The newly redesigned DreamCloud stands out as the best overall California king mattress thanks to its well-balanced combination of comfort, support, and value. Its versatile construction makes it a great fit for a wide range of sleepers. The best part? It’s often available for under $1,000 after discounts, offering exceptional value for a bed this big. During testing, we gave the DreamCloud mattress a 4 out of 5 or higher in edge support, cooling, and back pressure relief.

The DreamCloud’s thoughtful construction blends pressure-relieving foams with a responsive coil system, all wrapped under a cool-to-the-touch quilted top cover. This mix of materials helped it earn it a 4 out of 5 for edge support in our testing, with testers noting its soft-but-supportive feel and sturdy build. 

The foam comfort layers contour to the body without creating excessive sinkage, while the individually wrapped coils underneath offer durability and consistent support across the entire surface of the mattress.

“While lying along the side of the DreamCloud, I felt steady and secure,” said mattress tester Riley Otis. “There wasn’t too much sinkage. However, I felt the most secure on my back and stomach along the perimeter.”

The DreamCloud’s cooling performance was solid, too. It scored a 4.5 out of 5 on our thermal gun test. The DreamCloud’s gel-infused memory foam and a breathable coil system do a good job of promoting airflow and dissipating body heat; both are key features for anyone concerned about overheating on a larger mattress. 

Riley measured the DreamCloud’s surface temperature before and after lying on it for five minutes. After five minutes of uninterrupted rest, she found that it only went up by 4.3 degrees, which is outstanding.

“The cover felt cool-to-the-touch, and I couldn’t feel it heating up as I lay on the mattress,” Riley said. “I believe the gel-infused memory foam really helps keep the overall temperature neutral.”

While the DreamCloud is a solid choice for various sleep styles, our testers especially loved how it felt in the back-sleeping position, awarding it a perfect 5-star rating in the back pressure relief category. Riley and her colleagues noted that it kept their spines in a healthy position and provided just enough cushioning to relieve pressure along their lower backs.

The one area where the DreamCloud didn’t earn top marks was side pressure relief. Riley and her fellow testers noticed some pressure buildup in their hips and shoulders, which led them to give the mattress a 3.5 out of 5 in this category. Sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds and folks with sensitive joints might prefer a softer mattress that provides deeper contouring around those high-pressure areas.

Still, for its price, quality, and performance across the board, the DreamCloud Hybrid remains one of the most well-rounded California king mattresses on the market today.

Check out our full DreamCloud mattress review to learn more, or check out the Nectar Classic for a better option for side sleepers.

Hybrid mattresses are known for their consistent support and exceptional pressure relief. The Helix Midnight excels on both fronts, making it a fantastic option for back sleepers and couples looking to invest in a California king mattress. During testing, the Midnight scored a 4 out of 5 or higher in edge support, motion isolation, and back-sleeping pressure relief.

Mattress tester Dan Caffrey was impressed by the Helix Midnight’s consistent support and awarded it a 4 out of 5 for edge support. Despite some minor sinkage, Dan was able to sit and lie along the perimeter of the mattress without feeling unsteady or falling off.

“When I first lay on the Midnight, I could feel the layers collapsing a little bit,” Dan said. “But once the sinkage stopped, the mattress felt stable. I never felt like I was going to roll off the bed.”

The Helix Midnight’s even support also lends itself to solid pressure relief for back sleeping. This isn’t surprising, as hybrid models are typically some of the best mattresses for back sleepers because they are firm enough to elevate the hips and align the spine. Dan gave it a 4 out of 5 in the back-sleeping pressure relief category.

“Back sleeping was the most comfortable position for me on this mattress,” Dan said. “I got some cushioning at my shoulders and hips while getting the support I needed around my lumbar region.”

Dan was also surprised by the Helix Midnight’s impressive motion isolation, awarding it another 4 out of 5 in this category. Hybrid mattresses typically suffer in this category because of their bouncy innerspring coils. However, the Midnight appears to be the exception, as Dan noted he could barely feel his testing partner’s movements from his half of the Helix.

“I could feel movement coming from the other side of the bed, but it was very minimal,” Dan said. “I don’t think it would wake up someone who is a light sleeper.”

The only areas the Helix Midnight suffered were in cooling and responsiveness, where it earned scores of 3.5 and 3 out of 5, respectively. These scores are about average, meaning they shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for most sleepers; however, we wouldn’t recommend this mattress to extra hot sleepers or combination sleepers who frequently change positions to get comfortable at night.

Have a good feeling about the Helix Midnight? Head over to our full Helix Midnight mattress review to see if it’s right for you. If you’re looking for something with elevated cooling and responsiveness, I recommend the WinkBed Plus instead.

Back pain is incredibly common; according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, around 80 percent of Americans will experience it at some point in their lives. Folks with persistent back pain need a mattress that offers firm lumbar support and gentle pressure relief.

If you feel like yours doesn’t provide either, you might want to consider switching to the WinkBed. The WinkBed is an American-made mattress with a balanced feel that is ideal for most back sleepers. During testing, my colleagues awarded the WinkBed scores of 4 out of 5 or higher in key categories, like back pressure relief and edge support.

Mattress tester Riley Otis found the WinkBed to be an excellent match for back sleepers with aches and pains. She awarded the Luxury Firm model a 4.33-star rating for back pressure relief, noting its consistent support and cushioning along the lower lumbar spine.

“The WinkBed is an excellent choice for back sleepers,” Riley said. “In this position, I was able to achieve optimal spinal alignment. The WinkBed kept my hips and shoulders even and cushioned my lumbar region. I couldn’t feel pressure building anywhere.”

Riley also invited Sleepopolis’s chief medical product reviewer and licensed physical therapist, Dr. Joe Tedesco, to test the WinkBed and give his professional opinion. He agreed that the WinkBed was a good fit for back sleepers.

“I feel no pressure in my pelvis or my sacrum while lying on my back,” Dr. Tedesco said. “I feel very supported across the board. My spine feels neutral, and my pelvis doesn’t feel tilted.”

The WinkBed also earned a 4.4 out of 5 for edge support. This is another plus for folks with back pain, especially those who tend to gravitate toward the perimeter of the mattress at night. These sleepers should experience the same level of lower lumbar support at the edges of the WinkBed as they do in the center.

Unfortunately, there were two areas where the WinkBed fell short. During testing, Riley gave the WinkBed a 3 and 3.5 for responsiveness and cooling, respectively. She found that its plush pillow top retained heat and was challenging to move around on. Based on her feedback, I don’t recommend this mattress to hot sleepers or folks who frequently shift around at night to get comfortable.

Want to learn more about the WinkBed? Check out our full WinkBed mattress review to see how it performed across the board. If you’re looking for a mattress that offers better cooling, check out the DLX Classic instead.

If your bed doesn’t feel big enough for you and your partner, it might be time to consider sizing up. California king mattresses have the power to rescue couples on the brink of sleep divorce. The best mattresses for couples offer ample space, superior cooling, and sturdy edge support. Brooklyn Bedding’s Signature Hybrid model is one such mattress that falls into this category. During testing, I gave the Signature Hybrid a 4 out of 5 or higher in the cooling and edge support categories.

In my experience, I have found that good cooling is nonnegotiable for most couples. While it’s nice to cozy up next to someone during the winter, it can be challenging to sleep by a human furnace in the warmer months. Fortunately, the Signature Hybrid’s innerspring construction helps keep the surface of the mattress cool and comfortable, which is why I gave it a 4.5 out of 5 in this category.

I used a thermal gun to measure the surface temperature of the mattress before and after lying on it for five minutes and found that the temperature only increased by six degrees. I couldn’t tell that it was warming up beneath me while lying on it, which tells me most folks won’t break a sweat trying to catch some Zzzs on this mattress.

Another thing I really enjoyed about the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is its robust edge support, which I gave a strong 4.25 out of 5. During testing, I noticed that I could sit and lie on the perimeter of the mattress without ever feeling like I was going to fall off of the bed. You and your partner can roll over to the far reaches of the mattress after an argument without worrying about waking up on the floor.

However, strong edge support isn’t just good for resolving disputes. It’s also great for back sleepers looking for some much-needed pressure relief. Consistent support that reaches all the way to the edge of the mattress helps distribute body weight more evenly, which reduces strain on the lower back and hips. I invited our chief medical product tester and licensed physical therapist, Dr. Joe Tedesco, to try out the Signature Hybrid and give me his thoughts on it. As a back sleeper himself, he was very impressed with what it had to offer.

“Across the board, I feel great,” Dr. Tedesco said. “The bed provides a very supportive feeling. I don’t feel any significant pressure anywhere, and I feel like my hips are very supported.”

While I believe that the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is an excellent pick for couples, it’s not perfect. This mattress performed about average in motion isolation and responsiveness. Based on that, I would not recommend this mattress to couples who are easily stirred by their partner’s movements or combination sleepers who frequently toss and turn to get comfortable.

Want to learn more about the Signature Hybrid before you and your partner decide to hit the checkout button? Read my full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review to see how it performed on all my tests.

 If you’re looking for something with better motion isolation, I recommend checking out the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe instead.

Side sleepers have the challenge of finding a California king mattress that is supportive enough to align their spines and soft enough to cushion their hips, shoulders, and other potential pressure points. Fortunately for them, the Nolah Evolution is a mattress that offers some of the best support and pressure relief we have seen. After our hands-on tests, we gave the Nolah Evolution a 4 out of 5 or higher for pressure relief, edge support, and motion isolation.

Mattress tester Erin Chiles was immediately impressed with how comfortable the Nolah Evolution felt on her side. She loved that the Evolution offered enough support to keep her lifted and on top of the mattress while still providing some much-needed cushioning around her joints. Erin and her fellow mattress testers gave the Nolah mattress a 4.3 for side pressure relief.

“The top layer of this mattress provided some gentle contouring around my shoulders and hips without letting me sink too far into its layers,” Erin said. “Overall, it hugged my body nicely, and I felt supported.”

Erin was even more impressed with the Nolah Evolution’s edge support, awarding it a near-perfect 4.6 out of 5. She appreciated how sturdy it felt across its entire surface, and she didn’t feel like she was sacrificing any support or pressure relief when moving toward the outer reaches of the mattress.

“I felt very supported on the edge of this bed in every position,” Erin said. 

“I couldn’t even tell that I was lying on the edge after a few minutes. It was very comfortable overall.”

Another feature that most sleepers are sure to love about the Nolah Evolution is its motion isolation. Erin gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category for its ability to dampen motion and isolate it to one side of the bed. When another mattress tester joined her to shift around on the other side of the bed, Erin could barely detect their movements.

The Nolah Evolution comes close to perfection, but if I had to nitpick anything about it, I would say that its nearly $2,400 price tag is a bit steep. However, if this California king mattress falls within your budget, I can almost promise that you will not be disappointed.

Need to know more about the Nolah before making your decision? Check out our full Nolah Evolution mattress review to get all the juicy details about it. If you’re looking for a similar feel at a lower price, check out the Nectar Classic Hybrid instead.

If you often wake up with aches and pains in your joints, it may be a sign that your mattress isn’t offering enough cushioning. A softer, more pressure-relieving surface can help ease discomfort in these sensitive areas. As Dr. Dasgupta explains, “A medium-soft to medium-firm mattress with memory foam or a plush top can help relieve pressure around your joints without making you sink too much. Hybrid models with supportive coil bases and cushioned top layers are also a solid option.”

The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid checks every one of those boxes and offers some exceptional temperature regulation as a bonus. Our testers awarded the Sapira Chill 4 stars or higher for back and side pressure relief and cooling.

Mattress tester Riley Otis loved the Sapira Chill for side sleeping and appreciated the extra cushioning its pillow top layer provided around her hips and shoulders. Riley and her fellow testers gave the Leesa a near-perfect 4.7 for side pressure relief because of how well it cradled potential pressure points.

“I love this bed for side sleeping,” Riley said. “The pillow top adds a lot of plushness and comfort. It felt like my joints were being hugged by a marshmallow, which I appreciated as someone with sensitive hips.”

We also invited one of our colleagues who typically sleeps on her back to weigh in on the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid. While testing the Leesa, Asha Birjah loved how it felt on her back and appreciated how well it supported her while relieving pressure around her lower lumbar area. She settled on a score of 4.3 out of 5 for back pressure relief.

“I love the way this feels on my back,” Asha said. “My hips are sinking into the pillow top just enough and filling in all the gaps it needs to fill. I think this mattress would be a good fit for people with back pain.”

Aside from pressure relief, the Sapira Chill Hybrid is also a hot sleeper’s dream come true. Our mattress testers gave it a 4.5 out of 5 in the cooling category because of how well it lived up to its name. Riley measured the temperature of the Leesa before and after lying on it for five minutes and found that it increased by only five degrees, indicating exceptional cooling.

“I was very impressed by the cooling abilities of the Sapira Chill,” Riley said. “The cover has a cool-to-the-touch feel that persisted the entire time I was lying on it. I would recommend this bed to hot sleepers in a heartbeat.”

It’s also a strong contender for folks with joint pain, thanks to the mattress’s pressure-relieving comfort. However, there are a couple of drawbacks to be aware of. Our testers found its edge support and responsiveness to be about average. While this likely won’t be a major issue for most sleepers, we wouldn’t recommend it for individuals with mobility concerns who rely on the mattress edge to sit or stand. Similarly, combination sleepers who shift positions frequently might find the plush pillow top a bit restrictive.

To learn more about the Sapira Chill Hybrid, head over to our full Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid mattress review. If you’re looking for a similar mattress that’s more responsive, I recommend checking out the Silk & Snow Hybrid instead.

For many memory foam lovers, the only thing better than an all-foam mattress is a bigger all-foam mattress. For these folks, it doesn’t get much better than the Bear Original mattress. Not only is the Bear one of our testers’ favorite memory foam options, but it’s also highly affordable at $1,141 for a California king. Our mattress testers also gave the Bear a 4 or higher in categories that memory foam models do not typically excel in, including edge support and cooling.

Consistent support is especially important to look for in a mattress, particularly when buying one in a bigger size. Ideally, the edge of your mattress should feel just as supportive as the center. Memory foam mattresses typically suffer in the edge support category when compared to their hybrid and counterparts because they lack innerspring coils. Fortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case with the Bear.

Mattress tester Riley Otis found that the Bear offered a surprising amount of support as she lay along the perimeter of the mattress. She rated it a strong 4.2 in the edge support category.

“I thought the edge support was solid when lying down,” Riley said. “I didn’t feel unstable or like I was about to fall off. However, I felt least supported when lying on my side. It still wasn’t enough to make me feel uneasy, but it’s something side sleepers should keep in mind.”

Our colleague Kate Meier, who has slept on a queen-sized Bear Original mattress for the past three years, also praised its outstanding edge support. “I’ve never had any issues sliding off the edge or feeling like I was going to fall off the bed,” she shared.

The Bear also earned a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 for cooling, which is relatively rare for an all-foam model. Memory foam naturally traps more heat because it is denser and doesn’t offer much room for ventilation in the same way coils do.

“I thought this mattress had a nice cool-to-the-touch feel when I first lay down on it,” Riley said. “As I rested on it, I could feel the bed adjusting to my body heat, but I never felt like it was uncomfortably hot. The Bear Original felt cool the entire time I was on it, which is impressive for an all-foam bed.”

Unfortunately, the Bear’s exceptional edge support and cooling come at the expense of somewhat average pressure relief. While back sleepers should favor the firm support of the Bear Original, side sleepers will likely find that they don’t get enough relief around their joints from this mattress.

To learn more about this impressive memory foam bed, check out our full Bear Original mattress review. If you think you could benefit from a memory foam mattress with better pressure relief and contouring, take a look at the Leesa Original instead.

The Saatva Classic stands out as one of the best innerspring mattresses I’ve ever tested, and I highly recommend it to sleepers seeking strong support in a spacious California King. Its coil-on-coil construction features two layers of innerspring coils: one for durable support and the other for added comfort and contouring. During testing, I gave it a 4 out of 5 or higher for back pressure relief, edge support, and responsiveness.

The Saatva features a zoned memory foam layer that provides targeted reinforcement for pressure points, while its plush 3-inch Euro pillow top adds just the right amount of cushion. This mattress has a firm yet forgiving surface that is perfect for back sleepers wanting structure without sacrificing comfort. After it worked its magic on my back during testing, I had to give the Saatva a 4 out of 5 for back pressure relief.

Our chief medical product tester and licensed physical therapist, Dr. Joe Tedesco, is a dedicated back sleeper himself and enjoyed testing the Saatva Classic. 

“I feel pretty weightless on this mattress, orthopedically speaking,” Dr. Tedesco said. “My spine is in a neutral position, but I’m not getting a posterior tilt. This could be great for back sleepers with a lot of issues.”

Edge support was another standout feature, earning a near-perfect 4.8 out of 5. I felt fully supported while lying and sitting along the edge, which is especially helpful for people with mobility concerns. I have no hesitations in recommending this mattress to folks who need a sturdy surface to bear down on when getting up in the morning.

Speaking of mobility, the Saatva might be the most responsive mattress I have ever tested, which is great for combination sleepers who frequently switch between sleeping positions to get comfortable. I gave the Saatva a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category because of how easily I was able to move from my back to my stomach to my side. There was never any point where I felt stuck in the Saatva’s layers.

However, there is one area where the Saatva falls short: motion isolation. Its responsive dual coil system gives the bed a lot of bounce that can transfer movement across the bed. 

As my fellow mattress tester Livvi DiCicco, a long-time Saatva sleeper, put it: “When I do have friends or my partner over, I can feel everything they do on their side of the bed, down to the most minute twitch.”

If you’re seeking knowledge about the Saatva, head over to our full Saatva Classic mattress review to learn more about it. For a mattress with better motion isolation, check out the WinkBed GravityLux instead.

If you’re a stomach sleeper like me, you probably appreciate the comfort of a firmer mattress that lifts your hips enough to keep your back feeling comfortable and aligned. As its name suggests, the Plank Firm delivers a supportive and firm surface that’s ideal for stomach sleepers and folks who weigh over 230 pounds. It also has a firm and an extra-firm side, making it a versatile option for sleepers who want a more tailored experience. Our mattress testers were particularly impressed with the extra-firm side, giving it 4 stars or higher in edge support, cooling, and responsiveness.

A firmer mattress usually equates to a more supportive sleep surface, and that is definitely true for the Plank Firm. Mattress tester Sosha Lewis gave the extra-firm side of the Plank an edge support score a near-perfect 4.4 out of 5 for its consistent sturdiness across the entire surface. During testing, she was able to roll all the way to the edge of the bed without fear of falling off or feeling uneasy.

“I felt very supported on my side, back, and stomach,” Sosha said. “I usually feel less supported on my side while lying on the perimeter of the mattress, but that wasn’t the case here. I had no fear of rolling out of bed.”

Cooling was another area where the Plank Firm excelled. Sosha and her testing partner, Riley, assessed its cooling abilities by measuring its surface temperature with a thermal gun before and after lying on it for five minutes. After Riley rested on the Plank for five minutes, she found that the temperature increased by only five degrees.

“I didn’t notice the mattress heating up when lying on it,” Riley said. “While its material lacks that cool-to-the-touch feel, it is not stifling either. Overall, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5 for cooling.”

It should also come as no surprise that the Plank Firm is highly responsive. Our testers gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category because its tightly wound innerspring coils made the surface of the Plank Firm feel like a springboard. Riley and Sosha were able to roll around and switch between different positions easily during testing.

While the Plank Firm is excellent for stomach sleepers and combination sleepers, it’s not perfect. Side sleepers will need a softer mattress to cushion high-pressure areas, such as their hips and shoulders. Our testers also found that the firm side of the Plank didn’t perform as well in the cooling, edge support, and motion isolation categories compared to the extra-firm side.

Interested in learning more about the Plank? Read our full Plank Firm mattress review to see how it performed on all our tests. For something on the softer side, check out the Helix Sunset Luxe instead.

Brooklyn Bedding’s Titan Plus stands as one of the top mattresses for sleepers with bigger bodies. These sleepers need a California king mattress with robust support to prevent them from sinking through the layers and “bottoming out.” The Titan Plus combines dense memory foam with a sturdy coil system to help sleepers over 230 pounds maintain proper spinal alignment. During our tests, it scored 4.5 out of 5 or higher in key categories including edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness, making it an excellent pick for larger-bodied individuals seeking long-term comfort.

One standout feature of the Titan Plus is its excellent edge support, which ensures the entire surface of the California king mattress is usable and stable. This stability is a major asset for sleepers who may sink more deeply into softer models or feel unstable near the edges. Our testers gave it a 4.6 out of 5 for this category, noting that they felt secure even when lying or sitting near the perimeter.

“I felt very secure on my back, side, and stomach when lying close to the edge of the Titan,” said mattress tester Sosha Lewis. “It was easy to switch positions, and I wasn’t afraid of toppling out of bed when I was on my side.”

Dr. Joe Tedesco, our chief medical product tester, agreed and highlighted how well the Titan Plus performs for side sleepers over 230 pounds.

“I was more comfortable on my side on the Titan Plus than on my back,” Dr. Tedesco noted. “I didn’t feel any significant pressure buildup. I was looking for pressure buildup in my shoulder, but didn’t feel much.”

The Titan Plus also performed exceptionally well on our motion isolation and responsiveness tests, which rarely happens. Whether you’re moving around frequently or sharing the mattress with a restless partner, you should be able to benefit from minimal disturbance and easy repositioning. We awarded it a perfect 5 out of 5 in both of these categories.

“I sleep with a very restless partner, and the motion isolation on this bed makes me wish I owned it,” Sosha added. “I could easily flip onto this mattress without worrying about the motion carrying over to the other side.”

One thing to note: The Titan is on the firmer end of the spectrum. Side sleepers under 130 pounds or those with very sensitive joints might notice pressure buildup around the shoulders and hips. These sleepers will likely fare better on a softer mattress that allows for more sinkage than the Titan Plus.

Curious to learn more? Read our full Titan Plus mattress review for a detailed breakdown of its construction, feel, and performance. If you’re looking for a similar build with a slightly plusher feel, consider checking out the Titan Plus Elite instead.