Drift Off Faster With the Best Cooling Mattresses

If you’ve ever overheated while sleeping, you’ll understand its impacts on sleep quality and mood. And you’re far from alone—a recent Gallup poll indicating 14% of adults report being too hot while sleeping most of the time and more than 50% overheating occasionally.¹ The bad news is heat exposure has been shown to increase wakefulness and decrease slow-wave sleep (the most restorative sleep stage) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is important for emotional processing.² No wonder we feel cranky! And if left unchecked it can lead to much worse.

The good news is mattress materials have undergone major upgrades since you bought your current bed. The range of memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses covers the sleep requirements and preferred positions of every kind of sleeper. To help you know where to start, our editors tried out over 60 popular mattresses to rate them based on comfort, support, durability, value and (most importantly) cooling qualities. 

The Editor’s Take

One of the most important steps in setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep is getting your sleep environment to the right temperature—especially if you sleep warm. The best temperature for sleeping is about 65 degrees, and it’s much easier to reach that zone with a cooling, breathable mattress.

While a cooling mattress isn’t going to immediately solve all sleep issues, choosing a mattress with a breathable design—like a hybrid mattress with coils for air transfer or latex, which has an open-cell structure—will help to keep heat from getting trapped against your body. You can also keep an eye out for phase-change materials, which draw excess heat from the body, or cooling gels. Our experts agree that cooling mattresses will help promote airflow and lower temperatures, but results will vary; see our Tips for Staying Cool at Night section below for more details.

Our favorite cooling mattress was the Helix Dawn Elite, which features two layers of coils for air transfer and a cooling top layer. If you’re not ready to purchase a new mattress, Mira Tadros, DO, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recommends considering a cooling mattress topper made with latex or open-cell materials.

— Jaylyn Pruitt, Associate Commerce Editor

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall Cooling Mattress: Helix Dawn Elite
• Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers: Helix Midnight Luxe
• Best Cooling Mattress for Combination Sleepers: Tuft + Needle Mint
• Best Splurge Cooling Mattress: Purple RejuvenatePremier
• Best Firm Cooling Mattress: Plank Firm Luxe
• Best Medium Support Cooling Mattress: Purple Plus
• Best Soft Cooling Mattress: Tuft + Needle Mint Hybrid
• Best Latex Cooling Mattress: Saatva Zenhaven Latex

What to Know About Cooling Mattresses

According to Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, Chief Medical Advisor at Sleepopolis, cooling mattresses work by absorbing and dispersing your body heat, using materials like gels and breathable fabrics. Let’s break down some of the key factors and attributes.

• Materials: Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Rahul Shah, MD, FAAOS, recommends cooling mattresses with features like gel infusion, breathable layers, and phase change materials (PCMs) to help regulate temperature throughout the night. Start shopping for cooling mattresses, and you’ll see that the jargon gets confusing—and fast! So, a good rule of thumb is to research mattresses that support your sleep position and preferred firmness first, then look for models with cooling features.
• Memory Foam vs. Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses feature coils plus memory foam, so not only will they give you a feel that’s closer to a traditional sprung mattress but also offer greater airflow through the coiled layers. Memory foam mattresses, on the other hand, offer less airflow, but many now incorporate open-cell foam layers and cooling gels and infusions to keep temperatures down during sleep. Our experts recommend both. So it really comes down to the feel you prefer rather than one construction being superior to the other.
• Cooling Features: Most mattresses are constructed from several layers of fabrics, foams, and sometimes coils—and several layers of manufacturer claims to boot. Dr. Tadros breaks down some key features to look for: “Pocket coils, in particular, are where coil springs are individually wrapped in fabric and packed tight so they don’t shift with body movement, leading to less motion transfer while remaining cold,” she says. “Cooling gel is also used sometimes, not just in mattresses but also in mattress toppers, and absorbs body heat. Open-cell foam mattresses, where the foam has patterned holes to make it less dense, are essentially adding aerating pockets to the structure.”
• Phase Change Materials (PCMs): PCMs have been shown to improve thermoregulation (albeit for short periods).³ The materials change state (from solid to liquid or vapor) due to temperature variations, essentially storing some of the heat generated while we sleep. As Dr. Tadros explains: “An example of PCM is water, but new mattresses use modern PCMs which can store more heat, which allows for more consistent cooling during sleep and can draw excess heat from the body.”
• Latex: Hypoallergenic and naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and dust mites, latex might not jump to mind when considering cooling mattresses. But the natural open-cell structure promotes airflow while drawing heat away from the body. Some hybrid and memory foam mattresses incorporate a layer of latex in their construction. See our Purple RejuvenatePremier and Saatva Zenhaven Latex reviews below to see how they performed.
• Firmness and Sleeping Positions: When shopping for a cooling mattress (or any mattress for that matter), the first consideration should always be finding a level of comfort and support that keeps your spine in alignment in your preferred sleep position. Check out our handy Firmness Scale to find the firmness that fits.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Hot Sleepers

If your nighttime internal temperatures are keeping you awake, there’s a lot to love about the improved airflow and cooling technologies of modern mattresses. Our experts caution, however, not to go all-in on a new mattress based on its cooling qualities alone. “If you are a particularly hot sleeper, consider a hybrid mattress with pocket coils and latex,” Dr. Tadros says. “It’s important to take into consideration your other priorities. For instance, if you are a side sleeper and you have a bed partner who moves around, memory foam might be a good option, but since memory foam alone might not allow for cooling, you can consider a hybrid with pocket coils or cooling gel.”

Factors That May Affect Your Body Temperature and Sleep

The condition of your mattress can have enormous impacts on whether you sleep hot or cold, as can the amount of air circulation allowed by the various layers of coils and foams. As Dr. Tadros notes, there are also a range of physical reasons why some people sleep warmer than others. 

“Hormonal fluctuations can disrupt body temperatures at night—including women around menstruation, where there is an increase in body temperature before a period,” she says. “Perimenopause and menopausal women experience more night sweats and hot flashes, and there is data that suggest that using a cooling mattress pad system helps reduce sleep disturbances and hot flashes. Pregnant women might also experience higher levels of estrogen leading to running warm.”

Dr. Tadros emphasizes that some medications and medical conditions can lead to feeling more warm at night and that you should speak with your doctor if it’s a consistent issue.

See our Tips for Staying Cool at Night section below for more expert advice on how to beat the heat.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall Cooling Mattress:

Helix Dawn Elite at Helix

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Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress at Amazon $2,155

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Best Cooling Mattress for Combination Sleepers:

T&N Mint Mattress at Tuft & Needle

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Best Splurge Cooling Mattress:

Purple RejuvenatePremier Mattress at Purple

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Best Firm Cooling Mattress:

Plank Firm Luxe Hybrid Mattress at Plankmattress.com

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Best Medium Support Cooling Mattress:

Purple Plus Mattress at Purple

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Best Soft Cooling Mattress:

Tuft & Needle T&N Mint Hybrid Mattress at Amazon $1,889

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Best Latex Cooling Mattress:

Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress at Saatva $3,295

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Best Overall Cooling Mattress

Helix Dawn Elite

PHOTO: Helix

View on Helix

Who It’s Best For

The firm support and cooling topper provided instant relief to existing aches and pains, making it an excellent choice for people willing to spend a little more for a superb night’s sleep.

Who Should Skip It

At 16 inches, this is a tall mattress and won’t be ideal for short-statured people or those who struggle to climb in and out of bed.

Why We Like It

From the first night, we loved this mattress’s firm support—instantly relieving aches and eliminating upper back pain. The plush comfort insert top layer allowed the perfect amount of give for side sleeping while also helping to regulate temperatures when sharing the bed. Whether side, back or stomach sleeping, we found it easy to get comfortable, with very little readjustment required. All in all, this mattress had us sleeping deeper, waking more well rested, and finding any old excuse to climb back into bed.

What It’s Made Of

The Helix Dawn Elite combines five layers of high-density foam with two wrapped microcoil layers. It’s topped with a plush, quilted layer featuring GlacioTex Elite cooling phase change fabric for temperature regulation.

It’s Worth Noting

This is a very tall (16 inches) mattress, and even though it comes wrapped in a box, you definitely need at least two people to move it up or down stairs. The mattress also arrived sans pillowtop, so we had to wait an extra four days before we could sleep on it.

Product Details

• Type: Hybrid 
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
• Firmness Level: Medium Firm (4/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns
• Warranty and Return Policy: 15-year warranty, 100-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The Health editor who tested this mattress is a side sleeper who experiences back pain and sleeps hot in a home with minimal AC. They generally prefer firmer mattresses that conform to their body and don’t sag or sink.

• Health / Abby Moore
• Health / Abby Moore
• Health / Abby Moore
• Health / Abby Moore

Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress

PHOTO: Helix

$2,155 at Amazon$1,374 at HelixView on Raymourflanigan.com

Who It’s Best For

The plush support and cooling qualities of the Helix Midnight Luxe make this mattress a great choice for side sleepers and people who like to sleep in cushiony comfort.

Who Should Skip It

This mattress’s medium firmness is not ideal for stomach sleepers or people who require a more rigid sleep platform.

Why We Like It

Medium-firm and cushiony, this mattress strikes a near-perfect balance between plushness and support—delivering a floaty sleep experience. The multilayered foams conformed to our body shapes, delivering superb spinal alignment, even while side sleeping. We felt instant relief for aching muscles and joints. We lost less sleep due to overheating or readjusting our positions for comfort in the night, finding ourselves waking in the same position we’d fallen asleep in. And we’re confident that the sturdy construction from premium materials will have us looking forward to bedtime for many years to come.

What It’s Made Of

The Helix Midnight Luxe combines the stability of a high-density foam base and wrapped coil layer with three layers of memory foam. The mattress is topped with a choice of either an ultra-breathable TENCEL cover or GlacioTex cooling cover.

It’s Worth Noting

Despite trying a couple of different styles of fitted sheets (deep pocket and regular), we’ve had trouble with our bottom sheets staying on the mattress during the night.

Product Details

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Short Queen, King, Cal King, RV King
• Firmness Level: Medium (3/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns
• Warranty and Return Policy: 10–15-year warranty, 100-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The editors who tested this mattress sleep in all positions and suffer from neck and back complaints. They regularly overheat while sleeping and have had trouble falling and staying asleep in the past.

• Health / Pamela Jew
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Erika Reals
• Health / Erika Reals
• Health / Erika Reals

Best Cooling Mattress for Combination Sleepers

T&N Mint Mattress

PHOTO: Tuft + Needle

View on Tuft & Needle

Who It’s Best For

The cool comfort, motion control, and pressure relief provided by the Tuft + Needle Mint are perfect for combination sleepers and people who move around the bed throughout the night.

Who Should Skip It

The medium firmness may not be adequate for people with heavier bodies or those who prefer to sleep on their stomachs.

Why We Like It

True to its medium firmness, the Tuft + Needle Mint mattress straddles the mid-ground between plushness and support. We loved how well it absorbs motion transfer to eliminate partner disturbance. The memory foam gently hugged our contours to offer superb spine alignment, with no lasting indentations after long periods in the same position. The removable, washable cover is super convenient, especially if you use it as a kids’ mattress. And the open-cell foam infused with cooling gel kept temperatures down, even for active sleepers.

What It’s Made Of

The T&N Mint is constructed from a 6.5-inch base layer of foam, topped with a breathable layer of open-cell foam infused with heat-conducting graphite and two inches of adaptive foam. It also features reinforced edge support and a removable, machine-washable top cover.

It’s Worth Noting

The lack of handles makes this mattress tricky to move or rotate. The medium firmness of the memory foam may not appeal to people who prefer a more rigid sleep platform.

Product Details

• Type: Memory foam 
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
• Firmness Level: Medium (3/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns
• Warranty and Return Policy: 10-year limited warranty, 100-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

This bed was tested by a parent and child combo and was set up primarily for the child who is an active sleeper. As well as performance during sleep, they measured comfort and support while reading and cohabiting the bed.

• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson

Best Splurge Cooling Mattress

Purple RejuvenatePremier Mattress

PHOTO: Mattress World Northwest

View on PurpleView on Mattresswarehouse.com

Who It’s Best For

Delivering excellent spine alignment, plush support and noticeable temperature control, the Purple RejuvenatePremier is a solid investment for people wanting reduced pain and more restful sleep.

Who Should Skip It

This premium mattress has a high-end price tag to match, so it’s definitely a splurge item and likely out of reach for most shoppers.

Why We Like It

Though initially, we wondered if this mattress would be too soft, we found it hugged our contours in cushiony comfort to deliver superb alignment and a floaty night’s sleep. The foam conformed to our body shapes, adjusting as we moved through the night with ample support and never too much “sink.” Importantly, the cooling qualities lived up to the manufacturer’s claims—a noticeable improvement for our two hot-sleeping testers. After a few weeks using this mattress, we woke less frequently at night and experienced relief from existing soreness. And while tracking our sleep on our watches, we recorded a significant increase in deep sleep, leaving us feeling better rested and energized for the next day.

What It’s Made Of

The Purple Rejuvenate Premier is constructed from several layers of adaptive foam, Talalay latex, supportive GelFlex® Grid Plus and five-zone responsive coils. The cooling quilted top cover features an antimicrobial finish.

It’s Worth Noting

At 18.5 inches, this mattress is very tall, so you will need fitted sheets with deep pockets to stay in place during the night. The height could also pose a problem for people with mobility issues. Also, obviously, the price tag of this mattress will be outside the budget of most. 

Product Details

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King
• Firmness Level: Medium (3/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns and in-home setup
• Warranty and Return Policy: 10-year warranty, 100-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The editors who tested this mattress are stomach and combination sleepers who move frequently during sleep and often overheat. They both suffer from sporadic neck and back pain.

• Health / David Engler
• Health / David Engler
• Health / David Engler

Best Firm Cooling Mattress

Plank Firm Luxe Hybrid Mattress

PHOTO: Plank

View on Plankmattress.com

Who It’s Best For

This flippable mattress offers firm or extra-firm options, as well as cooling technology that’s great for stomach, back, and hot sleepers.

Who Should Skip It

If you’re after pillow-like plushness or you sleep predominantly on your side, this is likely not the right mattress for you.

Why We Like It

The flippable Plank Firm Luxe offers two support options—firm or extra-firm—and we loved the firm side for its pressure-relieving and sink-free support. Immediately it had us falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, and tossing and turning less frequently than a memory foam mattress. We loved the airflow provided by the open-cell technology and coil core, which easily dissipates heat, even with dual hot sleepers sharing the bed. Overall, we noted an improvement in sleep quality and some reduction in pain, so we would recommend this mattress for stomach and back sleepers who prefer a more rigid sleep surface.

What It’s Made Of

This flippable mattress features a quilted top and bottom, multiple layers of high-density support foam, 6-inch individually encased coils, and extra firm, responsive comfort foam. You can add a GlacioTex cooling cover at checkout, though we found the mattress’s breathability provided excellent temperature control.

It’s Worth Noting

This is a heavy mattress, and in the king size is pretty much impossible to move or flip on your own. Its firm and extra-firm support is likely too rigid for full-time side sleeping.

Product Details

• Type: Hybrid 
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Short Queen, King, Cal King, Split King, Short Queen, Short King
• Firmness Level: Flippable: Firm (4/5) and Extra-firm (5/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns
• Warranty and Return Policy: 120-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The editor who tested this mattress is a side and stomach sleeper who suffers from lower back and hip pain. They generally prefer softer mattresses, reposition often during the night, and are also prone to overheating.

• Health / Steven Schrimpf
• Health / Steven Schrimpf
• Health / Steven Schrimpf
• Health / Steven Schrimpf

Best Medium Support Cooling Mattress

Purple Plus Mattress

PHOTO: Purple Mattress

View on Purple

Who It’s Best For

The Purple Plus Mattress offers targeted support that’s ideal for side sleepers, as well as impressive temperature control for people prone to overheating.

Who Should Skip It

With medium firmness, this mattress is not ideal for stomach sleepers or people who prefer a more rigid and supportive sleep environment.

Why We Like It

Though this mattress is a little softer (medium) than others we tried, we loved how it cradled our contours, allowing us to sleep in multiple positions with targeted support in exactly the right places. The amount of give in the shoulder area, especially, was perfect for side sleeping, allowing us to return to a preferred position without exacerbating existing pain from an ongoing shoulder issue. Though we didn’t notice any great difference in sleep quality, the lack of partner disturbance definitely had us waking less frequently at night. We loved that the cooling qualities of the materials lived up to the manufacturer claims—offering excellent heat dissipation for a below-median price.

What It’s Made Of

The Purple Plus Mattress is constructed from two inches of Purple’s signature GelFlex® Grid foam, a layer of breathable comfort foam, edge-support foam, and a double layer of base foam for added stability. It’s topped with a stretch Softflex cover.

It’s Worth Noting

Though we liked the feel of this mattress and noted some improvements in motion transfer and temperature control, we’d stop short of calling it a life-changing purchase. But if your preference is for a softer sleep platform with better-than-average breathability for a below-average price, the Purple Plus is worth a try.

Product Details

• Type: Memory foam 
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King
• Firmness Level: Medium (3/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns
• Warranty and Return Policy: 10-year warranty, 100-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The editor who tested this mattress prefers side sleeping but had resorted to back sleeping to alleviate shoulder pain. They are a light sleeper and wake easily due to partner disturbance.

• Health / Hildara Araya
• Health / Hildara Araya

Best Soft Cooling Mattress

Tuft & Needle T&N Mint Hybrid Mattress

PHOTO: Tuft & Needle

$1,889 at AmazonView on Tuft & NeedleView on Raymourflanigan.com

Who It’s Best For

With a plush foam surface above the rigidity and airflow of a coil base, this mattress is a solid choice for people who aren’t quite ready for a full-foam experience.

Who Should Skip It

If you’re looking for a mattress to alleviate joint and muscle pain, we didn’t notice a marked reduction (nor an increase) in pain during four weeks of testing. 

Why We Like It

Sitting on this mattress it felt bouncy, though as soon as we lay down we could feel its pillowy surface conforming to our contours and distributing our weight. We loved how this even distribution confined any movement to a small area. And despite taking a little getting used to at first, we found it offers excellent spine alignment and has definitely helped alleviate overheating. All in all, if you’re transitioning from a traditional spring mattress to foam, or just like the feel and airflow of hybrid mattresses, this is a super-comfortable mid-range mattress, if a little bouncier than most.

What It’s Made Of

The T&N Mint Hybrid Mattress features a 6-inch layer of individually wrapped springs, with increased density springs at the perimeter for edge support. A layer of nanocoils is topped with adaptive foam infused with graphite and cooling gel, and diamond-infused memory foam. The plush, ultra-soft top cover is breathable, removable, and machine washable.

It’s Worth Noting

At “medium-plush” firmness, the T&N Mint Hybrid is likely not the best choice for stomach sleepers. It also feels bouncy while you’re in a sitting position, though it feels less so when you lie down.

Product Details

• Type: Hybrid 
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
• Firmness Level: Medium plush (2/5)
• Delivery: Free shipping and returns
• Warranty and Return Policy: 10-year limited warranty, 100-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The editor who tested this mattress is a hot sleeper who moves around a lot during the night. They sleep in all positions but often wake on their stomach, which can aggravate lower back pain.

• Health / Abigail Mercer
• Health / Abigail Mercer
• Health / Abigail Mercer
• Health / Krisha Joshi
• Health / Krisha Joshi
• Health / Krisha Joshi
• Health / Krisha Joshi

Best Latex Cooling Mattress

Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress

PHOTO: Saatva

$3,295 at Saatva

Who It’s Best For

The cooling qualities of the hypoallergenic natural materials make this a great mattress for allergy sufferers and hot sleepers.

Who Should Skip It

The premium natural materials come at a premium price, and the feel of latex won’t be to everyone’s tastes, so we’d recommend trying one out before purchase.

Why We Like It

After a misfire on the first night (too soft on the “luxury-plush” side), we flipped the mattress and found a superb balance of softness and support on the “gentle-firm” side—even while side sleeping. We found the plush top offered excellent comfort, while the firmness of the latex beneath kept spines aligned. We noticed a marked reduction in neck pain during testing (though it wasn’t alleviated entirely). And we loved that the breathability of the natural materials had us sleeping cooler. We also loved that these materials are naturally hypoallergenic, and resistant to mold, mildew, and dust mites. Of course, if natural materials aren’t at the top of your checklist, you’ll find cheaper cooling mattress options. But we found this mattress lived up to its claims of “pressure relieving comfort” and recommend it as a solid latex option.

What It’s Made Of

The flippable Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress is made from five-zone natural latex with vented airflow channels. It’s topped with a breathable organic cotton cover and moisture-wicking organic New Zealand wool.

It’s Worth Noting

While the dual-firmness options of this flippable mattress are useful if you don’t know what you want, we found we only really liked one side of the mattress and we’d likely never flip it. Also, if you’ve never slept on latex, the feel can be off-putting, so it’s a good idea to try before you buy.

Product Details

• Type: Latex foam 
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King, Upper-Flex King
• Firmness Level: Flippable: Luxury plush (2/5) or Gentle firm (4/5)
• Delivery: Free in-room delivery and setup and mattress removal
• Warranty and Return Policy: Lifetime warranty, 365-night free trial

Meet Our Tester

The editor who tested this mattress suffers from sporadic neck pain. They are a side sleeper who overheats while sleeping and has had trouble staying asleep. 

• Health / Bronwyn Barnes
• Health / Bronwyn Barnes
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson
• Health / Dera Burreson

Our Testing Process

To help create our test methodology, and to inform what attributes we should be looking for in cooling mattresses, we spoke with several physical therapists, and sleep and spinal experts. These included:

• Angelie Mascarinas, MD, Board-Certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Doctor with fellowship training in interventional spine and musculoskeletal care, Hospital for Special Surgery NYC 
• Rahul Shah, MD, FAAOS, a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
• Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, Chief Medical Advisor at Sleepopolis
• Karena Wu, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, CSCS, CKTP, CPI, FAAOMPT, Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in NYC & India
• Mira Tadros, DO, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

On the advice of spinal expert Dr. Mascarinas, we selected a range of cooling mattresses with medium to firm support, in order to promote spinal alignment. Each of our editors was designated a mattress based on their preferred sleep positions and physical considerations. Several of our editors regularly sleep hot, and manage a range of conditions including back, neck and shoulder pain. 

During testing, first we took notes on setup, including ease of delivery, mattress expansion, and odors (if present). We then tested each bed every night for a period of four weeks. Metrics we recorded included first impressions, comfort in various positions, support, sleep improvement, temperature control, and value. 

Health’s Firmness Scale

At Health, we have our own firmness scale, where we rate mattresses from 1 to 5, from soft to extra firm. While you might see a mattress rating out of 10 when browsing manufacturer websites, we measure out of 5 because, in practice, there’s not much difference between all 10 levels of firmness. More importantly, you won’t see many mattresses at either extreme of the 10-scale. We’ve decided to keep our scale to the middle of that scale and rate them out of 5 so you know what to expect.

Firmness at a Glance
Firmness Level	Description	Who It’s Best For
1	Soft: These mattresses offer the lowest level of support and the highest level of “sinking in”	Potentially back and side sleepers; these may work for people in smaller bodies, but ultimately they won’t provide much support
2	Soft Plus: A soft sink with some added support for alignment, typically from coils	Sleepers looking for a lot of pressure relief around the shoulders and hips; people in smaller bodies
3	Medium: You’ll still have some level of sink, but your spine should be in alignment and well-supported	Side sleepers; will also work for most sleepers, aside from those who sleep exclusively on their stomachs
4	Firm: These offer sturdy support with very little sink	People with back pain who need a little extra alignment; stomach sleepers
5	Extra Firm: The highest level of support. You’ll find little to no conforming.	People with larger bodies or anyone who likes a firm sleeping surface

More Cooling Mattresses to Consider

The mattresses below didn’t top any of our categories, but they still may be of interest to you:

• Plank Firm Mattress: Opting for the medium-firm side of this mattress, we enjoyed the balance of softness and support, and recorded an improvement in sleep quality. The optional cooling cover, however, didn’t make a whole lot of difference and we questioned whether it was worth the extra $100 spend.
• Leesa Original Hybrid: This mattress offered great cooling effectiveness and we found it comfortable and supportive on our backs and sides. We’d caution that it is very firm, however, and would only recommend for sleepers who like a rigid platform.

Tips for Staying Cool at Night 

If you run hot at night, and you’re not quite sure you’re ready to invest in a new mattress, our experts offered a bunch of tips to keep things cool.

• Dr. Wu suggests having your sheets loosely tucked in at the feet and the sides to allow a lower leg limb to be exposed to dissipate heat. She also recommends not having too many pillows, animals, or your partner too close. If you can help it. 
• Dr. Tadros notes that it’s important to keep the room cold–between 60 and 67°F (15.9–19.4°C). Because our core body temperature drops at night, keeping the room cold keeps our core temperatures from increasing during sleep, leading to wake-ups or sleep disruptions. Other cooling bedding, like cooling pillows, can also help to bring down the temperature for better sleep.
• As counterintuitive as it sounds, both Drs. Tadros and Shah recommend taking a warm shower before bed. “This will increase the blood flow to the skin,” Dr. Shah says. “Once out of the shower, this will result in a cooling of the body and may help with getting one a bit cooler at bedtime.”

Who We Are

Samson McDougall is a journalist, copywriter, editor and biology graduate. His work encompasses everything from web copy for science museums to sexual health articles for universities, info sheets for first-in-category pharmaceuticals to brand messaging for wearable touch therapy by neuroscientists. Samson is a walker, hiker, biker and surfer, and has multiple injuries to show for his active lifestyle. He is a side sleeper and has been prone to insomnia, but having children fixed that.