If you're all too familiar with the experience of waking up covered in sweat on an uncomfortable mattress, a cooling mattress topper could be for you. Cooling mattress toppers combine the comfort and support of the best mattress toppers with the breathability and cool-to-the-touch feel of the best cooling mattresses. They can change the feel of your bed and offer relief to hot sleepers in one fell swoop.
For this guide, I tested 15 mattress toppers and also spoke with Rebecca Robbins, PhD, associate scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, for insight on topper materials and features. Below, you'll find my picks and guidance on which cooling mattress topper is best for you and your sleep needs.
Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.
The best cooling mattress toppers for hot sleepers
Best overall: GhostBed Memory Foam Mattress Topper - See at Amazon
Coolest: Bear Pro Mattress Topper - See at Bear
Best budget: Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper - See at Amazon
Best for back pain: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper - See at Tempur-Pedic
Best overall
The GhostBed Memory Foam Topper, with its unique airflow-promoting design, did an outstanding job of dissipating heat in our tests while providing soothing comfort for side sleepers.
What we like
What we don't like
The GhostBed topper has a unique design that dissipates heat. The GhostBed Memory Foam Topper outperformed every other topper we tested. Its gel-infused memory foam features five different, strategically placed zones to provide pressure relief and support with peaks and valleys that facilitate air flow. If you hate feeling heat trapped under you at night, this topper keeps air moving and the bed comfortably cool.
It's best for side sleepers. It may be a little too soft for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and heavier individuals. The GhostBed topper has impressive motion isolation, registering among the best in our vibrometer tests, so it's a good option if you're a light sleeper who's sensitive to movement from a partner or pet.
It comes with a protective cover. The GhostBed topper has a removable cover that offers waterproof protection for your mattress and incorporates phase-change material to absorb heat. I recommend using the machine-washable cover since the mattress pad itself is spot clean only.
It fits snugly and doesn't shift. The topper goes right to the edge of the bed, with an elastic cover stretching to fit mattresses up to 18 inches deep, so it's suitable for even thick mattresses. Setup was a breeze. You just remove it from the vacuum-sealed packaging and lay it out on your bed with the patterns facing up. The process took less than five minutes, and the pad was odor-free and fully expanded by bedtime.
Coolest
The Bear Pro Mattress Topper is your best bet if you're looking for a plush topper that offers support, pressure relief, and a cool, comfortable night's sleep.
What we like
What we don't like
This is our pick for extremely hot sleepers. In our cooling tests, the Bear Pro Mattress Topper delivered some of the most impressive results when it came to keeping the bed cool. Thanks to the cooling GlacioTex cover, I found that the surface of the topper registered less than 85 degrees Fahrenheit when I got up from it — lower than almost every model we tested. The Bear Pro was also the only topper with a lower surface temperature two minutes after getting up than immediately after lying down. Its impressive performance means that even the hottest sleepers should rest soundly with this topper on the bed.
It has a plush feel that's comfortable in every sleeping position. In addition to its great cooling properties, the extra plush feel of the Bear Pro Topper was comfortable to sleep on no matter what position I was in. I slept great on the topper and woke up feeling refreshed and free from aches and pains each morning. It also does an outstanding job of dampening motion transfer. It had the lowest vibration readings in our motion isolation test, which suggests it's a good option for couples.
It sits on top of the mattress, but doesn't slide. Setting up the topper took less than five minutes, and though it doesn't attach to your mattress, we observed minimal shifting after sleeping on it.
Best budget
The Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper incorporates bamboo and charcoal for its moisture-wicking and odor-neutralizing properties.
What we like
What we don't like
This topper offers cooling comfort and support for those on a budget. Even if the Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper didn't cost around $100 for a queen, it would still be considered one of our top picks for the best cooling mattress toppers. This mattress topper performed exceptionally well in all of our tests, exceeding my expectations. In our cooling tests, the topper's surface temperature never got very hot. Within two minutes of getting up from it, however, the topper's temperature came close to its initial reading, which means the heat dissipation was outstanding.
The plush feel is ideal for side sleepers. The Lucid topper is essentially a sheet of charcoal-infused bamboo memory foam with several holes in it to help with airflow and cooling. I did find the topper to be a little too soft for my comfort, though I didn't wake up sore after sleeping on it. For stomach and back sleepers, who need a firmer feel, I also recommend the Linenspa Mattress Topper. When we compared the two budget toppers head-to-head, we found that the Linenspa's cooling is comparable to the Lucid.
To choose the right thickness, consider your sleep needs. The foam sinks significantly as you lay on it, making it hard to change sleeping positions at night, and it could be a problem if you have specific pressure points for which you need support. On the plus side, the foam did a great job of isolating motion in my tests, so when your partner moves, you're less likely to feel it. The topper is available in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch thicknesses. I tried the 3-inch version, but I would also be interested in trying the 2-inch since it can't sink as much and thus may be able to provide a more supportive and manageable softness.
Even though it has no straps, it had shifted minimally. The unboxing was intuitive. The topper had a strong odor that went away by bedtime, by which time it also fully expanded. I liked that it stayed in place despite not attaching to the mattress.
Best for back pain
If you suffer from chronic lower back pain, you'll appreciate the body-contouring foam of the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Topper.
What we like
What we don't like
If you sleep hot and experience back pain, this is the topper for you. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper features a proprietary CertiPUR-US-certified foam that provides excellent contouring to the body and ensures proper spinal alignment. This feature can be particularly beneficial for individuals who experience lower back pain, as it helps alleviate discomfort and prevents it from acting up during sleep. It also maintained a comfortable, cool sleeping environment during the testing period.
It supports your body like nothing else we've tested. Unlike most memory foam, Tempur-Pedic's US-made foam doesn't instantly sink down once you put weight on it. In fact, if you pat it, it makes a hollow sound as if it were much firmer than it is. But when you lay on it, your weight and body heat cause the material to slowly adjust to the curves of your body, providing the pressure relief and support ideal for back pain sufferers.
Even with elastic straps, it shifts a bit at night. Since we initially tested this topper, Tempur-Pedic updated the model with straps to keep it in place, addressing an issue we had with it shifting around at night. The new straps did help lessen shifting, though it still tends to migrate a few inches over the week. If you're looking for a topper that stays firmly in place, look elsewhere.
Based on testing, the cooling tech add-on isn't necessary. Tempur-Pedic also offers the Adapt with a cooling technology add-on. However, it didn't perform as well as the standard Tempur-Adapt. It was just average at cooling and heat dissipation, so we think you'll be just fine sticking with the regular version.
Our top picks compared
| Our pick | Winner | Best for | Why we like it | The drawback |
| Best overall | GhostBed Memory Foam Mattress Topper | Side sleepers | Zoned support and enhanced breathability | Could be too soft for stomach and back sleepers |
| Coolest | Bear Pro Topper | All sleeping positions | Excellent heat dissipation and a cool-to-the-touch cover | Doesn't attach to mattress |
| Best budget | Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper | Side sleepers | Simple, affordable cooling comfort | Could be too soft for stomach and back sleepers |
| Best for back pain | Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattres Topper | All sleeping positions | Enhanced cooling, comfort, and contouring support | Shifts at night |
What else we've tested
Avocado Eco Organic Mattress Topper: Avocado's mattress topper is made from latex. Latex isn't actively cooling, but it's naturally breathable, so it maintains a neutral temperature. If you're looking for a latex topper, this is one of the coolest options we've tested.
Helix Premium Mattress Topper with GlacioTex: This topper from Helix has a unique design featuring steel micro-coils wedged between two blocks of cooling memory foam. It's topped with a cool-to-the-touch cover.
What to look for in a cooling mattress topper
Here are the main attributes we look for:
Cooling materials: Most mattress toppers are made of memory foam, latex, down or down alternative, or wool. For added cooling features, it's useful to look for designs that feature materials designed to promote active heat dissipation and moisture-wicking materials like copper or graphite. Ventilated foams for increased air flow, cotton or bamboo for breathability, and charcoal can help neutralize odors.
- Memory foam: Some blocks of memory foam can trap heat, so look for design aspects like gel-infused materials, ventilation holes, ridges, and cooling covers. Memory foam contours to your body's curves.
- Latex: Latex is naturally breathable, especially when its covered in ventilation holes. It has a bouncy feel.
- Down or down alternative: Down or down alternative mattress toppers can trap heat. If you're set on a down or down alternative mattress topper, look for quilted designs and cooling covers.
- Thickness: Most mattress toppers are between one and four inches. Typically, the thicker the topper, the plusher it will be. Our favorites are typically between two and three inches, which lend the right balance of comfort and support. Generally, side sleepers should opt for a thicker, plusher topper while back and stomach sleepers should look for a thinner, firmer mattress topper.
- Fit: Consider how the topper will stay in place on your bed, because it can be quite frustrating if it shifts throughout the night. Look for toppers with a cover that fits over like a fitted sheet or straps to keep it in place.
- Trial and warranty: Most manufacturers offer a trial of at least 30 days and a warranty of at least two years. If you're nervous about finding a mattress topper that you love, choose one with easy returns and a warranty that covers manufacturing defects.
How we tested cooling mattress toppers
Our testing methodology
In addition to sleeping on each topper for at least two nights, I put each through several objective tests, similar to how I test the best mattresses. When testing a cooling mattress topper, the most important factors to consider are cooling, comfort, and fit.
- Cooling: Using an infrared thermometer, I measure the surface temperature before lying down, right after I get up, and two minutes after I get up. I compare the readings to get a good idea of how cool the mattress topper stays and how well it dissipates heat.
- Comfort: Each morning after sleeping on the toppers, I noted how comfortable it felt, whether I was sore, and how well I slept as measured by the Garmin smartwatch. I also paid attention to what sleeping positions I was most comfortable in.
- Fit: Having to constantly readjust your mattress topper can be a real pain. I looked at how much each topper shifted after I slept on it. I also noted if there were straps to keep it attached to the bed.
- Setup: I set up each cooling mattress topper and observed how long it took me, if it was intuitive, and if there were any initial odors. I did this in the morning so the topper would have plenty of time (at least 10 hours) to air out and expand. At bedtime, I noted if the topper had fully expanded and if it still had an odor.
- Motion isolation: When your partner is tossing and turning at night, you don't want it to interrupt your sleep. This makes motion isolation important. I tested this by setting my phone on the topper 12 inches from the right edge of the bed. Then, I dropped a 15-pound bowling ball from four feet above the topper so that it landed 12 inches from the left edge of the bed (and 36 inches from the phone). I measured the motion transfer using a vibration meter app and took the median reading after five repetitions of the test.
- Trial and warranty: No matter how great a topper looks on paper, you never know if it's right for you until you actually sleep on it for an extended period. This is why risk-free trials are so important. We looked at trial periods and if there were any loopholes, such as charges for returning the pad. We also examined the warranty for each model. Most manufacturers offer a trial of at least 30 days and a warranty of at least two years.
Meet the expert behind this guide
James Brains, former senior reporter: I've tested over 100 mattresses for Business Insider Reviews. I apply the same methodology to testing mattress toppers, analyzing each for comfort, support, heat dissipation, and motion isolation.
Cooling mattress topper FAQs
How do you know if you need a mattress topper?
Toppers are a cost-effective way to update a mattress that isn't very old but causing you pain or making you overheat. Adding a topper allows you to extend the life of your mattress in a cost-effective way.
What is the best cooling material?
Though foam is generally believed to trap heat, all of the picks in our guide are made of some sort of foam. However, they each have some added material to help with cooling.
The Bear Pro has copper-infused memory foam. The Lucid topper has bamboo charcoal-infused memory foam. The Tempur-Pedic topper has a proprietary foam that I've found is generally cool in all of the company's products I've tested.
There's a lot of variability in the materials that work well for cooling. However, in our testing, we noticed that natural latex doesn't do a very good job of dissipating heat.
When shopping for a cooling mattress topper, Rebecca Robbins, PhD, associate scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, suggests not going overboard with a thick topper. "We sometimes have a tendency to think more is better," said Robbins. "But I would say that if you're sleeping on a very thick foam mattress topper, then it could have a tendency to build heat, which you don't want at night."
How do you clean a mattress topper?
Most mattress toppers are not machine washable. Instead, you'll want to spot-clean any messes immediately with a mild soap and damp towel. Then, allow it to dry completely before putting it back on your bed.
However, before cleaning your mattress topper, check out your topper's user manual or tag or visit the manufacturer's website for the most accurate cleaning directions.
Some mattress toppers come with a removable cover that's machine washable. I've found these covers are a pain to put back on after you wash them. I recommend protecting your mattress and topper with a mattress protector. These are usually waterproof, machine washable, and cost as little as $20 each. Check out our guide on the best mattress protectors.
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