The best cooling mattress toppers for hot sleepers

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If you overheat at night and wake up stiff, a cooling mattress toppers could be the perfect solution. In general, the best mattress toppers are versatile accessories to add extra cushion to your bed and beyond, including in RVs and campers, under a sleeping bag while camping, or on a college dorm room bed. The best cooling mattress topper for hot sleepers take it a step further; they're specially designed with cooling properties that promote airflow with moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating features. They're a simple and cost-effective way to make your bed cooler and more comfortable without fully replacing it. Cooling mattress toppers provide additional comfort to a too-firm mattress, but if your existing mattress is starting to sag, it may be time to skip straight to considering one of the best cooling mattresses. 

For this guide, I tested and slept on 15 mattress toppers and interviewed experts to find the best cooling mattress topper. The Ghostbed Memory Foam Mattress Topper is my top pick of the best cooling mattress toppers for its plush comfort, cooling sleep experience and waterproof cover design that resists shifting on the bed. The Bear Pro Mattress Topper is another amazing option that most sleep types will feel comfortable with and its unparalleled heat dissipation and outstanding pressure point relief.

Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

The best cooling mattress toppers for hot sleepers

Best overall: Ghostbed Memory Foam Mattress Topper -See at GhostBed

Best heat dissipation: 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

For the ultimate cooling mattress topper, the GhostBed Memory Foam Topper is our top choice because its temperature-regulating CertiPUR-US certified gel memory foam and unique airflow-promoting design kept me cool and comfortable all night long. It did a wonderful job at staying cool and dissipating heat quickly. 

The GhostBed topper utilizes five different strategically placed zones to provide pressure relief and support with peaks and valleys that facilitate air flow. I recommend it for side sleeping, who will most benefit from its soft feel; it may be a little too soft for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and heavier individuals. The GhostBed Memory Foam Topper has impressive motion isolation registering among the best in our vibrometer tests.

What's unique about the GhostBed topper that I haven't seen across others is that the removable cover offers waterproof protection for your mattress and incorporates phase-change material that absorbs heat upon contact. I recommend using the cover since the mattress pad itself is spot clean only.

The topper goes right to the edge of the bed to add to the comfort, with the elastic cover stretching to fit mattresses up to 18-inches deep. 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.

Our biggest downside is that the topper has no trial period.  However, it's covered by a 5-year warranty.

Best heat dissipation

In our cooling tests, the Bear Pro Mattress Topper delivered some of the most impressive results when it came to keeping the bed cool. We found that, on average, 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 that recorded a higher initial temperature from getting into bed than the final reading, two minutes after I got up. I didn't trust the reading the first time, so I performed the test again and got similar results. This means the topper has unparalleled heat dissipation.

These results could be attributed to the copper-infused memory foam and Celliant cover. The manufacturer claims that these materials help with heat dissipation and staying cool. I didn't find any scientific studies to support this, but my subjective experience suggests that the materials help with cooling.

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.

The Bear topper 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.

The Bear Pro is also made in the US, and you can try the topper for up to 30 nights. 

Setting up the Bear Pro topper took less than five minutes, and though it doesn't attach to your mattress, we observed minimal shifting after sleeping on it. The biggest negative was that the topper had a strong "new bed smell" out of the box that took several days to dissipate.

Best budget

Even if the Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper didn't cost around $100, 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 expectations, particularly considering its budget-friendly price point.

In our cooling tests, the surface temperature of the topper never got very hot. Within two minutes of getting up from it, the topper's temperature came close to its initial reading, which means the heat dissipation was outstanding.

The Lucid topper is essentially a slab of charcoal-infused bamboo memory foam with several holes in it to help with airflow and cooling. I did find the topper was a little too soft for my comfort, and I like it soft. I did not wake up with soreness or pain after sleeping on it. 

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 would be interested in trying the 2-inch version since it can't sink as much and thus may be able to provide a more supportive and manageable softness.

The unboxing was intuitive, though there was a fabric wrapping that didn't seem to be part of the topper. I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I threw it away. 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

The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt  Mattress Topper is renowned for its exceptional comfort and support, making it one of the best cooling mattress toppers available. It features a proprietary CertiPUR-US-certified foam that provides excellent contouring to the body and ensures proper spine alignment. This feature can be particularly beneficial for individuals who experience lower back pain, as it helps alleviate discomfort and prevent it from acting up during sleep.

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.

While testing the TEMPUR-Adapt , I just got back into running and lifting after a foot injury. These activities usually aggravate my chronic back pain, but I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to put in more miles.

The TEMPUR-Adapt was also one of the best at dissipating heat in our tests. Two minutes after getting up from the topper, the surface temperature was almost back to what I measured before I lay down.

It comes with a removable cover that's machine washable, but I'd recommend investing in a mattress protector to cover it and your mattress. The cover was easy to take off and clean, but it took me about 10 minutes to get it back on. 

There were a few negatives with this pad. First, there's no trial period. If you find the TEMPUR-Adapt isn't right for you, you can't return it. However, if there are manufacturing defects, it's covered by a 10-year warranty, and you can get a replacement or repair.

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.  Also, the motion isolation of this topper was just average.

Tempur-Pedic also offers the Adapt with a cooling technology add-on. However,  it didn't perform as well as the initial. It was just average at cooling and heat dissipation, so we think you'll be just fine sticking with the Tempur-Adapt. 

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, its 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 is known for keeping odors at bay.  

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.

Fit: Consider how the topper will stay in place on your bed, because it can be quite frustrating if it shifts throughout the night. Ideally one will have a cover that fits over like a fitted sheet or straps to keep it in place. Some designs will also sit directly on top and hopefully have a backing to keep them in place. 

Trial and warranty: Most manufacturers offer a trial of at least 30 days and a warranty of at least two years. 

How we tested cooling mattress toppers

In addition to sleeping on each topper for at least two nights, I put each through several objective tests that is very 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, if I was sore, and how well I slept as measured by the Garmin Forerunner 945 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.

Cooling mattress topper FAQs

How do you know if you need a mattress topper?

Toppers as 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 and polyethylene don't do a very good job. 

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.

Best overall: Bear Pro Mattress Topper

Pros: Impressive cooling, excellent pressure relief and support, great motion isolation, 100-night sleep trial, made in the US with CertiPUR-US certified memory foam

Cons: Doesn't attach to your mattress, initial odor lasted for several days

In our cooling tests, the Bear Pro Mattress Topper stood out as the best cooling mattress topper overall. We found that, on average, 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 that recorded a higher initial temperature than the final reading, two minutes after I got up from it. I didn't trust the reading the first time, so I performed the test again and got similar results. This means the topper has unparalleled heat dissipation.

These results could be attributed to the copper-infused memory foam and Celliant cover. The manufacturer claims that these materials help with heat dissipation and staying cool. I didn't find any scientific studies to support this, but my subjective experience suggests that the materials help with cooling.

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.

The Bear topper 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.

The Bear Pro is also made in the US, and you can try the topper for up to 100 nights risk-free, the longest trial period of the models we tested for this guide.

Setting up the Bear Pro topper took less than five minutes, and though it doesn't attach to your mattress, we observed minimal shifting after sleeping on it. The biggest negative was that the topper had a strong "new bed smell" out of the box that took several days to dissipate.

Best budget: Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Pros: Impressive heat dissipation, strong motion isolation, made of CertiPUR-US certified foam, stays put without shifting, easy setup

Cons: May be too soft for some sleeping styles, limits movement

Even if the Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper didn't cost around $100, 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 expectations, particularly considering its budget-friendly price point.

In our cooling tests, the surface temperature of the topper never got very hot. Within two minutes of getting up from it, the topper's temperature came close to its initial reading, which means the heat dissipation is outstanding.

The Lucid topper is essentially a slab of charcoal-infused, bamboo memory foam with several holes in it to help with airflow and cooling. I did find the topper was a little too soft for my comfort, and I like it soft. I did not wake up with soreness or pain after sleeping on it. 

The foam sinks significantly as you lay on it, which makes it hard to change sleeping positions at night and could be a problem if you have specific pressure points you need support for. 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 would be interested in trying the 2-inch version since it can't sink as much and thus may be able to provide a more supportive and manageable softness.

The unboxing was intuitive, though there was a fabric wrapping that didn't seem to be part of the topper. I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I threw it away. 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: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress Topper

Pros: Made in the US of CertiPUR-US certified body-contouring foam, good heat dissipation, machine-washable cover, 10-year warranty

Cons: No trial period, putting the cover back on is a pain, shifts on the mattress

The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt  Mattress Topper is renowned for its exceptional comfort and support, making it one of the best cooling mattress toppers available. It features a proprietary CertiPUR-US certified foam that not only provides excellent contouring to the body but also ensures proper alignment of the spine. This feature can be particularly beneficial for individuals who experience lower back pain, as it helps alleviate discomfort and prevent it from acting up during sleep.

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.

While testing the TEMPUR-Adapt , I was just getting back into running and lifting after a foot injury. These activities usually aggravate my chronic back pain, but I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to put in more miles.

The TEMPUR-Adapt was also one of the best at dissipating heat in our tests. Two minutes after getting up from the topper, the surface temperature was almost back to what I measured before I lay down.

It comes with a removable cover that's machine washable, but I'd recommend investing in a mattress protector to cover it and your mattress. The cover was easy to take off and clean, but it took me about 10 minutes to get it back on. 

There were a few negatives with this pad. First, there's no trial period. If you find the TEMPUR-Adapt isn't right for you, you can't return it. However, if there are manufacturing defects, it's covered by a 10-year warranty and you can get a replacement or repair.

Another negative is it doesn't attach to your mattress, and I found it shifted while sleeping on it, but the latest edition added helpful straps to secure it to your mattress. Also, the motion isolation of this topper was just average.

What to look for in a mattress topper

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

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, if I was sore, and how well I slept as measured by the Garmin Forerunner 945 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.

How we tested each cooling mattress topper

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.

In addition to sleeping on each topper for at least two nights, I put each through several objective tests. When testing a cooling mattress topper, the most important factors to consider are cooling, comfort, and fit.

FAQs

How do you know if you need a mattress topper?

Toppers as a cost-effective way to update a mattress that isn't very old but is causing you pain or to 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 and polyethylene don't do a very good job. 

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 you try to clean 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.