Even the best mattresses can cause you to wake up feeling too warm. “When you sleep, your body heat is being sent directly to the mattress,” said Ahmed Harhara, PhD, a chemical engineer who studies thermodynamics and the founder of HoustonHomeTools.com based in Houston, Texas. This heat buildup can make it difficult to sleep comfortably. A mattress specifically designed to stay cool can make a big difference in your sleep quality. 

“When you’re lying down sleeping, you’re generating around 75–100 watts of heat, the same as an incandescent light bulb,” said Matthew Bailey, a thermodynamics expert and vice president of product engineering for Design 1st, a product design company based in Ottawa, Canada. “And you’re sleeping on a big insulator.” That means most mattresses don’t allow heat to pass through easily. 

But cooling mattresses use breathable materials and designs to allow heat to disperse into the air. Even more effective are mattresses with gel or foam that pull heat away from the body. In other words, the best cooling beds don’t just let air move—they use cooling materials to carry heat away from you for deeper, more comfortable rest. We found all that and more in the Helix Midnight Luxe, our overall pick for the best cooling mattress. Read on to learn more about our top picks for the best cooling mattresses.

Our Top Pick

Helix Midnight Luxe

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• Impressive temperature control, option to add a GlacioTex cooling cover
• Strong, balanced support in all sleeping positions

• Cool-to-the-touch feel

Nectar Premier Hybrid

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• Phase-change foam and breathable coils for great cooling
• Top-tier pressure relief, especially for side sleepers

• Long trial and warranty

Dream Cloud Hybrid

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• Consistently cool in all of our testing
• Only mattress under $1,000 for a queen size on this list

• Includes high-quality materials like a cashmere-blend cover

Best mattresses for cooling in 2025

• Helix Midnight Luxe: Best Overall Cooling Mattress
• Nectar Premier Hybrid: Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers
• DreamCloud Hybrid: Best Value Cooling Mattress
• The WinkBed Luxury Firm: Best Cooling Mattress for Pain Relief
• Bear Original: Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress
• Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: Best Cooling Gel Mattress
• Saatva Classic: Best Cooling Hybrid Mattress

Comparing the best mattresses for cooling

Comparison Features	Helix Midnight Luxe Visit Sitefor Helix Midnight Luxe	Nectar Premier Hybrid Visit Sitefor Nectar Premier Hybrid	DreamCloud Hybrid Visit Sitefor DreamCloud Hybrid	Winkbed Luxury Firm Visit Sitefor Winkbed Luxury Firm	Bear Original Visit Sitefor Bear Original	Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Visit Sitefor Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe	Saatva Classic Visit Sitefor Saatva Classic
Score (out of 10)	9/10	9.2/10	8.9/10	9.2/10	8.5/10	8.6/10	9.4/10
Best for	Overall	Side sleepers	Value cooling	Best cooling for pain relief	Best cooling memory foam	Best cooling gel	Cooling hybrid
Brand firmness rating	6/10	6.5/10	6.5/10	6.5/10	7.1/10	5/10	6/10
Trial period (nights)	120 nights	365 nights	365 nights	120 nights	120 nights	120 nights	365 nights

*Ratings reflect a brand's overall offering; the best overall pick doesn't necessarily have the highest score

Understanding accessibility and pain relief scores

Based on our testing, surveys, and focus groups with older adults, we created these two scores: 

• Accessibility score: The higher the score, the easier it is to get in and out of the bed and change positions. 
• Pain relief score: The higher the score, the more likely it can help relieve pain.

Top features of the best mattresses for cooling

We looked for the following features when choosing the best mattresses for cooling:

Helix Midnight Luxe: Best Overall Cooling Mattress

The Helix Midnight Luxe is our pick for the Best Overall Cooling Mattress because it combines strong, even support with exceptional temperature control. With its optional GlacioTex cooling cover, this hybrid mattress stayed noticeably cooler than most others we tested, earning it the top spot as the best choice for hot sleepers.

Helix Midnight Luxe

Best Overall Cooling Mattress

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• Learn more in our Helix mattress review
• Great cooling abilities

• Choice of three firmness options
• High pain and pressure relief in all sleeping positions

Helix Midnight Luxe features

• Our pain relief score: 4.2/5
• Accessibility score: 4.1/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6/10

Pros and cons

Pros

• Won’t overheat while sleeping
• Great scores for back support (especially with ErgoAlign)
• Can be customized with upgrades for cooling, firmness, and support

Cons

• No white-glove delivery available
• Shorter trial period (120 days) than some other brands
• May not be as supportive for sleepers who weigh more than 250 pounds

Nectar Premier Hybrid: Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers

The Nectar Premier Hybrid is one of the Best Cooling Mattresses for Side Sleepers who want support, comfort, and temperature control. It combines phase-change foam with breathable coils to prevent heat buildup and keep you cool and supported through the night. And it earned top scores in our tests for side pressure relief.

Nectar Premier Hybrid

Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers

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• Learn more in our Nectar mattress review
• Great support for side sleepers

• Has a cool-to-the-touch top and phase-change materials in its foam
• Has one of the longest trial periods in the industry (365 nights)

Nectar Premier Hybrid features

• Our pain relief score: 4.17/5
• Accessibility score: 3.91/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 6.5/10

Pros and cons

Pros

• Top scores for side support 
• Conducts heat away from the body 
• Zoned support takes pressure off hip and shoulder joints
• Responsive design for easier position changes

Cons

• Not recommended for higher-weight stomach sleepers
• Edge support is lacking
• White-glove delivery costs extra

DreamCloud Hybrid: Best Value Cooling Mattress

We chose the DreamCloud Classic Hybrid as the Best Value Cooling Mattress because it maintained a cool temperature and cost under $1,000. In our tests, the DreamCloud was as supportive as many luxury mattresses that cost more, and was made of quality materials, including a cashmere-blend cover. It also has one of the longest trial periods (365 nights) of any mattress we tested.

Dream Cloud Hybrid

Best Value Cooling Mattress

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• Learn more in our DreamCloud mattress review
• Design promotes airflow and draws heat away from the body

• High-quality cashmere-blend cover
• Great for solo sleepers or those with partners

DreamCloud Classic Hybrid features

• Our pain relief score: 4/5
• Accessibility score: 4/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating 6.5/10

Pros and cons

Pros

• Great cooling properties
• Supportive for all sleepers
• Long free trial period (365 nights)

Cons

• You have to unbox and set up this mattress yourself unless you pay extra
• Has below-average edge support
• Could feel too bouncy for some people

WinkBed Luxury Firm: Best Cooling Mattress for Pain Relief

The WinkBed Luxury Firm isn’t just one of the best cooling mattresses you can buy; it’s also one of the most comfortable beds for people with pain. With its cool-to-the-touch Tencel cover and breathable coils, this mattress keeps your body temperature balanced while easing pressure on your joints and back. It also delivers a plush, hotel-luxury feel at a great value.

WinkBed Luxury Firm

Best Cooling Mattress for Pain Relief

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• Learn more in our WinkBed mattress review
• Tencel cover and coils maximize breathability

• Excellent at easing joint and back pain
• Firm support and stable edges with a soft feel

WinkBed Plus features

• Our pain relief score: 4.8/5
• Accessibility score: 4.5/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating 8.5/10

Pros and cons

Pros

• Distributes weight evenly to reduce stress on joints
• Cooling memory foam may ease symptoms
• Great for spinal alignment and support

Cons

• No white-glove delivery option
• Not great for partnered sleeping due to poor motion isolation
• Could feel too firm for some

Bear Original: Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress

The Bear Original is the Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress for hot sleepers who prefer an all-foam bed. Many memory foam beds trap heat, but this one stays remarkably cool all night long. In our tests, it outperformed every other foam bed for temperature control, making it one of the best cooling beds we’ve reviewed.

Bear Original

Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress

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• Exceptional cooling ability
• Supportive of all sleeping positions

• Assembled in a fiberglass-free factory in the United States

Bear Original features

• Our pain relief score: 3.4/5
• Accessibility score: 3.5/5
• Mattress type: Memory foam
• Brand’s firmness rating 7.1/10

Pros and cons

Pros

• Superior cooling technology
• Foam contours to support spine and joints
• Compatible with adjustable beds

Cons

• May not be great for those with mobility issues
• Firmer than other mattresses on this list
• Lack of bounce may make standing from a seated position more difficult

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: Best Cooling Gel Mattress

We chose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe as the Best Cooling Gel Mattress because its temperature-regulating technology kept the surface noticeably cooler than the surrounding air. This mattress also delivers a luxury feel at a mid-range price, making it a great choice for hot sleepers who want a cool, refreshing night’s rest. 

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe

Best Cooling Gel Mattress

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• Learn more in our Brooklyn Bedding mattress review
• Among the best cooling mattresses we tested
• Has responsive support

• Good for pain relief
• Made in the United States

Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe features

• Our pressure relief score: 3.17/5
• Accessibility score: 3.65/10
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Brand’s firmness rating: 5/10

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent cooling for hot sleepers
• Choice of three firmness levels
• Comfortable for back sleepers

Cons

• Mattress height is thicker than average (13.25 inches)
• Motion isolation is only average
• White-glove delivery (setup of your new mattress) is not an option

Saatva Classic: Best Cooling Hybrid Mattress

We chose the Saatva Classic Luxury Firm as the Best Cooling Hybrid Mattress for its strong cooling score and reputation for quality and comfort. The Saatva Classic has excellent airflow due to its two separate layers of innerspring coils and a breathable organic cotton cover. It’s the best mattress for hot sleepers who want premium hotel-style support and comfort.

Saatva Classic

Best Cooling Hybrid Mattress

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• Learn more in our Saatva mattress review
• Top cooling scores and great breathable materials

• Great support in all sleeping positions
• High bounce helps with moving on and getting in and out of bed

Saatva Classic features

• Our pain relief score: 4.9/5
• Accessibility score: 4.6/5
• Mattress type: Hybrid 
• Brand’s firmness rating 6/10 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Choice of three firmness levels
• Exceptional at relieving pressure in all positions
• Stable surface and strong edges
• High-quality construction and materials (organic cover)
• Industry-leading free trial period (365 nights)
• Free white-glove delivery (delivery and setup of new mattress and removal of old mattress)

Cons

• Higher cost
• Low motion isolation is not great for couples

Our process testing the best cooling mattresses

Our team has spent thousands of hours researching and testing mattresses so you can feel confident in our reviews. We partner with sleep specialists, physical therapists, and thermodynamics experts to understand what makes a mattress safe, supportive, accessible, and able to stay cool. For this review, we personally tested 30 mattresses identified through our research as offering strong pain relief and better sleep quality. Each mattress underwent rigorous testing to gather reliable, real-world data on how they perform.

Thermal gun test

One study found that sleep is most restful for the average older adult when their body temperature is between 68 and 77 degrees.² To measure how well a mattress regulates temperature, we used a heat gun to record the surface temperature of each mattress before anyone lay on the mattress. Then we heated that surface to 90 degrees (research shows the average temperature of human skin is around 90 to 94 degrees, although it can vary by about 5 degrees depending on body region).³ We then let the mattress cool for five minutes and took another temperature reading. The mattresses that showed the least amount of heat buildup earned the highest scores.

Materials

We researched the specific cooling materials used in each mattress on their respective manufacturers’ websites, and consulted thermodynamics experts about them. We also cut open the mattresses to examine the materials and how they were used. 

Pain relief

To calculate pain relief, we used a unique formula measuring how likely a mattress is to ease a sleeper’s pain. The formula takes into account a mattress’s test scores for pressure relief, firmness, edge support, and bounce; weighs them by importance; and creates a weighted score to indicate how well a mattress will ease pain. 

Pressure relief 

Our pressure relief score takes real tester feedback into account and data from our pressure mapping system. This tool uses sensors to measure how much pressure different parts of the body experience while lying on the mattress. Cool colors like blue and green indicate excellent pressure relief, while warmer tones—yellow, orange, and red—highlight areas where pressure tends to build up. We chose mattresses that showed mainly good contouring and relief (blue and green). 

Spinal support

Correct spinal positioning can be important for older adults because it helps relieve pressure on joints. We looked for mattresses that are supportive where joints contact the mattress, including the neck, shoulders, hips, and lower back. We also asked testers to note how their spine and joints felt while lying on the mattress in different positions, and how comfortable and supported they felt.

Firmness

Studies show that a medium-firm to firm mattress is a good choice for most older adults.⁴ This level, around a 6.5 to 7 on the firmness scale, can provide a balance of support and comfort. Of course, a mattress can feel more or less firm depending on factors such as body weight, the materials used, and personal preference. Our testers frequently rated mattresses as firmer or softer than the brand’s claims. So it’s best to choose a mattress based on your preference. If you prefer a softer mattress, memory foam may be a good choice. If you like a firmer option, an innerspring or hybrid mattress may suit you. Check out our best firm mattress guide for more insight.

Who should consider a cooling mattress?

More than half of American adults reported being too hot to sleep in one Gallup poll.⁵ In fact, the poll found that sleeping too hot was the third most common reason for losing sleep (having to go to the bathroom was No. 1.) So a cooling mattress can be a good idea for many of us. But some may be more affected by nighttime temperature than others. Those include:

• Hot sleepers: The number of adults who reported experiencing “subpar sleep” in the past 30 days was significantly higher among those who identify as hot sleepers (46%), compared with those who don’t have a problem with nighttime temperature (29%), according to a Gallup poll.⁵
• Women: Compared to men, women were twice as likely to be uncomfortable with sleeping temperature, according to the Gallup poll.⁵ In older women, this can also be the result of hormone fluctuations due to menopause. Some research has found that regulating temperature may address these symptoms and improve sleep.⁶
• Older adults: As we age, our ability to regulate our own body temperature may be impaired, according to some sources.⁷ Other research shows that older adults may be more affected by extreme temperatures.⁸
• Those with a higher weight: Excess body weight has been shown to affect body temperature. Body fat can act as an insulator, so those with more than average may not lose heat as quickly, and may produce more body heat, according to some studies.⁹ 
• People with chronic conditions: Sleeping in a hot room may worsen the symptoms of certain conditions, including sleep apnea, some research has found.¹⁰  
• Co-sleepers: When you’re sleeping, you are the heat source, and so is anyone else in the room, said Harhara. Two people in bed means double the body heat. 

What to look for when choosing a cooling mattress

Finding the best cooling mattress can make a huge difference in your comfort and sleep quality. The right mattress can help regulate body temperature, reduce sweating, and keep you cool all night long. But cooling isn’t the only thing that matters—you’ll also want to look for strong support, good materials, a fair trial period, and good customer service. Here’s what to keep in mind when shopping for a cooling bed that fits your needs.

Support and zoned systems

Good support keeps your spine properly aligned while you sleep. Many of the best cooling mattresses use zoned support systems that provide extra support in key areas, such as the lower back and hips. Reinforced coils or targeted foam zones can help reduce pressure and prevent sagging. Strong support not only improves comfort but also helps you wake up without pain or stiffness.

Medium-firm to firm feel

A medium-firm to firm mattress is often the best choice for both comfort and cooling. Softer beds can let your body sink in too deeply, trapping more heat. A slightly firmer surface (around 6.5/10) keeps you supported and allows more airflow around your body. 

Cooling technologies

When shopping for the best mattress for hot sleepers, look for materials made to draw heat away from the body. Common cooling technologies include gel-infused foam, which absorbs and disperses body heat, and phase-change materials, which transform heat into another kind of energy. Hybrid designs with coils also allow air to circulate freely through the bed, and breathable covers can help, too (see below). 

Breathable covers and materials

Don’t overlook the mattress cover—it plays a big role in temperature control. Look for breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics like organic cotton, Tencel, or bamboo. These materials let heat escape and help reduce sweating through the night. Some covers even include cooling treatments for an extra refreshing feel.

Edge support and motion isolation

Strong edge support keeps the sides of your mattress from sinking when you sit or lie near the edge. This can make your bed feel more stable. Motion isolation can be key if you share a bed. A mattress that absorbs movement can help you stay asleep, even if your partner or pet moves around. Many cooling memory foam mattresses and hybrids balance both features well, offering support and cool comfort from edge to edge.

Trial periods and warranties

Even the best cooling beds can take some time to get used to, so a good trial period is important. Most brands offer at least 100 nights to test your mattress at home, while some go up to a full year. A strong warranty also shows the company stands behind its quality. This gives you peace of mind that your investment will stay supportive and cool for years to come.

How much do the best cooling mattresses cost?

The mattresses in this guide cost between $1,719–$2,427 for a queen-size (before discounts). Along with size, factors that affect a mattress’s cost include the materials used in its construction, certifications, added features such as a cooling layer or pillow top, and extras offered by the brand. Extras can include free shipping, old mattress removal, white-glove delivery (where a mattress is delivered directly to your bedroom), or a lifetime warranty.

Comparison Features	Helix Midnight Luxe	Nectar Premier Hybrid	DreamCloud Hybrid	Winkbed Luxury Firm	Bear Original	Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe	Saatva Classic
Cost for a queen	$2,399	$2,413	$1,719	$1,799	$2,427	$2,265	$2,139
Shipping costs	None	None	None	None	None	None	None
White-glove delivery available?	No	Yes, $199	In certain locations only	No	Yes, $175 for mattress install and removal	No	Yes, free
Warranty length	Lifetime Limited	Lifetime Limited	Lifetime Limited	Lifetime Limited	Lifetime Limited	Lifetime Limited	Lifetime Limited
Return fees	None	None	None	None	None	$99	$99

Frequently asked questions

What is the best mattress that keeps you cool?

We named the Helix Midnight Luxe the best overall cooling mattress because it not only stays cool after use, but it is also a supportive mattress for most people, regardless of how they sleep, and a good value. 

Do cooling mattresses really work?

Yes, cooling mattresses can keep you noticeably less warm at night using a variety of methods. These include maximizing airflow and using conductive materials that direct body heat away from the mattress surface or change heat into other forms of energy.

What is the best mattress cooling system?

The best mattress cooling system is generally a combination of breathable, heat-wicking materials and foams designed to move heat away from your body or convert it into another form of energy (these are called phase-change materials). 

Are hybrid or memory foam mattresses better for hot sleepers?

Hybrid and memory foam mattresses can both be good at cooling, depending on how they are made. But because traditional memory foam is dense and lacks air pockets, it tends to trap heat more than a hybrid mattress unless it is specifically designed with cooling features. 

Questions? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.