8 Best Cooling Mattress Pads and Toppers for the Most Restful Sleep
For hot sleepers, a cooling mattress can be a game-changer. But buying a new mattress is an expensive purchase and there’s no reason to change one you like when you can opt for a cooling mattress pad or cooling mattress topper instead.
“A cooling mattress pad or topper is a great way to cool down the bed and help you sleep better all year round,” says sleep expert Smita Patel, DO. “It’s especially helpful for those who experience hot flashes or have to throw off even lightweight comforters in the middle of the night because they get too warm.” A cooling mattress pad or topper can be combined with cooling blankets, cooling pillows, and cooling sheets, and for those who like to sleep with weighted blankets, there are also cooling weighted blankets that provide the same deep touch pressure benefits without the heat.
So, what’s the difference between a mattress pad and a mattress topper anyway? Well, a mattress pad protects your mattress and provides another soft layer for your comfort, while a mattress topper goes even further, adding more cushioning and plushness. Cooling mattress pads and toppers are usually made of breathable fabrics like cotton and bamboo, and often use technology like Outlast, which was originally developed for NASA and which absorbs, stores, and releases excess heat; or 37.5®, which helps keep your body at the ideal core temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius.
How we chose the best cooling mattress pads and cooling mattress toppers
We know that the most comfortable way to sleep is really a matter of personal preference, so, after researching what the experts have to say about the science of cooling products, we went straight for the reviews. We looked for products that have hundreds of five-star reviews and whose users praised them for helping them sleep better. Based on all of that, here are our choices for the best cooling mattress pads and cooling mattress toppers.
Best overall cooling mattress pad: Slumber Cloud Core Mattress Pad
Featuring two layers of Outlast technology with the top layer providing even more temperature regulation, this mattress pad gets rave reviews from hot sleepers who praise both its cooling abilities and comfort level. Five-star reviewer Julie P writes, “This really works! I have been suffering from night sweats and sleepless nights for about a year. … This mattress pad has made a huge difference.” Cecelia M agrees, admitting, “I no longer sweat through my sheets!”
Why we love it:
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100–Certified
60-night trial period
Machine washable
Best value cooling mattress topper: LEISURE TOWN Cooling Mattress Topper
With more than 21,290 five-star reviews, this value-priced cooling mattress topper is a steal. “BEST decision ever,” writes verified buyer Alison, raving, “This adds comfort but it also keeps my body at a comfortable temperature. So much that I don’t even feel the need to use my A/C most nights. We love this mattress cover! Look no further if you want a cooling mattress cover!!!!” With a 100% cotton top and down-alternative fill, it features HNN Cooling Technology to increase airflow. Stacie Vigiard says it’s “perfect,” adding, “I am of the age where I ‘sleep hot.’ I was losing precious sleep due to night sweats. I had tried several other toppers with the hope that it would provide some cooling relief. THIS topper did the trick. Not only did it make my mattress even MORE cozy, it is considerably cooler to sleep on.”
Why we love it:
Machine washable
Deep pocket to fit mattresses up to 21 inches thick
Best temperature-regulating cooling mattress pad: Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad
Bamboo is a naturally breathable fiber and Cozy Earth—one of Oprah’s favorite things—has used it to create this super soft mattress pad designed for hot sleepers and humid climates. Lightweight and temperature-regulating, it keeps you feeling great anywhere, any time of year. Verified buyer Nancy S. gives it five stars, calling it the “best mattress pad I ever had. [It] stays nice and cool and (so far) doesn’t seem to wrinkle.” Mimie T agrees, writing, “Sleep is cooler now that I have this soft Bamboo Mattress pad over my mattress.”
Why we love it:
Machine washable
100-night sleep trial
Ten-year warranty
Best eco-friendly cooling mattress pad: Buffy Plushy Mattress Protector
This sustainably sourced mattress pad is soft and silky and is made from lyocell fiber to keep you cool and dry all night. Every detail is about protecting the planet as well as your mattress, and it’s so plush and comfortable that it could really be called a topper—especially since users swear it’s tops in its category. “I’d give this thing ten out of five stars if I could. It’s that worth it,” writes user Marilee Z, and Teresa P says it “changed my world.”
Why we love it:
Filled with layers of recycled fiber made from plastic bottles
Seven-night free trial
Best memory foam cooling mattress topper: Layla Memory Foam Topper
Layla is already well-loved for their cooling mattress, which they’ve now topped with this copper gel–infused memory foam pad that adds two cushy inches of cool comfort. It’s got hundreds of five-star reviews like this one from verified buyer Charlie G, who raves, “Excellent. Cooling feature is real.” Tish S. says, “Very comfortable. Cooler than other toppers I have tried.”
Why we love it:
Copper gel has natural antimicrobial properties
120-night money back guarantee
Five-year warranty
Best down alternative cooling mattress pad: Brooklinen Down Alternative Mattress Pad
Brooklinen’s down alternative mattress pad adds a layer of luxury, softness, and comfort to your bed—without the heat. A 100% cotton shell covers a silky microgel fill that’s distributed evenly thanks to its plush, tufted construction. Five star reviewer Laura C writes, “I live in Florida and couldn’t figure out why I was sleeping so hot after buying special bedding and blankets, but changing to this mattress topper has helped a lot. I am sleeping much cooler than before.” Drew Y raves, “I feel like I’m laying in a bed at a 5 star hotel!”
Why we love it:
It has a waterproof barrier at the bottom
Machine washable
365 day return/exchange policy
Best waterproof cooling mattress pad: Pottery Barn SleepSmart™ 37.5® Technology Temperature Regulating Waterproof Mattress Protector
Knowing there’s a waterproof pad protecting your mattress can relieve any worries when you’re enjoying a cold drink in bed, and this one will make sure you both stay dry all night. Pottery Barn’s new and exclusive SleepSmart bedding features 37.5® technology to evaporate excess heat and humidity when you’re warm and keep you from sweating. The 300 thread count cover feels luxurious and the waterproof lining does its job softly and quietly.
Why we love it:
Machine wash and dry
Can be paired with the rest of the SleepSmart collection
Best smart cooling mattress pad: ChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System
This high-tech cooling option is definitely a splurge, but for those who sleep hot, it’s worth every penny. Hydro-powered—yes, there’s actual water flowing through tubes in the mattress pad—and simple to attach to your mattress, it has the ability to go from 55 to 115 degrees so you can literally customize the pad to your ideal temperature one degree at a time. “I’m blown away,” says verified buyer Lewis H. “I live in Texas and even with my AC cranked down to 67 F in the summer, I still wake up hot in the middle of the night. My options were to either spend an arm and a leg on my electric bill to keep my AC at 65 F or buy an OOLER to stay cool and get better sleep during the summer. I should have purchased one years ago.”
Why we love it:
30-day sleep trial
Two-year warranty
Can be controlled through an app on your smartphone
Source:
Dr. Smita Patel, DO, FAASM, Founder and Medical Director, iNeuro Institute
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