What Size Comforter You Need For A Cal King Bed?

Cal King Beds Measure 72 x 84 Inches

We get this question at DOWNLITE once in awhile and wanted to share with everyone how to buy the right size cal king comforter.

So if you are lucky enough to have a california king bed (also known as a ‘cal king’)  you know that the bed is less wide then a traditional king size mattress. Here are the actual bed measurements in inches (The height of the mattress has nothing to do with being one or the other):

• King Bed – 78 x 80 Inches
• Cal king Bed – 72 x 84 Inches

The Cal King bed is less wide but longer at the foot (cal kings are 84 inches long versus 80 inches on a normal king). This special size mattress has a few quirks in terms of finding a comforter to properly fit the bed. At a typical department store you will find oversize king comforters that measure 106 x 96 to 108 x 98. This gives a typical king bed 28 – 30 inches of extra material to drape on the side (it never does because by the time we get in bed and increase the height of the bed – your comforter now barely covers 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 ‘drop’ on the side of the bed (again, you won’t once you get in bed).

Using an over sized comforter on a cal king bed is good because you get the benefit of extra side coverage (about 3-4 inches extra on side).  As for the foot length of 84 inches – this gives you now appx 12-14 inches of drop, assuming the comforter is pulled to the top of the bed and not slightly folded over at the top area.

If you have a platform bed you should be careful to not get a comforter that could drape too much on the sides (this will make the bed look sloppy unless in fact you do want complete side coverage)

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

Please note many consumers often confuse needing an oversized comforter for a cal king bed – which is partially true for the foot area – but based on the examples above – not so important for the width.

If you do end up finding a promotional comforter – like a 102 x 86 (common for cheaper promo comforters in the past) – your will be too short on the foot length (even if you do have a sleigh bed).

Long story short – stick with a 108 x 98 comforter for a cal king bed.

Winter Bedding Care Tips

With Winter’s bitter cold upon us, keeping us extra chilly, here are several of our favorite ‘Winter bedding care’ tips:

Start Using Your Heavy ‘Winter’ Comforter and Lower Your Heating Bill
For some of us with a heavy winter comforter on hand this is as easy as removing the comforter from storage. If you don’t have a heavy winter comforter – now is a great time to consider one, and not only for the obvious snuggly comfort. By using a heavy down or down alternative comforter you can dramatically reduce the amount of energy used at night for heating. Some studies have shown a 10-15% energy bill reduction turning your thermostat down several degrees.

Cover Your Comforter With A Duvet
If you don’t use a duvet cover on a regular basis (only about 25% of us do) – we suggest you consider adding one. Not only can they protect your current or future comforter but they can add some visual drama to your bed. Plus a duvet cover such as our luxurious silky touch TENCEL Lyocell adds two more layers of fabric and hence warmth to your sleep enjoyment.

Flip And Fluff Your Pillows
Many suggest folding your pillow in half and if it does not bounce back it’s no longer good. We don’t agree with that because soft pillows and the pillow size (such as King) may not fold back so easy. The truth is that a pillows usable life is subjective with some of us holding onto our pillows for twenty plus years. We do suggest reviewing your pillows for wear and tear, as well as adding a new pillow protector. Not only will they cosmetically look better, but they can have their usage extended a few more years.

We also suggest tossing machine dryable pillows in the dryer for 15 minutes on normal heat every month. This can fluff your pillows and kill off some germs. Just make sure to only dry pillows that do not contain silk or delicate fabrics. Down itself can hold up to an occasional half drying cycle and it’s a great way to freshen up your pillows.

Rotate Your Mattress
Winter time is a great time to rotate your mattress to help extend its life. Whether you rotate or flip or both – it’s also a great time to vacuum the bed top and sides to keep it allergen friendly. We also strongly suggest adding a mattress cover which limits new allergens from entering, as well as blocking any moisture (perfect for kids and pets). DOWNLITE makes a bed cover with a three sided zipper and is a great investment to keep your bed lasting longer.

Store Your Summer Comforter
As you rotate your comforters for usage – simply store your lighter weight comforter in an old pillowcase (size permitting) or invest in a large storage bag . You can wash the lighter bedding and then store it for spring time usage.

Hotel Bedding Search

What Did I Sleep On At A Hotel?

One of the most popular questions we get at DOWNLITE is what beddng is used at the Hotel I was staying at?

We offer a self serve hotel tool online to help folks look up bedding used at hotels, resorts, cruise lines and even some bed and breakfasts. Often times we are asked how come the label on the bedding is different then wheat we have online? That is because most hotels tend to purchase the same few dozen styles of pillows and comforters – but they require their own item codes. Most items on our website that are used in hotels have multiple cross reference item codes listed behind the scenes to help make sure the correct item is selected.  The labels that are printed on and added to the bedding can be heard to read over time after they ware washed so we have a special area showing how and where to read the label in detail.

Currently our hotel bedding tool showcases about 500 properties out of the thousands we furnish – so if you see anything missing please share with us and we can update it for everyone.

Here is our video showcasing how to get the same hotel bedding experience at home:

Hotel Bedding For Home

Why Does My Comforter Crinkle?

Many down comforters and down pillows use a type of woven fabric called Cambric (or Cambric Cotton).  Cambric is the reference to the weaving style – in this case this is what is called a plain weave.  Cambric cotton is typically the most down proof when compared to cotton sateen, or cotton damask and cotton jacquard.

One of the downsides to cambric cotton is that it gives a very noticeable crinkle sound.  This is natural in new down bedding and it will reduce in time the amount of crinkling.

Sometimes the fabric is finished in such a way that between the weave style and the down proof treatment – the sound can cause concern for sleepers.  Don’t worry – this is actually the best fabric for down bedding as it prevents the most down leakage.

Another style of this weave is a batiste weave- which is basically a cambric style but using 80′s yarns – resulting in an almost paper like thin fabric that is amazing.  The batiste fabric will have an even more noticeable crinkle sound compared to cambric fabric.

Just know that in time that sound will be reduced – not only by breaking in the fabric but also your natural skin oils coating the bedding and softening the sound.

Buying Tips For Dorm Bedding

July & August are my favorite time of year as the rush of newly minted college students and their parents dive right into shopping for their dorm rooms. As a company we pushed the edge this year with more Twin XL products including a new waterproof twin xl mattress pad and new twin xl duvets.

One of the most often questions I get is what size comforter do they really need to buy? Many stores will showcase a twin xl comforter and we ourselves sell a half dozen styles.  But do you really need to spend extra for the comforter or is it more marketing hype?  Well in this case it’s a bit of both.  True enough most dorms use a 39 x 80 bed which is 5 inches longer then a twin bed at home. Furthermore, bed size specific items like twin xl sheets, twin xl pads and twin xl feather beds need to be size specific – no skimping otherwise it won’t fit.  However the dorm comforters themself have more leeway in terms of the minimum size you need to buy. Unless your student  is really tall – like 6 foot plus – you honestly don’t need to spend extra on a twin xl comforter. Of course having one just gives more coverage on the bed and giving it a proper look.

We ourselves sell 3 sizes in twins which can also be used in the dorm room based on pattern, tc. color and filling choices:

• ‘Normal Twins’ – 68 x 86 to 68 x 88
• ‘Oversized Twins’ – 68 x 88 to 68 x 90
• ‘Twin Xl’ – 68 x 92 – the real deal!

For example on our special dorm section we feature a 3 piece dorm bed set that features a down filled comforter and two down pillows (not feather pillows – down pillows). This set measures 68 x 88 and for most students will be fine.

However if your student is taller and or neaurotic about tucked in dorm comforters – then the 68 x 90 to 68 x 92 sizes are ideal. Don’t forget that we recommend dorm comforters to use a duvet that way the students just have to wash the duvet and not the comforter (although all our twin/twin xl comforters are machine washable and dryable).

I’m always available for last minute questions from parents and students alike – drop me a line: shunter@downlite.com.

Warm Regards,
Stefan

Director of eCommerce @ DOWNLITE