You've decided to focus more on your sleep health by investing in a split mattress sleep system; the next step is completing the bed with the "icing on the cake," so to speak— referring to sheets, pillows, and other bedding accoutrements.
Do you already have one, or are you planning to buy a split King or split California King sleep system? Especially if the sleep system features an upgrade to a multi-functioning adjustable bed, you will need at least one, but preferably two—for laundry purposes—sets of split sheets, or a variation to complete it, such as two Twin XL sets. This step is where confusion sometimes begins, as it involves figuring out which sheets will be a proper fit for these split mattresses.
Also, often raising questions like "Do TwinXL sheets fit a split California King bed?" The answer lies mostly in finding out the overall length of the sheets themselves.
Next, sleep experts will reply to these easy-to-answer questions, giving you a much clearer picture of how you envision your split-king or split California King sleep system, complete with luxury bedding, like Thread™ Bamboo sheets.
What are Split Beds Exactly?
A split King-size bed incorporates two separate mattresses to line up side-by-side, effectively creating one visible bed. Most who invest in split mattresses end up utilizing the benefits of a split adjustable bed base for each side, allowing each sleeper to adjust their side of the bed into a customized, more comfortable position to satisfy them. Especially with this functional adjustable bed upgrade, your mattresses will be moving and bending, so there lies a pronounced need for split-size sheets to go along with your dual mattresses.
Split mattresses are also favorable for co-sleeping beds and couples who desire fewer sleep disruptions, such as when the other person moves or gets in or out of bed. With a split bed sleep system, like a split Queen, split King, or split California King, you're basically setting up two entirely separate beds side-by-side. Then, by aligning them up and draping them with bedding, you create the look and feel of just one bed.
Split Sheet Sets: What Do They Typically Include?
Purchasing split sheets as a total set will typically include two fitted sheets, one flat sheet, and two pillowcases. The most modern size yet—the split-head—sheet sets will unveil one fitted sheet, complete with a double fitted pocket near the head of the bed, along with one flat sheet, and two pillowcases.
For standard split King mattresses, there are a couple of different ways that you can go about piecing together the entire set, or purchase it all together in one effortless package. Still, with any Cal King, mainly split Cal King, you will find that there are fewer options to consider.
Some people may find it easier to choose between products if there are fewer options, such as the relatively narrow number of choices you will likely find for a split Cal King. Now, that statement doesn't necessarily ring true for the standard split King-size; you'll find many options available to you, including multiple versions of Thread sheets by Bed Tech.
For a standard split King-size only, depending on your preferences for bedding, you have the option to use either:
- One standard Split King sheet set furnishes two fitted sheets— each measuring 38 inches wide by 80 inches long—and one solid flat sheet—measuring about 110-115 inches wide and 102-105 inches long, along with two pillowcases.
- Two TwinXL sheet sets will provide completely separate sheets for each sleeper, including: two fitted sheets (with the same measurements as above), along with two smaller-sized flat sheets and two pillowcases.
Unlike the standard King, as you purchase or go about finding sheets for your sleep system bundle, keep in mind, with any California King-size mattress—or variation of it, like split-head—with most brands, you will see there are more limited options versus most other sizes.
But, planning on getting your hands on any size Thread™ sheets, we will quickly retract that, as you can also forget the statement above if you browse and buy sheets from Bed Tech.
Split Cal King, California King, as well as the split-head variety are readily available from the BedTech online sheet shop. Bed Tech also produces innovative hybrid mattresses, pillows, mattress protectors, and adjustable beds—available in split and split-head sizes.
Bed Tech takes pride in their product quality as well as size-availability for sheets and adjustable beds—Bed Tech: named Furniture Today's Best Adjustable Bed Supplier Finalist 2024.
Making Sense of Sizes: The Difference Between Split King and Split Cal King
For these sizes, the difference is in their dimensions. While the standard King is wider, the California King-size is longer. So, considering which one is more ideal, that's a matter of determining what better means to you—bigger and better as in wide, or big as in tall? In fact, the sleeping surface area between the two sizes is within 32 square inches of each other, so the extra length or width is entirely up to you.
Here is an easy reference to compare the dimensions of standard split King and split California King beds:
Split Cal King
- Dimensions: Each split California King mattress measures 36 inches wide by 84 inches long.
- Total dimensions when set up side-by-side: 72 inches wide by 84 inches long.
- Sleeping Surface Area: 6,048 square inches.
Standard Split King
- Dimensions: Each split King mattress—also referred to as a TwinXL—measures 38 inches wide by 80 inches long.
- Total dimensions when set up side-by-side: 76 inches wide by 84 inches long.
- Sleeping Surface Area: 6,080 square inches.
Inherently, the Split Cal King bed is four inches longer than a standard King; this is also true for the non-split version. Additionally, a standard one-piece King and the split King are shorter, but are also wider than the Cali King.
Pro Tip: Always measure the height of your mattress, along with being mindful of the sheet pocket depth, found on the sheet packaging label, before you purchase and take a set of sheets home with you. The general rule of thumb is: the sheet pocket depth should be about 3-5 inches deeper than the actual measured height of the mattress you plan to use.
Measure Twice, Buy Once: Why TwinXL Sheets Won't Fit a Split Cal King
As you scanned the information above, the reason why these sheet sets really aren't interchangeable is due to their difference in length. Twin XL sheets, in most cases, won't fit a split Cal King mattress because of it.
The variance in the length between a California King and a standard King is approximately 4 inches—most sheets don't offer that much grace in terms of stretch and flexibility. And if you attempt to try, likely you'll be faced with the constant annoyance of the sheets constantly popping off the corners of the mattress, especially if you're moving the mattress up or down with an adjustable bed.
As far as the difference in width—only two inches—so you will likely have an easier time fitting TwinXL sheets across the width of a split California King mattress. Still, the primary concern lies in the lack of congruency between the two lengths—80 and 84 inches. That said, TwinXL sheets won't fit a split California King mattress, and if they do, it won't be for that long or very easily.
Ideal Split Bed Sheet Choices
Since we know now that TwinXL sheets won't fit on a split Cal King mattress, you can look forward to exploring ideal split bed sheet options for the exact size bed you need. Now, after you've scanned this article, there's no need to guess which sheets fit what size, in terms of split beds.
If you have a split California King, you strictly need a set of split California King sheets. And if you have a standard split King, you have the option of using standard split King sheets, packaged as one. Or, another choice is to use two separate sets of TwinXL sheets to fit the bed.
Next, browse the Thread™ sheet shop from a company named BedTech, where you will discover a brand that specializes in providing modern and sophisticated sheet materials and plentiful size options, including:
- TwinXL Sheets
- Split King Sheets
- Split-head King Sheets
- Split Cal King Sheets
- Split-head Cal King Sheets
- Split-head Queen Sheets
All Thread™ sheets made by BedTech are available in hypoallergenic materials such as Bamboo, Microplush+Bamboo, and wrinkle-resistant Microfiber with four neutral color options, elastic corner bands, and a universal fit.
You can look forward to sleeping on your BedTech Thread™sheets, while they remain snuggly fitted on the bed. Additionally, Thread™ sheets are complete with a universal fit for mattress heights measuring from 6 to 18 inches, and elastic corner bands that help keep your sheets securely fastened in place, even with the movements of an adjustable bed base in the Zero-Graity position.