In addition to feeling cool and breathable, the best cooling mattress toppers will instantly upgrade your bed. That extra layer of memory foam or latex will add softness and comfort to your bed—and mattress toppers cost a fraction of the price of a brand-new mattress. To come up with this list, we thoroughly researched cooling mattress toppers and considered factors like thickness, material, care instructions, and more. We also took special certifications (like CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX Standard 100) into account when coming up with our recommendations. Our best overall pick is the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper, which is incredibly comfortable and cooling thanks to an innovative layer of graphite. But if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, then the Lucid Zoned Gel Mattress Topper is a great affordable alternative. It’s made with cooling gel-infused memory foam and has a ventilated design to improve airflow. These are the best cooling mattress toppers for hot sleepers.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall Cooling Mattress Topper: Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper Best Budget Cooling Mattress Topper: Lucid Zoned Gel Mattress Topper Best Memory Foam Cooling Mattress Topper: Layla Memory Foam Topper Best Latex Cooling Mattress Topper: PlushBeds 100 Percent Natural Latex Topper

Who it isn’t for: People who are looking for an affordable way to make their bed more comfortable. Saatva’s mattress topper comes in three options, but the graphite version is our top pick for cooling toppers because it’s designed with hot sleepers in mind. Instead of plain old memory foam, this topper has a graphite layer that draws heat away from your body, ultimately keeping you cool while you sleep. It’s super easy to set up, and once it’s on your mattress it’ll stay in place thanks to the elastic straps. Even though this cooling mattress topper is spot-clean only, it does come with an organic cotton cover to protect the foam. This cooling mattress topper is available in a wide variety of sizes to fit beds ranging from twin to California king (and everything in between). All versions are three inches thick, so the topper will make any bed feel more comfortable and even out lumps. The only major downside is that this mattress topper is definitely on the pricey side—but you can try it out for 180 nights to make sure that it’s the right fit for you. Product Details:

Material: Graphite-infused memory foam; organic cotton coverHeight: 3 inchesAvailable Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split kingCertifications: None listed

Who it isn’t for: People who want a flat mattress topper without textured zones. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, then we recommend checking out Lucid’s Zoned Gel Mattress Topper. Made with CertiPUR-US certified memory foam, this affordable topper is infused with cooling gel and has a ventilated design for extra breathability and airflow. You’ll also notice it has a textured surface, which provides five separate zones to support your pressure points. This mattress topper is available in two- and three-inch versions, so you can choose how much softness you want to add to your mattress. With either option, you should expect to set aside 48 hours for the mattress topper to fully expand. Another thing to keep in mind is that this mattress topper is not machine-washable, so you’ll have to spot-clean it as needed. We think it’s an incredibly great value because it will keep you cool and comfortable at night, but it costs just a fraction of the price of our best overall pick. Product Details:

Material: Gel memory foam Height: 2 or 3 inches Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king Certifications: CertiPUR-US

RELATED: ​​The 4 Best Mattress Toppers, According to Our Tests Who it isn’t for: People who want to add firmness to their mattress. Just like the brand’s mattresses, Layla’s memory foam mattress topper is made with copper-infused gel, which absorbs heat and has natural antimicrobial properties to keep you cool and comfortable. It’s two inches thick, so it will add a decent amount of cushioning to even out your mattress and make it feel more comfortable. Because it’s so plush, this topper is probably not the best option for you if you want your bed to feel firmer. The Layla Topper comes with a 120-day trial, so you have plenty of time to try it out before deciding if it’s the right topper for your needs. It also has a five-year warranty, which covers splitting and cracking of the foam and defects in the cover. The topper has a removable cover, which the brand recommends dry cleaning to preserve the plush texture. You could also choose to wash and dry it on gentle or delicate cycles, but note that any damage that occurs from washing isn’t covered under the warranty. Product Details:

Material: Copper gel-infused memory foam; poly-blend coverHeight: 2 inchesAvailable Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California kingCertifications: CertiPUR-US

RELATED: The 9 Best Cooling Pillowcases for Sweat-Free Nights Who it isn’t for: People who aren’t sure what firmness level they’d like and would rather have fewer options to choose from. This cooling mattress topper from PlushBeds is made of Talalay latex, which is a natural alternative to memory foam. Latex has an open-cell design that promotes airflow and makes it feel more breathable than most types of foam. It’s also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GREENGUARD Gold certified, so you can feel confident in the safety of the materials. But what really sets this mattress topper apart from the others is that there are plenty of ways to customize it. In addition to selecting size and thickness (either two or three inches), you can also choose one of five different firmness levels that range from soft to extra firm. There’s also the option to add on an organic cotton cover for an extra cost, which varies depending on the topper size. But it’s important to note that the cover is not machine washable, so the brand recommends using a mattress protector on top instead. Unfortunately, this is a mattress topper that can’t be returned, but PlushBeds offers a five-year limited warranty (and claims that the topper should last up to 20 years). Product Details:

Material: Talalay latex Height: 2 or 3 inches Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GREENGUARD Gold

RELATED: These Cooling Bed Sheets Are the Secret to a Sweat-Free Night—Here Are the 14 Best Sets

How to Shop for Cooling Mattress Toppers

Material

There are plenty of mattress toppers on the market that come in a wide range of materials. Memory foam is by far one of the most popular options, as it’s known for being comfortable, supportive, and motion-isolating. However, regular memory foam can often retain heat, which can make you feel uncomfortably warm. That’s why all of the memory foam toppers on our list also use materials like gel, graphite, and copper for their cooling properties. Another option is latex, which is a natural alternative to memory foam that’s naturally cooling. Latex is typically more expensive than foam though, so it might not be the best choice for your needs.

Height

When shopping for cooling mattress toppers, you’ll probably notice that most of them have a height between one and four inches. Thicker mattress toppers are best for people who are trying to even out an old lumpy mattress or add significant height to their bed. Otherwise, you might not notice much of a difference. Just keep in mind that you might need to use deep-pocket sheets with extra thick mattress toppers to prevent the corners of your fitted sheet from sliding off your bed.

Certifications

Keep an eye out for any certifications that your cooling topper has, especially if you’re thinking about getting one that’s made of memory foam. A CertiPUR-US certification means that the foam in your mattress topper has a low amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and is made without things like formaldehyde, ozone depleters, and heavy metals. You can also look for mattress toppers that are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which ensures that every piece of the product was tested for harmful substances and found to be harmless. Another certification is GREENGUARD Gold, which means the product meets rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards.

Questions You Might Ask

What’s the difference between a mattress topper and a mattress pad?

It all comes down to thickness. Mattress toppers are designed to change the way your bed feels, so the most popular options are two and three inches thick. Mattress pads, on the other hand, are much thinner and are designed to protect the mattress instead of altering it, so they won’t be able to make a lumpy or uneven bed feel more comfortable.

How should you care for a cooling mattress topper?

Unfortunately, most mattress toppers cannot be put in the washing machine or dryer. That means you’ll have to stick to spot cleaning—typically with mild soap and water. But always double-check the brand’s recommendations for your specific mattress topper before using any cleaning products. If you’re a particularly sweaty sleeper, then it’s probably a good idea to use a mattress protector to help keep your topper in good shape.

What else can you put on a mattress to keep cool?

There are plenty of other cooling bedding options that you can use in addition to a mattress topper. Cooling sheets made of breathable materials can go directly on your mattress topper, while cooling blankets and cooling pillowcases add the finishing touches. Just remember that cooling bedding can’t change the temperature of a room, so you’ll still need to use a fan or window air conditioner when it’s super hot in the summer.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Amina Lake Abdelrahman, a commerce editor for Real Simple with four years of experience writing about home products. To come up with these recommendations, she thoroughly researched cooling mattress toppers and carefully evaluated them based on material, thickness options, certifications, and more.