15 of the best cooling mattress toppers to help you curb night sweats

Owning one of the best cooling mattress toppers is crucial for guaranteeing uninterrupted, comfortable sleep regardless of the season, especially if you tend to get too warm at night. However, finding a mattress topper that seamlessly blends sumptuous thickness with optimal breathability can be quite a challenge.

Sure, transitioning from dense, high thread count bedding to lighter materials (such as cotton and even temperature-regulating wool) can be a game-changer in combating night sweats, but switching your basic mattress topper to a more breathable pick will have the most noticeable impact on your kip. Lots of sleep tech brands have dedicated resources to developing moisture-wicking fabrics engineered to enhance airflow, and in certain instances, these advanced mattress toppers are even designed to actively cool your body as your temperature increases.

What do I need to consider, you ask? We'd recommend thinking first about whether you're someone who struggles with overheating generally or something more specific, for example night sweats. For the former, you'll want to look to open-cell materials like latex, which boast breathability to ensure your body heat doesn't become trapped. Think, for instance, this 3 cm Latex Mattress Topper from Wayfair. On the flipside, buyers who build up a sweat while they sleep might lean towards more moisture-wicking choices like this Dorma Tencel Blend Memory Foam Mattress Topper.

The best cooling mattress toppers, at a glance:

1. Best overall – THE SIMBA Hybrid^® Topper, £219, Simba
2. Best runner up – Emma Premium Topper, £329, Emma
3. Best gel-infused cooling mattress topper – Aidapt Memory Foam Cool Mattress Topper, £33, Argos
4. Best memory foam pick – Panda 5cm Memory Foam Mattress Topper, £88.99, Wayfair
5. Best hybrid – Hybrid^® Essential Topper, £199, Simba

THE SIMBA Hybrid® Topper

£219 at Simba

Emma Premium Topper

£329 at Emma

Aidapt 5.0cm Memory Foam Cool Mattress Topper

£33 at Argos

Panda 5cm Memory Foam Mattress Topper

£98.99 £88.99 at Wayfair

When selecting a cooling mattress topper, prioritise materials known for breathability, such as gel-infused memory foam, latex or natural materials such as wool. Look out for toppers with open-cell or ventilated designs to promote airflow and heat dissipation that will ensure you remain cool throughout the night. We'd also consider the thickness of the topper too, as thicker options are likely to retain more heat and opting for a mattress topper with a removable, machine washable cover will ensure easy maintenance.

Yes, but it entirely depends on what your mattress and/or topper is made of. Say, for instance, your mattress is made of a non-breathable memory foam then you might find it builds up heat and sweat through the night. In situations like this you would certainly benefit from a cooling mattress topper to help regulate your temperature in warmer weather.

By contrast, if you currently own a semi-temperature regulating mattress – like a gel-infused memory foam – and layer it up with another memory foam topper (this time of the non-gel variety), you'll likely find your original sleep surface would have been better at keeping you cool.

In summary, check your mattress and ensure that you're browsing toppers with either similar or more cooling properties.

Within the world of foam, you'll want to steer towards perforated foams like latex, which is naturally super breathable. Similarly, gel-infused foams are less likely to trap heat in warmer weather. See, for instance, Wayfair's White Noise Latex Topper and Argos' Aidapt Topper.

Meanwhile, when it comes to cooling fibre toppers, you'll want to research more wicking fabrics like Tencel and Nylon. Cotton, on the other hand, is more likely to hold moisture and cause issues for buyers suffering with night sweats. Our picks? Dorma's Tencel Blend Topper and Sealy's Anti Allergy Hollowfibre Mattress Topper.

Our dedicated in-house team of testers have reviewed a selection of these cooling mattress toppers, putting them to the test to determine their efficacy. We've spent hot nights and endured heatwaves, sleeping on these breathable toppers to gauge their ability to regulate nighttime temperatures. For those we haven't had the chance to test firsthand, we've sifted through reviews and called on experts to curate an edit of the best recommendations out there.

After more warm weather friendly picks from team GLAMOUR? Head this way for the best cooling pillows, look here for our round up of the best garden furniture, and these links will take you to the best portable air con units and the best summer duvets. For more from GLAMOUR UK's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.