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Selecting the right bed can feel like a Herculean task at times with all the different choices that exist. Adjustable beds are a great option for people who are looking for relief from various health issues or just for an extra level of comfort. Adjustable beds have remotes that allow you to raise and lower your head and feet to suit your needs. King-size adjustable beds have the most flexibility in adjustment options, and if you are thinking of getting a king-size adjustable bed then you now have the choice (with certain manufacturers) between Split or Divided.
What is a Split King?
King-sized beds are, at the risk of stating the obvious, quite large. Mattresses are flexible. Foundations, however, are not. To get the base foundation inside your home, whether it is standard or adjustable, it comes in two parts that sit side-by-side under the mattress. A Split King adjustable bed, therefore, allows each side of the bed to move independently, so it is ideal for people who have different sleep needs. The foundations can also be synced together if you don’t need or want the sides to be adjusted separately.
What is a Divided King?
Until recently it didn’t matter if you wanted independent adjustment or for both sides of your bed to move up and down together, you needed to order a Split King. For people who prefer both sides of the bed to adjust in tandem, there is now the option to buy a Divided King. A Divided King has a foundation that is still made up of two parts, but in this case, it goes under the head and foot of the bed. This setup is more efficient than a synced-up Split King, it removes the redundancy of having two separate motor systems to move your bed, which means a lower cost for you.
Conclusion
If you prefer independent adjustment from your partner then a Split King is what you are looking for. If separate movement isn’t necessary then you can save money with a Divided King. Have further questions or want to start shopping for your adjustable bed now? The bedding experts here at Gardner White can help you figure out exactly what mattress and base system works best for your budget and needs.
We carry adjustable bed models in a variety of sizes and brands with different features! Find the adjustable base that is perfect for you!
Last Modified: March 17, 2023, 4:51 pm EST
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35 Comments
Lin
February 12, 2017 at 4:43 pmWith the split king, do you have two separate mattresses?
Heather
February 13, 2017 at 1:27 pmYes, a split king it is made up of two individual Twin XL mattresses so each side can move independently.
lisa a armstrong
January 14, 2018 at 5:11 pmCan you still use a king sized mattress with two xl twin adjustable bases?
Megan
January 15, 2018 at 10:00 amYes!
Diane
June 7, 2019 at 10:04 pmHow does it work if you use a single king mattress with two adjustable bases? If One person raises their side, and the mattress is fairly flexible, do it stay in place on the other side, insofar as it’s possible for it to stay?
Megan
June 20, 2019 at 2:38 pmIf you had two separate bases, you’d have to have two twin XLs. If you have a single king mattress, you’d have to have a base that only moves in unison.
Marc
July 25, 2017 at 1:09 pmIf you buy a spit king base, do you have to order 2?… or does the price reflect both bases?
Megan Faraj
July 27, 2017 at 12:37 pmSince split bases are two parts, you would need to buy two bases, so the price only reflects one.
Felicia
November 1, 2017 at 6:09 pmA very good explanation of the difference between the two bed types. It is easy to see the benefits of both so the only thing one has to do is to decide exactly what the needs of the couple are before ordering.
Thanks for sharing!
Violeta
February 6, 2018 at 10:33 amWhen the split king bed is flat, would you feel the gap in the middle if
You lie down on it?
Megan
February 6, 2018 at 1:44 pmYou shouldn’t! Stop on in and test one out!
Blake
July 8, 2018 at 12:22 amI just had mine delivered today and you can definitely feel the split. You essentially have two beds just sitting side by side one another. It’ll take some getting used to! 🙂
Dena
May 11, 2018 at 11:44 amWill the two bases drift apart on a split king?
Megan
May 16, 2018 at 11:11 amHi Dena, no the bases will not drift apart. We will attach them together so that does not happen.
Sissy
October 4, 2018 at 11:44 pmBlake speaks the truth. My husband says we may as well be in separate rooms. 😂
Corina
November 26, 2018 at 7:28 pmSissy, that’s how it feels for us too 🙁 We’ve only had our split adjustable 13 days, and trying to figure a way to make this work. Married 25 years – this is NOT working. Feels like we’re in separate beds. Love our new adjustable bed – but not so much the split.
Jamie
May 22, 2018 at 1:14 pmCan you put a regular King fitted sheet on a split king bed?
Megan
May 25, 2018 at 10:23 amA regular fitted sheet would fit better on a divided king. Because a split king base is separate, if you move one side too much, the sheet can come off. We suggest getting 2 twin xl sheets for a split king bed.
Rachel
May 24, 2018 at 7:29 pmWhat is the purpose of a divided base?
Megan
May 25, 2018 at 10:25 amA divided base is great for those who want an adjustable base, but want a cheaper option than a split base. While you can’t have a personalized sleep position, you can still elevated your head and legs.
Elsa Anderson
June 16, 2018 at 7:55 amI like when you said that buying adjustable beds aims to bring comfort and relief from health issues such as neck and back pains by giving you the option to adjust the head and neck part of the bed. I’ll be definitely needing one of these as I normally have back and neck pains from waking up at at wrong posture. A king bed might be too big for me so I would prefer getting a queen bed adjustable bed instead.
Rick
August 1, 2018 at 3:08 pmDoes a divided base also require two individual pieces?
Megan
August 3, 2018 at 10:26 amNo, it is one complete base.
Kim
October 18, 2018 at 4:31 pmI just got a divided King base…even though it is called “one ” piece, the two halves came in two boxes then they are assembled together. I was relieved as I wasn’t sure how a 72×80 piece of steel would fit up my stairs
Janet
September 3, 2018 at 6:20 pmDoes the split king minimize the movement felt by your bed partner? My husband keeps me awake at night with all his movement..
Megan
September 4, 2018 at 11:50 amYes, definitely! Since it’s own bed, you won’t feel movement from the other side.
Kit Hannigan
September 5, 2018 at 10:46 pmThanks for going into detail about explaining the difference between split and divided king beds. I really like that you mentioned that if people prefer independent adjustment from your partner, then a Split King is what they should get. I might get one soon as a nice surprise for my wife who has really interesting sleeping routines.
Roc
October 2, 2018 at 11:58 pmMy question which seems to difficult to get an answer to is this; does the divided king adjustable have just one motor for each end that spans across all 76″ or does it have two motors for each similar to the split king? With the weight of today’s mattress (especially hybrids) and larger people, I would think 4 motors may be better to handle the weight than 2 if indeed the split king does only have 2 motors.
Megan
October 9, 2018 at 9:57 amGood question, Roc. A divided king only has 2 motors. One for the head motion, one for the foot motion. If the base only has a head up feature, it will only have one motor. A split king has 4 motors: two for each side, at the head and the foot.
Dave
December 23, 2018 at 10:11 pmSee the benefits of the split as I may want a different setting than my wife, but we’re not keen on the separate beds. Is there a type of mattress that would be better than others to use as a solid king mattress on a split base?
Martha
March 17, 2019 at 4:28 pmIs there anything on the market that we can purchase for the gap between the split mattresses?
Kellie Fudge
November 3, 2019 at 12:58 pmWe have 2 twin xl adjustable bedframes and mattresses. My questions are:
A. We have our own remotes but either remote will move both beds at the same time. Is there a way to fix this?
B. Is there a way to keep the bases and mattresses attached? When we meet in the middle, they split apart.
Thanks!
Megan
November 14, 2019 at 1:35 pmWe suggest reaching out to your salesperson or call us at 248-481-2200!
Marilyn
November 24, 2019 at 11:46 pmSince the split king is actually 2 different mattresses, can you get one side firm and the other one soft?
Megan
November 26, 2019 at 12:11 pmyes!