Blog

Oct 15, 2024

Best Cooling Mattresses 2024 | Reviewed By Sleep Experts - Forbes Vetted

If kicking the covers off, shedding clothing and sweating through your sheets has become part of your nightly routine, it’s time to consider a cooling mattress. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora is one of

If kicking the covers off, shedding clothing and sweating through your sheets has become part of your nightly routine, it’s time to consider a cooling mattress. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora is one of the best cooling mattresses that help you sleep a few degrees cooler using a combination of breathable construction and active cooling features, while also supporting proper spinal alignment and providing full-body comfort.

The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is the best cooling mattress for its active cooling features and ... [+] cool-to-the-touch cover.

But maybe the Aurora Luxe isn’t what you’re looking for—no problem. We’ve included 11 other worthy contenders that deliver cooling comfort along with other specialties like certified organic materials or smart features that respond to your body temperature. Every mattress on this list has been tested by one of our sleep experts so we can personally vouch for their cooling abilities and overall performance.

Brooklyn Bedding

During Brooklyn Bedding’s Labor Day sale, get 30% off sitewide using code LABORDAY30.

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Wrapped coils, foam, optional pillow top | Firmness level: Soft (3), medium (5) or firm (7) | Trial period: 120 nights | Warranty: 10 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

In our experience, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is the best mattress for most sleepers seeking cooling relief. It’s wrapped in a specialty cover made of fibers that draw heat away from your body; it exudes a slick surface that’s soothing upon first contact. There are also layers of gel and copper-infused foams designed to regulate your temperature, along with a support core of up to 1,032 individually wrapped coils for plenty of airflow. With three firmness levels and a broader range of sizes than most sleep brands offer, you should have little trouble finding the right fit for your sleep preferences and space. (A 120-night trial is included, but you’re on the hook for a $99 fee if you return it.) If you crave a little extra plushness, add a 2-inch foam pillow top for up to $300 more.

What our experts say: Senior sleep editor Bridget Chapman slept on a medium Aurora Luxe with a pillow top for several months. This was her main takeaway: “The Aurora Luxe is a really nice luxury cooling mattress. It’s a major benefit that it comes in three different firmness levels, so different sleepers can pick the right one for them. Its plush, lifted feel reminds me of a high-end hotel mattress, and I was really impressed by its ability to prevent me from overheating, isolate motion and keep me and my partner well supported.” Read more in her Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress review.

The 2024 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.

Helix Sleep

Forbes Vetted readers get 27% off sitewide and two free Dream Pillows with a mattress purchase or free bedding bundle (two Dream Pillows, sheet set and mattress protector) with a Luxe or Elite mattress purchase using code FORBES27.

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Foam and wrapped coils | Firmness level: Medium (5 to 6) | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 15 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

The Helix Midnight Luxe sandwiches its foam layers between a quilted top and a wrapped-coil layer where air can travel between the metal springs. The medium feel of the Midnight Luxe should appeal to most people, but we also consider it the best mattress for side sleepers for its mix of back-aligning support with ample pressure relief along the hips and shoulders. Many back sleepers should also appreciate its balanced feel and back pain sufferers benefit from the enhanced lumbar support. The mattress comes with a moisture-wicking Tencel fabric cover, but you can pay extra for a GlacioTex cover woven with thermal conductive fibers to draw heat away from your body for heavy-duty cooling.

What our experts say: In her Helix Midnight Luxe review, updates writer Alexandra Garrett calls this mattress “comfortable, supportive and so cool.” (Her test model had a GlacioTex cover.) She adds, “Side sleepers, back sleepers and back pain sufferers should appreciate the bed’s excellent pressure relief and support. Hot sleepers can keep cool with the mattress’ GlacioTex cover and breathable hybrid construction, and combination sleepers can benefit from its slight bounce and lifted feel.”

Leesa

Leesa’s Labor Day mattress sale is now live. No code required.

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Foam, coils, microcoils, cooling cover | Firmness Level: Medium-firm (5 to 7) |Trial Period: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

With a 13.5-inch profile, an inviting pillow top and a Euro-style gusset, the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid resembles a luxury hotel mattress, but this new addition to the Leesa lineup is more than its good looks. Its medium-firm feel accommodates multiple sleep styles, and although there’s a sumptuous pillow top you can sink into, a dual coil system of nearly 3,800 pocket springs and microcoils gives this bed plenty of support and bounce so you won’t feel stuck in it. The cover is woven with phase-change fibers that Leesa claims help maintain the ideal skin temperature for sleep. (Not to mention, all of those coils help prevent heat buildup, too.)

What our experts say: Dillon says, “The Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid is one of my favorites from 3Z, the parent brand of Leesa. It’s comparable to high-end mattresses that retail for $4,000 or more. There are only a handful of beds that boast two coil layers. Combined with its comfortable foam layers and fluffy pillow top, it’s an ultra supportive and plush bed that makes you look forward to lying down.”

Avocado Green Mattress

Avocado's Labor Day sale, which includes all mattresses, is now live. No code required.

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Dunlop latex, coils; optional pillow top or box top | Firmness level: Firm (7), medium (6) or plush (4) | Trial period: 365 nights | Warranty: 25-year limited

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

Organic mattresses swap synthetic foams for latex foam, a naturally breathable material that’s just as pressure-relieving as memory foam and more forgiving toward sleepers with allergies. Our top eco-friendly choice for hot sleepers is the Avocado Green Mattress, which features a layer of Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)-certified Dunlop latex, over 1,400 pocketed support coils and a top cover woven with 100% organic cotton and wool fibers for breezy, supportive sleep. It’s earned a myriad of mattress certifications, including a seal of approval from the American Chiropractic Association for its 5-zoned ergonomic design to promote proper spinal alignment. The mattress has a firm feel (7 out of 10), but for sleepers who crave a plusher surface you can add a pillow top or a box top for an extra fee. Avocado offers a year-long trial period for you to test it out at home so you can experience how well it regulates temperature even as the seasons change.

What our experts say: Contributor Jamie Ueda notes in her Avocado Green Mattress review that the breathable, temperature-regulating combo of cotton, wool and latex should help keep sleepers comfortable. “I noticed that if I lay in one spot for a period of time, some heat built up, but I didn’t get overly hot. When I moved, the heat quickly dissipated. I slept well through the night and didn’t wake up because I was too hot or cold.”

Purple

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Coils, GelFlex Grid and foam | Firmness level: Soft or firm | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

Hybrid mattresses are typically more breathable than their all-foam counterparts because of their coils, which help prevent heat from becoming trapped. The Purple RestorePremier Hybrid ups the ante by pairing its CoolFlex support coils with Purple’s proprietary GelFlex Grid for ample airflow, cushioned pressure relief and targeted support. It’s topped by a moisture-wicking SoftFlex cover with an antimicrobial finish for hygienic sleep. You find some foam here, as well — there’s edge support foam along the perimeter and a support layer of foam to serve as a foundation for the GelFlex Grid. Choose between a soft or firm comfort level; we recommend the soft version for side or back sleepers who like to sink into their beds a little deeper.

What our experts say: Executive editor Dave Johnson claims in his Purple PremierRestore Hybrid Mattress Review, “When I went out of town for the holidays in the middle of testing, I was eager to get back home and continue sleeping on the RestorePremier. My partner concurred; it was excellent at providing support, motion isolation and ease of movement, while still delivering a superbly comfortable, soft and cushy feel. It even delivered great temperature control, keeping me cool throughout the night.”

Saatva

Type: Innerspring hybrid | Materials: Pocketed coils, micro coils and memory foam | Firmness level: Plush soft (3), luxury firm (5 to 7) or firm (8) | Trial period: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

Suffering from a double-whammy of back pain and hot flashes? The Saatva Classic provides you with the salvation you need. This luxury innerspring hybrid boasts a dual layer of coils that cradles your body and keeps the air flowing. On top is a lush 3-inch Euro pillow top wrapped in an organic cotton cover to wick away heat and moisture. Specialty quilting, reinforced springs and a strip of gel-infused memory foam in the center of the mattress keep you well-aligned while melting away your backache. Surrounding the perimeter are dense foam rails for edge support. With three firmness levels (plush soft, luxury firm or firm) and two height profiles (11.5 inches or 14.5 inches), you can tailor the Saatva Classic to your liking. A 365-night trial allows you to test the mattress and ensure its temperature regulation is up to par, no matter the season. Free in-home delivery and mattress removal spares your back from further strain.

What our experts say: Our former editor was a fan of her luxury firm Saatva Classic. As she says in her Saatva Classic Mattress review, “The temperature regulation of the Saatva Classic is absolutely top-notch. The only other option that might be able to come close in terms of cooling are all-latex mattresses. But when compared to other innerspring and memory foam options I’ve tested, the Saatva Classic is in a league of its own. If you’re a hot sleeper, I think this mattress is a great choice.”

DreamCloud

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Foam, wrapped coils | Firmness level: Luxury firm (6.5) | Trial period: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

For those who like to sleep cool, sharing a bed with another 98.6-degree individual isn’t ideal. But before going old school with two twin beds, take a look at the DreamCloud. A layer of coils helps promote airflow, while a gel memory foam layer, along with a quilted cashmere-blend cover, works to wick away heat. To keep your partner’s fidgeting and fussing from waking you up, the DreamCloud’s individually wrapped springs and multiple foam layers effectively dampen movement so you and your partner don’t wake each other up. Best of all, this luxury hybrid is constantly on sale. Combined with a year-long trial and a lifetime warranty, the DreamCloud is one of our favorite affordable mattress values.

What our experts say: Alison Barretta, contributor and co-author of this story, says, “I sleep alone but performing multiple drop tests with a weight and an empty wine glass revealed how well the DreamCloud absorbs motion. The glass hardly moved, no matter how close I dropped the weight. I’m also prone to sleeping warm, but, like other members of my testing panel who tried the DreamCloud, I didn’t ever wake up sweaty on this mattress.”

GhostBed

Type: Memory foam | Materials: Gel-infused foam, phase-change materials | Firmness level: Medium to medium-firm| Trial period: 101 nights | Warranty: 25 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

The Ghostbed Luxe is Ghostbed’s most popular mattress, touted on their website as “The Coolest Bed In the World.” Although it’s made of memory foam and lacks the breathability of an innerspring, hybrid or latex bed, the Ghostbed Luxe is packed with cooling features that assist with temperature regulation.

The outer layers of the bed consist of a cooling cover made with temperature-regulating fibers and a layer of gel memory foam, which helps to pull heat away from your body. Beneath the cover is a “Ghost Ice” layer, which is made of phase change material that can absorb heat and dissipate it away from your body and the base of the mattress. This helps keep the mattress from warming up throughout the night. Additionally, Ghostbed offers a 25-year limited warranty on this mattress, which is rare for a foam bed and speaks to its durability.

What the reviews say: One reviewer writes, “We were surprised at the structure of this mattress and how much support it gives. No sinking like an old school memory foam mattress.” Another says, “While I wouldn’t say this is the coolest mattress in the world, because it’s all foam that would be a tough feat, I can say it’s by far the coolest memory foam mattress I’ve owned.”

Sleep Number

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Foam, wrapped coils, thermal layer and microsensors | Firmness level: Adjustable | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 15 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

Sleep Number makes some of the most feature-rich luxury mattresses on the market. According to the brand, its Climate360 smart mattress is the only bed of its kind in the world since it actively cools and warms in response to your body temperature. Better yet, there are dual climate controls and adjustable firmness levels—if you and your partner have different preferences, this allows you to sleep in the same bed in peace. Built into the Climate360 are discreet microsensors that track your key vitals (heart rate, movement and sleep cycles) to deliver a Sleep Score, which you can pull up in the Sleep Number companion app. You can use this data to hack your sleep and create better habits.

What our experts say: In her Sleep Number Climate360 Review, sleep editor McKenzie Dillon says, “Hot and cold sleepers should really enjoy this bed, especially if your needs are different than your partner’s. The cooling function is unlike anything I’ve seen on another mattress, and I found it to be very effective in my testing. The same goes for the warming feature.” As for its adjustable firmness, she adds, “The left and right side of the bed function independently of one another, giving you and your partner the ability to customize each side with the firmness levels you prefer.”

Cocoon by Sealy

Type: Foam (also available as a hybrid) | Materials: Cooling cover, foam and coils (hybrid) | Firmness level: Medium (6) | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

The Cocoon Chill from Sealy is one of the best mattresses under $1,000—especially when you consider how pricey specialty cooling mattresses can be. Temperature regulation is aided in large part by a top cover woven with phase change materials (PCM) that are designed to draw away heat and wick away moisture, according to the company. But it doesn’t stop there—the mattress also contains a layer of breathable “Perfect Fit” memory foam that contours your body without leaving you stifled. If you want a bit more bounce and even better airflow, a hybrid version is available, as well (and yes, it’s still affordable). A perpetual 35% off sale keeps the Cocoon Chill firmly in the budget bracket, and if that weren’t enough it comes with a free bedding bundle of sheets and pillows, too.

What our experts say: Barretta says, “Although the cover isn’t cool to the touch as advertised, the Cocoon Chill still did a respectable job of keeping me comfortable. Even when I battled a brief fever, I didn’t wake up terribly hot and sticky. If you want more enhanced temperature regulation, I’d suggest opting for the hybrid version—but for most people, the base-level Cocoon Chill mattress gets the job done.”

Tempur-Pedic

Type: Foam or hybrid | Materials: Tempur Material, cooling cover and coils (hybrid) | Firmness level: Soft, medium hybrid or firm |Trial period: 90 nights | Warranty: 10 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

Firm mattresses are sought after for their incredible support but they’re also less likely to make you overheat since you don’t sink into the surface but instead feel like you're lying right on top of it. Add the cooling properties of the Tempur-Breeze LuxeBreeze and you'll hardly break a sweat. Available in firm, soft or a medium hybrid, the LuxeBreeze delivers Tempur Material's signature pressure relief minus the typical heat buildup. It has specially-engineered foams that absorb body heat plus a top cover that’s soothing to the touch and removable for easy laundering. Tempur Material also excels at limiting motion transfer so if you share a bed, your partner’s movements won’t disturb your sleep.

What our experts say: Dillon says, “When you buy a Tempur-Pedic Mattress, it’s probably for its pressure relieving, conforming feel you’ve come to love about the brand’s memory foam. The Breeze offers that signature Tempur-Pedic feel with a temperature-regulating design and physically cool cover. I also appreciate how it offers different firmness options that appeal to a wide range of sleeping positions.”

Casper

Type: Hybrid | Materials: Phase change materials, aluminum graphite bands and memory foam | Firmness level: Medium (5 to 6) | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

What you’ll love:

Keep in mind:

The Casper Snow stays true to its name and is specifically designed to help hot sleepers stay cool. According to the Casper website, it can help you sleep up to five degrees cooler. This is thanks to several cooling features, including the Snow cover made with cooling fibers and a layer of phase-change material that helps pull heat away from your body. It also features three “Heat Delete” bands composed of aluminum graphite that help dissipate heat, and the coils allow for improved airflow and breathability compared to all-foam models.

Additionally, the hybrid construction combines the support and structure of pocketed coils with conforming, zoned memory foam that boasts a medium profile—resulting in a cooling mattress that’s also ideal for relieving pressure points. It’s soft enough to provide ample give under the hips and shoulders but doesn’t compromise on support.

What the reviews say: One happy review says, “I’m a side sleeper and this mattress has taken the pressure off my shoulder and neck.” Another says, “The mattress seems to pull the heat away from your body. Solid support where you need it, and you can move around without waking up your sleep partner.”

Since waking up hot is a common issue, many top mattress brands have worked to redesign their beds for increased breathability and temperature regulation. Here’s what you should look for when buying a cooling mattress.

Mattresses come in many different constructions, the four most common being: hybrid, innerspring, latex and memory foam. Each of these mattress types offers a different combination of support, comfort and cooling abilities.

Some mattresses come with additional cooling features, such as a cool-to-the-touch cover, a cooling pillow top or layers of gel or copper-infused foams. These features can either enhance a bed’s already-breathable construction or help a mattress that usually sleeps more warm (like a memory foam bed) sleep cooler instead. Here are a few added cooling features you may expect to see in these mattresses:

Firmness is important whether you’re looking for a cooling mattress or not, but it also plays a role in how warm or cool a bed feels. The softer a bed is, the more you sink into it, which means your body retains more heat. Firmer beds, by contrast, tend to seem cooler since you’re on top of the mattress, not in it. Medium-firm picks hit the sweet spot of both for a comfortable, supportive feel.

Your mattress alone won’t dictate how hot you sleep. The sheets you dress your mattress in, the pajamas you wear and the overall environment of your bedroom also impact your sleep temperature. (Look for breathable, moisture-wicking materials like cotton, linen or bamboo viscose.) Keep an eye on the thermostat, too. Ideally, your bedroom temperature should be anywhere from the low 60s to the high 60s.

If you share a bed with a partner or your pets, you’ll naturally sleep warmer than you do solo. Other factors that may contribute to overheating at night include certain medications, health conditions, diet, late-night alcohol consumption and exercising too close to bedtime.

You want to consider your body type when shopping for a new cooling mattress. Larger people may sink into softer mattresses—which can lead to excess heat. In general, the more you weigh, the softer a bed feels. If you have a larger body, you may want to consider a mattress that’s on the firmer side to help prevent this.

Many of the best mattresses for heavy people have built-in cooling features and are made to accommodate more weight. They also last longer than mattresses designed for petite to average-sized people.

Back and stomach sleepers, in particular, may want to choose a firmer mattress to prevent their body from sinking into the bed and promote proper spinal alignment.

Side sleepers should consider a softer cooling mattress that offers ample cushion underneath the shoulder and hip pressure points.

A cooling mattress can do wonders for your sleep quality, but there are other cooling sleep products you can use to ensure you don’t furiously kick your covers off in a heated rage every night.

Amazon

Blackout curtains not only block light, but they can also keep your bedroom several degrees cooler by keeping the heat out. They’re particularly useful for summertime when the days are longer and hotter. These blackout panels from Amazon come in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Sleep Number

When it comes to bedding, look for breathable materials like cotton, linen and bamboo viscose. Alternatively, you can opt for specialty cooling sheets. This set from Sleep Number has volcanic minerals embedded into the fabric to regulate your body temperature so you’re not too hot or cold.

Cozy Earth

Upgrade your old sweats-and-tee combo with a pair of lightweight, breathable pajamas. This 2-piece set from Cozy Earth is made from stretch-knit bamboo viscose, which is known for its moisture-wicking properties. (Alternatively, you can sleep in the nude to prevent yourself from overheating at night—just be mindful of the risks.)

Amazon

If your mattress sleeps too warm but is otherwise in fine shape, a mattress topper can be a quick fix solution to ward those night sweats away. This natural latex topper from Pure Green has ventilation holes to aid airflow and comes in a broad range of height and size options. (Bonus: latex is one of the most durable and breathable materials you can sleep on.)

Hybrid mattresses and innerspring mattresses sleep coolest at night. Because they have a layer of pocketed coils or springs, air flows through them more freely instead of getting trapped in the layers.

Yes, it’s safe to say the cooling mattresses that work are worth the money. These mattresses incorporate phase change materials (PCM) that absorb and dissipate body heat so it doesn’t get trapped in the mattress like with traditional memory foam. They also have moisture-wicking, breathable covers that prevent night sweats and overheating.

Mattresses can have several features that distinguish them as “cooling.” A few notable features to look for include innerspring construction, cooling or moisture-wicking covers made from phase change materials, air channels built in to support air circulation and gel infusions to help reduce the bed's temperature.