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Logan Foley
Executive Product Director
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
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Research suggests that the ideal temperature for sleeping is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. While there are many factors that contribute to the temperature of your sleep environment, the importance of your mattress shouldn’t be underestimated. Mattresses that don’t allow room for airflow can trap body heat and lead to an uncomfortably warm night.
If you believe that your mattress could be the culprit for your sleepless nights but you’re not prepared to invest in a new one, a cooling mattress topper may be the best solution. Cooling mattress toppers can be made of latex, wool, gel memory foam, or other materials that draw heat away from the sleeper. They are usually 2 to 4 inches thick and designed to lie on top of your mattress, providing a cooler surface for your body to interact with.
We’ll cover everything you need to know about selecting the best cooling mattress topper, including our top picks and recommendations on choosing a mattress topper based on material, body type, preferred sleep position, and more.
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Best Overall
The Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper – Luxury Plush caters to sleepers who enjoy the strong contouring of foam but also need a touch of pushback. This model is more responsive than your average foam topper due to its unique microcoil design.
The topper begins with a layer of polyfoam that hugs the body closely and cradles areas that are prone to painful pressure buildup. Beneath is a thin layer of steel microcoils that enhance contouring but also generate gentle pushback to prevent too much sinkage. The bottom layer is composed of a high-density polyfoam that balances cushioning and support. The cover is composed of GlacioTex Cooling fabric, which is a blend of polyester and polyethylene.
With an overall thickness of 3.75 inches, the topper provides a substantial adjustment to your bed surface. The topper earned high marks from the side sleepers on our team, since the thick foam design is ideal for cushioning the shoulders and hips. It also felt comfortable for back sleepers up to 230 pounds and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds, offering just the right mix of support and cushioning for these groups. Foam absorbs a lot of motion, so the topper is also beneficial for people who are easily awoken by a co-sleeper’s movements.
Helix offers a 100-night sleep trial to test the topper at home. You’ll also receive a one-year warranty. Shipping is free throughout the contiguous U.S.
Best for Back Pain
If your mattress is worn out and nearing retirement, you may begin to notice stiffness or soreness when you wake up in the morning. An adaptive foam topper can help alleviate these aches and pains — but foam also has a tendency to trap excessive amounts of heat. The TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling Topper from Tempur-Pedic offers the best of both worlds, cushioning and contouring to your body for excellent pain relief while dissipating heat to ensure a comfortable temperature all night long.
Measuring 3 inches thick, the topper should significantly improve how your mattress feels — even if the surface is heavily indented from years of use. Proprietary TEMPUR memory foam is renowned for its dense composition and resistance to sinkage. The material is also much more durable than the average topper foam. Since the topper has a medium (5) feel, it’s best suited to side and back sleepers. Our hands-on tests show the TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling is especially comfortable for side sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds, and back sleepers under 130 pounds.
The cover is made of soft knit polyester woven with phase change material, which is engineered to dissipate heat on contact and feel cool to the touch at all times. You can remove and machine wash the cover whenever it needs to be cleaned. Each corner is equipped with a thick elastic strap to secure the topper to your mattress, so it shouldn’t shift if you toss and turn or change sleep positions.
While the TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling Topper is on the expensive side, its strong performance, above-average cooling, and lengthy expected lifespan make it a solid long-term investment. Customers in the contiguous U.S. also qualify for free ground shipping with their order. Tempur-Pedic does not allow you to return the topper at any point, so all sales are final, but your purchase is backed by a 10-year warranty against structural and material defects.
Best for Side Sleepers
Many memory foam toppers absorb and trap heat, causing them to feel uncomfortably warm for sleepers. The Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper manages to sleep cooler than most competitors thanks to its construction. The top layer is composed of memory foam infused with graphite, which has natural cooling properties. This material is intended to draw heat away from your body and keep the surface relatively cool. A 2-inch base layer of high-density polyfoam reinforces the topper to prevent deep sinkage while you sleep.
The firmness level is medium soft (4), so you should expect close contouring from head to toe. Those who find their current mattress too firm should notice comfort improvements. The 3-inch profile also makes this topper a good option for people with older mattresses that have become uneven over time. A breathable organic cotton cover enhances the topper’s cooling properties by promoting airflow. The cover is equipped with thick elastic bands to secure the topper to your mattress, so it shouldn’t shift too much even if you toss and turn or frequently change sleep positions.
Saatva ships the Graphite Mattress Topper free of charge throughout the contiguous U.S. Each order includes a 180-night sleep trial, giving customers plenty of time to test out their topper and decide whether to return it or keep it. Those who opt for the latter also receive a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Most Comfortable
A foam topper can greatly benefit people who struggle to maintain healthy sleep posture, helping evenly distribute weight across the sleep surface. But unfortunately, these toppers also tend to trap heat and sleep uncomfortably warm. The Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper is the best of both worlds: an all-foam design that alleviates pain, keeps the spine in proper alignment, and dissipates heat. The AirFoam core has an open-cell composition that makes the material breathable and resistant to heat buildup. You can also choose from two breathable cover materials: organic cotton or GlacioTex cooling fabric.
The mattress is also available in two profiles, 2 or 3 inches. The 3-inch model is medium soft (4) for deep contouring and cushioning — this design was most popular among side sleepers on our team weighing less than 130 pounds. Our side sleepers who weigh more, as well as most of our back and stomach sleepers, preferred the slightly more supportive feel of the 2-inch medium (5) topper.
Elastic corner straps secure the topper to your sleep surface. This ensures provide stability and minimal shifting or clumping during the night – even for combination sleepers who frequently change positions. Six sizes are available, all of which correspond to standard mattress dimensions.
Nolah provides free standard ground shipping for all customers in the contiguous U.S. You’ll receive a trial period with your AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper purchase allowing you to test out the topper for up to 30 nights before deciding whether to return it or keep it. Should you choose the latter, the topper is also backed by a 10-year warranty against structural defects.
Best Flippable
The aptly named Bedsure 2-in-1 Mattress Topper features a reversible design with a distinct surface and feel on each side. Measuring a total of 5 inches thick, this topper makes your mattress feel significantly different — even if its surface is heavily worn and you’re planning to buy a new bed soon.
One side of the topper is padded with down alternative clusters, which feel plush and light like real down but won’t trigger allergies or retain much heat. This material is also animal-free. The opposite surface contains convoluted polyfoam infused with cooling gel, so this side feels invitingly soft and temperature-neutral.
For added breathability, the cover is made from a blend of polyester and moisture-wicking rayon derived from bamboo. An elastic skirt along the perimeter allows you to tuck the topper over the edges of your mattress much like a fitted sheet. Corner straps and internal ties further secure the topper to your sleep surface and prevent it from shifting or bunching during the night. You can separate the cover and down alternative layer, then machine-wash these components at home for easy care.
The 2-in-1 Mattress Topper is very reasonably priced given its hybrid flippable design and thick profile. If you order from Amazon.com with a Prime membership, your order will also qualify for free ground shipping.
Best Temperature Regulating
If you and your partner disagree on the ideal mattress temperature, the Orion Sleep System can be a helpful workaround. This high-tech layer – which is more akin to a mattress pad than a traditional topper – can heat or cool your sleep surface to any temperature between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. And since the Sleep System offers dual control, your partner can program a different temperature for their side of the bed.
You’ll adjust temperature levels using an app, and a tower with a water reservoir connects to the pad itself. The tower heats or cools the water based on the app settings, then funnels water into the microtubes. Smart sensors embedded in the pad track your body temperature and automatically make adjustments if they sense you are too hot or too cold. These sensors also monitor sleep and biometric data, which you can access through the app.
A thin layer of material provides waterproof protection against leaks and creates some padding between your body and the sleep surface, but the Orion won’t cushion or contour to your body like a traditional mattress topper with foam or latex fill. That said, you can choose from softer or firmer designs depending on your surface preferences. A cover made from a breathable, stretchy blend of polyester and bamboo-derived viscose keeps you cool and moisture-free.
With a pocket depth of 10 to 16 inches, the Orion Sleep System can be used with most mattresses made today. You should not machine-wash the system, so spot clean as needed if stains or smudges occur. Queen, king, and California king sizes are available. While the Sleep System’s steep sticker price may be a dealbreaker for some shoppers, Orion includes free shipping and a 30-night trial with all orders.
Best Luxury
If your current mattress sleeps too hot, then a topper that promotes airflow may be a wise investment. The Birch Organic Mattress Topper is constructed with breathable components, including a top layer of natural wool over a base of Talalay latex. The wool has moisture-wicking properties to help you stay dry at night, while the latex is ventilated to push air close to the surface. A cooling cover made of organic cotton completes the design.
The topper has a medium (5) feel, making it a good option for mattresses that feel overly firm, but the latex cushions the body without the deep hugging sensation of memory foam. Latex is also somewhat responsive, resulting in a light bounce when you get in and out of bed. We recommend this topper for mattresses with light to moderate wear and tear.
The topper should also appeal to consumers who prefer to buy and use eco-friendly goods. A certification from the Forest Stewardship Council ensures the rubber trees used to produce the latex are sustainably grown and harvested, while a Global Organic Textile Standard certification indicates the same environmentally friendly practices for the cotton. Animal-conscious individuals should also appreciate the Wool Integrity NZ certification, which recognizes humane animal treatment during every stage of the wool extraction process.
Birch offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Each order comes with a 100-night sleep trial, giving you plenty of time to test out the Organic Mattress Topper and decide whether it’s right for you. Those who decide to keep it also receive a 10-year warranty against structural defects.
Best Value
If you’re looking for a mattress topper that sleeps cool and carries a reasonable price-tag, then The Company Store has got you covered. The Company Essentials Down Alternative Mattress Topper is packed with animal-free synthetic fill derived from recycled materials, which is meant to mimic the plushness and lightness of real down without trapping heat or triggering allergies. A breathable cotton shell adds to the temperature-regulating design. When our team tested this topper, most of us felt little to no heat retention.
Each corner is equipped with a thick elastic strap to secure the topper to your mattress and prevent it from shifting while you sleep. A quilted design with large, sewn-through baffles helps distribute the fill evenly, so you shouldn’t need to fluff the topper too often. Since the topper measures a little over 2 inches thick, it should make your sleep surface feel significantly softer and more comfortable.
The Company Essentials Down Alternative Mattress Topper is available in six sizes, which correspond with standard mattress dimensions. The Company Store offers free ground shipping for all orders within the contiguous U.S. and allows returns within 60 days of the delivery date.
Best Organic
The Silk & Snow Organic Mattress Topper is a highly comfortable topper with a Dunlop latex core, which offers gentle contouring to relieve pressure points without excessive sinkage. Latex is a naturally breathable material that does not retain as much heat as adaptive foams, making it a great choice for hot sleepers. Global Organic Textile Standard and Global Organic Latex Standard certifications ensure the topper’s core and cover materials are grown sustainably and processed with ecological and social criteria in mind.
A cover made from organic cotton is naturally breathable. This cover is fully removable and machine-washable for easy care, but the latex core should only be spot cleaned. The topper’s 2-inch profile is suitable for people seeking to correct the feel of a mattress with slight indentations.
Two firmness levels are available: medium (5) and firm (7). Back sleepers on our team enjoyed the medium feel, which alleviates pressure in the lower back without uncomfortable sagging. Side sleepers over 230 pounds may also appreciate the softer feel to reduce pressure buildup in the joints. Back sleepers over 230 pounds and stomach sleepers appreciated the firmer option that kept their bodies on an even plane.
Customers living in the contiguous U.S. and provincial Canada are eligible for free shipping. Silk & Snow offers a 100-night sleep trial, during which you can return a topper for a full refund. The Organic Mattress Topper is backed by two warranties: 3 years for the latex core and 1 year for the cotton cover.
Best for Pressure Relief
Coop Sleep Goods is best known for pillows containing a proprietary blend of shredded memory foam and down alternative fibers, which provide a distinct balance of fluffy plushness and contouring. Introduced in 2024, the Cool+ Mattress Topper uses the same material to deliver an invitingly adaptive sleep surface for your entire body. Most testers on our team enjoyed the feel, which is both dense and cushy with close conforming around heavier areas of the body.
Temperature control is another highlight of this topper and a major reason why it made our list. Since the foam is shredded, air circulates through the interior more freely, and the down alternative fibers temper the foam’s heat-retaining qualities to help the surface stay cool. The result is a topper that offers the benefits of memory foam without the excessive warmth many people experience when they lie on blocks of solid foam.
A breathable cover encases the fill. You cannot remove the cover, so the topper should be spot cleaned if stains or smudges appear. Each corner is equipped with a thick elastic strap to secure the topper to your mattress. This prevents it from sliding or slipping every time you change positions.
Twin, queen, king, and California king sizes are available. Coop Sleep Goods offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Each order comes with a 100-night sleep trial. If you decide to keep the topper after the return period ends, your purchase is further backed by a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
Watch the video below for some hands-on tips to creating a cooler sleep environment.
Our testing team has hands-on experience with a wide range of sleep products, including more than 200 mattress topper models. We evaluate mattress toppers using similar criteria to our system for testing mattresses. Key performance categories include pressure relief, motion isolation, temperature control, and ease of movement. We also determine how effectively each topper adjusts the feel of a mattress – is the extra cushioning more noticeable, or does the sleep surface still feel somewhat firm? Ease of cleaning, how well the topper resists shifting during the night, and price also play a role in our ratings.
For a deep dive into our process, check out our mattress topper testing methodology guide, but here’s a quick look at each step:
Construction analysis: We begin testing each topper by analyzing its design and making note of its thickness, firmness, and material construction. This first step helps us gauge durability, support, and overall comfort and quality.
Product testing: For hands-on testing, we take turns lying on each mattress topper and changing sleep positions to assess ease of movement. We also test for contouring and pressure relief, motion isolation, and temperature control.
Field testing: Once we’ve concluded our analysis in our Seattle Test Lab, our field testers take each topper home and use it in their own bedroom for several weeks. They’ll make notes each morning and provide an overall score, helping us to determine how the topper performs in the long term.
User testing: We weigh our own team’s findings against real-world experiences highlighted in customer surveys and product reviews. We may tweak our initial ratings if they don’t seem to align with those of mattress topper owners.
Sleeping cool has become a major buzzword in the mattress industry, and all the marketing jargon about the latest technologies and state-of-the-art materials can be overwhelming. This guide will help you to cut through the hype and help you find the best cooling mattress topper for you.
“I generally recommend looking for breathable, natural fibers for bedding and cooling sheets, especially if you’re a hot sleeper. Regulating your core body temperature during the night can make a huge difference in your overall sleep quality, so breathable materials are optimal to promote cooler temperatures. Consider hypoallergenic materials like cotton, linen, silk, or bamboo, as synthetic fibers tend to be less breathable and trap more heat at night. This goes for bedding/sheets as well as your pajamas or sleepwear. It may also help to keep a frozen cool pack under your pillow and/or feet or invest in a cooling mattress topper.”
– Sarah Silverman, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist and holistic sleep wellness consultant who treats patients in New York and Florida.
There are a lot of choices to sort through when buying a cooling mattress topper. From price to material, cooling properties to sleeping position, here are some of the most important factors you should keep in mind while you search.
Most toppers on the market today are made of memory foam, polyfoam, or latex, each of which offers its own advantages. You may also see mattress toppers stuffed with wool, which wicks moisture away from the body to keep you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold.
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Written and tested by
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
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