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Best Mattresses for Cold Sleepers

Updated September 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Puffy Lux 12-inch Mattress
Puffy
Lux 12-inch Mattress
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Versatile Choice
Bottom Line

It offers the best temperature regulation among bed-in-a-box mattresses, and it sleeps a bit softer than others in its class.

Pros

Designed to meet the needs of a wide range of sleepers, this mattress has a neutral to warm temperature without getting too hot. Built with four layers of foam for support, temperature regulation, and moisture control. Medium-soft rating that users can sink into. Can be used on any type of bed base or frame. Machine-washable cover. Sleep trial of 101 nights.

Cons

Heavyweight sleepers may sink uncomfortably into this softer mattress.

Best Bang for the Buck
DreamCloud 15-inch Mattress
DreamCloud
15-inch Mattress
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Long-lasting Comfort
Bottom Line

With its hybrid construction featuring sleeved innerspring coils underneath layers of foam, this mattress will last quite a long time.

Pros

The firm hybrid support of this mattress is balanced by soft upper layers, including a quilted Euro top and a gel contour layer, that cradle the sleeper without feeling heavy or hot. It’s a very well-made mattress that should perform well for years.

Cons

Softness seekers may still find this mattress too bouncy and firm.

Zinus Memory Foam 12-inch Green Tea Mattress
Zinus
Memory Foam 12-inch Green Tea Mattress
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Good Odor Control
Bottom Line

Sleepers looking for good support and plenty of warmth will find both in this budget-priced memory foam mattress.

Pros

Blends multiple layers of low-toxin foam for comfort and good airflow to maintain body temperature. Infused with odor-fighting green tea extract. Medium firmness supports different sleeping positions and a range of body weights.

Cons

As with most budget mattresses, it will lose some firmness after the first year of steady use. Too hot for some sleepers.

Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress
Awara
Natural Hybrid Mattress
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Best for Larger Athletes
Bottom Line

A medium-firm mattress that provides support for all sleeping positions and tends to sleep cool.

Pros

Good for couples and athletes who change position frequently at night. Multiple cooling gel layers help prevent hot sleeping all year. Firmer innersprings around the outer perimeter of the mattress make for excellent edge support.

Cons

It takes 48 hours or more to fully decompress, and it has a longer break-in period than some other mattresses.

Tuft & Needle Queen Mattress
Tuft & Needle
Queen Mattress
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Plush Top
Bottom Line

Heavier-weight sleepers who crave the plush comfort of an all-foam mattress will like this choice.

Pros

Rated for sleepers up to 500 pounds, this mattress relies on adaptive foam rather than springs to provide support without being too firm or aggravating pressure points. CertiPur-US certified. A 10-year warranty and 100-night sleep trial boost consumer confidence.

Cons

Edge support is not that great, and some sleepers don’t like sinking so far into the mattress.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Consumers
Consulted
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Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best mattresses for cold sleepers

If you're not sleeping well because you wake up in the night feeling cold, it's time to consider buying a mattress for cold sleepers. Certain mattresses are less breathable than others and, while this can be a problem for those who tend to sleep hot, cold sleepers can use this to their advantage to help them stay cozier at night.

First, you'll need to consider the types of mattresses that are best for cold sleepers, namely any that use standard memory foam or other closed-cell foam as a main component. However, they won't be advertised as being good for cold sleepers, which makes the process somewhat trickier. You then have other decisions to make that are similar for any mattress, such as size, depth, and firmness.

Read on for all the information you need to select your ideal mattress for cold sleepers. We've also listed our favorite mattress choices for people who sleep cold, one of which might be the perfect choice for you.

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If you feel cold most of the time, even when it's hot out, consult your primary care physician. It could be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Key considerations

Mattress types

You have a few choices when it comes to choosing a mattress for cold sleepers: memory foam, other types of closed-cell foam, and hybrid.

Memory foam: This is a type of closed-cell foam that was developed by NASA in the 1960s but has become one of the most popular mattress materials in recent years. Since it molds to the contours of your body, memory foam is extremely supportive and helps reduce those pressure points that can otherwise lead to back and joint pain.

However, the closed-cell design of the foam means it isn't particularly breathable. For the average person, this can lead them to feel too hot when they sleep. It’s a common complaint about memory foam, but for a cold sleeper it's ideal. If you’re choosing a fully foam mattress, we highly recommend memory foam, though you can find other options.

Closed-cell foam: You can also buy mattresses made of other types of closed-cell foam. These tend to be more affordable than memory foam mattresses, so one is great if you're on a budget. They don't, however, mold to the body in the same way that memory foam does, so they aren't quite as comfortable or as effective at easing pressure points. Some mattresses use a base layer of standard closed-cell foam topped with a few inches of memory foam to lower the price while retaining many of the benefits of memory foam.

Hybrid: A hybrid mattress consists of foam top with an innerspring mattress below it. Since the foam is next to your body at night, a hybrid mattress can be a good choice for a cold sleeper as long as the upper layer is made of memory foam or another closed-cell foam and doesn't incorporate any holes or other similar features for breathability. If you like the bounciness of an innerspring mattress but want something better suited to a cold sleeper, the right hybrid mattress is a great choice.

Size

The size of mattress you need depends on the person or people who will be sleeping in the bed. Twin and full mattresses are best for one person, though a full mattress can fit two if necessary. Twin mattresses are great for kids, whereas full mattresses are best suited to teens who have outgrown their twin bed or adults who sleep solo. Queen and king mattresses are spacious enough for two to share. Most people find that a queen bed affords them enough individual space, but a king bed is best if you like to stretch out or if you have kids or pets that sometimes join you.

Firmness

Mattresses for cold sleepers, like any mattress, are available in a range of firmness levels. Those that are too soft don't offer adequate support, but those that are too firm can feel hard and uncomfortable. You should take into account the sleeper's weight and sleeping position when considering firmness. Soft mattresses can provide enough support for those under 110 pounds, for instance, but will feel unsupportive to anyone heavier. Side sleepers also generally need something slightly less firm than back or front sleepers, who tend to require more support.

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For Your Safety
When buying a foam mattress, choose one that is CertiPUR-US certified, which proves it's free of a variety of potentially harmful substances.
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Features

Antimicrobial

Foam mattresses are naturally more hypoallergenic than those made of wool and other natural materials. Memory foam mattresses are naturally antimicrobial and help limit dust mites and prevent the buildup of mold and mildew over time.

Cover

It's useful for a mattress to have a cover that can be removed and machine washed. However, having a cover doesn't mean you can forgo using a fitted sheet.

Depth

A quality foam mattress should be at least 8 inches deep, though 10 to 12 inches deep is even better. Hybrid mattresses tend to be at least 10 inches deep to accommodate the extra room taken up by the innerspring portion.

Foam mattresses have the benefit of isolating movement from one side of the bed to the other, which is great if you or your partner tosses and turns or gets up several times in the night.

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Accessories

Flannel sheets: Stone & Beam Rustic Buffalo Check Bed Sheet Set
Flannel sheets are warmer than plain cotton or polyester sheets while still being breathable, so they won't leave you sweating. This set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and one or two pillow cases, depending on the size you order. 

Comforter: EASELAND All Season Soft Quilted Down Alternative Comforter
Choosing the right comforter can make a huge difference in your nighttime comfort. This one is less expensive than down and thick enough for use in the coldest months, so you should feel toasty warm when you pair it with the right mattress for cold sleepers.

Pajamas: PajamaGram Classic Pajamas
A pajama set with pants and a long-sleeved shirt is something all cold sleepers should consider wearing at night. This classic set is available in checks, stripes, and solid colors.

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Did You Know?
Cold sleepers should avoid gel mattresses because they're specifically designed to help hot sleepers stay cooler.
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Mattresses for cold sleepers prices

Inexpensive: You can find some basic foam mattresses for around $100 to $300, including some basic memory foam options.

Mid-range: For between $300 and $800, you'll find a wide range of memory foam and hybrid mattresses that are great for cold sleepers.

Expensive: At the high end of the price spectrum, you'll find the most luxurious, comfortable, and supportive mattresses for cold sleepers. These can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,000.

Tips
 

  • Buy two comforters. If you share a bed with someone who's more likely to sleep hot than sleep cold, try using separate comforters. You can use a thicker one and your partner can use a lightweight one.
  • Suit the mattress to the way you sleep. Side sleepers tend to need a softer mattress than back sleepers or stomach sleepers to avoid putting too much pressure on the hips and joints.
  • Regulate the room temperature. If you wake up chilly in the night, don't let your bedroom get too cold during the day, and keep the door shut through the night to retain heat.
  • Don’t rely on your mattress alone to keep you warmer. While the right mattress can help you feel slightly warmer at night, don't expect a miracle. If you're always chilly when you sleep, you'll still need to use a thick comforter and wear warm pajamas.
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Innerspring mattresses don't tend to feel as warm as foam mattresses, but if you like a bouncy mattress, you could buy an innerspring model and use a memory foam mattress topper or heavy bedding to keep you warmer.

FAQ

Q. What does it mean to be a “cold” sleeper?

A. A cold sleeper is someone who tends to feel chilly in the night, as opposed to a “hot” sleeper who tends to feel warm in the night. It's generally easier to help a cold sleeper warm up than a hot sleeper cool down. You can always add more layers, but there are only so many you can take off!

Q. What can I do if I feel cold in the night?

A. There's plenty you can try if you feel cold in the night, one of which is finding a mattress that's suitable for cold sleepers, something you're probably already considering if you've found your way here. In addition to choosing the right mattress, you can also try using thick, cozy sheets and a warm comforter or duvet. You can also keep extra blankets on hand so you can add them on extra-cold nights and remove them when you don't need them. Wearing the right clothes to bed will also help to warm you up. Long pajamas made of a breathable material, such as cotton or cotton jersey, will keep you warm without overheating you. Wearing socks to bed also boosts your body temperature, as does sleeping with a hot water bottle or electric blanket if you're especially chilly.

Q. Should I replace my bed frame at the same time as my mattress?

A. There's no reason to replace your bed frame at the same time as your mattress unless you're buying a larger or smaller mattress than your current one, in which case the bed frame will be of the wrong size. That said, if your bed frame is old and worn or you just fancy a new look, it makes sense to replace it when you choose a new mattress.