These Cooling Mattress Toppers Are Great for Hot Sleepers

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THESE DAYS, it seems we all spend a lot of time and research and money in search of that elusive “good night’s sleep.” The irony is that many of us lose sleep over trying to sleep better. It’s not surprising when you consider how much goes into finding the perfect bedroom setup. From shopping for the best mattress to getting the lighting just right to keeping your bedroom at the perfect temperature, it’s all a bit much. But there’s simple product we’ve found that can truly be a game changer for your sleep: a cooling mattress topper.

Cooling mattress toppers aren’t just for the warmest months of the year. They’re great in every season. The best cooling mattress toppers work to regulate your body temperature, helping keep you cool in the summer and comfortable in the dead of winter.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Cooling Mattress Topper?

The benefits of sleeping on a cooling mattress topper includes better comfort and a potential to relieve general aches. Jeffrey Durmer, MD, PhD, and USA Olympic Weightlifting Sleep and Circadian Program Director, found lots of success in introducing cooling mattress toppers to the USA Olympic Weightlifting team; "In preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and again for Paris this year, one of the changes to our athlete's sleeping habits includes the addition of active (microtube water system) cooling mattress toppers," says Dr. Durmer.

Dr. Durmer notes the feedback from the athletes was incredibly positive, especially for athletes with larger bodies; however, he also adds that cooling mattress toppers can be beneficial to all types of individuals. " I endorse the use of active cooling toppers, especially for those who sleep hot, suffer with aches and pains, or like to keep themselves at a more constant temperature throughout the night," says Dr. Durmer. So yes, even if you're not a world class weightlifter (though some of us think we are) there are huge potential payoffs to sleeping on a cooling topper.

Is There a Mattress Topper That Really Cools?

Thanks to awesome innovations in sleep tech, there are now two different types of cooling mattress toppers: gel mattress toppers and active mattress toppers with water grid systems. The latter product type is what Dr. Durmer likes to recommend for the USA Weightlifting Team. Some of these products include the Chilipad by Sleep.me and the Eight Sleep Pod Cover. If you want to go a more budget friendly route, then a traditional gel mattress topper is the way to go. With a gel mattress topper, you still get a level of temperature regulation that can provide a gentle cooling feeling. The cooling just won't be as strong as an active mattress topper.

Our sleep team here at Men's Health has experience testing both types of cooling mattress toppers, and we can definitely say there are products on the market that really do provide a cooling feeling. Ahead, we put together our latest list of the best cooling mattress toppers 2024, reflective of all sleep needs and price points.

Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper

When it comes to mattresses and mattress toppers, we’re huge fans of graphite because of its incredible cooling properties. Saatva’s Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper, in particular, features 1.5” of hypoallergenic natural latex that’s more durable, more breathable, and more consistent at regulating your skin temperature than synthetic materials like memory foam. It’s all wrapped in an organic cotton cover that’s breathable and moisture-wicking to keep you not only cool, but dry. Plus, it’s machine-washable, so you can keep your bed setup fresh.

If there’s one downside to this mattress topper, it’s the price. At roughly $450, it’s one of the most expensive in this year’s roundup. But with a premium construction that includes all-natural materials, a removable, breathable, machine-washable cover, and a generous 180-night in-home trial (with a full refund, if you’re not happy for any reason), we think it’s a steal. Add to that hundreds of excellent buyer reviews, and this is our hands-down pick for the best cooling mattress topper overall. And, if latex isn’t your thing, it’s available in graphite and memory foam options as well.

What do buyers say? “I have had this topper for several nights now and I have noticed that I no longer wake up in the morning with pain,” said one Saatva.com reviewer.

Read more: Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain

Cooling Mattress Topper

Decent mattress pads, especially cooling mattress pads, can be pricey. But Sleep Zone proves they don’t have to be. The brand’s Cooling Mattress Topper is just $30 (Queen) and features many of the features of competitor products that cost four to five times as much. This model is built with a dense spiral fiber fill with the feeling of goose down, so it’s super soft and fluffy. It’s topped with a thick brushed microfiber that’s like sleeping on a cloud. Plus, it’s all constructed with proprietary Nanotex Coolest Comfort Technology that’s temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking, so you stay cool and dry all night long. The entire design stretches to fit mattresses and bed setups up to 21 inches deep.

Between the amazing price and more than 14,000 five-star buyer ratings on Amazon, it’s easy to see why this is an Amazon’s Choice for the best mattress topper. Some buyers note that it’s not as deep as advertised, and it does feel like a budget mattress topper. But, seriously, did we mention the queen-sized version is less than $30 (on sale)? It also includes free shipping and free return shipping, which is like getting a risk-free, in-home trial.

What do buyers say? “Too hot at night? BUY THIS! This is the BEST cooling mattress pad we have tried! It keeps our bed MUCH cooler,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Read more: Best Mattresses on Amazon

Pod 3 Cover

Point blank: Eight Sleep's Pod 3 Cover changed the way Deputy Editor Christian Gollayan has slept forever. "I'm a very hot sleeper, and Eight Sleep's high-tech cover has stopped my night sweats even on the hottest evenings," he says. The secret sauce to Eight Sleep's Pod Cover is its Smart Hub that pumps water through the cover and on top of your mattress to cool your bed up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. For a subscription fee, the Pod 3 Cover can also has auto-temperature tech, which changes throughout the night based on your sleep pattern. Plus, the Pod 3 tracks your sleep throughout the night and gives you a sleep score the following day, which is pretty similar to the Oura Ring's interface.

After three months of testing, Gollayan says his sleep has improved tremendously. "The Pod 3 Cover has helped me sleep through incredibly hot summer evenings, and the sleep tracking feature helps me stay on top of my recover," he says. Our editors also love that Sleep Eight allows you to create custom temperatures for two sides of the bed, which is great for couples. Though one thing to note, it's quite expensive, but if you can afford it, Eight Sleep's next-gen features are worth the hefty price tag.

What do buyers say? "Early trainings, afternoon naps and full nights of deep quality sleep during a heatwave... for the first time in my life made possible by Eight Sleep," says one eightsleep.com customer.

Read more: Eight Sleep Pod Cover 3 Review

AiryWeight Eucalyptus Mattress Protector

Sijo Home’s AiryWeight Eucalyptus Mattress Protector has something no other mattress topper in our roundup does: A 100% waterproof design. Part mattress topper, part mattress protector, this model is great for adding both an extra degree of plushness and serious protection to your pricey mattress. The barrier is strong enough to protect against occasional spills (key if you like eating ice cream and red wine in bed—no judgment) or in home with pets, children, or both. It also boasts a quiet (read non-crinkly), hypoallergenic design. Most importantly, however, it’s built with TENCEL Lyocell (lingo for “eucalyptus fibers”) which is naturally soft, cool, and moisture-wicking. It’s sustainable, too, in case “eco-friendliness” is among your checklist of bedding considerations.

On the downside, because it’s technically a mattress protector, it’s much thinner than most dedicated toppers. Still, at just $80 (in queen-sized), we’re hard-pressed to find much else to dislike about this mattress protector/topper. It’s priced right with plenty of great buyer reviews and, with Sijo’s 30-day in-home trial makes trying this one out truly risk-free. If you’re shopping for a waterproof cooling mattress topper, this one is definitely worth a look.

What do buyers say? “Purchased this one and immediately noticed more cool temps when sleeping. It also has much more slack so it doesn’t tug at the ends of the mattress with use. HIGHLY recommend,” said one SijoHome.com reviewer.

3-Inch Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper

This mattress topper from Subrtex relies on three inches of gel-infused memory foam for maximum cooling. With 3.5-pound density memory foam, it’s built with a ventilated design that’s breathable and works to release trapped body heat and regulate your temperature through the night. It’s all wrapped in a bamboo rayon cover that’s also cooling, plus it’s removable and machine-washable, so you can always keep your bedding fresh. It fits mattresses up to 12 inches deep and includes adjustable elastic straps for a snug, non-slip fit.

At around $100 (for a queen) and with more than 6,000 five-star ratings, this is one of the best-selling cooling mattress pads on Amazon. The most common quibbles we’ve seen are that, before the initial setup, it takes up to 72 hours to expand to its full size, and there is some smell from off-gassing—both of which are typical issues for memory foam bedding products. But with free shipping and free return shipping through Amazon, you can take advantage of a sort-of in-home trial before deciding if it’s right for you. It’s also available in 2-inch and 4-inch varieties, if the 3-inch model isn’t your speed.

What do buyers say? “Love this mattress pad, it is so comfortable. I really like the no-slip fabric on the back and the adjustable straps to go over the mattress,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Active Cooling Copper Topper

Memory foam is notoriously one of the hottest sleep surfaces. Not so, however, with ViscoSoft’s 4-inch Active Cooling Mattress Topper. The copper-infused design features “phase-shifting” technology that’s surprisingly effective at whisking away trapped body heat and regulating even the warmest sleepers’ skin temperatures for a cool, comfortable night’s sleep. The luxurious construction adds a whopping four inches of additional height to your sleep surface. The included machine-washable cover makes for easy refreshing of your entire bed setup with your regular laundry routine.

There’s a lot to like with this model including the roughly $200-ish price tag that puts it squarely in the “midrange” of our roundup. With more than 200 mostly positive reviews, a thick, plush construction, and excellent cooling properties, this is arguably the best bang-for-your-buck cooling mattress toppers we’ve seen this year. Plus, the 60-day money-back guarantee is among the most generous we’ve seen, providing the perfect risk-free trial.

What do buyers say? “... better than expected. We sink in and it is more than supportive for all our sleeping positions, back, side and front. Cooling is just right for the both of us,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Eco Organic Mattress Topper

Avocado won us over with its almost obsessive commitment to the most natural bedding products, like their Eco Organic Mattress that won our 2022 Men’s Health Sleep Award for—wait for it—the best eco-friendly mattress. The Eco Organic Mattress Topper is no exception, with a construction that features no toxic chemicals or polyurethane foams. It’s instead made with 100% GOLS organic-certified latex, so it’s hypoallergenic, asthma-friendly, and naturally cooling too. It’s also durable, resilient, comfortable, and breathable. Plus, it’s wrapped in a machine-washable, organic cotton cover that helps cool and wick away sweat and moisture.

If buying natural, environmentally-friendly products is important to you—even when it comes to your bedding—Avocado is our hands-down pick for the most eco-friendly cooling mattress toppers. It’s not cheap at almost $500 (for a queen), but you can rest assured you’ll be sleeping on the safest and arguably best cooling mattress topper you can buy. Even better: It includes a generous 100-night in-home trial—so there’s zero risk to trying it out—bolstered by a 1-year warranty.

What do buyers say? “Great topper. Soft, great quality. Just what I needed to add to the mattress to soften it some,” said one AvocadoGreenMattress.com reviewer.

3 Climate Comfort Sleep System

Even the best cooling mattress toppers could benefit from a little something more. That’s where powered cooling technology comes in. The BetJet 3 Climate Comfort Sleep System is a unique sleep solution that works to actively heat or cool you while you sleep. If you seriously struggle with regulating your body temperature during the night, this is for you. The design includes a pad packed with water-filled silicone tubes that connect to a powered “cube.” A built-in remote allows you to dial in the exact temperature you’d like your bedding to be—anywhere from 66 to 104 degrees. Though it doesn't have the sleep-tracking or auto temp-adjusting features of its pricier competitor, EightSleep, the BedJet is a more affordable alternative that still gets the job done. Plus, its one-size fits all cover makes for extra versatility.

There’s no doubt that this is a very effective cooling mattress topper—better than any non-powered option we’ve seen. But you’ll pay for it for it. If you have serious trouble maintaining an even temperature at night, however, it’ll be well worth the investment. BedJet does include a 60-night trial, so you can rest assured you’re getting some kind of risk-free window in case it doesn’t work for you.

What do buyers say? “I am so pleased with how well this keeps my whole body cool and not just my face," says one amazon.com reviewer. "I have found that the Biorhythm is excellent... I haven't slept so well in a long time."

TEMPUR-Adapt Topper with Cooling Topper

If you suffer from back pain and sleeping hot, you know it’s a challenge to find a bedding setup that alleviates both. Tempur-Pedic’s Tempur-Adapt Topper is designed to do just that. With a full three inches of memory foam, this is an option that adds serious height and luxury to your existing bed setup. Most importantly, it’s designed to compress under your shoulders and hips for maximum pressure relief. Out of the box, it sleeps a little warm, but the addition of Tempur-Pedic’s optional Cooling Topper changes the game. Together, the combo whisks away trapped body heat and moisture to keep you cool, dry, and comfortable all night long.

Like many Tempur products, the Tempur-Adapt Topper and Cooling Topper top out (get it?) at north of $500 (regular price for a Queen), making this one of the most expensive options in our roundup. But the company is famous for its pressure-relief bedding, next-gen cooling technology, and above-average durability. Plus, it ships free to anywhere in the contiguous United States and features an industry-leading 10-year warranty to boot. Unfortunately, Tempur-Pedic does not offer in-home trials for its mattress toppers.

What do buyers say? “Extremely comfortable with perfect support. Highly recommend. Great value for the money,” said one TempurPedic.com reviewer.

Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Memory foam seems like an odd choice for a cooling mattress topper. But Layla infuses its Memory Foam Topper with copper for maximum temperature regulation. It’s a famously good material for regulating temperature, plus it’s naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. The two-inch-thick construction delivers great pain relief in key areas like the hips, shoulder, and back. It’s a design that also happens to work well for motion isolation, too, making this a great option for couples and partners who tend to wake each other during the night.

At roughly $349 (retail), Layla’s Memory Foam Topper is squarely in the midrange of our roundup. While it’s not quite on par with more premium alternatives (like Tempur-Pedic’s above), it’s an excellent option for anyone looking to “refresh” an older mattress and add serious cooling capability in the process. We also love the included 120-night trial and 5-year warranty, so you know Layla stands behind its bedding products.

What do buyers say? “This topper is soooo comfy AND it completely eliminated waking up in the middle of the night with hip pain! Highly recommend!!!” said one LaylaSleep.com reviewer.

Discover More of the Best Sleep Products

Best Bedding | Best Sheets | Best Air Mattresses | Best Mattresses for Back Pain | Best Cooling Blankets | Best Cooling Sheets | Best Cooling Pillows

Why Trust Us

Retailers, manufacturers, brands, salespeople, and PR folks never dictate the products we cover. Everything we recommend is editorially selected. Occasionally, our staff receives press samples of the products we test (typically on a “loaner” basis). But it’s important to note that we never guarantee a mention, a positive review, or a recommendation for any product. In most cases, our staff personally buys the products they test. However we come about the products we review, we treat them all the same for testing purposes. They’re all subjected to the same honest review.

Read more: How We Test Products

When it comes to covering sleep at Men's Health, our editors and writers are regularly in-the-know about the latest sleep innovations and product releases. Aside from our expert-aided sleep roundups, we also host our annual Sleep Awards, where we highlight our top sleep products of the year.

Meet the Expert

Jeffrey Durmer, MD, PhD, is a sleep and circadian neurologist of over 20 years. He's a Chief Medical Officer at Absolute Rest, a company that develops personalized systems to optimize sleep for athletes and high performers.

Dr. Durmer has worked with organizations like the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the United States Olympic Weightlifting team as their Sleep Performance Director. Additionally, he serves as a Sleep Medicine advisor to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Can a Cooling Mattress Topper Help Relieve Back Pain?

Back pain can be caused by a whole number of different things. It's also personal—there's never a one-size-fits-all solution. However, there is at least some scientific evidence where a mattress topper could potentially help relieve back pain.

"Sleep is an active state in which the body and brain undergo systematic changes leading to recovery and preparation for the wake state," says Dr. Durmer. "One of these systematic changes is the activation of anti-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins, and other circulating hormones that assist in reducing inflammation; this is why adequate sleep is so important for repairing injuries and pain control."

Dr. Durmer also notes how sleep is triggered by the cooling of the body, which can be potentiated by a cooling mattress topper. "For this reason, it is plausible that an active cooling topper may also assist in the anti-inflammatory response, as well as provide direct temperature relief to an aching back, or injured muscle," says Dr. Durmer.

How Do You Help a Hot Sleeper?

If you are a hot sleeper and sweat a lot at night, then there are a couple actions you can take to optimize cooling in your sleep. The first, and probably easiest, is by adding a gel cooling mattress topper. Second is you can look for a mattress that prioritizes cooing in its design. Dr. Durmer notes that in toppers and in mattress you can look for an open-cell foam design in order to help dissipate heat from the mattress itself.

A third action is by purchasing an active cooling mattress topper. Like mentioned earlier, we love how the Eight Sleep Pod Cover provides a constant cooling surface all night long. A cheaper alternative to the Pod Cover is the Ooler by Chilipad.

How to Find the Best Cooling Mattress Topper for You

Bedding is a very personal thing. What’s good for your best friend or your mom or your neighbor might not be right for you. So it’s no surprise that there is no one best cooling mattress topper; it’s all about what’s best for you. But there are a few common things to look for when shopping for the right one.

Cooling Capability

There are no scientific studies to prove that one material or bedding technology is the best at keeping you cool. But there is plenty of anecdotal evidence. For the most part, memory foam by itself is going to be the hottest sleeping surface. Thankfully, many bedding manufacturers integrate cooling technology (like copper gel infusion) into their memory foam mattress toppers to help maximize their cooling benefits. In our experience, natural latex is the best at regulating your body’s temperature, whether you sleep cool or hot.

Thickness

Naturally, any mattress topper will add height to your existing bed setup. How much height is a matter of personal preference. In our experience, the thinnest models (2 inches or less) won’t seriously change your sleep experience. Cooling mattress toppers that are three inches or taller, however, can completely change how you sleep (usually for the better).

Price

Like every other type of bedding, cooling mattress toppers vary widely in price. The most budget-friendly models are available for less than $50. But many of these make lofty promises but are made with low-quality materials that are likely to leave you sleeping even hotter. Midrange models are typically priced between $150-300, depending on the size. The best cooling mattress toppers can run north of $500, but these often feature next-generation technologies to not only keep you cool but also provide a more comfortable, pressure-relieving sleep surface on top of your existing mattress.

Cleaning and Care

Cleaning mattress toppers and mattress pads can be a challenge, especially those made of memory foam. Some recommend only spot cleaning for the actual foam. Thankfully, most include a removable and usually machine-washable cover, making it easy to keep your bedding fresh and clean.

Warranties and In-home Trials

Ideally, the mattress topper you buy should include a risk-free in-home trial. Sixty days is good, but 100 nights is even better. Most companies ask that you try your topper for at least 30 days to determine whether it’s right for you. Just be sure that any manufacturer you’re considering also offers free return shipping. Otherwise, processing a return on a heavy and bulky mattress topper could get very expensive. Knowing your topper is backed by a decent warranty of at least two years is essential too. The best bedding brands stand behind their product, including mattress toppers, for five years or more.

How We Selected the Best Cooling Mattress Toppers of 2023

Our sleep-obsessed writers researched and personally tested dozens of the toppers from some of the world’s best bedding stores for this roundup. We paid close attention to every feature and spec, including materials used, softness, durability, value, comfort, price, and how effective each one was at actually keeping us cool. We also considered options from some of our favorite and most trusted retailers, like Amazon and Walmart. The list above represents our honest picks of the best cooling mattress toppers worth buying in 2024.

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