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It’s hard to argue with a king size mattress, which can comfortably fit two sleepers with room to spare. Significantly larger than other mattress sizes, king size mattresses offer the ultimate luxury for those who can spare the floor space. Split king models cater to people who own adjustable beds.
Since king size is a standard mattress size, shoppers can choose from a wide range of options. Below is a list of mattresses that our testing team has determined to be the best options for king size. Our team performed thorough research and hands-on tests to ensure that this list includes the best overall mattresses on the market. We considered criteria such as price-point, since king beds cost more money than beds in smaller sizes. We also looked at durability and temperature neutrality, since king size beds are often purchased by couples.
If you’re curious to learn more about our picks, read our reviews below. At the bottom, we also provide a buyer’s guide to shopping for king size mattresses. Our guide offers practical advice on how to find the right king mattress, which types of sleepers will benefit from these mattresses, and which mattresses are best for a king size.
Best Overall
The DreamCloud Mattress combines the stability of an innerspring with the even contouring of an all-foam bed. The result is a sleep surface that alleviates pressure and minimizes motion transfer without sacrificing support. A medium firm (6) feel ensures adequate reinforcement for most people weighing up to 230 pounds regardless of their sleep position.
What It’s Made of
Soft polyfoam is quilted into the cover to give the surface a luxuriously plush feel, while a second comfort layer of gel-infused memory foam provides additional cushioning and contouring. Other components include a polyfoam transitional layer to prevent deep sinkage around the midsection, and a pocketed coil system that reinforces the mattress without making the surface feel stiff or overly responsive.
How It Performed
The entire mattress is encased in a cover that includes cashmere, a material with exceptional cooling properties. Steady airflow throughout the coil layer also helps the mattress maintain a comfortable interior temperature. The deep foam layers absorb quite a bit of movement, so disruptive motion transfer shouldn’t be an issue for couples and co-sleepers.
The DreamCloud Mattress is priced competitively for a hybrid model and ground shipping is free for all buyers in the contiguous U.S. The company’s sleep trial extends for an entire year, giving you plenty of time to test out the mattress and come to a decision. If you keep the DreamCloud, you’ll also receive a lifetime warranty that covers structural defects for as long as you retain ownership of the mattress.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“Everyone on our test team agreed that the DreamCloud feels exceptionally plush, moreso than many other hybrid beds we’ve tested. And the cashmere-blend cover really sets this model apart from others in terms of cooling.”
Best Value
Brooklyn Bedding’s Signature Hybrid is a versatile mattress at an affordable price-point. The mattress is available in three firmness levels, so customers can choose the best model for their sleeping style. You can opt for medium soft (4), medium firm (6), or firm (8), which all have similar compositions but distinct feels.
What It’s Made of
All models include a quilted top that helps the surface feel comfortable and slightly more plush. Each also incorporates the same materials into its comfort system, starting with proprietary TitanFlex foam that adapts to your movements and reduces pressure in your joints. TitanFlex also has a gel infusion designed to absorb and dissipate excess body heat. Next is a transitional layer of proprietary VariFlex foam. This material is meant to relieve pressure point discomfort. The firm model features a slightly thicker Variflex layer to achieve its increased support level.
The Signature Hybrid’s support core contains pocketed coils on a dense polyfoam base. The coils are individually encased to move independently while you sleep. These coils stabilize the sleep surface and help cut down on how much motion is transferred across the bed. The perimeter is reinforced with higher-gauge coils to increase edge support.
How It Performed
Thanks to the selection of firmness levels, most sleepers should find a model that best suits their needs. Side sleepers on our team who weigh up to 230 pounds found the medium soft model most comfortable, but this model is also well suited for other sleepers under 130 pounds. Our testers between 130 and 230 pounds enjoyed the balanced feel of the medium firm model. Back and stomach sleepers who are at least 230 pounds may prefer the firm model.
Our testing team found that all three models excelled at regulating temperature and relieving pressure. Mattresses with significant amounts of foam hug the body to alleviate pressure points, but they often retain body heat. However, the Signature Hybrid combats this issue with responsive, gel-infused foams and airflow through the coil support core.
Each mattress carries a 10-year warranty and a 120-night sleep trial. Anyone wishing to return a mattress must first try it for 30 nights. Free shipping is available to customers in the contiguous U.S.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“Beds with foam layers usually trap heat, but our hot sleepers felt pretty comfortable on the Signature Hybrid thanks to the ventilated coils and cooling gel infusions.”
Most Comfortable
The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid mattress available in four firmness levels: medium soft (4), medium firm (6), firm (7), and firm (8). All models feature a strong balance of foam cushioning and strong support that should feel comfortable to an array of sleepers
What It’s Made of
The WinkBed features a layer of gel-infused foam quilted into a Euro-top surface. This creates a plush feel when you get into bed, and a transitional layer of dense polyfoam underneath provides extra support and prevents excessive sinkage. The support core contains pocketed coils, zoned to feel stronger around the midsection. Perimeter coils are also reinforced to minimize sinkage when sleeping near or sitting along the edges. A Tencel cover encases the entire mattress.
How It Performed
During our hands-on tests, side sleepers and people under 130 pounds enjoyed the thicker comfort system in the softer model. The medium firm was the most versatile, performing quite well across sleeping positions and weight groups. The firm model best suited back and stomach sleepers looking for an even sleep surface. Sleepers over 230 pounds may want to consider the WinkBed Plus, specifically made for sleepers in this weight category.
Our testing also indicates the mattress is a good option for hot sleepers. This is thanks to the breathable Tencel cover and a coil system that promotes steady air circulation throughout the interior. Other strengths of the mattress include strong edge support, good ease of movement across the surface, and above-average motion isolation.
WinkBeds offers a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty against workmanship and manufacturing defects. Shipping is free within the contiguous U.S.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“Our testers who sleep on their side really enjoyed the balance of cushioning and support in the WinkBed. They felt little to no soreness in the shoulders and hips, but also felt like their lower backs were well supported.”
Best for Couples
People sharing a bed with a restless sleep partner often benefit from a mattress with thick foam layers that absorb motion and noise. The Nectar Premier Copper is a mixed-foam mattress that prevents most motion transfer while staying cooler than many other all-foam models.
What It’s Made of
The cover is made from a polyester blend featuring copper fibers engineered to conduct heat away from the body and dissipate it. Underneath is a layer of phase change material meant to enhance cooling, followed by a thick layer of adaptive memory foam. This layer closely contours to the body to relieve pressure points in the hips and shoulders. A polyfoam transitional layer adds cushioning between the comfort system and the support core. The support core contains high-density polyfoam that prevents uncomfortable sagging and promotes spinal alignment.
How It Performed
The mattress’ medium firm (6) feel and foam construction performed best among side sleepers during our tests, particularly those who weigh at least 230 pounds. These sleepers can comfortably sink into the foam layer and find relief for pressure points without misaligning the spine. Compared to other all-foam models, this mattress performed well in our temperature regulation tests. The phase change material helps to reduce internal temperature, while the breathable cover keeps the surface cool.
Nectar ships free to customers in the contiguous U.S. and offers a generous 365-night sleep trial. If you decide to keep the Premier Copper mattress, it comes with a lifetime warranty against structural defects.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“People who typically wake up several times a night from their restless partner will love the Nectar Premier Copper. I felt no movement transfer during testing.”
Best for Side Sleepers
Side sleepers can be prone to aches and pains because of the extra pressure on the shoulders and hips. The Helix Midnight features a thick foam comfort system that deeply contours the body to reduce pressure buildup, making it a strong choice for side sleepers and others with joint pain.
What It’s Made of
The mattress starts with a proprietary Soft Touch Design polyester cover. This material is stretchy and designed for breathability. Next is a layer of proprietary Memory Plus Foam that relieves pressure and redistributes weight to maintain healthy spinal alignment. A transitional layer of denser polyfoam cushions between the comfort layer and coil support core. This layer also limits excessive sinkage.
Pocketed coils make up the support core. These coils move independently, meaning they compress without affecting surrounding coils. This design provides targeted support to heavier areas of the body and helps reduce motion transfer. The coils rest on a layer of dense polyfoam for extra stability.
How It Performed
A medium firm (6) feel should be suitable for a wide range of sleepers, but our testing team found side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds find the Helix Midnight most comfortable. Our back and stomach sleeping testers under 130 pounds also enjoyed this mattress.
Thanks to the thick foam comfort system, the mattress excelled at relieving pressure buildup. Foam layers often retain heat, but airflow through the coil support core keeps the mattress quite cool. Sleepers who like the “body hug” of memory foam but find it traps too much heat may want to consider this pick.
Helix ships free to all 50 states and offers a 100-night sleep trial. Midnight mattress purchases are backed by a 10-year warranty, which covers structural defects.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The midweight sleepers on our team found that the Helix Midnight was really great at relieving pressure without giving up too much support.”
Best Luxury
The innovative Saatva Classic combines the responsiveness of a traditional innerspring with the contouring feel of a hybrid mattress. Available in three firmness options, the bed has a luxurious feel that should appeal to a wide range of sleepers.
What It’s Made of
A thick Euro-top cover containing fiber padding and comfort layers of memory foam and polyfoam gives the surface an invitingly plush feel. The Euro-top is zoned to provide enhanced support to the lumbar region. The transitional layer contains pocketed minicoils, which are designed with extra support to your midsection. The support core features sturdy recycled-steel hourglass coils, so you can also expect a good deal of springiness from the Saatva Classic.
How It Performed
The two coil layers promote consistent airflow, allowing the mattress to sleep exceptionally cool even by hybrid standards. The robust design is also well suited to people who weigh at least 130 pounds and need extra support from their mattress – back and stomach sleepers in particular. You can choose from three firmness levels for your Saatva Classic: medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (7). There are noticeable differences between these feels in terms of contouring and pressure relief, but all three deliver exceptional support. The mattress is also available in two profiles.
Saatva is one of the only online mattress brands that offers free White Glove delivery to all customers in the contiguous U.S. This service includes full assembly in a room of your choice and removal of your old mattress and/or foundation at no extra charge. You’ll also receive 365 days to test out the Saatva Classic before deciding whether to return it or keep it, as well as a lifetime warranty.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“Our testers really liked the extra bit of bounce from the coil-on-coil construction. It made for easier movement across the surface but never felt too springy.”
Best for Back Pain
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid is a foam hybrid model that excellently balances cushioning and support. The combination of cushioning foam layers and sturdy coil support promotes even alignment and reduces pressure along the spine.
What It’s Made of
A mixed-foam model, the Leesa Sapira Hybrid contains a top comfort layer of ventilated polyfoam and a second comfort layer of memory foam. This arrangement produces a light bounce on the surface, but you’ll notice even contouring as your body sinks into the mattress. A polyfoam transitional layer provides added cushioning while maintaining even support.
The Sapira Hybrid also features 6-inch pocketed coils over a base layer of dense polyfoam. The coils are reinforced along the edges to reduce sinkage and help you move across the surface without feeling trapped or stuck. A knit polyester cover with Leesa’s trademark stripe pattern encases the entire mattress.
How It Performed
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid earned favorable ratings during our sleep tests, especially from side sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. The aerated foam is a nice addition. Foam layers tend to absorb and trap heat, causing mattresses to feel uncomfortably warm, but the Sapira Hybrid avoids this thanks to added airflow near the surface. The deep comfort system also allows the mattress to isolate motion well – a performance area where hybrids tend to lag behind other mattress types.
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid is competitively priced and shipping is free of charge for customers in all 50 states. Each order includes a 100-night sleep trial with free returns after 30 nights have elapsed, as well as a 10-year warranty against structural defects.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Leesa Sapira Hybrid felt really comfortable and cool for a bed with foam layers, thanks to the ventilated coil system. Even our hot sleepers gave this model a thumbs up.”
Best Pressure Relief
Sleepers who seek relief for painful pressure points typically gravitate towards beds with deep cushioning, but this can sometimes come at the cost of firmness and support. The Bear Hybrid avoids this problem with a hybrid design that offers a strong balance of both contouring and support.
What It’s Made of
The bed has a thick profile and medium firm (6) feel. It begins with a cover made of Celliant fabric, a material engineered to promote muscle recovery. A comfort layer of polyfoam is quilted into the cover and sits on top of another polyfoam layer to provide a soft, contouring surface. Next is a transitional layer of polyfoam that buffers the sleeper from the support core, which contains a system of pocketed coils and a thin layer of high-density polyfoam for sturdiness and durability.
How It Performed
The thick foam layers provide excellent contouring to help alleviate pressure buildup at night. This may appeal to side sleepers and back sleepers, who typically exert pressure on the shoulders, hips, and spine. This can result in soreness or discomfort. Given its medium firm feel, the bed is suitable for most weight categories but will feel most comfortable for sleepers up to 230 pounds. If you tend to sleep hot at night, the Celliant fabric is designed to regulate temperature, and the coils enable air to circulate efficiently through the bed.
Bear backs this mattress with a 120-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty. Beds are shipped for free within the contiguous U.S.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Celliant fabric in the cover really gives the Bear Hybrid an edge when it comes to keeping cool at night. We also found the pressure relief of the foam layers to be quite excellent.”
Best Cooling
The Birch Mattress is a hybrid bed that combines a latex layer with a pocketed coil system. The result is a mattress that sleeps very cool and is easy to move around on, which may appeal to couples.
What It’s Made of
The mattress contains a comfort system made of moisture-wicking wool and ventilated Talalay latex that allows air to flow to the surface to keep you cool throughout the night. A pocketed coil support core creates added circulation to maintain a comfortable interior temperature. The entire mattress is encased in a breathable organic cotton cover, and the fire barrier underneath contains moisture-wicking natural wool to prevent discomfort from excessive perspiration.
How It Performed
Latex is a naturally durable substance that resists indentations and impressions better than foam. The coils in the Birch Mattress are also zoned for extra perimeter protection, which reduces sinkage that can permanently damage the edges of your mattress. As a result, the mattress is quite durable. The latex and coils also make the mattress feel quite responsive and bouncy, so most people have little to no trouble moving across the surface.
The Birch Mattress should appeal to people who value eco-friendly products. A Rainforest Alliance certification indicates rubber trees used to create the latex are sustainably grown, while an eco-INSTITUT certification ensures the material has been evaluated for harmful emissions. Additionally, Birch has been recognized for humane treatment of the sheep used to extract wool in the fire barrier.
The Birch Mattress has an affordable price-point compared to other latex hybrids. Birch also offers free ground delivery to customers in all 50 states. Each order comes with a sleep trial that spans 100 nights in length, as well as a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“Hybrid beds usually stay fairly cool, but our testers enjoyed the extra level of natural cooling offered by the Birch’s latex layer.”
Best for Seniors
Use this SleepFoundation.org link for the most current discount on SleepOvation mattresses
The SleepOvation Mattress builds on the standard hybrid model with an innovative design intended to provide targeted support and pressure relief. This unconventional construction is particularly well suited to seniors and other people who feel sharp pressure points in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips due to conditions like arthritis and sciatica.
What It’s Made of
The mattress features hundreds of “tiny mattresses,” consisting of polyfoam squares joined with pocketed steel coils. Each tiny mattress moves independently from the others, resulting in targeted support for heavier areas of the body and even weight distribution across the surface. This differs from most competing foam hybrids, which feature uniform comfort layers over pocketed coils.
A stretchy cover made of polyester and elastane encases the entire mattress. The cover can be removed and laundered in your household machines, making it easy to keep the mattress clean and hygienic. The SleepOvation mattress measures 12 inches thick and has a medium (5) feel.
How It Performed
Due to its unique design, the SleepOvation outperformed many competing hybrids in some key testing categories. One area where the mattress excelled was temperature control. Channels between the tiny mattresses promote steady air circulation, allowing the interior to keep cool, and the cover is fairly breathable. Motion isolation is another major strength. Since the tiny mattresses move independently, each one absorbs movement well and reduces a significant amount of motion transfer across the surface.
During our hands-on tests, the SleepOvation fared quite well with the side sleepers on our team weighing up to 230 pounds. These testers received ample cushioning around the shoulders and hips, so pressure buildup was minimal, and the spine was properly supported. Our back and stomach sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds also gave the mattress favorable ratings. Excessive sinkage was not an issue for these testers.
The SleepOvation Mattress has earned a GREENGUARD Gold certification, indicating it has been evaluated for chemical emissions using the most rigorous standards in place today. Ground delivery is free of charge for all customers in the contiguous U.S. Each purchase comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a manufacturer’s warranty covering structural defects for up to 10 years.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The SleepOvation is unlike any other foam hybrid we’ve tested. The “tiny mattresses” create deep cushioning across the surface, but the mattress is also highly supportive due to the thick coil system.”
At Sleep Foundation, we’ve personally tried and reviewed hundreds of mattresses to bring you our top picks for the best king size options on the market today. Each sleep product expert on our team has extensive experience testing mattresses and knows which factors are critical when evaluating performance.
The qualities we test include durability, temperature control, pressure relief, and edge support. When combined with factors like firmness level and construction, these metrics help us determine who will most enjoy each mattress we review. Our team includes people with various body types and sleep preferences to provide the most accurate data possible on each mattress.
To learn more about our process for evaluating mattresses, read our product research methodology below:
Mattress companies like to highlight the proprietary features that make their products stand out from the crowd. However, before giving consideration to these special features, you need to consider whether a mattress is adequate for your body type and preferred sleeping position. If a mattress isn’t right for your sleeping style, no amount of cooling gels or other features can change that.
The following are some of the most important things to look for when buying a mattress. If you look through these mattress qualities and prioritize them based on your personal needs, then you can read between the lines and select a mattress that suits your needs.
Introduced to the mainstream bedding industry in the 1940s, king mattresses are the largest of the standard sizes. A king mattress measures 76 by 80 inches, leaving more than enough space for two adults to sleep side-by-side. King mattresses are becoming increasingly popular with multiple subsets of sleepers, including single adults, couples, and families.
Single Adults: With its imposing, almost-square build, a king size mattress can make a powerful statement in a spacious bedroom. If you sleep alone, a king size mattress can be the perfect accent for your carefully curated interior design. For taller sleepers, larger sleepers, or those who frequently switch sleeping positions, a king mattress also allows enough room to sprawl out and get your beauty rest.
Couples: Falling asleep while spooning is romantic, but it’s not for everybody. A king size mattress is 16 inches wider than a queen mattress, giving each partner ample room to sleep comfortably. If you and your partner have trouble agreeing on mattress firmness, you can take things one step further and buy a split king with two different feels.
Families: There’s nothing cuter than having the kids cozy up with you in bed, but if you’re short on space, this can make it tricky to get to sleep. A king size mattress is the best option if you and your sleeping partner want some extra room for kids or pets.
There are several variations of the king size mattress, of which the most frequently seen is the California king. Measuring 72 by 84 inches, the California king size is 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than the standard king.
The extra length of the California king makes it popular with taller individuals. However, many people prefer the aesthetic appeal of the almost-square standard king mattress. This size may also be more convenient for heavier sleepers or those who anticipate sharing the bed with children or pets.
Almost every mattress manufacturer offers both king and California king mattresses at identical price-points, although it might be slightly harder to find bedding for California king mattresses. King and California king mattresses may also come in a split version, in which each side can be customized with a different firmness level or other preferences. As split king mattresses aren’t fully attached to each other, they also allow less motion transfer.
Other types of king beds include Alaska king (108 by 108 inches) and Wyoming king (84 by 84 inches). These are rarely found through regular channels and may need to be special-ordered where available.
A king size mattress may be ideal for sleepers who love spreading out in bed, but not everybody has the space for such a hefty mattress. Here are some pros and cons to weigh if you’re considering the jump to a king size mattress.
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Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the different mattress types is a useful way of knowing how a mattress is likely to feel. However, despite broad similarities in materials and construction, the specific design of each mattress will give it its own distinct feel. We’ve outlined the major characteristics of the five major mattress types you’ll find on the market today.
Definition: Hybrid mattresses are generally made with a pocketed coil support core to reduce noise and motion transfer. This is supplemented by a comfort section with one or more layers of memory foam, latex, micro-coils, or other pressure-relieving materials.
Highlight: Middle Ground. Because they incorporate the qualities of multiple materials, hybrid mattresses are a convenient compromise for sleepers who have trouble deciding between the merits of coils, foam, or latex.
Definition: Innerspring mattresses are built almost entirely of steel coils that provide bounce, support, and airflow. Some innerspring mattresses may have a comfort layer, but this does not significantly change the feel of the mattress.
Highlight: Customizable. Innerspring mattresses pair well with mattress toppers. Co-sleepers can use a split king mattress to give each side a different feel and eliminate the problem of motion transfer that can arise with interconnected coils.
Definition: Natural latex is made by processing the milky white liquid of the rubber tree, using either the Dunlop or Talalay method. The resulting material is breathable and durable, and it can be given different properties that make it suitable for use in both the comfort and support layers of a mattress. Synthetic latex alternatives also exist, but they are of lesser quality.
Highlight: Sustainable and Durable. Natural latex is gaining recognition in eco-conscious circles thanks to its environmentally friendly credentials. Despite the higher price tag, latex is a worthwhile investment as it promises longer durability than most mattress materials.
Definition: Made with one or more air chambers in the support core, airbed mattresses feature customizable firmness that can be adjusted by inflating or deflating the chambers. Airbeds may also have an additional comfort layer section on top of the air chambers.
Highlight: Individual Control. King size airbeds usually have a separate air chamber for each side of the bed, so each sleeper can experiment to find the feel that works for them.
Definition: All-foam mattresses have a support core made of high-density polyfoam, and may feature memory foam, latex, polyfoam, or similar materials in the comfort section.
Highlight: Motion Isolation. All-foam mattresses tend to perform the best on motion isolation, which can reduce disruptions when sharing the bed.
Before settling on a purchase decision, ask yourself if the mattress is well-suited to its intended sleepers, and don’t forget to read the fine print for shipping, sleep trial, and warranty policies.
A king mattress is large enough to be used by one or two adults. If you anticipate using the mattress for more than one sleeper, be sure to take each party’s needs into consideration.
Side sleepers and those who weigh less than 130 pounds typically need a closer-conforming mattress that helps take the pressure off the hips and shoulders. Stomach sleepers and those who weigh more than 230 pounds need a firmer surface to better distribute body weight. A split king may be the answer in cases where two sleepers with vastly different needs are sharing the bed.
It’s not uncommon for kids and pets to join their parents in bed. In this case, it may be more appropriate to use a regular king mattress instead of a split king to prevent having anyone sleep on the crack between the mattresses. Those who share the bed with one or more restless sleepers may benefit from a mattress that dampens motion and noise, while strong edge support allows full use of the bed for families who may otherwise find it too crowded.
Most king mattresses are able to be compressed, shrink-wrapped, and shipped as a mattress in a box. The standard in the online mattress industry is to offer free ground shipping within the continental U.S., with many companies also offering optional White Glove delivery and old mattress removal for an extra fee. In rare cases where certain king size mattresses may be too heavy to ship via ground shipping, companies may include White Glove delivery at no additional charge.
Mattresses ordered online should come with a sleep trial of at least 90 nights, giving you time to test out the mattress at home and receive a refund if it doesn’t work for you. Following this period, mattress companies typically offer a warranty of at least 10 years against workmanship and manufacturing defects. Before finalizing payment on your new mattress, it’s always a good idea to double-check these terms.
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.