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Split King Mattress Guide: "Can I Fall In?" & Other Split King Bed FAQs

Split King Mattress Guide: "Can I Fall In?" & Other Split King Bed FAQs

When it comes to split king mattresses and split king adjustable bases, there are tons of consumer questions out there. In fact, our in-house mattress experts address many of these concerns each and every day! Since split king mattresses are something most mattress shoppers don’t have previous experience with, it’s absolutely normal for you to have questions.

So, what are some of these split king FAQs?

What is a split king bed? Is a split king just two twins? Can I fall into the crack between them? How do you keep split king mattresses together? Can you cuddle on a split king? What are split king sheets, what size sheets do you need for a split king, and how do you make a split king bed?

Whew. That’s a lot of questions. Where do we even start? If you stick with us until the end, we’ll give you rapid-fire answers to these questions and more advice straight from our mattress experts. Read on to learn everything you should know about split king beds and mattresses!

split king mattress faqs / split king bed faqs

Split King Bed FAQs | Questions & Answers

As you can see, these FAQs include everything from broad questions about the nature of split king mattresses, to concerns or potential problems with split king beds. However, it makes sense to start with the biggest question of them all. Exactly what is a split king mattress, and why are they a thing?

What Is a Split King Bed & What Are the Benefits?

In our own mattress stores, shoppers most often ask this question because they are unaware such a product even exists. Maybe you’ve decided that a king size is the right size mattress for you, and that the health benefits of an adjustable base are just too good to pass up. That begs the question, do you want a regular or split king mattress and base? But what is a split king bed and why should you want one?split king bed with one side sitting up and other with head slightly elevated

Despite the name, a split king mattress is actually two separate mattresses set side-by-side. These adjoined mattresses are then placed on a split adjustable base to make a split king bed. Together, these mattresses are the same size as a standard king bed.

The primary benefit is that when paired with a compatible adjustable base, sleepers are able to adjust each side independently, tailoring their side of the bed to their own individual preferences. These adjustments can help with snoring / sleep apnea, acid reflux / GERD, and neck, back, hip, shoulder, and nerve pains like sciatica.

Split kings also allow couples with wildly different sleep needs to choose the mattress that best fits their individual sleep positions. Finally, it minimizes movement in the mattress, also called motion transfer. This means you won’t disturb your partner if you roll around in your sleep or get in/out of bed.

What Size Is a Split King Mattress? Is a Split King Two Twins Put Together?

Kinda, but not exactly. A split king mattress consists of two twin XL mattresses arranged side-by-side within the same frame. “Twin XL” actually stands for “twin extra-long” and measures 38”W x 80”L.

Individually, these mattresses are a full 5” longer than a standard twin mattress. Put together, they measure 76”W x 80”L – the same dimensions as a regular king size mattress.

Can I Fall into the Middle of a Split King Mattress? I Don’t Want to Get Stuck!

person falling

Fortunately, you don’t really need to worry about falling into the crack of a split king mattress. Due to several modern split king design features, the fit is tight enough to not pose this risk. However, this question does highlight a couple valid concerns about split king bed designs that we’ll dive into below.

While it’s nearly impossible for a full-size human being to “fall-in” or get stuck in a split king mattress, we don’t recommend split king beds for babies, small children or critters. If you co-sleep with your kids or have a dog that loves to lie smack in the middle of your mattress, we’d steer you away from a split king out of an abundance of caution.

How Do You Keep Split King Mattresses Together?

Whether you’re researching a split king mattress purchase or already have one at home and are the rare person having issues with sliding, this is still a common concern. The split king adjustable bases that we carry from Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Purple and Nectar all include connectors that will help keep your split king mattress together. Additionally, most manufacturers include anti-skid fabric on the mattress, adjustable base, or both, to prevent sliding and separation.

split king mattress connector or bed bridge

However, if you’ve got an older model at home without these non-slip features, keeping your split king together is a relatively cheap and easy fix. On one hand, you can find a number of bed bridges, gap fillers, mattress joiners and connectors for sale online. Other affordable DIY solutions include putting non-slip tape, mattress grip pads, or slide stoppers beneath your mattress — similar to how you would keep an area rug in place. On the other hand, if you’re having these types of split king mattress issues, it may be a sign that it’s time to upgrade to a better, modern split king bed design.

Can You Cuddle on a Split King?

The answer to this question is a little less straight-forward because it depends on a few factors. Regardless, tons of consumers want to know if a split king bed is suitable for us middle-of-the-bed snugglers. So, can you cuddle on a split king or not?

couple cuddling in bed

If you are looking at various foam or non-innerspring mattresses like Tempur-Pedic, Nectar or Purple for your split king bed, the answer is absolutely yes. Hybrid mattresses are also cuddle-capable in a split king, but are less comfy than memory foam types. However, innerspring mattresses in a split king configuration are much less suitable for cuddling and bedroom activities. If you’re a cuddler, we wouldn’t recommend an innerspring split king mattress for you.

Why is this? Edge support is one of the primary strengths of an innerspring mattress design, because it keeps the edge of the bed from collapsing under your weight. This means that you won’t feel like you’re about to roll off the bed if you sleep or sit too close to the edge. But when part of a split king bed, this edge support will make the center of your bed feel rigid and uncomfortable. If you’re not a snuggler, no big deal. But if you are, you won’t be happy with a ridge or speed bump in your mattress.

What Are Split King Sheets? What Size Sheets for Split King? And How to Make a Split King Bed?

Finally, the last type of split king questions we get from mattress shoppers are about the sheets. Mostly about the size and fit. What are split king sheets? What size are they? Can you use regular king sheets on a split king? How do you make a split king bed?

The good news is that many manufacturers make bedding and sheet sets specifically for split king beds. These sheet sets include two fitted sheets (one for each twin XL mattress), one king-size flat sheet, and pillow cases. So yes, you can certainly use regular king flat sheets or top sheets, blankets, comforters, or duvets on a split king. The only limitation is that your fitted sheets must be twin XL. So if you like your current sheets and want to keep them, you’ll need to buy matching twin XL fitted sheets.

stacked bed sheets

That being said, a common frustration with split kings (and adjustable bases in general), is that some sheets aren’t stretchy enough and can pop off when adjusting the bed. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you select fitted sheets with deep corner pockets and enough elasticity. We recommend Purple’s SoftStretch sheets or something similar.

As for how to make your new split king bed, simply put the fitted sheets on each twin XL mattress first, and then proceed as normal. It’s that easy!

Is a Split King Bed Right for You? Come Find Out!

Now that your most burning questions on split kings have been answered, it’s time to take the next step in your mattress journey. Read on for a discussion on the pros and cons of split king adjustable beds to discover if a split king bed is right for you.

Do you have any other questions about split king beds that we forgot to answer? Be sure to ask our mattress and sleep experts using our convenient online web chat – or swing by any of our Atlanta area and North Georgia furniture and mattress stores to ask them in person! See you soon!

 
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