Taller Than Average? Here’s Why California King Beds Might Be Best for You

Your bed can significantly affect the quality of your sleep, so it’s crucial to find one that suits your build and sleep style.

While most people may be more free to choose from different sizes, things aren’t as easy when you’re tall. Beds are built en masse for general comfort, usually catering to the population’s average height. If you look at average heights in America, this comes down to 1.77 m (5’8″) for men and 1.63 m (5’3″) for women.

For individuals taller than that, new problems come in the form of limbs hanging off the bed, bumping into the headboard, and kicking into corners in the middle of the night, among other things. The standard bed is not optimal for someone a few inches above the norm, so your best bet is to go for a California king bed.

How the California king works better for tall people

The main factor differentiating the California king from other sizes is that it’s significantly longer. Generally built with a length of 84 inches, this should comfortably suit any person above 5’11 and provide ample leg room. It’s also narrower than a regular king bed but not so much that you give up your horizontal space. With a width of 72 inches, this is still about 12 inches wider than a queen-sized bed. Its overall space should be perfect for taller people with different body types.

Additionally, the quality of such beds tends to be more consistent because they are produced less than other sizes. Its origin as a niche size has made it so that even modern manufacturing tends to create fewer mattresses and frames in this size. The regular king bed is a more popular variant, but it’s worth seeking out its rarer cousin for increased space and building standards. It also helps that the California king’s unique shape makes it an excellent centerpiece for curating your bedroom. A good ambiance dramatically impacts how well you sleep, as long as you set it up correctly.

Picking the perfect bed placement

You need to have enough space around your bed, not just for aesthetic purposes but also for mobility. For taller people, you can browse the California King bed sets on Living Spaces to see well-made furniture sets that improve the room’s ambiance and already factor these measurements in. The Lars 3-piece set comes with a recessed frame if you prefer not to have a high footboard but still want a headboard. In contrast, the Voyage set by Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent features a canopy-style frame if you want more privacy options with a natural ambient boost. Both options have matching nightstands that complete your bedroom vibe without sacrificing space around your bed.

These hefty sets can carry a lot of weight and, more importantly, retain the narrow form of the California King. Taller people will benefit most from this narrowness as you have more walking space around your bed to navigate the room. On top of this, you will want a frame and mattress combo that stands higher from the floor. The standard bed sits about 25 inches above the ground, so anyone batting above the average height should ensure their bed is not lower than that range. A reasonable distance from the floor will be comfier for your joints when you get up or sit down to settle into your bed. The collective Healthy Americans recommends using bed risers to improve accessibility and customize your bed’s height. It’s not hard to find a riser that matches your interior design, but choosing a quality riser that can support the weight of your bed in use is crucial.

Using a riser for up to 12 inches is perfectly safe, so it comes down to picking the right type and material for your needs. Make sure the riser you select is compatible with your bed frame. An excellent option is the Utopia Bedding riser, which elevates up to eight inches and supports up to 1,300 pounds. When installed correctly, this riser comes with a 6-inch base that should provide enough stability for a California king-sized bed.

If you plan to move your bed to a different room or place to accommodate your needs, prepare a strategy before getting everything in order. Previously, Anthony Johnson wrote here about bed moving services and how they make this process easier, but it all comes down to tracking down the key sections of the bed frame most prone to damage. A California King mattress shouldn’t be too much trouble to maneuver with some help, but you will need to consider how other materials stack on each other without damaging them.