Cooling mattresses
A cooling mattress is built to hold less body heat, using springs that let air move, breathable covers, or gel and open-cell foams. No mattress works like air conditioning, but the right one helps stop your bed trapping heat.
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Shop all mattressesWhat makes a mattress cooling?
A mattress sleeps cooler when it holds less of your body heat and lets air move through it. Springs, breathable covers, open-cell or gel-infused foams and natural fillings such as wool are the features that make the difference.
- Springs: air moves through the spaces around pocket springs, so warmth isn't trapped beneath you.
- Breathable covers: a cover that lets air and moisture through stops heat and damp building up at the surface.
- Open-cell and gel-infused foams: open-cell foam gives air more room to pass through than standard memory foam, and gel draws heat away from the surface when you first lie down.
- Wool and latex: wool fillings help regulate temperature, and latex sleeps cooler than memory foam.
Do cooling mattresses really work?
Cooling mattresses work by trapping less heat, not by chilling you: no mattress works like air conditioning, and none can lower the temperature of your bedroom. What a cooling mattress can do is stop the bed itself adding to the warmth.
That's worth knowing when you compare them. Gel can feel cool when you first lie down, then warms towards your body temperature as the night goes on. Springs and breathable covers let air move all night, so if you wake up hot in the small hours, airflow matters more than a cool first touch.
So check which cooling features a mattress actually has. One that combines several, such as springs under a breathable cover, is likely to do more than one relying on a gel layer alone.
Who needs a cooling mattress?
A cooling mattress is worth choosing if you regularly wake up hot or sweaty, share a bed, or sleep in a warm room such as a loft conversion or a top-floor flat.
If you only overheat during a heatwave, try a lighter duvet and an open window before you replace a mattress. If you wake up hot most nights whatever the weather, the mattress is worth looking at, especially if it's an older all-foam one that you sink deeply into.
Which type of mattress is best for hot sleepers?
Pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses usually suit hot sleepers best, because air moves through the springs. Traditional memory foam tends to feel warmer, as it moulds closely around you and leaves less room for air.
| Mattress type | How it handles heat | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket sprung | Air moves freely around the springs | Hot sleepers and couples |
| Hybrid | Springs let air move; the foam on top holds a little more warmth | Hot sleepers who like the feel of foam |
| Gel or open-cell memory foam | Holds less heat than standard memory foam | Memory foam fans who run warm |
| Standard memory foam | Moulds around you, so it can feel warmer | People who often feel the cold |
Memory foam isn't off limits if you run warm: a hybrid mattress with memory foam over pocket springs, or a gel or open-cell memory foam, keeps the feel while holding less heat. And if you're the one who always feels the cold, standard memory foam mattresses may suit you better than a cooling one.
What else keeps you cool in bed?
Besides the mattress, a cooler room and lighter bedding keep you cool in bed: The Sleep Charity suggests a bedroom temperature of around 16 to 18°C.
- Duvet: switch to a lower tog for summer, because a winter duvet will make any bed feel hot.
- Sheets and pyjamas: cotton and linen let heat and moisture escape more easily than polyester.
- Protectors and toppers: a memory foam topper adds a warmer layer, and old-style plastic sheeting traps heat. If you need waterproofing, choose a breathable mattress protector.
- Sharing: two people make more heat than one, and a bigger bed such as a king size mattress gives each of you 75 cm, with more space between you.
Teenagers often sleep hot too, which is worth bearing in mind when you choose from our teen mattresses.
If you can't decide between the feel you like and a cooler build, tell us how you sleep and we'll suggest a few to compare.
Cooling mattresses: your questions answered
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Does gel memory foam keep you cool?
Gel memory foam feels cooler than standard memory foam when you first lie down, because the gel draws heat away from the surface. Over the night it warms towards your body temperature, so it works best alongside a breathable cover and good airflow rather than instead of them.
Is memory foam hot to sleep on?
Memory foam can feel warmer than other mattress types, because it softens with body heat and moulds closely around you, leaving less room for air to move. Plenty of people sleep on it comfortably. If you run warm, look at gel or open-cell memory foam, or a hybrid with memory foam over pocket springs.
What temperature should a bedroom be for sleep?
The Sleep Charity suggests a bedroom temperature of around 16 to 18°C for sleep. If your room runs warmer, open a window or use a fan, close the curtains on hot days and switch to a lighter duvet. A breathable mattress then helps stop the bed adding heat of its own.
Are pocket sprung mattresses cooler than memory foam?
Pocket sprung mattresses usually sleep cooler than memory foam. Air moves through the spaces around the springs, while traditional memory foam moulds closely to your body and holds more warmth. A hybrid, with pocket springs under a foam comfort layer, usually sits between the two.
What mattress is best for couples who sleep hot?
Couples who sleep hot should look first at a pocket sprung or hybrid mattress, because air moves through the springs and pocket springs pass on less movement than open coil. Size helps too: on a double each person has 67.5 cm, while a king gives 75 cm each and a super king 90 cm.
Why do I get so hot in bed at night?
Feeling hot in bed usually comes from several things adding up: a warm room, a heavy duvet, synthetic sheets, a mattress that holds heat and sometimes a partner. Start with the room and bedding, which are the quickest to change. If you often wake drenched in sweat, see your GP, because a mattress can't fix night sweats.
Do teenagers need a cooling mattress?
A cooling mattress isn't essential for a teenager, but many teenagers sleep hot, so a breathable pocket sprung or hybrid single is worth considering. Support matters as much as temperature: medium to medium-firm suits most growing teenagers. A lighter duvet and a cooler bedroom help too.
Do waterproof mattress protectors make you hot?
A waterproof mattress protector can add a little warmth, but modern ones are more breathable than the plastic sheeting many people remember. If you sleep hot and need waterproofing, choose a protector described as breathable and put cotton sheets on top, so the cooling features underneath can still do their job.
Not sure which mattress?
Tell us about your bed and how you sleep, and we'll suggest a few that fit.