- Price: $1,399, cooling add-on for $99
- Material: Memory foam
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period: 365 nights
- Shipping: Free
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Mattress height: 12 inches
Best King-Size Mattress of 2024
- After reviewing and testing hundreds of mattresses, our Reviews Team chose the Nectar Original as the best king-size mattress overall due to its affordable price and suitability for most sleepers.
- King-size bed pricing varies from just below $1,000 to luxury models priced at well over $2,000.
- Our recommendations for the best king-size mattresses of 2024 include options for different budgets, sleep positions, and firmness preferences.
- Our experts consider feedback from hands-on mattress testing and analysis, including pressure pad data.
- If you’re choosing a king-size bed because you sleep with a partner and want more room, it’s important to consider features like motion isolation and edge support.
Our Reviews Team tested hundreds of mattress models and researched more than 30 mattress brands in person and online. Here’s how we made our selections:
- Analyzed features, materials, costs, and brand policies, including returns and trial periods
- Consulted sleep experts, including doctors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, for insight on how to pick the right mattress
- Identified and tested key mattress features, like motion isolation, edge support, pressure relief, and cooling abilities
- Compiled data from verified customer reviews on trusted third-party sites, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot
- We’ve personally slept on and tested each mattress to come up with an unbiased assessment of each. Our medical review team also reviews every selection to ensure each brand and model is appropriate for the needs of our readers.
Your sleep needs can change over time. You may need more lumbar support to help with back pain or a firmer surface to accommodate a different sleep position. Whether you sleep differently than you used to—people 60 and older may require more daytime naps, sleep less at night, experience frequent insomnia episodes, and wake up more often—or have kept up the same lifelong sleep habits, a quality mattress is a crucial piece of the sleep equation. [1] Li J, et al. Sleep in Normal Aging. Sleep Medicine Clinics. Nov. 21, 2017.
If your current mattress is starting to show signs of wear and tear, it may be time for an upgrade. And if you have the space and budget, a king-size mattress can provide plenty of room to stretch out whether or not you sleep with a partner.
Waking up with aches and pains might be a sign it’s time to make a change. In this review, we share our expert take on the six best king-size mattresses based on our testing. [2] Jacobson B, et al. Changes in Back Pain, Sleep Quality, and Perceived Stress After Introduction of New Bedding Systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. March 2009
Best king-size mattress overall
The Nectar Original mattress is our pick for the best king-size mattress because it offers a universally comfortable sleep experience, excellent motion isolation, and a body-contouring design—all at an attractive price.
Best king-size mattress in 2024
- Nectar Original: Best King-Size Mattress Overall
- DreamCloud Premier Hybrid: Best Affordable King-Size Mattress
- WinkBed: Best King-Size Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Saatva Classic: Best King-Size Mattress for Combination Sleepers
- Helix Midnight: Best King-Size Mattress for Back Pain
- Emma Hybrid Comfort: Best Firm King-Size Mattress
Compare the best king-size mattresses, as of March 2024
Provider | Cost before discounts | Firmness | Mattress type | Trial period | White glove delivery* | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$1,399 | Medium-firm | Memory foam | 365 nights | Lifetime | Check price | |
$2,169 | Medium-firm | Hybrid | 365 nights | Lifetime | Check price | |
$1,999 | Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus | Hybrid | 120 nights | Lifetime | Check price | |
$2,595 | Plush soft, luxury firm, firm | Hybrid | 365 nights | Lifetime | Check price | |
$1,748.80 | Medium-firm | Hybrid | 100 nights | 10 years | Check price | |
$1,649 | Firm | Hybrid | 365 nights | 10 years | Check price |
*White glove delivery includes the delivery, unpacking, assembly, and placement of your new mattress or bed inside your home and the removal of your old mattress.
Best king-size mattresses of 2024, reviewed by experts
Best king-size mattress overall: Nectar Original
Nectar Original
The Nectar Original has multiple layers of plush foam to help relieve pressure on the body and joints. [3] Bai D, et al. Relationship Between a Pressure Redistributing Foam Mattress and Pressure Injuries: An Observational Prospective Cohort Study. PLoS One. Nov. 9, 2020 It’s a good pick for back and side sleepers but might not work for combination sleepers who switch positions frequently during the night or for people with mobility issues.
Nectar rates the firmness as medium-firm, and our Reviews Team agrees the mattress hits this sweet spot exactly. In testing, the mattress also performed well in keeping the spine in neutral alignment. Also, if you sleep with a partner and have different sleep schedules—an issue that can cause disruptions in sleep—the Nectar mattress provides some of the best motion isolation of all the models we’ve tested. [4] Elsey T, et al. The Role of Couple Sleep Concordance in Sleep Quality: Attachment as a Moderator of Associations. Journal of Sleep Research. Feb. 20, 2019.
If you don’t love memory foam’s sinking, contouring feel, this mattress may not be for you. Higher-weight folks might also have issues with sagging over time, based on the non-responsive nature of the foam revealed in testing.
The Nectar Original foam mattress has a classic memory foam feel, ideal if you’re looking for an ultra-soft surface that offers plenty of pressure relief. The bed-in-a-box Nectar Original has a medium-firm feel that’s ideal for most sleepers.
Our recommendation
Who will love it
- Side and back sleepers who appreciate the body-contouring pressure relief
- People who sleep hot
- Couples looking for better motion isolation to prevent partner-related sleep disruptions
Who should avoid it
- People who need extra support, especially in the lumbar region
- Anyone who doesn’t love the feel of memory foam
Customer service
You can reach Nectar customer service by:
- Phone: Call 888-863-2827, available seven days a week 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET
- Chat: Live chat via the bottom right corner of the website, available seven days a week 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET
- Email: support@nectarsleep.com
Nectar mattresses have a Lifetime warranty and come with a 365-night trial period, giving you plenty of time to test the mattress at home.
Payment options
Credit card payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Other payment options include Amazon Pay and PayPal. Nectar offers financing through Affirm and Splitit.
The company currently offers 5% off for military members, first responders, and health care professionals. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
Best affordable king-size mattress: DreamCloud Premier Hybrid
DreamCloud Premier Hybrid
- Price: $2,169
- Material: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period: 365 nights
- Shipping: Free
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Mattress height: 13 inches
The DreamCloud Premier Rest is a hybrid model with foam and innerspring layers designed to provide proper spinal alignment and comfortable support. A breathable quilted cushion top adds an extra layer of softness for an overall plush feel.
Despite being on the softer side in terms of firmness, our Reviews Team felt the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid mattress provided plenty of support and pressure relief for back and side sleepers. Testing revealed it’s a poor choice for stomach sleepers, though.
It’s the softest mattress in the DreamCloud lineup, but whether it’s comfortable may depend on your body type. Based on our testing, we think it would work best for lightweight to medium-weight side and back sleepers who find firmer mattress models uncomfortable.
When it comes to motion isolation, it’s not the best-performing mattress, but it’s not the worst, either. We wouldn’t recommend it for couples with significant weight or height differences since you’re likely to feel big movements across the mattress.
The DreamCloud Hybrid Premier Rest is a plush mattress ideal for those who prefer a softer sleep surface but still want solid support and pressure relief.
Our recommendation
Who will love it
- People who love memory foam’s soft, enveloping feel but also want plenty of support
- Side sleepers who need pressure point relief around the hip and shoulder areas
- Back sleepers who like a softer bed but don’t want to skimp on spinal alignment
Who should avoid it
- Stomach sleepers, since the surface is too plush to provide adequate support
- Those looking for top-notch motion isolation
Customer service
You can reach DreamCloud customer service by:
- Phone: Call 833-237-3269, available seven days a week
- Chat: Live chat via the bottom right corner of the website, available seven days a week
- Email: support@dreamcloudsleep.com
DreamCloud mattresses have a Lifetime warranty and come with a 365-night trial period, so you can test the mattress before committing.
Payment options
Credit card payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Other payment options include Amazon Pay and PayPal. Nectar offers financing through Affirm and Splitit.
The company currently offers 5% off for military members, first responders, and health care professionals. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
Best king-size mattress for side sleepers: WinkBeds Original
WinkBeds Original
- Price: $1,999
- Material: Hybrid
- Firmness: Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus
- Trial period: 120 nights
- Shipping: Free
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Mattress height: 13.5 inches
The WinkBeds Original is an all-around support pro, from mattress center to edge, including “extra-edge anti-sag support” that prevents sleepers from rolling off the sides of the mattress when sleeping or sitting.
It’s a good pick for most side, back, and combination sleepers. If you gravitate toward sleeping on your side but tend to toss and turn occasionally, the WinkBeds Original may work for you. Testing also showed the mattress does a good job of keeping the spine in neutral alignment and preventing joint-related pressure points in a side sleeping position.
Our Reviews Team felt the brand’s 6.5 firmness rating for the luxury firm model was accurate. If you’re a higher-weight sleeper or simply like a firmer feel, you may find the firm version of the WinkBeds Original to be a better fit for your sleep needs. It’s important to note that different body types may have different firmness preferences. What feels firm to a lighter-weight person may not feel as firm to a higher-weight individual.
One major advantage of the WinkBeds Original is its ability to isolate movement despite a hybrid construction. In testing, we found that the mattress provided very good motion isolation with little movement overall.
And while the bed won’t actively lower your body temperature, it’s better at dissipating heat than an all-memory foam mattress due partly to its gel-infused pillow top and breathable cover. It’s also our pick for the best cooling mattress for side sleepers.
The WinkBeds Original is a hybrid bed-in-a-box mattress with four firmness options: softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus. Its foam and innerspring layers provide plenty of full-body support and pressure relief. Our Reviews Team tested the luxury firm model.
Our recommendation
Who will love it
- Side and back sleepers who crave extra support and pressure relief to help with aching joints
- People who tend to toss and turn at night or have mobility issues
- Hot sleepers who can’t stand the sweaty feel of non-cooling memory foam
Who should avoid it
- People on a budget
- Heavier sleepers who may prefer a firmer version of the WinkBed
Customer service
You can reach WinkBeds customer service by:
- Phone: Call 855-946-5233, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
- Email: info@winkbeds.com
- Chat: Live chat in lower right corner of website, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
WinkBeds mattresses have a lifetime warranty and come with a 120-night trial period, so you can test the mattress before committing.
Payment options
WinkBeds accepts payments through MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Shop Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Financing is available through Bread Pay and Katapult.
The company also offers a $50 discount to military members and their families, and first responders through GovX. These discounts can be combined with other promos, according to customer service.
Best king-size mattress for combination sleepers: Saatva Classic
Saatva Classic
- Price: $2,595
- Material: Hybrid
- Firmness: Plush soft, luxury firm, and firm
- Trial period: 365 nights
- Shipping: Free shipping, including setup and mattress removal
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Mattress height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches
The Saatva Classic is a luxury mattress packed with quality materials and coveted features. You can choose between three firmness options: plush soft, luxury firm (the option we tested), and firm. The mattress is also available in two height options: 11.5 and 14.5 inches.
In addition to health- and earth-conscious organic materials, the mattress has a zoned construction, so you feel supported regardless of how you sleep. The hybrid mattress also has an antimicrobial cover made of organic cotton and a natural, plant-based flame barrier.
Our Reviews Team found it the perfect option for combination sleepers, due to a responsive feel with minimal sinkage. Our testers noted the mattress offers the best support when the sleeper’s back is aligned with the mattress’s lumbar region. Because the mattress has plenty of bounce-back—which is great for combination sleepers—there’s a tradeoff regarding motion isolation.
Sleeping with a partner can be comforting, but picking a mattress that works for different sleepers can be challenging. The Saatva Classic is a high-end mattress that appeals to various folks, including back, side, stomach, and combination sleepers, making it a good pick for couples with different sleep styles.
Our recommendation
Who will love it
- Combination sleepers needing extra back support
- Sleepers with chronic pain who need both pressure relief and support
- People looking for a mattress made with non-toxic, eco-friendly materials
Who should avoid it
- Those who prefer a softer sleep surface
- Anyone whose top concern is motion isolation
Customer service
You can reach Saatva customer service by:
- Phone: Call 877-672-2882, available 24/7
- Chat: Live chat via the bottom left corner of the website, available 24/7
- Email: info@saatvamattress.com
- In person at a brick-and-mortar location
Saatva mattresses have a lifetime warranty and a 365-night trial period, so you have plenty of time to test the mattress before committing.
Payment options
Saatva accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Google Pay, and PayPal. Financing is available through Affirm.
People ages 65 and older, active duty military, veterans, health care professionals, first responders, government employees, teachers, and students can get $225 off purchases of $1,000 or more. The discount can’t be combined with other offers.
Best king-size mattress for back pain: Helix Midnight
Helix Midnight
- Price: $1,748.80
- Material: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period: 100 nights
- Shipping: Free
- Warranty: 10 years
- Mattress height: 11.5 inches
The Helix Midnight is a hybrid mattress that combines supportive steel coils with multiple layers of various foams, including memory foam near the top and dense support foam at the base.
Our Reviews Team felt the mattress scored slightly higher in firmness than the advertised medium feel. Some sleepers might still find the medium-firm surface too soft—side sleepers in particular. Our testers also found the mattress allowed for ease of movement, which is a good feature if you have a chronic pain condition like arthritis or back pain.
What our testers loved most about the Helix Midnight was the gentle support. The mattress offers enough of a firm surface to prevent the sagging that can knock your spine out of alignment but also offers some softness for added comfort. Those who like the overall design and feel of the Helix Midnight but wish it were a tad softer may want to try the Helix Midnight Luxe with its built-in pillow top, which is our pick for the best mattress overall and the best mattress for back pain.
The Helix Midnight is advertised as designed for side sleepers, but we think it’s a better fit for back sleepers, especially those needing extra lumbar support to help with lower back pain. According to one 2021 review, a medium-firm mattress is ideal for people with back pain. [5] Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should Be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of the Literature. Journal of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021
Our recommendation
Who will love it
- People with aches and pains who need support with a soft feel
- Back, stomach, and combination sleepers
- People with chronic pain conditions who are looking for pressure relief
Who should avoid it
- Side sleepers, especially lighter-weight folks
- People who sleep hot
Customer service
You can contact Helix Sleep customer service by:
- Phone: Call 831-777-5976, available Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
- Text: Text “HELIX” to 67069, available Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
- Email: help@helixsleep.com
- Chat: Live chat via the bottom right corner of the website, available seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET
- Submitting a contact form on the website
Helix mattresses come with a 100-night trial period so you can test the mattress out before committing.
Payment options
Helix accepts payment from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Shop Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay. Financing is available through Affirm and Katapult.
The company currently offers 25% off for military members, first responders, students, and teachers. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
Best firm king-size mattress: Emma Hybrid Comfort
Emma Hybrid Comfort
- Price: $1,649
- Material: Hybrid
- Firmness: Firm
- Trial period: 365 nights
- Shipping: Free
- Warranty: 10 years
- Mattress height: 13 inches
The Emma Hybrid Comfort has a firm feel—a 7.5, according to our Reviews Team—thanks to multiple layers of thick, dense foam. The addition of coils helps distribute weight, providing an even layer of support throughout the mattress. Our Reviews Team felt the firmer feel and construction make the mattress a good pairing for higher-weight individuals. A firmer mattress may also be a good fit for people who want plenty of back support but like the feel of a hard versus medium-firm sleep surface. [6] Hong T, et al. The Influence of Mattress Stiffness on Spinal Curvature and Intervertebral Disc Stress – An Experimental and Computational Study. Biology (Basel). July 8, 2022.
We also like the responsiveness of the mattress, a feature well-suited to combination sleepers. In testing, sleepers had no issues switching positions or moving around. While most people find a medium-firm mattress to be ideal, firmness is a preference. If you prefer a firmer sleep surface, the Emma Hybrid might fit your sleep style.
Our testers noted that they wouldn’t recommend it to people with back pain. Based on first impressions, they also had concerns about the durability of this mattress. The different layers seem to bounce back at varying speeds, which may lead to balance issues and sagging over time.
The Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress is an affordable pick that’s ideal for higher-weight sleepers because of its firm feel and zoned support design.
Our recommendation
Who will love it
- People who prefer a firmer sleep surface
- Higher-weight sleepers of all types
- Combination sleepers
Who should avoid it
- Side sleepers, especially those with joint pain
- People concerned about durability
Customer service
You can contact Emma customer service by:
- Phone: Call 855-580-3662, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m to 6 p.m. GMT
- Email: support@emma-sleep.com
- Chat: Live chat available 24/7 on the website
Payment options
Emma accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Google Pay, Meta Pay, Apple Pay, and ZipPay. Financing is available through Klarna.
Bottom line
No matter what size mattress you’re buying, it’s important to consider factors like cost, materials, and trial periods. But your unique sleep preferences, including your go-to sleep position, can also impact the right mattress size for you. And that may mean you need to consider a king-size mattress.
All the king-size mattresses on our list will be solid options, but some may suit your needs better than others. While the all-foam Nectar Original is our top pick for its combination of comfort and value pricing, you might prefer a hybrid mattress, like the DreamCloud Premier or WinkBed. Ultimately, all the mattresses on our list have been extensively tested by our Reviews Team, so you can make an informed decision about the mattress that fits your needs and sleep style.
Frequently asked questions
Your ideal king-size mattress depends on your budget, preferred sleep position, and sleeping situation. Overall, we found the Nectar Original, DreamCloud Premier, and Saatva Classic are good options for most sleepers.
King-size mattresses provide more room to stretch, so they often have a higher price tag than other mattress sizes. In most cases, you should expect to pay between $1,000–$2,000. Luxury models typically run over $2,000.
A king-size mattress measures 76 inches by 80 inches. A California king is slightly longer but less wide at 72 by 84 inches.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org
Sources
- Li J, et al. Sleep in Normal Aging. Sleep Medicine Clinics. Nov. 21, 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5841578
- Jacobson B, et al. Changes in Back Pain, Sleep Quality, and Perceived Stress After Introduction of New Bedding Systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. March 2009. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697581/
- Bai D, et al. Relationship Between a Pressure Redistributing Foam Mattress and Pressure Injuries: An Observational Prospective Cohort Study. PLoS One. Nov. 9, 2020. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33166300/
- Elsey T, et al. The Role of Couple Sleep Concordance in Sleep Quality: Attachment as a Moderator of Associations. Journal of Sleep Research. Feb. 20, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6702108/
- Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should Be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of the Literature. Journal of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8655046/
- Hong T, et al. The Influence of Mattress Stiffness on Spinal Curvature and Intervertebral Disc Stress – An Experimental and Computational Study. Biology (Basel). July 8, 2022. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9311775/