We had hot sleepers test the best cooling mattresses to see if they live up to their hype.
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7 Best Cooling Mattresses, According to Hot Sleepers
Updated on Mar. 04, 2025
Temperature can make or break a good night’s sleep. When shopping for a new bed, the best cooling mattress can keep you dry and comfortable. In fact, sleeping in a cool environment and lowering your body temperature even slightly produces a healthier and better night’s rest, confirms Marc Werner, founder of GhostBed.
Sleep is meant to refuel, restore and rejuvenate the body, so if you aren’t getting quality shut-eye, it can wreak major havoc. That’s why it’s so important to find the best mattress for you, whether that means a memory foam mattress, a nontoxic mattress or even a boxed bed. If you tend to overheat while you sleep, you’ll want to seek out the best cooling mattress for hot sleepers.
Not sure if you’re ready to commit? Think of it this way, says Robert Pagano, cofounder of Sleepline: “If you’re someone who’s constantly tossing and turning at night or waking up feeling overheated and sweaty, then investing in a cooling mattress is definitely the way you should go.” After all, you can’t put a price on your well-being.
best overall
Bear Pro Hybrid Mattress
Pros:
- No overheating
- Supports a variety of sleeping positions
- Strong edge support
- Pillow top upgrade available
- Affordable price point
- Greenguard Gold Certified
- Free shipping
- 120-night sleep trial
Cons:
- Only one firmness level (and it may be too firm for some sleepers)
It’s cooling, supportive, comfortable, nontoxic and affordable. Seriously, what’s not to love about the Bear Pro hybrid mattress? Our tester, Emily Way, calls it the Goldilocks of mattresses because it’s just right.
Under its breathable quilt cover, there’s a layer of cooling gel memory foam, then dynamic foam and finally a number of full, individually encased coils for additional support. This mattress has a medium-firm feel, though Emily argues it’s closer to firm. And while she wasn’t thrilled with the firmness at first, one night of cool, pain-free sleep was enough to change her mind.
“I’m a side and stomach sleeper, while my husband is a back and side sleeper. This normally means that at least one of us is unhappy with the firmness of our mattress,” she explains. “With our old mattress, both of us frequently woke up with back and hip pain. However, the Bear mattress surprised us. It’s supportive, thanks to the coils and firmness, yet also offers enough ‘give’ to cradle the body. It’s actually much, much more comfortable than any other ‘firm’ mattress I’ve tried in the past. Now, I’m a true believer in the importance of a little firmness on a mattress for side sleepers!” That said, if you prefer something a bit more plush, the brand offers a pillow-top upgrade.
Emily was also impressed by the cooling abilities of this mattress. “I received my Bear Pro right at the end of summer into early fall, meaning that I’ve tried it in a range of temperatures. Even on sweltering nights, I have yet to wake up drenched in sweat—a big win for me,” she raves. “The cooling gel layer and air-infused coils really do a great job of moving heat out and away from my body at night.”
In her full Bear mattress review, Emily suggests investing in a bed cooling system to make things even cooler. Too much? That’s okay. You can scoop up one of these cooling blankets instead.
Best Budget
Cocoon Chill Hybrid Mattress
Pros:
- Mattresses start at under $1,000
- Cool-to-the-touch cover
- Combination of memory foam and coils for comfort and support
- Medium-firm feel
- Inflates in just 30 minutes
- 12-inch height
- Does not require a box spring
- 100-night trial period
Cons:
- Cooling effect wasn’t as noticeable once bedding covered the mattress
- May be too firm for some
The Cocoon Chill mattress by Sealy is the perfect mattress for anyone who wants to improve their sleep on a budget. This mattress starts at $839. And while that’s certainly not chump change, it’s more affordable than all of the other best cooling mattresses on our list. “It’s the best boxed mattress I’ve tried,” says our tester, Mary Henn in her Cocoon Chill mattress review.
Mary, who suffers from chronic back pain, says the Cocoon Chill did a good job of keeping her spine aligned, therefore preventing aches and pains in her lower back. She attributes this to the mattress’s mix of memory foam and coils, which she feels provides more support than other mattresses she’s tried.
She also points out that the mattress itself is cool to the touch. However, the cooling effect wasn’t as noticeable once she put her bedding on. Mary recommends snagging some cooling sheets, pillows and even a cooling comforter if you decide that this is the mattress for you.
Best Splurge
Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress
Pros:
- Hybrid build includes cushioned foam layers and supportive coils
- Cool-to-the-touch top layer
- Medium comfort level
- Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial materials
- Mattress Firm offers free delivery and a 120-night sleep trial
- No box spring required
- Can be used with an adjustable base
Cons:
- Only one firmness option
If there’s one thing you’re going to splurge on, it should be a good mattress. Made of five luxurious layers, the Purple Restore hybrid mattress is designed for all sleep positions, temperatures and pain levels. In other words, it’s worth your hard-earned money. This Mattress Firm exclusive features 2 inches of the brand’s patented GelFlex Grid, edge support foam, comfort foam and 8 inches of responsive CoolFlex Coils at the bottom. It’s all topped by a SoftFlex Cool Touch Cover with antimicrobial properties.
Mary likens this mattress to a moisture-wicking athletic tee, only softer. And as someone who prefers to sink into a soft, cushiony mattress, she appreciated how the top layer of this mattress gave way when she sat down. Meanwhile, her partner prefers a firmer mattress. Luckily for both of them, this medium-firm mattress proved to be the best of both worlds. It’s plush and cushiony on the top, yet firm and supportive on the bottom.
It is worth pointing out that this mattress ended up being too soft for Mary, who suffers from chronic back pain. “The Restore might be great for someone who prefers a softer mattress with more give to it,” she says in her comprehensive Purple Restore mattress review. So, although she prefers a soft mattress, Mary’s back demands something more firm.
My brother, on the other hand, is an army veteran with chronic hip pain. And after multiple tours overseas, he’s vowed to never be hot again. Seriously, he would sleep on a slab of ice if he could. After just one month on the Purple, his hip pain was completely gone and he loves the cooling effect. He’s had it for about eight months now and loves it more every day.
On Sale
Best Luxury
GhostBed Luxe Mattress
Pros:
- Luxurious gel memory foam gives a spring-like feel
- Truly cool-to-the-touch feel
- Patented cooling technology
- Not too firm, not too soft
- Comes in seven sizes
- Nontoxic
- 101-night sleep trial
Cons:
- Poor delivery communication
GhostBed calls its luxe mattress the “coolest bed in the world,” and it has the technology to back it up within its seven-layer foundation, starting with its cool-to-the-touch quilted cover. The plush topper is made with phase-change materials that neutralize your body heat and keep the sleeping surface cool and comfortable. As for the core, a layer of aerated latex foam is designed to keep you chilled, as well as the gel memory foam and high-density foam for support and durability—ideal for back sleepers.
Our tester, Sydney Manning, upgraded to this medium-firm mattress when she was five months pregnant. Between growing another human and sharing a bed with her husband and two dogs, she was more prone to overheating than ever. She was delighted to discover that this mattress lived up to its claims. “Not only is this mattress durable and well-made, but it’s also extremely comfortable and cooling,” she writes in her full GhostBed review. “Beyond that, the gel memory foam can help with aches and pains for an overall better night’s sleep.”
Sydney points out that while the mattress itself was cool to the touch, the effect was subdued after she put on her bedding. “I think if you were to pair this with some cooling sheets and a cooling mattress topper, the effect would come through more strongly,” she says. Overall, congratulations because you might have just found the coolest memory foam mattress out there!
Best Latex
Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress
Pros:
- Made of organic natural latex
- Hand-tufted, organic cotton cover
- Made for all sleep positions
- Proven cooling effects
- Hybrid build
- Can be used with or without a box spring
- 365-night home trial
- Free white-glove delivery and setup
Cons:
- Heavy at 120 pounds
- Mild odor from natural latex
- $99 exchange or return processing fee
This direct-to-consumer brand offers all of the benefits of buying a mattress online, but instead of sending it in a box, Saatva offers free white-glove service and setup. They’ll hand-deliver and assemble your mattress and bed frame anywhere, as well as dispose of your old bed at no additional cost. That’s all fine and good, of course, but how is the mattress itself? In a word: fabulous. The secret sauce to this Saatva Latex hybrid mattress comes from its exclusive vented airflow channels, which allow for better circulation and superb breathability.
The hybrid mattress combines independent coils (for targeted support) with luxe Talalay latex and wool. The latex layer is zoned, which means it adapts to different sections of the body and offers pinpoint pressure alleviation, while the wool layer aids in thermoregulation and adds extra cushioning.
“This mattress is a beaut! I couldn’t help but lay down and relax on the plush, tufted top. It’s soft without being too soft; there’s an exact right amount of firmness beneath the cloud-like top. Saatva advertises itself as a luxury mattress company—and I can say with certainty that this mattress feels luxurious,” writes our tester Lara Eucalano in her detailed Saatva mattress review.
In addition to being incredibly comfy, the mattress kept Lara nice and cool at night. “I tested this mattress in August, a notoriously hot and humid month where I live. I didn’t notice feeling cooler right away, but then it dawned on me: It was 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the house, and I was sleeping comfortably,” she raves.
On Sale
Best for Back and Stomach Sleepers
The WinkBed Mattress
Pros:
- Available in four firmness levels
- Hybrid design with foam and innerspring coils
- Noticeable cooling technology effects
- Strong edge support
- 120-night trial
Cons:
- No white-glove delivery option
With gel-infused foam, breathable innerspring layers, individually wrapped pocketed coils and a Tencel cover, this hybrid WinkBed is optimized to provide you with a cool sleeping experience. It also has a special lumbar layer that’s designed to provide additional support for the lumbar section of the spine, which means proper alignment and zero tension during sleep. It comes in three firmness levels, as well as a “plus” version for heavier weight ranges.
This model uses wrapped coils that adapt to the shape of the body and aid in proper alignment, making it one of the best mattresses for back pain. “A big selling point of the mattress is the inclusion of individually wrapped coils, a system that pushes back against greater pressure areas while plying in areas of less pressure,” explains tester Dylan Fischer in his WinkBed review.
“I’m the type of sleeper who constantly shifts through multiple positions until finally landing on one to fall asleep, so it took a few nights for me to understand that these coils combined with the gel-foam top really adhere best to sleeping on your back and stomach. So, if you’re someone who enjoys sleeping on their side, fair warning that you may want to check out the softer variant of the WinkBed mattress, as I chose the luxury firm.”
While this mattress is marketed as a luxury option, it does not have luxury delivery options. Delivery is free, but WinkBeds does not offer white-glove delivery or haul away your old mattress. If you happen to live in an apartment that is several flights up, like Dylan does, you’ll have to have someone on hand to help you lug this mattress to your door.
Best Gel Memory Foam
DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress
Pros:
- Gel memory foam and coil system reduces heat retention
- Premium seven-layer design
- Luxurious cashmere-blend cover
- Named “Best Value” for heavy people by The Sleep Foundation, which noted that it works well for sleepers over 230 pounds
- 365-night home trial
Cons:
- 24-hour inflation time (and up to 72 hours to fully expand)
- Lacks edge support
The DreamCloud Premier hybrid mattress boasts an eight-layer construction to ensure you have the coolest and comfiest night’s sleep. Layers include gel memory foam, individually wrapped innerspring coils, a pressure-relief comfort layer that conforms to your body and a plush cashmere Euro top.
“We didn’t even realize how unsupportive our previous mattress had been until we started waking up with fewer ‘oofs’ and ‘ouches’ thanks to the DreamCloud,” writes tester Jill Schildhouse in her DreamCloud review. “The 2.5 inches of memory foam in the pressure-relief comfort layer had the exact balance between hugging us and flexing as needed.”
Not only was it comfortable, but it was cooling. Jill, whose hypothyroidism causes her to overheat and sweat throughout the night, immediately noticed how much cooler her sheets felt against her skin. And while she still felt warm on some nights, she was no longer waking up drenched in sweat.
After a year on her DreamCloud mattress, Jill insists it has only gotten more comfortable. “The cooling technology still works just as well, leaving me more comfortable, temperature-wise,” she raves. “Our biggest complaint is that it’s hard to find a set of sheets that are deep or wide enough for the 16-inch-deep DreamCloud Premier Rest.” If you think you may run into this problem, we recommend Cozy Earth sheets.
What to look for when buying a cooling mattress
When it comes to buying the best cooling mattress, materials are key. The best mattress for hot sleepers will increase airflow and pull heat away from the body. Hybrid mattresses, which are made up of innerspring and foam promote airflow to keep you cool. Fans of memory foam, which is known to retain heat, should look for models infused with gel, copper or graphite.
You’ll also want to consider your preferred sleeping position. The thickness and level of support to maintain your spine’s natural curve are essential to achieving a comfortable and cozy bed setup. Be sure also to check out the brand’s warranty period and sleep trial to determine the best fit.
Types of cooling mattresses
- Innerspring mattresses: These sleep cool, thanks to airflow between the coils.
- Gel memory foam beds: This type uses microbeads to draw heat away from the body.
- Latex: Latex is a prime pick for the best cooling mattress, especially organic natural latex that’s hypoallergenic. Thanks to its chemical composition and punched-in air holes, it won’t have issues with heat.
- Phase-change materials: These absorb and release thermal energy while you sleep. They’re the most common cooling mattress and ideal for extremely hot sleepers.
How we found the best cooling mattresses
To find the best cooling mattresses, we did our homework and combed through the most popular models from well-known (and not so well-known) brands. We looked at a variety of materials, features and price points to ensure a good mix.
Once we had narrowed down our search, we sent these mattresses to our testers who slept on them for a few months. Our testers considered everything from delivery and setup to comfort and cooling properties. In some instances, we even checked back after a year or longer had gone by for an updated report. After combing through their testing notes, we compiled this list of the best cooling mattresses.
Other cooling mattresses we tried
- Nectar Premier Copper mattress: Tester Reina Galhea loved this mattress’s pain-busting ability. “The Nectar mattress filled in that gap between my spine and the mattress, giving me an extra boost of support and zapping those morning kinks,” she writes. Sadly, the Copper line has been discontinued by the brand.
FAQ
Do cooling mattresses work?
Studies have shown that more than 50% of people sleep in an environment that’s too hot. Buying a mattress that provides some cooling—even if it just drops the body’s temperature by a fraction of a degree or two—creates a much healthier sleeping setup and promotes a better night’s rest. Experts, editors and customers all agree that the best cooling mattress helps improve sweaty slumbers.
Should you put a mattress cover on a cooling mattress?
A mattress protector is an excellent way to extend the life of your mattress. Whether you use one on a cooling mattress is a personal preference. If you opt for one, look for breathable cotton versions with gel-infused memory foam. Bamboo covers are a great option, given their naturally cooling and moisture-wicking abilities to draw moisture away from the skin.
How do cooling mattresses work?
Different mattresses utilize different cooling methods. Beds with foams, like gel- or graphite-infused memory foam, pull heat away from the body. Some cooling mattresses include aluminum or copper coils that increase or decrease in temperature as they expand and contract, depending on the season. Many mattresses incorporate phase-change materials, which absorb body heat and transform it to a cooler temperature.
Why you should trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we know it’s impossible to run on little to no sleep. Whether you’re a hot sleeper, a sleeper who suffers from back pain or someone who has their sleep interrupted by children, pets or restless partners, you deserve a cooler sleep situation. Literally! We have years of experience testing the best mattresses on the market, from hybrid mattresses to memory foam and organic mattresses to help you get the deep, renewing sleep your body needs.
Our editors and testers spend months sleeping with these products in their own homes. Moreover, they often share these products with partners, children and pets which allow them to assess how well these mattresses hold up to real life use. At the end of the day, we are committed to recommending only the very best products using honest and fair testing practices. We will never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of a brand’s popularity.
