Article Overview: Alaskan King Bed
Here at AlaskaExplored, we try to bring you all things Alaska, even if one of those things is just the Alaskan king bed. It would seem the people of the internet have spoken, and some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Alaska have to do with beds. This confused and disappointed me. Alaska has so much to offer, yet Alaskan king beds are what people are curious about.
Well, we aim to please. We will do our best to inform you about everything you need to know regarding Alaskan king beds and maybe try to redirect your interest (and finances) to a few things more enjoyable in Alaska, like fishing for an Alaskan King Salmon, not a bed. So grab a pillow while you relax in your tiny bed, and read all about what life could be like if you had an Alaskan king bed or, even better yet if you lived in Alaska and were fishing for King Salmon.
Why Trust Us
AlaskaExplored is THE DESTINATION for all things Alaska. Whether you are planning to purchase your first Alaskan King Bed or are just curious about the last frontier, we’ve got you covered. Here at AlaskaExplored.com you’ll find expert tips, detailed guides, stunning photographs, and so much more.
Together, AlaskaExplored has more than twenty years of experience traveling, working, and exploring the beautifully rugged 49th state. Working in television has taken us all around the world, and there is no place more than Alaska. During our time here, we’ve documented countless stories from every corner and crevasse of the state. We’ve helped showcase the grandeur of this wild place for National Geographic, Discovery, Disney, Animal Planet, and more. Now, we want to share our knowledge and real-life experiences with you!
My Experience With Alaskan King Beds
While I may not be an expert on beds, I have spent a fair amount of time in them and a lot of time in Alaska; I’ve even spent a lot of my time in Alaska in beds. While that probably doesn’t make me an expert on Alaskan king beds, it does make me ask, “Why are Alaska King Beds even a thing,” when I’ve never seen a bed that size in Alaska. Being a generally curious person. All this does make me want to learn more. I would like to know why these beds are called Alaskan king beds, and as a tiny bed sleeper, I would like to know my options if I upgrade to a giant Alaskan King Bed.
Alaskan King Beds
Table of Contents: Alaskan King Beds
The Origins of the Alaskan King Bed
The Alaskan King bed got its name for the most obvious of reasons. When marketing a bed more substantial than the already popular California king bed, there was only one real option to illustrate the vastness of this bedding behemoth. Alaska is the largest state in America, so the largest mattress clearly has to be named after it.
While the Alaskan king bed may not have the most glamorous origin stories, the California king bed does. One of the myths surrounding its name is that the beds were initially designed for celebrities in Hollywood during the 20s and 30s. Another myth is that a rather tall California man, fed up with his traditional size mattress, had the longer and slightly thinner bed made specifically for him and his wife.
Since we’re diving down this giant bed rabbit hole, we might as well acknowledge the most oversized bed in history. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest bed in history is 86 ft 11 inches x 53 ft 11 inches. It was built in 2011 by Commissie Zomerfeesten St Gregorius Hertme in the Netherlands.
Alaskan King Bed Dimensions
An Alaskan King Bed is enormous. Its dimensions are ridiculous. It’s the largest mattress size that is commercially available. The mattress on an Alaskan king bed measures 108 inches x 108 inches or 9 x 9 feet! Thats huge! For perspective, that is the length of 18 US dollar bills, 1 sizeable male ostrich, a billiards table, or a small U-Haul box truck. The Alaskan king mattress has a surface area of 11664 sq. inches.
Needless to say, the Alaskan king bed is a giant bed, big enough for a whole family and maybe even a pet or two. While the Alaskan king bed maybe be unique in its size, the naming convention is not, there are other giant beds with US States as their namesake. The Wyoming king bed measures 84 inches x 84 inches, and the slightly smaller Texas king bed is 80 inches x 80 inches.
Alaska likes to boast itself as the largest in many things, but there is still one larger when it comes to beds. The Family Bed is the largest at 144 inches x 84 inches. That’s so big it won’t even fit in most people’s rooms.
If you’re curious about Alaska’s size, read How Big is Alaska: Facts, Stats, Maps, and Epic Photos!
Alaskan King Bed vs. California King Bed
A traditional king-size mattress is 76 inches by 80 inches. So, an Alaskan king (108 inches by 108 inches) is considerably larger than a standard king bed. A slight variation on the standard king bed is the California king, which is longer and not as wide, measuring 72 inches x 84 inches (while this may be longer, it actually has less surface area than a traditional king).
The most popular bed size is the standard queen, with a mattress size of 60 inches x 80 inches. So, considering the massive size difference between the standard queen and the Alaskan king mattress, it is substantial. This gigantic size difference and small consumer market for the Alaskan king bed is why the price tag is as hefty as the 49th state compared to its lower 48 siblings. An Alaskan King Bed can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000!
| Size | Dimensions | |
| Inches | Centimeters | |
| Twin or Single | 38.5 x 74.5 | 98 × 189 |
| Twin XL | 38.5 × 79.5 | 98 × 202 |
| Full of Double | 53.5 × 74.5 | 136 × 189 |
| Queen | 60 × 79.5 | 152 × 202 |
| King | 76 × 79.5 | 193 × 202 |
| California King | 72 x 83.5 | 183 x 212 |
| Full XL or Double XL | 53.5 × 79.5 | 136 × 202 |
| California Queen | 60 × 83.5 | 152 × 212 |
| Texas King | 98 × 80 | 249 × 230 |
| Wyoming King | 84 × 84 | 213 × 213 |
| Alberta King or Alaskan Queen | 96 × 96 | 244 × 244 |
| Alaskan King | 108 × 108 | 274 × 274 |
Where to buy an Alaskan King Bed
The last mattress I bought recently was purchased online and delivered to my house the next day. Regarding the Alaskan king bed, I recommend you go in person and check it out. This is a considerable investment, and you may have some second thoughts after seeing one in person. One of the great ironies of this bed may be that if you purchased one while living in Alaska, chances are, you couldn’t get it delivered to most locations. It’s just too damn big for America’s biggest state.
- Von Viva – This Canadian company offers a selection of Alaskan King Beds.
- Big Mattress Company – This online retailer offers all the big beds, including an Alaskan King mattress for $4049.10
- Create a Mattress – These guys sell an Alaskan king bed, mattresses, and bedding. The mattress comes in three parts, making it easier to ship and move into your space. Their Alaskan king bed for $2999 (bed frame) and a mattress for $4,699.00
What You Could Use Money on Instead of a King Bed
If you don’t buy an Alaskan king mattress, you can use that money for a trip to Alaska instead. For the few thousand dollars you would have spent on a bed, you could have these epic adventures in Alaska instead:
- Go Fly Fishing in Alaska – Book a fly fishing trip. Alaska offers world-class flyfishing in several different locations around the state. Many fishing lodges are all-inclusive, making the trip easy to organize.
- Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Tour – You could fly to Juneau and go on a whale-watching tour with Alaska Tales. The 4.5-hour tour costs $219, which leaves you with a lot of cash for other things to do with your remaining mattress money.
- Surfing in Alaska – It may surprise you, but you can go surfing in Alaska. There are plenty of surf options, from heli-surfing to a multi-day boat charter.
- 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier Bay – Book an exterior room on the Seabourn Odyssey, departing Vancouver, B.C., traveling for seven days, and arriving in Juneau, Alaska. This $3,314 cruise is way better than buying a boring mattress, and it will take you through one of my favorite parts of Alaska.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you know more than you ever wanted to learn about Alaskan king mattress. Whether in the market for one or just curious about Alaska, you should now be equipped with some random facts about this unusual mattress. I hope your conclusion after reading this is that life is too short to spend your hard-earned cash on a giant bed. I hope our alternative recommendations for your money seem more favorable than a 108-inch x 108-inch springloaded glorified pillow for your non-waking hours. Alaska is grand and glorious and waiting for you to explore, so get out of bed, stop researching Alaskan king beds online, and start planning your real dream trip. A trip to Alaska! You don’t need an Alaskan king mattress; you need to go catch your own Alaskan King Salmon.
Alaskan King Bed FAQ’s
A mattress the size of the state! An Alaskan King Bed is an oversized mattress measuring in at 9 feet by 9 feet or 108 inches by 108 inches.
Alaskan king bed measures 108 inches x 108 inches or 9 x 9 feet, while a standard queen mattress is 60 × 79.5 inches.
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