If you find yourself sleeping hot or sweating in bed, a cooling mattress topper may be an effective, affordable way to alleviate the problem. Cooling mattress toppers are placed on top of your existing mattress and help regulate body temperature with breathable materials or cooling features.
Below, we’ll share our picks for the best cooling mattress toppers. We’ll also explain the different types of cooling mattress toppers, including how their materials work and what factors to consider to find the right one for your bed.
Most of the side and back sleepers on our team loved how the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper hugged the body closely while drawing heat away with its graphite-infused memory foam. They also noted how its organic cotton cover adds extra softness and breathability.
Graphite infusion is designed to limit heat buildup
180-night sleep trial
Cons
May not offer enough support for stomach sleepers over 130 pounds
Fairly pricey
The Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper has a 3-inch profile with a medium soft (4) feel. Its top layer consists of 1 inch of memory foam that contours the body and is infused with graphite designed to prevent overheating. Beneath that, 2 inches of traditional memory foam add support and contouring.
The top layer of graphite-infused memory foam contours closely to the body to give plenty of cushioning and pressure relief. Our side and back sleepers under 230 pounds gave it the highest overall comfort ratings. Stomach sleepers over 130 pounds were less impressed, noting that they didn’t feel properly supported around the midsection.
This topper’s design balances contouring and support to accommodate a variety of sleep preferences. Sturdy straps attach to your existing mattress and prevent the topper from moving out of its proper position.
While the price point is higher than many toppers, it’s competitively priced for a luxury pick. Saatva is well regarded for the quality of its products and offers a lengthy 180-night sleep trial to try this topper out at home.
With an adjustable temperature range of 55 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the Orion Sleep System is equally suited to hot sleepers and people who run cold in bed. Sensors embedded in the topper also track various health metrics to evaluate your sleep quality and provide personalized tips for improvement.
MaterialPadding material embedded with biometric sensors and microtubes
FirmnessMedium (5)
Price$1,995
CoolingActive heating/cooling controls
Pros
Wide temperate range to heat or cool your sleep surface
Dual-control settings for couples with different preferences
Built-in sensors track sleep activity for comprehensive daily reports
Cons
Expensive pricing and relatively short trial
System produces some noise that may disrupt light or restless sleepers
The Orion Sleep System showcases cutting-edge thermoregulation and sleep tracking technology.
A network of water tubes attached to a central hub allows you to adjust your side of the bed to any temperature between 55 and 155 degrees, and your sleep partner can do the same on their side with different heating or cooling settings. This versatility ensures virtually any sleeper can find a surface temperature that feels comfortable.
Smart sensors embedded in the topper also track your heart rate, breathing, and other sleep metrics. The sticker price may be steep, but the Orion Sleep System delivers some of the most advanced sleep technology on the market today.
The Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper offers a plush, adaptive surface that can alleviate all types of upper and lower back pain. Two firmness levels are available, both designed with soft foams and minicoil layers to create a balance of comfort and support.
MaterialAdaptive foam, minicoils, base foam
FirmnessMedium (5), Medium Firm (6)
Price$465
CoolingCool-to-the-touch cover
Pros
Sophisticated three-layer design feels luxuriously plush and adaptive
Thick profile ensures a significant comfort adjustment for any mattress
Thick corner straps secure the topper to prevent shifting
Cons
Expensive pricing compared to the competition
May feel too soft and sink excessively for sleepers over 230 pounds
Finding a mattress topper that sleeps cool and feels plush can be tricky — the closer a topper contours, the more likely it is to absorb and trap body heat. Helix's GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper bucks this trend with a soft, adaptive design that cradles your body while actively drawing heat away from the sleep surface. The GlacioTex cover is engineered to feel cool to the touch at all times, while a minicoil layer promotes steady airflow throughout the topper's interior.
Two firmness levels are available, medium (5) or medium firm (6). Both offer a balance of even conforming around your body and gentle pushback to keep you on an even plane, but the latter feels more supportive and is better suited to people who don't want to seek too deeply. Thanks to these two options, our testing team found that the topper is suitable for a wide range of sleep positions and body weights. That said, back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds may find both designs too plush.
A three-layer design and impressive 3.75-inch height set this topper apart from other models on the market, most of which are thinner and designed with a single layer. Plush polyfoam contours to your body as soon as you get into bed, while transitional minicoils provide some light pushback and a high-density foam base stabilizes the design. Given the thick profile, this topper makes your mattress feel much softer than before — even if the surface is riddled with indentations and body impressions.
Thick elastic straps at each corner secures the topper to your mattress to prevent shifting or bunching when you change sleep positions. The cover is not removable, so you'll need to spot clean the fabric if stains or smudges occur. Six sizes are available, each of which corresponds with a standard mattress size.
Although its sticker price is relatively high, the Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper delivers much more cushioning compared to the average competing model. Standard shipping is free for customers in the contiguous U.S., and each order includes a 120-night sleep trial. Helix also backs the topper with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty.
We found that the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper provides an excellent balance of support and pressure relief for most sleepers. Thanks to its copper-infused foams and breathable cover, it resisted heat buildup and allowed our testers to rest comfortably.
Infused memory foam is designed to draw on copper’s natural cooling properties
Provides a good combination of pressure relief and support
Adjustable elastic straps hold the topper in place
Cons
Stomach sleepers over 230 pounds may need a firmer topper
Lack of bounce limits ease of movement
The ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper is a 4-inch topper with a medium (5) firmness level. With 2 inches of copper-infused memory foam atop 2 inches of copper-infused polyfoam, it offers the contouring and motion isolation of foam while employing copper’s cooling properties to reduce heat retention.
During testing, side and back sleepers found that the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper contoured comfortably to their bodies while offering ample support. Stomach sleepers under 230 pounds also gave the topper solid comfort ratings, but those weighing more than that experienced some sinkage and lack of spinal support.
The copper infusions and breathable mesh cover are designed to mitigate foam’s tendency to trap heat, making this topper a good option for hot sleepers who want the benefits of foam. However, it may still retain more heat than a topper made from a more breathable material like latex.
Our testers also found that the topper’s generous 4-inch profile is excellent at isolating motion and muting sound, making it a good choice for couples.
The ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper is a versatile mattress topper with a competitive price point. It offers solid temperature regulation, and most types of sleepers found it comfortable during our tests. Its top layer of memory foam cradles the body to provide targeted pressure relief, and the 2-inch layer of polyfoam provides support to aid spinal alignment.
Copper infused throughout the foam is designed to absorb and distribute body heat. The polyester mesh cover further promotes airflow and is machine-washable. For people concerned about durability, ViscoSoft includes a five-year limited warranty that covers manufacturing defects.
Even our hottest sleepers found the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper’s combination of latex, wool, and cotton to be exceptionally breathable. While it received solid scores across the board for its blend of cushioning and support, it was particularly well received by side sleepers.
MaterialTalalay latex
FirmnessMedium (5)
Price$426
CoolingLatex, wool, and cotton layers
Pros
Talalay latex resists heat buildup and facilitates cooling
Delivers pressure relief without the sinking feeling of memory foam
Made with durable, eco-friendly materials
Cons
Doesn’t isolate motion as well as competing memory foam toppers
Higher price-point than most other mattress toppers
The Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper is a latex model with a medium (5) firmness level. All its materials, including latex, wool, and cotton, resist heat retention to promote cooler sleep. The latex also provides a compelling balance of pressure relief and bounce.
The Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper offers significant pressure relief, especially in areas where side sleepers need it, including the shoulders and hips. However, the surface is more responsive than memory foam and does not tightly hug the body, making it easier to move on the topper.
The Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper is suitable for most side sleepers thanks to its mix of bounce and contouring. All of its materials are natural, and the company focuses on sustainable production, making this a good choice for eco-conscious shoppers. In addition, its latex is robust and durable, which helps to make up for the higher price point. Birch offers a lengthy 10-year limited warranty as well as a 100-night sleep trial.
Brooklyn Bedding’s Microcoil Mattress Topper uses an unconventional design to deliver excellent cushioning and pressure relief. Triple-layer construction and a thick 3.5-inch profile ensure your mattress will feel significantly different with the topper in place.
Thick profile significantly improves your sleep surface’s comfort level
Foam-over-coil construction alleviates pressure without too much sink
GlacioTex cover is engineered to feel cool at all times
Cons
High potential for harsh initial off-gassing
Expensive pricing for a topper
A worn, uneven sleep surface can lead to increased pressure buildup in the shoulders, lower back, and hips. If your mattress is on its last leg but you aren’t ready to buy a replacement, the Brooklyn Bedding Microcoil Mattress Topper can help you sleep comfortably in the meantime. Three individual layers and a plush, adaptive feel ensure you’ll wake up without soreness or stiffness in your most sensitive areas, but the microcoil layer also helps to maintain an even surface for your body.
The topper features a top layer of adaptive foam, a microcoil middle layer, and a dense foam base. These three materials create a balanced dynamic. You’ll enjoy deep cushioning on the surface, minimal sinkage beneath your midsection, and sturdy overall support. The microcoils also create some responsiveness, resulting in a light bounce when you get into bed — this helps you move across the surface without feeling stuck.
Another notable component is the cover made of GlacioTex fabric. This material is engineered to dissipate heat on contact and feel cool to the touch at all times. Measuring 3.5 inches thick, the topper has a very high profile compared to competing models on the market today. There are no straps or other fixtures for securing the topper to your mattress, so tucking it beneath a fitted sheet is recommended.
The Microcoil Mattress Topper was a big hit among our testing team, with especially high marks from side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds, and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. We were impressed with the balance of cushioning, support, and bounce, which can be attributed to the combination of an adaptive foam surface and underlying coils. Temperature control proved to be another standout quality thanks to steady air circulation throughout the interior and the cooling cover.
Although the Microcoil Mattress Topper is fairly expensive, it may prove a solid investment if you’re losing sleep due to pressure buildup. Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. and includes a 30-night trial for testing the topper in your own home. If you decide to keep it, you’ll also receive a manufacturer’s warranty covering workmanship defects for up to three years.
Why You Should Trust Us
To make it onto our list of the best cooling mattress toppers, a model has to ace our temperature regulation tests. In our Seattle sleep lab, testers of every sleeping position and weight group try all of the toppers out personally, testing for performance factors including motion isolation, pressure relief, and durability.
To measure temperature regulation, we use thermal imaging that shows us how much body heat body a model retains. The hot sleepers on our team also try cooling toppers out to see if they live up to their claims.
Video: The Best Mattress Toppers of 2026
What Is a Cooling Mattress Topper?
A cooling mattress topper serves as an additional layer placed on top of a mattress that's intended to enhance comfort and temperature regulation during sleep.
Regular mattress toppers can help change the feel of a mattress by making it softer or firmer. They can also be an affordable way to extend the life of a mattress by providing it with a fresh top layer.
A cooling mattress topper goes a step further by using materials that are engineered to help resist heat buildup or disperse body heat so that sleepers are less prone to overheating.
Cooling Mattress Toppers vs. Cooling Mattress Pads
While many people use the terms mattress pad and mattress topper interchangeably, there are significant differences between the two.
Mattress pads are thin pieces of material placed on top of a mattress to protect it from spills, dust, and allergens. While they can make a bed feel slightly softer or firmer, they don’t substantially change the firmness level of a mattress.
Mattress toppers are usually several inches thick and can considerably change the feel and firmness of a mattress. A topper may also contribute to a mattress’ durability by compensating for sagging or indentations.
Cooling Mattress Topper
Cooling Mattress Pad
Ideal For
Hot sleepers who want to adjust the firmness, enhance the performance, or extend the lifespan of their current mattress
Hot sleepers who like the firmness and support of their mattress but want to sleep cooler
Average Thickness
2″ to 4″
Less than 2″
Differences
Offers significant changes to the firmness and feel of your bed
Gives the mattress a notably taller profile
May be waterproof and stain-resistant
Does not drastically change the feel of your bed
Average Price Range
$150 to $400
$20 to $300
How Does a Cooling Mattress Topper Work?
Cooling mattress toppers are designed to reduce heat buildup around your body while you sleep. Some accomplish this by using breathable materials that allow heat and moisture to escape, while others incorporate materials designed to absorb or draw heat away from the body.
Common materials and technologies used in cooling mattress toppers include:
Memory Foam
Memory foam is known for its ability to conform to the body and offer cushioning around pressure-prone areas. However, this conforming can limit airflow and allow body heat to collect. As a result, cooling mattress toppers with memory foam employ multiple approaches to reduce heat retention.
Infused memory foam: Manufacturers often infuse the foam with materials that pull heat away from the body or allow more airflow so that heat can dissipate. Common materials that are infused into toppers include copper, graphite, and cooling gels.
Open-cell memory foam: This type of foam is constructed with tiny air pockets that allow ventilation and airflow within the foam. Thanks to this structure, the heat normally trapped by memory foam is more capable of being dispersed and may result in a cooler sleep surface.
Latex
Latex is popular for mattress toppers because it offers a nice balance of bounce, support, and pressure relief. Compared with memory foam, latex doesn't have as much tendency to retain heat. It also doesn’t hug the body as closely. Latex can also have an open-cell structure to permit airflow through the material.
Natural latex is harvested from rubber trees, while synthetic latex is made from petrochemicals. Natural latex is more commonly used in mattress toppers and is often sustainably produced, but it's usually more expensive than synthetic latex.
Other Materials
Wool: Wool is naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, which can help regulate temperature and keep the sleep surface more comfortable.
Cotton: Lightweight, breathable cotton allows air to circulate and can wick moisture away from the body.
Bamboo-derived fabrics: Fabrics made from bamboo-derived fibers, such as rayon or viscose, are often used in topper covers because they are breathable and moisture-wicking.
Phase change materials: These materials are engineered to absorb, store, and release heat in response to changes in temperature, helping regulate the temperature of the sleep surface.
Climate Control Technology
Some mattresses use special technology to control the temperature of the sleep surface throughout the night. These toppers usually have internal channels for air or water. An attached device tracks temperature levels and can pump hotter or cooler air or water through those channels to adjust the bed’s temperature. A compatible smartphone app is often recommended to set the desired temperature.
Many of these advanced toppers offer the ability to set each side of the bed to a different temperature. While these products can significantly reduce overheating, they are normally much more expensive than traditional mattress toppers.
While cooling mattress topper materials are certainly an important factor, don’t forget about body-contouring and compression. If you’re sinking into a topper, you’re not going to have much room around your body for air to move around.
How to Pick the Right Cooling Mattress Topper for You
The best cooling mattress topper for you depends on a number of factors, including your weight, sleeping position, and personal sleep preferences.
Cooling materials: Some mattress toppers use naturally cooler materials like latex, while others infuse memory foam or polyfoam with a cooling agent such as gel, graphite, or copper.
Firmness: The ideal firmness of a mattress topper usually depends on the sleeper’s personal preferences, sleeping position, and weight. Stomach and back sleepers usually need a firmer mattress topper than side sleepers. People who weigh over 230 pounds normally get better support from toppers that are at least medium firm.
Support: A mattress topper should provide ample support to promote spinal alignment. Support needs vary from sleeper to sleeper according to weight and sleeping position.
Pressure relief: This refers to how well the mattress topper cushions sleepers to relieve tension and impact. Generally, the more evenly the topper conforms to the body, the more effective the pressure relief.
Thickness: Since a mattress topper adds height to a mattress, it’s important to consider whether it could make a mattress too thick for a standard fitted sheet. Thicker toppers are not always better, since a topper’s firmness and performance often depends more on its materials than its thickness.
Motion isolation: Couples or those who sleep with pets may want to prioritize motion isolation so that movement on another part of the mattress doesn’t wake them during the night. Mattress toppers, especially ones made with memory foam, tend to offer the best motion isolation.
Durability: A topper’s durability varies based on the materials and quality of construction. On average, foam toppers last three to five years, while latex toppers often last longer.
Cost: Cooling mattress toppers span a wide price range, from under $100 to well over $1,000. Most shoppers can find a quality topper that meets their needs in the range of $200 to $500.
How Firm or Soft Should a Cooling Mattress Topper Be?
Mattress toppers can make a bed feel softer or firmer. Ideally, a bed should be soft enough to cushion the body, but it should not sag excessively. Finding the right balance in a mattress and topper can promote healthy spinal alignment.
Optimal firmness depends largely on a person’s sleeping position and weight. To avoid sinking too deeply into a mattress, people with a higher body weight generally need a firmer sleeping surface.
Sleep Position
Description
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers generally prefer a softer bed with more significant contouring that can cushion the hips and shoulders. Most side sleepers over 230 pounds fare best with at least a medium (5) firmness level to prevent sinkage that can cause heat retention and back pain.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers under 130 pounds often find a nice mix of back support and cushioning from medium soft (4) mattress toppers, but those who weigh more may want to consider a topper ranging from medium (5) to firm (7-8) that can resist sagging around the midsection.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers generally need a firmer bed that prevents the abdomen from sinking and pulling the spine out of alignment. In most cases, this means a topper between medium (5) and firm (7-8) depending on body weight and comfort preferences.
Just like mattresses, toppers have firmness levels that we rank on a scale from 1 to 10. Getting the right firmness level for your body weight and sleeping position can enhance your overall comfort and support.
Do Cooling Mattress Toppers Really Work?
Cooling mattress toppers can be effective at dispersing body heat so that it doesn’t collect around the body. However, a topper’s performance depends on its materials, design, and temperature regulation features.
Materials like latex, which can resist heat buildup, tend to work best for cooler sleep. Memory foam can be engineered to reduce heat retention, but if it closely hugs and wraps around the body, some heat will inevitably become trapped. Many cooling mattress toppers come with sleep trial periods so that you can test them out and return them if you aren’t satisfied.
Can Cooling Mattress Toppers Help With Night Sweats?
Cooling mattress toppers may help alleviate night sweats by helping to regulate body temperature throughout the night. If a topper enables better airflow around the skin, it can support the body’s ability to cool itself down.
That said, night sweats have many potential causes, some of which may persist even when using a cooling mattress topper. People with severe night sweats should consult their doctor about the most appropriate way to get relief.
What Else Can You Do to Stay Cool at Night?
While cooling mattress toppers are one useful way to avoid sleeping hot, there are other steps you can take to stay cool while you sleep.
Try a mattress with better temperature regulation: In general, innerspring, hybrid, and latex mattresses are less likely to sleep hot than standard foam mattresses. If you’re still sleeping hot after purchasing a cooling mattress topper, it might be time to consider a cooling mattress.
Use pillows and bedding made from breathable fabrics: Pillows and bedding can trap heat, so it’s important to use breathable sheets and cooling pillows that maintain a comfortable temperature while you sleep.
Keep your room cool: Take steps to make sure your sleep environment is at the optimal temperature for sleep. This may involve using air conditioning or fans, opening windows to facilitate ventilation at night, or remembering to keep blinds closed during the heat of the day in the summer.
Garen is a health and lifestyle content creator. She realized the importance of sleep when her children made getting a good night's rest more challenging. Garen is always learning something new about the wide world of sleep and sleep products. Married with two girls, ages 7 and 11, she is a book nerd and a lover of pop music, travel, and the Pacific Northwest.
