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If you’re someone who struggles with overheating while sleeping then you know how difficult it can be to buy bedding that won’t leave you waking up drenched in sweat. Our team of sleep experts spent dozens of hours researching and testing different products to get an answer to the question: do mattress toppers make you hot? Read on to find out.
Are Mattress Toppers Hot?
Mattress toppers don’t make people hot, with the exception of memory foam mattress toppers which might. Some sleepers find memory foam uncomfortably hot at night because it retains more body heat than other materials.
Elevated temperature can make it hard to fall asleep and cause frequent waking throughout the night. If a topper material makes you hot, you’re likely to feel poorly rested due to the non-restorative sleep you had during the night.
A mattress topper is supposed to give you some benefits – like bringing additional comfort to your old bed and refreshing the overall feel by adjusting the firmness and breathability of the sleeping surface. If you have a problem with a hot bed, the right mattress topper made of breathable (preferably natural materials) should contribute to air circulation. See our Parachute mattress topper review for an example of a brand that will keep you cool at night.
Latex, wool, and down mattress toppers are not hot for most sleepers. Mattress toppers made from natural materials are neutral or act as a corrective factor in overall bed warmth, so you should do thorough research on types of mattress toppers before actually buying one.
Are all memory foam mattress toppers too hot?
This doesn’t have to be the case because, in the end, it really depends on the person – how hot they’re likely to get while in bed, how sensitive they are to heat and temperature, and what kind of bed they prefer.
At the same time, manufacturers are aware of memory foam problems, so they develop new topper designs which would increase the airflow and they sometimes add gels to slow down heat retention and make the topper feel cooler, at least in the first part of the night.
Some memory foam toppers are infused with things other than gels, such as graphite or copper which also draw away the heat from the body.
You’ll find many variations of memory foam toppers, such as:
- Solid memory foam topper
- Gel memory foam mattress topper
- Convoluted egg crate topper
- Infused memory foam topper
Cooling properties of Natural Mattress Toppers
We tested several types of natural mattress toppers to find out whether they make you hot while sleeping.
Latex mattress toppers
Natural latex is a breathable and organic material extracted from the sap of rubber trees, also known as natural rubber.
Since natural latex contains no chemicals, it won’t retain body heat. In addition to its slightly bouncy surface, it naturally wicks away moisture and promotes air circulation. These features are crucial for maintaining body temperature at night.
Comparatively to polyfoam or memory foam toppers, natural latex toppers tend to sleep cool. Latex reduces pressure points and provides forgiving support for the shoulders, hips, back, and knees.
Sometimes natural latex toppers are perforated with large holes that promote air circulation and prevent heat and moisture retention.
A small number of latex topper users claim that it traps warm air to some extent and creates body heat retention. Latex mattresses and toppers are among the most expensive on the market.
Wool mattress toppers
Wool keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer. For hot sleepers, wool toppers may provide some relief because wool’s unique fiber structure traps air and makes a thermal barrier between the air in the room and the sleeper’s skin.
Wool has natural moisture-wicking properties and resistance to mold and mildew. A thick wool mattress topper is an insulator for you and the entire mattress. Nevertheless, approximately 4% of owners (1 out of 25) complain about excessive heat and claim that wool retains body heat, so they sleep hot and wake up sweaty.
In some studies, wool has been shown to prolong the REM cycle during sleep and lower the resting heart rate. Wool is soft and supportive at the same time – springy and durable, and it maintains its shape for a long time.
Down and feather mattress toppers
Feather and down offer extra comfort and luxury. Natural materials such as down and feathers allow air to circulate and regulate your body temperature at night by absorbing heat.
Similar to wool, down and feathers are natural insulators – this ability helps with the same temperature maintenance. Down absorbs body heat, maintaining the average temperature of the sleeping surface close to room temperature.
Many people wrongly believe that goose-down toppers are only suitable for freezing temperatures. Down has the advantage of allowing air to circulate and as a result, your topper won’t get sweaty under you.
Air mattress topper
There is one thing you should keep in mind when it comes to air mattress toppers and air mattresses (inflatable beds). The air inside doesn’t change temperature easily, so after a hot day, it’s likely to remain hot for a while even in the cool evening.
Make sure bed sheets and mattress covers are breathable and properly spread out to prevent any big fluctuations in temperature. As a result, you won’t feel uncomfortable due to extreme temperature changes.
How to Fix a Mattress Topper That’s Too Warm
You can lower the temperature of a mattress topper by covering it with breathable bedding or mattress covers made of natural materials, such as bamboo or cotton. On top of that, pillows filled with organic materials such as down or wool should keep your head cool.
Avoid polyester and other synthetic materials because they trap body heat and can make you sweat a lot during sleep. Also avoid using non-breathable covers and pillows made of synthetics.
If you have one of those mattress protectors that go on top of the mattress with straps to keep them from sliding, you can use it to make a barrier between the topper and yourself.
How to combine mattress topper with bed
If you own a memory foam bed that is too hot for you, consider combining it with a mattress topper made of natural materials. High-density memory foam mattresses will bring your body relief and adequate support. If you boost your memory foam mattress with a latex, wool, or down mattress topper, you will add more cooling properties to your memory foam mattress.
As a result of their coil base, innerspring mattresses are naturally quite breathable, and air easily flows between the coils because of the open spaces between them. You may try to combine an innerspring mattress with a firmer mattress topper because this type of mattress is reported as uncomfortable by many sleepers.
A bed frame with a lot of space between slats is far more breathable than one with a solid bottom because the mattress can release accumulated heat in the open air allowing fresh air to circulate between you and the sleeping surface, but it’s not the best for every mattress type. For example, those slats make.
How to Sleep Cooler
Various factors such as the environment, a faulty mattress, lack of space in the bed frame, and your body weight contribute to the heating effect of your sleeping surface.
- Increase airflow in the room and around the mattress
- Sleep without pajamas or with thin, cotton ones
- Turn off lights and electronics
- Keep your room temperature at 67 degrees
- Shower or bath before bed
- Drink plenty of water
Consistent airflow in your room and good air circulation help reduce heat buildup. To accomplish this, you may use several methods.
At night, turn on your air conditioner or let fresh air into your bedroom by opening the windows. An ice bowl in front of a portable fan can keep you cool even without an A/C – that’s how people did it in the past.
Before going to bed, turn off all lights and electronics. Turning them off prevents heat buildup because they produce both light and heat.
You should keep your room up to 67 degrees Fahrenheit; sleeping at this temperature will ensure a good night’s sleep without sweating. In addition to lowering your thermostat, you may also find it easier to fall asleep if you take a warm bath 90 minutes before bedtime.
As we wind down for sleep, our body temperature drops, regulating our sleep-wake cycle. According to some researchers, a warm shower or bath before bed increases blood circulation and lowers core body temperature, which may help us fall asleep faster.
A glass of water can be helpful if you tend to sleep hot, but don’t drink too much – the point is in proper hydration, not in you having to wake up in the middle of the night and go to the restroom.
Other bed cooling accessories
Other cooling products enable sleepers to fine-tune the temperature of their beds. Toppers and cooling pads designed to keep your body cool usually have special technology embedded.
Mattress pads with heating and cooling options and various handy features are often powered and offer heating and cooling in a temperature range of 50ºF to 158º F.
A bed cooling system is a device you place in the bedroom or on a sleeping surface. It alters your sleep temperature using cooling technology based on water or air cooling components. For example, BedJet blows air between the mattress and the cover (or topper and cover). Some smart mattresses also have heating or cooling features, but to make a smart mattress work properly, you can’t use a topper.
FAQs
A foam mattress topper may cause you to sweat at night by increasing your body temperature. This could be relieved by using a gel-infused topper, increasing the airflow around the bed, or using lightweight bedding. However, night sweats are often caused by other factors, which could be stress, health issues, or hormonal imbalances.
Some mattress toppers are hot to sleep on, while others are not. Depending on the type of topper you purchase, you may sleep hotter or cooler depending on how the topper retains or removes heat. If you want cooling mattress toppers, you should consider toppers made from naturally breathable materials.
Depends who you ask. Based on our team, the best topper is myWooly Latex Topper. Based on Reddit reviews, the best one would be the Bear Pro Mattress topper.
Conclusion
Mattress toppers improve overall comfort, including temperature adjustments on existing mattresses. They should make your bed hotter or colder during sleep only if the bed or mattress doesn’t satisfy your temperature standards. Since the sleep-overheating issue is so prevalent, many manufacturers have developed specialized mattress toppers with cooling properties. Therefore, you may benefit from contouring and pain relief while sleeping comfortably in a cool and fresh environment.
Next step: Read our Dormeo mattress topper review. It’s by far the most popular mattress topper available. If you aren’t sure which topper to try, this is the one you should go with.
Psst… the sleep review industry is full of liars, sharks, and thieves. It’s a modern-day version of getting ripped off at your local mattress store. So, why should you trust us?