If you regularly wake up sweaty, kick off the covers in the middle of the night, or struggle to stay comfortable during warmer months, your mattress could be part of the problem. While room temperature and bedding certainly matter, the wrong mattress can trap heat and make restful sleep difficult.

At Bear, we believe the best cooling mattress isn't just one that feels cool when you first lie down—it's one that helps regulate temperature throughout the night while still delivering the support, pressure relief, and durability you need.

In this guide, we'll explain what makes a mattress sleep cooler, how to shop for the right cooling mattress for your body and sleep style, and our top mattress recommendations for 2026.

Why Do Some Mattresses Sleep Hot?

Your body naturally releases heat while you sleep. Ideally, that heat dissipates into the surrounding air, helping maintain a comfortable sleep temperature. However, some mattresses retain that warmth instead of allowing it to escape.

Several factors can cause a mattress to sleep hot:

Dense Foam Construction

Traditional memory foam is known for its exceptional pressure relief because it closely contours to your body. However, older generations of memory foam were also relatively dense, which limited airflow within the mattress. As your body heat became trapped in the foam, the mattress could gradually feel warmer over the course of the night.

Limited Airflow

Air circulation is one of the biggest differences between cooling and non-cooling mattresses. All-foam mattresses without breathable design features have fewer pathways for heat to escape. By comparison, hybrid mattresses use individually wrapped coils that create open space inside the mattress, allowing air to circulate more freely.

Deep Body Contouring

The more deeply you sink into a mattress, the more of your body remains in direct contact with its surface. Increased contact can reduce airflow around your body and allow more heat to build up. Sleepers who prefer an ultra-plush, deeply contouring feel may notice this effect more than those who sleep on a firmer mattress.

Heat-Retaining Materials

Not all foams are created equal. Traditional polyurethane foams and older memory foams generally retain more heat than modern cooling materials. Today's best cooling mattresses often use innovations like open-cell foam, gel-infused memory foam, copper-infused memory foam, breathable latex, or phase change materials (PCM) to help reduce heat buildup and improve temperature regulation.

Individual Sleep Factors

Even the coolest mattress can't completely eliminate overheating if other factors are contributing. People who naturally sleep hot, live in warm or humid climates, use heavy bedding, or share a bed with a partner may experience more heat buildup during the night.

The good news is that mattress technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Modern cooling mattresses are specifically engineered to minimize heat retention by combining breathable materials, improved airflow, and advanced cooling technologies. Rather than simply feeling cool when you first lie down, the best cooling mattresses help create a more temperature-neutral sleep environment that stays comfortable throughout the night.

What Makes a Mattress Truly Cooling?

Not all cooling mattresses use the same technology. While some simply feel cool when you first lie down, the best cooling mattresses are designed to help manage heat throughout the night.

Manufacturers use a variety of materials and construction methods to improve temperature regulation, including:

• Breathable, moisture-wicking covers
• Phase change materials (PCM) that absorb and release heat to help regulate the sleep surface
• Individually wrapped coils that promote airflow
• Open-cell foams designed to allow heat to dissipate more easily
  
• Gel-infused memory foam, which incorporates cooling gel particles or beads intended to absorb and disperse heat 
  Copper-infused memory foam, which contains copper particles that can help transfer heat away from the body
• Natural latex, which is inherently more breathable than memory foam
  

While these materials can improve thermal performance, it's important to remember that no mattress actively cools your body like an air conditioner. Instead, cooling technologies are designed to reduce heat buildup, improve airflow, and create a more temperature-neutral sleep environment.

Hybrid vs. Memory Foam: Which Sleeps Cooler?

Hybrid mattresses generally sleep cooler because their coil systems create open space for air to circulate through the mattress. Many premium hybrids also pair breathable coils with cooling covers, phase change materials, or advanced foams for even better temperature regulation.

That said, memory foam mattresses have also become significantly more cooling over the years. Rather than relying on traditional dense foam alone, many modern models now feature the aforementioned technologies like gel infusions, copper infusions, or more open-cell designs. These innovations help address one of the biggest criticisms of traditional memory foam—its tendency to trap heat—while preserving its excellent pressure relief and motion isolation.

If maximum cooling is your top priority, a hybrid mattress is often the better choice because its coil core naturally allows for greater airflow. However, shoppers who love the body-contouring feel of memory foam no longer have to sacrifice temperature regulation thanks to these newer cooling foam technologies.

Your Sleep Environment

The mattress you sleep on is only one component of  your sleep environment. You may also sleep cooler by:

• Wearing moisture-wicking sleepwear
• Using breathable cotton, Tencel™, or linen sheets
• Choosing lightweight bedding layers 
• Keeping your bedroom between approximately 60–67°F, a commonly recommended range for sleep
• Improving bedroom airflow with fans

Small changes throughout your sleep setup can work together to improve overnight comfort.

Our Top 5 Picks for the Best Cooling Mattress of 2026

Now that you know what causes mattresses to sleep hot—and which cooling technologies actually make a difference—it's time to narrow down your options.

The best cooling mattress isn't the same for everyone. Your ideal choice depends on factors like your preferred sleep position, body type, whether you share the bed with a partner, and whether you prefer the contouring feel of memory foam or the added airflow of a hybrid or latex mattress.

To help simplify your search, we've rounded up our top cooling mattress recommendations for 2026. Each pick excels in a specific category, whether you're looking for premium cooling performance, pressure-relieving memory foam, natural materials, extra support for plus-size sleepers, or a cooling mattress designed specifically for kids.

Here's our list of the best cooling mattresses to help you sleep comfortably year-round.

1. Best Cooling Mattress Overall: Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid

If you're looking for the best overall cooling mattress, the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid is our top recommendation.

Its premium hybrid construction combines breathable coils with multiple cooling technologies to help regulate temperature throughout the night. Bear's Elite Ultra Hybrid includes integrated CoolForce™ phase change cooling technology, copper-infused memory foam, a breathable hybrid design, and a temperature-regulating cover engineered to promote cooling while boosting overnight recovery. 

Best For:

• Hot sleepers
• Couples
• Combination sleepers
• Anyone wanting premium pressure relief and cooling

Highlights

• Celliant® cover supports natural temperature regulation 
• Quilt foam with CoolForce™ PCM technology
• Copper-infused memory foam
• Breathable individually wrapped coil support system + microcoil layer 
• Multiple firmness options
• Excellent balance of comfort, support, and airflow

2. Best Cooling Memory Foam Mattress: Bear Original

For shoppers who love the contouring feel of memory foam, the Bear Original delivers dependable cooling without sacrificing pressure relief.

Unlike traditional memory foam mattresses that can trap heat, the Bear Original uses modern cooling materials and a breathable design to create a more comfortable sleep environment while maintaining excellent motion isolation.

Best For:

• Memory foam lovers
• Couples
• Back sleepers
• Budget-conscious shoppers

Highlights

• Celliant® cover supports natural temperature regulation
• Soothing gel swirl memory foam 
• Strong motion isolation
• Medium-firm feel
• Balanced pressure relief

3. Best Natural Cooling Mattress: Nolah Natural

Natural latex is one of the most breathable mattress materials available, making the Nolah Natural an excellent option for shoppers seeking naturally cooler sleep.

Its latex comfort layers and breathable construction encourage airflow while delivering responsive support with less heat retention than traditional memory foam.

Best For:

• Eco-conscious shoppers
• Combination sleepers
• Hot sleepers who prefer a responsive feel

Highlights

• Organic cotton cover
• Naturally temperature-neutral and breathable organic latex 
• Breathable hybrid construction
• Responsive support

4. Best Cooling Mattress for Plus-Size Sleepers: Titan® Plus Elite

Heavier sleepers often need stronger support without sacrificing temperature regulation. The Titan® Plus Elite combines durable support with a breathable hybrid design to help maintain airflow while providing stability and pressure relief for higher body weights.

Best for:

• Plus-size sleepers
• Back sleepers
• Combination sleepers

Highlights

• Glaciotex™ Cooling Cloud Pillow Top
• Reinforced support
• Breathable coil system
• Designed for long-lasting performance

5. Best Cooling Mattress for Kids: Bear Cub

Kids can sleep hot, especially during warm weather or when using heavy bedding. The Bear Cub Kids Mattress combines cooling materials with a supportive hybrid construction designed for growing sleepers.

Its quilted hypoallergenic cover uses breathable Tencel® fibers to encourage airflow, while a layer of gel memory foam is designed to draw heat away from the body. Beneath the foam layers, individually wrapped 6-inch coils promote airflow, provide balanced support, and help limit motion transfer. 

The Bear Cub has a medium-firm feel and is designed to support children in every sleeping position. It is also fiberglass-free, GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical emissions, and made with CertiPUR-US® certified foams.

Best For:

• Growing children
• Kids who tend to sleep hot
• Parents seeking a supportive mattress for their kid made with certified materials

Highlights

• Breathable Tencel® cover
• Gel-infused memory foam
• Individually wrapped 6-inch coils
• Medium-firm comfort
• GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US® foam certifications
• Fiberglass-free construction

Bonus Pick: Best Cooling Mattress Topper

Not quite ready to replace your mattress? A cooling mattress topper can provide an immediate comfort upgrade. The Nolah AirFoam® Luxe Mattress Topper adds support and pressure relief without trapping heat. Choose between two cover options: cooling GlacioTex™ or highly breathable organic cotton. 

Sleep Cooler, Wake Up Refreshed

Finding the best cooling mattress is about more than chasing the coolest surface feel. Look for a mattress that combines breathable materials, thoughtful construction, and the right level of support for your body type and sleep position.

For most shoppers, the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid stands out as the best overall cooling mattress thanks to its advanced cooling technologies, breathable hybrid design, and premium comfort. Whether you prefer memory foam, natural latex, a heavy-duty hybrid, or a mattress designed specifically for kids, there's a cooling option that can help you sleep more comfortably all year long.

Disclaimer: Bear does not provide medical advice. All resources on the Bear blog, including this article, are informational only and do not replace professional medical counsel. Talk to your doctor about any health, mental health, or sleep-related issues.