7 Best Gel Mattresses of 2024 | Expert Tested & Reviewed

Aug 28, 2024
Fact Checked
We tested more than 100 mattresses to find the best gel mattresses. Read on to find out which mattresses we reviewed are best for you.

Key Takeaways

Getting a good night’s sleep can be hard when you’re too hot, uncomfortable, unsupported, or in pain. According to a recent Gallup poll, 14% of adults in the United States say they’re too hot most of the time when they sleep or are trying to sleep. Research also shows that in 2022, one-third of all U.S. adults rated their sleep quality as fair or poor. Stress, anxiety, illness, and a host of other factors can make a difference in whether or not you sleep soundly at night, but so can your mattress.

Gel memory foam can provide benefits like better temperature regulation, pressure relief for your joints, and motion isolation. We tested more than 100 mattresses and narrowed down the seven best mattresses containing gel memory foam. Read on to find our top picks.

Best Gel Mattress in 2024

What we look for in a gel mattress

We found several important factors when testing mattresses that contain gel memory foam, including:

Good Pressure Relief

Gel mattresses are highly regarded for gently contouring and cradling your body while you sleep while providing pressure relief.

Firmness 

A firm mattress gives needed support for certain sleeping positions. We looked at how mattresses with gel foam stack up in this area.

Cooling Features

Hot sleepers look for a mattress that can provide cooling comfort. Gel memory foam is known for its cooling properties.

A long trial period

A mattress with a trial period of at least 100 nights gives you time to decide if it’s working for you. Some companies offer a full year to try out their mattresses.

Helix Midnight Luxe: Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress Overall 

Helix Midnight Luxe
Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress Overall
9.4 Excellent
We chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as the “Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress Overall” because it provides efficient cooling, great pressure relief, and scored high in overall support.
9.4 Excellent
Features
  • Price: $2,374 for a queen before discounts
  • Material: Hybrid
  • Brand’s firmness rating: Medium
  • Mattress height: 13.5 inches (″)
  • Trial period: 100 nights
  • Shipping: Free in the contiguous United States
  • Warranty: 15 years
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Great for lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) back and side sleepers Good bounce for combination sleepers and to help with mobility Cooling, edge support, and pressure relief all received high marks from our testers Cons Poor motion isolation Pricey
Our testing scores

How we scored the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress after extensive testing:

  • 5.5/10 Firmness
  • 4/5 Support
  • 4.5/5 Edge support
  • 5/5 Cooling
  • 2/5 Motion transfer
  • 4/5 Bounce
  • 4.75/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service

You can reach Helix customer service by:

  • Phone: Call 831-777-5976, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
  • Text: Text HELIX to 67069 to submit a request
  • Chat: Live chat via the bottom right corner of the website, available seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET
  • Email: help@helixsleep.com
  • Submit a contact form on the website

Payment options 

Helix accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Shop Pay. Financing is available through Affirm.

Depending on the time of year, active duty military members, first responders, students, teachers, and veterans can receive a discount up to 30% off. The discount code can’t be used with other promotions. 

Our Top Pick

Our expert take on the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress

Crafted with six layers, the Helix Midnight Luxe is one of the company’s most popular models. The mattress is made of a DuraDense foam layer at the bottom to provide support and stability, a Helix responsive foam layer for stability and cradling comfort, and a copper gel memory foam layer that offers firmness and contours your body. The mattress also has a layer of up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils designed to keep your spine aligned and give additional support. It’s topped off with either a breathable cover or an upgraded cooling pillow top.

A 10-pound ball rests on the edge of the Helix Midnight Luxe to test edge support.
Note how a 10-pound ball rests close to the edge of the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress without sinking or falling over, demonstrating the bed’s high edge support score.

With a 5.5 out of 10 for firmness, the mattress is on the softer side of medium. Our testers immediately noticed the cushiony comfort of the mattress due to its pillow top. It not only gave a soft, luxurious feel, but provided the ideal amount of support for lighter-weight and average-weight back and stomach sleepers. Edge support was also a plus for this mattress, scoring 4.5 out of five. Adults with mobility issues may appreciate the stability of the mattress’s edges, which can help with getting in and out of bed. Another perk is this mattress stays cool, garnering a score of five out of five for its cooling properties, likely due in part to the gel memory foam.

The Helix Midnight Luxe didn’t score well in motion isolation, so couples may want to opt for a different mattress. It also likely won’t provide enough support for most higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) back and side sleepers. Surprisingly, this mattress performed well for stomach sleepers across all body types, with the pillow top providing the support needed to keep the hips supported and spine aligned. 

Helix mattresses are delivered to you in a box. The website notes to allow up to two hours for the mattress to fully expand. The company offers in-home setup of your new mattress and removal of your old one.

For more information about the brand, check out our in-depth Helix mattress review.

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Our tester on the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress:

“I’m surprised how comfortable this mattress is while on my stomach. The pillowy top is providing the support I need, which isn’t typical of softer mattresses.”

Our mattress expert’s take on the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress:

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Nectar Premier: Best Gel Mattress for Couples

Nectar Premier
Best Gel Mattress for Couples
9.1 Excellent
We chose the Nectar Premier as the “Best Gel Mattress for Couples” because it scored a perfect 5 out of 5 for motion isolation, important for people who sleep with another person and don’t want to disturb one another. It also offers a high level of cooling and above-average scores in edge support and overall support.
9.1 Excellent
Features
  • Price: $1,499 for a queen before discounts
  • Material: Hybrid
  • Brand’s firmness rating: Medium
  • Mattress height: 13″
  • Trial period: 365 nights
  • Shipping: Free in the contiguous United States
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Minimal motion transfer High level of cooling Great pressure relief Option to add white-glove delivery Cons Poor bounce
Our testing scores

How we scored the Nectar Premier mattress after extensive testing:

  • 5.5/10 Firmness
  • 3/5 Support
  • 3/5 Edge support
  • 4.5/5 Cooling
  • 5/5 Motion transfer
  • 2/5 Bounce
  • 4.5/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service

You can reach Nectar customer service by:

  • Phone: Call 888-863-2827, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT
  • Chat: Live chat via the bottom right corner of the website, available 24 hours daily
  • Email: support@nectarsleep.com

Payment options
Nectar accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Amazon Pay, Acima, Google Pay, Afterpay, and PayPal. Financing is available through Affirm or SplitIt.

First responders, health care professionals, and members of the military receive a 5% discount. The discount code can’t be used with other promotions.

Our expert take on the Nectar Premier mattress

The first layer of the Nectar Premier is a breathable cooling cover, followed by gel-infused memory foam. The dynamic response layer is designed to help reduce bounce, while a stability base layer gives the mattress durability. At the bottom, the shift-resistant lower cover keeps the layers of the mattress in place.

Seismograph lines showing minimal bounce on the Nectar Premier mattress.
Our testers used a seismograph to gauge how well the Nectar Premier absorbs motion. After dropping a 10-pound ball on the bed’s surface, the seismograph recorded the movement above. Note how there are only two slight spikes, demonstrating the bed’s superior motion isolation score.

Our Reviews Team thought the stability layers worked well. Testers used a seismograph tool An instrument that responds to movement, typically vibrations or shaking during an earthquake to measure how well the mattress absorbs motion. After dropping a 10-pound ball on the bed’s surface, the seismograph recorded very little motion. This reflects the Nectar Premier’s perfect score in motion isolation—we gave it a five out of five, meaning light sleepers don’t have to be as worried about their partner’s movements disturbing them. 

The ability to keep sleepers cool is a sought-after feature of mattresses with gel memory foam. The Nectar Premier mattress didn’t disappoint, earning a 4.5 out of five from our testers. Despite its rating of 5.5 out of 10 for firmness, the mattress still gives many lighter-weight and average-weight sleepers the support they need. “This mattress does keep up with position changes for average-weight individuals, but it still sinks enough to provide resistance,” a tester noted. 

While the edge support and overall support could be better, both still scored above average with a three out of 5. The Nectar Premier mattress misses the mark with support for higher-weight back and stomach sleepers, although this mattress could work for higher-weight side sleepers. 

Our testers scored this mattress low for bounce, but they say the mattress does provide some responsiveness, making it slow but not impossible to move around. But if not being disturbed by a partner who tosses and turns is the most important thing for you, the Nectar Premier is a good choice.

Your Nectar memory foam mattress will arrive in a box. Once you unbox it, it will expand fully in up to 72 hours. The company offers white-glove delivery for an additional cost. 

To learn more about the brand, check out our in-depth Nectar review.

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Our tester on the Nectar Premier mattress:

“Ideal for back and side sleepers with a mixture of pressure relief and gentle support.”

Our mattress expert’s take on the Nectar Premier mattress:

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Saatva Solaire: Best Eco-Friendly Gel Mattress

Saatva Solaire
Best Eco-Friendly Gel Mattress
9.7 Exceptional
We chose the Saatva Solaire as the “Best Eco-Friendly Gel Mattress” because it’s made with organic cotton and hypoallergenic latex and is CertiPUR-US certified. This means the mattress’s foams have been tested and meet emissions, content, performance, and durability standards. The mattress is also free of harmful flame retardants, ozone depleters, formaldehyde, lead, and other heavy metals. It also tested high for pressure relief, support, and motion isolation.
9.7 Exceptional
Features
  • Price: $4,495 for a queen before discounts
  • Material: Air chambers, latex, and foam
  • Brand’s firmness rating: 50 adjustable firmness settings
  • Mattress height: 13″
  • Trial period: 365 nights
  • Shipping: Free white-glove delivery
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Environmentally friendly product made with organic materials One-year trial period Free white-glove delivery Adjustable air chambers allow you to adjust the firmness Great pressure relief Scored high for motion isolation Cons Pricey The mattress doesn’t offer a lot of bounce Cooling could be better
Our testing scores

How we scored the Saatva Solaire mattress after extensive testing:

  • 6/10 Firmness
  • 4.5/5 Support
  • 4.5/5 Edge support
  • 3/5 Cooling
  • 4.5/5 Motion transfer
  • 2/5 Bounce: 2/5
  • 4.625/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service

You can reach Saatva customer service by:

  • Phone: Call 877-672-2882, available 24/7
  • Chat: Live chat via the bottom left corner of the website, available 24 hours daily
  • Email: info@saatvamattress.com

Payment options 

Saatva accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and Google Pay. Financing is available through Affirm.

First responders, government employees, health care professionals, members of the military, seniors, students, and teachers can receive $225 off purchases priced at $1,000 or more. The discount code can’t be used with other promotions.

Our expert take on the Saatva Solaire mattress 

We like this mattress for its organic composition with a moisture barrier designed to keep bacterial growth at bay. The 1-inch latex layer is naturally hypoallergenic to help prevent dirt and dust mites. This layer is also helpful in relieving pressure and providing lower back support, which is why it scored high for pressure relief. The gel-infused memory foam layer is designed to cradle your body in comfort while also keeping you cool. Although our testers rated it above average for cooling, they said the bed warms up while lying in it. Hot sleepers may want to buy a cooling cover if this doesn’t keep them cool.

One of the most interesting things about this mattress is that it offers 50 levels of adjustable firmness through air chambers you can inflate or deflate with the touch of a button. We tested this mattress up to 50 and found that at the highest level, the firmness was around a seven, which is only slightly firmer than medium. While we found this mattress ideal for lighter- and average-weight back and side sleepers and good for higher-weight back sleepers, we don’t think this provides enough support for most stomach sleepers. 

 Black Saatva Solaire remote rests on the top of the bed with a white organic cotton cover.
Black Saatva Solaire remote rests on the top of the bed with a white organic cotton cover.

In the back positions, our team said their spine stayed neutral, while they got a lot of pressure relief while on their side. This mattress is highly supportive overall and along the perimeter, giving strong edge support. 

Saatva offers free white-glove delivery and mattress removal. The brand’s mattresses come in a box and are ready to go once delivered and set up.

To learn more about the brand, check out our in-depth Saatva review. To learn more about this model, read our Saatva Solaire review.

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Our tester on the Saatva Solaire mattress:

“I’m very impressed overall [with edge support]; reinforced edges do quite a bit, especially with higher firmnesses.”

Our mattress expert’s take on the Saatva Solaire mattress:

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The WinkBed: Best Gel Mattress for Back Sleepers 

The WinkBed
Best Gel Mattress for Back Sleepers
9.4 Excellent
We chose The WinkBed as the “Best Gel Mattress for Back Sleepers” because it offers strong support, great pressure relief, and is a true medium-firm, which some research suggests is the ideal firmness for back pain prevention.
9.4 Excellent
Features
  • Price: $1,799–$1,999 for a queen before discounts (depending on the firmness)
  • Material: Hybrid
  • Brand’s firmness rating: Medium
  • Mattress height: 13.5″
  • Trial period: 120 nights
  • Shipping: Free in the contiguous United States
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Comes in four firmness levels Great pressure relief Strong edge support Efficient cooling technology CertiPUR-US certified and made with eco-friendly materials Cons No white-glove delivery options
Our testing scores

How we scored The WinkBed mattress after extensive testing:

  • 6.5/10 Firmness
  • 4/5 Support
  • 4/5 Edge support
  • 4.5/5 Cooling
  • 4/5 Motion transfer
  • 3.5/5 Bounce
  • 4.5/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service 

You can reach WinkBed customer service by:

  • Phone: Call 855-946-5233, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
  • Chat: Live chat via the bottom right corner of the website, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
  • Email: info@winkbeds.com

Payment options 

WinkBeds accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa credit, PayPal, Shop Pay, and Google Pay. Financing is available through Bread and Katapult.

First responders, health care workers, and military members are eligible for a $50 discount on their purchases.

Our expert take on The WinkBed mattress 

The WinkBed mattress offers a four-level support system, starting with the eco-friendly eucalyptus-derived cover designed to help with cooling. Next is a Euro pillow top with gel-infused foam that our testers found provided pressure relief while lying on their back and side. Under this layer are individually wrapped coils for additional back support. While you can select from four different firmness options (softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus), we tested the brand’s luxury firm model, which we rated 6.5 out of 10 for firmness. 

Infrared reading of tester lying on their back, showing blue with light areas of green, indicating high pressure relief score.
The results of our tester using a pressure map while lying on their back on The Winkbed. Blue indicates little/no pressure buildup, demonstrating the mattress’s almost perfect score in pressure relief for back sleepers.

During testing, our team used a pressure map tool A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lies across it to help identify areas of pressure buildup while lying on their backs. The results, above, are almost completely blue, which indicates little/no pressure buildup. While lying on their backs, testers’ spines stayed neutral and the mattress provided good contour. We think this mattress is ideal for back sleepers of all body types. Our testers were also pleased with overall support, including edge support. The mattress focuses on cooling properties with its cover and coil systems, and we found it hit the mark in those areas. The WinkBed mattress scored a 4.5 out of five for cooling.

The mattress didn’t perform as well for bounce and responsiveness, scoring a 3.5 out of five, although this is still above average. Despite this, The WinkBed mattress is a strong choice that can help keep your spine aligned, your pressure points comfortable, and your back supported.

The WinkBed mattress is compressed, boxed, and shipped to your door. It can take up to 72 hours to expand. 

To learn more about the brand, check out our in-depth WinkBeds review.

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Our tester on The WinkBed mattress:

“[It] should have enough support for higher-weight people to feel comfortable … particularly in back and side sleeping.”

Our mattress expert’s take on The WinkBed mattress:

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Bear Original mattress: Best Firm Gel Mattress

Bear Original
Best Gel Mattress for Back Sleepers
9.4 Excellent
We chose the Bear Original as the “Best Firm Gel Mattress” because it’s the firmest on this list and provides enough firm support for higher-weight sleepers. We also like this mattress because it’s a budget-friendly option.
9.4 Excellent
Features
  • Price: $998 for a queen before discounts
  • Material: Memory foam
  • Brand’s firmness rating: Medium
  • Mattress height: 10″
  • Trial period: 120 nights
  • Shipping: Free in the contiguous United States
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Option for higher-weight sleepers Budget-friendly Good pressure relief Strong edge support Option to add white-glove delivery for a fee Cons Poor overall support Low bounce score
Our testing scores

How we scored the Bear Original mattress after extensive testing:

  • 8/10 Firmness
  • 2.5/5 Support
  • 4/5 Edge support
  • 3.5/5 Cooling
  • 4/5 Motion transfer
  • 2/5 Bounce
  • 4/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service 

You can reach Bear customer service by:

  • Phone: Call 844-311-0035, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
  • Chat: Live chat via bottom right corner of the website, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
  • Text: Text with a live person. Go to the Contact Us page and click the Live Text link to get started. Available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
  • Email: support@bearmattress.com

Payment options 

Bear accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Google Pay, and PayPal. Financing is available with Affirm or Shop Pay.

First responders, health care professionals, military members, and teachers receive a 40% discount. The discount code can’t be used with other promotions.

Our expert take on the Bear Original mattress 

Significantly less expensive than many competitors, this firm memory foam mattress is certified nontoxic and fiberglass-free. The Bear Original contains high-density support foam that stabilizes the mattress at the bottom, a dynamic foam layer designed to provide pressure relief, and a cooling gel memory foam layer designed to keep hot sleepers comfortable with healthy spinal alignment. A breathable quilted cover tops the mattress. 

Bear Original mattress with weighted ball lightly sinking into the mattress to demonstrate the firmness level
Note how little the 10-pound ball sinks into the Bear Original mattress, demonstrating the bed’s high firmness rating.

Our testers said the mattress ranks near the top of the firmness scale, giving it an eight out of 10. That stability and lack of significant sinkage is what helps make the Bear Original ideal for stomach sleepers of all sizes. The mattress also earned good marks for motion isolation, with a four out of five, keeping you from being disturbed by your partner’s movements in bed. We also found that this bed has strong edge support, with a four out of five rating, making it a good option if you need extra support getting in and out of bed. Although memory foam is known for retaining heat, we were also impressed with this mattress’s level of cooling (3.5 out of five).

Lighter-weight sleepers may find this mattress too firm for their liking. Also, the mattress only ranked a two out of five for bounce, with little responsive movement, so adults with mobility issues may need something bouncier. 

The Bear Original mattress arrives in a box. The company says you should give it 24–48 hours to fully expand.

To learn more about the brand, check out our in-depth Bear review.

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Our tester on the Bear Original mattress:

“My hips don’t dip and my spine feels neutral on my stomach. I like this level of firmness for all stomach sleepers.”

Our mattress expert’s take on the Bear Original mattress

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Titan Plus mattress: Best Gel Mattress for Higher-Weight Sleepers

Titan Plus
Best Gel Mattress for Higher-Weight Sleepers
9.3 Excellent
We chose the Titan Plus as the “Best Gel Mattress for Higher-Weight Sleepers” because it is specifically designed for people who weigh more than 250 pounds. With an eight out of 10 firmness rating and a four out of five for overall support, the Titan Plus provides the necessary support, plus great pressure relief and cooling.
9.3 Excellent
Features
  • Price: $1,249 for a queen before discounts
  • Material: Hybrid
  • Brand’s firmness rating: Firm
  • Mattress height: 11″
  • Trial period: 120 nights
  • Shipping: Free in the contiguous United States
  • Warranty: 10 years
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Mattress firmness is ideal for most higher-weight sleepers Efficient cooling properties Great bounce for mobility Scored high for pressure relief Cons May be too firm for lighter-weight sleepers No white-glove delivery option
Our testing scores

How we scored the Titan Plus after extensive testing:

  • 8/10 Firmness
  • 4/5 Support
  • 3.5/5 Edge support
  • 4.5/5 Cooling
  • 3.5/5 Motion transfer
  • 4/5 Bounce
  • 4.5/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service 

You can reach Titan customer service by:

  • Phone: Call (623) 624-1222, available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET seven days a week
  • Chat: Live chat near the bottom of the website, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
  • Submit a request via the contact form on the website

Payment options 

Titan accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Amazon Pay, Shop Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. Financing is available through Affirm.

Educators, first responders, medical providers, military members, and students receive a 30% discount. The discount code can’t be used with other promotions.

Our expert take on the Titan Plus mattress

Higher-weight sleepers may have difficulty finding a mattress with the firmness and support they need. But the Titan Plus was designed to support up to 1,000 pounds. The mattress has a flex base layer, up to 900 individually encased coils, a Titan Flex memory foam layer to help with pressure relief, and a quilted top with gel foam that helps with cooling. With our testers rating its cooling properties at a 4.5 out of five, the mattress keeps hot sleepers comfortable during the night. It also gives good pressure relief with a 4.5 out of five, which may help prevent and ease pain from key areas, like the shoulders, hips, and lower back. 

Close up of woman in jeans sitting on bed, lower body only
One of our testers sits on the edge of the Titan Plus to help measure edge support. Note how deep the edge sinks, which shows the bed’s slightly above-average edge support.

While this mattress can work for high-weight sleepers in all positions, lighter- and average-weight side sleepers will likely need something softer to cushion pressure points. We do think average-weight back sleepers may like this mattress.

This mattress provides one of the best bounce scores in this review, which is ideal for combination sleepers and people with mobility issues. 

The Titan Plus mattress arrives in a box. After you lay it out, the company website says it should decompress completely in 24 hours. 

To learn more about the brand, check out our in-depth Titan review.

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Our tester on the Titan Plus mattress:

“I love how supportive this mattress is. My back feels straight and my weight feels evenly distributed.”

Our mattress expert’s take on the Titan Plus mattress

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Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling Mattress: Best Gel Mattress for Cooling

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling
Best Gel Mattress for Cooling
9.3 Excellent
We chose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress as the “Best Gel Mattress for Cooling” because it scored a perfect five out of five for cooling and pressure relief.
9.3 Excellent
Features
  • Price: $2,265 for a queen before discounts
  • Material: Hybrid
  • Brand’s firmness rating: Medium
  • Mattress height: 13.25″
  • Trial period: 120 nights
  • Shipping: Free in the contiguous United States
  • Warranty: 10 years
  • Offers financing: Yes
Pros and cons
Pros Highly cooling mattress Great edge support Scored high for pressure relief May work for sleepers of all sizes Cons Motion isolation is lacking No white-glove delivery option
Our testing scores

How we scored the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress after extensive testing:

  • 7.5/10 Firmness
  • 3.5/5 Support
  • 4.5/5 Edge support
  • 5/5 Cooling
  • 2.5/5 Motion transfer
  • 3/5 Bounce
  • 5/5 Pressure relief

Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.

Additional information

Customer service 

You can reach Brooklyn Bedding customer service by:

  • Phone: Call 623-624-1222, available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET seven days a week
  • Chat: Live chat near the bottom of the website, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
  • Submit a request via the contact form on the website

Payment options 

Brooklyn Bedding accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Amazon Pay, PayPal, Shop Pay, and Google Pay. Financing is available through Affirm.

Educators, first responders, medical providers, military members, and students receive a 30% discount. The discount code can’t be used in conjunction with other promotions.

Our expert take on the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress

The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling comes with a GlacioTex cooling cover and gel swirl memory foam, both designed to help hot sleepers feel more comfortable. Our team found the cooling highly effective, with one tester noting that it feels “icy” to the touch. When our testers measured the heat buildup after lying on the mattress for five minutes, the temperature increased about 5.9 degrees, which indicates “very good” cooling properties. Anything less than 10 is considered good. 

This mattress’s above-average support helps give sleepers good pressure relief. Its level of firmness (7.5 out of 10) makes it ideal for higher-weight back and side sleepers but a poor choice for lighter-weight back and side sleepers. Adults who use the edge of the bed to get in and out or get dressed should appreciate the solid edge support, with a 4.5 out of five rating. 

Our testers said the mattress allowed for easy movement, but the motion isolation was lacking, with only a 2.5 out of 5 score.

The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress arrives in a box. The company says it can take up to 24 hours to fully expand after being rolled out. 

To learn more about the brand, check out our in-depth Brooklyn Bedding review.

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Our tester on the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress:

“This is by far the coolest mattress I’ve touched.”

Our mattress expert’s take on the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress

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How we test the best gel mattresses

Our Reviews Team has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to researching the mattress industry, consulting at least 10 health care professionals, and testing roughly 40 brands and 130 unique mattress models for quality and comfort. We’ve also interviewed 16 older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 2,700 recent mattress customers to understand their experiences shopping for a new bed. 

Each mattress undergoes a rigorous 36-page testing procedure to score its different characteristics, including firmness, support, and other aspects most shoppers consider. We chose the best gel mattresses based on the scores of the relevant criteria, including cooling, pressure relief, firmness, and edge support.

Mattresses currently undergoing testing

We continuously test new mattresses each month and make sure we give you the most up-to-date information possible. Each mattress goes through a rigorous testing process, and we evaluate them in terms of firmness, support, pressure relief, and other categories important to shoppers. We then choose our top picks based on our scores and share them with our readers. 

The below is a list of mattresses currently undergoing testing:

How to choose a gel mattress

Gel memory foam is just one part of the construction of a mattress. It can help the mattress regulate your body temperature while sleeping and help support pressure relief. When you’re considering a mattress with gel material, here are a few things to look for:

Firmness

A mattress that is too firm can be just as painful and uncomfortable as a mattress that is too soft. How do you determine the best level of firmness to help you sleep comfortably? First, consider your sleeping position. For stomach sleepers, a firm mattress can prevent your hips from sinking into the mattress and pulling your spine out of alignment, while a back sleeper may want a medium-firm mattress to provide good lower back support with some contour. For a side sleeper, a mattress with a little more give and cushion can keep the shoulders and hips comfortable. 

Body type also makes a difference. Lighter-weight sleepers may find a firmer mattress feels too hard, while a higher-weight sleeper may need the support a firmer mattress offers. Many mattresses are in the medium-firm range. 

Cooling 

If you have a hard time falling or staying asleep at night because you’re too hot, a gel mattress offers some cooling properties that can help with temperature regulation. One of the first things to look for is whether the mattress is cool to the touch. Some have covers or pillow tops with advanced cooling properties. Next, take advantage of the company’s in-home trial to see how cool the mattress keeps you while you sleep. 

Coolness is subjective, so it’s important that you make sure the mattress you get works for your needs.

Pressure relief

Different sleeping positions impact the type of mattress you need for pressure relief. For many, the lower back, shoulders, and hips are primary pressure points. Look for a mattress that provides support and comfort in these areas. In addition to relieving pressure, your mattress should also help keep your spine in a neutral, aligned position. 

Comfort also factors in. You may be looking for that cradling feel that gel mattresses are known for. Test a mattress you’re considering to find out if you wake up in pain, or if you have the support and comfort that you need. Many mattresses that we review are zoned for focused support and relief.

What is a gel mattress?

To combat memory foam’s heat-retaining qualities, gel memory foam mattresses are generally made by adding gel capsules or liquid gel to the foam. This makes the memory foam more effective at dispersing heat and regulating temperature. 

According to Drew Miller, vice president of marketing at the Manhattan Beach, California-based Sit ‘n Sleep mattress retailer and the third generation in his family to be involved in the mattress business, gel-infused memory foam is designed to improve comfort and support, regulate temperature, and provide enhanced pressure relief. 

How long does a gel mattress last?

On average, gel mattresses should last 10–15 years, which is in line with other types of mattresses. Wear and tear and composition can impact how long a mattress lasts.

Although there is no set time frame, it can take anywhere from 30–90 days to break in a new mattress. A good rule of thumb is to look for a mattress company that gives you at least three months to try it out and see if it works for you.

What are the pros and cons of a gel mattress?

Pros

Cons

Compare the best gel mattresses as of July 2024

Mattress type Hybrid Hybrid Air chambers, latex, and foam Hybrid Memory foam Hybrid Hybrid
Mattress height in inches 13.5″ 13″ 4. 13″ 13.5″ 10″ 11″ 13.25″
Cooling 5 out of 5 5 out of 5 3 out of 5 4.5 out of 5 3.5 out of 5 4.5 out of 5 5 out of 5
Our firmness rating Medium Medium Medium Medium Firm Firm Firm
Warranty 15 years Lifetime Lifetime Lifetime Lifetime 10 years 10 years

Bottom line

If you’re looking for a mattress that contains gel memory foam, you’ll want to make sure it performs effectively in the features it was designed to help with, like cooling and contouring support. The Helix Midnight Luxe is our top pick because it offers efficient cooling and great pressure relief, and it scored high in overall support. But no mattress is one-size-fits-all. That’s why we rounded up our top picks and highlighted each mattress’s performance strengths and weaknesses, so you can find the right one for you.

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Frequently asked questions

Our pick for the best gel memory foam mattress is the Helix Midnight Luxe because of its cooling properties and cradling support. When searching for a mattress, look for the features that are most important to you.

Many gel mattresses can help cool and relieve pressure. The key is to find a mattress that best supports your preferred sleep position and body type and provides the firmness you need.

“Most gel mattresses are made from nontoxic materials. However, it’s important to check for certifications like CertiPUR-US, which ensure the foam is made without harmful chemicals and meets safety standards,” said Miller.

Gel mattresses, with the proper firmness level and pressure relief, can help prevent back pain just like any other mattress. Look for a mattress that makes your spine feel aligned and neutral and provides the pressure relief and support you need for your sleeping position and body type.

Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

Sources

  1. Witters D. Sleep Temperature Linked to Overall Sleep Quality, Wellbeing. Gallup. June 21, 2023. Found on the internet at https://news.gallup.com/poll/506201/sleep-temperature-linked-overall-sleep-quality-wellbeing.aspx
  1. Statista. Percentage of Adults in the United States Who Described Their Sleep Last Night as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor as of 2022. June 1, 2022. Found on the internet at https://www.statista.com/statistics/1309833/sleep-quality-last-night-among-adults-united-states
  2. Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should Be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of The Literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021. Found on the internet at https://jorthoptraumatol.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
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