According to a 2017 study, otherwise healthy individuals are put at higher risk of high blood pressure, weight gain, and metabolic issues1 if their sleep is interrupted regularly. Instead of obsessing over the temperature in your room, you might want to take a closer look at your mattress. The best cooling mattresses promote proper airflow in and around your bed so you can sleep comfortably through the night. We spoke with Seema Bonney, doctor, sleep expert, and founder and medical director of The Anti-Aging and Longevity Center of Philadelphia, to learn more about who should use a cooling mattress and how to pick the right one. Below, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best cooling mattresses of 2023. If you suffer from night sweats, a cooling mattress can provide a more comfortable sleeping situation. Bonney agrees, adding, “These have also been helpful to my perimenopausal and menopausal patients who experience changes in temperature due to hormonal flux.” Experts actually recommend turning the thermostat all the way down to 65 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit in the evenings, to be more in line with the core body temperature2 and promote more restorative sleep. Many brands make cooling mattresses, so there are options for every lifestyle, budget, and preference. While mindbodygreen always prioritizes natural and organic materials, cooling mattresses do tend to be made with foams and synthetic materials that are not the most sustainable. This is something to keep in mind when considering a mattress with cooling properties. Materials There are a variety of materials and features a mattress can possess that’ll help regulate your temperature as you sleep, but some are more effective than others. You’ll want to find a mattress with good ventilation that prevents hot air from getting trapped near your body. Some mattresses use cooling technology to absorb heat, such as copper-infused foam or activated charcoal. “The best cooling mattresses will use materials like copper and graphite and gel-infused memory foam—which help to wick away moisture and improve breathability,” Bonney confirms. “Cooling mattresses have a temperature-regulating surface that keeps the cover cool to the touch by dissipating your body heat.” Trial period and warranty A mattress is a big investment, so it’s helpful to sleep on your new mattress for several nights before making a commitment. After all, your body may need a few days to adjust to your mattress. In your search, consider the brand’s trial period. Similarly, a warranty provides peace of mind that your mattress will remain in good condition for many years to come. Many of the best cooling mattresses have at least a 10-year warranty that protects against unnatural indentations and manufacturer defects. When it comes to sustainability, this brand gets it right. The materials have a slew of certifications, including the Rainforest Alliance, Greenguard Gold, and the Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®. What’s more, the brand plants 10 trees for every mattress sold. The mattress arrives compressed and rolled in a box. Four sewn-in handles make setup easy, but you’ll still want an extra set of hands. With over 1,000 reviews on the brand’s website, this mattress gets a ton of positive feedback. Customers mention relief from persistent back pain and how cool the mattress sleeps. One writes, “No more morning back discomfort. Very soft, but firm enough for a side sleeper and any other position my wife ends up sleeping in.” While memory foam is not a sustainable choice, these foams do meet CertiPUR-US standards for content, emissions, and durability. This means there’s no heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, or ozone depleters. Most notably, this mattress has a copper cooling layer on top that responds to temperature changes on its surface, wicking heat away from your body and keeping you cozy. This mattress is shipped in a box after being compressed and rolled up. The mattress takes up to 72 hours to expand. According to the brand, you’ll be able to sleep on it right away. And if you’d rather not hassle with a bulky mattress, the brand offers premium white-glove delivery for $149 (with an additional state fee in California, Rhode Island, and Connecticut). It gets great reviews from sleepers with back pain and people over 65 who prefer support over plushness. One five-star reviewer with a history of low back pain, hip pain, and frequent wake ups writes, “This is not happening on the Nectar…There are mornings [when] I wake in the same position as when I went to sleep. I’m always overjoyed when that happens!” Some reviewers do find it to be a bit too firm. If you prefer the sink-in feeling, this might not be the one for you. Even better, you can choose between a plush, medium, and firm design. Lastly, the breathable cover is made from Tencel lyocell, a naturally-occurring fiber harvested from eucalyptus trees. Like other bed-in-a-box options, this one arrives compressed in a vacuum-sealed bag and placed inside a cardboard box. The box weighs over 46 pounds, and since the manufacturer doesn’t offer white glove delivery to set up your new mattress, we recommend enlisting a friend for help. You’ll likely notice a strong initial odor when unboxing your new mattress due to its polyfoam and memory foam contents, but rest assured the materials are CertiPUR-US-certified. Some people point out that the queen size is actually an inch smaller length- and width-wise, compared to a standard queen mattress. Keep this in mind as you are shopping, since bedding may fit a little looser on this model. Whether you like to sleep on a plush and pillowy mattress or you prefer something with a bit more structure, you’ll likely enjoy this pick. What’s more, this mattress is flippable, with different firmness levels on each side. Opt to use the plush, cushiony side (which the brand rates at a 4 out of 10), or turn it over for a firmer, more supportive sleep (7 out of 10). You’ll receive this mattress compressed and rolled up in a large cardboard box. Since the company does not offer white glove delivery, you’ll need to unbox it and open the vacuum seal to let your mattress expand before using. According to the brand, it could take up to 24 hours for the mattress to fully expand, but you can sleep on it in a matter of minutes and it won’t impact expansion. Some users reported that their Layla mattress had a very powerful scent that took days to dissipate. The mattress is CertiPUR-US certified, so there’s no harmful chemicals involved, but note that you may want to allow some time for it to air out. There are more than 7,000 reviews on the brand’s website for this cooling mattress. A wide variety of shoppers love their Layla mattress, including couples, side sleepers, people with back pain, and more. We’ve even recommended it for people with scoliosis. One such shopper writes, “My husband has chronic pain from a host of injuries and I have mild scoliosis, and still we can both sleep without pain so this is wonderful for us." On the con side, memory foam can make it a little tough to change positions, as some combination sleepers note.” Unlike other mattresses on this list, this mattress is perforated throughout, improving the breathability and allowing heat to escape (rather than getting trapped near your body). The graphite-infused bands just below the surface are also designed to absorb heat and regulate your temperature overnight. Plus, it’s made of up to 121 recycled water bottles, and the foams are CertiPUR-US certified. This mattress is vacuum-sealed in plastic for delivery and will ship directly to your doorstep in a large cardboard box. It’s quite heavy, so plan to have an extra person on hand to help you carry it. Once unwrapped, the mattress should fully expand in just a few minutes. If you’d prefer not to carry and set up a bulky mattress yourself, the brand offers in-home delivery and setup for $199. There are only about 70 reviews for this mattress on the brand’s website, but they are overwhelmingly positive. Most shoppers say they are pleased with the effective cooling properties and supportive design. One even calls it “by far the coolest and most comfortable mattress we’ve had.” If you choose to connect your mattress to the brand’s app, you’ll be able to dive deeper into the settings right from your phone. This includes an anti-snore setting, firmness levels, and detailed sleep scores. The mattress can be set to automatically adjust itself in the night if it detects tossing and turning. You won’t have to lift a finger to get this mattress installed and ready to go in your home. The brand’s home delivery technicians carry it into your house, assemble the mattress, and even help you set up your SleepIQ account within the connected app. Plus, they’ll remove your old mattress and place it in another room or recycle it for you. This premium delivery service costs $249 and is required for all Sleep Number 360 mattresses and smart beds. Like most mattresses, this adjustable bed will likely have an off-gassing scent for a few days, which will dissipate over time. You can help speed up the process by giving the mattress time to air out in a room with good ventilation. With an astounding 49,000 ratings and an average of 4.8 stars, this mattress has plenty of testimonials to vouch for its quality. Though it’s admittedly pricey, shoppers compare it to “sleeping on a cloud,” raving about the individual adjustable sides. “My wife and I got the sleep number a few months ago..I sleep softer and she sleeps firmer,” one of the many five-star reviewers writes. “We can finally sleep comfortably but also still be close together! The features that come with the bed just add to the amazement.” Opt for a plush or luxury firm design, depending on your sleeping position and preferences. Each topper has handy elastic at each corner that makes it super easy to install on top of your existing bed without it sliding around in the night. The mattress topper ships for free and will arrive at your doorstep in a tightly-sealed bag inside a cardboard box. Thankfully, it’s much lighter than a mattress in a box. It’s easy to transport inside your house and into the correct room, and most customers report no off-gassing odors. Based on reviews, shoppers love their Nolah mattress topper. Many describe it as pressure-relieving and sturdy, while others praise the way it upgraded their existing mattress. “I debated and debated [about purchasing] the Plush topper and I love it,” one customer writes. “With bone on bone arthritis in both knees and occasional hip issues, it is perfect for me. I couldn’t afford a new mattress and needed one badly, but this topper did the job! Easy shopping experience and fast delivery, too.” The foams are CertiPUR-US certified and the mattress is Certified Clean Air Gold. This mattress arrives at your doorstep in a vacuum-sealed, waterproof plastic bag. Its convenient carrying handles make it less challenging to lift and maneuver, though you’ll still probably need two people to carry it up any flights of stairs. Once you have it in your bedroom, unzip the plastic case and use the included cutting tool to rip open the two plastic layers and free your mattress. While less bulky than a box, this is a lot more plastic than we’d prefer. There are more than 1,300 five-star reviews for this mattress on the brand’s website, many of which are from side sleepers who are surprised by how comfortable-yet-supportive it is. One writes, “We thought the bed would be too soft but it is really comfortable. The grid comforts our hips & shoulders while keeping our spines aligned. I thought this was just hype but it’s not.” “If the mattress becomes saggy or starts to give you poor sleep or back pain, [it’s probably time to replace your mattress,” Bonney says. “Even with a mattress protector, it is difficult to keep a mattress clean, so if you have any issues with allergies, the mattress is one of the places to look and potentially replace. Mattresses has been shown to carry some of the highest concentrations of dust mites.”
