Everything You Need to Know About an Alaskan King Bed

Like a beautiful house and an expensive car, a large bed is a symbol of luxury. Many strive to own a California King so that they can spread out to their heart’s content every night.

But mattress size doesn’t stop at California King. Believe it or not, there are several larger mattresses — each one named after a particular land area, such as a US state or Canadian province. These are called oversized beds, or “family” beds.

The largest of these is the Alaskan King bed. It makes the California King look like a Full.

Is it the right mattress for you, though? Read on to learn more about this bed the size of a small bedroom.

The Origins of the Alaskan King Bed

Twin and full beds dominated bedrooms until the modern king-sized bed was introduced in the 1940s. It reigned quite literally as “king” until the development of the California King in the 1960s.

Since then, mattresses have grown in size to accommodate demand. Soon after the California King was developed, other “state” beds were born, including the Alaskan King.

But unlike the California King — named for its place of origin — the Alaskan King was named for its size. Alaska is, after all, the largest US state by area at double the size of Texas. A fitting name for a massive mattress.

How Big is an Alaskan King Bed?

Alaskan King beds clock in at a whopping 108 inches (9 feet) by 108 inches. To put that into perspective, it has the same dimensions as a small bedroom.

Compare that to a California King, which is almost 3 feet narrower and 2 feet shorter.

Alaskan Kings can sleep up to 4 adults reasonably comfortably. This opens up plenty of opportunities for other sleeping arrangements that we’ll discuss in a second.

It’s worth noting that there is no mattress larger than an Alaska King. If, for some reason, you need a bigger mattress, the only way to get one would be to have it custom-made.

Where Can I Get an Alaskan King Bed?

You won’t find Alaskan King Beds in your typical retail store, nor will it be online at most common retailers. The California King is the largest type of mattress you’ll be able to find in most stores. That said, you can purchase one from us, The Alaskan King Bed Company.

How Much Does an Alaskan King Cost?

Expect to pay between $2,500 and $5,000.

Where Can I Buy Alaskan King Accessories?

Finding the right bedding and accessories for an Alaskan King won’t be easy. You won’t find them at your local retailer since most people don’t own beds this size.

In most cases, the company from which you bought your mattress makes the accompanying bedding and accessories. If not, you can have them custom-made for your bed.

Who Should Get an Alaskan King?

No two people have the same sleep habits. In general, a larger bed can accommodate the unique sleep needs of more people. Types of people that would love an Alaskan King include:

• Couples who sleep with their pets and/or children
• Couples with differing sleep schedules
• Couples in which one or both people requiring a lot of space to sleep
• People with guest rooms for groups of guests such as relatives
• Taller or larger individuals who aren’t comfortable on smaller mattresses
• People who can afford it, have enough space, and enjoy the luxury of a massive bed

Alaskan King Bed Vs. Other Beds

Here is a comparison of the Alaskan King Bed to some other beds.

The Pros and Cons of The Alaskan King Bed

The Pros

• As the largest bed, the Alaskan King provides ample space for sleepers who move a lot
• Excellent for taller and larger individuals
• Great for sleeping several people at once — couples who sleep with children/pets, groups of relatives staying the night, etc.
• Can help take up more space in large bedrooms

The Cons

• Hard to find — you won’t find them in regular retail stores
• Expensive
• The large size means you need a large bedroom
• Getting bed frames, sheets, comforters, and other items that fit your bed can be a challenge
• Fitting through the door frame — When you bring the bed home, its massive size will make squeezing it through your door tough.
• Hard to transport — Alaskan Kings are heavy and unwieldy due to their size. If you’re moving, this will be one of the more difficult items to transport.

In Summary: Should You Get an Alaskan King Bed?

Everyone can benefit from owning an Alaskan King bed. Whether or not it’s a worthy purchase for you is a different question.

If your bedroom is too small, or if the Alaskan King is over your budget, you should opt for a smaller bed. Kings and even Queens provide ample space for nearly every individual and most couples. Plus, finding the bedding/accessories/foundation for these more common mattresses is easy.

But with that said, there’s little reason not to get an Alaskan King if you have the money and space for it. Who could complain about more bed space?