9 best cooling mattresses to keep you feeling fresh
Choosing the best cooling mattress for you can make the difference between an uncomfortable night of shifting around in bed and throwing the covers off when you overheat; and waking up feeling fully refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead. While any best mattress round-up worth its micro-springs should include products with intelligent thermo-regulating properties – alongside factors such as motion isolation, edge-to-edge support, breathability and anti-allergy benefits, here, our top priority is keeping you comfortably cool, all night long.
But cooling mattresses are not created equal, which is why we’ve done the nitpicking, looking inside each layer of gel-infused memory foam or airflow-loving pocket springs to bring you the best of the best. Across a selection of hybrid, memory foam, and more traditionally crafted pocket sprung mattresses, you’ll find cooling benefits that differ in materials and functionality. Some include natural fibres such as wool and graphite, which are known to regulate temperature, while others take a more scientific approach with innovative cooling gel on the top layer. Some cooling mattresses focus more on the cover or casing, giving you a breathable and refreshing sleep surface, while others boast cooling properties deep within their multiple layers.
Whether you’re a notorious hot sleeper, or you suffer from occasional night sweats, investing in a cooling mattress can be a real gamechanger. Don’t forget to team your new mattress with a refreshing cooling pillow, and a naturally temperature-regulating pure linen bedding bundle and you’ll be cool as a cucumber.
SKIP TO: What is a cooling mattress? | How to choose the best cooling mattress for you | What makes a cooling mattress cool? | Do you need a mattress topper with a cooling mattress? | How we tested | Our top picks
Meet the expert:
- Chris Tattersall, MD and sleep expert at Woolroom.
The best cooling mattresses at a glance
- Best hybrid cooling mattress: Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress, £1,499.25, Simba
- Best pocket-sprung cooling mattress: iGel Advance 2050i Mattress, £1,249.99, Bensons for Beds
- Best memory foam cooling mattress: Tempur CoolTouch Sensation Elite Mattress, £1,699, Dreams
- Best wool cooling mattress: Naturalmat The Superb Mattress, £1,360, Naturalmat
- Best sustainable cooling mattress: Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress, £712.50, Panda
In order to whittle down our top cooling mattresses, we slept our way through a huge range of products, from those with obvious cooling benefits as their USP to great all-rounders that prioritise heat regulation as much as they do breathability, or superior edge-to-edge support. We’ve taken a wealth of customer reviews on board, too, paying attention to the bad stuff as well as the good, whilst being mindful of affordability. A mattress, particularly a high-end hybrid one, can be a huge outlay so it’s important to get it right. That said, we’ve prioritised mattress brands with the lengthiest sleep trials and guarantees you’ll find anywhere, so you can sleep soundly knowing your investment is safe.
What is a cooling mattress?
A cooling mattress is designed to combat the discomfort of overheating during sleep, whether that’s with the use of high-tech gel-infused foam, ensuring breathability and increased air circulation through pocket springs, or by using naturally derived materials that are known to draw heat away from the body. For Chris, natural wool is an obvious choice when it comes to keeping your cool. “Choosing natural materials, like wool, is key for keeping your body at the perfect temperature as you sleep as it promotes air flow”, he explains. “The circulation of air (and therefore moisture) will also help prevent the build-up of bacteria that thrives in a humid environment.”
While keeping you feeling fresh is the ultimate USP of a cooling mattress, a top of the range model should feature excellent temperature regulation too, so it’s important not to overlook those without ‘cooling’ in the name, Simba’s Hybrid Ultra Mattress being a prime example.
How to choose the best cooling mattress for you
Finding the right cooling mattress comes down to personal needs, firmness levels, sleeping habits, as well as thinking about materials – look to those with gel-infused foam, latex, or hybrid mattresses with breathable layers if you’re a particularly hot sleeper. When it comes to sleeping position, the best mattresses for side sleepers are often softer mattresses, while back sleepers or stomach sleepers may need firmer support. It’s worth paying close attention to sleep trial periods and warranties for peace of mind too, and make sure there are adequate certifications for hypoallergenic materials if you have a sensitive nose. Think of it as a holistic approach – by taking into account all of the above, combined with the very latest in cooling technology, you’re pretty much guaranteed a comfortable and refreshing sleep experience.
What makes a cooling mattress cool?
A cooling mattress maintains a refreshing temperature through innovative design and materials. By utilising breathable materials, and fillings such as latex, open-cell foam, or gel-infused memory foam, this type of mattress facilitates airflow, preventing heat accumulation. Gel-infused layers absorb body heat and disperse it, keeping the surface cool, while phase change materials (PCM) adjust to body temperature changes, absorbing excess heat when you’re warm and releasing it when you’re cool – so clever. Some mattresses feature airflow channels or perforations to enhance ventilation and heat dissipation. Plus intelligent moisture-wicking fabrics draw away any sweat, ensuring a dry and cool sleep surface.
When shopping around, you’ll find there are very few memory foam mattresses that claim to be cooling mattresses – with the notable exception of Tempur, a brand that uses astronaut-grade intelligent foams – and there’s good reason for this. Chris explains: “The synthetic materials used in a memory foam mattress often mean it’s not breathable and doesn’t absorb moisture, leaving your body to overheat and sweat while in bed. You know that sinking feeling you get when you sleep on a memory foam mattress? For that to happen, it needs body heat to warm it up, which is then reflected back onto you as you sleep. Did you know that memory foam can raise your body to temperatures of around 30°C? No wonder you’re too hot in bed!”
Do you need a mattress topper with a cooling mattress?
Whether you need an additional mattress topper alongside a cooling mattress depends on personal preferences and your specific needs. If you tend to sleep hot despite the cooling mattress, a topper can offer additional temperature regulation. Of course, a mattress topper can enhance cushioning by providing an extra comfort layer, especially if your old mattress feels too firm or uncomfortable. And if budget constraints are a concern, adding a topper may be a more economical solution compared to investing in a new cooling mattress. If your existing mattress is still in good nick but lacks cooling properties, a cooling topper can offer a cost-effective means of improving comfort. Ultimately, through experimentation, you can determine the ideal combination for achieving a cool and comfortable sleep space.
Which cooling mattress is best? Scroll for our selection of the best cooling mattresses to shop now.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king
- Mattress type:Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period? 200 nights
- Guarantee? 10 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? Yes
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: This luxe mattress boasts an impressive thirteen layers of premium materials and cutting-edge tech, it lays claim to having the highest spring count of any Simba mattress, combining titanium alloy and steel micro springs, and it offers personalised contouring and optimal pressure relief for a truly ergonomic slumber – goodbye back pain.
When it comes to keeping your cool, its double layer of Simbatex foam ensures continuous cooling throughout the night, while its FusionCool top layer, featuring an all-natural blend of kapok, wool, and bamboo, enhances thermo-regulation, creating a refreshingly cool sleep surface. It’s worth noting, too that the Hybrid Ultra boasts a cool-to-the-touch, breathable knitted top cover, which you can handily unzip and throw into the washing machine.
Save money on the best cooling mattresses with these Simba Sleep retailer discount codes.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU queen
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium
- Trial period? 200 nights
- Guarantee? 10 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? Yes
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: Cleverly designed to regulate body temperature, Emma’s Luxe Cooling mattress combines ThermoSync technology with revolutionary graphite-infused foam, so you can forget overheating and icky night-time sweats. These elements work together to absorb body heat and redistribute it away from the mattress, ensuring optimal temperature regulation for a comfortable sleeping environment. Add to that the mattress's ability to absorb motion and isolate movement and you have perfectly cool comfort all-round, guaranteeing a good night's sleep.
The top cooling cover is refreshingly moisture-resistant and breathable, while layers of memory foam, supportive foam and pocket springs provide progressive firmness, targeted spinal alignment, pressure relief, and maximum support for a truly restorative sleep. Say hello to rejuvenated mornings – even Monday mornings.
Save money on everything from cooling mattresses that trap heat to cooling mattress protectors with these Emma Original discount codes.
- Sizes available: Small single, long small single, single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU king
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period? 100 nights
- Guarantee? 15 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? Yes
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: Featuring premium pocket springs and an extra deep, open-cell visco memory foam layer, this medium to firm mattress hits the sweet spot between comfort and support. The innovative dual spring system, standing at an impressive 15cm tall, gives you edge-to-edge support whilst effectively isolating your partner’s movement for uninterrupted sleep. Not only that but the 600 Lux Hybrid boasts zoned pressure-relieving technology, which targets specific areas of the body, alleviating any niggling aches and pains without compromising on all-over support.
Ideal for hot sleepers, this one features advanced temperature regulation with its high-performing memory foam designed to dissipate heat and wick moisture away from the body, keeping you cool and comfortable throughout the night. In fact, thanks to the visco memory foam’s cooling features, you can look forward to sleep that’s cool, breathable, and conducive to deep rest and recovery. We’ll have some of that.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king size, super king
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period? 365 nights
- Guarantee? Forever
- Mattress-in-a-box? Yes
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: Nectar’s offering is engineered to deliver the ultimate in cool snoozing. Combining deep springs, micro springs and memory foam, this mattress ensures next level comfort; it boasts heat-wicking properties, zonal support, and caters to the needs of every body shape and sleep position for a restorative night’s kip. With eight layers designed to elevate our all-round sleep experience, from the CertiPUR-certified foam layers, to premium memory foam, and encapsulated spring units, every component is a hard-working one.
Importantly, the dynamic support layer enhances airflow, regulating our body temperature whilst providing exceptional support and bounce. Meanwhile, the pressure-relieving memory foam layer offers support precisely where the body needs it most. With up to 832 individually wrapped pocket springs encapsulated for breathable, responsive comfort and edge-to-edge support, the Premier Hybrid mattress promises cool, comfortable, and uninterrupted slumber.
- Sizes available: Single, double, small double, king, super king, emperor, EU single, EU double, EU king
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Trial period? 100 nights
- Guarantee? 10 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? No
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: The Panda Hybrid blends advanced sleep science with the natural goodness of bamboo. Crafted with six layers of optimised airflow, orthopaedic-grade support, and pressure point comfort, this one’s guaranteed to elevate your sleep game. It boasts BioCell foam, which is a high-tech fusion of open-cell foam and bamboo that enhances the flow of air and combats heat retention, ensuring a cool and refreshing kip. The zip-off bamboo cover, matched with the mattress’s breathability and moisture-wicking properties, keeps your body temperature reliably regulated throughout the night.
Other benefits include the OrthoAlign foam and ultra-responsive pocket springs, which are designed to promote spinal alignment and effectively distribute weight, while unique motion control technology minimises any motion transfer from your partner for blissfully undisturbed rest. This one also scores high on sustainability and ethical sourcing, so we’ll sleep soundly to that.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king
- Mattress type: Pocket sprung
- Firmness: Choose medium or firm
- Trial period? No night trial
- Guarantee? 10 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? No
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: Available exclusively at Bensons for Beds, this is a high-performing pocket-sprung mattress that promises to keep you cool. Crafted with 5cm of innovative gel, the mattress facilitates rapid heat transfer, keeping your body within the optimal sleep temperature range of 35°-37°C – goodbye overheating. Beneath this innovative cooling layer are premium pocketed springs, complemented by AdvantEdge tech for superior edge-to-edge support and reduced partner disturbance. You won’t even know they’re there!
The mattress’s iGel Advance layer doesn’t only boast cooling properties, it provides targeted pressure relief too, soothing aches and pains for a truly rejuvenating rest. This one also scores high on sustainability, featuring 80% recycled PET polyester fibre content.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Firmness: Medium
- Trial period? 100 nights
- Guarantee? 1 year
- Mattress-in-a-box? No
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: There’s a clue in the name of this hybrid mattress that tells you it prioritises cooling. Crafted with ActiGel foam, it is designed to keep you at the perfect temperature all through the night without overheating. So long, sticky night sweats. Boasting a mix of pocketed springs and innovative foam, the mattress ensures great support as well as targeted pressure relief. In fact, it’s crafted to perfectly contour to your body – the 2cm ActiGel foam layer provides pressure-sensitive support, dynamically responding to your shape.
Designed for optimal airflow and breathability, the foam’s open-cell structure regulates temperature to give you a comfortable night’s rest. Coupled with a clever ActiCool knitted cover, heat dispersion keeps you refreshingly cool throughout the night. When it comes to sleep hygiene, the mattress also incorporates proactive probiotic technology, which actively combats bacteria and dust mites for a healthier sleep all-round.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, queen, super king, emperor
- Mattress type: Pocket sprung
- Firmness: Choose soft, medium or firm
- Trial period? 45 days
- Guarantee? 10 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? No
- Needs turning? No
Why we love it: This one’s renowned for its cooling properties and superior craftsmanship. Handmade in Devon, the mattress combines organic wool sourced from local farms with natural latex from the hevea rubber tree. The Superb’s pocket springs, individually nested and available in firm, medium, and soft tensions, provide tailored support for a blissful night’s sleep, while organic wool, known for its heat-regulating properties, ensures you stay cool when you need it, and cosy warm when you don’t. It’s little wonder this nature-focused mattress is the choice of top hotels globally.
Naturalmat also prioritises safety and sustainability, while the brand’s hypoallergenic finishing process protects against dust mites and bed bugs, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. Handcrafted by skilled artisans, you know you’re in for a heavenly sleep on the Superb.
- Sizes available: Double, king, super king
- Mattress type: Memory foam
- Firmness: Firm
- Trial period? 100 nights
- Guarantee? 10 years
- Mattress-in-a-box? No
- Needs turning? No
If you’re longing for the classic feel of a traditional spring bed, but crave the tailored support of memory foam, this one’s got your back. Engineered with innovative cooling properties, the all-foam mattress ensures a refreshingly cool and restful night’s sleep. With its firm comfort grade and dynamic support layers, it offers the perfect blend of support and flexibility. It boasts a CoolTouch mattress cover, which is crafted to manage excess heat, and utilises NASA-developed technology (no less!) to regulate temperature throughout the night.
Notably, the CoolTouch cover is removable and washable at up to 60 degrees, ensuring easy maintenance and hygiene. Its unique construction, featuring flexible open-cell walls, facilitates rapid recovery from compression, enabling unrestricted movement on the mattress surface. This one’s cool to the touch, and cool through the night.
