The best cooling mattress pads for sweaty sleepers — and their partners

We’ve all been there: you wake up on a warm summer night, blanket long kicked off and you’re just drenched in sweat. Is it you or your mattress — or both? Who knows. All you know is that you’re miserable. 

You turn on the AC or fan, but just as you drift off to sleep, you hear your partner (who runs colder than you) switch it off and before you know it, you’re sweating all over again — and wide awake. 

There’s no sugar coating it: it sucks. But before you pick a fight with your partner about whether it’s okay to sleep with the AC on, maybe think about investing in a good mattress pad first. Not only can they turn older, lumpy mattress pads into soft beds once again, but they can also help whisk away heat and keep you and your partner just a little cooler all night long. And maybe you’ll be able to sleep a bit better after all. 

There are lots of different mattress pads on the markets. Some have polyfill — a good option if you have allergies — while others use down or foam. You can get some that use smart technology to keep you cool and you can even program them to wake you up in the morning. What works best for you will depend a little on your preferences and your budget. To help get you started, we’ve rounded up our favorite cooling mattress pads, which we've outlined below.

Best Overall Cooling Mattress Pad

Image: SlumberCloud The Good Outlast technology to keep warm or cool • Fits mattresses up to 20 inches thick • Thin • Easy to Clean The Bad Pricey The Bottom Line Using NASA technology to keep you at the perfect temperature all night, this is a great mattress pad. 1. Slumbercloud Nacreous Mattress Pad For a traditional and comfy mattress pad that also keeps you cool, this is our overall favorite.

• Fill: Outlast & polyester fiber
• Fabric: Cotto filln/Lyocell
• Machine Washable: Yes

$169 from SlumberCloud This mattress pad is easy to put on your mattress — it goes on just like a fitted sheet — and it will stay there all night long, even if you toss and turn. In fact, it will stay put on mattresses up to 20 inches thick.  It uses Outlast fill (technology originally developed by NASA) to whisk away warmth when you’re overheating and release it again when you’re too cold so that you’re always the perfect temperature while you sleep. There is also a small amount of fiberfill to improve airflow. 
SlumberCloud reviewer Susan E writes:

“This mattress pad and the Nacreous pillow cover are game changers! I dont know how something thin and comfortable like this works but it does! First night I used them I did not wake up overheated and throwing off the covers - slept like a baby!”

And reviewer Patricia M writes:

“The mattress pad as well as the sheets fit so easily with the elastic band all around. No more having to clip on the sheet to the pad has made it easier to make the bed which is a help at our senior age. This also a comfortable pad without being a problem to sleep on as it stays in place and does not bunch up as I have had others do.”

You can get this mattress pad in a few different colors — a fun touch that is rare with mattress pads. 

Best Value Mattress Pad

Image: Leisure Town The Good Soft • Affordable • Deep Pockets The Bad Can deflate over time The Bottom Line For the price, this is a soft mattress pad that fits a variety of mattresses. 2. Leisure Town Mattress Pad with Snow Down Alternative Fill Breathable, cooling, and soft, this mattress pad is a great affordable option.

• Fill: Fiberfill
• Fabric: Cotton (top layer) Polyester (bottom layer)
• Machine Washable: Yes

$60.99 from eBay If you’re looking for an affordable mattress pad that’s still soft and cooling, then this is the one for you. With a breathable, cotton top layer, it will naturally increase airflow to make you feel cooler as you sleep. 
This mattress pad is very soft thanks to its thickness and its snow down alternative fill, which feels like goose or duck down, but there are no pesky feathers poking through. The pad is available in a variety of sizes, from Twin to California King and its sides stretch to accommodate mattresses up to 21 inches thick. It’s also machine washable (in cold water) though some reviewers have noted that it can flatten out over time with frequent use and washing. 

Worth the splurge

Image: chili The Good Programmable with app • Multiple sizes available • 90-day return policy and 2-year warranty • Automatically cleans with UV light • Waterproof The Bad Not Silent • Requires an app and Bluetooth to control The Bottom Line If you don’t mind splurging, this cooling mattress pad will do its job and keep you cool all night long. 3. OOLER Sleep System This hydro-power mattress pad is programmable to keep you cool all night long.

• Fill: Polyester
• Fabric: High-loft jacquart stretchable top fabric, polyester bottom
• Machine Washable: Yes

$699 from Chili This is no ordinary mattress pad. With a control unit attached (think of it like a mini AC), it keeps you cool all night long by having water flow in 1/8 inch silicone tubes spread throughout the pad. You set the mattress cooling to any temperature between 55 - 110 degrees Fahrenheit with an easy-to-use phone app. In fact, you can also program the pad to fit your sleep schedule so you don’t have to program it each night and you can even set a warm awake feature as an alarm clock. The pad is machine washable and designed to fit any size or style mattress — and you can get it for only half the bed if your partner isn’t into it. The pad is also waterproof — so no need to worry about leaks.
The control unit is small enough to fit under most beds and, while it does make some noise, it isn’t loud enough to keep you awake. The system also auto cleans with UV light and has a low water indicator so you always know when it is time to refill the reservoir. 

Best Bamboo Mattress Pad

Image: ExceptionalSheets The Good Very cooling • Tight fit on mattress The Bad Thin • Not waterproof • Loses thickness over time The Bottom Line Made of an absorbent material, this bamboo mattress pad is comfy and cooling. 4. ExceptionalSheets Bamboo Mattress Pad Made of an absorbent material, this bamboo mattress pad is comfy and cooling.

• Fill: Fiberfill
• Fabric: Rayon from bamboo
• Machine Washable: Yes

$109.99 from Amazon Bamboo rayon, a natural antibacterial and absorbent fabric, helps draw heat away from your skin and leave you feeling cooler all night long — and that’s why we love this mattress pad. It is cluster-filled with RevoLoft fiberfill — a down alternative — that is soft and breathable, helping enhance the cooling feeling. Made in the United States, it also has a fitted design, helping it stay in place on your bed, and it will fit on mattresses up to 18 inches thick. While not as soft as some of the mattress pads on our list, if you want a pad that will help keep you cool, you won’t be disappointed with this one. 

Best Down Mattress Pad

Image: parachute The Good Elastic hem to keep in place • Fluffy • Soft • 3-year warranty The Bad Not ideal for those who dislike a fluffy mattress The Bottom Line This luxurious mattress pad is on the pricier side, but it is incredibly soft. 5. Parachute Down Mattress Pad Light and fluffy, this luxurious mattress pad is mega soft and a worthy investment.

• Fill: Down
• Fabric: Sateen cotton
• Machine Washable: No

$189 from Parachute With a sateen cotton shell and fluffy down, this is the softest mattress pad on this list. It will help soften up even the hardest of mattresses and make you feel like you traded up to a luxurious hotel bed.
The pad is also a great choice for those who roll or kick a lot in their sleep because it comes with an elastic hem to keep the pad in place, like a fitted sheet. 
The down improves airflow too, helping you regulate your temperature as you sleep. As Parachute Home reviewer Karina L.O writes:

“Exactly what I was looking for! This mattress pad provides added comfort to a mattress that may be slightly too hard. Breathable, it repels sweat and humidity. Very happy about this purchase!”

Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress Pad

Image: ViscoSoft The Good Straps to keep in place • Supports weight • Thick The Bad Only cover is machine washable The Bottom Line Don't overlook foam — this pad ensures that you'll feel supported and cool all night. 6. ViscoSoft Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper Designed to optimize air flow with a ventilated design, this 3-inch pad will keep you cool and comfortable all night.

• Fill: Gel Memory Foam
• Fabric: Bamboo Rayon Cover
• Machine Washable: No (though comes with removable, washable cover)

$155.99 from ViscoSoft Foam can help distribute your weight while you sleep, prevent you from sinking in, and ease pressure on your joints, but there is one problem: foam also runs hot. So if you’re looking for a cooling foam mattress pad, then this is the one for you. This foam is gel-infused and designed to improve airflow and ventilation to help you stay cool all night long. 
Three inches thick, this topper can’t be washed but don’t let that dissuade you. It comes with a moisture-wicking, bamboo rayon cover that can easily be removed and washed when it’s time. 
Amazon reviewer Jody lafrance writes:

“I'm very happy with my ViscoSoft Gel infused mattress topper. It forms to your body and keeps you cool. No more hip and back pain when i wake up in the morning. It has zero order and the cover is a sweet bonus. I love this product and im thinking about ordering another one just so i have a back up.”

Best Pillowtop Mattress Pad for couples

Image: Design Weave The Good Cooling • Thick • Good for couples The Bad Not as soft as others The Bottom Line This cooling mattress pad is perfect for couples because it helps regulate body temperature, making sure you’re never too hot or too cold. 7. Design Weave Future Textiles Outlast All Season Temperature Regulating Hypoallergenic Pillowtop Mattress Pad This cooling mattress pad is perfect for couples because it helps regulate body temperature, making sure you’re never too hot or too cold.

• Fill: Outlast & Polyester Fiber
• Fabric: Cotton sateen
• Machine Washable: Yes

$96.30 from Amazon Pillowtop mattress pads feel more like a thick comforter and are a great option if you’re looking for something to make your bed a little softer. We love this one because it takes soft pillowtop to the next level: not only is it soft, but it’s cooling too. It’s designed with Outlast fill to wick away excess heat and keep you from sweating overnight. It will also release that absorbed heat on colder nights if you need it, making sure your bed is never too hot or too cold. 
Amazon reviewer Megan Wallace writes:

“I am very happy with the product. It is very much like a normal mattress pad, but it does keep me from overheating. I have had it for almost six months, and I have used it during summer. It has improved the quality of my sleep by 100 percent.”