In This Article:
Quick Answers
Who really benefits? People with acid reflux, snoring, sleep apnea, or back issues. Raising your head 6-8 inches makes a real difference for reflux. We hear this from customers all the time.
What should I look for? Quiet motors (you'd be surprised how loud some are), wireless remote, and battery backup so you can lower it during power outages. Those are the must-haves.
Will my mattress work on one? Memory foam and latex flex well. Most hybrids work if they're designed for adjustable bases. Traditional innerspring usually doesn't flex right - the edges are too rigid.
King Size Adjustable Beds: What You Need to Know
A king adjustable bed sounds straightforward: a king mattress on an adjustable base. But there are actually several configurations, each with different benefits. Understanding the options before you shop saves confusion and ensures you get what actually works for your situation.
The Two Main Options
Standard King Adjustable
One king mattress on one adjustable base. When you raise the head, both sides raise together. Simple, less expensive, works if you and your partner want the same positions.
The limitation: if one person wants to read with their head elevated while the other wants to sleep flat, you can't accommodate both.
Split King Adjustable
Two twin XL mattresses on separate adjustable bases, within a king frame. Each side operates independently. One person can elevate their head, legs, or both while the other stays flat.
The benefit: true independence. Different positions, different angles, different needs, all in the same bed.
Which Configuration Is Right?
Ask these questions:
- Do you have similar sleep preferences? If yes, standard king works. If no, split king is worth the extra cost.
- Does one of you snore? Head elevation helps snoring. If only one snores, split king lets them elevate while the other sleeps normally.
- Does one of you read or watch TV in bed? Split king lets one person stay propped up without affecting the other.
- Do you have different medical needs? Acid reflux, circulation issues, back pain. If only one person has these, split king makes sense.
The Cost Difference
Split king setups cost more. You're buying two mattresses and two adjustable bases instead of one of each. Expect to pay 50-80% more for a split configuration.
But consider what you're getting: two independent sleep surfaces that can be customized to each person. For couples with genuinely different needs, it's often the last bed setup you have to figure out.
Mattress Requirements
Not every mattress works on an adjustable base. The mattress needs to flex as the base moves. What works:
- Hybrid mattresses with flexible coil systems
- Memory foam mattresses that bend without damage
- Latex mattresses that are naturally flexible
What doesn't work: traditional innerspring with rigid coil connections. These can be damaged by repeated bending and don't flex smoothly.
If you're putting a split king on adjustable bases, you can choose different mattresses for each side. One person gets firm, the other gets soft. This is one of the main advantages of the split configuration.
Base Features to Consider
Head and Foot Adjustment
All adjustable bases raise the head. Quality bases also raise the foot independently. For leg elevation, circulation, and zero-gravity positioning, you want both.
Preset Positions
Being able to save your favorite positions and access them with one button is genuinely useful. Zero gravity, flat, reading, TV watching. Program them once, use them forever.
Remote Quality
Wireless remotes are standard now. Look for ones with backlit buttons (useful at night) and intuitive layout. Some bases offer smartphone app control, which is convenient but not essential.
Motor Noise
Cheap bases sound like industrial equipment when adjusting. Quality bases are nearly silent. If your partner sleeps while you adjust your position, a quiet motor matters.
Under-Bed Clearance
Some bases have storage space underneath. Some have built-in lights that illuminate when you get up at night. These features add cost but can be genuinely useful.
Getting It Home
King adjustable bases are heavy. Split configurations come as two units, which actually makes delivery easier, but it's still substantial furniture. Professional delivery and setup is recommended.
For Brantford homes, especially older houses with narrow stairs, split king has an advantage: two twin XL units navigate tight spaces better than one king unit.
Bedding Considerations
Standard king sheets work on split kings. A regular king fitted sheet goes over both mattresses. Flat sheets, comforters, and duvets work normally.
The one thing to think about: when one side is elevated and the other is flat, the sheet pulls differently. Most couples don't find this problematic in practice.
Try Before Committing
Come to our Brantford store at 441½ West Street. We have both standard king and split king adjustable setups you can try. Lie down. Adjust the positions. If you're a couple, try it together. See which configuration actually fits how you sleep.
Mattress Miracle: king adjustable bed experts in Brantford since 1987.