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Nothing can be as irritating as feeling hot when trying to sleep.
Well, maybe waking up all sweaty is even worse.
If you agree, then today’s list of the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers may be helpful. Let’s see what makes a good cooling mattress and which model can save your sleep.
A Quick Preview
 | Best Overall Brooklyn Aurora | Read more about this mattress |
 | Best Memory Foam Mattress for Hot Sleepers Layla | Read more about this mattress |
 | Best Advanced Technology Option The Pod Pro by Eight Sleep | Read more about this mattress |
 | Best Organic Cooling Mattress Botanical Bliss by Plushbeds | Read more about this mattress |
 | Best Mattress for Hot Side Sleepers Nolah Original 10 | Read more about this mattress |
Our Reviews of the Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers
Best Overall — Editor’s Choice - Brooklyn Aurora
Highlights
- 3 firmness levels to accommodate all sleeping positions;
- patented CopperFlex foam layer for antimicrobial sleeping environment and targeted pressure relief;
- phase-change cover fabric to maintain an optimal temperature during the night;
- individually encased coils for resilient support without excessive motion transfer;
- strong edges, great for couples who need more sleeping space.
I want to start my review of the best mattresses for hot sleepers with the Aurora by Brooklyn Bedding. This bed is a perfect example of what a comfortable and cooling mattress should be like.
Now, this is a hybrid model, which means improved air circulation thanks to the coil base system. The manufacturer also uses specialty foams (including the proprietary hyper-elastic TitanFlex and CopperFlex foams) and phase-change materials to keep your body comfortably cool during the night.
This mattress is very breathable and does not make you overheat. Plus, it offers you the freedom to choose among 3 firmness options, so each type of sleeper can find a comfortable bed for them.
Pros:
- innovative materials for cooler sleep;
- sturdy, consistent support;
- multiple firmness levels, can cover the needs of many users;
- not overly bouncy
- offers good pressure relief;
- great value for money.
Cons:
- may not be suitable for shoppers on a budget;
- memory foam lovers might find this mattress to be too responsive.
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Hot Sleepers - Layla
Highlights
- removable cover for easy cleaning;
- copper- and gel-infused foam comfort layer for cooler sleep;
- flippable design, combines two firmness levels in one model, great for uncertain buyers;
- open-cell support foam for increased breathability;
- great motion isolation, suited for restless partnered sleepers.
The next part of this list of the best mattresses for hot sleepers covers a unique find – an all-foam bed that doesn’t make you sweat during the night. I’m talking about the Layla, a model that combines gentle pressure relief and cooling.
This mattress uses combinations of different foams and special cooling technologies to help you feel more comfortable during sleep. The top comfort layers (for both sides, soft and firm) are made of memory foam infused with cooling gel and copper. The transition foam on the soft side has a channel design for improved airflow.
Overall, the Layla has a rather balanced feel. It gently cradles the body and conforms to its curves while keeping you pleasantly cool.
Pros:
- removable cover for easy cleaning;
- infused with gel and copper components for cooler sleep;
- different firmness on each side (flippable);
- great motion isolation;
- good pressure relief.
Cons:
- even the softer side may feel too hard for lightweight users, especially side sleepers;
- mediocre edge support.
Best Advanced Technology Option - The Pod Pro by Eight Sleep
Highlights
- medium feel, would work for a wide range of sleepers;
- app-controlled temperature regulation for the most optimal sleeping environment;
- uses high-quality materials and promises durability;
- includes health monitoring and a smart alarm system to help you improve your sleep;
- dual temperature setting for two sides of the mattress, a great option for partners with different preferences.
If you are a high-tech lover, then you will definitely appreciate this part of my list of the best cooling mattresses. The Pod Pro comes with all bells and whistles needed for superb comfort and allows you to control your bed, not vice versa.
Working with an app, the Pod Pro allows users to cool down or heat the mattress, either on one side or the whole surface at once. You can adjust the temperature in the range between 55 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal cooling. Also, as this is a foam mattress, it offers a generous hug and shows great results when it comes to pressure relief.
To sum up, the Pod Pro is an amazing find. This mattress is perfect for those who want to have total control over their sleep and comfort.
Pros:
- adjustable temperature on each half of the mattress surface;
- close conforming and gentle pressure relief;
- great motion isolation;
- includes a health tracker and a smart alarm system;
- quality components.
Cons:
- expensive option, won’t work for everyone;
- the medium feel might not be suitable for strict stomach sleepers and large sleepers.
Best Organic Cooling Mattress - Botanical Bliss by Plushbeds
Highlights
- comes in 2 firmness and 3 thickness variations to accommodate a wide range of users;
- naturally cooling, great for hot sleepers;
- uses organic latex, which makes it completely safe for your health;
- great pressure relief without making sleepers feel stuck;
- adjustable firmness (you can swap the layers inside).
The next contestant in this list of the best cooling mattresses is the Botanical Bliss by Plushbeds. This mattress would be a great option for those who appreciate natural components and the pleasant cooling bounce.
As this is an all-latex mattress, the Botanical Bliss naturally has a breathable construction. It also has a rather fast response that does help with pressure relief, but the bed won’t hug you as closely as a memory foam bed would. There are 2 firmness options available, so whether you want more or less sinkage, you can try the softer or firmer one, respectively.
All things considered, the Botanical Bliss can offer you high-quality components and great cooling properties. This model is very likely to keep you cool all through the night and all year round.
Pros:
- natural organic materials;
- entirely made of latex, breathable and immune to mold;
- offers bouncy pressure relief;
- multiple options to choose from (thickness and firmness);
- doesn’t make you feel trapped.
Cons:
- may be too responsive for some users, especially those who love foam beds;
- average motion isolation, might not work for restless sleepers and their partners.
Highlights
- breathable Tencel cover for cooler sleep;
- lifetime warranty for your peace of mind;
- uses proprietary Nolah AirFoam for cool pressure relief;
- extra-thick, high-density support foam for increased durability and protection against premature sagging;
- medium firmness, great for a wide range of sleepers.
Finally, the last cooling mattress I want to review is the Nolah. If you are a side sleeper and a fan of plush memory foam, this is your guy. However, it won’t make you sweat during the night, unlike many memory foam models.
Now, what makes the Nolah stand out from the competitors is the proprietary AirFoam it uses for the comfort layer. This foam is made without the heat-sensitive viscoelastic chemicals, which means it doesn’t trap that much heat.
Overall, this mattress can easily surprise you. It feels like a cloud but doesn’t make you feel trapped and burning hot, which is a rare combination.
Pros:
- great value for money;
- does a good job of relieving pressure;
- great for those sleeping on the side;
- superb motion isolation;
- breathable cover.
Cons:
- might not be supportive enough for sleepers over 230 pounds;
- weak edges;
- not suitable for strict stomach sleepers or heavier back sleepers.
What Type of Mattress Is Best for Hot Sleepers?
Generally, latex, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses are considered the best types of mattresses for hot sleepers (1). As for memory foam, hot sleepers often avoid it due to its cradling properties. Moreover, memory foam is well-known for trapping body heat.
Here’s the deal, though:
These days, manufacturers use new technologies to make memory foam more temperature-neutral. You can find gel- or copper-infused models, open-cell foam, and convoluted layers, all designed to sleep less hot.
Air beds can also be suitable for hot sleepers, although this mattress type might not be comfortable enough for everyday use.
Medium and medium-firm mattresses are often viewed as universally comfortable for most sleepers. For those who tend to sleep hot, the good news is, that such mattresses don’t allow much sinkage, meaning they initially won’t make you too hot.
What Mattress Types have the best cooling effect?
In search of a suitable cooling mattress for hot sleepers, one can easily get lost among all the brands and mattress types.
The reason why shopping for a new cooling mattress can become tricky is the loud and exciting claims from the manufacturers about their beds’ magical properties.
To understand what promises are real and what claims are just marketing, it’s better to do a little research.
So, which mattress is the best for hot sleepers?
It depends on the materials used, your body type, and your personal preferences, of course. But the materials play the primary role, so let’s take a closer look at those:
- Coils. Coils and springs are typically used for the support core. And since there’s a lot of space between them, this construction allows for unobstructed air movement and heat removal. Additionally, mattresses with coils are very responsive and make you sleep “on” your bed rather than sink into it. All of that makes coils a great option for hot sleepers.
- Latex. Generally, latex — even if it’s synthetic — doesn’t trap heat. Many manufacturers also use various aeration techniques (for instance, making holes all across the surface) for improved air circulation. Combine that with the natural bounce of latex that doesn’t allow you to sink too deep, and you get a good cooling mattress for hot sleepers.
- Gel-infused foam. While foam itself tends to trap heat, some manufacturers try to balance that out infusing it with beads of cooling gel. However, not all gel memory foams work the same. Gel absorbs the heat from your body and holds it in, creating a cooling effect. But because this material is able to absorb only a specific amount of heat, its cooling properties are often limited to a certain extent. So, the way your mattress will regulate the temperature depends on how much gel the foam contains and what type each specific model uses. Some brands also add graphite or copper to the equation, which permeate the foam and make it a bit more neutral in terms of temperature.
- Open-cell foam. Another way to make foam trap less heat is to make it using an open-cell technology. Such foams allow the air to travel through the material, which increases breathability and helps with temperature regulation. However, the effect isn’t that impressive and might not be enough for those who really tend to sleep hot. After all, open-cell foam still has a generous hug and a slow response, which makes it envelop your body and, consequently, retain its natural heat.
- Wool. Typically used as a fire barrier, wool is a natural, breathable material that can help induce your mattress’s cooling properties. Additionally, wool does a great job of wicking moisture away (2), which means it’s supposed to help with sweating too.
How Important Is the Mattress Cover for cooling sleep?
Many sleepers overlook a very important mattress component – the cover. Just like other materials of your bed, the cover plays a big role in thermoregulation. Plus, it’s the part of the mattress that is the closest to your body, so it certainly requires your attention.
Now, modern manufacturers use various types of fabrics for mattress covers, including special blends, natural fibers, and hi-tech technologies. The most effective cooling covers are:
- Cotton. This fabric type is naturally lightweight and breathable (3), which makes it a suitable option for hot sleepers. It’s also good at wicking moisture away from the body, plus it dries rather fast.
- Bamboo. Being made via the bamboo cellulose extraction, bamboo fabric (also known as rayon) is very breathable and has high moisture-wicking abilities. Because it has countless micro-gaps, it feels softer than cotton and absorbs moisture even better (4).
- Celliant fiber. Using special thermo-active minerals in their fibers (5), Celliant covers were specifically designed to help hot sleepers with temperature regulation. However, reviews show that the effectiveness of this material is linked to the mattress itself. Therefore, if your bed sleeps hot on its own, a Celliant cover is not very likely to improve the situation.
- Lyocell. Lyocell fabric is made of cellulose, a sub-product of wood pulp, which makes it another natural option for your sweet slumber. It is breathable and pleasant to the touch (6), so no wonder many manufacturers use it for mattress covers.
- Phase-change materials. These were designed to help sleepers maintain steady temperature levels during the night. Phase-change materials work to absorb your body’s natural heat until you reach a certain temperature. At this point, the fabric is supposed to stop retaining heat to maintain a comfortably cool body temperature. According to studies (7), the use of phase-change materials in mattresses can indeed improve heat dissipation.
- Non-quilted (as opposed to quilted) covers. Now, this aspect refers more to the design of the cover rather than the materials used. However, it’s still important. While quilted covers often include thin layers of foam merged with the cover fabric for extra cushion, they tend to sleep hot. At the same time, non-quilted covers are usually thinner and, consequently, more breathable and cooler.
Keep in mind that most mattress warranties don’t cover temperature issues. This means you may not be able to return your mattress if it makes you sleep hot. And that’s why it’s important to pay attention to the cooling materials used in your new bed before finalizing your purchase.
Firmness, Weight, and Temperature — What’s the Connection Between Them?
Some sleepers may think that the firmness level of the mattress is unrelated to sleeping cool.
If you’re one of them, I have to disappoint you.
Firmness matters because it determines how deep you sink into your bed. And the deeper you sink, the more enveloped your body becomes. As a result, more sinkage causes more heat to be trapped.
So, while softer mattresses can offer good pressure relief, they also tend to sleep hotter than firmer ones. On the scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the firmest), anything below 6 is likely to conform closer to your body and make you feel warmer.
Firmer mattresses (above 6) typically don’t let sleepers sink in deep, which makes them more suitable for hot sleepers.
Additionally, your body weight matters too. Heavier users experience even more sinkage. Plus, if you weigh more than 230 pounds, you would probably have to use more energy to shift and move in bed, and this can increase your body temperature and cause night sweats (8). So, heavier sleepers are usually recommended to choose firm mattresses.
Conclusion
Shopping for a good cooling mattress isn’t an easy task.
You have to consider a ton of aspects, including the materials used and the firmness level of your bed.
However, if you stick to hybrid models or latex mattresses, you will be safe (in terms of temperature regulation). And don’t forget to take your body type into account: if you are heavier than average, you might need a firmer mattress.
Luckily, there’s plenty to choose from. And my absolute favorite is the Brooklyn Aurora. This mattress was built to impress. It uses innovative and high-quality components to deliver a cooling effect and support your spine all through the night. To me, that’s more than enough reason to love it!
What do you think? Which mattress would help you stay cool at night? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
References:
- Sunny Gold (2018, December 13). Why Some Mattresses “Sleep Hot” (and What to Do About It). Retrieved from https://www.saatva.com/blog/why-do-mattresses-sleep-hot/
- Charles W. Bryant (n.d.). How does wool keep you warm even when it's wet? Retrieved from https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hiking/wool-when-wet1.htm
- Columbia Research (n.d.). Lab Coat Information Table. Retrieved from https://research.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/EHS/Lab%20Safety/LabCoatInformationTable.pdf
- Sameen Ruqia Imadi, Isra Mahmood, Alvina Gul Kazi (2014, July 21). Bamboo Fiber Processing, Properties, and Applications. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-07641-6_2
- Celliant (n.d.). Retrieved from https://celliant.com/
- The lyocell, An Environmentally Sustainable Fiber. Retrieved from https://lyocell.info/
- Jose I.Priego Quesada, Marina Gil-Calvoa, Angel G.Lucas-Cuevas, Inmaculada Aparicioac, Pedro Pérez-Soriano (2016, October 21). Assessment of a mattress with phase change materials using a thermal and perception test. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0894177716302941
- Lisa Fayed (2020, January 27). Causes of Night Sweats. Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/night-sweats-514441
Our research
25
Mattresses Considered
123
Hours of Research
3
Sleep Experts Consulted