Best Cooling Mattress for Hot Sleepers (2023)

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.

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.

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

How Lying Down Feels

Officially rated as a medium mattress, the AS3 lives up to its implicit claim of balanced, near-universal comfort. However, we didn’t just trust our impression of the AS3’s gently cradling and supportive surface. We sought out what others were saying about it.

In the more than 6,000 reviews listed on the Amerisleep

Inside the Mattress

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.

SEE ALSO: Amerisleep Mattress Review

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.

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

How Lying Down Feels

As a high-quality gel memory foam mattress, the Zoma Mattress’s primary focus is on consistent coolness. The AirCloth cover fabric works with the gel infusions to quickly whisk away absorbed body heat, so the mattress should still feel cool after you’ve been stretched out on its surface for a few hours.

Inside the Mattress

Moving on, the Zoma Mattress is 12 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, 8 inches of Support+ foam prevents premature sagging, prolonging the mattress’s longevity.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

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

Inside the Mattress

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.

When it comes to all-natural mattresses, not much beats the Nolah Natural 11. This mattress combines responsive latex foam with even more responsive pocketed coils for a delightfully springy feel without all the petroleum products found in memory foam beds.

How Lying Down Feels

This latex hybrid features the breathability and bounce that only comes from a combination of both coils and latex foam. The first thing you’ll notice about the Natural is just how bouncy it is. This mattress will spring back into place as soon as you move – no more body impressions or slow response time like you’d get with traditional memory foam.

The Natural also offers the ultimate cooling experience without the need for added ingredients. Memory foam mattress manufacturers have to add infusions like gel or microbeads to their memory foam. They also have to change its construction just to cool it off. You’ll have to deal with exactly none of this with the Natural. The Natural is, well, all-natural. It doesn’t need any gel infusions or microbeads to be cooling and breathable. It just is.

Inside the Mattress

The Natural sports two layers of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified fabric. The first layer is the ultra-breathable cooling cotton cover. This cover helps keep air flowing around your body all night to ensure you never wake up in a sweat. The GOTS-certified wool layer underneath the cover helps enhance temperature regulation as well as provide all-natural fire protection.

Next, come two layers of perforated Talalay latex. The comfort layer is more contouring to provide the ultimate responsive pressure relief, while the transition layer is firmer to enhance buoyancy without sacrificing cushioning.

The final layer of the Natural is made of individually wrapped pocketed coils that can all move independently of one another to take your shape. This keeps your spine aligned and helps enhance the adaptability of the latex above.

SEE ALSO: Nolah Mattress Review

Many people think ultra-cool mattresses only come with coils. Not so with the GhostBed Luxe. While it’s true that coil support cores are more breathable than foam ones, the Luxe combines so many cooling features that it can compete with the best hybrids in terms of coolness. So hot sleepers who want an all-foam mattress should pay attention.

How Lying Down Feels

The Luxe is, first and foremost, a cooling mattress. So you’ll notice a pleasant chill on your sleep surface as soon as you lie down. And don’t worry about overheating after a few hours. That coolness will last all night long.

And since the Luxe is all-foam, it’s also got all the unbeatable contouring of memory foam. This makes it the perfect option for those who need extra pressure relief, like side sleepers and those with joint issues.

Inside the Mattress

The Luce’s cover alone boasts multiple cooling technologies. Namely, the GhostIce fabric layer, a layer of cool burst fiber, and a layer of gel memory foam.

Next, there’s the GhostIce layer for even more temperature-regulating power. And a thick layer of gel memory foam ensures ultimate pressure relief even as it draws body heat away from you and down into the mattress.

Next, the Ghost Bounce layer adds responsiveness and buoyancy to the mattress. This layer is springy like latex, but it won’t trigger a reaction in those with a latex allergy.

Finally, a thick layer of high-density memory foam ensures you’ll stay lifted onto the sleep surface without sinking into it. The ultra-firm support layer also ensures your mattress will fight sagging and soft spots for a full 25 years!

SEE ALSO: Best Mattress That Won’t Sag

Those who can’t live without the bounce of a traditional innerspring should give the Saatva Classic a shot. This innerspring hybrid fixes many of the issues present with regular innerspring mattresses.

How Lying Down Feels

The Classic has a dual coil support system that combines the contouring power of a hybrid with the bounce of an innerspring bed. This allows you to get all the adaptable support you need to keep your spine aligned while still maintaining that innerspring bounce you’ve grown accustomed to.

Best of all, the Classic might bounce like an innerspring, but it isolates motion like a hybrid!

Inside the Mattress

The Classic starts off with a highly contouring quilted Euro top with extra lumbar support. Directly underneath the Euro top is a layer of dense memory foam to help add buoyancy and support to the Euro top without taking away from its stellar pressure relief.

Next comes the first of two coil support cores. This initial support layer is made of pocketed coils that can adapt to your shape to keep your spine aligned and your body properly supported.

The open coil layer directly underneath the pocketed coils is what gives the Classic its traditional innerspring bounce. This layer and a portion of the pocketed layer are both surrounded by high-density foam railing to enhance edge support and durability.

SEE ALSO: Pocket Coil Mattress Buying Guide

If you want a cooling hybrid that can fight allergens and microbes, check out the Aurora Hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding. This copper-infused hybrid is perfect for those with sensitivities to things like dust mites and mold.

Plus, Brooklyn Bedding offers numerous, uncommon sizes that make the Aurora Hybrid one of the best RV mattresses available. The Aurora Hybrid has a 10-year warranty and a 120-night sleep trial.

How Lying Down Feels

The Aurora features copper infusions and gel memory foam, so you’re going to notice two things when you lie down on it: coolness and contouring. The gel and copper help pull body heat away from you to ensure adequate temperature regulation all night.

Meanwhile, neither copper nor gel reduces memory foam’s contouring power. So you can still expect to get all the adaptability of traditional memory foam without the lack of temperature control.

Inside the Mattress

CopperFlexTM memory foam with TitanCoolTM technology keeps you cool as a cucumber all night. The copper infusions also create a hostile environment for mold, mildew, dust mites, and more. That means sleepers with allergies can sleep easy on this bed.

Underneath the cooling comfort layer is a layer of TitanFlexTM foam. The Aurora comes in three firmnesses (soft, medium, and firm). Whatever choice you make will determine how firm the TitanFlexTM layer is.

Your firmness selection also determines what kind of transition foam you get. The soft and medium firmnesses come with a gel swirl foam layer. Meanwhile, the firm version sports a layer of VariFlexTM transition foam.

At the bottom, a support core of up to 1,032 AscensionTM coils provides all the bounce and breathability of springs while offering way more adaptability than open coil systems.

SEE ALSO: RV Mattress Sizes and Dimensions Guide

The Helix Midnight Luxe offers several fantastic upgrades for those who want to have a luxurious sleep without a luxury price. The Midnight Luxe offers a luxury feel without requiring you to plunk down $4,000 to $6,000.

How Lying Down Feels

The Midnight Luxe offers incredibly buoyant contouring thanks to its combination of multiple foam layers and adaptable coils. The gel visco and polyfoam help shore up support over what the coils alone would offer. This helps create a ton of lift and prevents your body from sinking into the bed.

Inside the Mattress

One of the best things about the Midnight Luxe is it offers a choice of covers. You can pick either breathable and airy TENCELTM or highly thermoconductive GlacioTex fabric. Both of these covers are cooling, but they regulate temperature in different ways.

Next, you’ll find the cooling pillow top and high-density Memory Plus Foam. This memory foam is still extremely contouring and pressure-relieving, but the density helps it keep you lifted onto the sleep surface.

Then, two transition layers of gel visco and high-grade polyfoam work together to make the memory foam comfort layer even more supportive.

Finally, the zoned coil support layer offers extra edge support and additional lift under the middle of your body to keep your heavier areas – specifically the lumbar and pelvic areas – lifted and supported for ideal spinal alignment.

If you have temperature issues while you’re sleeping, you should check out the Pod Mattress by Eight Sleep. This smart mattress offers advanced cooling and heating technology to keep both hot and cold sleepers happy all night long!

How Lying Down Feels

The Pod Mattress has three pillars of comfort: temperature, support, and contouring. This is a smart mattress, so the main thing you’re going to notice when you lie down is the fact that you have personalized temperature control. This means you can make your mattress as warm or cool as you like at the touch of a button.

The Pod is also extremely supportive and contouring, making it perfect for sleepers who need a little extra lift and spinal support.

Inside the Mattress

The Pod Mattress features four layers. Up top, it has a two-inch layer of comfort foam for added contouring without sinkage. Under this layer is a layer of pressure-relieving foam to help ensure you get the cushioning you need.

A big pull of this mattress is its dual support cores. It features a four-inch contouring support core sitting on top of another four inches of conventional base foam. This offers extra contouring over what you’d get from a traditional support layer.

Of course, this smart mattress has adjustable temperature settings. That means it comes with Active GridTM cooling technology that uses flowing water to continuously remove heat from your body. Water under your body absorbs heat and then flows away only to be replaced by cool water. You can set your mattress temperature as low as 55 and as high as 110!

Bear is a mattress company that targets the athletic market by offering cooling mattresses that prevent sleep disturbances for deeper recovery. As their main model, the Bear Original fosters cooler and more comfortable sleep.

The Bear Original is CertiPUR-US® certified, GREENGUARD Gold certified, and made in the USA. Plus, Bear offers a 365-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping and returns.

How Lying Down Feels

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.

Inside the Mattress

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.

SEE ALSO: Zoma vs. Bear: Side-by-Side Mattress Comparison

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.

To find the best mattresses for combination sleepers, look for ones that provide medium to medium-firm support, have responsive materials, and offer good pressure relief. 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 mattress-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 natural 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 Vaya Mattress.

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 Natural 11″.

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.