Many of today’s best mattresses come with some degree of temperature regulation, but the mattresses we’ve selected for this guide are the ones created specifically for cooler sleeping. Foam-only beds generally sleep warmer than hybrids and innerspring models; partly because of memory foam’s tendency to trap heat (although more advanced foam beds now have plenty of ways to counter this), but also because coil layers allow air to circulate more freely through the bed and keep temperatures in check. On average cooling mattresses are more expensive than standard mattresses, and some of the more high-tech options below are indeed an investment. The good news is that mattress sales are regular and generous, so you should be able to avoid paying full price. Our ranking also includes options that are more budget-friendly. While they vary in specifics, cooling mattresses usually have a temperature-regulating surface that dissipates body heat and keeps the cover cool to the touch. The best cooling mattresses will often use materials such as graphite, copper (both cooling and hygienic) and gel-infused memory foam to increase breathability and wick away moisture to keep you dry. If you’re concerned about buying online, be reassured that each model comes on a risk-free trial basis (100 nights is the average), and if you change your mind during that time you’ll get a refund and the mattress will be collected. We recommend sleeping on your new bed for at least 30 nights to ensure it really does help you feel cooler during sleep, and if the trial period allows, testing it in a couple of seasons, too. Below are our recommendations for this year’s best cooling mattresses. Bear in mind too that the frame you use will make a difference, so check our best bed base guide for recommendations.
The best cooling mattresses – as chosen by experts
Hybrids are great for offering proper back support and tend to provide a cooler sleeping experience than even the best memory foam mattresses. The 12-inch high Cocoon by Sealy Chill is a reliable and affordable cooling mattress with impressive features for the lower price. The Chill is a great choice for combination sleepers, those of an average weight, and couples looking for good motion transfer plus cooling. The Cocoon Chill magic begins with a cover designed to remain cool to the touch during sleep. That’s followed by two layers of the brand’s Phase Change Material pressure-relieving memory foam. This dissipates body heat while adapting to your unique body shape, supporting your spine in various sleeping positions. It also provides a comfy ‘sink-in’ feeling but with that all-important spinal support, particularly for back sleepers. The Cocoon Chill cooling mattress has a core layer made up of eight-inch pocketed coils, there to provide a slightly bouncier feel hybrid while promoting good airflow. The firmer coils along the steel perimeter provide reinforced edge-support, meaning you can both sleep right up to the edge and use every inch of your bed space. Compared to other models in our best cooling mattress guide, the Cocoon by Sealy Chill is very well priced for the cooling tech on offer, with a queen usually clocking in at around $800 during its most recent sales. (Use our guide to the best Cocoon by Sealy mattress sales for the latest offers.) After analyzing user reviews, we did spot some minor complaints that the mattress isn’t firm enough for stomach sleepers, or that side sleepers who enjoy a softer mattress found it too firm in the shoulder and hips areas. But overall, the user reviews are positive and praising of the cooling comfort in relation to a more affordable price for a cooling mattress.
Read our Cocoon Chill Memory Foam mattress review
The extra features in Nectar’s Premier Copper mattress are designed for hot sleepers looking for a premium cooling mattress with a more affordable price. At 14” deep, the Premier Copper delivers big on comfort as well as temperature-regulation. At the top is a cooling quilted cover made with soft, breathable poly-blend materials infused with heat-conductive copper fibers and other heat-wicking tech. These help keep the mattress cool to the touch. Beneath the cover is the Nectar Smart Layer with ActiveCool HD. This layer has four inches of cozy pressure-relieving gel memory foam that contours to your body for supportive sleep. The layer’s phase-changing material adapts to your body temperature to help you stay comfortable and wake refreshed too. There’s also a sturdy 9” base for support from the foundation up, with dense foam that works with the cozier layers above. Nectar’s cooling mattress is made with toxin-free hypoallergenic materials, and comes with a risk-free 365-night trial, which is plenty of time for you to try it throughout the seasons. There’s also a forever warranty and free shipping, which makes the Premier Copper a low-stress option if you’re looking to upgrade your current mattress to something with proper cooling power. There are regular Nectar mattress deals that feature hundreds of dollars in savings and include free bedding with purchase – especially useful if you’re opting for a size that’s different than your current mattress.
Read our Nectar Premier Copper mattress review
The Purple Original is one of the original and best breathable mattresses for hot sleepers as it uses the brand’s famous GelFlex Grid material to dissipate heat and deliver more tailored pressure relief. So if you sleep hot and you’re experiencing hip or back pain, and you don’t have the budget for a Tempur-Pedic, then the Purple is the best choice. The entire mattress is designed to boost your sleep comfort, and that starts with temperature. There are over 1,400 air channels built into the Grid to ensure better airflow, in and out of the mattress. That stops heat from pooling inside and heating you from the base up. The Purple Original also opts for breathable foams to double down on all that cooling. This is also a brilliant mattress if you’re unsure what level of firmness you prefer, as, thanks to the GelFlex Grid, the Purple Original is designed to be softer and more responsive under your shoulders and hips, but firmer and more supportive for your back and legs. You’ll get 100 nights to trial it at home, with free shipping and free returns should you change your mind during the trial period. It’s also covered by a 10-year warranty, which is standard among cooling mattresses of this price.
Read our Purple Mattress review
Eight Sleep is the place to go if you want an ultra-smart cooling bed. You can buy the Pod as a mattress, but we’d probably recommend just going for the cover, and pairing it with a mattress that suits your needs. All the tech is in the cover, anyway – the mattress is just a standard mattress. We’re now on the third generation of Pods, and they’re cleverer than ever. The cover contains a network of water-filled tubes that can be cooled or heated to your exact preferences, between 55°F and 110°F – and you can even pick different temperatures for each half of the bed. That’s just the start of it. One of our best smart bed picks, the Pod Pro 3 also monitors your nighttime habits (again, for each side of the bed separately) the same way a sleep tracker wearable would, to provide you with insights to help you improve how well you sleep each night. It’ll track everything from sleep stages and duration to heart rate, HRV and more. And if you don’t enjoy being woken up by an alarm, there’s an in-built GentleRise alarm option that vibrates the cover at chest height for a more soothing (?) wake-up. The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress is Casper’s top-of-the-line model. Imbued with specialized ‘Snow’ technology, it promises a 24% cooler-to-the-touch feeling than the original Casper Wave Hybrid thanks to its phase-changing QuickCool cover. There are also HeatDelete Bands designed to remove 34% more body heat and sustain temperature regulation for up to 12 hours. But cooling is not all this mattress can do well. As we mention in our Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress review, its ergonomic design and strategically-placed gel pods in the middle third of the bed yield pressure relief along the back and neck, alleviating any pain in those areas. (We also deem it one of the best mattresses for back pain.) The back sleepers on our panel found it provides excellent all-body support in that position, but side sleepers and those of smaller stature may need time to break it in before feeling comfortable. Casper’s Snow technology comes at a high cost, which is why it doesn’t rank higher on our list. The MSRP for a twin is $2,295, while a queen retails at $3,395. You’ll be able to save as much as $800 during Casper mattress sales – which still makes it an expensive mattress but it’s a much more affordable alternative to the Tempur-Pedic Tempur LUXEbreeze (at number nine). You’ll get 100 nights to trial it at home, with free returns plus a full refund if you’re not satisfied. Otherwise, a 10-year limited warranty applies.
Read our Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress review
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Hybrid is a cooling memory foam and innerspring mattress that provides a comfy sleeping space for anyone who switches sleep positions in the night and is always kicking off the covers because they’re too warm. The Aurora Hybrid cooling mattress comes in three levels of firmness (soft, medium, firm) and a guide on the brand’s website will help you choose the right feel for your body and sleep position. There’s also a 120-night trial, which is one of the longest in this guide (though it doesn’t compete with the industry best of 365 nights). This 13.5-inch hybrid starts with a 1.5-inch layer of CopperFlex foam for added pressure relief, but copper also has antimicrobial elements, making this a good choice for fresher sleep. The brand’s own TitanCool proprietary foam is infused with cooling gel beads that liquefy at higher temperatures, so they adapt to your environment and body temperature while you sleep. After that, the mattress has two inches of responsive foam followed by a one-inch gel foam layer. They sit on top of up to 1,032 coils to deliver all-over support and pressure relief across your hips, back, shoulders and knees. A 3/4-inch memory foam base provides durability for the coil layer. It’s not all good news; in our Brooklyn Aurora Luxe mattress review we found the Aurora’s smooth top weave to be just a little on the slippery side, so your fitted sheet (and indeed you) may have trouble staying put. And this mattresses is one that emits a particularly powerful and noxious off-gassing odor for the first few hours after you unbox it, so be sure to keep a window open. Despite these downsides, we still rate this comfortable and supportive mattress as an excellent choice for anyone who wants a cooling mattress that can also help with insomnia and back pain. From our analysis of user reviews, customers seem to relish the advanced cooling tech of the Brooklyn Aurora, and how it has a relatively affordable price tag (especially when on sale) compared to similar models - a queen retails for $1,874. Some customers complained that Aurora was too bouncy, particularly the soft version, but body weight and sleeping position should be taken into consideration here. The Aurora also gets high marks for its cool-touch surface, and how it comes in your choice of three different firmness levels.
Read our Brooklyn Aurora Luxe mattress review
Not only is the GhostBed Luxe one of our best cooling mattresses, it also features highly in our guide to the best mattresses in a box as a superb luxury option for anyone who enjoys a softer, more snugly bed. The 13-inch tall GhostBed Luxe is constructed with seven individual layers of cooling and comfort elements, creating a cool yet cradling effect along your body. In our GhostBed Luxe mattress review, we found it decidedly cool and a great mattress for side sleepers. It also has superb motion transfer, so it’s good for couples who toss and turn throughout the night, or those sleepers who share their bed with pets. It also has excellent edge support so you can spread out and use every inch of the bed as you wish. The GhostLuxe cooling mattress uses a material technology called Ghost Ice Fabric. This is made from polyester and viscose with a plush feel that’s cool to the touch. That’s followed by one inch of cooling fiber, then one inch of gel memory foam. The Ghost Ice Layer features patent-pending thermo-sensitivity technology that senses heat while you sleep and adjusts the mattress to keep you cooler. But keep in mind that the firmness of the GhostBed Luxe is affected by room temperature – it may feel firmer in the wintertime and softer in the summertime. The high MSRP of the GhostBed Luxe has been overridden by a consistent 50% off discount that knocks the price of a queen bed from $2,970 to $1,485, placing it firmly in the mid-range category. What’s more, you’ll get a couple of GhostPillows with purchase, a $190 value. Also included are a 101-night trial and a generous 25-year warranty.
Read our GhostBed Luxe mattress review
The Tempur-Pedic LUXEbreeze is the best cooling mattress for very hot sleepers as it guarantees to feel up to 8 degrees cooler than comparable Tempur beds. The LUXEbreeze has a luxurious feel, offers good back support and pain-relieving pressure, and is made with a layer of ventilated material to further boost breathability. On the top sits a zip-off SmartClimate cover designed with cooling fibers, meaning it instantly feels cool against your skin. There’s also a layer of Tempur PureCool and phase change material to absorb extra heat and humidity, and to promote better airflow. (The more freely air flows within your mattress, the cooler it will be.) That’s followed by a pressure-relieving ventilated layer sat on a breathable base for enhanced pressure relief across your back, neck and hips. The Tempur LUXEbreeze comes in your choice of soft or firm. The soft version is good for side sleepers, those who want a plush feel, and for people with a lighter bodyweight. The firm version is recommended for back sleepers, heavier sleepers, people with low back pain, and those who just enjoy sleeping on a firm mattress. Both the soft and firm LUXEbreeze have attracted good user reviews for motion isolation, so your partner shouldn’t wake you up when they get in or out of bed. Overall, the Tempur-Pedic LUXEbreeze offers good pressure relief for all sleeping positions (stomach, back, side). Some users complained that their mattress took a few weeks to break in and that edge support is lacking, but not everyone agreed on this. Overall, if you want the best cooling mattress to help you sleep comfortably and you’re experiencing physical aches and pains, the Tempur Breeze is the right choice for you. For the latest savings on this model, read our guide to the best Tempur-Pedic mattress sales and deals.
How we test mattresses
The Tom’s Guide mattress review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. Our expert mattress testers sleep on each mattress for at least three weeks - that’s roughly how long it takes for your body to get used to a new mattress - and spend hours scientifically testing the performance of each product. Mattress firmness is subjective, so each lead reviewer also forms a trusted and experienced testing panel made up of people with different sleep needs and body types. We have side sleepers, back sleepers and stomach sleepers, with lighter, average and heavier bodies, who rate each mattress using a specific set of performance criteria. Together, these processes enable us to produce accurate, well-balanced and data-backed mattress reviews, to help you easily decide whether the mattress you’re interested in really is the best choice for you. Read our full mattress methodology for more.
How to care for your cooling mattress
The advice here depends on which type you’re thinking of buying, as a cooling mattress system such as the Eight Sleep Pod 2 Pro will have different care guidelines to a more ‘normal’ model like the Cocoon by Sealy Chill. So first of all, read the manufacturer’s guidelines to cleaning and caring and follow those above all other advice. Read our how to clean a mattress feature for extra pointers. There’s a difference between the very best cooling mattresses and breathable mattresses though, which is why we have compiled this guide. The Eight Sleep and Tempur Breeze Luxe are leagues ahead of their competitors when it comes to proper cooling power, but they are very expensive. However we’d argue that if your sleep is disturbed most nights because you wake up feeling too hot, then choosing a great cooling mattress is a brilliant investment in your health and wellbeing. Aside from helping you to remain at the right temperature for sleeping, cooling mattresses have many of the same benefits as standard models: good pressure relief, support for your entire body, and they promote healthy spine alignment, protecting your posture during sleep. We recommend only choosing a cooling mattress that comes on a risk-free trial basis. That way, you’ll get to put it to the test during the trial period to be sure that it really does help you sleep cooler. If not, you can return it during the trial for a refund. The biggest price drops usually occur during the Black Friday shopping period, but some brands do launch flash sales on Cyber Monday in a last attempt to attract your custom before Christmas. Beyond those two, we see many of the best cooling mattresses on sale for Presidents’ Day in February, followed by further prices drops to tie-in with the Memorial Day mattress sales. This is usually the last good time to pick up a cool bed for less before the summer arrives; a time when prices usually increase for a while. Some of the best budget mattresses offer a cooler feel too, so these are worth looking at if you’re on a very tight budget. We recommend buying one of the best mattress protectors you can afford, as these will keep your cooling bed safe from spills, stains, bacteria and dust mites. You especially need to use a good one during the trial period as some brands will only accept a returned cooling mattress if it’s in pristine condition. Always read the terms and conditions before buying. Depending on whether you have bought a foam or hybrid cooling mattress, you will either need to flip it or rotate it regularly to spread out wear and tear. Not all of them can be flipped, so read our feature answering how often should you rotate your mattress for more guidance. Lastly, ensure you have the best pillow for sleeping cooler too, as choosing the wrong one can overheat you even though your mattress is working hard to keep you cool during sleep. If you’re struggling to sleep then check out why clean air may be the answer to your bedtime routine. Read more:
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