Best cooling mattress toppers and pads 2024 − tried + tested by hot sleepers

Designed to dissipate heat, wick moisture, and block odors, the best cooling mattress toppers and pads could help you to sleep sweat-free and wake up feeling fresh. I bought my first cooling mattress topper four years ago, when I moved into my heat bubble of a college bedroom, and I've never looked back.

Before we begin, I want to clarify the difference between a mattress pad vs mattress topper. A cooling mattress topper is a thick slab of foam, made from or infused with cooling materials, and secured with corner straps or a grip pad. A cooling mattress pad looks more like a mattress protector, replete with a stretchy bed skirt. With so many makes and models, it's easy to feel spoiled for choice.

That's where I come in. As H&G's resident Sleep Editor and in-house expert, I lead a team of testers to find the world's best mattress toppers. We assess each topper against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. I've combed through our back catalog of reviews to bring you the best cooling mattress toppers and pads, as recommended by hot sleepers. Our reigning champion is the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper, which combines active cooling with optimal motion isolation and near-perfect pressure relief. Follow my mattress topper buying rules and you won't go far wrong.

Best cooling mattress toppers and pads 2024 – 6 tested options at a glance

Below, you'll find a bite-size summary of each topper or pad. To learn more about a particular product, keep scrolling, or hit 'read more below' to shortcut to that section. There, I've listed the need-to-know specs, including thickness, firmness, and cost, before digging into the details of our testing experience. Don't worry if you encounter any unfamiliar terms: you can break them down with my mattress jargon buster.

The best cooling mattress topper overall

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Our expert tester, Kaitlin, side hustles as a short-term rental host. She picked up the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper to breathe new life into her old guest bed two years ago. Since then, she's had dozens of guests come to stay, and they all rave about this topper. Kaitlin's mother, a notoriously fussy sleeper, woke up the next morning and reached for her phone to order her own Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper − it's just that good.

As a hot sleeper, Kaitlin tries to avoid memory foam, which she believed was too thick for air to flow through. She only agreed to test a memory foam mattress topper when she learned about the graphite infusion. Graphite is a highly conductive material, which channels excess thermal energy away from the body and out of the bed. Kaitlin tested the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper in the middle of July in a room without AC and she couldn't get over how well she slept.

There's more to life than thermoregulation. 'As a side sleeper, I know I need a topper that's soft enough to cradle my body without swallowing it,' says Kaitlin. 'Certainly, the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper contoured around my curves to bear my weight. Still, it sank no more than an inch and sprang back into shape soon after my weight was removed.' Kaitlin finds it cradles her neck and shoulders for soft support when she sleeps on her side.

We can't talk about the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper without mentioning the price. A Queen-sized topper costs $445, which is pretty expensive: closer to the price of the best affordable mattress than your average topper. Still, Kaitlin thinks it's worth the money as a way to elongate the life of your old mattress.

Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper | $445 at Saatva

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Kaitlin Madden

Kaitlin is one of our freelance reviewers, whose work features in Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and Refinery29. As a side sleeper, Kaitlin needs a mattress topper that can cushion her joints while supporting her spine. Read the full review: Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper

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The best cooling memory foam mattress topper

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Where the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper is infused with (you guessed it) graphite, the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper incorporates copper, another highly conductive element. The copper flecks through the comfort layer of memory foam create thermal highways to carry excess body heat out of your bed.

'As a hot sleeper testing through a humid summer in the Pacific Northwest, I really wanted the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper to live up to its cooling claims,' says expert tester Lauren Allain. Compared with traditional memory foam, Lauren found that the copper helped to dissipate heat and block odors. 'Now, I wouldn't say that the topper trapped heat, but I did wake up in a sweat for a few nights during testing,' she admits. Ultimately, there's only so much you can do to enhance the cooling of memory foam – it might never be as breathable as a latex mattress topper.

Still, there are plenty of positives to memory foam. For one thing, it makes an excellent motion isolator. If you share a bed with a pet or partner, you can rely on memory foam to minimize the motion transfer so you can sleep undisturbed. Lauren found that the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper offered 'real pressure relief while sleeping on my side and sufficient support when I lay on my stomach.'

The ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper delivers on thermoregulation, pressure relief, and motion isolation, but it falls down in the edge support test. When Lauren tried to sit on the side of the bed, she had to brace herself against the carpet to keep from falling. If you like to sit or sleep on the side of the bed, you'll need a topper with better edge support: I recommend the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper.

ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper | $299.95 at ViscoSoft

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Lauren Allain

Lauren is one of our freelance reviewers. These days, she writes mattress and pillow reviews for US News. As a combination sleeper, Lauren needs a medium mattress topper to support her on her front, back, and sides. Read the full review: ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper

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The best cooling latex mattress topper

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I'm a hot sleeper and an eco-conscious shopper. I'm keen to keep cool, but I'd rather not spend my money on synthetic fabrics and fills. If I could only buy one of these cooling mattress toppers and pads, I'd get the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper for natural breathability.

This is the best organic mattress topper on the market. It's filled with organic Dunlop latex, which is dense and durable, arranged in an open-cell structure to boost breathability. Then, it's topped with organic cotton and wool for natural thermoregulation and moisture-wicking. Our expert tester, Antonia Santoro, still raves about the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper, two years after she started testing: 'This thing got me through a hot and humid New York summer. I never woke up with night sweats and I managed to sleep comfortably even when my HVAC system went haywire.'

The Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper recently relaunched. Now, it's available in two heights and two comfort levels to suit every sleep position. I recommend a deeper topper in Plush for side sleepers who need more give, while the two-inch topper in Medium should provide solid support for back and stomach sleepers.

There's only one thing stopping Antonia from giving this topper the full five stars: the absence of corner straps. There's no way to secure the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper to the bed: you just have to trust that the cotton canvas underneath the topper can get a grip on the mattress. Before you buy, I suggest you learn how to keep a mattress topper from sliding.

Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper | $299 at Avocado

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Antonia Santoro

Antonia is one of our freelance reviewers. She tested the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper in tandem with the Avocado Green Mattress, as an affordable alternative. As someone who likes to sit and sleep on the side of the bed, Antonia needs a topper with solid edge support. Read the full review: Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper

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The best cooling mattress topper for side sleepers

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Filled with springy and responsive Talalay latex, the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper offers contouring comfort and near-perfect pressure relief. Peel back the mattress cover and you'll find organic wool, cotton, and cashmere in the comfort layers, working to wick moisture, keeping your bed and body clean and cool.

'This latex mattress topper feels more supportive than a traditional down or cotton pillow-top, and more responsive than your average memory foam mattress topper,' says expert tester, Kaitlin Madden. 'Latex offers softness without the sinking feeling you get from memory foam.' If you suffer from aches and pains alongside your night sweats, then this is the mattress topper for you.

One of the best and worst things about latex, depending on who you ask, is its natural elasticity. The same bounce that makes it easier to get into and out of bed also makes it much harder to sleep undisturbed. Kaitlin found that she could feel it when her husband rolled around on his side of the bed. If you're looking for a cooling mattress topper with optimal motion isolation, you'd be better off with a memory foam model.

According to Kaitlin, there's a lot to like about the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper, 'but there are a few practical points that keep it from occupying pole position in our buying guide. There are no corner straps, so there's nothing to keep the topper from sliding across your mattress, and the cotton cover is prone to bunching up beneath your body.'

Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper | $374.10 at Birch

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Kaitlin Madden

These days, Kaitlin is one of our freelance reviewers, but she used to be Executive Editor for Homes & Gardens. As a side sleeper, Kaitlin appreciates a softer surface to cushion her joints and take some pressure off her body. Read the full review: Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper

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The best cooling mattress topper for night sweats

The Sijo TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad gets rave reviews online. 'I have been looking for different ways to keep cool at night,' says one particularly enthusiastic customer. 'It's especially bad in summer, obviously, but it's an all-year affair for this sweaty gal. I also have two pets who sleep in bed with me. They both like to be touching me in some way, and they are tiny furnaces. Ever since I put this TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad on the bed, we're all sleeping way more comfortably.'

This mattress pad is filled with a patented blend of thermoregulating fibers and wrapped in Supima cotton for strength and softness. Much like the best mattress protectors, the Sijo TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad won't dramatically alter the look or feel of your mattress, but it will help to keep your bed and your body cool and clean.

Most importantly, the Sijo TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad is moisture-wicking, working to absorb your sweat so that you don't wake up sticky. This should prevent any unsightly yellow stains on the outside of your mattress pad and keep mold or mildew from developing within.

A few practical points: the Sijo TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad only comes in sizes Full, Queen, King, and California King. That should suit most adults, but you couldn't stretch it over a kid's twin bed or a college dorm mattress, which tends to be a Twin XL. Also, you only get a seven-night sleep trial before you need to commit to your purchase. That's not enough time to get to grips with the pad or monitor its thermoregulation throughout the year.

Sijo TempTune Cooling Mattress Pad | $157.50 at Sijo

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The best cooling mattress pad for hot flashes

Our bodies don't react well to extremes of temperature. If you suffer from hot flashes, you don't need a cooling mattress topper so much as a thermoregulating mattress pad. The Slumber Cloud Performance Mattress Pad reads and reacts to your internal temperature overnight, cooling you down when you overheat and warming you up when you start to chill.

The Slumber Cloud Performance Mattress Pad comes in every size, from Twin to California King, with a Split King option to suit couples who share a bed but not a sleep style. Thanks to the ultra-stretchy elastic skirt, this mattress pad should be able to accommodate any mattress up to 20 inches deep.

The Slumber Cloud Performance Mattress Pad boasts a 4.0 average star rating from 738 verified reviews. 'We've had this mattress pad for just over a week and we're very happy with its quality as we are sleeping much cooler now,' begins one recent review. 'It's also much more comfortable than our previous memory foam topper.' That might have to do with the thinness of the Slumber Cloud Performance Mattress Pad, which is just a quarter of an inch thick, and works much more like a mattress protector than a mattress topper.

There are a smattering of more mixed reviews. 'I've been using the mattress pad for two or three weeks now,' writes one customer. 'There is a noticeable difference in temperature to the touch. I still get hot during the night, but I seem to cool down faster. This isn't a fix-all but I believe it's helped.' As for fit and feel, opinion is split: some say it's too soft, too firm, too tight, too loose, but most say it's just right.

Slumber Cloud Performance Mattress Pad | $259.00 at Slumber Cloud

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Best cooling mattress toppers and pads – Side by Side

Honorable mentions

Over the years, my expert team has ranked and reviewed 12 mattress toppers and sampled a handful of mattress pads for consideration in deal round-ups and buying guides. My top 6 represents the best of the best for pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support, and, in particular, thermoregulation. Still, I wanted to shout out three more cooling toppers and pads that might meet your needs.

How we test mattress toppers and pads

I lead a team of seasoned product testers across America to rank and review mattress toppers and pads. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, body types, and sleep styles. We test each product for a minimum of 30 days to give the most accurate indication of long-term performance.

We assess each mattress topper against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. To learn more about how we test mattress toppers, consult our expert guide. We assess mattress pads slightly differently, since they aren't thick enough to impact the motion isolation or edge support of a mattress. We pay close attention to the pressure relief and thermoregulation of a mattress pad, as well as durability (how well it washes).

To assess pressure relief, we lie on a topper and switch between our stomachs, backs, and sides, considering how comfortable the topper feels in each position. To assess thermoregulation, we switch off our HVAC systems and sleep through heatwaves and cold snaps, making note of any time we wake up in a sweat. Thermoregulation is the most important factor for a cooling mattress topper or pad. If a product underperforms in other areas, but excels at thermoregulation, it might still make its way into our buying guide.

To assess motion isolation, we fill a cup with water and set it in the center of the topper. Then, we take a dumbbell and place it on the topper, moving it incrementally closer to the cup. The more the cup moves, and the more water spills, the worse the motion isolation, and the less suitable the topper for couples and light sleepers. To assess edge support, we sit on the side of the bed and measure how far we sink. The further we fall, the worse the edge support, and the harder it is to get into and out of bed.

How to choose a cooling mattress topper or pad

I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the best mattress topper. Together, we've tested 12 toppers from Saatva, Nolah, Tempur-Pedic, and more, along with a smattering of mattress pads from brands such as Cozy Earth and Sijo. We've found some great cooling toppers and pads, as well as some total heat traps. Here are the most important things to bear in mind while shopping.

Your sleep position

Whether you lie on your front, back, or side makes a big difference to your spinal alignment. You need to find the right mattress firmness for your body. Most mattress manufacturers categorize their toppers as 'soft', 'medium-soft', 'medium', 'medium-firm', or 'firm'.

As a general rule, side sleepers tend to prefer a medium surface to cushion their joints while supporting their waist to keep the spine straight. Back sleepers prefer medium-firm to keep their pelvis from sinking, while stomach sleepers need a firm surface to keep their hips in line with their chest.

Remember, only a mattress topper is thick enough to alter the firmness and feel of your mattress: a mattress pad isn't. You should only buy a cooling mattress pad if you're happy with the comfort and support of your current mattress.

Your budget

If you're shopping for a decent mattress topper in a Queen size to keep you cool, you should expect to spend a minimum of $200, and probably more like $300. Mattress pads tend to be cheaper, since they're thinner and less sophisticated bits of kit: you could spend $150 and get a good cooling mattress pad.

The current state of your mattress

If you purchased your mattress relatively recently, and it appears to be in good condition, you don't want a mattress topper to alter the firmness or feel: you'd be better off with a cooling mattress pad. If your mattress is past its prime or showing visible signs of aging, from deformed foam to squeaking springs, then it might be time to replace your mattress. The average lifespan of a mattress is 7 years, but you can elongate it with a mattress topper.

FAQs

Why is my mattress making me hot?

Probably because it's made from memory foam. High-density memory foam leaves little room for air to flow. You end up trapping heat and moisture inside the mattress, which becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Where can I buy a cooling mattress topper?

The best places to buy bedding for hot sleepers are specialist sleep stores, rather than major home retailers. We think Saatva makes the best cooling mattress topper, but you'll need to shop at Avocado for organic materials. Sijo does a great line of cooling bed accessories at a more affordable price point.

If you've tried everything, and you still aren't sleeping comfortably, then it might be time to swap out your old bed for the best cooling mattress. I've ranked and reviewed six of the best from Tempur-Pedic, Saatva, Zinus, and more.