We've all endured a steamy, sleepless night. Maybe it's a heatwave, you forgot to turn on the AC, or maybe you just run hot. There are few things more frustrating than lying awake in damp, sweaty sheets, trying to get back to sleep, and as a certified hot sleeper, I know the feeling all too well.
The best cooling mattresses can stop this before it even starts. New to the mattress world, manufacturers noticed the need for a bed that doesn't make you sweat. Unlike standard memory foam which traps heat, cooling mattresses are designed to absorb and dissipate body heat as you need it, keeping your temperature regulated throughout the night.
With dozens of cooling mattresses making claims to help hot sleepers stay sweat-free, we decided to put them to the test. Slept on by experts from all over the US, we've found which best mattresses sleep cool no matter the climate or season.
The best cooling mattresses 2024
You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best mattress for cooling
Why you should buy it
The Casper Wave Hybrid snow is the coolest mattress on test, as approved by a hot sleeper.
What we loved on test
Casper claims that this mattress will keep you cool for at least 12 hours, and this proved true. Expert reviewer Jaclyn Turner found this mattress almost cold to the touch, and it kept her cool as she slept. Thanks to Casper's Snow technology and AirScape layers it was more than a match for hot summer nights in Georgia. Tiny holes in the mattress foam draw heat and humidity out of your body and away from the mattress.
Good to know
The Snow technology is an add-on to the Wave Hybrid Mattress, which also offers the best support of Casper's range of mattresses. Your spine is aligned with different zones; a soft foam toward the top of the mattress to gently sink in your shoulders and a denser foam in the middle to support your lower back. This combines with gel pods under your waist and lower back for extra cushioning. This means this mattress is soft, without that sinking feeling. The only place it dropped marks is the edge support - it gets a little soft at the corners.
Jaclyn's Casper Wave Hybrid Snow review goes into more detail.
Best cooling memory foam mattress
Why you should buy it
If you like a memory foam mattress, but get too hot at night, the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory foam mattress provides the ideal balance between sinking and sleeping cool.
Why we love it
Foam is generally not recommended for those who overheat at night as it's known to trap heat. But with temperature-regulating gel layered inside plush memory foam, you get all the softness from foam and a cooling sleep surface. Our tester Camryn found this mattress surprisingly great at regulating her (a hot sleeper) and her partner's body temperature, given the price. She liked the cool-to-the-touch cover that you can put in the washing machine with the rest of your bedding too.
Good to know
This cooling mattress is under $500 (you could easily pay much more for a bed with temperature-regulating properties). It's also available on Amazon, making the buying process even easier. Bear in mind front sleepers may find this one too soft and should consider the hybrid option below instead.
Best cooling mattress for aches and pains
Why you should buy it: A cooling mattress can help soothe aches and pains. This is the best cooling mattress with pressure relief for better back and joints.
What we loved on test
Tempur-Pedic's SmartClimate Dual Cover System is marketing speak for a stretch-knit cooling mattress cover. Coupled with contouring foam and responsive coils, this mattress is very breathable. It kept Jaclyn cool as the weather became warmer over spring, even with a mattress protector. This cooling feature also adds to the great pressure relief that comes with the ProAdapt. The famous Tempur-Pedic material will have you feeling utterly weightless. It's firm on your back, but soft on your joints where they sink into the mattress.
Good to know
It also has excellent motion isolation, so you won't be woken by your partner turning over as they sleep. But with a high-tech design comes a high price tag.
Jaclyn's Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Medium Hybrid mattress review goes into more detail.
How we test cooling mattresses
Testing the firmness of a mattress topper with dumbbells
Our mattress testers sleep on every mattress we test for at least four weeks, usually for many months. Our reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home, so you can be sure that we have first-hand experience with every product.
The reviews team takes into account value for money, construction, comfort, and support, with various tests in place to consider edge support, motion transfer, and spinal alignment. When it comes to cooling mattresses, we're paying special attention to temperature regulation. Tried in both summer and winter months, by certified hot sleepers and those who have no trouble with overheating to compare, we keep track of whether our testers wake up in the night, are hotter, or colder than usual, and evaluate against cooling claims.
While mattress firmness is subjective, every tester is transparent about their sleep habits, so there's no confusion about which mattress suits which sleep style.
For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our how we test review guidelines.
Our expert testers
As our former sleep commerce editor, Jaclyn is an expert on all things mattresses and bedding. She's not willing to sacrifice comfort or value and is after a mattress that makes it easy to sleep through the night. she tests mattress out of Atlanta, GA, in the hottest room in the house, so you know these cool mattresses have been put through their paces.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her five years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.
What to look for in a cooling mattress
Unfortunately, some cooling mattresses are actually standard beds with a cooling mattress pad or topper. The first thing you should look for when shopping for a cooling mattress is whether it has a cooling construction or is just a misleading top layer. Otherwise, these are the three mattress features to spot for sweat-free sleep:
- A cooling gel or charcoal layer: A mattress with a dedicated layer designed to help keep the mattress cool will make all the difference in regulating temperature – especially if you're wanting a memory foam mattress.
- Made from breathable materials: Memory foam mattresses will always be hotter than hybrid beds or mattresses made from sole spring, wool, or even latex. If sleeping hot is your top sleep issue to tackle, we'd recommend staying away from foam entirely.
- Cool-to-the-touch cover: In addition to internal cooling mattress features, making sure your mattress comes with a cool-to-the-touch cover can make all the difference to how your bed feels as soon as you get in it. Having a cold sleep surface will help you get to sleep quicker and easier.
FAQs
Which type of mattress is best for keeping cool?
Hybrid mattresses are best for keeping cool. Most have some kind of cooling technology like graphite or copper inlays that draws heat away from your body, and this is combined with other cooling, aerating features like gel or mattress springs. If you sleep hot, avoid memory foam mattresses, because the dense foam and sinking sensation traps heat and warms you up.
Why do I get hot at night?
Unfortunately, there's no straightforward answer here. Hot flashes at night can happen in pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Climate and weather can obviously play a role, as can the layout of your house. If your room gets a lot of sun in the day or has poor ventilation it will stay warm even at night. Sometimes it's as simple as sharing your bed with your partner - two people under one cover can generate a lot of heat, each making the other even warmer. Often, however, it's just the luck of the draw. Some of us just happen to sleep hot and need extra help with sleeping cool.
How can I stop overheating at night?
It's stating the obvious, but try to keep your bedroom cool. Air conditioning is your first port of call, but if ceiling fans, AC, or even an open window aren't doing the trick, and you've invested in one of the best cooling mattresses, the problem could be to do with your bedding. Heavy wool duvets and comforters are great in cold winters but can be too warm in spring and summer, especially in the hotter parts of the country. Your bed sheets can cause overheating, too - densely-woven materials like jersey and silk are comfortable but offer poor breathability. Instead opt for breathable, lightweight sheets like linen or bamboo.
If your current mattress is in good condition, and don't have a huge budget to buy a brand new bed, but you keep overheating at night, then one of the best cooling mattress toppers or pads are an affordable alternative. Just pop on the top of your bed and enjoy a sweat-free sleep without having to switch out your mattress.
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