Cooling Mattress Guide

Sleeping cool is more than how a mattress feels when you first lie down. The initial cool-to-touch sensation and the ability to stay cool through the night are supported by different factors.

In this guide, we explain in detail what influences both the initial cool-to-touch sensation and longer-term cooling, including how Q-max relates to surface cooling, which comfort layer materials are more breathable, and which support layers are better at reducing heat build-up during sleep.

What Matters When Choosing a Mattress to Sleep Cool?

Sleeping cool depends on two things: how cool the mattress feels when you first lie down, and how well your overall sleep setup prevents heat build up throughout the night.

Cool-to-Touch Sensation

Cool-to-touch refers to the initial cooling sensation you feel when your body comes into contact with the mattress surface.

It is mainly influenced by the mattress fabric and how quickly it transfers heat away from your skin.

Think of cool-to-touch as:
How cool the mattress feels at first.
illustration of cool to touch fabric

What Is Q-max?

Q-max measures the rate of heat transfer when your skin first touches a material.

A higher Q-max generally creates a stronger cool-to-touch sensation, which is why it is commonly used to evaluate cooling fabrics.

What Do We Use?
Polyethylene cooling fabric with Q-max rating of 0.23 - 0.25J/cm2•s. Its high thermal conductivity makes it feels significantly cooler to touch.
Q-max measuring heat transfer and the relative q-max rating for different mattress fabric materials

Does Bedding Reduce the Cooling Feel?

Yes. A fitted sheet or mattress protector creates a layer between your body and the cooling fabric, reducing the direct cool-to-touch sensation.

If surface cooling is important to you, choose thin and breathable bedding so less material separates you from the mattress cover.

Bedsheet partially covering a mattress

Mattress Breathability

Breathability refers to how effectively heat generated by your body can dissipate instead of gradually becoming trapped around you.

Unlike cool-to-touch fabrics, breathability affects how warm you feel after sleeping for several hours.

Think of breathability as:
How well your sleep setup prevents heat build-up.
woman sleeping on snow mattress

Cooling or Breathability?

If you are worried about sleeping hot or waking up sweaty, we consider breathability more important.

Cooling helps when you first get into bed, while breathability helps prevent heat from building up throughout the night.

Cooling Helps you feel cooler at first
Breathability Helps prevent heat build-up over time
Comparison between instant cooling and overnight mattress breathability and at what stage of sleep either is more important

What Affects Mattress Breathability?

Breathability depends on your entire sleep setup. Bedding affects how easily heat can escape around your body, while the materials and construction inside the mattress determine how much heat is retained underneath you.

Key Breathability Considerations

These are the main parts of your sleep setup ordered by importance that can affect heat build-up during the night.

Comfort Layer Determines how much heat is retained directly beneath your body
Support Layer Affects airflow through the deeper mattress structure
Mattress Fabric Influences surface heat transfer and moisture management
Key factors affecting mattress breathability and sleeping temperature

Comfort Layer Materials

The comfort layer is the cushioning section near the top of the mattress that shapes how the mattress feels against your body. Its materials also influence how much heat is retained directly beneath you.

3D Air Fiber Very high breathability with an open structure that allows substantial airflow
Latex High breathability and commonly perforated to improve airflow
Foam Moderate breathability depending on density, cell structure and thickness
Memory Foam Low to moderate breathability as closer body contouring can retain more heat
General Ranking
3D Air Fiber → Latex → Foam → Memory Foam
Illustration of the different type of materials used in comfort layers

Support Layer Materials

The support layer is the structural section beneath the comfort layers that carries your body weight and provides the mattress with its main support. Its construction influences how easily air can circulate through the deeper mattress structure.

Springs High breathability as open spaces between springs allow greater internal airflow
Latex Moderate to high breathability, although the latex core remains largely solid
Foam Low to moderate breathability as the solid foam core allows less internal airflow
General Ranking
Springs → Latex → Full Foam
Illustration of the different type of materials used in support layers