The best bed cooling systems manage the temperature of the bed itself—not the bedroom. In warm climates and for hot sleepers, that can be the difference between a peaceful eight hours and a long, sweaty night. Our favorite overall, the Eight Sleep Pod 4, builds on previous iterations to offer dual climate control with even more cooling power, so it’s a great pick for couples with different sleep temperature preferences.
For a cool and comfortable night's sleep, chill out your bed, not your bedroom.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
Bed cooling systems use either passive or active temperature regulation to keep you comfortable. Passive cooling products feature breathable materials that naturally wick away moisture, while active systems use air or water circulation to control bed temperatures. Choosing between the two is largely a matter of budget, preference and how disruptive you find overheating at night. Ahead, find our picks for the very best bed cooling systems for more restful nights.
Type: Active | Trial: 30 nights | Warranty: 2 years | Key features: Automatic temperature control, vibration and thermal alarm, sleep and health tracking, virtually silent
What you’ll love:
Dual climate control
Automatically adjusts temperature between 55 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit
Keep in mind:
Lengthy set-up process
Cooling process isn’t immediate
The Eight Sleep Pod 4 is a new version of the popular temperature-regulating mattress cover, and it’s loaded with impressive upgrades. The basic setup is straightforward: The Pod cover goes over existing mattresses like a fitted sheet and connects through tubing to the Hub, which moves water through the cover to manage temperature. Both sides can be adjusted separately to adjust heating and cooling, and the temperature range is broad—you and your bed partner can enjoy temperatures between 55 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit on your respective sides of the bed. According to the brand, the Pod 4 is quieter, thinner and more comfortable than its predecessor, the Pod 3. It’s also controllable without the app, which is handy if you’re limiting phone time in the bedroom. For fans of sleep and health tracking, the Pod 4 tracks metrics like heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep stages, snoring and respiratory rate with 99% accuracy, according to Eight Sleep.
While both the Pod 4 and Pod 3 are effective ways to manage sleep temperature, they don’t come cheap. In addition to the expensive initial investment, a 12-month app subscription is also required. But with the 30-day trial, you have some time to try it out to decide if it’s worth the money.
What the reviews say: Eight Sleep features a mix of reviews pulled from social media. One says, “We have an old house, so the AC is basically nonexistent in our upstairs bedroom—Eight Sleep solves the problem entirely.” According to another, Eight Sleep “has been an incredible investment with all this excessive heat.”
Best Cooling Mattress
Cooling Materials And Features Throughout
Purple
Purple RestorePremier Hybrid Mattress (Queen)
Type: Passive | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years | Key features: Choice of firmness, cooling materials, airflow-promoting construction
What you’ll love:
Two firmness options
Hybrid construction and GelFlex Grid promote airflow
Keep in mind:
May not be supportive enough for dedicated stomach sleepers
The Forbes Vetted team picked this mattress as the best cooling hybrid on our list of the best cooling mattresses. That’s because it’s made with Purple’s proprietary GelFlex Grid, a flexible, temperature-neutral material that allows for plenty of airflow. The CoolFlex support coils also help circulate air, while the SoftFlex cover helps wick away moisture. Plus, all of those materials also give the mattress excellent support, pressure relief and a nice balance of responsiveness and motion isolation. It also comes in two firmnesses to suit different body types and sleep styles, and Purple has a 100-night sleep trial. That should be plenty of time to decide if it sleeps cool enough.
What the reviews say: Reviewers rave about the RestorePremier’s cooling prowess. One 5-star review says, “It has been the coolest I’ve ever slept, with basically no more night sweats.” Another customer writes, “My wife and I both love this mattress. The first thing we both think of every morning is how comfortable it is. We both sleep hot normally and this mattress sleeps very cool.”
Best Budget Bed Cooling System
An Air-Based Cooling System For Immediate Relief
BedJet
BedJet 3 Climate Comfort Sleep System
Type: Active | Trial: 60 nights | Warranty: 2 years | Key features: Rapid air-based cooling and warming, personalized temperature schedules
What you’ll love:
Works immediately to cool or warm the bed
Can be used with any mattress brand and all types of bed frames
Installs in minutes without tools
Keep in mind:
A single unit doesn’t allow for dual temperature control
Some reviewers find it a little noisy
The BedJet 3 is an air-based cooling and warming system that works with your existing mattress and bedding. An air nozzle (connected to the base, which is designed to fit beneath the bed) is secured to the side of the bed to direct cool or warm air under the sheets—it’s as simple as that. The circulating air also means instant relief for those prone to night sweats or hot flashes. The device comes with a remote and a Bluetooth app, both of which give you complete control over temperature and air flow. You can also schedule automatic shut-off times. For the most savings, the app-only option brings the price down to $389 during sales. Since a single BedJet doesn’t allow for dual temperature control, couples who have differing temperature needs may want to consider the dual-zone system (though it doubles the price). You can also purchase a special sheet for $130 to manage temperature on one side of the bed alone.
Keep in mind that the BedJet doesn’t use cooling agents, so it works best if the ambient temperature is moderate. If your bedroom temperature is over 79 degrees, you may want to consider a water-based system instead. The brand explicitly states that extreme heat overwhelms the convective cooling method of the BedJet, so it’s important to use it in an air-conditioned room.
What the reviews say: There are over 4,000 reviews of the BedJet, and most are glowing. One 5-star review says, “I purchased this with the understanding that it's a fraction of the upfront cost of other systems that have water circulating through a mattress pad. What I learned after sleeping with the BedJet is that I don't necessarily sleep hot. What I need is a bit of air movement under the covers to keep from sweating. The BedJet solves this. After a couple of nights setting up the biorhythm settings I have not woken up sweating in weeks.” Another customer writes, “ I can't explain how wonderful it feels, how easy it is to use and how much we value it.”
Best Cooling Mattress Cover
An Individual Layer For Cooler Sleep On One Side
Sleep Number
Sleep Number DualTemp Layer (Half Queen)
Type: Active | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 1 year | Key features: Multiple temperature settings, automatic shutoff, remote control
What you’ll love:
Designed as an individual layer for personalized comfort
Compatible with any bed
Lengthy trial window
Keep in mind:
Designed in half sizes for queen, king and California king sizes only
Some reviewers say it’s a little noisy and doesn’t stay in place particularly well
This air-based system is designed to warm or cool one side of the bed (which means you need to buy two if both you and your bed partner want to manage temperature). The half-size layer, which fits on queen, king and California king mattresses, is tucked into place beneath a fitted sheet. While that wasn’t an issue for many reviewers, some did report problems with the layer staying in place. The system works via remote to send warm or cool air from the base (which fits beneath the bed) through a connected tube into the layer. According to Sleep Number, the DualTemp Layer can help you sleep up to 35% cooler or warmer.
One thing worth noting is that the battery-operated remote is fairly basic, with options to adjust cooling and warming up or down on a limited temperature range.
What the reviews say: There are thousands of reviews for the DualTemp Layer, with an overall rating of 4.5 stars. “My wife has been using this for a while, and it has completely eliminated hot flash sleep disruptions,” writes one reviewer. Another says, “I have used this topper for over a year. Initially thought I would only need it in summer but I use it nearly nightly year-round. I mostly use it in a fan or cool setting but have had some freezing days when I used the heat. I love it and now cannot do without it.”
Best Cooling Mattress Pad
Temperature Regulating With Soft Cushioning
Sijo
Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Mattress Pad (Queen)
Type: Passive | Material: Tencel lyocell and mica-nylon blend | Trial: 7 days | Warranty: None offered | Key features: Waterproof, OEKO-TEX and FSC-certified, temperature regulating
What you’ll love:
Absorbs excess body heat and moisture
Eco-friendly
Keep in mind:
Limited sizes available
If you’re looking for a low-tech approach to beat the heat, this mattress pad is an easy and cost-effective alternative to active cooling systems. Instead of using air or water to cool down the bed, it’s made with a patented blend of moisture-wicking fibers that absorb and release excess body heat. Sijo’s mattress pad made our list of the best mattress pads not only because of its cooling abilities, but because it has an impressively soft, luxurious feel. It’s also waterproof (a nice bonus if you have kids or pets in the bed) and soundless, without the stiffness of some waterproof pads. Sijo’s TempTune collection is also made with materials that are harvested sustainably, making this an eco-friendly approach to cooler, more comfortable sleep.
What the reviews say: Reviews are somewhat limited for this mattress pad, but the overall rating is 4.8 stars. “I never thought I would end up writing a review for a mattress pad, but this one warrants feedback,” says one reviewer. “It is cooling and it feels soft and silky under the sheets. I am amazed at how it has improved our sleep because of the cooling effects. The softness and coolness comes through under the sheets.” Another writes, “I have been looking for different ways to help out with how warm I get at night. It’s especially bad in summer, obviously, but it’s an all-year-round affair for this sweaty neurodivergent gal. I also have two pets who sleep in bed with me, they both like to be touching me in some way, and they are tiny furnaces. Ever since I put this TempTune mattress pad on the bed, we’re all sleeping way more comfortably.”
Best Cooling Sheets
Buttery Soft Sheets That Help Regulate Body Temperature (And Look Great)
Cozy Earth
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set (Queen)
Type: Passive | Material: Viscose from bamboo | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years | Key features: Soft and breathable,multiple colorways
What you’ll love:
Smooth, silky texture
Breathable and temperature neutral
Available in all standard mattress sizes and a wide range of colors
Keep in mind:
Oversize fit can mean extra material gathers in places
For some hot sleepers, breathable sheets could be an easy way to enjoy cooler nights. These sheets from Cozy Earth—which earned spots on our lists of the 10 best cooling sheet sets and the best luxury sheets—are made with viscose derived from bamboo. While they lack any kind of active cooling technology, you may not miss it. These smooth, silky-soft sheets help regulate body temperature naturally, which can mean more comfortable nights. We also like that these generously sized sheets are crafted to fit mattresses up to 20 inches. Viscose is a durable material that gets softer with every wash, so while these sheets are a splurge, you can expect them to perform well for years. They also come in a ton of stylish colors, which makes it easy to find the right hue for your bedroom.
What the reviews say: Reviewers rave about these sheets. “I bought these as a present for my mother; she complained of being too warm at night. I already owned a set of these and knew they would be perfect. I never get too warm at night anymore, and they feel so good against your skin. She loved them and said it was her first good night’s sleep in a long time,” writes one reviewer. Another, who says they’re the “best purchase to date,” calls them “so soft and amazing for night sweats.”
Best Cooling Comforter
A Lightweight Comforter With Patented Heat-Absorbing Technology
Nylon-spandex blend makes the blanket prone to slipping off the bed
If you’re the type of hot sleeper who routinely kicks off the blanket, this could be the comforter you sleep with comfortably all night long. The Slumber Cloud UltraCool Comforter tops our list of the best comforters for hot sleepers thanks to its cooling materials and soft, fluffy feel. The shell is a nylon-and-spandex blend that feels silky, while the patented ClimaDry fiberfill inside uses microcapsules to absorb, store and then release excess heat and moisture so you stay cool and dry. It’s a different approach to cooling bedding, according to the brand, because it’s designed to regulate heat and stop sweating before it starts instead of wicking away heat and moisture that are already building. The lightweight comforter can be used with a duvet cover without affecting its performance, and it’s machine-washable, so it’s easy to keep clean if you’re using it by itself.
What the reviews say: “As a 45-year-old, perimenopausal woman, I have been dealing with night sweats for over a year,” writes one reviewer. “I’ve tried many different types of ‘cooling’ bedding, but none compare to Slumber Cloud. I went all in—the UltraCool mattress pad, sheets and comforter. What a game-changer. Totally worth the investment.” Another says, “This material feels great and is cool to the touch, I don’t even want to put a cover on it. I’ve never had a problem sleeping with this on, and I usually have to sleep only half covered.”
The Forbes Vetted team of writers, editors and contributors is building an ever-growing library of sleep content designed to help readers like you enjoy better sleep quality. That includes stories specifically for hot sleepers, like the best cooling pillows and the best cooling mattress toppers.
Forbes Vetted contributor Jessica Timmons, the author of this piece, is a freelance writer and editor and has been covering sleep and lifestyle content for the past 16 years. Her recent work includes a review of the Eight Sleep Pod 3 and a roundup of the best luxury mattresses.
Sleep editors Bridget Chapman and McKenzie Dillon assigned and oversaw this story. They’re also certified sleep science coaches, which makes them highly qualified to test and recommend sleep products.
We always want to bring you the most accurate and current information and recommendations, so this story is periodically refreshed. It was last reviewed in June 2024.
How We Chose The Best Bed Cooling Systems
To assemble our recommendations of the best cooling systems, we researched the best-selling products from reputable brands and polled the Forbes Vetted team for firsthand insight.
We referenced existing Forbes Vetted content to find potential bed cooling contenders and completed extensive research to find best-in-class products.
To accommodate varying preferences and budgets, we included both active and passive cooling systems in a range of prices.
We scoured customer reviews to ensure that our recommendations have high praise. All of the picks on our list have a rating of at least 4.1 stars.
What To Look For In The Best Bed Cooling Systems
There are a few things to keep in mind as you shop for the best bed cooling system. A good place to begin is by determining whether you need temperature regulation or active cooling. That can help you decide between high- and low-tech solutions.
Type Of Cooling: Active Vs. Passive
Active bed-cooling systems feature equipment and technology to cool the bed. That can mean greater efficacy, but a higher price point as well. Passive cooling involves using bedding with cooling and moisture-wicking properties due to the material. If overheating at night is a chronic issue that interferes with your sleep quality, an active cooling system may be the best approach. You might also consider pairing it with passive cooling products, like sheets, blankets and pillows made with breathable materials, to boost temperature regulation.
Temperature Controls And Technology
Active cooling systems can give you more precise control over sleep temperatures. The Eight Sleep Pod 4, for example, lets you choose a temperature between 55 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and it makes adjustments while you sleep to ensure your comfort. That’s true for both sides of the bed, which means you and your partner can customize temperatures to your liking.
Sleep data and health metrics can be another perk of some active cooling systems. If you’re interested in tracking this data to improve your sleep quality over time, spending the money on high-tech bed cooling systems may be worth it.
Noise Level
While active bed cooling systems work well, noise can be a potential side effect. Since air- or water-based cooling systems have a power source, they generally emit a low hum that may be noticeable if you’re a light sleeper. In that case, passive cooling options like sheets, a comforter or a mattress may be a better option.
Do Bed Cooling Systems Work?
Bed cooling systems work quite well to manage temperatures for more comfortable sleep. Active systems that use water or air to control temperature are a better pick for chronically hot sleepers, especially if you pair them with passive cooling products like breathable, temperature-neutral sheets and blankets.
What Is The Best Bed Cooling System For Menopause?
Active-cooling systems like the Eight Sleep Pod 4 and the BedJet, which use circulated air or water to control the bed’s temperature, can be a great option for those experiencing hot flashes associated with menopause. The Eight Sleep Pod automatically adjusts throughout the night to maintain a comfortable sleep temperature, which can help reduce nighttime disruptions from fluctuating body temperatures.
Is There Such A Thing As An Air-Conditioned Bed?
The Bedjet is somewhat similar to an air-conditioned bed. It uses circulating air to quickly cool or warm the air between the sheets. The hub adjusts ambient air to your chosen settings, but it doesn’t use cooling agents the way an air conditioner does. Instead, it has a ventilating effect to minimize body heat and sweat.
