Overheating while you’re sleeping isn’t just uncomfortable, it can have a significant impact on your sleep quality. Research shows that temperature plays an important role in sleep, and if you’re too hot, you might find yourself waking up more frequently and feeling more tired the next day. But sleep is crucial to your mental health and regulation of emotions.
Turning the temperature down or using a fan can help, but you also might want to consider trying a cooling mattress. A cooling mattress can help keep you from getting too hot, resulting in a more restful and comfortable night’s rest.
It’s no surprise that comfort is a huge factor in quality sleep. We need to have a cool atmosphere to help lower and maintain a lower core body temperature during deep sleep. The quality, materials, and firmness of your mattress can impact comfort and temperature.
Teresa Denike, a board-certified clinical sleep education and founder of Sleep Better NYC
While many mattress manufacturers tout cooling technology, not all work as efficiently as advertised. That’s where the Handbook Team comes in. We’re constantly researching and testing new mattresses, so we can recommend the best. In our experience, these are the top 10 mattresses for cooling.
Best cooling mattress overall
The Saatva Rx not only sleeps cool, but it’s also a great mattress. With its large section of tall coils and an organic cotton cover, there’s a lot of room for airflow and breathability—plus it offers a great combination of support and pressure relief.
Our pick of the best cooling mattresses
- Saatva Rx: Best cooling mattress overall
- Saatva Classic: Best cooling innerspring mattress
- Helix Plus: Best cooling mattress for heavy people
- Nolah Original Hybrid: Best cooling mattress for side sleepers
- Bear Original: Best cooling memory foam mattress
- The WinkBed: Best cooling mattress for back pain
- The Nectar Memory Foam: Best value cooling mattress
- DreamCloud Foam: Best cooling mattress for stomach sleepers
- Cloverlane Foam: Best soft cooling mattress
- Emma Hybrid Comfort: Best cooling hybrid mattress
HelpGuide Handbook’s mattress testing methodology
Purchase mattress as mystery shoppers.
Set up mattress in testing lab.
Lie on mattress and rank firmness.
Lie on back, side, and stomach to find the best sleeping position.
Place 10-pound ball in mattress center and measure sinkage.
Find biggest pressure points using pressure map reading.
Evaluate cooling capabilities by recording temperature differences.
Drop 10-pound ball onto mattress to measure bounce score.
Test motion isolation.
Test edge support.
Calculate composite “sex” and “family” scores.
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress. For example, we record:
- Firmness score and whether the mattress is best for back, side, or stomach sleepers.
- Starting temperature of the mattress and how much it heats up after two testers lie on the mattress for five minutes.
- How many times a 10-pound ball bounces on the mattress after dropping from a height of two feet in order to arrive at a mattress bounce score.
We paid close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our survey of 600 mattress owners. This included price, features, and the set-up process. We also interviewed real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress, as well as the benefits of purchasing one.
According to our survey
According to our survey, about 80 percent of all respondents said their new mattress helps them sleep better, and 65 percent reported improved mental health.
As our testers evaluated each brand and its features, we considered why many people choose a new mattress in the first place. Of our respondents, 42 percent decided to purchase a new mattress for “improved comfort and support for better sleep,” while only seven percent did so for “pain relief and targeted support.” The most common pain respondents wanted relieved was lower back pain.
Despite only 42 percent of respondents prioritizing comfort and support for better sleep when shopping for a new mattress, 68 percent reported they sleep longer on their new mattress and 49 percent and 45 percent, respectively, said their stress and anxiety had improved after switching to their new mattress. Almost all mattress owners we surveyed (95 percent) were at least somewhat satisfied with their new mattress. We consulted sleep experts, physical
therapists, occupational therapists, and pain specialists to understand what mattresses offer that make an overwhelmingly positive impact.
In order to focus on the mattresses themselves, we structured our test designs to objectively rank each one based on a range of criteria. For example, we tested things like bounce, edge support (the sturdiness of your mattress edge), and cooling capabilities the same way on each mattress and compared the results. That way we can accurately compare each mattress’s score in an unbiased way while also sharing our subjective point of view as mattress testers and experts.
Lastly, we compared warranty lengths, trial periods, and white glove delivery (in-home delivery and setup) options. While most brands offer warranties, not all are comprehensive. And many brands on the market don’t have free white glove delivery. This could be a deal-breaker if you’re nervous to invest in a new mattress because you’re worried the bed won’t get set up properly or offer what you need.
From our tester
“During our research, we realized that the brand’s firmness scale and perceived firmness aren’t always the same. We decided to report how firm we thought the mattress felt so that you can gain a different perspective, but more importantly, feel confident about what you’re purchasing.”
A note on our testing
We acknowledge that every body is different, and what feels comfortable to one person may not feel comfortable to another. Throughout our reviews, we refer to weight categories as light (below 130 pounds), average (130 to 250 pounds), and heavy (above 250 pounds) to distinguish between body weights.
Typically, lighter sleepers perceive mattresses to feel firmer than they are, and higher-weight sleepers perceive mattresses to feel softer than they are. Keep in mind that most mattresses are designed for the average-weight person.
Why HelpGuide cares about a good night’s sleep
Quality sleep is a key part of mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. Sleep helps us reset our bodies, process our emotions, and ease daily stress. Without it, we are at an increased risk of developing anxiety and depression, according to research.
But there are medical conditions that can make sleep difficult. Chronic pain, acid reflux, loud snoring or sleep apnea, and insomnia are issues that can keep you up at night, tossing and turning.
Finding solutions for better sleep can be frustrating, but we’re here to help. The HelpGuide Handbook Team wants to empower you to make the right decision by providing the most honest information about sleep-related products, like mattresses.
Good sleep is essential for physical and mental health because it’s our body’s chance to recharge after the physical and cognitive loads of our day. When we sleep well, we have better relationships and communication with our partners, we can think more clearly, and we’re in a better mood.
Julia Catlin, licensed psychotherapist at Calm Science in Las Vegas.
In order to recommend the best options to fit your needs, we sought to better understand how sleep impacts overall health. We consulted with mental health experts, researchers, and industry leaders in sleep and ergonomics to connect the dots about what really matters in a mattress.
Ultimately, all of our research is directed at taking the stress out of finding the highest-quality products that can support your sleep health—and in turn, your overall mental well-being.
HelpGuide Handbook for best cooling mattresses
Here’s the five most important things you should know about cooling mattresses:
The Saatva Rx is our top pick for cooling mattresses.
Cooling mattresses can help those who run hot at night, share the bed, or live in warm climates.
Some mattresses are specifically designed for all-around cooling, while others just reduce heat generated by the sleeper.
The best materials for cooling include innerspring, hybrid, phase change, latex, and gel-infused foam.
We test how much heat mattresses retain by measuring the temperature change after our testers lie on the bed for five minutes.
Compare the best cooling mattresses of 2024
| Price | $1,995– $4,390 | $1,295–$2,790 | $811–$1,811 | $1,299–$2,798 | $898–$1,922 | $1,149–$2,049 | $1,149–$2,049 | $839–$2,178 | $1,199–$2,699 | $812–$1,649 |
| Firmness | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 5/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Innerspring-hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Foam options | Hybrid |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | 15 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 years |
| Trial period | 365 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights |
| Best for | Cooling overall | Cooling innerspring | Heavy people | Side Sleepers | Cooling memory foam | Back pain | Back pain | Stomach sleepers | Softness | Cooling hybrid |
The best cooling mattresses reviews
Best cooling mattress overall: Saatva Rx
Our final verdict on the Saatva Rx
The Saatva Rx is a fairly tall hybrid mattress with a large section of coils. We think these coils play a key role in keeping the bed cool, as they allow lots of room for airflow. Plus, the Saatva Rx has an organic cotton cover—another breathable material that allows hot air to escape the mattress.
The Saatva Rx earned the top spot on our list, not only because it sleeps cool, but because it’s an all-around excellent mattress.
From our tester
“I didn’t expect the Saatva Rx to be comfortable for stomach sleeping since it provided such nice pressure relief for side sleeping. But I was pleasantly surprised to find my hips didn’t sink into the material. I think this is most likely due to the use of microcoils.”
This bed sports a simultaneously supportive and pressure-relieving feel, which is a win for many sleepers. It uses some unique design features, such as a layer of microcoils encased in foam and foam caps on the ends of the main coil section, to create that mixture of support and pressure relief. Thus, we think the Saatva Rx is a win for all three sleeping positions (back, side, and stomach), and it can work for many body types.
Best cooling innerspring mattress: Saatva Classic
Our final verdict on the Saatva Classic
In addition to being our favorite innerspring mattress for cooling, we think the Saatva Classic is an all-around great pick for an innerspring bed. With three firmness options—Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm—sleepers can easily choose the right firmness level for their sleeping position and personal preferences. We tested the Luxury Firm model and rated it a seven out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning it’s just firmer than average. While the Classic offers good responsiveness, which is good for changing positions, it has poor motion isolation, so it might not be the best option for couples. We think this model is especially good for back sleepers, as it provides sturdy spinal support.
From our tester
“The edge support on the Saatva Classic is so sturdy, I’d basically have to throw my body weight over the edge to roll off.”
Learn more in our Saatva mattress review.
Best cooling mattress for heavy people: Helix Plus
Our final verdict on the Helix Plus
The hybrid construction of the Helix Plus makes it a good cooling bed. The mattress has plenty of room for airflow, while the cover is made of Tencel, a fabric that helps with temperature regulation. Tencel is the branded name for lyocell, a more eco-friendly alternative to viscose, which is made from eucalyptus.
From our tester
“As I lay on the Helix Plus mattress, I felt very cool. I didn’t notice any increase in heat on the parts of my body touching the mattress.”
Our testers found the Helix Plus quite firm, rating it an eight out of 10 on the firmness scale. However, it’s worth noting that the tester weighed less than 250 pounds. Since heavy sleepers have a higher weight, they may sink into the mattress’s material more. So it may not feel quite as firm to heavy sleepers.
In our temperature gun test, the Helix Plus only increased by about 7 degrees after two testers lay on the bed, which we qualify as good cooling capability.
Best cooling mattress for side sleepers: Nolah Original Hybrid
Our final verdict on the Nolah Original Hybrid
When we ran the Nolah Original Hybrid through our thermal gun test, the temperature only increased by 5.7 degrees. This is a good result, showing the Nolah Original Hybrid doesn’t retain a high amount of heat.
From our tester
“My shoulders and hips sink in, but in an accommodating way, so that it’s offloading pressure.”
We also put the Nolah Original Hybrid through our pressure map test. The Nolah Original Hybrid showed overall low pressure, indicating that the foam layers are doing their job to relieve pressure on the shoulder and hip.
Best cooling memory foam mattress: Bear Original
Our final verdict on the Bear Original
For this review, we tested the Bear Original mattress with the Celliant cover option. Like every other bed, we ran the Bear Original through our thermal gun test and found the temperature increased by about 10 degrees, which may be higher than others in our list but still indicates that it provides good cooling. It can be tricky to find an all-foam mattress that keeps cool since foam naturally traps a lot of heat.
From our tester
“This is definitely firm for an all-foam mattress, which makes it great for different types of sleepers.”
Foam also has a reputation for being soft, but the Bear defies expectations there too. Our testers found the Bear Original quite firm, rating it as an eight out of 10 on the firmness scale. This makes it best suited for back and stomach sleepers, who do well with a firmer bed that can promote spinal alignment.
Best cooling mattress for back pain: The WinkBed
Our final verdict on the WinkBed
We tested the Luxury Firm model of The WinkBed, and our testers rated its firmness as 6.5 out of 10, or medium-firm. This firmness could work well for many sleepers with back pain, while the Firmer model could be a good pick for those who want even more spinal support. When we tested pressure relief for back sleeping, our pressure map showed an excellent result—essentially no pressure buildup. This also shows that the pillow top works well to cradle the sleeper and relieve pressure at the back while still providing support.
From our tester
“My spine felt relatively straight and very neutral while lying on the WinkBed.”
We naturally put The WinkBed to the test with our thermal gun test. We expected it to perform fairly well since it’s a hybrid (with coils that allow lots of room for airflow), and it has a Tencel cover, which can help regulate temperature. The WinkBed only heated up by about 6 degrees after our testers lay on it, which is a good cooling result.
Best value cooling mattress: The Nectar Memory Foam
Our final verdict on the Nectar Memory Foam
After our testers lay on the Nectar Memory Foam, it only increased in temperature by about 8 degrees, which we qualify as good cooling capability. Because this mattress also scored high in motion isolation, it makes it a good one for couples because you don’t have to worry about excessive heat from two bodies or your partner’s movement waking you up in the middle of the night. But if you’re hoping to use the entire surface of the mattress, you might want one with better edge support. Our testers only gave this mattress a 2.5 out of five in that category.
From our tester
“Laying on the Nectar mattress, I felt gently hugged by the materials.”
We also ran the Nectar Memory Foam through our pressure map test, and it showed minimal pressure in the side and back sleeping positions.
To learn more, read our Nectar mattress review.
Best cooling mattress for stomach sleepers: DreamCloud Memory Foam
Our final verdict on the DreamCloud Memory Foam
When we ran the DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress through our thermal gun test, it performed well, only increasing by about 6 degrees after our testers lay on it. This is an especially good result for an all-foam mattress, which can often trap heat easily.
From our tester
“I didn’t feel my spine dipping or my hips sinking into the mattress. It was very comfortable for stomach sleeping. ”
One of our testers characterized the DreamCloud Memory Foam as offering a “gentle cradle,” meaning the surface of the mattress was comfortable, but not so soft that their hips sank into the material. We think this will work for stomach sleepers, who don’t want to feel like they’re sleeping on a plank but still need that firm support for a neutral spine.
To learn more, read our DreamCloud mattress review.
Best soft cooling mattress: Cloverlane Foam
Our final verdict on the Cloverlane Foam
With this bed’s gel-infused foams and breathable cooling cover, it’s not surprising the Cloverlane Foam only heated up by about 7.6 degrees when we put it through our thermal gun test.
From our tester
“When I ran my hand across the mattress, the cover felt cool to the touch.”
Our testers felt relatively comfortable in all three sleeping positions on the Cloverlane Foam mattress, so even though it offers a softer feel, it could be a good option for many different sleepers. One tester particularly enjoyed how this luxury mattress contoured around their lower back.
Best cooling hybrid mattress: Emma Hybrid Comfort
Our final verdict on the Emma Hybrid Comfort
When we put the Emma Hybrid Comfort through our thermal gun test it only increased by about 8 degrees. With a tall coil section and open-celled foam, there’s plenty of room for airflow in this mattress.
From our tester
“The Emma Hybrid Comfort uses foam and coils in conjunction to offer a good mix of comfort and support.”
Because it scored high in cooling, as well as in motion isolation, edge support, and responsiveness tests, we also think the Emma Hybrid Comfort is a great mattress for couples. The cooling ensures the bed doesn’t get too hot from the extra body heat of two people, while good motion isolation means you probably won’t wake each other up in the middle of the night with your movements. Edge support allows you both to use the entire surface of the mattress without feeling like you’re going to fall off, and the responsiveness makes it good for changing positions and sex.
Additionally, we chose the Emma Hybrid Comfort as our best cooling hybrid mattress because of how well it combines foam and coils. It has a large section of coils that provide strong support while incorporating two thinner layers of foam to ensure a comfortable sleep surface. Plus, it offers a budget-friendly price for a hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
In our opinion, the best cooling mattress is the Saatva Rx. However, there is no definitive answer. The best cooling mattress for you may be different for someone else. It’s also important to take your sleeping position, weight, and personal preferences into consideration when choosing a cooling mattress.
There are many different components that can make a mattress a cooling mattress. Some mattresses feel cool to the touch by utilizing phase change material (PCM), polyethylene, or other cooling materials in the covers. Some are made with latex foam, which maintains a naturally cool temperature. Others simply have lots of room for hot air to escape the mattress, which is why we included so many hybrids on this list.
Some mattresses have cooling covers, which can make the bed feel cool by just touching it or lying down. Others use breathable materials in the cover, such as cotton, which allows hot air to escape.
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