It can be really disconcerting when you buy a brand-new comforter and later realize later that it’s way too long or not long enough. There are no standard comforter sizes, so you could end up buying a king-size comforter that doesn’t fit your king-size bed. Weird, right? So, can you use a king-size comforter on a California king bed?
California king mattresses are 84 inches long and 72 inches wide, 4 inches longer, and 4 inches narrower than a standard king mattress. Using a king-size comforter for a California king bed may result in the bedding touching the floor and gaps forming at the foot of the bed.
Size is especially important when you’re purchasing a comforter for a king-size bed. That’s why you need to check the measurements of any comforter options you’re considering before settling on one. Let’s look at the different sizes of comforters as well as the differences between a standard king comforter and a California king comforter.
Can You Place Your King Comforter On A California King Bed?
No. If you’re using a California king mattress rather than a standard king, the length of the comforter matters a lot. A California king mattress is 84 inches long and 72 inches wide, meaning that it is 4 inches longer and 4 inches narrower than a standard king mattress.
Measurements for king-size comforters are different across various brands and styles, and no particular measurement has been set as the standard. Many king comforters are 96 inches in width, but the average length is anywhere between 106 inches and 110 inches.
A king-size comforter will fit a California king along the width but most likely not along the length. Choose comforters that are made specifically for California king beds or go for a king-size comforter with longer measurements, close to 110 inches.
Anything shorter will come off as too short on the bed, which may look strange… and leave whoever’s in the bed feeling a bit cold.
Comforter Sizes Overview
While standard mattress sizes are available on the market, there are no standard comforter sizes yet.
Each brand sizes its own comforters differently. Check out this comprehensive comforter sizes chart to understand the estimated comforter sizes in inches for various mattress sizes.
| Bed Size | Mattress Measurements | Comforter Length | Comforter Width |
| California King (Western King) | 72 x 84 inches | 96-98 inches | 107-110 inches |
| King (Eastern King) | 76 x 80 inches | 86-88 inches | 102 inches |
| Queen | 60 x 80 inches | 96-100 inches | 86-88 inches |
| Full (Double) | 54 x 75 inches | 86-88 inches | 81-84 inches |
| Twin XL | 38 x 80 inches | 90 inches | 68 inches |
| Twin | 38 x 75 inches | 86-88 inches | 66-64 inches |
| Crib | 28 x 52 inches | 48-52 inches | 28-36 inches |
What Is the Differences Between a California King Comforter and a Standard King Comforter?
The California king and regular king-size beds are both quite roomy, designed to provide two sleepers with enough space to stretch fully and sleep comfortably. Though they seem to be similar in size at first glance, you need to take note of the length and width differences when choosing suitable bed linens.
To enjoy resting with your chosen beddings, ensure that you go for the correct size of bedding for the bed you own.
Extra Long vs. Extra Wide
The California King is for people who require extra length. An individual who is very tall and wants to prevent their feet from spilling off the edge when lying on the bed will be happy with a California king bed, which is 72 inches wide and 84 inches long.
Apart from custom-made beds, this is the longest standard bed you can find. The length of comforters and sheets that are meant for a California king will be too much for a regular king. The width of bed linens for a regular king will also be excessive for a California king.
Bigger Than Average
Style and materials are important when it comes to your king comforter. Fitted comforters are made to align with the shape of the bed, with the corners and foot featuring seams. Unfitted comforters are simply blankets that hang over the bed.
A regular king-fitted comforter will naturally be unsuitable for a California king. Whether it’s a regular king or a California king that you’re working with, keep in mind that you will need to wash whatever comforter you choose at some point. For weekly washes, duvet covers are an excellent solution.
Less material is used in a lighter comforter, so it can go into a washing machine right at home. On the other hand, regular king and California king comforters are larger and may require professional washing or a bigger washing machine.
Full Bed Coverage
A regular king-size comforter can be used on a California king; however, the coverage will be insufficient either at the head of the bed or at the foot. Similarly, using a California king on a regular bed can lead to bunching or catching in the presence of a footboard.
Some people may find the material included at the feet to be too hot, and not every part of the bed will be covered.
How to Choose the Right Comforter Size For Your Bed
Choosing the right comforter size requires some research as each brand has several sizes. Here are some tips for choosing the right comforter size for you:
Look at the Label
The simplest way to begin is by looking at the labels that come with your bedding and mattress size. The standard comforter size chart shows that the width of the queen comforter size is between 81 and 88 inches, while the length is between 86 and 100 inches.
However, the same size may be labeled as a full-size comforter by some brands, so it can be confusing.
Add Width and Thickness
To find out the correct width of your comforter, you can simply add the thickness on the sides of the mattress. For example, a king-size mattress is 11 inches thick and 80 inches wide.
The right comforter to buy should be 11 inches + 11 inches + 80 inches, equaling a total width of 121 inches. It can have a similar length to the mattress since a comforter is not meant to cover the bed completely.
Check the Stuffing
The stuffing also plays a role in the size. Down comforters are extremely soft and usually fluff up as soon as you place them on the bed.
There are oversized comforters that are labeled so because they exceed the size of the average comforter. Oversized comforters are generally wider and let you use pillow tops to cover mattresses.
Ensure You Have the Same Bed Size
King bed comforter sizes range between 86 and 88 inches in length and are 102 inches in width, while California king comforters range between 96 and 98 inches in length and 107 to 110 inches in width.
Unlike the standard king mattresses, California king mattresses are narrow and long and their individual comforters will not be suitable for one another.
The length of Twin XL comforter sizes, meanwhile, can be more than that of twin mattresses because a Twin XL mattress is shorter than a twin XL comforter by 5 inches. Thus, twin XL comforters will not fit twin beds.