Sleep Experts Swear By These Mattress Toppers For Sweaty Sleepers (2024)

If you constantly wake up hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable, your

mattress may be to blame. Poor air circulation and trapped body heat often result in a miserable night's sleep, especially during the summer months. But instead of dropping thousands of dollars on a brand-new mattress (or a portable air conditioner for your bedroom), a legit cooling mattress topper could be a better, more affordable alternative.

“Most individuals benefit from a cooler sleeping [body] temperature," says neurologist Dr. Christopher Winter, MD, a sleep specialist at Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and author of the book The Sleep Solution. "So, by adding a cooling mattress topper to your bed, you can create a more positive environment for sleep." After all, the key to a good night’s sleep is regulating your body temperature. The right topper can help you stay cool by promoting airflow, wicking away moisture, or, ideally, both.

After testing dozens of cooling mattress toppers, our team decided this Sleep Innovations product was our best overall pick because it's budget-friendly, built for all kinds of sleepers, and can be bought with a great return policy. We love that it's crafted with cooling gel memory foam that is specifically designed to support all sleep positions. Sensitive sleepers will appreciate that the topper's fabric is hypoallergenic, too.

This topper checks all of our must-have boxes. The four-inch profile combines two layers: A two-inch gel memory foam layer and a two-inch pillow-top cover. The result is a topper with a medium firmness that should satisfy every brand of sleeper, including couples who can't seem to decide on the right firmness. "For the price, this is easily the best mattress topper I've personally tried this year," said Women's Health sleep tester Mike Richard.

The biggest selling point of this entry-level topper is the price. It's available for a fraction of many of its brand-name competition, and buying through Amazon means free delivery (with one-day shipping in some cases) and free returns. Plus, Sleep Innovations adds a 10-year warranty to the mix, so the topper will probably last longer than your mattress.

Read more: Best Cooling Sheets

Latex is something of a miracle material for mattresses and mattress toppers. It's smooth, plush, naturally pressure-relieving, and, most importantly for hot sleepers, cooling. That's all true of Naturepedic's Adagio—a two-inch-thick model that's our favorite latex mattress topper of 2024.

"I wasn't sold at first on the thin-ish two-inch profile and the fact that it's latex," said Richard. "But this is the real deal. My girlfriend and I are both picky sleepers, but the firmness of this topper works great for both of us. Plus, the design just feels luxurious—it's a clear step above almost every other topper we tested this year!" Many of our testers agreed, and all were surprised by the lack of any weird latex odors (a typical complaint in lesser latex-centric bedding products).

The downside? It's pricey. In fact, it's more expensive than almost any other cooling mattress topper we tested this year. But there's no mistaking that this is a premium model, and that includes free shipping and returns. Plus, Naturepedic throws in a generous 100-night sleep trial and a ten-year warranty. So there's a good chance you'll own this for at least as long as you own your current mattress.

Casper's wildly popular mattresses became so thanks to their cutting-edge cooling tech, and the brand's mattress toppers are no different. We love the aptly named Comfy Mattress Topper that adds a just-right layer of perforated, responsive memory foam to your existing bed setup.

The two-layer design is like a miniature version of the brand's cooling mattresses. It combines AirScape perforated foam that whisks away body heat with cradling memory foam that's both responsive and supportive. It's all wrapped in a quilted knit cover that feels great against the skin, is machine-washable, and looks great, too.

Our test panel unanimously agreed that this cooling mattress topper works exactly as promised. "I already own and love a Casper mattress," confirms one of our editors. "But, adding this to the mix really takes the whole setup to a new level. I tend to sleep very hot, but this combination has been a game-changer!"

We also love the affordable price tag (and it's often on sale!), with free shipping and free returns. The five-year warranty is solid, too. Our only real gripe? The 30-night sleep trial is weak compared to the competition.

Sweat-related "bed funk" is something no one talks about, and, honestly, who wants to? But if you sleep hot and sweaty, it's unavoidable. This three-inch memory foam mattress topper from BedStory not only adds support and luxury to your existing mattress, but the odor-absorbing charcoal infused into the materials helps keep unwanted scents and smells at bay, too.

At its core is gel-infused memory foam with a medium firmness that's designed for all sleep positions. The addition of gel adds a cool-to-the-touch effect with the added benefit of helping move trapped body heat. It's all infused with bamboo charcoal to help keep the mattress (and you!) fresh and funk-free while you sleep. Bonus: It's all wrapped in a removable cover that's machine-washable and stays firmly in place with built-in, non-slip elastic straps.

This is one of the most affordable toppers we've tested in the last year that we'd recommend. It's cheaper than almost every other recommendation in this roundup, plus free shipping and returns are included through Amazon. The only downside? There's no explicit sleep trial and the warranty period is unclear with this one.

(Pro tip: You can save a bit more by opting for the two-inch model or splurge on the thicker, more luxurious four-inch upgrade!)

Read more: Best Cooling Comforters

Is it just us or does this topper actually look like clouds? You can trust that the quilted cooling fabric feels that way, too. This model proves that a decent mattress topper doesn't have to cost hundreds of dollars.

The dual-layer design features a 300-thread-count cotton top over a down-alternative fill. The result? A buttery soft, yet supportive polyester base with a soft-on-skin overlay that feels great. It's designed with super-stretchy elastic to fit up to a 21-inch mattress (although, do you really need a topper if you're sleeping like royalty on a 20-plus-inch mattress already?). Thanks to its relatively thin profile, it's also one of the few toppers we tested that's fully machine-washable.

Still, this makes for a surprisingly nice and affordable upgrade to any mattress. Our test panel was universally shocked at how good this topper felt, given its bargain-basem*nt price tag. It's by far the cheapest in our roundup. Plus, we love its sweat-wicking properties and the fact that it's easy to wash, too.

The only real downside? You won't get a sleep trial or a warranty with this model. But, for the price, you can buy two (even three) as backups to keep you snoozing in budget-friendly luxury for years.

Everything Saatva makes is pure bedding gold, including the brand's best-in-class mattress toppers. For those who sleep hot, the Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a godsend. As the name implies, the memory foam core is infused with graphite, offering next-level cooling on even the toastiest summer nights.

The three-inch profile is thicker and more plush than most we tested. But our team agreed that it's still plenty supportive without that weird "sinking in" feeling that most of us dislike. The design also helps reduce motion transfer, which is great for couples who tend to toss and turn.

Other nice-to-have features include an organic cotton cover that's naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and machine-washable. It's also treated with Guardin, a plant-based antimicrobial that helps stop the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria.

This is a premium mattress topper with a premium price tag, so it's more expensive than most we tested. But "if only the best will do," and you don't mind splurging a little, it hardly gets much better than this.

Read more: Best Memory Foam Mattresses

Traditional mattress toppers typically add to the overall thickness of your bed setup to provide additional comfort. Chili Technology achieves that goal in a very different way with its high-tech Cube—a unique "climate control" system built just for your mattress.

The system combines a thin mesh knit mattress topper connected to two remotely-controlled units designed to keep either side of your bed at any temperature between 55-115°F. Think of it like your own personal "bed thermostat." With individually-controlled units, it's perfect for couples who prefer to sleep at different temperatures. No more compromising!

The two-sided design features a cool mesh side made with 100 percent polyester and a quilted side with a blend of 52 percent cotton and 48 percent woven polyester. The entire design is machine-washable and machine-dryable, making for easy care and maintenance.

Our team unanimously loved the idea of this mattress topper. For hot sleepers who've tried and failed with traditional toppers, there's simply nothing quite like the Cube. We were divided, however, on the price. The sky-high price tag makes this a niche product that some may not be able to justify. But, if you're going all in on your bed setup and money is no object, this is definitely worth a look when it comes to the best mattress toppers you can buy.

Many of the same features that make Tempur-Pedic's mattresses great are built into its mattress toppers, too. Its Tempur-Adapt topper is made with the same excellent Tempur material for incredible cooling with a soft, yet supportive construction.

This three-inch topper is thick and ultra-supportive, making it a great option for back pain sufferers. Our panel of sleep testers also agrees that it's the most adaptive, too, so it's perfect for any sleep position and combo sleepers who tend to flip and flop throughout the night. True to Tempur-Pedic's promises, it's also great at regulating body temperature to keep you cool and comfortable all night long. Bonus: The topper is wrapped in a buttery soft, hypoallergenic cover that you can throw right in the washer.

There's no getting around the fact that this is a luxe topper made with best-in-class materials. It looks and feels like a clear step above almost every other topper we tested in the last few years. So, the relatively affordable sale price tag surprised our team. At regular price, it's expensive (compared to almost any other model), but it's regularly available at a deep discount on Amazon and elsewhere.

Meet the experts

• Christopher Winter, MD, is a doctor at Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and author of the book The Sleep Solution.
• Kyle Marquardt is the co-founder of Lori Beds.

How should I clean my mattress topper?

It’s important to keep your mattress topper clean to ensure that it lasts. The toppers themselves are rarely machine-washable. However, most feature a removable cover that is. To clean a mattress topper, use mild detergent and warm water. You can also spot clean with a stain remover if needed, says Marquardt. Be sure to air-dry the topper before making your bed.

How long should the sleep trial period of a mattress topper be?

Most mattress toppers come with a trial period, usually between 30-90 days. During this time, you should be able to determine if the topper is the right fit for you, says Marquardt. If you’re unsatisfied with the topper for any reason, you should be able to return it for a full refund during the trial period.

There are some mattress toppers that don't come with trial periods, so if you'd like to try before you buy, make sure you opt for one that does. If that's not possible, it can also be helpful to look at user reviews.

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