The 6 Best Cooling Mattress Toppers and Pads You Can Buy in 2026 – Tried and Tested Picks for Hot Sleepers
Sleep Editor-approved options for all budgets and preferences
Emilia Hitching
20/05/26: With Memorial Day fast approaching on the 25th, I've updated this guide for the warmer spring and summer months, for when you need a cooling mattress topper or pad more than ever – you can shop the best deals below. I've also swapped the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper for the more cooling Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper, which I've been testing and am impressed by. All Queen-size pricing and details have also been checked and verified for accuracy.
If you're a hot sleeper, the best cooling mattress toppers aren't just a warm-weather addition – they're a lifestyle. But, come the soaring temperatures of the sunnier spring and summer seasons, they become essential for almost everyone.
As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best mattress toppers. For this guide, we've tested a range of cooling toppers and pads, from graphite picks to ones made of organic latex and bamboo, for 30 nights each to find out which are best for comfort, support, and varied budgets, all of which scored 5/5 for thermoregulation.
6 Best Cooling Mattress Toppers and Pads – Memorial Day Deals
Upgrade your sleep space ahead of summer with these Memorial Day deals across our best cooling mattress toppers:
6 Best Cooling Mattress Toppers and Pads – The Quick Pick
If you want the best balance of cooling and support, our top pick is the Saatva Graphite Topper. It uses graphite to pull heat away from the body − unlike standard memory foam − and performed outstandingly in our high-humidity tests.
6 Best Cooling Mattress Toppers and Pads – Our Tested Picks at a Glance
Below, you'll find a bite-sized summary of each topper or pad our team has tested in our homes for at least 30 nights. To learn more about a particular product, keep scrolling, or hit 'read more below' to jump to that section where I've listed the need-to-know specifications before digging into the details of our testing experience. You can also learn more about how to choose a cooling mattress topper or pad if you're unsure.
All prices were correct at the time of publication, and refer to 'Queen' sizes.
Graphite is a highly conductive material, which works to channel excess thermal energy away from your body and out of your bed. This topper kept our tester cool through a hot and humid New England summer.
Early iterations of memory foam were known to trap heat, but the industry has made big leaps in sleep tech since then. This memory foam mattress topper is wrapped with GlacioTex fabric that our tester confirms is actually cool to the touch.
Latex is the material of choice for hot sleepers and those looking for a more sustainable material option. Not only is this mattress topper filled with organic latex, which is highly breathable, but it's topped with organic wool and cotton, which make great natural moisture-wickers.
Side sleepers like me need a topper that's soft enough to cushion their hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles yet supportive enough to keep their spine straight. This medium-soft mattress topper strikes a great balance between cooling comfort and support, and perfectly cradles your body's curves.
Cold sweats often follow hot flashes. You need breathable bedding to help you regulate your temperature as you sleep. I recommend the natural thermoregulation of bamboo to keep your body on an even keel, which satisfied shoppers describe as 'like sleeping on a cool cloud.'
This affordable entry is both easy to set up and effective when it comes to cooling. It also conveniently features a breathable, machine-washable cover.
The Best Cooling Mattress Topper Overall
Our expert tester, Kaitlin Madden, side hustles as a short-term rental host, and reviewed the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper. She picked up the Saatva Memory Foam 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.
Though a fussy sleeper, Kaitlin's mother woke up the next morning and reached for her phone to order her own Saatva Topper − it's just that good. For that reason, if you're a generally hot sleeper or are dealing with postpartum or menopausal hormones, for example, with the budget for a serious upgrade, this is the pick for you.
As a hot sleeper, Kaitlin previously tried to avoid memory foam, believing it 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 that channels excess thermal energy away from the body and out of the bed. Kaitlin tested the Saatva Memory Foam Graphite Mattress Topper in the middle of July in a room without AC, and she couldn't get over how well she slept in stuffy, high-humidity weather.
'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 also found that 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 typically costs $305, which is pretty expensive. Still, Kaitlin thinks it's worth the money as a way to prolong the life of your old mattress and keep cool and comfortable.
Key takeaway: Best for unparalleled cooling and support.
The Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress Topper
'Since I turned 40, I have regularly woken up drenched in sweat and exhausted,' says expert bedding and sleep tester, Meg St-Esprit, who reviewed the Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper. 'Budget mattress toppers, comprised mostly of foam, only made me hotter. I was reluctant to test another memory foam mattress topper – until I felt for myself the cooling capabilities of GlacioTex.'
GlacioTex is just a marketing term for a patented fabric, made from a blend of polyester and polyethylene. It's hypoallergenic to guard against bacteria and bed bugs, and wraps right the way around the Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper.
'The first morning testing, I woke up cool and comfortable for the first time in months,' says Meg. 'During the first 30 days of the testing period, I still had three mornings where I woke up overheated, but the frequency was drastically reduced.'
The Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper, available at Helix, isn't perfect. For one thing, it's expensive, and, standing three inches tall, it adds significant height to the bed. You might need to purchase a new set of the best bed sheets, or best cooling bed sheets, with deeper pockets. Amazon's best cooling sheets are worth a look, too.
Still, Meg was highly impressed by the Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper's motion isolation and edge support, even though this model isn't a more premium or advanced active cooling mattress pad with dual zones for couples, which makes this a perfect pick if you share your bed with a partner.
'I was able to hang off the edge of the bed to read quietly at night without disturbing my husband, or rolling off the edge of the bed onto the floor,' she says.
Key takeaway: Best for sturdy co-sleeping.
The Best Cooling Latex Mattress Topper
If you're a hot sleeper who's looking to be more sustainable at home, and to avoid synthetic fabrics and fills, opt for the Avocado Eco-Organic Latex Mattress Topper available at Avocado for natural breathability.
Not only is it the best organic mattress topper on the market, but it's also vegan-certified and made without wool. Instead, it's filled with organic Dunlop latex, which is dense and durable, arranged in an open-cell structure to boost breathability to see you through any heatwaves or HVAC imbalance. Then, it's topped with organic cotton and wool for natural thermoregulation and moisture-wicking.
Our expert tester, Antonia Santoro, who tested and reviewed the Avocado Organic Latex Mattress Topper, still raves about it, over two years after she started testing. 'This thing got me through a hot and humid New York summer,' she says. 'I never woke up with night sweats, and I managed to sleep comfortably even when my HVAC system went haywire.'
Since Antonio tested it, the Avocado Eco-Organic Latex Mattress Topper has been 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.
Key takeaway: Best organic materials.
The Best Cooling Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers
I've often heard that foam toppers can trap heat, but rest assured − I tested and reviewed the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper and can confirm that it more than delivered on all its cooling claims.
In fact, the GlacioTex cover feels so cool that it almost feels wet to the touch, and those benefits could be felt even once my fitted sheet was on and I made the bed. I've been testing it for over three months now, and have never once woken up overheating or experienced disturbed sleep, which is why I've swapped it for the Birch pick, which previously sat in this spot.
As a side sleeper, I need a topper that's firm enough to support my spine, but not so firm that it hurts my hips. This one is the perfect middle ground for me: Plush, supportive, medium-firm, and boasting impressive motion isolation, which means my partner doesn't wake me up when he moves throughout the night.
I opted for the least thick, 2" height to ensure my bedsheets would fit over without slipping, and it's perfect. If you prefer something thicker, I'd suggest investing in some oversized flat sheets, which you can tuck tightly beneath your mattress.
Just one thing to note − I experienced some very strong off-gassing when I first opened this topper. This is nothing unusual, but I'd recommend opening it in a larger space, like your living room, and laying it down flat, opening the windows during the day, to allow the scent to dissipate. After a few days, the smell was gone, and now it's, fortunately, not noticeable at all.
Key takeaway: Supportive enough for side sleepers.
The Best Bamboo Cooling Mattress Pad
The Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad is plush and quilted, though not as thick as a cooling mattress topper alternative.
Moisture-wicking and antimicrobial, bamboo is built to bust the bacteria that breeds in sticky, sweaty places, such as beds. Naturally breathable, the Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad, available at Cozy Earth, cools me down when I overheat, without ever getting uncomfortably cold.
The Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad is designed to enhance the comfort and cooling of your bed. It's super slim-line, fitting easily beneath my fitted sheet, with 360-degree elastic to get a good grip on my mattress. Its slim design also means it's more affordable than a topper.
I tested the pad in combination with the Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter and Bamboo Duvet Cover, and if I had to pick the best product out of all three, as Cozy Earth is on the more expensive side, it is hands down the mattress pad. I couldn't believe how soft and silky it felt, and I appreciated that the smooth design never rustles as you toss and turn.
The Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad boasts a 4.8 average star rating from 525 shopper reviews. 'Like sleeping on a cool cloud,' reads one recent review, from verified buyer Will S. 'My husband and I both run hot, so this was a perfect solution for us. Super soft and cooling.'
Another, from Joseph M, echoes, 'I can finally sleep comfortably. I am a very hot sleeper, and despite cranking the temperature way down in my room at night, I'd always felt my bedding to be stifling and sweaty. The result was inevitably me kicking off the covers after overheating, only to wake up freezing. Lather, rinse, repeat.
'With the Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad, especially when matched with a full set of their bamboo bedding, I am comfortable for the first time. I don't get cold, but I don't overheat. I don't wake up sweaty. My bedding no longer feels stifling. Everything is buttery smooth and luxurious.
'Care and maintenance is super easy as it is all machine washable. I love it so much that I bought an extra to keep as backup when I'm washing the other one.'
Key takeaway: Best slimline design.
The Best Cooling Mattress Topper on a Budget
The Viscosoft High Density Mattress Topper available at Viscosoft is their most popular cooling topper and, in our opinion, for good reason. In fact, after Meg reviewed the Viscosoft High Density Mattress Topper, it made its way to the top of our guide on the best mattress toppers for dorm beds. It also boasts over 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, with satisfied shoppers praising it for its comfort, quality, and lower price point.
'Best purchase I've made in a while,' reads one review. 'I have been looking for a mattress topper suitable for plus-size side-sleepers for a while now. I did quite a bit of research before landing on this specific topper. My mattress is very cheap and springy, so I was looking for something that would conceal those properties as well as support my figure properly and alleviate pressure from my back and hips.
'I knew after the first night of sleeping on this that I had made the right choice. I considered cheaping out and choosing something lower quality, but I chose to invest in my health and comfort, and boy am I grateful I did. I wanted to wait until I had slept on this topper for at least a few weeks before writing this review. My thoughts have not changed at all. This mattress topper is clearly very high quality.'
Meg agrees, adding that she found it soft, supportive, and effective at keeping her cool all night long – as it's infused with a cooling gel to dissipate heat, wick moisture, and block odors.
While she experienced a few issues with keeping the topper firmly on the bed, she did conclude that you can't go wrong for the price with this pick.
'I believe this is a great product for the cost,' she advises.
Key takeaway: Comfortable and cooling, but not without its faults.
How We Test Mattress Toppers and Pads
As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the best mattress toppers and pads. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, sleep styles, and body types, and we work right across the country, from warm cities in the South to snow-capped corners of the Pacific Midwest.
For this guide, we tested toppers and pads that are best for cooling. They still needed to pass tests on pressure relief, support, and motion isolation, but our main focus when testing was on their cooling properties. Our team of testers lives in both the UK and the USA, so a range of temperatures and conditions were experienced, and many of us experience overheating in bed at night. We always test mattress toppers and pads in our own homes for a minimum of 30 nights before we publish our initial reviews. This gives a good indication of long-term performance.
To learn more about how we test mattress toppers, consult our expert guide.
We score mattress pads slightly differently, since pads aren't thick enough to impact the motion isolation or edge support of a mattress. Instead, we pay close attention to the look and feel of the mattress pad through the sheets, considering its thermoregulation alongside ease of care, such as how well it washes and dries.
We also consider the practical aspects of shopping for toppers and pads, including the range of sizes available, the details of delivery, and any warranties. Where possible, we compare our findings against verified customer reviews to learn more about long-term use.
Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the product to help you determine value for money.
Don't forget that there are trade-offs to consider between cooling toppers and pads. For example, toppers may change the way your mattress feels, for better or worse, while pads may shift with sheets, particularly if they don't come complete with corner straps.
How to Choose a Cooling Topper or Pad
If you're still not sure which of our best cooling toppers and pads is right for you, let's start with the differences between them.
A cooling topper is a thick slab of foam, made from or infused with cooling materials, and secured with corner straps or a grip pad, which can work wonders at transforming an uncomfortable mattress and help you to sleep better.
A cooling mattress pad for night sweats, on the other hand, which is very similar to a mattress protector, is usually made from bamboo, cotton, and other natural fibres that won't impact the feel of your mattress too much, other than adding a cooling buffer.
And, when it comes to considering the cooling mattress topper vs mattress protector difference, a mattress protector does just that – protects your mattress – and is often waterproof, too.
Here are four key things to consider when looking for a great cooling mattress topper or pad that will work well for you:
- Consider your sleep position: When it comes to sleep positions, whether you lie on your front, back, or side makes a big difference to your spinal alignment. Most mattress manufacturers categorize their toppers as 'soft', 'medium-soft', 'medium', 'medium-firm', or 'firm'. 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.
- Set your budget: As a general rule, cooling mattress toppers are more expensive than cooling mattress pads, as they're thicker, and often filled with more expensive materials, including foams, rather than cotton, wool, or bamboo that typically make up a pad. I suggest you set an upper and lower limit to your budget before you start shopping. I'd expect to spend somewhere between $200 and $500 on a cooling mattress topper, while a cooling mattress pad might be more affordable – more like $100 to $200.
- The current state of your mattress: If you purchased your mattress relatively recently, and it appears to be in good condition, and if you don't want a cooling 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 seven years, but you can prolong it with a mattress topper.
- Key features: Consider material, such as natural cooling mattress pads made of organic materials for hot sleepers, thickness, as you may need a cooling mattress topper for a deep mattress fit, for example, trial period, returns, compatibility with mattress depth, and hot-sleeper signals on product listings.
Below, you can compare each of our picks side-by-side. All offer free shipping.
Name | Price | Firmness | Thickness | Type | Sizes | Sleep Trials | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper | $225 - $355 | Medium-firm | 3 inches | Memory foam | Twin-California King (inc. Split King) | 180 nights | 1 year |
Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper | $373.75 - $561.25 | Medium-firm | 3 inches | Memory foam and high-density foam | Twin-California King | 120 nights | 1 year |
Avocado Eco-Organic Latex Mattress Toppers | $249 - $499 | Medium | 2 inches | Organic latex | Twin-California King | 100 nights | 1 year |
Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper | $349 - $549 | Medium-soft | 2-3 inches | CertiPUR-US certified polyurethane foam | Twin-California King | 30 nights | 10 years |
Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad | $128 - $188 | Medium-soft | 1/2 inch | Viscose from bamboo | Twin- California King (inc. Split King, no Twin XL) | 100 nights | 10 years |
Viscosoft High-Density Mattress Topper | $179.95 - $274.95 | Medium | 2-4 inches | Gel-infused memory foam | Twin-California King (inc. Full XL, Short Queen and Short King) | 90 nights | 5 years |
FAQs
Why Is My Mattress Making Me Hot?
If your mattress is making you hot, it's 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.
If you feel most comfortable on memory foam, but you're keen to regulate your temperature, you could narrow the search to a gel mattress. Gel beads, included in a cooling mattress topper with gel-infused memory foam, are designed to absorb excess body heat and disperse it through the mattress, so you don't overheat.
How to Find the Best Deals on Mattress Toppers
As with anything, it's always worth keeping an eye out for reductions, which typically occur between November and January.
Events such as Black Friday, on the final Friday in November, Cyber Monday, the first Monday in December, and the Boxing Day sales will usually see the best deals.
Keep this page bookmarked if you're in the market for a new cooling mattress topper or pad, as I'll be hunting for the best deals and updating this page to reflect those prices and highlight any great deals.
How Thick Should a Cooling Mattress Topper Be for the Best Performance?
How thick a cooling topper should be will largely depend on individual needs, as a slim design can cool just as well as a thicker alternative. To illustrate this, our top six included in this guide range from half an inch to four inches.
The thicker the cooling topper, the more 'plush' it will be, but this can also create issues when it comes to using fitted sheets or a mattress protector, or fitting your mattress with the topper onto your bedframe.
For the best fit and comfort, measure your space and then consider your priorities. A thicker topper may mean you need to buy new bedding, but it could seriously upgrade your sleep.
How to Know If a Cooling Mattress Protector Could Be Better for You
As Homes & GardAs Homes & Gardens' resident sleep writer, I've sampled some of the best mattress protectors on the market. These lightweight layers can bust bed bugs and safeguard your mattress from spills and stains, but only a few can stop night sweats. That being said, while a cooling topper is for adding comfort, support, and cooling, a cooling protector will simply help you keep cool while keeping your mattress clean.
Meet Our Testing Team
Antonia is one of our freelance sleep product 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.
Kaitlin is one of our freelance reviewers, whose work features in Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and Refinery29. She has over a decade of experience in homes and interiors writing and, as a side sleeper, needs a mattress topper that can cushion her joints while supporting her spine.
Meg is one of our regular freelance sleep product reviewers and travels a lot, experiencing good and bad bedding all over the world, and touring a mattress factory in her hometown of Pittsburgh. She particularly likes the contouring comfort and pressure relief of memory foam to ease her lower back ache.
If you're working with a tighter budget, but you're still keen to keep cool in warm weather, you could pick up a set of the best cooling sheets.
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