Why You Can Trust CNET Best Cooling Mattress of 2024
Waking up covered in sweat? Switch to a cooling bed. These are the best cooling mattresses on the market, tested and ranked by our sleep experts.
If you are a hot sleeper, certain mattresses (such as thick memory foam) can make it harder to get quality sleep. Luckily, there are specialized cooling mattresses that have minimal room for heat retention. They're a game-changer for those who sleep hot.
Here's the thing about cooling bedding products: Not all of them actually cool you down. I've tested over 150 mattresses and spent hours researching the top mattress materials that are supposed to keep you cool. Below are my top choices for the best mattresses for hot sleepers, from beds made with cooling material (like gel-infused foam) that are cold to the touch to mattresses that allow maximum airflow to minimize heat retention.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to cool down your current mattress, check out our list of the best cooling mattress toppers. If temperature isn't exactly the problem, you can always check out the best mattresses for side sleepers or the best king size mattresses.
What is the best cooling mattress?
There are several excellent cooling mattress options out there. The one that outshines the rest is the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. Thanks to its well-thought-out construction, it's the best overall cooling mattress in our roundup and literally one of the coolest mattresses I've tested. When you run your hands across the bed, the cover physically feels cold thanks to the TitanCool material.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora mattress is a premium bed with a soft, squishy foam that bounces quickly back as you move around on it. You have three firmness options, giving you the ability to tailor the mattress to your body type and sleeping position. It's the kind of mattress that anyone will like. That's why it's the best cooling mattress you can get.
Video: Best cooling mattress
Watch CNET mattress expert Owen Poole review the best cooling mattresses.
Best cooling mattresses of 2024
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
Like
- The cover is cool to the touch
- Bouncy and breathable memory foam
- Hefty coils make it supportive and long-lasting
- Three firmness profiles
Don't like
- Not ideal for budget shoppers
Why we chose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress: The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress tops my list of the best cooling mattresses thanks to the ample pressure relief and impressive cooling technology. It's over 13 inches thick and is stacked with six different layers. On top of the high-density base foam foundation is a layer of hefty 8-inch zoned coils to enhance edge support and motion isolation. The top comfort layers are made with Brooklyn Bedding's special Copperflex foam and GlacioTex Cooling Cover, designed to absorb and draw heat away from your body and create a cool-to-the-touch feel.
The company says this bed will bring your body temperature down to 88 degrees. I'm not sure how true and consistent that is for every sleeper, but the mattress does effectively help you sleep cooler and more comfortably during the night. The Aurora Luxe mattress is available in three different firmness profiles: soft, medium and firm. Petite side sleepers who want an extra soft mattress should consider the soft option; lightweight to average-weighted side sleepers should be fine on the medium model.
Read more about the Aurora Luxe.
Pros:
- The cover is cool to the touch
- Bouncy and breathable memory foam
- Hefty coils make it supportive and long-lasting
- Three firmness profiles
Cons:
- Not ideal for budget shoppers
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Like
- Great motion isolation
- Unique micro-coil construction for extra support
- Comfortable cover that’s cool to the touch
Don't like
- Available in only one firmness level
- On the more expensive side
Why we chose the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid mattress: Thanks to its unique six-layer construction and cover that’s cool to the touch, the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid mattress is ideal for couples who sleep too hot at night. With two layers of micro-coils and zoned springs, it provides the comforting feel of foam with the benefits of increased airflow and extra lumbar support. Its cushiony quilt top is infused with cooling fibers that help you maintain an ideal temperature by pulling heat away from the body.
Leesa Legend Chill’s reinforced edge support and excellent motion insolation are a huge plus, especially if your partner is a bed hog or constantly switches positions. This model doesn't have firmness options, but it accommodates most sleepers with its medium firmness level.
Retailing for $2,800, this bed is the most luxurious in Leesa’s lineup and the most expensive on our best list. However, Leesa regularly offers significant discounts throughout the year. Though it sits at a more luxury price point, we consider the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid mattress a great value. It’s a fantastic option for couples who want that plush, five-star hotel feel while staying cool and comfortable all night. Read more about Leesa's Chill mattresses.
Pros:
- Great motion isolation
- Unique micro-coil construction for extra support
- Comfortable cover that’s cool to the touch
Cons:
- Available in only one firmness level
- On the more expensive side
Leesa Legend Chill Mattress
Like
- Comes in multiple models
- Budget option
- Phase-changing cooling cover
Don't like
- Not the best choice for side sleepers
- Contouring memory foam feel isn't for everyone
Why we chose the Cocoon Chill mattress: Some hot sleepers don't want to drop more than $1,500 on a new mattress. Cocoon Chill is a budget bed that fits perfectly on my list of the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers. It comes in a 12-inch hybrid or a 10-inch all-foam model, but I recommend the hybrid because it offers more airflow and ventilation than the foam Cocoon Chill.
Both models are equipped with a cool-to-the-touch "Phase Change" cover that absorbs heat, keeping you cooler throughout the night. When laying on the top of the bed, you can immediately feel its cooling relief against your backside.
I'd rate it somewhere between medium and medium-firm, or around a six out of 10 on the firmness scale. I don't get a ton of pressure relief when I sleep on my side, but the memory foam does help bring a more contouring, hugging feel. That said, this bed is accommodating for back and stomach sleepers, combination sleepers and some side sleepers. Most people will be happy with this bed if you aren't searching for a plush mattress.
Pros:
- Comes in multiple models
- Budget option
- Phase-changing cooling cover
Cons:
- Not the best choice for side sleepers
- Contouring memory foam feel isn't for everyone
Cocoon by Sealy Chill
Like
- Several model and firmness options
- Can accommodate all sleeper positions
- Cool-to-the-touch cover
Don't like
- Expensive
- Not everyone likes the dense memory foam feel
Why we chose the Tempur-Pedic Adapt mattress: Tempur-Pedic is a household name and one of the most popular bedding brands in the world. The Tempur-Adapt line includes three luxury mattresses that are equipped with cooling covers. My favorite is the ProAdapt, which comes in three firmness levels, so anyone can find one that works for them. They also offer a hybrid model with medium firmness, depending on how supportive you want your Tempur-Pedic mattress to be.
Thanks to the cooling yarns woven in and its open-cell design of Tempur-Material, the cover feels physically cool to the touch and is removable and machine washable on the ProAdapt and LuxeAdapt models. The memory foam inside doesn't retain heat like the old Tempur-Pedic mattresses did back in the day.
The brand also offers Breeze cooling beds, but they're super expensive. I think you can still get cooling relief and save money by choosing this mattress type over Tempur-Pedic's premium models. You can even go with the base Tempur-Adapt model to save the most money. It offers a cooling cover with the same dense memory foam feel as the other beds, which hugs your body as you sink into the layers.
Pros:
- Several model and firmness options
- Can accommodate all sleeper positions
- Cool-to-the-touch cover
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not everyone likes the dense memory foam feel
Read more in our Tempur-Pedic mattress review.
TempurPedic Adapt
Like
- Eco-friendly option made with organic materials
- Medium-firm profile promotes spinal alignment
Don't like
- Too firm enough for some
- Not actively cooling, but sleeps cool
Why we chose the Avocado Green mattress: Hybrid mattresses with a medium-firm profile are ideal for back pain because they provide ample support to keep your spine in alignment with your neck and keep your lower back from sagging into the mattress. The Avocado Green mattress checks many boxes for back pain sufferers who want a breathable mattress, and it has a ton of eco-friendly benefits.
It's made with recycled steel pocketed coils, providing the bulk of the bed's support. The comfort materials are all certified organic cotton, wool and latex. Organic cotton and wool wick away moisture and regulate temperature to help keep you cool. Latex foam is designed with small holes throughout the material, and as a result, it allows for excellent airflow throughout the bed. Not only that, but latex foam doesn't retain heat like memory or polyfoam might. As an added plus, organic latex is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, so it will help prevent nasty household allergens from making a home out of your bed.
Pros:
- Eco-friendly option made with organic materials
- Medium-firm profile promotes spinal alignment
Cons:
- Too firm enough for some
- Not actively cooling, but sleeps cool
Read more in our full Avocado Green mattress review.
Avocado Green
Like
- Automatically adjusts bed temperature to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night
- Can track and report your sleep quality
- Each side of the bed is customizable
Don't like
- Expensive
- Trial is only 30 nights
- Makes your mattress slightly firmer
Why we chose the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover: If you like your mattress but want to make it cooler (in both ways), I recommend checking out the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover. Though it's not technically a mattress, this cover is a fantastic high-tech option for anyone wanting to enhance their current bed.
The technology in these covers is quite impressive -- not only can it track your sleep, but it can also temperature-adjust during the night based on your local weather, bedroom environment, sleep stages and more. If you sleep with a partner, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover can "learn" the ideal thermal environment for each side of the bed and automatically adapt so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Not to mention, staying cool with the Pod Cover can be more cost-effective than relying on air conditioning to keep your bedroom cold throughout the night.
If you're tired of waking up to the sound of an obnoxious alarm, then you might also enjoy Eight Sleep's customizable vibration and thermal alarm options. You can even set it up to receive personalized health reports and sleep recommendations to help you get better rest.
Be sure to confirm the dimensions of your bed before purchasing the Eight Sleep Pod Cover to ensure you get the correct size and model. Eight Sleep offers three different models of Pod Covers for beds ranging from full to California king size.
Pros:
- Automatically adjusts bed temperature to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night
- Can track and report your sleep quality
- Each side of the bed is customizable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Trial is only 30 nights
- Makes your mattress slightly firmer
Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover
Other cooling mattresses we've tested
Our CNET Sleep editors have hundreds of mattress testing hours on their resume -- they know the beds that shine and the beds that are underwhelming. With so many to test and so few spots on our list, we aren't able to showcase every quality cooling mattress. We do want to give a few more beds the honorable mention they deserve.
Purple mattress: The original Purple mattress uses a Hyper-Elastic Gel Polymer grid that has a ton of air pockets. It's one of the best materials for not retaining heat. We rate it around a medium or five out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Loom & Leaf mattress: With two firmness levels that sit toward the firm end of the spectrum (medium-firm and firm) and a special cooling gel layer, Loom & Leaf is a great mattress to help with temperature regulation. You sit more on top of the mattress rather than inside, and the cooling gel is actually effective.
WinkBeds EcoCloud mattress: WinkBeds doesn't actively cool you, but it's made with a breathable, non-heat-retaining latex foam material and pocketed coils. This allows for increased airflow, breathability and comfort. Not to mention, latex beds are hypoallergenic and antimicrobial.
Nectar Premier/Premier Copper mattress: These are Nectar's premium mattresses, made with cooling gel foam inside and a cooling cover that helps wick away moisture. The Copper model takes it a step further with added copper fibers that help absorb heat from your body and disperse it throughout the bed. They're rated around a six to seven on the firmness scale, so you don't sink into the foam as much.
Saatva mattress: Saatva is a pillow-top mattress that contains breathable materials and offers firm profiles that help you rest more comfortably at night if you're a hot sleeper. It's a luxury mattress available in two different heights and three different firmness levels. That means it can accommodate all body types and most sleeping positions unless you're a strict side sleeper who wants a plush and fluffy mattress.
How we tested the best cooling mattresses
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
When we test mattresses, we have an established process that assesses key factors like firmness, feel and performance. We test how strong the edge of the bed is by sitting and lying on the edge. We test motion transfer by rolling across the mattress with a glass of water by the edge. These are things we do for all the beds we test. The best cooling mattresses have a unique testing process. We dive further into the bed's construction, paying attention to each layer contributing to the cooling process. Read more on how we test mattresses.
Firmness and feel
Firmness and feel are the two main factors that help people decide which mattress to buy. Firmness is how hard or soft the bed is, which relates to your sleeping position. The feel of the mattress describes the sensation while you sleep on it. Does it give you that stuck-in-the-mud feeling that traditional memory foam does? Is it bouncy like latex foam? We evaluate and note the firmness and feel of each mattress we test.
Cooling technology
We test the beds to see if they feel cold and look for any specific cooling technology features. We get really hands-on during the process. The last test is actually sleeping on the mattress and using our experience as a guide. Did we sleep hot during the night? How good was the cooling bed at preventing heat retention? We have been known to pull out the thermometer gun, but have found that the best test is having one or two people see how hot it sleeps themselves.
What to look for in a cooling mattress
Many brands will advertise a "cooling bed" that is really just a standard mattress with a mattress pad or cooling gel topper, which might not be enough to provide real relief for hot sleepers. It can be tricky to distinguish between these "cooling" beds and a true cooling mattress if you're not careful. Be sure to look out for misleading marketing language, and keep a lookout for these different cooling technologies that seem to actually work.
Cooling cover
Some of the best mattresses I've tested have a cool-to-the-touch cover that relieves warmth upon contact. Some brands might call their organic cotton cover cooling, but it won't exactly do the trick. Instead, look for covers with phase-change material or icy technology.
A cooling layer in the mattress
Rather than just copper-infused foam or gel-infused foam, look for a dedicated cooling layer in a mattress that's sole purpose is to offer relief. If a mattress has a cooling layer and a cooling cover, it's even better.
Breathable materials
Other cooling bed models like the Purple are good at what they do because they don't retain heat in the first place. Beds with latex foam, springs and hyper-elastic polymer offer a cooler sleeping experience than typical foam mattresses and fit the bill for the best cooling mattresses.
Cooling accessories
Pair your cooling bed with new accessories that will work to help keep you cooler as you sleep through the night.
- Cooling sheets are made with light and breathable materials that wick away moisture from night sweats better than other warmer-sleeping sheets like flannel, polyester and satin.
- Cooling pillows use breathable materials for cooler sleep, and some, like the GhostPillow, incorporate a phase-change material to physically feel cool to the touch.
- Cooling mattress toppers work like temperature-regulating foam in that they have materials that absorb body heat and disperse it throughout the mattress.
Cooling mattress FAQs
What mattress types sleep cool at night?
Latex foam and Purple's hyper-elastic polymer are the most breathable mattress materials. Some beds come with cooling covers that make a bed physically cool to the touch. Memory foam, on the other hand, is known for retaining heat, so avoid that if cool sleeping is what you're after. The exception would be if it has a special temperature-regulating technology like copper or gel-infused foam or phase-change material.
Do cooling mattresses really work?
There are a handful of cooling mattresses on the market like GhostBed Luxe, Purple, Brooklyn Bedding Aurora and others that actually sleep as cool as they claim to. Many beds that are marketed as "cooling" might not live up to your expectations. Keep a lookout for phase-changing materials, cooling covers and special cooling tech that goes the extra mile to keep you cool.
When is the best time to buy a cooling mattress?
The obvious answer is before the hot summer months, but it's economical to shop for mattresses around holidays such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Christmas because of the amazing deals offered.
How can I cool down my mattress?
Before buying a cooling mattress, you can cool your mattress down yourself by adding breathable sheets, cooling pillows and cooling pillow toppers that help disperse heat better than your bed. You can put a damp towel on the top of your bed, but make sure not to saturate it too much as you can ruin your bed's foam.
Which mattress is best for people who sleep hot?
The best mattresses for hot sleepers are ones with phase-change materials, like the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora, cooling gel or other cooling technology that helps regulate temperature. Breathable mattresses made from latex foam like the Avocado Green or hyper-elastic polymer beds like the Purple are also great options for hot sleepers.