9 Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers
- This $280 Cooling Mattress Has Nearly 2,000 Five-Star Reviews on Amazon
- 2) Original Mattress
- 3) Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam Mattress
- 4) Wave Mattress
- 5) Pod Pro Mattress
- 6) Classic Mattress
- 7) Memory Foam Mattress
- 8) i8 360 Bed
- The Purple Mattress
- How we test sunscreens
- How we test sunscreens
- How we test sunscreens
- How we test sunscreens
- How we test sunscreens
This $280 Cooling Mattress Has Nearly 2,000 Five-Star Reviews on Amazon
If you overheat at night, chances are your sleep quality isn’t great. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to have a restful sleep if you’re dealing with night sweats. The good news is that whether you suffer from hot flashes or are sweating in warm temperatures, cooling mattresses – along with other cooling bedding like sheets, pillows and blankets – can help you comfortably catch some ZZZs.
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab reviews mattresses of all kinds — from foam boxed mattresses to organic mattresses to hybrid mattresses and more — by evaluating aspects like the materials, features and brand’s policies in our Lab, then sending the mattresses to product experts and testers to try out in real life. We also survey our consumer tester panel to get in-depth feedback on the beds they already own. Based on our latest survey, we thoroughly reviewed responses from more than 10,000 mattress owners before making our recommendations.
Our top picks:
We most recently updated this article in September 2022 to ensure our picks were in stock and reflected accurate pricing. Read on for more shopping tips and details about how we test at the end of this article. Looking for more ways to stay cool this summer? Check out our guides to the best cooling comforters and cooling pajamas.
TEMPUR-breeze°
$5449.00
This innovative mattress uses unique phase change technology that’s been tested to keep you feeling up to eight degrees cooler all night instead of just feeling cool to the touch. It’s expensive, but on top of the impressive cooling features, this mattress has the high-quality foam that Tempur-Pedic is famous for. For a slightly lower-priced version, the brand also has the ProBreeze mattress that gets up to three degrees cooler instead of eight.
What it’s made of: A machine washable outer cover, a layer of phase-change material that absorbs heat to help you feel cool, comfort foam with additional phase-change material and pressure-relieving foam with ventilation for breathability.
Tester notes: Testers told us it feels noticeably cooler and they don’t feel their partners moving like they do on other foam mattresses. One told us it still feels new after years of using it, while another raved, “We have slept so well since getting it.”
• Height: 13″• Firmness levels: Soft, Firm• Sizes: Twin XL, Double, Queen, King, split King, California King, split California King
2) Original Mattress
$845.75
Though it doesn’t have as much of a cooling effect as the Tempur-Pedic pick, this foam mattress is a total steal and has features to prevent overheating that can cause night sweats. It has charcoal and gel embedded to help draw heat away from your body and the foam has open cells that make it more breathable. It’s a mattress-in-a-box so you can order online and set it up at your convenience without scheduling a delivery.
What it’s made of: A soft and stretchy outer cover with two layers of foam. The top has softer cushioning foam for pressure relief and comfort, while the bottom has firmer foam for support.
Tester notes: The majority of our panel told us that they’re able maintain a comfortable body temperature while sleeping on their Tuft & Needle mattresses. They also gave it high scores in other areas, like ease of ordering, set up, comfort and support. The main callout is that there isn’t as much edge support, meaning it may sag when you sit on the side of the mattress.
• Height: 10″• Firmness level: Medium firm• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
3) Cool Gel Chill Memory Foam Mattress
$434.63
Not only is this Amazon’s Choice for cooling mattresses, it’s also a fraction of the cost of others in our article and arrives at your house in a box within days of ordering. There’s a layer of gel-infused memory foam at the top, which helps draw heat away from your body and has an open-cell structure to make it breathable.
What it’s made of: Besides the gel-infused foam on top, there’s a middle layer of comfort foam with ventilation for breathability and a bottom layer of support foam to help promote spine alignment.
Tester notes: Users found it to be comfortable to sleep on and said it didn’t cause any overheating. Though it didn’t fully take shape after opening in our review and it doesn’t feel as luxurious as pricier models, it’s still a great option if you’re hoping to spend less and shop on Amazon.
• Height: 10.5″• Firmness level: Medium firm• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
4) Wave Mattress
$2456.22
This model from Casper is an ideal mattress for side sleepers because it keeps your spine aligned. It’s not too firm and has targeted pressure relief zones so you aren’t putting extra weight on areas like your hips and shoulders. For an added cost, you can opt for the Wave Hybrid mattress, which has coils for even better support and more breathability.
What it’s made of: From a cooling perspective, it has several layers of foam that vary in density, including its signature AirScape foam that has holes for breathability and a built-in layer of cooling gel.
Tester notes: Testers enjoyed the pressure relief and cradling comfort when lying on this mattress. Though it’s a medium firm rating, some said they were surprised that it was softer than expected — which may actually be a benefit for side sleepers.
• Height: 13″• Firmness level: Medium firm• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
5) Pod Pro Mattress
$3295.00
This foam mattress comes with cooling cover that works through an app on your smart phone. You set your preferred temperature setting for each side of the bed (it can heat up, too!) and water runs from a hub – i.e. a unit next to your bed – to create the cooling effect. You can schedule when to turn the temperature settings on and off, plus the cover has built-in sleep tracking capabilities.
What it’s made of: Inside there are five layers of foam ranging from comfort foam on top to support foam on the bottom.
Tester notes: Our pros were impressed by the high-tech features that make it stand out from other cooling mattresses. The downside was the mattress itself felt fairly soft and didn’t have good edge support, but you can purchase just the cover if you want to use it over a different 10- or 11-inch mattress.
• Height: 12″
• Firmness level: Medium
• Sizes: Full, Queen, King, California King
6) Classic Mattress
$2396.00
If you prefer the feel of a traditional mattress instead of a bed-in-a-box, Saatva gives you the quality of in-store models with the convenience of online shopping. It doesn’t have any added cooling features like the other mattresses in our roundup, but it’s made with coils that are inherently more breathable than all-foam styles.
What it’s made of: A pillowtop surface, a layer of foam for support and pressure relief, individual steel coils and a base coil system.
Tester notes: Our consumer panel gives Saatva high ratings for comfort, support and overall sleep quality. Most of them said they feel like they sleep at a comfortable temperature throughout the night with it. They also rave about its superior edge support, which makes it it easier to get in and out of bed.
• Height: 11.5″ or 14.5″• Firmness levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
7) Memory Foam Mattress
$949.00
The foam in Layla’s mattress is infused with copper particles, which can help prevent the overheating that’s typically associated with memory foam. It’s also unique because of its dual-firmness design: One side has soft support and the other side is firm. No more guessing which firmness level you need before you buy it online; with this one you can just flip it over at home.
What it’s made of: A copper-infused outer cover, a layer of copper- and gel-infused soft foam for the soft side, a layer of support foam with built-in channels for airflow, and a durable layer of support foam for motion transfer reduction, followed by a layer of copper- and fel-infused firm foam for the firm side.
Tester notes: Reviewers have told us they love sleeping on the mattress and find it to be comfortable. They especially liked how well it conforms to their bodies. Though many didn’t notice any strong cooling effects, most users told us they maintained a comfortable body temperature.
• Height: 10″• Firmness levels: Soft and Firm• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
8) i8 360 Bed
$3299.00
Sleep Number beds are famous for their air-filled chambers that let you pick your perfect firmness level so you can get comfortable regardless of whether you’re a side, stomach or back sleeper. This model in particular also has a top layer of foam that’s infused with ceramic, which draws heat away from your body. It’s perfect for anyone that sleeps hot and has a different firmness preference than their partner.
Tester notes: Users rave about their sleep quality from being able to control their firmness level.And though Sleep Number beds are pricey, reviewers on our panel said they were worth the cost. Some even commented that they wished they didn’t take so long to make the splurge.
• Height: 12″• Firmness levels: Adjustable• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
The Purple Mattress
$1299.00
Unlike memory foam which doesn’t have much ventilation, Purple uses a unique grid-shaped elastic top layer that is airy yet still supportive. It doesn’t have extra cooling features, but the breathability helps prevent overheating caused by lying directly on foam.
What it’s made of: Foam layers lie below the elastic grid, plus there are also hybrid variations with a mix of foam and coils for innerspring support and even more airflow.
Tester notes: Our tester panel describes the grid-like layer as feeling like the perfect combination of soft and firm because it provides both support and pressure relief. They also say it feels like they’re floating and they rave about the motion isolation.
• Height: 9.25″• Firmness level: Medium firm• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, split King
How we test sunscreens
Yes, but they can’t work miracles. Cooling mattresses can help you sleep at a more comfortable temperature throughout the night, but it depends on the cooling features used. If you have a condition that causes night sweats, a cooling mattress won’t make it go away, but can certainly help bring you some relief.
While night sweats can be caused by many factors ranging from physical conditions to summer weather, a mattress that isn’t breathable can make it worse. A hot mattress can even cause overheating for someone that wouldn’t otherwise have night sweats. The worst offender? Memory foam mattresses. Unlike innerspring mattresses that have built-in ventilation, memory foam is more dense so there’s not much air flow happening. This means that the heat around your body gets trapped, hence the overheating and night sweats.
How we test sunscreens
Our analysts first review the materials, special features and other relevant specifications. When it comes to cooling mattresses, we consider both company-provided lab data that proves the bed’s cooling capabilities as well as first-hand user experiences from our own surveying. We also consider the claims to see whether any brands may be overpromising on its chilling powers.
We then have our product experts and consumer testers try out the mattresses firsthand. Surveys are sent to our testers after several weeks of sleeping on the mattress to get initial feedback. We continue to survey them over an extended period, from months to years, to see how the mattress holds up over time. We also send questionnaires to our panel of Good Housekeeping readers to get additional in-depth feedback on the mattresses they already own. Each survey addresses a range of aspects, including:
✔️ Ordering and delivery: Users provide ratings and comments about the ease of ordering, how quickly it showed up and whether there were any issues throughout these steps.
✔️ Set up: Whether it’s DIY or white glove delivery, we explore how easy the process was and whether the mattress took shape quickly.
✔️ Firmness level: Oftentimes the perceived firmness doesn’t match up to the brand’s specified level. This helps us gain insight into how soft or firm it feels in real life.
✔️ Edge support: Reviewers let us know whether the bed sinks when they sit on the edges or if it holds the shape well under weight.
✔️ Comfort and support: Testers weigh in on whether they liked sleeping on the mattress immediately and again later in the review period. They’re able to provide a comfort and support ratings as well as detailed comments.
✔️ Temperature: We ask users whether they stayed at a comfortable body temperature throughout the night so we can note whether any cooling features were observed.
✔️ Sleep quality: Respondents let us know if the mattress has had any effect on their sleep, whether they wake up sore and whether they are overall satisfied with the mattress. They also have the opportunity to compare the mattress with other models they’ve owned.
✔️ Additional feedback: Through a series of open-ended questions, testers can share any likes, dislikes and further comments about their experiences.
How we test sunscreens
There are various types of cooling features built into mattresses, and just because a mattress brand claims to be cooling, doesn’t mean it’ll actually keep your body temperature lower. Here are the main types of techniques you’ll find in cooling mattresses:
✔️ Cool-to-the-touch materials: These surface fabrics quickly draw heat away from your body, but likely won’t stay cool all night long.
✔️ Built-in cooling features: Metal particles, gel, or phase-change technology embedded into foam materials to help pull heat away.
✔️ Breathable construction: Even without cooling technologies, mattresses that are more breathable with chambers for air or with a spring construction can prevent heat from staying trapped around your body.
✔️ Electric capabilities: Some plug-in options use cool water or air that flows through the mattress to keep it continuously cool. These are more high maintenance and have added components, like a unit next to your bed.
How we test sunscreens
On top of the cooling features, here are things to keep in mind as you shop for your best mattress:
✔️ Sleep position: Stomach sleepers need a firm surface, side sleepers need a firmer surface and back sleepers (or anyone who changes position) will need something in between. The goal is to keep your spine in neutral alignment.
✔️ Weight: Heavy people need a firmer bed, while lightweight frames are better suited with a softer mattress. This is also for proper spine alignment, and you can take into account both your weight and sleep position when choosing your bed’s firmness level.
✔️ Back pain: A pressure-relieving mattress with all foam or a hybrid of foam and coils is ideal to relief upper and lower back pain. Also look for medium firmness for a balance of cushioning and support.
✔️ Return policy: It’s difficult to know whether a mattress is a good fit without sleeping on it first. To help you shop online, most mattress companies offer a trial period for at least 100 nights. This is especially important for cooling mattresses since brand’s make bold claims about keeping your temperature lower. Before you buy, check whether there are any hidden return fees and how you go about making the return.
How we test sunscreens
Lexie Sachs is the Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she oversees all bedding content and testing. She has been actively researching and reporting on mattresses since online bed-shopping hit the mainstream in 2014, and has extensively reviewed dozens of models by meeting with brands, surveying real mattress owners and conducting consumer tests.