The Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers
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The best cooling mattress for most hot sleepers is the Purple Restore Hybrid. Its open GelFlex Grid sits on 8-inch coils, so heat and air move through instead of pooling around you, and it rates 5/5 for cooling. If you'd rather have a traditional innerspring, the Saatva Classic rates just as high. On a budget, the Cocoon Chill is the cheapest bed here with a top cooling score.
What actually keeps a mattress cool is airflow and how much you sink in. Coils, latex and grid layers breathe; thick, dense memory foam hugs you and holds heat. Covers and "cooling" foams help a little, but they can't fix a bed that wraps around you.
We haven't slept on these mattresses. Picks come from the specs, brand policies and 1-5 ratings compiled from independent reviewers. Want a match for your position and budget too? Take the quiz.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Mattress | Firmness | Queen | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall cooling mattress | Purple Restore Hybrid | 5.5 | $2,399 | Check price |
| Best cooling innerspring mattress | Saatva Classic | 5.8 | $1,895 | Check price |
| Best organic cooling mattress for heavier hot sleepers | Avocado Green Mattress | 7.0 | $1,889 | Check price |
| Best value natural cooling mattress | Birch Natural | 6.5 | $1,399 | Check price |
| Best budget cooling mattress | Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam | 6.5 | $399 | Check price |
| Best cooling all-foam mattress | Purple Mattress | 6.0 | $1,599 | Check price |
Our picks, in detail
Purple Restore Hybrid
Hybrid · Medium
- $2,399 queen
- 100 nights
- 10 years
- 11.5″ tall
The Restore Hybrid combines the two best cooling ingredients: a 2-inch GelFlex Grid that doesn't trap heat the way memory foam does, and an 8-inch layer of pocketed coils that keeps air moving. Purple claims it sleeps twice as cool; that's a brand claim, but independent ratings agree it's among the coolest here.
Purple sells it in a single Medium feel, which suits side, back and combination sleepers, and it rates 4/5 for motion isolation and edges. Expect about $2,699 for a queen at list price, often around $2,399 on sale.
The trade-off: the grid feels unusual and springy at first, there's no current independent firmness score for this version, and the 100-night trial and 10-year warranty are short for the price.
Saatva Classic
Innerspring · Plush Soft / Luxury Firm / Firm
- $1,895 queen
- 365 nights
- Lifetime
- 11.5″ tall
If you run hot and like a classic bed, the Saatva Classic is the obvious choice. Two layers of coils leave lots of open space for air, and an organic-cotton-blend cover over the Euro pillow top breathes well. It rates 5/5 for cooling, pressure relief and edges.
Three firmness options cover nearly every sleeper, and you get a 365-night trial, a lifetime warranty and free white-glove delivery. Expect about $2,229 for a queen at list price, often around $1,895.
The trade-off: it's a springy, traditional feel with little body hug, and the price is high. If you want contouring foam, the Purple or Cocoon picks are better.
Avocado Green Mattress
Latex hybrid · Medium (also Firm, Plush; Extra Firm and Ultra Plush listed)
- $1,889 queen
- 365 nights
- 25 years
- 11″ tall
Latex is naturally more breathable than memory foam, and the Avocado Green pairs organic Dunlop latex and wool with zoned coils. It rates 5/5 for cooling, edges and motion isolation, and its sturdy coil-and-latex support suits heavier bodies.
The tested build rates about 7/10 firm, which suits back and stomach sleepers. Plush and Firm versions are also listed. It's GOTS and GOLS certified and handmade in the USA. Expect about $2,099 for a queen, often around $1,889, with a 365-night trial and 25-year warranty.
The trade-off: it's firm and buoyant rather than soft, so lighter side sleepers may find it hard at the shoulder unless they choose the Plush version.
Birch Natural
Latex hybrid · Medium-firm
- $1,399 queen
- 120 nights
- Lifetime
- 10″ tall
The Birch Natural gives you a similar recipe to the Avocado, with organic latex, New Zealand wool and wrapped coils, for less. It rates 5/5 for cooling and sits around 6.5/10 firm, which suits back and combination sleepers. It uses a wool fire barrier instead of chemical flame retardants.
Birch lists the queen at about $1,865, often around $1,399 with a promo code, with a 120-night trial and a lifetime warranty.
The trade-off: pressure relief rates only 3/5, so it isn't the best fit for side sleepers with sore shoulders. Birch's trial wording focuses on exchanges, so check its return terms before you buy.
Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam
Memory foam · Medium-firm
- $399 queen
- 100 nights
- 10 years
- 10″ tall
Most cheap foam mattresses sleep warm. The Cocoon Chill is the exception on paper: a phase-change cooling cover over memory foam earns it 5/5 for cooling, and it costs about $399 on sale for a queen (about $599 list). It's a medium-firm 6.5/10, good for back and combination sleepers and for couples, with 5/5 motion isolation.
It's made by Sealy and comes with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty.
The trade-off: edges are only average, and pricing has varied over time, so confirm it on Cocoon's site. Cover-based cooling is strongest when you first lie down; heavier sleepers who sink deep may still feel warm.
Purple Mattress
Memory foam · Medium-firm
- $1,599 queen
- 100 nights
- 10 years
- 9.3″ tall
Want an all-foam bed without memory-foam heat? The original Purple Mattress uses the same GelFlex Grid as the Restore, over comfort and support polyfoam. It's not memory foam at all, so it doesn't hug and hold heat. It rates 4/5 for cooling, pressure relief and motion isolation, at a medium-firm 6/10.
The queen lists at about $1,599, with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty.
The trade-off: at 9.25 inches it's thin, so heavier sleepers may bottom out, and it lacks the coil airflow of the hybrid. It's a good fit for average-weight side and back sleepers who run warm.
How to choose a cooling mattress for hot sleepers
Start with construction, not marketing. The table below compares our top cooling picks side by side.
| Spec | Purple Restore Hybrid | Saatva Classic | Avocado Green Mattress | Birch Natural | Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam | Purple Mattress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid | Innerspring | Latex hybrid | Latex hybrid | Memory foam | Memory foam |
| Firmness | 5.5/10 (Medium) | 5.8/10 (Medium) | 7.0/10 (Firm) | 6.5/10 (Medium-firm) | 6.5/10 (Medium-firm) | 6.0/10 (Medium-firm) |
| Queen price (approx.) | $2,399 | $1,895 | $1,889 | $1,399 | $399 | $1,599 |
| Height | 11.5″ | 11.5″ | 11″ | 10″ | 10″ | 9.3″ |
| Sleep trial | 100 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | Lifetime | 25 years | Lifetime | 10 years | 10 years |
| Pressure relief | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Cooling | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Motion isolation | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Edge support | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Price check | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price |
Prices are approximate queen prices when we last checked and change often. Ratings are 1-5 from published specs and independent test results: see how we score.
Construction ranked by how cool it sleeps
- Innerspring and coil-on-coil: the most airflow. Best for very hot sleepers.
- Latex hybrids: latex is breathable and buoyant, so you sleep "on" it, not in it.
- Grid or foam hybrids: coils help a lot; thick memory foam on top cancels some of the benefit.
- All-foam: usually the warmest. Look for open-cell foam, phase-change covers or non-memory-foam layers.
For more on how materials compare, read hybrid vs memory foam.
Firmness affects temperature too
The more you sink in, the more surface is wrapped in material, and the warmer you get. Hot sleepers should choose the firmest feel their position allows.
The mattress firmness scale
- Soft (1-3) Deep hug. Mostly lighter side sleepers.
- Medium-soft (4-5) Cushioned shoulders and hips. Side sleepers.
- Medium (5-6) Balanced. Combination sleepers. Examples: Purple Restore Hybrid, Saatva Classic, Sleep Number c2, Zinus Original Green Tea Memory Foam
- Medium-firm (6-7) The most popular range. Back and combination sleepers. Examples: Bear Elite Hybrid, Birch Natural, Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam
- Firm (7-8) Flat support. Stomach sleepers and heavier back sleepers. Examples: Allswell 10" Hybrid, Amerisleep AS2, Avocado Green Mattress, Casper The One
- Extra-firm (8-10) Minimal sink. Some heavier stomach sleepers. Examples: Siena Signature 10" Memory Foam
- Side sleepers: about 5-6.5. A grid or latex hybrid gives pressure relief without deep sinking. Our best mattresses for side sleepers include several cool options.
- Back sleepers: about 6-7. See also the best mattresses for back pain.
- Stomach sleepers and heavier bodies (over 230 lb): about 7-8, with coils. Our best firm mattresses list has more.
See the mattress firmness scale for the full chart.
Cooling claims to be skeptical of
Many brands market cooling covers, gel, copper or graphite. These can make the surface feel cooler at first, but independent results vary. One reviewer measured a large temperature rise on the Bear Elite Hybrid despite its cooling cover, and another rated the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe's phase-change cover only average. On the other end, the TEMPUR-Adapt rates just 2/5 for cooling. Dense memory foam is great at pressure relief, not heat. If you love memory foam, see our best memory foam mattresses and choose a model with a 4-5 cooling rating. Hybrid shoppers can compare more coil options in the best hybrid mattresses.
Beyond the mattress
Bedding matters: breathable cotton or linen sheets and a non-plastic protector help. A cool room helps too. If your current bed has soft spots that swallow you, it may simply be worn out; see how long do mattresses last.
Buy smart
Cooling is hard to judge in a showroom, so a long trial is valuable. Compare policies in our mattress trial and return policies guide. Check timing in the best time to buy a mattress, confirm your mattress size, and plan for mattress disposal. New to all this? Start with how to choose a mattress.
Frequently asked questions
What type of mattress sleeps the coolest?
Innerspring and hybrid mattresses usually sleep coolest, because the coil layer leaves room for air to move. Latex is the most breathable foam-like material. All-foam mattresses, especially thick, dense memory foam, tend to sleep warmest, though open-cell foams, grid layers and phase-change covers can help. Firmer feels also run cooler because you sink in less.
Do cooling mattresses really work?
Construction works better than marketing. Coils, latex, wool and grid layers improve airflow in a way you can feel through the night. Cooling covers and infused foams can feel cool to the touch at first, but independent testing shows mixed results. If you sleep very hot, put construction first, and treat cooling covers as a bonus.
Is memory foam bad for hot sleepers?
Traditional dense memory foam does tend to trap heat, because it molds closely around your body and responds to warmth by softening. Newer foams with open cells, gel or phase-change covers do better. The Cocoon Chill rates 5/5 for cooling in our data, while the TEMPUR-Adapt rates 2/5, so the model matters more than the label.
What firmness is best for hot sleepers?
Choose the firmest feel your sleep position allows. A medium-firm bed, around 6-7 on the 10-point scale, keeps you on top of the comfort layer so less of your body is wrapped in material. Side sleepers usually can't go that firm comfortably, so they should prioritize a coil or latex hybrid at around 5-6.5.
Is latex a good choice for hot sleepers?
Yes. Natural latex has an open structure that breathes better than memory foam, and it pushes back, so you sleep on top of it rather than in it. Pairing latex with coils and wool, as the Avocado Green and Birch Natural do, adds even more airflow. The trade-off is a bouncier, firmer feel that some side sleepers find less cushioning.