# Those who share a king-sized bed: how and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314 "2026-04-16T15:25:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/81 "2026-04-21T18:32:04Z")
We had one for a long time and didn’t love it. Yes, being able to adjust each of our sides was nice. But, my husband could never quite get his right. And the fabric casing that holds the whole thing together tore so the thing was never quite rectangular. We replaced it with a bed in a box from Costco. That one is kind of warm in the summer (it’s memory foam) but heck, that’s why we have a ceiling fan. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/82 "2026-04-21T19:08:32Z")
Just so I’m clear, you had a sleep number or a split king? I’m asking about both for the moment. (guessing SN by context, but want to be sure) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/83 "2026-04-22T17:41:17Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Just so I’m clear, you had a sleep number or a split king? I’m asking about both for the momen Sorry - it was a sleep number bed. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/84 "2026-04-22T18:53:35Z")
Thanks - again, was _pretty_ sure from context, but… One _advantage_ we have for trying out a SN is that my in-laws just retired their old one (6-7 years) to their spare bedroom having gotten a new one, so we could trade out our queen for their spare and then consider buying new if it works out. But that’s a lot of moving stuff around though the price is right! We are cuddlers, so if we try a split king, it’ll be with some tacky padding at the bottom and a gap filler plus maybe a zippered encasement. We aren’t looking at adjustable height beds at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![HilltopMichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a4c791/32.png) [@HilltopMichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HilltopMichael)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/85 "2026-04-22T20:11:38Z")
Well, first it depends how large you are. Some people are wider, I’m a vertical over achiever. I have a California King, and even that really isn’t long enough. Yes, it is four inches longer than I’m tall, but it’s not like I want my head right up against the headboard. If you sleep under tucked in sheets then you can’t have your feet right to the edge. Now it’s just me, and I sleep diagonally on that bed. But I did share it with my late wife, who would toss and turn and leave me a tiny sliver of bed, when she didn’t push me out in her sleep. Kids would jump in the bed in the morning. Four legged friends too. Some were considerate and slept to the side or by our feet. Others would insist on whatever spot I was occupying. I learned about other larger sizes a few years ago: Texas King, Wyoming King, Alaskan King, Family Size. Next mattress will be larger and longer than a CA King. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/86 "2026-04-22T20:52:25Z")
Thanks for the input, I do well on the current Queen, so I don’t think it’s going to be much of an issue. I’m pretty average 5’10, and my wife is 5’3, so I don’t think the vertical challenge will be a big deal. (aside, I can’t stand tightly tucked in sheets, I have to be able to sneak one foot out as a heat snorkel at a minimum!) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/87 "2026-04-22T22:52:43Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > One _advantage_ we have for trying out a SN is that my in-laws just retired their old one (6-7 years) to their spare bedroom having gotten a new one, so we could trade out our queen for their spare and then consider buying new if it works out. But that’s a lot of moving stuff around though the price is right! Is it practical to visit the in-laws for a week and try sleeping in the old bed there? If it’s not going to work for you that might be obvious real quickly. And if it’s super-awesome-bedtastic, that might be obvious too. Then for the middle meh-to-good case you get to debate whether to just go buy a new SN, fuss with moving theirs for a more extended trial, or just move on. I’m terminally lazy and _always_ look for low- or no-effort ways to trim the outliers out of my problem space. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/88 "2026-04-22T22:58:18Z")
You’re asking me to spend _more_ time with my in-laws? Eh, seriously, they’re not terrible, but I’m not voluntarily spending extended time in a Fox News household. But yeah, maybe I should compromise and next time I’m over for tech support, etc., spend some time lying on it for a bit. Honestly, since I’m the middle-of-the-road one, it’s more important for my _wife_ to see if it gets firm enough. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/89 "2026-04-22T23:02:05Z")
Oh, for sure staying with difficult in-laws is no picnic. But a single sleepover might save you a lot of schlepping. And maybe actually be less awake-time in the in-law’s presence if you arrange it right. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/90 "2026-04-22T23:06:19Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > You’re asking me to spend _more_ time with my in-laws? That was my first thought ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/91 "2026-04-22T23:56:05Z")
I’ll kindly sacrifice my wife to that. I’ll safely sleep at home to “keep the cats happy”. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/92 "2026-04-23T00:01:14Z")
Even better. She’s the one who needs the data; let her be the one to go gather it. Assuming normal health, mobility, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/93 "2026-04-23T00:19:15Z")
Yeah, we are in our early 50s, so (luckily and ✊🪵 ) no major issues. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314/94 "2026-05-03T19:25:30Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > (aside, I can’t stand tightly tucked in sheets, I have to be able to sneak one foot out as a heat snorkel at a minimum!) Oooohhhhh. Hotels aggrate me with the fully tucked in sheet. I’m 6’3" and have size 13 feet. Not really a big deal but I have to untuck the top sheet to even get in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-share-a-king-sized-bed-how-and-why/1029314.md?page=4)