The Best Cooling Mattress Pads (2023 Reviews)

Mattress pads are available in a variety of styles that aim to improve a person’s sleeping experience in different ways. When on the hunt for a new mattress pad, serious sleepers may be looking for a pad with extra-thick cushioning, pillow top softness, waterproof stain protection, or, as highlighted in this article, cooling properties that will disperse excess heat and moisture. The best cooling mattress pads combine high heat transference, adequate ventilation, and sweat-wicking capabilities to keep sleepers as cool as cucumbers through the night.

After reviewing many different cooling mattress pads we have identified the best available in a variety of styles. While examining all of these cooling mattress pads we considered factors such as cooling top fabric composition, fill composition, and overall cushion and body support in choosing our top picks. Then we compiled a detailed list of many more great cooling mattress pads to help you find the perfect pad for your bed.

We have chosen the Slumber Cloud Nacreous Cooling Mattress Pad as our overall top pick. This lightly-cushioned pad features two layers of cooling material embedded with Thermocules that regulate heat and a polyester fill that provides cooling ventilation.

The 5 Top-Rated Cooling Mattress Pads

Editor's Picks	Brand	Rating
Best Cooling Mattress Pad Overall	Slumber Cloud Nacreous Cooling Mattress Pad	4.8
Best Cooling Mattress Protector Pad	Snuggle-Pedic Organic Kool-Flow	4.6
Best Budget Cooling Mattress Pad	Sealy Cool Touch Mattress Pad	4.6
Best Pillow Top Cooling Mattress Pad	Leisure Town Mattress Pad	4.4
Best Cooling Mattress Pad Topper	ViscoSoft Select High Density Mattress Topper	4.4

*Ratings are current at the time of publication and can change

Best Cooling Mattress Pad Overall: Slumber Cloud Nacreous Cooling Mattress Pad

Designed with advanced cooling technology at the helm of its conception, the Slumber Cloud Nacreous Cooling Mattress Pad is as cool as it gets. This pad is stuffed with polyester fiberfill that provides modest cushioning, and the exterior fabric is soft to the touch, but temperature control is the primary reason why you would want to buy this pad. With this Slumber Cloud pad under your resting body, you can say sayonara to hot spots and sweaty nights.

Both layers of this mattress pad are infused with Outlast cooling technology. This is a modern scientific marvel that was first engineered by the scientists at NASA as a temperature-regulating material for space suits, and now it is available to cool your bones in the comfort of your own home. The polyester fiberfill and cotton top layer are blended with Thermocule temperature-regulating beads that absorb heat when body temperatures rise and release that heat when body temperatures drop. Its localized design works individually on each sleeper.

Though the futuristic space beads do most of the work, the rest of this pad’s construction contributes to temperature regulation as well. The cotton exterior is breathable and cool to the touch, while the polyester fiberfill provides loft to ventilate the area between you and your mattress, allowing those Thermocule beads to disperse heat away from your bed when they become overloaded. Wide elastic skirting allows this mattress pad to wrap around mattresses up to 20 inches thick, and the entire pad is machine washable.

Slumber Cloud Nacreous Cooling Mattress Pad Key Features:

• Two layers of cooling Outlast fabric
• Ventilating polyester fiberfill
• Regulates heat independently for each sleeper
• Machine washable

Best Cooling Mattress Protector Pad: Snuggle-Pedic Organic Kool-Flow

Just about every mattress protector on the market is fitted with a waterproof, plastic liner that completely obliterates any semblance of breathability and ventilation. The Snuggle-Pedic Organic Kool-Flow, on the other hand, is engineered with micro-vented fabric that allows for excellent airflow while also remaining water-resistant for an hour or even longer. That means spills and accidents can be easily cleaned up before they soak into your mattress.

There is a sacrifice made to maintain this pad’s ventilation. The organic cotton outer layer is not completely waterproof like most other protectors claim to be. Our research on mattress pads revolves around cooling capabilities, and so we’ve chosen this Kool-Flow pad as our top pick because it is the best mattress protector at keeping you cool. If you absolutely need a waterproof mattress protector pad, we’ve listed several below, including our top budget pick, that will do their best to keep you cool and dry.

The thickly woven organic cotton surface of this Kool-Flow protector pad is incredibly soft to the touch and supplies a light amount of cushioning. This pad was made to pair well with memory foam and plush pillow-top mattresses. The cotton surface and minimal padding were designed to protect your already comfortable mattress while not sacrificing that comfort or impeding airflow.

Snuggle-Pedic Organic Kool-Flow Key Features:

• Greensheild eco-friendly water-resistant technology
• Organic cotton surface
• 18-inch deep skirt pockets
• Machine washable

Best Budget Cooling Mattress Pad: Sealy Cool Touch Mattress Pad

The Sealy Cool Touch Mattress Pad stays cool at all times thanks to Sealy’s proprietary Bluecool technology. Though the details behind the advanced technology are well hidden, customers have verified that the soft cotton outer layer always remains cool to the touch. The top layer of fabric dissipates heat quickly, and the hypoallergenic polyester fill creates plenty of space for ventilation to keep you cool and dry.

All of that ventilation is restrained within the interior fill and breathable cotton top. As you move around while you sleep, your body will push air around the pad, circulating the air within to facilitate ventilation. The bottom waterproof layer, however, is not breathable, and so this pad will not provide the same level of ventilation as the water-resistant Snuggle-Pedic Organic Kool-Flow protector pad or any other non-waterproof pad.

That is a sacrifice many are willing to make for the sake of mattress protection. The Bluecool cotton top and inner fill are quite capable of cooling you on their own, and past customers have stated time and again that this pad has been much cooler to sleep on than their mattress would otherwise be without it. This budget-friendly mattress pad is also machine washable and extremely durable. You’re sure to get your money’s worth as it comes backed by Sealy’s lifetime warranty.

Sealy Cool Touch Mattress Pad Key Features:

• Proprietary Bluecool technology
• 100% cotton outer layer
• Waterproof fabric underside
• Lifetime warranty

Best Pillow Top Cooling Mattress Pad: Leisure Town Mattress Pad

Exquisite, plush comfort does not have to be sacrificed in order for you to stay cool at night. The Leisure Town Mattress Pad is a luxurious pillow-top mattress pad imbued with cooling properties that’ll leave you feeling refreshingly cool and dry all night long. The HNN Cooling Technology supplies heat-dispersing and water-resistant properties to the 100% cotton top, giving it awesome capability without ruining its opulent feel.

The diamond-quilted pillow top is overstuffed with snow down alternative fill that mimics the comfort and insulation of traditional goose down. No animals were harmed in making the down alternative material, and you won’t find a single feather poking at your rear end in the middle of the night. The snow-style of the fill provides excellent loft for that wonderfully plush pillow-top comfort, yet it also enables plenty of ventilation, making it miles away more breathable than a polyester or memory foam mattress.

This mattress pad’s extra-large skirt pockets can fit mattresses up to 21 inches thick, and the entire pad is machine washable. For those who want an extra-soft mattress topper, this one from Leisure Town ticks all of the boxes in relation to comfort and convenience.

Leisure Town Mattress Pad Key Features:

• HNN Cooling Technology
• 100% cotton diamond-quilted pillow top
• Snow down alternative fill
• Spill-resistant

Best Cooling Mattress Pad Topper: ViscoSoft Select High Density Mattress Topper

The ViscoSoft Select High Density Mattress Topper has improved upon the standard memory foam mattress by making ventilation a priority in its creation. The high-density foam has been designed in such a way as to allow ventilation all throughout its core so that it can quickly disperse body heat and evaporate sweat. Likewise, its cover is made from a breathable bamboo-rayon blend that wicks sweat away from your body, and its underside is made of mesh to enable excellent underside ventilation.

Mattress toppers are the go-to choice for sleepers who don’t find their aging bed to be quite as comfortable as it once was, or for those who need a quick and cozy makeshift bed for unexpected guests. The three inches of high-density foam has been formed with a medium level of firmness to acquire a perfect balance of plush comfort and supportive stability. It’s an excellent mattress topper for all types of sleepers, no matter whether you snooze on your back or sides.

The overall design makes this topper a great choice to add on top of a standard mattress or to improve upon a pull out bed or futon. Adjustable no-slip elastic straps are fitted to the corners so that you can securely latch this topper onto any mattress. The hypoallergenic bamboo cover is removable and machine washable. To top it all off, ViscoSoft guarantees the quality of this mattress topper with 60-day risk-free trial and a three-year warranty.

ViscoSoft Select High Density Mattress Topper Key Features:

• 3-inch thick high-density memory foam
• Medium firmness for a soft feel with sufficient support
• Smart ventilated core and mesh underside
• Hypoallergenic bamboo-rayon cover

Who Should Buy a Cooling Mattress Pad

Anyone who struggles to stay cool at night should consider buying a cooling mattress pad. Whether it is due to warm summer nights, humid weather, or your radiator of a sleeping partner, waking up sweaty and overheated is an uncomfortable and frustrating experience that no one should have to endure. The best cooling mattress pads can disperse your heat quickly and provide plenty of ventilation to keep you cool and dry through the night.

A mattress pad is a great choice to add on top of your aging mattress because it can add comfort, support, and cooling capability to enhance your sleeping experience. If you’re considering a mattress pad, it may also be time to look into picking up a completely new hybrid mattress. Cooling flannel sheets can also help wick away sweat and cool you off.

Important Features to Consider

There are a few important considerations to think through before purchasing a cooling mattress pad.

• Pad vs protector vs topper. You may be wondering what the differences are between mattress pads, mattress protectors, and mattress toppers. They all can be considered mattress pads, but they each have different benefits and drawbacks worth considering.
  • Mattress pads: A standard mattress pad consists of an insulating fill material, a fabric that holds in that insulation, and a skirt that wraps around the mattress, securing the pad to the bed.
  • Mattress protectors: Mattress protectors are identical in design to mattress pads, except that they tend to have an extra layer of material that is either waterproof or water-resistant. This extra later protects the mattress from liquid, dirt, dust mites, and allergens, but it also reduces breathability.
  • Mattress toppers: Mattress toppers stand apart from pads and protectors because they are like thin mattresses unto themselves. A mattress topper sits on top of a mattress, is several inches thick, and is held onto the mattress by elastic straps at its corners. These toppers have more cushion and are often comprised of memory foam, but they are not machine washable like pads and protectors tend to be.
• Top fabric material. In many cases, the fabric material that makes up the top of your mattress pad is the most important cooling aspect of the pad. Breathable fabrics like cotton and linen provide better airflow than synthetic polyester. Bamboo is even better as it naturally wicks away moisture from your skin, and copper-infused materials are extremely efficient at dispersing heat.
• Fill material. The fill material can also be quite important when it comes to staying cool. Dense memory foam may be comfortable, but it tends to absorb and hold onto heat until it becomes unbearably warm. Make sure the foam is infused with gel or copper which will disperse your heat away from your body. Lofty fills like cluster foam, genuine goose down, and synthetic down may also hold onto heat, but they can still be rather breathable if divided into tight baffles and paired with a breathable fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cooling mattress pad and how does it work?

Cooling mattress pads placed on top of your existing mattress to enhance your comfort and protect your mattress. Mattress pads have elastic corner straps or elastic skirts that secure the pad to the mattress.

The cooling effect is brought on by the surface material and/or the internal fill composition. Certain materials, such as bamboo and copper-infused foam, cool your body by quickly dispersing heat and by wicking moisture away from your body.

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

The term ‘mattress pad’ is an umbrella term that includes basic mattress pads, mattress toppers, and mattress protectors. A mattress protector has a water-resistant or waterproof layer in its construction that prevents liquids from staining your mattress, and can also prevent allergens, dust mites, and dirt from impregnating or escaping your mattress. Mattress pads provide cooling comfort and additional padding, but they do not have waterproof layers and are more breathable than protectors.

How often should you wash your mattress pad?

Your mattress pad should be washed at a minimum of four times per year. Many mattress pads are machine washable, but some can only be wiped down with a damp cloth. Cleaning your pad once per season is sufficient, but once a month is ideal.

What type of mattress topper is best for side sleepers?

Side sleepers will benefit most from soft, well-cushioned mattress pads or memory foam mattress toppers that form to your body’s shape while you sleep. These types of toppers will best support your body’s natural curves when you are sleeping on your side.

Other Cooling Mattress Pads We Reviewed

We looked at 20 other cooling mattress pads. Even though they didn’t make our five best cooling mattress pad list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for keeping you cool all through the night. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.

• Cooling Mattress Pads
• Cooling Mattress Protector Pads
• Cooling Mattress Pad Toppers
• Budget Cooling Mattress Pads

Cooling Mattress Pads

Columbia Sportswear Quilted Ice Fiber Pad

Featuring a proprietary cool to the touch material called Ice Fiber, the Columbia Sportswear Quilted Ice Fiber Pad provides cooling comfort that never wanes. The plush, quilted top is ultra-comfortable, and the durable fabric is machine washable.

Key Features:

• Quilted top featuring Ice Fiber
• Olefin fabric is cool to the touch
• Machine washable

Cost: $140

Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad

Oprah has called this the “softest bedding ever”. The Cozy Earth Bamboo Mattress Pad is made from viscose bamboo fabric which has been sourced from USDA organic farms. The bamboo does not retain moisture which is a quality that helps to keep you cool and dry.

Key Features:

• Comprised of bamboo-based fabric
• Sheets don’t retain moisture or bacteria
• Sourced from USDA organic farms

Cost: $180

ExceptionalSheets Mattress Pad and Skirt

The bamboo-derived top fabric of the ExceptionalSheets Mattress Pad and Skirt is 60% better at cooling than the polyester that is commonly used in mattress pads and mattresses. The pillowtop is cluster-filled with a soft synthetic down material called Revoloft.

Key Features:

• Rayon bamboo pillow top
• Filled with Revoloft, a synthetic down
• Made in the USA

Cost: $110

HARNY Cooling Mattress Pad

The HARNY Cooling Mattress Pad plush pillow pockets that are stuffed with 3D snow down alternative fill. All of that plush fill is covered in a recently updated Ultra Cool TECH fabric that is cooler and dries faster than its previous iteration.

Key Features:

• Quick-drying Ultra Cool TECH fabric
• 3D snow down alternative fill
• Machine washable

Cost: $90

L.L. Bean Cool Touch Mattress Pad

An adaptable mattress cover that will cool you down when necessary or warm you up if needed, the L.L. Bean Cool Touch Mattress Pad is a great year-round mattress pad. The Outlast technology fabric is durable and machine washable, and the deep skirts fit extra thick mattresses.

Key Features:

• Outlast technology fabric
• Fits large mattresses up to 20″ thick
• Responds to body temperature changes

Cost: $110

Nordstrom Cooling Down Alternative Mattress Pad

You’ll notice the temperature-balancing capabilities of the Nordstrom Cooling Down Alternative Mattress Pad the first time you touch it. The Freeze Blue Dot Cooling technology in the top layer is certified to be 30% cooler than pure cotton, and cotton is already a relatively cool material.

Key Features:

• Freeze Blue Dot Cooling technology
• Rated to be 30% cooler than cotton
• Pad is fluffed with lofty polyester fill

Cost: $120

Cooling Mattress Protector Pads

Bear Waterproof Mattress Protector

Featuring a quilted, breathable, and moisture-wicking top layer that sits atop a waterproof, dustproof, and bacteria proof layer, the Bear Waterproof Mattress Protector will keep your mattress safe and you cool and comfy through the night.

Key Features:

• Breathable, moisture-wicking hiQ fabric
• Waterproof layer
• Machine washable

Cost: $90

Nectar Mattress Protector

Designed to be a minimalist, noiseless mattress cover, the Nectar Mattress Protector is comprised of a thin cotton later atop a waterproof bottom layer. The cotton keeps the top pad breathable and cool while its underside keeps your mattress safe from spills and dust.

Key Features:

• Breathable cotton top layer
• Waterproof layer
• 5-year warranty

Cost: $100

Protect-A-bed Cooling Mattress Pad

The Protect-A-Bed Cooling Pattress Pad has a soft top layer called the Nordic Chill because it disperses heat 10 times faster than cotton. Underneath is the Miracle Membrane layer that is completely waterproof and blocks dust mites.

Key Features:

• Nordic Chill cooling mattress pad
• Miracle Membrane waterproof barrier
• 10-year warranty

Cost: $225

VBedgear Ver-Tex Cooling Mattress Protector

Featuring a heat-reflecting, sweat-wicking cushioned top layer of Ver-Tex fiber, the VBedgear Ver-Tex Cooling Mattress Protector is sure to keep you cool through the night. The continuous heat deflection is paired with a hidden waterproof layer to protect your mattress from excess moisture.

Key Features:

• Heat-reflecting Ver-Tex fiber
• Sweat-wicking material
• Waterproof bottom layer

Cost: $300

Cooling Mattress Pad Toppers

Broyhill GelLux Mattress Topper

There’s no doubt that the gel-infused Broyhill GelLux Mattress Topper will keep you cool and comfortable. The infused gel will absorb and dissipate your heat better than standard mattress materials, and the unique sleep wave design creates fantastic airflow that’ll quickly dry out any hot spots before they become sweaty spots.

Key Features:

• 4-inch thick gel-infused foam mattress topper
• Sleep wave design enhances airflow
• 5-year warranty

Cost: $130

Layla Cooling Memory Foam Topper

The secret that makes the Layla Cooling Memory Foam Topper such an amazing cooling mattress pad is the copper-infused gel beads that are spread throughout the memory foam of the pad. The copper cools your body quickly, and the memory foam is as comfortable as it gets.

Key Features:

• 2-inch thick copper-gel-infused memory foam pad
• CertiPur-US Certified foam
• 5-year warranty

Cost: $300

LUCID Gel Foam Mattress Topper

The LUCID Gel Foam Mattress Topper has 5 different memory foam texture zones designed to support you in the right ways across your entire body, and the same texture also creates airway channels to help keep you cool with the help of the gel-infused foam.

Key Features:

• 2-inch thick gel-infused textured foam
• 5 zone textured foam comfort
• 3-year warranty

Cost: $60

MOLECULE AirTEC Mattress Topper

The MOLECULE AirTEC Mattress Topper is a 4-layer mattress pad made from proprietary materials that perform unlike any other. The bottom RECOVERYFLO layer supports your spine, the AIRTEC foam cushions while providing excellent airflow, the MELECULARFLOR is a high airflow memory foam, and the top fabric is comprised of advanced cooling fibers.

Key Features:

• 3-inch thick proprietary AirTEC foam mattress pad
• Advanced cooling fiber cover
• MOLECULARFLO comfort layer

Cost: $250

Qbedding Carbonized Bamboo Sleeping Mat

The Qbedding Carbonized Bamboo Sleeping Mat is a traditional Chinese sleeping mat that is far more comfortable than you may think based on its appearance! The carbonized bamboo provides excellent cooling relief, and is quite comfortable, as attested by the many positive customer reviews.

Key Features:

• Carbonized and polished bamboo mahjong pad
• Wicks sweat and provides great airflow
• Mesh backing

Cost: $135

Qbedding Rattan Cooling Mattress Topper

Another ancient Chinese sleeping mat that is primarily used in the summer, the Qbedding Rattan Cooling Mattress Topper is comprised of polyester and wood pulp. This is a soft, breathable mattress topper. Pillow shams are included with purchase.

Key Features:

• 1.5-inch thick breathable wood pulp surface
• Polyester fiber blend similar to wicker
• Elastic corner mattress straps

Cost: $70

Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper

Brought to you by the sleep industry redefining sleep experts at Temper-Pedic, the Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper is a 3-inch thick pad made from the brand’s softest Temper-ES foam. This pad is wrapped in a premium knit cooling cover. All of this comes backed by an amazing 25-year warranty.

Key Features:

• 3-inch thick Tempur-ES memory foam pad
• Washable knit cooling cover
• 25-year warranty

Cost: $350

Budget Cooling Mattress Pads

AllerEase Organic Cotton Waterproof Pad

Not only is the AllerEase Organic Cotton Waterproof pad budget-friendly, but it is also environmentally friendly. The breathable top cover is made of organic cotton, and the interior fluff is comprised of recycled polyester fiber. This pad has a waterproof layer, and its cotton top is cool to the touch.

Key Features:

• Breathable organic cotton cover with polyester sides
• Recycled polyester fiber fill
• Reduces the risk of allergic response

Cost: $45

BAURAMORE Reversible Mattress Pad

The BAURAMORE Reversible Mattress Pad has a warm, plush fleece side and a cooling quilted pillow top side. This year-round mattress pad is loaded with gel-infused microfiber fill that will help regulate the temperature no matter which side you prefer to use.

Key Features:

• Reversible mattress pad
• Cooling quilted top, plush fleece reverse side
• Gel-infused microfiber fill

Cost: $40

Lands’ End CoolMAX Mattress Pad

The needle-stitched diamond top of the Lands’ End CoolMAX Mattress Pad will keep you cool and dry through the night with its cooling fiber cover by pulling moisture away from your skin. The fluffy SensorLOFT polyester fill is hypoallergenic, and the Repel-A-Tex stain release will keep this pad looking new for a long time.

Key Features:

• 300 thread count COOLMAX fiber cover
• SensorLOFT polyester fill
• Repel-A-Tex stain release

Cost: $70