Best Cooling Mattress (2024): Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

A good night’s sleep is something everyone wants and needs. Uninterrupted sleep provides more energy, improved focus, and better coordination. Achieving a good night’s rest seems easy; all that’s needed is a supportive mattress, soft sheets, and comfortable sleepwear, right?

While these are all good, you might need to put some thought into your best mattress. People tend to wake up throughout the night if they are in pain or are experiencing any level of discomfort. This includes feeling too hot.

Have you ever woken up, tossing and turning, and kicked the sheets and blankets off of you? Did you know our body’s core temperature needs to drop to reach the deep stages of sleep? Finding a mattress that sleeps cool prevents early awakenings.

In this article, we look into what bed companies are doing to fight the risk of sleeping hot. We will also ask: what makes one type of mattress cooler than the other? What are the benefits of a cooling mattress? To begin, we compiled our top recommendations for the best cooling mattresses.

Best Cooling Mattresses

While memory foam is associated with heat traps and restricted airflow, that doesn’t have to be the case. For example, Amerisleep uses Bio-Pur® foam. Bio-Pur® foam is breathable and more responsive (this limits sagging, so you aren’t so deep in the mattress you create excess body warmth).

Amerisleep has also released hybrid counterparts of its AS2, AS3, and AS5 mattresses. The coils that support these mattresses allow more air to flow through than a memory foam mattress would, carrying off excess heat. However, these hybrid mattresses do carry higher price tags.

Amerisleep offers its customers a 100-night trial to test out any of their mattresses. If you’re unsatisfied after 30 nights, Amerisleep will issue a full refund.

The top layer is 2 inches of cooling gel memory foam, which disperses body heat across the mattress. Triangle-shaped cutouts in the head and foot of the mattress let air flow through for more breathability.

Responsive Reactiv™ foam and the base of Support+ foam provide the bed’s support. Reactiv™’s bounce helps the mattress adapt to your movements, while Support+ withstands compression and indentations for a longer-lasting bed.

Every Zoma Mattress includes a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty. If you find that the Zoma Mattress isn’t right for you after an adjustment period, Zoma will offer a full refund.

The 12-inch mattress has two poly-foam layers. The top layer is 3 inches of Vaya Comfort Foam, a latex-like material that contours to your body while wicking away warm air. Vaya Comfort Foam not only keeps you cool but provides pressure point relief. Its medium feel is designed to accommodate all sleeping styles.

The base layer is 9 inches of base foam, made to deter sagging and extend your mattress’s lifespan. This sturdy material is largely why the mattress can support up to 300 pounds.

The Vaya Mattress is exclusively available on Amazon and includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

The bed features Amerisleep’s unique Bio-Pur® foam. Bio-Pur® foam is more breathable and responsive than traditional memory foam thanks to the plant-based chemicals used in its production.

Underneath is a layer of Active Flex,  a responsive poly-foam that adds some bounce to the mattress. Active Flex keeps you from sinking in too deep and misaligning your spine.

The bed is supported by pocketed coils, a design feature that promotes air circulation and motion isolation. Amerisleep’s coils are arranged to provide targeted back support, while the areas under your head and legs feel soft and conforming.

All Amerisleep mattresses include a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

The 2-inch top layer of gel foam has cooling triangular cutouts in the head and foot of the mattress. Air can slip through these cutouts and wick away accumulated body heat. A layer of Reactiv™  foam is sandwiched between this top layer and the hybrid’s support core.

The pocketed coil support layer has every coil encased in fabric for better motion isolation. The space between the coils promote air circulation, preventing heat and moisture from building up inside the base of your mattress.

Like the original Zoma Mattress, a Zoma Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty. The warranty guarantees coverage for any sagging that exceeds .75 inches.

6. Bear Pro

The Bear Pro mattress improves on the original Bear Mattress’s design with an added layer of copper-infused foam. This copper foam not only pulls away heat but naturally repulses and kills microbes, bacteria, and viruses. You’ll stay healthy, and your mattress will smell better, too.

Underneath the top layer of copper-infused foam is a layer of gel memory foam. Gel memory foam wicks away heat while conforming to your body for pressure relief.

The Bear Pro’s cover is breathable Celliant®, which is a material that absorbs body heat and safely converts it into infrared energy. The infrared energy penetrates through your muscle and tissue to provide a temporary increase to your local blood flow. More blood flow means more nutrients and oxygen gets delivered through your body.

The mattress has a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year. If you want a complete upgrade for your bed, you can bundle the Bear Pro mattress with a set of pillows, a protector, and a foundation or adjustable bed for further savings.

7. Purple’s Hybrid

Purple relies on a unique alternative to traditional foam known as the Purple Grid™. As the name suggests, the top layer is a grid made with stretchy, temperature-neutral gels and contains more than 1,800 air channels.

The grid features responsive support and pressure relief. It adapts to you when you lie down, providing a mixture of softness and firmness regardless of your body type or sleep position. The grid resists compression and will provide durable support for years.

The pocketed coils that support the mattress add more breathability. They also limit motion transfer by reacting individually to your movements.

Every Purple mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. The warranty covers sagging that exceeds an inch.

Why Choose a Cooling Mattress?

There are many reasons why customers choose a cooling mattress. When we sleep, our bodies naturally give off heat. That heat is what causes our temperature to increase. If we’re enveloped in the wrong material, that temperature can increase significantly, causing a heat trap. Sleeping hot can cause restless sleep and tiredness the following day.

Certain groups of people are more likely to sleep hot than others. For example, athletes are often hot sleepers because of their increased muscle mass. A 2018 study discovered that muscular people “are less susceptible to heat loss and heat up faster after cold exposure” than less muscular people.

You may sleep hot if you’ve been exceptionally stressed or anxious lately. Your core body temperature may drastically increase after an emotional event, or you may have a slight fever for months or even years after a period of extended stress.

Some tend to give off more heat than others. Gender can play a minor role since men tend to run hotter than women. Younger people also have high core body temperatures. A child’s body temperature is higher than an adult’s, while a young adult’s is higher than an older adult’s.

Another factor that needs to be addressed when shopping for the most comfortable mattress is body weight. Body weight can make a difference in how much heat is given off. A person at 120 lbs uses less energy than someone at 200 lbs.

Plus, overweight people may sleep hot if their mattress can’t push back against their weight. When they sink too deeply into a mattress, air can’t flow around their body to carry away heat. And with more of the body touching the mattress, the bed is more likely to absorb and retain heat.

When looking for a cooling mattress, not only do you want to pay attention to its materials, but you also want to focus on its firmness level with your current weight. Firmer mattresses resist sinkage and keep a heavy sleeper on top of their bed.

Other factors play into why people look for a cooling mattress, such as a hotter climate or a lack of A/C.

Living in a hotter climate can be a struggle. Dry or humid, the heat can cause huge discomfort and disrupt your sleep. A bed that can keep you cool despite increased temperatures can prove a huge relief.

What if you live in an area with no A/C, and need to rely on other methods of cooling? Mattresses that can convert heat into energy with the use of PCM can drastically improve your sleep.

Phase Change Material (PCM)

Phase change materials (PCM) are a specific component with a unique process of maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the night. This material absorbs body heat, and when it reaches a certain temperature, the material melts.

What’s unique about this is that heat will not be felt by the sleeper, only absorbed. The opposite is true of cooler temperatures. The material will absorb the cold until it freezes at the trigger point, then it releases stored body heat to keep the sleeper warm.

PCMs are an energy-efficient way of staying cool, particularly if you live in a hot climate. Typically, PCMs are infused into mattress covers and top layers of the mattress to keep the PCMS close to the body. Many mattress companies are incorporating PCMs to provide cooler beds.

Types of Cooling Technology

When customers are searching for a cooling mattress, they should be on the lookout for the types of materials used. Certain materials will increase body heat, while others will reduce it. The following are a list of materials commonly found in a cooling mattress:

• Coils & Springs: Support cores made of coils and springs are an excellent cooling component, with excellent air circulation and the ability to absorb small amounts of body heat.
• Open-Cell Foam: You’ll often see mentions of open-cell foam when shopping for a mattress, but what does it mean? The cells in an open-cell are left open for softness, flexibility, and breathability. Closed-cell foam has its cells closed off, preventing moisture and air from getting inside and creating a more rigid foam. Most quality foam mattresses contain open-cell foam in their comfort layers.
• Latex: Rather than absorb heat, latex uses its aerated material to expand air circulation, an effective cooling method.
• Gel-Infused Foam: Memory foam can become a heat trap, which is why gel infusion was introduced. This unique foam works to absorb body heat while keeping you cool at night.
• Plant-Based Foam: Replacing petrochemicals with plant-based materials is another way to keep the mattress cool. Plant-based oils also make the foam lighter and more breathable.
• Specialty-Infused Foam: Though memory foam causes a rise in temperature, some foams are infused with copper or graphite to create a cooling method and promote better blood circulation.
• Bamboo: This gentle, breathable material is hypoallergenic and not a conductor of heat.
• Airbeds: While not a material, airbeds are a type of mattress that uses air chambers as a support core, rather than a more solid material such as poly-foam or coils. While this is a great option, make sure to choose a cooling cover to ensure its effectiveness.

Additionally, consider similar cooling materials when looking for sleep accessories, such as mattress pads and sheets. Natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and linen are breathable and softer. Also, watch the thread count–the higher the count, the less airflow.

For example, if a customer purchases a firm innerspring mattress, but adds a memory foam pad with high-thread-count sheets, that’s a perfect setup for a heat trap. But switching for a gel-infused foam pad and lower-thread count sheets will greatly benefit that customer in staying cool.

Benefits of a Cooling Mattress

Purchasing a cooler mattress can promote better health. These benefits include:

• Deep, restful sleep
• Better focus
• Increased metabolism
• A decrease in inflammation and promotion of muscle recovery

Lowering the thermostat in your room can provide some perks. Medical News Today suggests your room temperature should be between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal sleep. To some, this may seem on the cold side, but when sleepwear, sheets, and blankets are taken into account, this temperature will appear more comfortable.

Further, TIME Magazine states that cooler temperatures at night can help your body increase its production of brown fat. This type of fat helps to burn calories and decrease excess blood sugar. It’s not only important to get a good night’s rest, but doing so with the right temperature could result in a healthier body.

More Mattress Buying Considerations

Temperature regulation is an essential part of a quality mattress, but it’s not the only feature you need. You want to think about what type of mattress and firmness you want. It’s also good to know how to judge its attached sleep trial and warranty.

Mattress Types

While there are thousands of mattresses on the market, they all can be categorized into a handful of different types. We will give a brief overview of the four main types of mattresses. Some are more naturally cooling than others. However, all of them could be an excellent choice for a cooling mattress if they’re made with quality materials.

Memory Foam

One of the best beds for pressure relief is a memory foam mattress. If you suffer from chronic pain, a memory foam bed might be just what you need for a good night’s rest and pain-free morning.

Memory foam is also popular with couples since it isolates motion at the point of impact. In other words, a mattress for couples with a memory foam top will keep one person’s movements from spreading across the surface.

Memory foam has a reputation for sleeping hot, but that’s mostly a complaint aimed at traditional memory foam. Most manufacturers now mix in materials that remove heat such as gel beads, copper, graphite, titanium, charcoal, or green tea extract. Other companies replace petrochemicals in production with plant-based substitutes, creating an eco-friendly and more breathable foam.

The average memory foam mattress lasts about 7 years. A high-quality model may last even longer, between 8 to 10 years.

Latex

Latex foam comes in two varieties, natural and synthetic. Natural latex is made from rubber tree sap, while synthetic latex is a combination of compounds that mimic genuine latex. If you want to shop “green,” a natural latex mattress is a good choice.

Latex mattresses provide much of the same benefits as a memory foam mattress. However, the material is a little bit springier and cooler than memory foam is. Sometimes it feels firmer as well, which is why some brands offer an optional pillowtop.

Natural latex is a durable material, and an all-latex mattress can last up to 15 years. Some customers see this as a fair trade-off for a latex mattress’s high price tag.

Innerspring

Because an innerspring mattress is a coil system sandwiched between thin layers of foam and cloth, it’s one of the best mattresses for a cooler night’s sleep. Air easily slips between the coils and through the sides of the mattress.

However, innerspring mattresses often receive poor customer ratings. Your weight is often not evenly distributed when you lie on an innerspring mattress, which can create pressure points across your body. An innerspring often can’t conform well enough to relieve them all so that you might wake up with a stiff shoulder or a sore back.

Innerspring mattresses are also one of the more short-lived beds. Their coils may sag in 5 to 6 years, or even in as little as 3 years.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses blend an innerspring’s coil support with a foam mattress’s pressure-relieving top layer. The mattress must have at least 2 to 3 inches of foam to qualify as a hybrid. If you want a cool and comfortable mattress, a hybrid is an excellent choice.

Because hybrid mattresses contain a mix of high-quality parts, they’re often one of the more expensive types of mattresses. They typically last about six to seven years.

The Right Firmness

Choosing the right firmness is a vital part of getting a good night’s sleep. Otherwise, you might struggle to fall asleep or wake up in pain.

The key to determining what the right firmness for you is to consider your sleeping position. The amount of pressure relief and back support you need varies by position, so every style has a different firmness range best suited for it:

• Side sleepers need more pressure relief than a back or stomach sleeper. A mattress for side sleeping should have a soft to medium feel.
• A mattress for back sleepers must balance support with conformability. Try a medium-firm to firm mattress, or even a medium mattress if it offers targeted back support.
• Our editors do not recommend stomach sleeping since it can misalign the spine and cause chronic back pain. However, if you fall asleep best on your stomach, a firm mattress can maintain neutral spine alignment.

Body weight is another important factor. Lightweight people under 130 pounds often sleep better on a softer mattress. People over 230 pounds may benefit from a firmer mattress that can withstand pressure. As we previously mentioned, an overweight person lying on a too-soft mattress can increase their chances of sleeping hot.

What if you’re buying a mattress without trying it out first? You can get an idea of its feel by skimming through customer feedback and independent mattress reviews. And always choose a mattress with a long sleep trial, so you can easily return your mattress if it feels too soft or firm.

Sleep Trial and Warranty

To ensure you’re getting a fair deal, you should always buy a mattress that includes a sleep trial and a warranty. A company that doesn’t offer a sleep trial might not be willing to give you a chance to see if a mattress feels comfortable not. Even worse is a mattress without a warranty since it might mean the company can’t guarantee the mattress’s durability.

A mattress’s sleep trial gives you time to try out a mattress at home, usually for a period of a few months. If you’re not satisfied, you can return the mattress for a full refund. Trials were popularized by mattress in a box mattress companies, but many mattress stores now offer them.

Warranties outline possible scenarios when the company will pay to repair or replace your mattress. Defects covered usually included sagging or indentation beyond a specified depth, burst coils, cracks in the foam, or damage to the cover. A standard mattress warranty lasts for the first 10 years of ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cool down a hot mattress?

If you find yourself waking up in a sweat during the middle of the night, here’s a couple of steps for an uninterrupted night of sleep.

First, keep your bedroom temperature cool. Harvard Medical School says that most of us sleep best when it’s between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. And make sure your room is well ventilated.

Then, consider the materials in your bedding and how much bedding you have. Synthetic materials such as polyester often trap more heat than natural materials such as cotton and wool. If you wrap yourself up in a quilt and a sheet before you sleep, you can try sleeping with only the sheet or a tin blanket.

What mattress materials are the coolest?

Latex, gel memory foam, plant-based foam, and innerspring coils all promote a cooler mattress. The various foams are more breathable than traditional memory foam, which can trap body heat. And a coil setup has more interior space for air to flow through than a supportive foam does.

How do you keep your bed cool at night?

Buying a new mattress with temperature neutral materials isn’t the only method for keeping cool at night. A mattress topper with gel memory foam or latex foam can wick away heat while changing your bed’s feel for the better.

Breathable sheets with phase-change materials or even simple cotton can prevent night sweats. You can also minimize your bedding for a cooler night’s rest, such as sleeping with only a top sheet rather than a top sheet and a blanket. Cooling pillows may contain materials such as shredded memory foam, down, gel memory foam, or latex.

A neat DIY trick is to seal your sheets and pillowcase inside a plastic bag to prevent them from absorbing moisture. Then, place your plastic-covered bedding inside a freezer for a few minutes. They won’t remain cool for a whole night, but the added chill may help you fall asleep faster.

Do hybrid mattresses sleep hot?

Hybrid mattresses are usually an excellent choice for a cool mattress. The pocketed coils let air through to dissipate heat. However, a hybrid mattress may grow hot if it has a low-quality memory foam layer that lacks cooling measures.

Is a foam or spring mattress better?

While spring mattresses are known for their cooling properties, they’re often not the most comfortable type of mattress. Many owners find they provide insufficient pressure relief for a  restful night. A foam mattress with temperature regulation measures can help you get a good night’s sleep.

If you want a mattress that has more bounce than a typical foam bed does, consider a hybrid or a pillow top mattress with cooling materials.

Conclusion

Cooling mattresses are an excellent choice for potential mattress buyers, especially when looking for the best mattress. With their unique construction, they can provide a comfortable night’s rest by regulating body heat through airflow, PCM technology, and insulation.

When on the lookout for the best cooling mattress, consider the type of materials used. Coils and springs, latex, gel-infused foam, specialty-infused foam, air, and bamboo are all excellent components to neutralize body temperature. Be sure to keep this in mind when choosing the type of sheets and mattress pad to add to your bed. This could either help or hinder the bed’s cooling process.

Further, cooling mattresses offer health benefits to its sleepers, including increased metabolism and reduced inflammation. We encourage potential buyers to consider these factors when shopping for the best cooling mattress.