Alaskan king bed vs California king, which is bigger?

Alaskan King and California King beds are two popular oversized beds you will find on the market (also check the top rated mattresses). They can conveniently accommodate more than a couple of individuals. For a bed that is suitable to provide you and your partner with ample room, these two sizes are the ones you need to look for.

However, there is a significant difference between these two sizes. The Alaskan King bed is the largest of all sizes and much more significant than California King. You can easily accommodate four persons on an Alaskan bed. 

Of course, with size, you have to consider other factors. So, which one should you go for? In this guide, we will compare both these sizes and see which one is suitable in various use cases. 

Comparison Table

	Alaskan King	California King
Accommodation	4 adults or 2 adults with 3 to 4 children	2 adults with one child or pet
Size	108 inches x 108 inches	84 inches x 72 inches
Price	More expensive	Cheaper
Availability	Only a few mattress manufacturers have these	Easily available from all mattress manufacturers
Suitability	Larger families and plus-sized couples	Smaller families
Area	11664 square inches	6048 square inches
Min. required room size	16 feet x 16 feet	12 feet x 10 feet

What’s An Alaskan King Bed?

An Alaskan King bed is essentially an oversized or a supersized square. It is the largest of all bed sizes and measures to be 108 inches by 108 inches in size. The overall area that it covers is 81 square feet or 11664 square inches.

It can easily accommodate a whole family, and you can even bring in pets if they decide to sleep with you on your bed. So, there is plenty of room for everyone on an Alaskan King bed. 

Of course, you will need more space in your room with this size. However, this bed is ideal for sleepers who like to be starfish right in the middle of the bed. So, no matter how anyone sleeps, this bed works out well. 

Who Should Use an Alaskan King Bed?

As we have seen above, it is an ideal choice for those with a large room, and there is plenty of space to move around even with this ginormous bed. 

It will easily accommodate four individuals, and there will be enough sleep for your pets to join you in the bed, depending on who the sleepers are and how they prefer to sleep. 

For example, if a couple of individuals like to sleep with all their legs and arms spread, they will consume much of the space. But these beds are suitable for large homes and rooms.

Pros of an Alaskan King Bed

• There is plenty of sleeping space for your entire family and your pets. 
• There is an ample amount of personal space for couples (check the best selling mattresses for couples). 
• Due to the large size, these beds are suitable for taller people.
• It is ideal for those who prefer to sleep with arms and legs fully extended. 
• Excellent in terms of novelty.

Cons of an Alaskan King Bed

• Being the largest, these beds are pretty expensive. 
• They need a lot of space, so they are only suitable for larger rooms. 
• They are not available from all mattress manufacturers. 

What’s a California King?

With the California King bed, luxury sleep will be at its finest (check the top rated luxury mattresses). These California King beds make a statement in any bedroom without paying too much attention. 

These beds measure 84 inches by 72 inches and are rectangular. The overall area of a California King bed is 42 square feet or 6048 square inches. 

California King beds are appropriate for couples as they have plenty of space without covering too much area within the room, especially if you compare them with Alaskan King beds. You can accommodate your kids with you, but you will have to be more precise with your sleeping position. 

Who Should Use a California King?

People who have slightly smaller rooms should go for a California King bed. But these beds are still pretty big, and your room has to be big enough to move around with your bed conveniently. 

If you have kids, you might need a California King. But in most cases, you will only be able to accommodate a single child with you if you are sleeping as a couple. 

This bed size is ideal for smaller families and works well for taller people. And the best thing is that most mattress manufacturers readily available the California King bed size. 

Pros of a California King

• Much easily available from most mattress manufacturers compared to Alaskan King. 
• These beds can accommodate more than two people. 
• They are suitable for larger rooms, and you will still have plenty of space to move around. 
• They are relatively cheaper as compared to Alaskan King beds. 
• Excellent choice for couples who need ample space. 

Cons of a California King

• They are not meant for your entire family.
• You can only accommodate a single child or pet.

What’s the Difference Between Alaskan King Bed & California King? 

Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, Alaskan King beds are fantastic. They can conveniently accommodate four adults or a couple with three to four children. Depending on how well you manage your sleep positions, some space will still be available for your pet to join you. 

But it’s safe to say that Alaskan King beds are massive, and there is plenty of room for everyone. On the other hand, California King beds can easily accommodate up to 2 adults and a child or a pet.

So, there is not much space for larger families with California King beds. But that doesn’t mean Cal King is not huge. They might not be as massive as Alsakn Kings, but California King beds ample space. 

Size

Of course, being the biggest of all sizes, Alaskan King beds are 108 inches in length and 108 inches in width. It means that there is plenty of space on both sides. There is plenty of room to spread your legs and arms when you are on an Alsakan King bed, especially if there are not many people on the bed with you. 

California King beds are 84 inches in length and 72 inches in width. So, there is a relatively smaller space compared to an Alaskan King. Still, a California King does come with a pretty good pace for couples with plenty of room to spread their legs and arms. 

Availability 

As we have just mentioned, Alaskan King Beds are massive, and there are few mattress manufacturers with this size available in their offerings. Therefore, Alaska King beds are hard to find. Again, there are only a few manufacturers who deal in these beds. 

On the other hand, California King beds are much more easily available because most mattress manufacturers have this size available. Many of them have a split version of the California King too. So there are much better options available to you in this size. 

Suitability

Alaskan King Beds are suitable for larger families. It is because they can accommodate more people compared to California King beds. But another advantage they have here is that these beds are better suited for taller people or plus-sized couples. 

California King beds are better suited for everyone out there. But they work better for smaller families, and you will still have plenty of space on hand.

Area & required room size

Being the biggest size available, Alaskan King beds cover an area of 11664 square inches. Due to the massive size, these beds are suitable in larger rooms.

On the other hand, California King beds cover an area of 6048 square inches. So, these beds will cover less space in your room if you have 16 feet by 16 feet. But they are ideally suitable for rooms 12 feet by 10 feet. 

Price

Alaskan King beds do come with a massive price tag on them. And there are a couple of reasons for that. First, they are the biggest size available in beds on the market.

And secondly, there are not many mattress manufacturers out there who have their own Alaskan King Beds. So, due to their massive size and lower availability, these beds are scarce yet very expensive (check the most expensive mattresses in the world). 

On the other hand, California King beds are available from most mattress manufacturers and are relatively smaller than Alaskan King beds. Therefore, why are they readily available and are smaller? Hence, they are lesser in price.

Key Takeaways: Alaskan King vs. California King Bed

1. Introduction to Bed Sizes

• Popularity: Both the Alaskan King and California King beds are sought-after choices for individuals who desire spacious sleeping accommodations.

2. Size Specifications

Bed Type	Dimensions	Area	Accommodation	Required Room Size
Alaskan King Bed	108 inches x 108 inches	11664 square inches	Up to 4 adults or 2 adults with 3-4 children	16 feet x 16 feet
California King Bed	84 inches x 72 inches	6048 square inches	2 adults with a child or pet	12 feet x 10 feet

3. Diving into the Alaskan King Bed

• Overview: The largest bed size available, fitting for larger families or couples who crave an abundance of space.
• Pros: Ample space for the entire family, ideal for taller individuals, luxurious feel.
• Cons: Expensive, requires a spacious room, limited availability.

4. Exploring the California King Bed

• Overview: A spacious yet more conventional option that’s easier to find and suitable for smaller families.
• Pros: Widely available, can accommodate more than two sleepers, relatively cheaper than the Alaskan King.
• Cons: Limited space for larger families, doesn’t offer the vastness of the Alaskan King.

5. Key Differences

• Accommodation: The Alaskan King can easily fit four adults, whereas the California King is more suitable for two adults and possibly a child or pet.
• Size & Space: Alaskan King beds are square and vast, offering unmatched space. In contrast, California King beds are rectangular and provide ample, but relatively less space.
• Availability & Price: Alaskan King beds are rarer and pricier due to their size and limited manufacturing. California King beds are more common and thus, more affordable.

Conclusion:

The Alaskan King bed is pretty massive in size, and it provides you with ample space for your entire family. But it takes up space in your room. 

Therefore, it is an ideal option for larger rooms. California King bed is relatively smaller but cheaper as well, and you can conveniently find this size from most mattress manufacturers (check 10 amazing mattresses under 2000 dollars).