Queen vs California Queen Explained

A queen mattress is the most popular mattress on the market. You may be looking at a queen and California queen-size mattress.

What is the difference between a queen and a California queen mattress? The difference between a queen and a california queen mattress is the length. The California queen mattress is 4 inches longer than the standard queen mattress.

This can make it a more comfortable option for sleepers who need extra legroom. However, California queen beds are a less common bed size and harder to fit in smaller master bedrooms.

Which of these beds is best for your sleeping needs? Should you spend extra for a California queen, or will a regular queen-size mattress do for your bedroom? Before you decide, read our  comparison guide to know what to look for.

What Is A California Queen?

A California queen bed measures 60 inches in width and 84 inches in length. The California queen-size mattress provides plenty of space for tall solo sleepers and couples who need some personal space even while sharing a bed. 

However, it's not one of the standard mattress sizes, making it harder to find a California queen-size bed frame, foundation, and bedding.

Advantages Of A California Queen Mattress

Because a California queen mattress is four inches longer than a queen bed, it can provide more leg room. Tall sleepers will find it easier to sleep comfortably on this size without having their feet dangle off the bed. Its generous width also makes it comfortable to share the mattress with a partner, child, or pet without feeling cramped.

While a king mattress is 76 inches wide compared to a California queen's 60 inches, it's four inches shorter. This may make it better for couples who don't need as much extra space on their sides but want more room to stretch out their legs.

Who Should Sleep On A California Queen Bed?

Taller sleepers who share a bed with a partner, child, and/or pet should consider sleeping on a California queen bed. The California queen size mattress also provides plenty of space for tall single sleepers who toss and turn in their sleep. If you are at least six feet tall or share a bed with someone that tall, you'll find the California queen size mattress perfect for your sleeping needs.

California Queen Mattress Dimensions

The California queen bed size dimensions are a width of 60 inches and a length of 84 inches. This has an extra four inches of length compared to the standard queen-size bed. However, a king mattress is 16 inches wider compared to a California queen bed.

Ideal Spaces For A California Queen Bed

The ideal spaces for a California queen bed are larger master bedrooms that are at least 10 feet wide and 12 feet long. Because it's four inches longer than a queen-size mattress, it needs extra space for comfortable maneuvering. Any room size smaller than this may feel too cramped for walking around or including bedroom furniture.

Average Cost Of A California Queen Bed

The average cost of a California queen size bed ranges from $700 to $2,200. A California queen-size mattress is typically more expensive than a regular queen-size mattress by several hundred dollars. This is because the traditional queen size mattress is four inches shorter than the California queen, providing less space per person.

Standard Queen Mattress

Wondering about the difference between the California queen and a standard queen-size mattress? Here's a quick breakdown of a queen bed's dimensions, to whom it's best suited, and which spaces are ideal for it.

If you don't mind less space. Consider a queen vs a full mattress.

Queen Mattress Dimensions

The traditional queen mattress measures 60 inches in width and 80 inches in length. This standard-size mattress will fit easily into most master bedrooms, requiring only a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet of space.

Who Should Sleep On A Queen Bed?

 

Solo sleepers who need plenty of room should consider sleeping on a queen-size mattress, as its luxurious space lets them toss and turn without falling off the bed. It's also an excellent option for couples who still want some personal space while they co-sleep.

Ideal Spaces For A Queen Bed

The ideal spaces for a queen bed are master bedrooms that measure at least 10 feet long and 10 feet wide. Their large size makes them less suitable for studio apartments, most guest rooms, and dorm rooms.

Average Cost Of A Queen Bed

The average cost of a traditional queen-size mattress ranges from $600 to $2,000. Luxury options made with high-end materials will cost more. For example, a mid-range all-foam or innerspring queen mattress will cost an average of $1,000, while a premium hybrid queen bed with quality construction can cost double that.

Other Standard Bed Sizes

Beds come in different dimensions that are more suited to different room sizes and a number of co-sleepers. Here's a description of standard bed sizes other than queen and California queen-size mattresses and their respective dimensions.

Twin-Size

Twin mattresses measure 38 inches wide and 75 inches long. The compact size of a twin mattress makes it ideal for bunk beds and dorm rooms. They're also popular transitional beds for children and teenagers, but adults may find them too small for comfortable sleep.

Twin XL-Size

The standard twin XL mattress is 38 inches in width and 80 inches in length. This bed size still fits into compact spaces like dorm rooms, guest rooms, and studio apartments. It's also much cheaper than a standard queen size mattress. 

While it's just as easy to move as a twin bed, its extra length makes it a fantastic option for tall single sleepers because it provides extra space for their legs.

Full-Size

Also known as a double bed, a standard full-size mattress measures 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. It's not suitable for couples that need extra room, but it's a comfy fit for single adults. Because it doesn't take up a lot of floor space, it’s a popular mattress size for a narrow bedroom or for spare beds placed in guest rooms.

King

Also known as the Eastern king bed, the traditional king mattress measures 76 inches in width and 80 inches in length. This size is often the largest available across most mattress brands. 

A king-size bed has extra sleeping space for partners who want to share their bed with a pet or their child, so it’s a good size for a family bed. It's also an excellent choice if you or your partner is an active sleeper, as there's additional space to move around without bumping into each other.

California King

Measuring 72 inches in width and 84 inches in length, California king mattresses are ideal for tall sleepers who co-sleep or change sleeping positions throughout the night. 

Because a Cal king is longer than a king mattress and queen bed, it keeps their feet from going over the mattress edge. The Cal king mattress also has generous width compared to queen mattresses, allowing taller individuals to co-sleep without losing personal space or feeling cramped.

Other Queen Bed Variations

There are other types of queen beds apart from the standard queen and the California queen. Here's a quick description of each one, their dimensions, and who should sleep on them.

Olympic Queen Bed

The Olympic queen mattress measures 66 inches wide and 80 inches long. It's shorter than a California queen. However, it's 6 inches wider than a California queen and a standard queen, making it preferable for couples who want more personal space while co-sleeping.

Split Queen Bed

Split queen beds are actually made up of two narrower mattresses put together in one bed frame. Their combined measurements are 60 inches in width and 80 inches in length, giving them the same dimensions as a standard queen bed. 

This type of mattress is best for customizing mattress firmness and type to each co-sleeper's personal preferences. It's also best for those who want more motion isolation so neither co-sleeper disturbs each other.

Short Queen Bed

The short queen bed is not one of the standard sizes for a mattress, making it harder to find in mattress stores. It measures 60 inches wide and 75 inches long, offering the same width as a standard queen and a California queen. 

Its shorter length makes a short queen-size mattress perfect for RVs and camping rigs, but it may not be ideal for couples where one or both partners are over six feet tall.

Which Queen Bed Is Right for You?

The California queen bed size is right for co-sleepers where one or both sleepers are tall. A taller person may feel uncomfortably cramped in standard queen bed dimensions as their feet may dangle off the edge of the mattress. However, if you're of average height and you're not sharing the bed with a taller person, the standard queen mattress size is an excellent option. 

A queen bed fits into most master bedrooms and is cheaper than a California queen bed. It's also easier to find bedding that fits it as it's a more common mattress size.

California Queen Bed FAQs

Is a California queen bigger than a king?

No, a California queen is not bigger than a king-size bed. The California queen is 16 inches narrower than a king-size mattress, but it's 4 inches longer.

Can two people sleep in a California queen-size bed?

Yes, two people can sleep in a California queen-size bed. California queen mattresses have the generous width of a queen bed and extra length as well, making it a spacious choice for couples.

Can queen sheets fit on a California queen mattress?

No, queen sheets can't fit on a California queen mattress. Queen sheets are four inches shorter than California queen sheets, so they can’t cover this larger mattress size.