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5 cooling mattresses for hot sleepers
Beat the heat with our round-up of cooling mattresses. Plus, find out how to stay cool in bed when temperatures rise or hot flushes take hold
Our mattress expert reveals five of the coolest and most breathable mattresses we've seen in the Which? test lab recently.
If you can’t stretch to a new mattress at the moment, or have just bought one, don’t sweat – we’ve also got top tips to help you stay cool at night.
Visit our best mattresses guide for in-depth advice on choosing the mattress type for you – plus our top-scoring mattress picks.
5 cooling mattresses from our tests
Your mattress can make all the difference to how hot you feel in bed.
It's why we test:
- Mattress insulation – How much heat the layers of a mattress trap around you, and how much is let through the layers. This affects how warm or cool you feel in bed.
- Mattress breathability – How effective the mattress cover and layers are at wicking away moisture. A great mattress will let moisture through, so the surface doesn't get damp, which should stop you feeling sweaty.
Out of the 254 tested mattresses currently in our mattress reviews, we rate 145 as 'cold' or 'very cold' to lie on, so there's plenty of choice.
The Soak & Sleep Naturals 8250 pocket sprung mattress is the most breathable mattress we've tested*. But only just! Our tests show that the Simba Earth Apex is also very breathable. The Soak & Sleep will set you back more than £1,200 at full price, while the Simba Earth Apex is closer to £2,000 full price for a double.
Luckily, you don't need to spend that much. The breathable options listed here are all cheaper than the average price of all the mattresses we've tested, which is currently around £713.
To find out how durable and supportive these mattresses are, you'll need to read our mattress reviews.
1. MattressNextDay Coolflex Ortho Luxe Pocket mattress
- Double
- Pocket sprung
- Very cold
Available from online retailer MattressNextDay, the Coolflex Ortho Luxe is a great choice for letting heat escape.
It's a double pocket sprung mattress that's both breathable and feels very cold to lie on despite the top layers of foam.
The top layers of foam won't make you sink in, and it's not too bouncy either. However, it's worth knowing the cover isn't removable for washing.
Will this double mattress provide long lasting support for your spine? To check before you buy, read our Coolflex Ortho Luxe Pocket mattress review.
2. SleepSoul Nebula mattress
- Double
- Pocket sprung
- Very cold
The SleepSoul Nebula combines a large 31cm pocket-sprung core topped with a few layers of foam. Foam can make you overheat if it's not breathable, but our tests revealed this mattress doesn't hold that much heat in its layers and is rated 'very cold' to lie on.
It's also breathable, so even if you tend to sweat a lot at night it shouldn't make that worse, which is a relief as the cover isn't removable for washing.
It's the coolest SleepSoul mattress we've tested but it's not quite as breathable as the SleepSoul Space Orthopaedic Cool Gel.
See our full SleepSoul Nebula double mattress review to see if it's supportive enough for your favourite sleeping position.
3. Jay-Be Bio Cool Hybrid 2000 mattress (326/7819)
- Double
- Pocket sprung
- Cold
The Jay-Be Bio Cool Hybrid 2000 is made from a combination of pocket springs and several fabric layers.
The large, 15cm spring core means we class it as pocket sprung, despite the 'hybrid' in its name name. It's rated 'cold' in our insulation tests and does a decent job of wicking away moisture, so it won't trap heat and make you super-hot in bed.
Will it give you a comfortable night’s sleep and can it stand the test of time, though?
Read the full Jay-Be Benchmark S3 mattress review and see what we uncovered.
4. Arthur Sleep King Arthur mattress
- Double
- Pocket sprung
- Cold
This is one of the cheapest double mattresses we've tested recently. It's also one of the most breathable and is rated 'cold' to lie on.
It does a great job of letting moisture through its layers so you won't end up a sweaty mess.
It has a slightly more complex construction than the other mattresses in our top five, with a 26cm pocket-sprung core and a mini pocket-sprung layer sandwiched between multiple layers of foam.
Read our full Arthur Sleep King Arthur mattress review to find out everything you need to know before you buy.
5. Silentnight Just Calm mattress
- Double
- Springs and foam
- Cold
Most of the breathable mattresses we've tested are pocket sprung, but if you're after the extra support that foam offers, then the Silentnight Just Calm double mattress could be worth a look.
Despite the layers of foam and memory foam sandwiched around the pocket-sprung core, it's both breathable and not hot to lie on.
It's part of the Silentnight Just range of mattresses which – if bought direct – comes with a lengthy 365-night sleep trial.
Read our full Silentnight Just Calm review to find out how supportive it is and whether it will last.
Go to our mattress brands guide to discover the brands that came top of our exclusive customer survey – and the brands you should avoid.
Tips for sleeping in hot weather
- Make sure your bedding is made from breathable materials such as cotton. Need a new duvet? Find out which brands make the best duvets and see the best pillows.
- Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day, but open windows (if it’s safe to do so) to create a through breeze.
- Take a cool or lukewarm shower in the evening to help cool you down before bed.
- Before you go to sleep, use a fan. Electrical Safety First advice says you shouldn't leave a fan on all night, though. Find out how to buy the best fans to help keep you cool.
- If you have the budget, consider investing in a portable air conditioner.
Looking to buy a new mattress? See our guide to the best mattress deals – it's updated every month with the best deals around.
Prices are correct at the time of writing, but deals can change or end at short notice. Always check T&Cs before buying.
* Based on all mattresses tested to our latest test programme up to April 2025, that are still available to buy.
