three individual zones, which provide specialized support for each section of the body, designed to promote better spinal alignment and overall comfort.

The Nova Hybrid King – Another foam-springs combination, the Nova features not just three but seven zones of support for the most comfortable, best supported sleep of your life.

The One – Our most affordable option has the same standard perforated cooling technology but a simpler structure. Its durable base provides ample support and comfort.

No matter where you are — from east to west — you can enjoy a better night’s sleep with a Casper King of your choice. Upgrade your sleeping space from a standard king bed to a Cal king, Alaskan king, or Wyoming king and enjoy more room. Once you’ve selected your perfect mattress, we’re here to help you with how to style a king size bed, too. Be sure to check our king size sheets available in both eastern king and California king sizes.