A cooling mattress topper serves as a solution for sleepers who don’t get enough cushioning from their current mattress or who struggle with body heat retention throughout the night. A mattress topper is typically a 2” to 3” layer that can substantially change the feel of your mattress, making it more plush or adding more support for the back and spine. There are thousands of toppers to choose from, many made of foam or latex. Finding a topper that both feels good to your body and mitigates heat buildup is essential for sleepers who struggle with body temperature issues. Below, we share our top picks for the best cooling mattress toppers of 2023.
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Saatva makes one of the best memory foam mattress toppers in terms of keeping you comfortable and cool at the same time. Their latex topper is great for hot sleepers who sleep on their back, and the high-density foam topper is a great solution for stomach sleepers looking for comfortable support.
Leave it to Saatva to deliver yet another wonderful product that does exactly what it sets out to do. Made with soft foam that’s infused with temperature regulating graphite, this topper is our top choice if you’re after a cool night’s sleep.
Reason to Buy: The Saatva Graphite Topper has that traditional memory foam feel without any of the heat retention that can often accompany this feeling. In addition to drawing heat away from your body, the Saatva Graphite Topper also does a good job of relieving pressure in some of the sensitive areas of your body, which can help mitigate or prevent soreness. With your purchase, you’ll get a 180-night sleep trial and a 1-year limited warranty.
Layla's mattress topper features copper gel-infused memory foam to prevent overheating.
A back sleeper needs a sleeping surface that cushions their lower back and keeps their spine aligned by propping their hips and shoulders up just enough. The Layla Mattress Topper accomplishes this while also being nice and breathable.
Reason to Buy: Like the Saatva, the Layla is also infused with cooling graphite. However, where the Saatva is 3-inches thick the Layla is 2-inches thick. It might sound like this topper might be two thin to add comfort, but for back sleepers it’s the perfect construction. The Layla will allow your hips and shoulders to sink in comfortably while still remaining somewhat elevated—exactly what you need to keep your spine properly aligned.
We love the Nolah Mattress Topper for many reasons, but the two things that land it on this list are its cooling capabilities and its wonderful pressure relieving properties. Pressure relief is especially important if you’re prone to pain in your hips or shoulders—two of the more sensitive areas on our bodies to make contact with the mattress.
Reason to Buy: Nolah’s mattress topper is made with the same materials and technology as many of their mattresses are, specifically those with their proprietary AirFoam technology. AirFoam is said to pull heat away from your body at a faster rate than traditional memory foam, then, rather than retain said heat, it dissipates it out.This makes for a much more comfortable sleeping temperature and a consistently cool sleep surface.
An organic mattress topper that's available in two firmness options.
Eco-conscious shoppers will be happy to learn that there are plenty of sleep products that are manufactured with the environment in mind. The Avocado Mattress Topper is one such product, and it also boasts impressive temperature regulating properties.
Reason to Buy: Made with wool, cotton, and latex rubber, the Avocado’s construction earns the organic label while providing plenty of cool comfort. Plus, this topper can be purchased in two different firmnesses: plush and firm. This means that regardless of your body type and preferred sleeping position you should be able to find exactly what you need. If you’re a bit reluctant, have no fear, the Avocado Mattress Topper comes with a 365-night sleep trial.
A high-quality mattress topper that excels in every category.
Read Full ReviewBetween a new mattress and a new mattress topper, the topper is definitely the more affordable option. But even within the topper landscape there’s a wide range of prices. We consider the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper to be one of the best options on the low end of the price spectrum.
Reason to Buy: With affordability often comes beautiful simplicity, as is the case with the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper. All told, it’s just a block of memory foam with a cooling gel infusion. But, don’t let the basic construction fool you—this topper does a wonderful job of contouring to your body’s curves while also keeping you cool throughout the night. All of this at a price of less than $100 for a Queen is a great deal, and a wonderful way to improve your sleep quality on a budget.
Rather than using the foam in its construction, the Helix Plush uses cluster fiber and naturally cooling materials derived from bamboo. The Helix Plush is also quite thin. It measures about 1 and a half inches and slips over the mattress surface much like a fitted sheet would. This type of topper is called a pillow top.
Reason to Buy: This topper is perfect if you want to give your mattress a bit of additional softness without completely augmenting its overall firmness. On top of giving you that bit of plushness that you’re after, the Helix can also help cool you off at night. As we mentioned, it’s made with materials that are naturally breathable and promote temperature regulation. Cool and comfortable—what more can you ask for?
Many people look to purchase a mattress topper as a somewhat affordable way to improve the quality of their mattress. The ViscoSoft Cooling Copper Topper is certainly cheaper than a brand new mattress, but as far as toppers go it is on the pricier side. That said, with the higher price comes luxurious, high-quality comfort.
Reason to Buy: Crafted with copper infused sturdy foam, this 4-inch thick mattress topper can make a huge difference to your sleep surface. The washable cover utilizes phase changing yarns which, along with the copper infusion, help to regulate temperature. The convenient, adjustable straps on the ViscoSoft Cooling Copper Topper make it a breeze to apply, and the mesh that lines the bottom helps keep it from slipping around on your bed as you switch from one sleeping position to another.
When a topper is described as “cooling,” it means that it’s designed to help sleepers maintain a regulated body temperature throughout the night. There are two types of cooling mattress toppers available: passive and active.
Toppers that cool your body passively have constructions that feature cooling technology, such as gel-infused foams, ventilated foams and cooling gel beads or swirls. Some toppers are made with natural materials that are inherently temperature-regulating, like feathers from ducks or geese, wool and natural latex.
Active cooling toppers are somewhat rarer than their simpler passive cooling topper counterparts. These types of toppers can include attachments like fans and water pumps that can help sleepers stay cool. They are often customizable and usually more expensive. Sometimes they feature components to keep beds warmer during particularly cold months.
Here’s a list of important shopping considerations to keep in mind when purchasing a cooling mattress topper:
Cleaning Instructions: Just like your mattress, toppers and pads can harbor dust mites, bed bugs and more if not kept clean. If you don’t want to replace your topper every six to 12 months, look for a product that’s machine-washable.
Thickness: The thickness you select should be influenced by three factors: your sleeping position, whether you sleep with a partner, and how much you want to change the feel of your mattress. Side sleepers, for example, will most likely need a thicker topper, as will couples who want to minimize motion transfer.
Density: High-density toppers tend to have more support and may last longer than low-density toppers.
Material: Toppers come in a wide variety of materials, ranging from foam to natural latex, fiberfill and down alternative. Select a material that is known for its abilities to mitigate heat buildup.
Whether you have a naturally high body temperature, or you don’t have A/C, these are a few additional ways to stay cool at night:
For people who sleep hot, selecting the right cooling mattress topper comes down to two things: comfort and effectiveness. All of the options we included in this list should succeed at both, but the best mattress topper for you will depend on your budget, sleeping position, personal needs and how hot you tend to sleep. If you struggle nightly with overheating, the Viscosoft Cooling Copper Topper will probably be your best bet. If you’re just looking for a topper that will keep you cool while camping during the summer, the Beautyrest topper could fit the bill. There’s something for everyone on this list, from value shoppers searching for a deal to hot sleepers looking to cool down. We recommend considering your key priorities and reviewing our recommendations before setting out to make your topper purchase.
