I am a certified sweaty sleeper. Yup, you'll never catch me wearing long pants or a long sleeve shirt to bed, but I can't sleep without a cozy comforter on top of me either. I'm that person that has to swing their leg out of the duvet to keep cool most nights. And that's even in the winter! Throw in warm weather and an extra body, and I'm something of a hot mess.
The solution? Not a fan (it could never be me), but a cooling mattress pad. From one hot sleeper to another, adding a temperature-regulating topper to your mattress can honestly make a world of difference. Most are infused with gel, graphite, or some sort of cooling technology to help you dissipate heat throughout the night. With a few inches of thickness, these mattress toppers will up the comfort levels on your mattress too.
Keep scrolling for my fave cooling mattress toppers and pads that have been tried, tested, and recommended by us, so you can buy now, cool off, and catch up on your much-needed rest, ASAP. And if you're not a self-confessed all-year-round hot mess, like me, then I'd still suggest thinking ahead — grab yourself a cooling mattress pad before it gets too hot to sleep.
The best cooling mattress toppers and pads to buy in 2023
Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Want the best in temperature regulation? You'll want to try Slumber Cloud's Core Mattress Pad for one of the coolest nights possible. It takes a proactive approach to temperature control by absorbing and storing excess heat when temperatures are too warm and releasing heat when temperatures are too cold — great for all-year-round use.
FYI this product doesn't have a stand-alone review, as it's more of a protector than a topper, so here's a little more detail:
The cool stuff
This mattress pad's viscose fabric uses NASA-developed technology designed to keep spacesuits cool. Thousands of reviewers have credited this pad with reducing or even eliminating their night sweats. And our reviewer can vouch. Slumber Cloud explains the material features "thousands of microscopic beads called Thermocules, and each one is set to a specific temperature. This counteracts any temperature fluctuations you might experience during the night. As your temperature increases, the beads absorb and store any excess heat away from your body to keep you cool."
Good to know
This is a mattress pad mind, so it won't do anything when it comes to comfort. The Slumber Cloud cooling pad simply does its job at what it claims to do: cool. The price is justified, in my eyes, but if your mattress is past its sleep-by date, I'd suggest scrolling for a foam topper option instead.
If being too hot in bed isn't the only reason you're sleeping uncomfortably, this gel-infused mattress topper may just be the answer to your bad dreams. Incredibly cooling and cushioning with a thick memory foam layer, this topper will transform your sweaty sleep experience.
The cool stuff
This memory foam topper has been infused with gel that is ventilated with purpose-made holes. This allows the air to flow and your body to cool as you sleep. The washable bamboo cover is also breathable, helping to keep your body temperature neutral.
Good to know
This Subrtex gel-infused topper helped our tester sleep sweat-free. But more so, it gave her bed a new lease of life. There are three thickness options to choose from that deftly relieve pressure, and minimize motion transfer making way for a good night's sleep. Our reviewer Alex found the medium to have the ultimate Goldilocks effect in being not too soft, and not too hard. The most impressive thing? The cheap price.
Read our full Subrtex Memory Foam Mattress Topper review.
POV: You've always wanted a Tempur-Pedic mattress, but it's always felt just out of budget. Turn to the Tempur Adapt topper as the next best thing. It is admittedly a bit of a splurge, costing around $400 for a queen, but it's certainly worth the additional cool, comfort, and support — oh, and you can frequently find it on sale.
The cool stuff
This Tempur-Pedic topper ticks off all the boxes for what we look for in a topper to make a mattress feel new again: minimal motion transfer, hypoallergenic, and breathable. The Tempur-Adapt uses exclusive TEMPUR ES material, a one-of-a-kind, extra-soft foam that precisely adapts to your weight, shape, and temperature. The cool-to-the-touch cover is a premium knit, breathable, high-performance cooling design.
Good to know
Our tester loved how easy it was to unpack, she just rolled it onto the bed and gave it time to inflate. The topper used to have a different name before changing its name to the Adapt, ICYWW. At the time of review, this topper was called the Tempur-Topper Supreme.
Read our full Tempur-Topper Supreme review.
For anyone who's looking to keep cool AND save the life of their current mattress without a costly investment, this Allswell 4" memory foam mattress topper is the perfect pick.
The cool stuff
The Allswell brand prides itself on blending state-of-the-art materials with smart temperature-regulating technology and doing so without breaking the bank. Our tester found the topper to give her a more than satisfactory night's sleep. The cool foam promoted airflow and wicked away moisture on hot nights, while antimicrobial copper gel kept the sleep surface cool and fresh.
Good to know
With four inches of open-cell memory foam, this topper offers equal parts plush comfort and superb support. There are layers of luxe memory foam that will not only extend the life of your current mattress but transform the feel of your sleep foundation. This topper doesn't come with a cover, so I'd recommend popping a washable mattress protector on top to help keep it in clean condition.
Read our full Allswell 4" mattress topper review.
Keep your cool without worrying how much your big purchase impacts the environment because this sustainably made mattress pad ticks *almost* all of our eco boxes (no product is totally eco-friendly, remember).
The cool stuff
The Sijo Home CLIMA™ TECH TempTune Mattress Pad cools and heats as you sleep, to keep your temperature regulated whether you're an all-year-round sweaty sleeper or someone who just can't cope in a heatwave. The Mineral-infused Mica Nylon is designed to absorb heat, cooling the surface you sleep on, too. We've called this one in to be tested, and have to say I'm keen to discover how cold this one really is. I'll update you ASAP.
Good to know
The CLIMA™ filler material and eucalyptus-based TENCEL™ Lyocell cover are hypoallergenic, environmentally sustainable, and super luxe to the touch, meaning you can pretty much sleep without the need for a sheet.
Review coming soon.
Real Homes review process
A quick summary of how we test mattresses and toppers: Our expert mattress testers sleep on each featured mattress topper for at least two weeks. All our mattress reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home. Some of our mattress topper reviews are done by members of the Real Homes team, otherwise, we ask our trusted freelancers to sleep on a topper or two for us. A total of four mattress toppers on this list have been reviewed, with one currently in review. We always consider value for money, construction, comfort, and support, whilst focusing, in this case, particularly on their cooling properties. Whilst not forgetting factors like edge support, motion transfer, and spinal alignment, of course.
Meet our mattress topper reviewers:
Jaclyn frequently tests out and stays up to date on all things mattresses and bedding, after previously working at Real Homes, Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home & Livingetc, on their sleep content, too. She's not willing to sacrifice comfort or value and is after a cooling mattress topper that makes it easy to sleep through the night. Luckily, she got to test out Slumber Cloud's cooling mattress pad.
You can also find her work in Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA.
Alexandra is a contributor to Real Homes and she reviews household products to make your life easier at home, whether it's cooking, cleaning, or sleeping — she loved reviewing the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Topper and is eager at giving any other better-sleep buys a try.
Paige is a freelance writer who frequently writes product reviews, health and wellness content, how-to home renovation articles, and more. Her work has appeared in publications including USA Today, Business Insider, Family Handyman, Healthline, and more. Living with a chronic illness, Paige understands the need for quality sleep, and she enjoys reviewing products, including the Allswell 4” Memory Foam Mattress Topper, that help others to live a better quality of life.
How to choose a cooling mattress pad or topper
Finding the right cooling topper will mainly depend on whether you're needing something to up the comfort levels as well as cool your bed. If you're searching for a cheaper way to upgrade your bed, then see our how to choose a mattress topper guide. Otherwise here are a few things to consider:
- Cooling materials Cooling mattress pads are made from materials that absorb body heat and body moisture and regulate your temperature. There is a range of different materials used (some well-guarded secrets), but all aim to increase breathability, which helps cool you down, and reduce sweat. The most breathable materials include cotton, bamboo, open-air, and gel foams.
- Extra support: It's worth ensuring the cooling mattress pad you choose is comfortable. Memory foam options combine cooling properties with extra support.
- Fit: Most cooling mattress pads simply sit on top of your existing mattress. If you're fidgety, look out for one that has elasticated straps to keep it in place. If not, you'll have to haul it back into position every few days.
- Cost: A mattress topper is a much cheaper solution than investing in a brand-new mattress. But if you're seriously overheating, it's worth spending your savings on a breathable mattress with temperature regulation and cooling at its core.
Do cooling mattress toppers really cool?
Short answer: Yes! It may seem like a gimmick, but honestly, a great cooling topper uses impressive temperature control technology and naturally breathable materials to create a cool-to-the-touch sleep surface. Take it from me, they do make a difference. Most mattress brands that offer toppers will have sleep trials, warranties, and free returns policies to make the most of anyway, so you can try if you're not yet fully convinced.
