If you tend to sleep hot, a low-cost traditional foam mattress topper can actually make it harder to sleep, because it adds a layer of insulation along with the layer of padding. A high-quality cooling mattress topper can make you more comfortable, especially in the hot summer months. It’s also easier on your budget when your mattress starts to wear out but you aren’t ready to spring for anything new. The perfect topper for folks who sleep hot is one that’s designed to keep your body temperature down.
Top choice Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt + Cooling Mattress Topper solves multiple sleep problems at a fraction of the cost of a new mattress. It’s great for easing back pain and offers a cool surface for total comfort.
What to know before you buy a cooling mattress topper
Determine your needs
Have a list of what you specifically want as you begin your search — the sheer quantity of options for a cooling mattress topper is overwhelming. Well-regarded products with mid-range prices designed to offer comfort for many sleep problems are a good place to start. If you need something specifically for hot flashes, for instance, it’s out there.
Mattress toppers vs. mattress pads
The two main methods for covering your mattress are toppers and pads. Mattress pads are more for protection, while mattress toppers are more for comfort. Mattress pads are generally a much less expensive and thinner mattress addition. They offer a bit of padding and many also protect your mattress from spills. A mattress topper is much more substantial, offering several inches of padding for comfort, often featuring heating or cooling materials as well.
Return policy
Sleep is so specific to individuals that it’s worth looking for products with a customer-friendly return policy. The best-reviewed product in the world might just feel uncomfortable to you for one reason or another. Look for companies that are confident enough in their product that you can try it out without too much risk.
Cooling mattress topper features
Advanced materials
There are myriad ways to keep you cooler at night, including advanced technologies. A mattress topper made with 37.5 technology, for instance, features particles that are designed to remove sweat in the vapor stage before liquid sweat can form, helping you maintain a relative humidity of 37.5%, considered ideal. Some mattress topper designs use a graphite layer to draw heat away from you as you sleep. Simply introducing more air channels is another design feature that keeps sleepers cool. Finding the materials and design that works best for you may require a bit of experimentation.
Remote control
There are solutions that allow you to change the temperature of air- or water-filled pockets via remote control so you get exactly the right temperature for any setting. Many of these allow couples to choose different temperatures for each side of the bed.
Corner straps
Most mattress toppers just unroll on top of whatever mattress you have, and you can secure them somewhat with a fitted sheet. If you prefer something a little more sturdy, look for a mattress topper with straps that attach at the corners of the bed.
Washable covers
Though it isn’t possible to clean most mattress toppers, better ones come with removable, machine-washable covers. Mattress toppers themselves can only be spot-cleaned.
Cooling mattress topper cost
There are so many different materials used to cool sleepers down and the included materials can impact the price. But there are some very good options to be found for around $100. The prices also go into the thousands if you are considering large remote-controlled cooling mattress toppers with different zones for couples.
Cooling mattress topper FAQ
What’s the ideal temperature for sleep?
A. Though it comes down to personal preference, most experts agree that 65 degrees is ideal for sleeping.
Do I need to cover my mattress topper with a sheet?
A. It’s probably a good idea. A sheet helps keep your topper from shifting during the night. It also protects the topper from spills and stains.
How do I dispose of my old mattress topper?
A. The memory foam in most toppers is not generally made with environmentally friendly materials. There are some ideas for getting rid of them in a responsible way. You could also look for mattress toppers that use more environmentally friendly materials to begin with.
Which cooling mattress topper should I get?
Best of the best cooling mattress topper
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt + Cooling Mattress Topper: available at Amazon
Our take: This multitasking topper has benefits for back pain and for cooling you down.
What we like: You get 3 inches of Tempur material, which adapts to your body specifically, and it is covered in a machine-washable cover for easy upkeep.
What we dislike: At around $500, it’s pretty pricey.
Best bang for your buck cooling mattress topper
ViscoSoft 3-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper: available at Amazon
Our take: The price is manageable for most but it still has important features like a removable cover so you can easily wash it as often as needed.
What we like: This design incorporates visible air pockets and gel material to keep sleepers both cool and comfy, and the stabilizing straps and anti-slip mesh on the bottom ensure it does not bunch up or shift.
What we dislike: This topper needs a few days to fully inflate before using.
Honorable mention cooling mattress topper
Linenspa 3-Inch Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper: available at Amazon
Our take: This is a well-regarded memory foam option with gel beads that help disperse heat.
What we like: This is available at a reasonable price with a long warranty, and you can choose to have 2 or 3 inches of foam, all of it specifically engineered to disperse body weight evenly for ultimate comfort.
What we dislike: There is no washable cover or straps, so it may shift during the night.
Angie Parkinsonis a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
