A California king bed measures 72 inches wide by 84 inches long (about 183 cm by 213 cm). It’s longer but narrower than a standard king, which is 76 inches wide by 80 inches long (about 193 cm by 203 cm). The California king offers more length for taller sleepers, while the standard king provides more surface area width for couples and shared spaces. If you need compact width in a narrow room but still want extra length, Cal king is a good fit; if you want maximum sleeping width in a larger room, a standard king is usually preferable.