Unsure if you’re ready for the new mattress vs cooling topper debate? Well, before diving in, here’s the basic rule. If you have a mattress under five years old that still structurally works great, then just opt for the topper (we have so me great options below.) If there’s not really wrong with your mattress you probably shouldn’t invest in a new one just yet. But, on the other hand, if your mattress is older, sagging and needs to be replaced, then invest in one of the cooling mattresses below. One exception: dense memory foam mattresses really hold in heat. So if you’re right on the edge of functionality in your mattress and it’s a memory foam…and you sleep really hot, then lean towards an upgrade.
A personal note before the framework: I always sleep hot. It almost can’t be cold enough in the bedroom at night for me — the cooler, the better. There are a few studies out there about how healthy it is to sleep in a cool bedroom, but sometimes in the summer you can’t really afford to keep it seventy or below. Growing up in the Midwest, it was just boiling. We’d have the windows open, and I remember wetting a rag with cool water and keeping it on my face, because otherwise it was going to be a long night. It’s the worst trying to fall asleep when you’re baking. So believe me, I take the cooling question seriously.
The Five-Year Mattress Test
Let’s start with three quick questions around how your current mattress is doing. Think of it as your mattresses yearly physical.
First: Did you buy your mattress five or more years ago? The older it is, the more likely you should lean towards getting a new mattress, with five years being the benchmark.
Second: Does your mattress have a big sag in the middle? More importantly, what does it do your spine when you’re laying on your side? Does it still hold your spine straight or does your spine start to dip? If there’s the dip then just get a new mattress.
Third: Is the heat your only real complaint? If the bed works fine, has no sag and is something you’d keep if it wasn’t hot, then just go for one of the cooling toppers below.
The Topper Route: Three Picks
PlushBeds Organic Latex Topper (around $323 for the queen). It sounds counterintuitive, but latex is not only the most durable, but also the coolest-sleeping topper material on the market. A company called PlushBeds sells it in two thicknesses and five firmnesses. As a rule of thumb, get a 2-inch to cool a softer bed, whole a 3-inch ($476) can soften a too-firm one (if that’s what you want). Keep this in mind: Plushbeds (unlike some other brands) are non-returnable due to hygiene reasons. Make sure you use their firmness guide before placing any orders.
Layla Memory Foam Topper ($254 queen at time of writing). Unlike the PlushBeds option, the Layla’s come with a 30-night trial so you get to give it a go. They use a copper-gel-infused foam. And it has a washable cover, and elastic corner bands that keep it from pulling away from the mattress, which cheap toppers eventually do. It comes with a 30-night trial, unusual in a category that mostly sells final-sale.
Zinus 3″ Swirl Gel Cooling Topper (about $60 queen at time of writing). If you want to just test our a cheaper version of a cooling topper to see if it’s worth it the Zinus is a great option. It’s gel-infused foam has an airflow cut and the price let’s you not break the bank to see if this route is up your alley. Probably only do this is you’r open to the higher price PlushBeds option.
The Mattress Route: Three Picks
Full disclosure: I’ve never actually bought a topper. My fix has always been the full replacement. I’ve bought new mattresses over the years, and one time I had a pillow top — I was concerned about it flattening out or sagging, but it actually stayed pretty pillowy for quite a long time. The thing I learned about mattresses is that everyone’s different. You need to figure out what you’re looking for — soft, medium, firm — and the way you sleep, on your side or your back or your stomach, and then get the mattress that works best for you. The three below cover the cooling side of that equation at three very different prices.
Puffy Lux Hybrid ($1,549 queen at time of writing). You want the Cadillac of cooling mattresses? This is it. We ranked it as the best-overall cooling mattress. It has gel-infused foam over coils, a365-night trial and a lifetime warranty. The full case is in our cooling mattress ranking.
DreamCloud ($699 queen at time of writing). Not ready to spring for the Puffy Lux and want a value play? This 12-inch hybrid with coil airflow and a cooling-fiber cover, at a price close enough to premium toppers that it reframes the whole decision. Our math section below lays out how to make the choice.
Novilla Bliss ($210 queen at time of writing). Ideal for guest rooms and tight budgets. This gel memory foam with an airflow layer is the option when you don’t want to pay four figures to replace a mattress.
The Math
Time to get out the calculators. A good topper runs anywhere from $60 to $480. While a good mattress, on the other hand, typically costs anywhere from $700 to $2,000. So the topper saves you somewhere between $220 and $1,900 (this is where the calculator is a big help). That’s a lot of money. So figuring out what the right plan for you is pretty important.
The expensive scenario is when the math sort of stops making sense. If you put a $476 latex topper on a bed that sags a year later, then you’re just adding $476 to next year’s expense. That’s how a $699 DreamCloud ends up cheaper than a premium topper on a dying bed. Do the five year test to see if your bed is sagging and it will give you a much clearer path to which option is best for you.
On the flip side, if your bed is less than four years old, still supportive, but just holds too much heat, a $2,000 mattress replacement buys you roughly what a $254 copper topper buys you. (Minus the $1,750.)
Mattress vs. Topper FAQ
Should I get a 2-inch or 3-inch topper? The genral rule is that if you like the way your bed feels, and you’re of averag weight, then go for a two-inch topper. If you want your bed to be a bit more cozy (or if your bed is too firm) and/or you’re a heavier sleeper, then spring for the 3-inch topper.
Will a cooling topper fix dense memory foam that sleeps hot? Usually the answer is yes. But only if the foam underneath is still supportive. Since the topper is closest to your skin the latex or gel foam keeps you cool throughout the night more than what’s buried beneath.
Do mattress protectors cancel out cooling toppers? Great question! And yes, the mattress protectors made of vinyl do since they are between you and the topper and they don’t let much air through.If you currently have a vinyl mattress protector pick up a breathable Tencel or cotton-terry one. Our cool-bedroom checklist gives you a complete breakdown of which ones we love the best.
Kaelyn Johnson is a Registered Dietitian from Southern California who has worked as a clinical dietitian and is now a freelance writer. She has written for WebMD, produced an e-book, and written case studies for healthcare practitioners.
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