Best king size mattress: our picks by budget and feel
Hi, we’re John and Mimi. Once people decide on a king, the next question is which one. Here’s every king we’d actually point you to, grouped by budget and by how it feels, with today’s prices pulled live from our catalog. Every one ships brand new and factory-sealed, compressed in a box, with free FedEx shipping and a 10-year limited warranty.
The short answer
- Best value king: the 10" Rose Medium, a medium everyday gel memory foam bed that suits most adults.
- Best for couples who sleep warm: the 12" Copper Gel, our best-known copper model, or the 10" EcoCore Hybrid Premium if you like pocket coils.
- Best if you can’t agree on firmness: the 12" iSwitch Flippable, with a medium firm side and a medium soft side, or a split king (two Twin XL mattresses) so each of you picks your own.
- Best firm king: the 12" Lavender Firm. Best plush king: the 12" Essentials Plush & Soft or the 14" Ananda Pearl & Gel Plush.
- Over about 6 feet tall? Look at a California king instead; see king vs California king.
King, split king or cal king?
| Size | Inches | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| King | 76" × 80" | Couples who want room, plus a kid or dog now and then |
| Split king | Two 38" × 80" (Twin XL) | Couples on an adjustable base, or who want two different feels |
| California king | 72" × 84" | Taller sleepers; 4" narrower, 4" longer |
Still choosing between a queen and a king? Start with queen vs king mattress, and check the what size bed fits my room table. Every size side by side is in our mattress sizes chart.
Best king mattresses by budget
Today’s king prices, lowest first. The split king column is two Twin XL mattresses for an adjustable base, where we offer it.
| Pick | Best for | Model code | King | Split king | Cal king |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" Daisy Firm | Lowest-price king; firm, good for a guest room | 8BNV-EK |
$399 | Sold out today | $399 |
| 10" Rose Medium | Best everyday value for most adults | 10BNV-EK |
$469 | $639 | $469 |
| 12" Lavender Firm | Firm top over an Air Grid base foam | 12BNF-EK |
$629 | $729 | $629 |
| 12" Copper Gel | Our best-known copper model, medium | 12BNCOPPER-EK |
$659 | $789 | $659 |
| 12" Essentials Plush & Soft | Plush gel-infused air foam on top | 12ESS-EK |
$669 | — | $669 |
| 10" EcoCore Hybrid Premium | Pocket coils under soy-based foam, medium firm | 10HSOY-EK |
$719 | $799 | $719 |
| 12" iSwitch Flippable | Two sides: medium firm and medium soft | 12ISWITCH-EK |
$769 | $869 | $769 |
| 14" ActiveAlign Zoned Hybrid | Our thickest zoned hybrid, medium soft | 14REACTIVE-EK |
$909 | $1,259 | $909 |
Prices are today’s prices, read live from our catalog, with free FedEx shipping included. A dash means that model isn’t made in that size.
Want more price ranges, including queens? See best affordable mattress and how much does a mattress cost.
Is a king worth the extra over a queen?
For the same model, moving from queen to king costs $70 more on the 10" Rose and $140 more on the 12" Copper today. For that, each of you gets about 38" of width instead of 30", which is the same width as a Twin XL. It tends to be worth it if one of you tosses and turns, a child or pet often joins you, or you simply wake each other up. A queen still makes sense in a smaller room or when the budget is tight. Remember king sheets, frames and protectors cost a bit more too.
Pick your king by feel
| You want | Start with | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Medium, works for most couples | 10" Rose or 12" Copper Gel | best mattress for couples |
| Firm, for back or stomach sleepers | 12" Lavender Firm or 8" Daisy Firm | firm mattress guide |
| Soft, for side sleepers | 12" Essentials Plush & Soft or 14" ActiveAlign Zoned Hybrid | best mattress for side sleepers |
| Bounce and airflow of coils | 10" EcoCore Hybrid Premium | memory foam vs hybrid |
| Two different feels on one bed | 12" iSwitch, or a split king | split king for couples |
| Not sure | The 60-second quiz | mattress firmness guide |
What a king needs underneath
- A proper base. Our mattress listings call for a continuously solid surface, an adjustable base, or slats no more than 2 inches apart that can support the mattress and the people on it. A bed this wide also needs support down the middle, not just at the sides; a sagging center rail is a common cause of a dip. See what to put under a memory foam mattress.
- No old box spring needed. A worn box spring can make a new mattress feel bad. Our Express Mattress Foundation comes in king and cal king (wood slats, 6" legs, no tools) if you need something new.
- Want it to move? Most couples go split king so each side has its own adjustable base and remote. See split king adjustable base for couples.
Getting a king into the bedroom
A king is 76" wide, which is the hard part of getting one up stairs or around a tight hallway corner. Ours arrive compressed and rolled in a box, so the box goes through a normal doorway and you unroll the mattress in the room where it will live. Use scissors, not a razor blade, to open the plastic. The listings say it can take up to 72 hours to fully recover its shape, and you can sleep on it right away. Moving later? See how to move a mattress.
10" Rose - Medium Firmness - 10BNV
Our best everyday value in a big bed: a medium feel most adults like, at one of our lowest king prices.
- 2" Gel Air Memory Foam over support foam
- Medium feel
- Machine-washable zip-off cover
- Non-skid bottom fabric; 10-year limited warranty
From $279 (Twin) · Queen $399 · See sizes & details
12" Copper Gel Infused Cooling Memory Foam Mattress - Medium Firm, Back & Side Sleepers
Our best-known copper model, and a good pick for couples who want a thicker bed with edge support.
- 2" Copper Memory Foam on top
- 1" memory foam to cut motion transfer
- Edge support over a 7" Air Grid base foam
- King, cal king and split king sizes
From $369 (Twin XL) · Queen $519 · See sizes & details
12" iSwitch Flippable Two Sided Mattress - Medium Firm/Medium Soft - 12ISWITCH
Can’t agree on firmness? Sleep on one side, and if it isn’t right, flip it to the other.
- Medium firm side and medium soft side
- Gel memory foam on both sleep surfaces
- Patented edge support system
- Zip-off machine-washable cover
From $529 (Twin XL) · Queen $639 · See sizes & details
Shop this guide
Ready for a king? These are where most couples start.
- 10" Rose - Medium Firmness - 10BNV, from $279. Best-value everyday king.
- 12" Copper Gel Infused Cooling Memory Foam Mattress - Medium Firm, Back & Side Sleepers, from $369. Our best-known copper model in king or split king.
- 12" iSwitch Flippable Two Sided Mattress - Medium Firm/Medium Soft - 12ISWITCH, from $529. Two feels in one king; flip to switch.
- Express Mattress Foundation with 6" Grey Wood-Style Legs, from $259. King foundation with wood slats; no box spring needed.
Questions we hear a lot
What is the best king size mattress for most couples?
For most couples we start with a medium feel: the 10-inch Rose for the best value, or the 12-inch Copper Gel if you want a thicker bed with edge support. If you like the bounce of coils, the 10-inch EcoCore Hybrid Premium is our pocket-coil pick. Prices are on this page and update live.
How big is a king size mattress?
A standard king is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. A California king is 72 by 84 inches, 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer. A split king is the same footprint as a king, made from two 38 by 80 inch Twin XL mattresses.
What if my partner and I want different firmness?
Two options: the 12-inch iSwitch has a medium firm side and a medium soft side, so you can flip it to the feel you both like, or a split king lets each of you choose your own Twin XL mattress, often on two adjustable bases with separate remotes.
Do I need a box spring for a king mattress?
No. Our mattresses go on a continuously solid surface, an adjustable base, or slats no more than 2 inches apart. A king also needs support down the middle. Our Express Mattress Foundation comes in king and cal king if you need a new base.
Will a king mattress fit up my stairs?
Ours ship compressed and rolled in a box, so the box fits through a normal doorway and you unroll the mattress in the bedroom. It can take up to 72 hours to fully recover its shape, and you can sleep on it right away.
Want a second opinion on your king?
Text John how you and your partner sleep (side, back or stomach), roughly how tall you are, what you sleep on now and your budget. He’ll tell you honestly which king fits, or whether a queen or cal king makes more sense. Text or call 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, or take the 60-second mattress quiz.
Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. Layer, setup and care details are from our product listings; sizes are standard US dimensions. Firmness picks are general comfort guidance, not medical advice. Prices are read live from our catalog and update automatically.