Searching for the best cooling mattress topper? Our sweatiest sleepers have tested temperature-reducing toppers and pads to confirm these products do reduce night-time perspiration.
Adding a temperature-regulating topper to your mattress will make a world of difference, whether the mattress underneath is breathable or not. A good topper can make a world of difference if you share a bed, live in a warm climate, or both.
The best mattress toppers in this guide are infused with gel, graphite, or innovative cooling technology to help you dissipate heat throughout the night. Prices start from $89.99 for a twin topper and go up to $469 for a Cali King option.
Best cooling mattress topper: Quick menu
1. The quick list
2. Best cooling mattress pad: Slumber Cloud Core
3. Best for back sleepers: Parachute
4. Best for all sleeping positions: Subrtex Gel-Infused
5. Best for pressure relief: TEMPUR-Adapt® Topper
6. Best organic cooling mattress topper: Coop Retreat
7. Best value cooling mattress topper: Zinus Ultra Cool Gel
8. FAQs
9. How we test
The best cooling mattress topper and pads to buy
Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The quick list
This cooling mattress pad is literally out of this world. It's made using the same material astronauts wear to stay cool and is suitable for year-round use. Don't worry about any special cleaning though, as this hypoallergenic viscose-cotton mix can be popped in your washer.
Back and side sleepers can easily emulate the feel of a 5-star hotel bed with this Parachute mattress topper. It's suitable for vegans, and has a buttery-soft, but breathable cotton sateen shell. The baffle box construction means it doesn't need straps to stay put.
If you want a cooling mattress topper that also adds firmness to your mattress, try this Subrtex pick for size. It has a breathable (and machine-washable) bamboo and you can choose from three thickness levels. What's more, the mesh backing prevents it from slipping and sliding in the middle of the night.
A bad bed can cause aches, pains, and disruptive sleep. But rather than splashing the cash on a new mattress (or a chiropractor), first consider this cooling mattress topper. It provides excellent pressure relief and is perfect for couples. 1) Because it reduces motion transfer 2) Because it's ideal for all sleep positions, and 3) The corner straps stop it from shifting.
This organic cooling mattress topper ticks so many boxes. The thick and plush texture can soften a hard landlord-provided bed, and the way it's designed (with cross-cut memory foam and microfiber) encourages airflow. The 100-night trial means you can test it for more than three months, and once you've decided it's right for you, it's backed with a 5-year warranty.
Like the Coop pick, this cooling mattress topper is ideal for softening firm mattresses. Though some people assume that memory foam can get hot, this doesn't. And, it doesn't have a funky off-gassing smell either. It provides a cozy foundation for back sleepers, but might not provide adequate support for side sleepers.
The best cooling mattress pad
Despite its thinness, the Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad takes a proactive approach to temperature control. It absorbs and stores excess heat when temperatures are too warm, and releases heat when temperatures are too cold.
Made with NASA-developed technology originally used to regulate the temperature in space suits, it's rated our best mattress protector for cooling, too. The quilted HDPE and polyester blend cover holds a lining treated with Outlast technology — a Certified Space Technology by the Space Foundation.
Thousands of reviewers have credited it for reducing (and even eliminating) their night sweats and our reviewer can vouch for this. Slumber Cloud explain their material features thousands of microscopic beads called Thermocules, and each one is set to a specific temperature. This counteracts any temperature fluctuations you might experience. As your temperature increases, the beads absorb and store any excess heat away from your body to keep you cool.
It also offers a crinkle-free waterproof barrier between you and your mattress. Kaitlin found it stayed put all night long and she liked that it fits mattresses up to 20" deep. The price is justified, in our eyes. But, if your mattress is past its sleep-by date, we'd suggest opting for a thick, foam topper.
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The best cooling mattress topper for back sleepers
As a back sleeper, our contributing editor, Rose Cain, commended the Parachute mattress topper. It's marshmallowy-soft, filled with hypoallergenic, vegan-friendly fill (ideal for people who with allergies or asthma), and has a lightweight and breathable cotton sateen shell.
Though it might appear squishy, this topper will mask all of the sins of an old rental mattress. Unlike some of the other cooling mattresses in this guide — this bed accessory won't budge, thanks to its baffle box construction that helps the insides stay put. Because of this, it doesn't come with elastic straps.
Rose tested this cooling mattress topper in the peak of a 100°F Texan summer, so we're convinced if it will work in extreme weather, it should be fit for purpose in milder conditions.
She warns front sleepers should find an alternate topper as it won't be firm enough. And, it doesn't appear to have a trial period. So if you snooze (and aren't satisfied with it) — you might lose out.
Rated 5 out of 5 stars in our Parachute mattress topper review
The best cooling mattress topper for all sleeping positions
Rated our very best mattress topper for hot sleepers and keeping cool, this affordable pick might just be the answer to all of your bedroom woes. Incredibly cooling and cushioning with a thick memory foam layer, this topper will transform your sweaty sleep experience and it will make your mattress even more comfortable. Its ergonomic design accommodates any body weight and sleep position — your spine will stay perfectly aligned no matter what. But, if you prefer a softer base we'd probably suggest that you avoid it as it's quite firm.
This memory foam topper has been infused with gel that is ventilated with purpose-made holes to improve airflow. The washable bamboo cover is also breathable, helping to keep your body temperature neutral. It fits on your mattress thanks to thick straps that keep it in place.
The medium-thick Subrtex gel-infused topper helped our tester Alex Shimalla sleep sweat-free and gave her super old bed a new lease of life. She noted little to no motion transfer, and when sleeping on this topper she woke up cold (this is not a complaint!).
Rated 4.5 stars out of 5 in our Subrtex Memory Foam Mattress Topper review
The best cooling mattress topper for pressure relief
The TEMPUR-ADAPT markets itself as having a "breathable, high-stretch knit cover with superior moisture-wicking technology to help you stay cool and comfortable", but what does this mean to the everyday sleeper? Our reviewer, Paige Cerulli, answers that.
As someone who lives with chronic pain, she noticed it reduced discomfort and eased her pressure points. While many mattress pads seduce you with promises of a buttery sinking-in feeling, this one pledges to support you and reduce motion transfer. Handy if you sleep next to your partner. The topper also has four elastic straps if you or your companion are particularly restless sleepers. It's also helpful to know that this accessory is dust mite and allergen-resistant.
Do look out for special offers and gifts when buying this cooling mattress topper. At the time of checking, TEMPUR had a 20% off promotion, plus a complimentary cloud pillow and sleep mask (worth $118).
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in our TEMPUR-Adapt mattress topper review
The best organic cooling mattress topper
If you're looking for a deep mattress topper that's cooling and organic — then stop your search. Along with your organic mattress (if you have one), this topper will keep you cool all night long. If you have a mattress that's too firm for you, this is a great buy.
Our tester Louise used it on her landlord-provided mattress. She's a side sleeper and usually prefers a firmer base, but she noticed that it made her medium-firm mattress feel a lot softer and fresher.
The blend of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber offers superior breathability (versus solid or shredded memory foam toppers) albeit a little lumpy on the first couple of nights. But once the foam has molded to your body it'll feel like sleeping on a cloud.
Rated 4 out of 5 stars in our Coop Retreat Mattress Topper review
The best value cooling mattress topper
According to our contributing editor, Camryn Rabideau, this gel memory foam mattress topper will make your bed feel as plush as a pillow top and will stop you from overheating.
While she awarded it a silver badge, it certainly split the two-person crowd. As a side sleeper, she felt it provided inadequate support. However, her back-sleeping boyfriend says he had "the best sleep in months". She liked that the Jacquard cover can be removed and machine-washed for easy maintenance. She warns that, unlike toppers with straps, this topper does tend to shift about, taking your best bed sheets along for the ride.
Rated 4 out of 5 stars in our Zinus ultra cool gel mattress topper review
FAQs
What is the difference between a mattress topper and a pad?
A mattress topper is designed to add depth and extra comfort to your mattress, while keeping you cool, whereas a mattress pad is super thin so will only keep you cool without adding an extra layer to your mattress.
Do cooling mattress toppers really cool?
It may initially seem gimmicky, but a good cooling topper uses impressive temperature control technology and naturally breathable materials to create a cool-to-the-touch sleep surface. Most mattress brands that offer toppers will have sleep trials, warranties, and free returns policies to make the most of anyway, so you can try if you're not yet fully convinced.
Are cooling mattress toppers worth it?
A mattress topper is cheaper than investing in a brand-new mattress. But if you're seriously overheating, it's worth saving up for a breathable mattress with temperature regulation and cooling at its core. Do consult your doctor or medical practitioner if you think you have hyperhidrosis.
How we test cooling mattress toppers
Coop Home Retreat Mattress Topper in review
To test mattresses and toppers, our in-house and contributing editors slept on them for at least two weeks and used the following criteria:
| Criterion | Description |
| Material performance | How well does the materials that absorb body heat /moisture and regulate your temperature? Does the material increase breathability? Can it reduce sweating? |
| Support | We monitor motion transfer, spinal alignment, and comfort |
| Fit | We observe topper placement, looking at whether it sits on top of your bed, or is secured with elastic straps |
| Cost | Does this cooling mattress topper provide value for money? How does it compare to others on the market? |
Meet the team:
Louise was previously the ecommerce editor at Real Homes and Homes & Gardens covering all bedding content. She reviewed the Coop Retreat Topper and had slept on it for four months.
Paige Cerulli is one of our contributing editors and tested the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress topper in her home for several weeks. She has a keen interest in equestrianism and lives with chronic back pain.
Alex S is one of our contributing editors at Real Homes and she slept with the Subrtex Memory Foam Mattress Topper for four weeks.
Kaitlin tested all the mattress protectors in our buying guide, including the Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad.
We've got lots of recommendations on what to do to help you sleep in the heat. If you're in need of some serious cooling, renters are turning to this viral portable air conditioner to cool their apartments.
In need of a new mattress? If you are a side sleeper, then opt for a soft-medium mattress, like this Brooklyn Bedding hybrid mattress. If you are a stomach sleeper you want to go for a firm or medium-firm mattress, like this Helix Midnight Luxe mattress.
Looking for a new bed frame too? We love this wooden bed frame from Zinus for a mid-century look. Finish off your bedroom set-up with more of our So Chic Awards winners like this Nolah mattress topper, Panda bamboo pillow, cotton sheets from The Company Store, and Mattress Firm's cloud comforter.