Alaskan King Bed Dimensions (with Drawings)
One of the great markers of adulthood is the transition from a twin mattress to a full-fledged big-kid bed. The Alaskan king is the largest bed size on the market today, a full two feet larger than the standard. Make sure you’re knowledgeable of Alaskan king bed dimensions to ensure that it’s a good fit for you and your room.
An Alaskan king bed has a length and width of 108” by 108”, making it a perfect square. This size makes an Alaskan king over two feet wider than a traditional king bed, and t’s larger than a California and a Wyoming king. The minimum recommended room size for an Alaskan king bed is 16 feet by 16 feet.
If you are looking for a luxurious and spacious place to lay your head, the Alaskan king is the move. With ample room for you, your kids, and your pets to pile in, the Alaskan king bed is sure to be your new best friend. Let’s explore the specifics of an Alaskan king bed and how its dimensions will affect your space.
Alaskan King Bed Dimensions
So now that you are totally sold on the Alaskan king bed, let’s get specific about the dimensions. When planning for redecoration or renovation, dimensions are everything. One wrong measurement and the whole room plan can fall to pieces.
There are many commercial bed sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and Alaskan king. With the Alaskan king topping off the commercial mattress sizes, you can feel confident that you’ll have plenty of room. The Alaskan king bed is a perfect square measuring 108” by 108” or 9’ by 9’.
To compare, the Alaskan king is more than two feet wider and longer than a standard king-size bed. This size can be a challenge to fit in most bedrooms, even in the most spacious rooms. You should always make sure to check the minimum room size requirements before purchasing a bed.
Minimum Suggested Room Dimensions For An Alaskan King Bed
Because the Alaskan king is the largest in the mattress family, it will subsequently need the most room space of any bed. The minimum recommended room size for an Alaskan king bed is 16 feet by 16 feet, but of course, more room is always a benefit.
The 16’ by 16’ footprint translates to 256 square feet of space in the room. After adding the bed, this leaves 175 square feet in the room, with 3.5 feet on each side of a centralized bed. With a full 112 square feet of usable space left in the room, this is actually quite spacious.
Pros Of Alaskan King Bed Dimensions
There are so many pros to having the largest mattress size on the market, most notably, the size. For families practicing co-sleeping, the Alaskan king bed is a no-brainer. Compared to the Wyoming king, which boasts the co-sleeping title, the Alaskan can simply fit more people.
Cons Of Alaskan King Beds
The biggest con for the Alaskan king is the price tag because it is undoubtedly not topping our budget-friendly list. Even the most committed luxury sleepers can struggle to afford this beast of a bed.
Another con, though it seems obvious, is the space requirements for this monster. With a full 81 square feet of mattress space, many rooms will not make the cut. The minimum suggested room size of 16’ by 16’ is significantly larger than the average room.
California King Bed Dimensions Compared To Alaskan King Bed Dimensions
The California king bed has been a popular bed size choice throughout the years, and for good reason. With the dimensions coming in at 72” by 84”, this is undoubtedly a smaller option compared to the Alaskan king. With standard king bed dimensions at 76” by 80”, you’ll see that the California king is longer but less wide.
The California is nearly 3 feet less wide and almost 2 feet shorter than the Alaskan king. In comparison to a standard king, the California is only 4 inches longer but does lose 4 inches in width. Compared to a Wyoming king, the California is the same length but is an entire foot wider.
Minimum Suggested Room Dimensions
The minimum recommended room size requirements for a California king is 10×12 feet or 120 square feet. This leaves only 78 square feet of usable space in the room. If you center the bed, that leaves only 50 feet of usable space in the room, which is quite small.
Pros And Cons
For those erring on the tall side, California kings are a great option. While some choose the California simply for want, taller folks often need that extra 4 inches.
Standard queen and king beds have a length of 80 inches, so the California king is the most affordable next size. If you’re looking for a 7-foot-long bed but can’t afford the Wyoming, the California is the way to go.
One potential con of the California king is the smaller width size. While the California has extra legroom, you’ll sacrifice that missing 4” width you’d find with the standard.
Another common con is the added cost compared to a standard king-size bed. While having extra legroom is great, the extra cost is not the most budget-friendly option. It’s commonly known that mattresses have a massive mark-up rate which leads to their high price.
Wyoming King Bed Dimensions Compared To Alaskan King Bed Dimensions
One of the lesser-known bed sizes is the Wyoming king, larger than the California and smaller than the Alaskan. The Wyoming king bed’s dimensions are 84” by 84”, creating a perfect square. If you are looking for the extra legroom but still want a fuller width, the Wyoming king could be perfect for you.
The dimensions of the Wyoming king bed are almost a full two feet smaller than the Alaskan king. The Wyoming king measures 8 inches wider and 4 inches longer than a standard king-size bed. The Wyoming king is the same length as a California but is actually an entire foot wider.
Minimum Suggested Room Dimensions
A Wyoming king bed’s minimum suggested room dimensions are 12’ by 12’ or 144 square feet. This size room would allow a total of 95 square feet of open space to work with.
While this may seem like a large amount of space, that would leave only 2.5’ on each side of a centered bed. This leaves only 60 square feet of usable space past the foot of the bed.
Pros And Cons
This size mattress is a great option for taller folk or those that simply sleep large (cue the starfish position). For families exploring or practicing co-sleeping, the Wyoming king will suffice for smaller families.
Another pro of the Wyoming is the extra 8” of width compared to a standard king. Compared to the California king, the added 12” is an absolute game-changer for some.
While the Wyoming king is smaller than the Alaskan king, it is still significantly more expensive than the standard king. While having a larger bed is tempting, settling for a king-size is sometimes the only option.
Another common issue with the Wyoming king is the size and the floor space it takes up. The average room is 14’ by 16’; however, it’s still not quite a “roomy” space compared to the mattress size.
Alaskan King Size Mattress Thickness Dimensions
Longevity is influenced mainly by the quality of sleep, so a good mattress could add years to your life. Back pain and sleeping problems are common health concerns amongst adults. These issues consequently lead to a plethora of other health problems, including mental health.
For every ache and pain out there, there is likely a mattress that will help. Each style of mattress will have different thicknesses, materials, layers, etc. The average thickness of an Alaskan king mattress is between 8” and 14”; however, there are outliers.
The ideal mattress thickness dimensions are 2-3” of a comfort layer and a 6-8” thick base layer. The majority of mattresses also contain 1-2” of a transitional layer; however, this is not a necessity.
One would assume that a thinner mattress is cheaper or less efficient than a thicker mattress, but this isn’t true. With today’s advanced technology, companies are producing more economical mattress models. Therefore, not only are some thinner mattresses comparable to thick, but they can exceed thicker mattresses in quality.
Final Thoughts
One of the benefits of being an adult is the joy of investing in the things that you love. Pampering yourself when it comes to sleep is practically a religion for some, and the Alaskan king is mecca. Sleep and back health are some of the most important factors for longevity, so try investing in a good mattress.
The Alaskan king bed is the largest standard bed size on the market today, measuring 108” by 108” or 9’ by 9’. It’s larger than both California king beds (72” by 84”) and Wyoming king beds (84” by 84”), needing a room at least 16 by 16 feet. If you tend to have kids and pets join you in the bed, the Alaskan king’s mammoth size is a lifesaver.
Alaskan king-size mattress thickness is a complex issue with dimensions varying with style, brand, and consumer needs. The average thickness dimension of any king-size mattress is between 8” and 14”.
Stacy Randall is a wife, mother, and freelance writer from NOLA that has always had a love for DIY projects, home organization, and making spaces beautiful. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparent's former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way.
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