Which Type of Mattress is Best for Cooling?

September 26, 2025

Many struggle with hot flashes, overheating, and night sweats, sometimes caused by medications, and in some instances, a medical condition. Likewise, the reason for overheating while you sleep can also be due to an imbalance in the sleep environment, causing you to feel too hot or even too cold sometimes. A temperature and humidity imbalance surrounding your mattress can disrupt your sleep cycles, leading to frequent tossing and turning, as well as waking up throughout the night.

Similarly, some individuals may feel too hot at night due to their unique physical makeup, the consumption of a particular food or drink before bed, or other underlying health conditions. It's essential to note, however, that throughout our sleep cycles, the body's heat can become trapped between you and your mattress. This trapping of heat within your sheets will heighten the bed's surface temperature, keeping you either awake or tossing and turning to dissipate the unwanted "heat trap" that is an unsatisfactory sleep environment.

While your overall indoor sleep environment, including sheets and bedding, is a significant part of the "sleep-well-puzzle," your mattress plays an important role in maintaining a "not too hot or too cold" night's sleep.

Most have had personal experiences with getting hot while they sleep. At the same time, most people haven't necessarily had the chance to discover what makes a mattress feel noticeably cooler to sleep on, and which ones keep you the coolest, all night long.

Keep reading, because next, the sleep specialists at Mattress World Northwest will reveal important characteristics of cooling mattresses, like PCM technology, that every hot sleeper should strive to have if they want to achieve the most comfortable, balanced night’s sleep ever.

Cooling Gel vs. Phase Change Mattress Materials

What is more effective: cooling gel or alternative mattress cooling technology, such as phase change materials?

The answer is clear: cooling gel undoubtedly takes second place.

Cooling Gel Mattress Materials

The original cooling mattress technology, in the form of gel, is a general term referring to cooling additives or materials—such as gel-infused foams or gel layers. These are incorporated into the mattress composition to keep you and your sleeping surface cooler as you first lie down in bed.

Nevertheless, cooling gel doesn't necessarily "thermoregulate" or keep your body temperature balanced after the initial "cool-to-the-touch" sensation. For many, cooling mattress gel, though available since Serta launched the first gel mattress in 2011, has since lacked a little more to be desired.

Still, some sleepers will notice a discernible difference in their sleep quality by simply upgrading to a mattress that incorporates gel memory foam or another type of gel material. For instance, the GelFlex Grid by Purple is one of the best proprietary all-gel materials used as a comfort material in mattresses today. Aside from an ideal option, the Purple RestorePlus Hybrid mattress, make sure to check out these other top three gel memory foam mattresses available at Mattress World Northwest:

As we delve deeper, it becomes clear that an emerging solution is better suited for hot sleepers. Specifically, this is the integration of upgraded and advanced mattress cooling technology.

PCM: Advanced Mattress Cooling Technology

Lately, have you noticed any mattress brands glorifying their version of “phase change materials” as a way to achieve cooler and more balanced sleep temperature? Many people probably still wonder what that means – and how it works, precisely.

Next, sleep specialists will explore the technology behind phase change materials and their effectiveness in helping sleepers achieve cooler, more comfortable, and restorative nights of sleep.

What is Phase Change Material?

Phase change materials (PCM), as the name suggests, switch from one phase—solid, liquid, or vapor—to another, depending on their temperature.

Actually, many are already acquainted with one example of a phase change material—water. The ability of water to transform from a solid to a liquid to a vapor is a perfect example of phase change. As the surrounding temperature rises, the ice keeps your drink cooler as it transforms into liquid and eventually into vapor. Subsequently, as the temperature declines, such as in a freezer, the liquid water solidifies into ice once again.

Phase change materials for a mattress are naturally different. Still, PCM technology is used in a wide variety of sleep products today, including mattresses, pillows, sheets, mattress protectors, and other bedding accessories. Furthermore, phase change technology is so effective that it is utilized in building construction materials, such as roofing and insulation, as well as in protective gear worn by athletes, industrial workers, and firefighters. PCM provides effective and dynamic temperature regulation.

The brand Outlast is the market leader in climate-regulating materials. They offer some of the best-in-class temperature-balancing materials and fabrics, providing practical and functional solutions for unmatched thermoregulation.

In the particular scenario of cooling for a mattress, phase change materials have the potential to enhance thermoregulation, especially for noticeably hot sleepers. This savvy technology, when integrated into a mattress, can lead to fewer sleep disruptions and discomfort due to fluctuations in the sleep climate temperature.

Some manufacturers, such as Tempur-Pedic and the handmade Aireloom mattress, incorporate phase change materials (PCMs) because they effectively help dissipate heat, making sleep much better for their customers.

Don't forget to check out these superior mattresses with Phase Change Material technology:

These brands use PCM in their mattress layers. Additionally, some also utilize PCM in cooling or "high-performance" mattress fabrics. Unique PCM fibers and other forms of PCM will help to store, absorb, and release body heat as necessary to thermoregulate the sleep environment to a more desirable temperature.

Now, most of us are aware that it is normal for body temperature to rise and fall while we sleep. Nevertheless, this capture-and-release process of phase change technology will help promote dynamic temperature-balancing effectiveness throughout the night.

To put it another way, a mattress with PCM technology can help keep a hot sleeper cool and a cold sleeper warm, with the potential to "thermoregulate" your sleep environment and body temperature.

Breathable + Cooling Mattress Fabrics

For all sleepers alike, the advantage of cooling or high-performance mattress fabrics is that they "up the ante" when it comes to the breathability and air flow capability of your sleeping surface. High-performance and other high-quality fabrics will also help offset moisture and body heat, thereby balancing your indoor sleep climate overall.

For example, cooling fabrics help keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer because they are breathable, allowing air to pass through, thereby keeping you neither too hot nor too cold.

Don't miss these exceptional mattress fabrics that can significantly boost the "cool-n-dry factor" of your new mattress:

There are many options when it comes to mattresses and other sleep accessories that can enhance breathability and help keep your sleep surface cooler, such as selecting a mattress with high-quality fabrics. Fabrics like Tencel, also referred to as Lyocell and Modal fibers, help reduce excess trapped heat and effectively wick away moisture, minimizing sleep disruptions caused by sweating or overheating. Likewise, many people will notice a reduction in sleep disruptions due to temperature or moisture build-up by using a mattress with cooling fabric.

Mattresses with graphite-infused rubber and microdiamond-infused layers have also gained popularity for their cooling capabilities.

Tencel, a wood-pulp-based mattress fabric, is made from regenerated cellulosic fibers. They work well for cooling and humidity control in mattress fabrics by actively pulling heat away from the body and "funneling out" or "wicking away" moisture. Specific fabrics, including bamboo, although it isn't a wood-pulp fiber, have the advantage of helping to create a cooler and more comfortable atmosphere for sleep.

Some "cool icing on the mattress cake," if you will—cooling sheets, like BedGear Vertex or DriTec Sheets—will boost the "cool-n-dry factor" to achieve noticeably profound, restorative sleep, while maintaining a more balanced humidity and comfortable sleep surface.

Memory Foam or Natural Rubber: Which Material Is Best for a Cooling Mattress?

Today, more and more mattress brands and manufacturers are stepping up their game in the cooling department, as many people continue to proclaim: "I sleep hot! What can I do about it?" Many people seek cooling mattress properties, such as gel foams. Or, even better, hot sleepers seek alternative mattress comfort and support materials, like natural latex rubber.

When all is said and done, natural rubber is the more suitable choice to create a cooling mattress due to its more open and breathable cell structure. Latex provides natural breathability and better airflow due to its less dense structure. Compared to memory foam, which tends to trap heat due to its density, natural rubber is far more breathable, less dense, and has a cooler feeling to sleep on.

Don't ignore these alternatives to memory foam—latex rubber and natural latex rubber mattress options, on display at Mattress World Northwest:

Keep in mind, though, that lying on different material types, like memory foam and natural rubber, they have distinctly different sensations, meaning they feel very different from one another. After trying both, most will form a preference or liking for one material over the other.

Nevertheless, more recent gel memory foam varieties incorporate cooling technologies, such as gel layers or infusions. However, PCM technology is still recommended for hot sleepers who prefer the cradling comfort of memory foam material. Nevertheless, natural rubber's innate breathability and thermoneutral characteristics make it a more dependable option for hot sleepers who are increasingly finding it necessary to have a cooler sleep surface to sleep better.

Maximizing Comfort: The Benefits of Traditional Independent Coil Mattresses and Their Airflow Capabilities

Independent coil mattresses, also known as pocketed, encased, or Marshall coil mattresses, offer several benefits over wire-tied and all-foam mattress types. With mattresses that incorporate a pocketed or independent coil design, each spring is "individually wrapped" or "encased" in a fabric pocket, allowing it to flex independently to provide positive resistance as well as conforming support to your body's curves.

Check out these certainly air-flow-capable, yet still considered traditional style mattresses in the MWNW online mattress shop:

Aside from superior motion isolation, or "bounce-reduction," versus "original wire-tied" coil mattresses, independent coil mattresses offer a refinement in airflow capabilities, especially compared to standard all-foam mattress varieties.

Hybrid Mattresses: Superior Breathability and Cooling Potential

Hybrids: one of the best potential mattress varieties for cooling and air flow capabilities. Compared to all-foam mattresses, hybrids combine the best of both worlds—the feel of cradling, pressure-alleviating materials like memory foam or natural rubber—with the benefit of increased airflow from their independent coil system.

Mattresses with a coil system inside offer the advantage of preventing trapped body heat by allowing for improved airflow, which helps hot sleepers stay cooler. Many all-foam mattresses can feel warm when you sleep on them, especially without gel or phase change material.

Likewise, the "openness" between the coils in a hybrid mattress design will definitely enable better air circulation, creating a more temperature-balanced sleep environment overall. With the addition of hybrid cooling mattress layers or cooling mattress fabrics, this will further boost the "cool-n-dry" factor.

All Foam Mattresses Featuring Temperature Balancing PCM Technology

Memory foam mattresses are often sought after by couples who want to minimize disruptions caused by their partner's movement or getting in and out of bed. However, many people frequently find themselves in a trade-off: eliminating the "mattress bounce-factor" comes at the cost of an unwanted sleep temperature issue when opting for an all-foam mattress.

Especially if you already consider yourself a hot sleeper, all-foam mattresses can sometimes exacerbate an already pesky problem.

Lucky for us, hot sleepers, Phase Change Material (PCM) technology can help an all-foam or all-rubber mattress remain cooler to sleep on by absorbing and releasing thermal energy. Absorbing and releasing body heat is what PCM technology does best; it helps balance your body temperature.

These are some of the best all-foam mattresses with PCM, temperature-balancing technology:

The best type of cooling mattresses often incorporate PCM technology, furnishing these top three advantages of effective cooling mattresses:

Absorbing Body Heat: As you lie down on the mattress and your body heat is absorbed into the mattress layers, the Phase Change Material heats to its "melting point." PCM, like a sponge absorbing water, absorbs your body heat as it transforms from a solid to a liquid. This process draws away excess thermal energy from your body and sleeping surface. This process happens repeatedly throughout your sleep cycles, dissipating heat and preventing it from accumulating in the foam.

Heat Release: Uniquely, unlike basic mattress cooling gel, if your temperature drops significantly while you sleep, the PCM becomes solid again, strategically redistributing this heat storage back to you.

Ongoing Temperature Regulation: The process of phase change creates a steady thermoregulating effect. Rather than the mattress becoming "immersed in retained heat," a mattress with PCM works actively throughout the hours you sleep. Ultimately, PCM is the most dynamic mattress cooling technology available today, maintaining the mattress surface at an ideal temperature conducive to deep, rejuvenating sleep.

Want to Sleep Not Too Hot or Too Cold? Browse and Try Cooling Mattress Styles on Display at Mattress World Northwest!

Most of us are familiar with the saying "If you snooze, you lose."

But, the sleep specialists at Mattress World Northwest locations emphasize quite the opposite: "If you don't snooze, you lose!" Regardless, there isn’t one type of mattress that is best for everyone to keep them cool all night while you sleep. Still, there are plenty of options to help pave your way to better, cooler nights of restful sleep.

So, don't hesitate to check out the Mattress World NW online shop, or visit a local and family-oriented mattress showroom in your area. These family-owned and operated sleep shops have the best selection of cooling mattresses and cooling accessories like pillows, including ones with impressive phase change and other advanced cooling technologies.

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