The Best Mattresses for Hot Sleepers: Stay Cool Naturally
Posted by Tom Hughes on
If you find yourself throwing off the covers or waking up in a sweat, you're not alone. Many people struggle with overheating at night - and your mattress could be the culprit. The materials and construction of your bed play a major role in how well your body can regulate temperature while you sleep.
Whether you're looking for high-performance cooling technology or natural, breathable materials, this guide will help you find the best mattress to keep you cool and comfortable all night long.
The Coolest Types of Mattresses for Hot Sleepers
Some mattress types naturally trap heat, while others are designed to allow airflow and moisture control. Here are the best options:
1. Latex Mattresses
Natural latex is breathable, temperature-neutral, and doesn’t trap body heat like memory foam. Look for ventilated latex with airflow channels for enhanced cooling.
Bonus: It’s hypoallergenic and eco-friendly!
2. Innerspring Mattresses
Traditional and breathable, innersprings allow plenty of airflow. Often paired with natural fillings like cotton or wool in organic models. Or latex and cooling gel in foam models.
Innerspring: such as open-coil or pocket sprung mattresses
3. Cooling Foam Mattresses
Memory foam tends to retain heat, but gel-infused, copper-infused, or open-cell foams can help.
Not as breathable as coils or latex, but acceptable if you love the foam feel.
4. More about GelTex
Geltex is a type of mattress material that combines gel, foam, and elastomer to create a breathable, pressure-relieving, and supportive sleeping surface. It’s commonly used in the comfort layers of mattresses.
Geltex has an open-cell structure that promotes airflow, helping regulate body temperature and keep you cool while sleeping. Offering the comfort of memory foam without the heat retention or sink-in feeling.

If you're leaning toward a more sustainable or toxin-free mattress, natural materials offer excellent cooling performance, often better than synthetic ones.
Natural Latex
- Breathable, responsive, and naturally cool.
- Often used in layers for both comfort and support.
Wool
- A superstar at thermoregulation: keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter.
- Also wicks moisture, making it ideal for sweaty sleepers.
Cotton
- Light and breathable; commonly used in mattress covers and padding.
- Helps wick away moisture and improve surface comfort.
Cooling Features to Look For
- Breathable Cover: Covers made from bamboo, Tencel, or organic cotton help regulate temperature.
- Open-Cell Foam: More breathable than traditional memory foam.
- Edge support and airflow channels: Help heat dissipate around the mattress perimeter.
- Materials like natural latex, wool, cotton, and coir are inherently breathable.
What to Avoid if You Sleep Hot
- Traditional memory foam without cooling tech, this traps body heat and hugs too closely.
- Dense foam pillow tops - they can act like an insulator.
- Low airflow designs, if air can’t circulate, heat builds up.
So if you're a hot sleeper, don't just look for "cooling" in the marketing. Focus on mattress construction and material quality, especially natural fillings, for the best long-term solution to sleeping cool.
Suggested models:
Sealy Grandwood Latex
Harrison Spinks Bliss 5000 - Natural
Pocket Gel 1200