What Size Comforter Do You Need for a Cal King Bed?

What size comforter do you need for a Cal King? Read below to find out more!

If you are lucky enough to have a California King bed, you know the bed is longer but less wide than a traditional king-size mattress. The actual measurements for California king beds are:

• Cal King Bed - 72 x 84 Inches vs. King Bed - 78 x 80 Inches

It can be challenging to find a comforter to fit this specialty size mattress properly. At a typical department store, you will find oversized king comforters that measure 106"x96" to 108"x98". This gives a typical king bed 28-30 inches of extra material to drape, but by the time you get in bed and increase the height, the comforter will barely cover the top side of the bed. To determine the amount of side coverage you have, divide the 28-30 inch excess by 2. You now have 14-15 inches of drape on the side of the bed.

Using an oversized comforter on a Cal King bed is best because you get the benefit of extra side coverage (about 3-4 inches extra per side). For the foot length (84 inches), you will have approximately 12-14 inches of drape, assuming the comforter is pulled to the top of the bed and not slightly folded over.

If you have a platform bed, you should be careful to avoid a down comforter that drapes too much on the sides (this can make the bed look sloppy unless you want complete side coverage.)

If you have a sleigh bed, you will want to make sure your comforter is not too long as well. It will bunch at the end of the bed.

In general, we suggest buying an oversized king comforter to fit properly on your Cal King bed. We've curated a few of our favorites here.