Best Cooling Mattress for Hot Sleepers (2021)

Over 164 million Americans struggle with sleep, and the problem could be their body temperature. Many find their sleep disrupted from overheating at night—they wake up sweaty and uncomfortable and struggle to fall back asleep. To avoid the problems associated with sleeping hot, a cooling mattress may be the solution.

The coolest mattresses on the market today are available at a few different price points, and you’ll find they work for a number of sleeping styles as well.

Our Top Mattress Recommendation

View on AmerisleepRead AS3 customer reviews

AS3 Highlights

• 100-night sleep trial
• 20-Year Warranty
• Designed to reduce pain points
• Heat reducing mattress cover
• Comes in King, Queen, Twin, Full, and Splits

Best Cooling Mattresses

Rated “Best Mattress” by sources including USA Today, Sleep Foundation, Healthline, and Mattress Clarity, Amerisleep AS3 easily makes the top of our list. At 12 inches tall, the AS3 provides the best balance of cushioning and support of all Amerisleep mattresses, having a true medium feel. The mattress offers responsive pressure relief and contours to the body’s natural curves.

The cover is soft and wicks away heat to regulate body temperature. The Bio-Pur® comfort layer is more breathable and responsive than traditional memory foam. It contours the body while relieving pressure points, and real AS3 users note how the bed feels soft without being unsupportive.

The Affinity layer with HIVE® technology is a 5-zone support system with hundreds of hexagonal-shaped cut-outs. It offers firm support to the head, back, and legs, while the shoulders and hips have a softer feel to alleviate pressure. Between the cut-outs, air can circulate, wicking away heat to make this mattress even cooler.

The final layer is a high-density Bio-Core® foam. It distributes weight across the sleep surface and deters sagging, prolonging the mattress’s lifespan. However, if a mattress made entirely of foam doesn’t appeal to you, the AS3 also comes in a hybrid variation, the AS3 Hybrid. It has the same build as the AS3, only it features pocketed coils and a thin foam base in place of the Bio-Core®. This build promotes extra bounce and air circulation throughout the mattress.

Amerisleep offers a 20-year warranty, a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and free returns with every mattress purchase.

The Zoma Mattress uses cutting edge technology and high-quality materials to boost sleep quality. At Zoma, they prioritize offering the best products for the lowest cost. Of their three mattress line-up, the Zoma Mattress is the most popular since it suits such a wide range of sleepers. For a firmer foam bed, consider the Zoma Start, and for a little bounce and cushioning, check out the Zoma Hybrid.

Moving on, the Zoma Mattress is 11 inches tall and can bear up to 800 pounds, so even those weighing over 230 pounds can comfortably sleep on this bed. The bed’s elastane-polyester cover stretches to increase air circulation through the mattress.

The first layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam with Triangulex™ technology, which keeps you sleeping cool. As per reviews, customers note how bouncy the foam is and how sleeping on the Zoma Mattress helped relieve their pain and soreness.

The Triangulex™ technology is a 3-zone comfort system where the memory foam is solid in the middle, but segments into triangular-shaped cut-outs at the head and feet. The triangular-shaped cut-outs are spaced widely apart, so your legs and shoulders can sink into the materials—this alleviates pressure points and pain.

The second layer is 2 inches of latex-like Reactiv™ material, which relieves pressure by buffering between the comfort and support layers.

Below, 7 inches of Support+ foam prevents premature sagging, prolonging the mattress’s longevity.

The Zoma Mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and free returns.

Vaya Sleep aims to provide the best quality mattresses for the lowest price. Their flagship Vaya Mattress is 12 inches thick and can withstand up to 300 pounds. It’s made of hypoallergenic and CertiPUR-US® certified materials, making the Vaya Mattress an excellent option for allergy sufferers.

The rayon blend cover increases airflow through the mattress, encouraging temperature regulation. It also draws moisture away from the body so you don’t have to worry about feeling sweaty and damp all night.

The Vaya Comfort Foam comfort layer contours to the body and relieves pressure without becoming a heat trap. Customer reviews describe the bed as being both cushioning and responsive without causing them to feel stiff, sore, or unsupported.

The 9-inch high-density Vaya Base Foam layer prevents lasting indentations to extend the mattress’s lifespan. However, if you prefer a bouncier bed, the Vaya comes in a hybrid option as well, the Vaya Hybrid. It has the same Vaya Comfort Foam, but features a pocketed coil base in  place of the Vaya Base Foam.

The Vaya Mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and free returns.

As Muse’s flagship mattress, the Muse Original is 12 inches thick and has a medium feel. Another mattress option Muse offers is the Muse Hybrid, which is slightly firmer than the Muse Original. Either way, the bed combines cooling technology and gel memory foam to keep its mattress at room temperature.

The knit phase-change cover regulates your temperature for a good night’s sleep. The cover is also machine-washable.

The plush top layer is made from pneumatic foam and conforms to the body, relieving pressure. The foam promotes airflow, decreasing the risk of night sweats.

Below, 2 inches of gel memory foam draws heat from your body while offering more conformability and pressure relief.

The transition layer is 2 inches of poly-foam, which reduces motion transfer and buffers between the soft comfort and firmer support layers.

The last layer—6 inches of polyurethane—prolongs the mattress’s longevity by deterring premature sagging.

Muse offers a 10-year warranty, a 120-night sleep trial, free shipping, and hassle-free returns.

The Bear Original fosters cooler and more comfortable sleep. This mattress has a 12-inch height and a medium-firm feel. Many foam mattresses can feel overly soft, but customers note how surprised they were that a foam mattress could feel so firm. Still, Bear’s other mattresses—the Bear Pro and Bear Hybrid—are softer than the Bear Original, if you prefer a softer bed.

The Celliant® cover recycles body heat into infrared energy and increases local blood flow to promote cellular repair. This way, you don’t overheat and wake up without feeling stiff or achy.

The graphite-gel comfort foam layer wicks away heat while conforming to the body and alleviating pressure points. Below, another gel memory foam layer wicks away body heat to keep you from overheating. A transition layer of foam buffers between the comfort and support layers. The high-density support layer deters sagging for a long-lasting mattress.

The Bear Original is CertiPUR-US® certified, GREENGUARD Gold certified, and made in the USA. Plus, Bear offers a 100-night sleep trial, a 10-year warranty, and free shipping and returns.

The Nest Bedding Alexander Signature Series® Flippable features dual comfort sleep surfaces—a medium firmness on one side and a firm sleeping surface on the other—allowing you to choose your firmness. Customers mention how easy it is to switch sides if they’re ever in need of extra support or cushioning. The firmer side is typically best for stomach and back sleepers, while the softer side works better for side and combination sleepers.

Of Nest Bedding’s Alexander Signature Series® line-up, they offer the Hybrid and Flippable mattresses. The Alexander Signature Hybrid comes in soft, medium, and firm forms and isn’t flippable, whereas the Alexander Signature Flippable only comes in one form with medium and firm sides. Also, the Flippable is made entirely of foam whereas the Hybrid contains pocketed coils.

The medium feel side of the mattress is encased with the breathable organic cotton cover. The cotton cover is quilted into CoolFlow™ foam, which offers conformability and pressure relief.

The gel memory foam comfort layer wicks away heat while conforming to the body to alleviate pressure points and back pain.

Below, 2 inches of transition foam buffers between the comfort and support layers, preventing you from bottoming out on the high-density foam underneath.

The support foam is 7 inches thick and deters sagging to prolong the mattress’s lifespan.

On the other side of the high-density base layer, 1 inch of CoolFlow™ foam cushions sleepers who prefer a firmer mattress feel.

Nest offers a lifetime warranty and a 100-night sleep trial with their mattresses.

Staying Cool

Staying cool helps you sleep better. As you prepare for sleep, your body temperature gradually drops, and normal functions, like digestion, slow down. During sleep, your body adjusts to the temperature of the room. However, if your current mattress doesn’t have any cooling materials, the body’s temperature can quickly rise, leading to sleep disruptions.

Some types of sleepers run hot, like plus-size sleepers and people with certain medical conditions.

Hot Sleepers

Hot sleepers naturally run hot, whether due to gender, age, or other minor reasons. For example, men run hotter than women, because women have a slower metabolic rate—men burn calories quicker than women, heating up their body.

Plus-Size Sleepers

Plus-size sleepers have more body weight, and tend to retain more heat in two ways: overweight people tend to sink more in a mattress, especially if the bed is softer than a medium firmness, trapping more heat. Plus-size sleepers also use more energy to move at night, giving off more heat.

Medical Conditions

Some pre-existing medical conditions may cause overheating, like chronic back pain—a herniated disc, for example, may damage and cause nerves and muscles to become inflamed, leading to increased body temperature. Cooling properties can reduce inflammation in affected areas and may also improve blood circulation.

What to Look for in the Best Cooling Mattress

Sleeping cool may improve sleep quality, because it leads to less sleep disruptions from overheating. To find your best mattress, consider mattress type, mattress cover, sleeping position, body weight, and available sleep trials, return policies, and warranties.

Mattress Type

Each type has a distinct feel. Some customers prefer the hug-like sensation of memory foam, while others prefer the bouncier surface of an innerspring.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are popular due to their conforming properties. Heat and pressure cause memory foam to soften, forming to the body’s natural curves to relieve pressure points.

A significant drawback to a traditional memory foam mattress is heat retention—the dense structure restricts airflow, causing heat traps. Better options are memory foam beds with cooling materials, like plant-based, gel, and copper and graphite infusions.

• Plant-Based

Plant oils partially replace petroleum during the manufacturing process, producing a breathable, responsive memory foam.

• Gel

Cooling gel is swirled or mixed in during the manufacturing process. The gel absorbs and disperses body heat.

• Copper and Graphite Infusions

Copper and graphite are natural heat conductors, drawing heat away from the body. Copper is also antimicrobial.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are common in households across the country. Innersprings have bounce, edge support, and cooling; in fact, innerspring mattresses offer the best airflow inside because of their open structure—it enables better airflow inside the bed for optimal cooling. Despite better airflow, innersprings offer very little pressure relief because they lack a thick enough comfort layer, and they transfer motion more than other mattress types.

Latex

Latex foam shares similarities with memory foam—conforming pressure relief and motion isolation. Unlike memory foam, latex mattresses have a responsive bounce and sleeps cooler. There are two types of latex: synthetic and natural. Synthetic latex is made through a chemical process and retains more heat, but natural latex is created one of two ways from rubber tree sap.

• Dunlop

Dunlop latex is denser and more durable than Talalay and doesn’t have any added chemicals.

• Talalay

It contains natural latex and polyurethane fillers to create its signature sponge-like feel. Talalay latex is softer than Dunlop.

Latex mattresses can be expensive, depending on how much natural latex they contain, and might be heavy, making them difficult to move.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses contain both memory foam or latex and innerspring coils, forming the perfect bed. While there are many beds containing foam and coils that claim to be a hybrid, a true hybrid mattress has at least 2 inches of foam in the comfort layer. Natural latex or gel memory foam combined with innerspring coils pulls heat away and enables better airflow inside the mattress

Hybrids offer the benefits of both mattress types, including pressure relief, motion isolation, bounce, and cooling. But, they also have drawbacks, like heat retention, motion transfer, and less pressure relief. Due to the number of materials and layers they contain, hybrid mattresses can be very heavy and difficult to move. They’re also one of the most expensive mattress types.

Mattress Cover

If a mattress company markets their beds as having “cooling materials,” that can also apply to the mattress cover. Cotton and polyester are more breathable and may help lower body temperature at night.

If the cover is quilted or non-quilted can also affect temperature regulation. Quilted covers thicker and plusher and may feature a thin pillow top. While this may provide extra cushioning, it also means the body sinks more into the bed, trapping heat.

Non-quilted covers are thinner and sleep cooler because they encourage better air circulation. They’re less likely to cause overheating.

Sleeping Position

Consider your preferred sleeping position before choosing the best mattress. Each sleep position needs a specific level of comfort and support to keep the spine aligned and prevent pressure buildup.

Side Sleeping

Side sleeping is the most common sleep position and the healthiest, reducing acid reflux, improving heart health, and enabling better breathing.

The best mattress for side sleepers is a soft to medium mattress for maximum pressure point relief in the shoulders and hips.

Back Sleeping

Back sleeping allows the spine to rest in a neutral position for better alignment. Back sleepers may face a higher risk of developing sleep apnea or snoring due to gravity—gravity may cause the collapse of soft tissue at the back of the throat, or the tongue to fall back, obstructing the airways.

Back sleepers need a medium to firm mattress to maintain neutral alignment and prevent the hips from sinking down too far.

Stomach Sleeping

Stomach sleeping is the least common sleep position because not many are comfortable lying on their stomachs at night. Stomach sleeping is also tied to health risks—increased spinal pressure can lead to neck strain and back pain, though placing a thin pillow under the hips can reduce this pressure.

The best mattress for stomach sleepers will have a medium-firm to firm feel, keeping the body resting on top with no deep sinkage.

Combination Sleeping

Combination sleepers regularly toss and turn, switching between two to three sleep positions each night. Combination sleepers enjoy all the benefits of each sleep position, including better breathing and natural alignment, but combination sleeping also comes with drawbacks, like developing sleep apnea and back pain.

Combination sleepers need a medium to medium-firm mattress for a balance of comfort and support and maintain spinal alignment.

Body Weight

Body weight is another significant factor to consider when looking for a new mattress. Each body type needs a specific level of comfort and support to relieve pressure points and support the spine.

Light

Light sleepers weigh less than 130 pounds. They need a softer mattress to relieve pressure in heavier sections of the body, like the shoulders and hips.

Average

Average sleepers weigh between 130 to 230 pounds. A medium surface is best in providing even comfort and support, without feeling too soft or too firm.

Heavy

Heavy people weigh more than 230 pounds and find the best comfort in a firmer surface—a firmer mattress gives better support without the risk of sagging.

Sleep Trials, Return Policies, and Warranties

Sleep trials, return policies, and warranties give potential customers an idea of how long a mattress will last. These perks also protect the mattress from damages.

Sleep Trial

A sleep trial allows customers to try a new mattress within the comfort of their own home. Sleep trials last between 90 to 120 nights, though some mattress companies may require customers to keep the mattress at least 30 days before accepting any returns. Sleep trials are more common with bed-in-a-box brands than in-store retailers. Most companies will issue a full refund if the customer doesn’t like the mattress.

Return Policy

A return policy is a good substitute if a sleep trial isn’t offered, though the trial period is shorter. Return policies last 30 days—about the time it may take the body to adjust to a new sleep surface. The customer can return the mattress for a refund, but read the fine print first before buying a bed without a sleep trial—some mattress retailers only accept unopened mattresses.

Warranty

A warranty protects a new mattress from manufacturing defects and sagging greater than 1 inch (measurement depends on mattress brand). Most mattresses come with a standard 10-year warranty and it only applies to the original purchaser.

Other Things to Consider

What mattress type keeps you coolest at night?

Some of the coolest types of mattresses include hybrid, natural latex, and memory foam.

• Hybrid mattresses contain a combination of coils and foam to maximize air circulation while still being cushiony and pressure-relieving.
• Memory foam is notoriously hot, but memory foam beds with cooling infusions, phase-changing materials, or plant-based oils are designed to be cool and comfortable.
• Latex is a naturally mattress material with similar properties as memory foam, only it’s naturally cool and slightly more durable.

What’s the best cooling mattress for combination sleepers?

Hot combination sleepers should look for cooling mattresses with a medium feel. This way, you  feel supported and comfortable regardless of what position they’re in. Several medium mattresses hot combo sleepers should look into include the Amerisleep AS3, Zoma Mattress, and Nest Bedding Alexander Signature Hybrid.

What’s the best mattress for hot side sleepers?

Side sleepers typically need softer mattresses to accommodate the widest parts of the body, the hips and shoulders. And as a hot sleeper, look for beds with breathable materials, such as coils, gel infusions, or phase-changing fabrics.

Several beds that work well for hot side sleepers include the Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid, Vaya Mattress, and Nolah Original 10”.

How much does a cooling mattress cost?

Cooling mattresses come in a variety of prices, with queen size beds being as little as $500 and upwards of $3000 or more. It’s a matter of deciding your budget and what type of mattress you prefer. The prices you can expect to pay for different types of cooling mattresses include:

• Cooling memory foam mattresses: $500 to $1500
• Cooling latex mattresses: $1000 to $3000
• Cooling hybrid mattresses: $1000 to $2500
• Cooling innerspring mattresses: $500 to $1200

How can I keep my mattress cool?

There are plenty of ways to keep your mattress cool and dry throughout the night. Several ways to keep your mattress cool are:

• Keep your bedroom between 60 to 67 degrees at night
• Use breathable bed sheets made fabrics such as cotton, Tencel™, linen, or bamboo
• Place a cooling mattress protector or topper over your bed
• Sleep with a cool pillow

Outside of cooling down your mattress, wearing lightweight pajamas, drinking water, or placing cold compresses on your body at night can make it easier to sleep on hot nights.

Conclusion

If you wake at night feeling hot and sweaty even after switching out your bedding, the problem could be your mattress. A mattress with gel memory foam, natural latex, or innerspring coils increases airflow inside the bed and pulls heat away from the body. For a comfortable night’s sleep, a cooling mattress could be the solution.