#1
9.2/10
9.9
Cooling
9
Comfort
8
Value
$2795$3295
Updated May 2026
Best Cooling Mattresses
Hot sleepers, rejoice. We've tested 50+ mattresses with thermal sensors to find the ones that actually sleep cool — not just claim to.
Key Lab Findings
- 2.4°F
- Average surface temp drop for top cooling picks vs. category average
- Source: FLIR thermal imaging, Sleep Sage lab 2025
- 38%
- Reduction in heat-related nocturnal awakenings on cooling mattresses
- Source: Journal of Sleep Research, 2022 (n=156)
- 65–68°F
- Optimal bedroom temperature for sleep onset and quality
- Source: AASM thermoneutral sleep guidelines, 2023
- 9.2/10
- Top cooling-performance score in Sleep Sage 8-hour thermal test
- Source: Encinitas lab, 2025
What Makes a Mattress Cool?
Phase-Change Materials
Covers with PCM actively absorb and release heat to maintain ideal surface temperature
Most effective cooling techGel-Infused Foam
Gel beads draw heat away from the body and disperse it throughout the mattress
Passive heat dissipationCoil Airflow
Innerspring and hybrid designs allow air to circulate through the mattress core
Natural ventilation#2
9.5/10
9.9
Cooling
9.6
Comfort
8.4
Value
$1749$2332
#3
9.1/10
9.8
Cooling
9.4
Comfort
8.5
Value
$1999$2499
#4
9.5/10
9.8
Cooling
9.6
Comfort
7.3
Value
$4999$5899
#5
9.3/10
9.8
Cooling
9.4
Comfort
8.7
Value
$1282$1832
#6
9.3/10
9.8
Cooling
9.5
Comfort
7
Value
$6999$7999
#7
9.2/10
9.7
Cooling
9.2
Comfort
8
Value
$2884$4120
#8
9.3/10
9.7
Cooling
9.5
Comfort
7.8
Value
$3999$4899
Cooling Mattress Buying Tips
Hybrid mattresses tend to sleep cooler than all-foam because coils allow airflow through the core.
Phase-change materials (PCM) in mattress covers actively regulate temperature, not just dissipate heat passively.
Memory foam retains the most heat. If you sleep hot, look for gel-infused or open-cell foam alternatives.
Your sheets and bedding matter too — pair a cooling mattress with breathable percale or bamboo sheets for best results.
Room temperature of 60–67°F is ideal for sleep. A cooling mattress helps but isn't a substitute for proper room climate.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Cooling claims are everywhere — but lab thermal data tells a different story. Here's how the most cross-shopped pairs actually performed in our 30-night surface temperature tests.
GhostBed vs Casper
GhostBed runs 1.7°F cooler in our overnight surface tests and costs $479 less at Queen. Casper still wins for pure side-sleeper pressure relief.
Helix vs Purple
Purple's GelFlex grid sleeps 1.8°F cooler than Helix Midnight Luxe — but Helix wins motion isolation, edge support, and price by $300.
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