What Is a Western King Mattress?

Western King Size

• The Western king size mattress is 72 inches by 84 inches. Each person has 36 inches of sleep space. The bed is longer than an Eastern king size bed, also called a king size mattress, so the Western king will accommodate taller people. It takes three standard pillows that fit the length of the Western mattress, or two king size pillows.

Bedding

• Sheets for the Western king size bed come in sets with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two king size pillow cases, or the sheets and pillow cases can be purchased separately. Flat sheets are 108 inches-by-102 inches. Fitted sheets are 72 inches by 84 inches and pillow cases are 20 inches by 40 inches.

Disadvantage

• Western king bed mattresses are large and harder to fit around corners and up narrow or low staircases. The bedding for a bed this size is the most expensive when comparing the king size bed to the Western king. Comforters or flat sheets made for a king bed will not fit a Western king bed. When you are shopping for Western king bedding, you must look for bedding that is marked for a California king.

Split California King

• Some manufacturers make a split California king, which would be a split Western king. The split mattress and boxspring would be 36 inches by 84 inches. This makes it easier to navigate corners and narrow openings found in staircases and hallways. The bedding for a Western king will fit the split mattress because the length and width are the same when the mattresses are placed together on the boxspring.