The Best Cooling Mattress Toppers and Pads

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Many of us have fallen in love instantaneously with a mattress, but as soon as the first night of inaugural sleep arrived, the mattress woke us up due to excessive heat. This guide explains why some mattresses feel warm and how a cooling topper can help.

Key Specs Compared

Numbers match the reviews below (tap to jump).

Key specs of the 5 cooling mattress toppers reviewed below

#	Type	Thickness	Cooling feature	Certification	Warranty
1	Foam topper	3"	Cool-to-touch knit cover	–Not confirmed	–Not confirmed
2	Gel memory foam	4"	Gel swirl, ventilation holes	CertiPUR-US	3-yr
3	Gel memory foam	4"	Gel, ventilation channels	CertiPUR-US	3-yr
4	Egg crate gel foam	3"	Gel swirl, egg crate surface	CertiPUR-US	–Not confirmed
5	Quilted pad	–Not confirmed	300TC cotton top	OEKO-TEX	–Not confirmed

✓ yes · ✗ no · – not confirmed · Specs as stated on the Amazon listing or by the maker · Not a treatment for any condition

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Why Does My Mattress Overheat?

Many mattresses today use memory foam and other dense foams. Dense foam lets less air move through it, and memory foam softens with body heat and lets you sink in, so there’s less airflow around your body. That’s why some people feel warm on an all-foam bed. A cool, dark room helps with sleep, and the NHLBI lists a comfortable bedroom temperature among its healthy sleep habits.^[1] If night sweats keep waking you up, see a doctor.

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What Can I Do To Keep Cool At Night?

Here are a few things you can do.

1. Get A Decent Mattress Protector – a breathable protector keeps sweat out of the mattress, and a padded one adds a little comfort. Waterproof protectors are useful if you sweat a lot, though some feel warmer.
2. Keep the Bedroom Cool – Use lighter bedding and breathable sheets, and keep the room cool. Regular exercise also helps sleep, though it’s best not to work out right before bed.^[1]
3. Buy A Cooling Gel Foam Mattress Topper – The quickest fix to this problem, however, is a gel mattress topper. Makers say gel and ventilation help the foam hold less heat.

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Features of a Good Cooling Mattress Topper

Mattress pads have varying features that you might find interesting before purchasing one to stop overheating at night.

• Talalay Process – Talalay is a way of making latex in a mold. Latex is generally more open and springy than memory foam, and many latex toppers have pinholes for airflow.
• Thickness – thicker toppers change the feel of the bed more. Thick memory foam can also feel warmer, so look for ventilation. Side sleepers often like 3 to 4 inches for the shoulders and hips.
• Gel Memory Foam – memory foam softens with body heat and conforms to your shape. Gel is mixed in, often as blue beads or swirls, and makers say it helps the foam stay cooler.
• Fiber Clusters or Feather Stuffing – If you hold a grudge against foam, especially after all of this overheating business, then you should look at fiber cluster technology. Mattress topper’s come in various forms, some of them being stuffed with what looks like lint balls. The air between these fibers lets heat move out. Feathers and shredded foam work in much the same manner.
• Cotton Cover – what you cover your mattress pad in also makes a huge difference. A cotton cover with a high thread count will feel the softest and allow air to escape easily. Make sure to do yourself a favor and get one with a zipper! A cover can also help keep the mattress pad in place.
• Full Mattress Protection – A mattress pad usually provides a barrier between you and your mattress. A mattress pad that covers all sides of the mattress, with an extra-plush top layer for comfort, will be able to protect your mattress more effectively. These pads help keep the mattress clean.
• Waterproof – A waterproof mattress pad is an excellent idea if you need it for somebody that wets the bed or who is prone to making a mess in bed. A waterproof pad also keeps sweat out of the mattress.
• Motion Transfer Control – Firm foam mattress pads have the ability to control motion transfer. This means that you will not disturb the other when shifting around at night if you or your spouse are restless sleepers.
• Washable Cover – A removable, washable cover makes the topper easier to keep fresh.
• Contoured Ridges – Contoured ridges or quilted pockets add softness and let some air move under you.

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What Are Mattress Pads Used For?

Mattress pads are purchased for a variety of reasons. The primary reason for buying a mattress pad is to increase the mattress’s comfort. Mattress pads are used as interim comfort solutions for a mattress with loose springs or sagging after years of use. Support is another reason you should purchase a mattress pad. If you paid a significant amount for an expensive mattress and it’s a fraction too firm or too soft, a mattress pad can be useful in evening out the support you need. If you have back pain that doesn’t go away, see a doctor.^[2] Cooling mattress pads keep the user fresh throughout the night, adding an extra ventilation or heat resistance layer. With the right cooling mattress pad, it is unnecessary to rebuild your entire bed for overheating problems. Mattress pads also help protect mattresses from sweat and spills.

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Cooling Mattress Pad Materials & Considerations

To understand if your mattress pad is truly a cooling mattress pad, it should include one or more of the following materials or characteristics:

1. Ventilation – This is particularly important in a foam mattress pad. Without ventilation, hot air will remain trapped inside the foam, resulting in the same problem often associated with foam mattresses. Ventilation can be achieved with perforations or with a secondary firm foam layer that allows for pockets of air to escape out the sides of the mattress pad.
2. Cooling Gel – Cooling gel is one of the most common techniques used to keep foam mattress pads cool. Makers say the gel absorbs some body heat. Many gel toppers look blue.
3. Graphite – Graphite or activated charcoal is another infusion that manufacturers make in cooling mattress pads. Makers say these help move heat or reduce odors.
4. Natural Materials – Many natural materials are breathable and allow for air to travel through them, which regulates the temperature. Cotton, wool and bamboo-based fabrics are common choices for a breathable pad.
5. Microfiber Clusters – Microfiber clusters are a synthetic alternative to down, so they suit people who avoid feathers. The spaces between the fibers let air move.

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Our Picks: Cooling Mattress Pads & Toppers

Keep yourself cool at night ASAP with one of the cooling foam mattress toppers below. We hope you love the products we recommend!

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1

• Three inches of TEMPUR-ES material with a medium feel.
• The knit cover feels cool to the touch, and Tempur-Pedic says it sleeps up to 8° cooler.
• The cover is removable and washable.
• The queen measures 79.5 x 59.1 x 2.9 inches.

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2

• A 4-inch memory foam topper with a gel swirl infusion.
• Ventilation holes help airflow, per the listing.
• The foam is CertiPUR-US certified, with a 3-year limited warranty.^[3]
• It also comes in 2 and 3-inch versions; allow 24 to 48 hours to expand.

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3

• Four inches of plush memory foam with a gel infusion.
• Cut ventilation channels help airflow.
• The foam is CertiPUR-US certified, with a 3-year limited warranty.^[3]
• It ships compressed; allow 24 to 48 hours to decompress.

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4

• A 3-inch convoluted (egg crate) memory foam topper with a gel swirl.
• The maker says the egg crate surface reduces heat and moisture buildup.
• The foam is CertiPUR-US certified.^[3]
• It also comes in a 2-inch version and fits under a normal fitted sheet.

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5

• A quilted pad with a 300-thread-count cotton top and down alternative fill.
• The listing says it’s OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified.^[4]
• The deep pocket stretches to fit mattresses up to 21 inches.
• It’s machine washable.

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Index Table: Top Rated Cooling Mattress Pads & Toppers

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Sources

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Healthy Sleep Habits. Accessed October 15, 2026.
2. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH). Back Pain. Accessed October 15, 2026.
3. CertiPUR-US. About Certified Foam. Accessed October 16, 2026.
4. OEKO-TEX. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100. Accessed October 16, 2026.

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Update History

• Oct 2026: Product picks reviewed and updated; added a Key Specs table; added Sources (NHLBI, NIAMS, CertiPUR-US, OEKO-TEX)
• Feb 2022: Added Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling Topper, Linenspa Swirl Gel 4-Inch Memory Topper and Linenspa Egg Crate 3-Inch Gel Memory Foam Topper
• Oct 2019: Added Lucid Gel Topper 4-Inch and LEISURE TOWN Quilted Cotton Mattress Pad
• May 2017: First published

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