If you regularly wake up feeling too warm, your mattress could be part of the problem. Some mattress materials hold onto more body heat than others, while more breathable designs encourage airflow and help heat dissipate throughout the night.

The best mattress for hot sleepers should balance temperature regulation with the comfort and support your body needs. That might mean a breathable hybrid with open coils, an all-foam mattress with cooling infusions, or a latex mattress made with naturally temperature-neutral materials.

At Nolah, we design our mattresses with cooling in mind, but the right option depends on more than temperature alone. Your sleep position, body type, preferred mattress feel, and material preferences should all factor into your decision.

In this guide, we'll explain what makes a mattress sleep cooler, which features hot sleepers should prioritize, and how to choose the best Nolah mattress for your unique needs.

Why Do Some Mattresses Sleep Hot?

Your body naturally releases heat while you sleep. Ideally, some of that warmth will move away from your body and dissipate into the surrounding environment. But, a mattress that restricts airflow or closely envelops your body can make that process more difficult.

Traditional memory foam is often associated with sleeping warm because its dense structure and close contouring can retain heat around the body. However, mattress technology has evolved significantly, and foam mattresses don't necessarily have to sleep hot.

Cooling foams, breathable covers, heat-dissipating materials, and airflow-friendly mattress constructions can all help create a more comfortable environment for people who tend to overheat.

It's also important to remember that your mattress is only one part of your sleep environment. Bedding, pajamas, bedroom temperature, humidity, and even your bed frame can affect how warm you feel.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Hot Sleepers?

There's no single mattress type that's automatically best for everyone who sleeps hot. However, certain constructions tend to promote airflow more effectively.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses combine foam or latex comfort layers with a coil support system. Because there's open space between the coils, air can circulate through the mattress more freely than through a solid foam support core.

For especially hot sleepers, a hybrid mattress that pairs this breathable construction with cooling comfort layers and a heat-dissipating cover can provide multiple approaches to temperature regulation.

Foam Mattresses

All-foam mattresses can offer excellent contouring, pressure relief, and motion isolation, but the type of foam matters when it comes to temperature.

If you sleep hot but prefer an all-foam feel, look beyond conventional memory foam. Cooling technologies such as gel or copper-infused foams can help manage heat, while more breathable foam formulations can provide contouring without creating as much of a heat-trapping sensation.

Latex Mattresses

Latex is another strong option for hot sleepers. Natural latex has a responsive feel and doesn't typically create the deep, enveloping hug associated with traditional memory foam.

Perforations within latex layers can also encourage airflow. Pair latex with breathable fabrics and an open coil support system, and you get a mattress construction that's well suited to people looking for both natural materials and temperature regulation.

What Features to Look for in a Cooling Mattress

When shopping for the best mattress for hot sleepers, don't rely on a "cooling" label alone. Look at how the entire mattress is constructed.

While a single mattress model won't include all of these features or materials, the table below gives you an idea of what to look out for depending on your other comfort and support preferences. 

Remember: The best cooling mattresses often combine several of these features rather than relying on just one.

Active Cooling vs. Breathability: What's the Difference?

You'll often see both terms when comparing cooling mattresses, but they aren't interchangeable.

Active cooling and "cool-to-the-touch" materials are designed to draw heat away from the body at the mattress surface, creating a noticeably cooler initial sensation. Nolah's optional GlacioTex™ Pillow Top, for example, uses high-thermal-conductivity fibers designed to pull heat away from the body.

Breathable materials and constructions focus on airflow. Coil systems, perforated foams, latex, and breathable fabrics allow warm air to move away from your body instead of becoming trapped within the mattress.

Hot sleepers may benefit from either approach, but combining surface cooling with breathable construction can provide more comprehensive temperature regulation.

Does Mattress Firmness Affect How Hot You Sleep?

Firmness isn't primarily a cooling feature, but it can affect how much of your body comes into contact with the mattress.

A very soft mattress may allow you to sink farther into the comfort layers, surrounding more of your body with material and potentially limiting airflow around your skin. A firmer, more responsive surface generally keeps you more "on top" of the mattress.

However, that doesn't mean hot sleepers should automatically choose a firm mattress. Comfort and spinal alignment are still essential.

Side sleepers generally need more cushioning around their shoulders and hips, while stomach sleepers typically require a firmer surface to prevent excessive midsection sinkage. Back and combination sleepers often fall somewhere in between.

Rather than choosing firmness based solely on temperature, start with the firmness level that suits your body and sleep position. Then look for cooling technologies within that comfort range. The Nolah Evolution, for instance, comes in three firmness options while incorporating cooling foams and a hybrid coil core.

Quick Guide: Choosing a Mattress for Hot Sleepers

When comparing mattresses, ask yourself:

• Do I want foam, hybrid, or latex? Hybrids and latex mattresses naturally lend themselves to airflow, while advanced cooling foams can provide a cooler alternative for people who prefer all-foam beds. 
• How much do I tend to sink into my mattress? Deep contouring foams can surround more of your body, so more responsive materials may feel more comfortable if you frequently overheat. 
• Does the mattress have multiple cooling features? Look for a combination of breathable construction, cooling comfort layers, and heat-dissipating cover materials.

Best Nolah Mattresses for Hot Sleepers

So, which Nolah mattress is the best fit for you? We've narrowed our lineup down to four options based on mattress type, body type, materials, and specific cooling features.

1. Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers Overall: Nolah Evolution

The Nolah Evolution is our top overall choice for hot sleepers because it combines multiple approaches to cooling with the support and pressure relief of a premium hybrid.

Its copper-infused AirFoam® Luxe and Gel Swirl comfort layers are designed to maximize cooling and pressure relief, while the zoned coil support system and AirBreath™ border encourage airflow through the mattress. You can also choose among three firmness levels—Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm—to match your sleep position and comfort preferences.

For sleepers who want even more surface cooling, the Evolution is available with a GlacioTex™ Pillow Top upgrade for additional cool-to-the-touch comfort.

Best for: Hot sleepers who want advanced cooling features, strong airflow, targeted support, and multiple firmness options.

2. Best Foam Mattress for Hot Sleepers: Nolah Signature

Prefer the cushioning and motion isolation of an all-foam mattress? The Nolah Signature is our pick for hot sleepers who want the benefits of foam with cooling features built in. 

The Signature features Nolah AirFoam® with a hole-punched design that promotes airflow through the comfort layer. It also incorporates cooling Gel Swirl Foam, which helps dissipate excess body heat for a more comfortable sleep surface.

With its medium feel, the Signature balances cushioning, pressure relief, and support, making it especially well suited to side sleepers. Hot sleepers can also add the GlacioTex™ Pillow Top for an additional cool-to-the-touch layer.

Best for: Hot sleepers who prefer an all-foam mattress with pressure relief, motion isolation, and multiple cooling features.

3. Best Natural Mattress for Hot Sleepers: Nolah Natural

For sleepers looking for cooling performance with natural materials, we recommend the Nolah Natural.

The Natural features a breathable organic cotton cover and two layers of temperature-neutral organic latex. The latex is perforated to encourage airflow, while the individually wrapped coil system creates additional room for air to circulate through the mattress.

Latex also has a naturally responsive feel, so you tend to rest more on top of the mattress instead of sinking deeply into it. That combination of responsiveness, breathable materials, and hybrid airflow makes the Natural an excellent choice for hot sleepers who prefer latex over polyurethane foam.

Best for: Hot sleepers who prioritize breathable natural materials, responsive comfort, and a buoyant latex feel.

4. Best Mattress for Plus-Size Sleepers Who Sleep Hot: Nolah Evolution Comfort+

The Nolah Evolution Comfort+ is specifically designed for plus-size sleepers who need enhanced support without sacrificing cushioning or temperature regulation.

Its reinforced hybrid construction pairs responsive comfort layers with HDMax™ coils for increased strength and durability. The coil system also creates space for air to circulate through the mattress, helping promote a cooler, more breathable sleep environment.

For sleepers who want additional surface cooling, the Evolution Comfort+ is also available with an optional GlacioTex™ Pillow Top, which adds cool-to-the-touch technology designed to help draw excess heat away from the body.

The Comfort+ supports up to 1,000 pounds total across mattress sizes and is designed to provide the deeper support larger bodies may need while maintaining pressure-relieving comfort.

Best for: Plus-size hot sleepers who want reinforced support, pressure relief, breathable hybrid construction, and optional cool-to-the-touch technology.

Finding the Best Cooling Mattress for You

The best mattress for hot sleepers should do more than simply feel cool when you first lie down. Look for a mattress that combines effective temperature regulation with the right level of comfort, pressure relief, and support for your body and sleep position.

Cooling features can take many forms, from breathable coil systems and perforated foams to temperature-neutral latex and heat-dissipating covers. Consider how these features work together across the entire mattress rather than focusing on a single cooling technology.

Ultimately, the best cooling mattress is one that helps manage heat throughout the night while still meeting your individual comfort and support needs. By considering mattress type, materials, firmness, airflow, and surface cooling, you can narrow down your options and find a bed that helps you sleep more comfortably.