The 5 Best Gel Mattresses Of 2023 To Keep You Cool & Comfortable

With multiple gel layers, this mattress has a true cooling sensation that hot sleepers will love. The cover features gel beads that actually liquefy at higher temperatures and help lower your body's temperature as you sleep. You can choose from three levels of firmness: soft, medium, or firm. 

In each mattress, a 1-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam keeps you cool and also provides pressure point relief. The core of the mattress is an 8-inch layer of up to 1,032 individually encased coils to give your body the support it needs throughout the night. This mattress arrives in a recyclable box and has a near-perfect star rating on the site—even after more than 2,800 customer reviews.

What reviewers say:

One reviewer reports that they love the Aurora Luxe more than other (more expensive) mattresses they've tried in the past, noting that they "will be purchasing two more for the other bedrooms!" Another says, "I love how cooling it actually is!! To the touch! I sweat a lot in my sleep, so this has been pretty helpful at keeping me cooler. I also sleep on my side and back so this is great for both those positions."

This mattress features five layers of materials, starting with a stabilizing 6-inch base foam and building to a quilted heat-wicking cover. The two tiers that set this design apart are the dynamic response layer and gel-infused memory foam. The former is 4 inches deep with a split down the middle to restore airflow and bounce, while the latter provides 2 inches of pressure-relieving, cooling support.

There's also an option to upgrade to the Nectar Premiere, which includes an additional inch of the gel-infused memory foam, for an even cooler sleep. The brand says this mattress is good for any type of sleeper, whether you sleep on your back, stomach, or side.

The Nectar mattress arrives in a box that is perfectly sized to fit the mattress, in order to eliminate waste. 

What reviewers say:

With more than 48,000 reviews on the Nectar website, this mattress has maintained a near-perfect rating of 4.8 out of 5. One reviewer shares that both she and her husband sleep better with this mattress, and she sleeps on her side while her husband sleeps on his back—confirming that this is a great pick for multiple sleep positions. The same reviewer goes on to report that "you can't feel motion transfer when your partner rolls over or when the dog jumps up onto the bed."

This hybrid mattress gives you all the comfort of foam with the support of the coils. It boasts a seven-layer foam construction, which includes gel-infused memory foam. Equal parts cushioning and pressure relief, the gel contours to your body and adds cooling relief to make it feel like you're sleeping on a cloud. (Hey, the name gives it away.)

At the base, you'll find an 8.5-inch coil layer; it better eliminates motion transfer while still providing edge support and adding to the overall breathability of the design. One of the softest picks on our list, it's a great choice for stomach and side sleepers.

What reviewers say:

This mattress has a 4.8 out of five-star rating overall after nearly 9,000 reviews—so you know it's a fan favorite. There are a seemingly endless number of reviews touting this mattress' cooling properties, and one says, "A superb comfort mattress. Don't feel when my husband gets in and out of bed. Luxurious look and feel. I also am very pleased with the mattress protector that helps me feel cool and comfortable." As expected, stomach and side sleepers like it best, while some back sleepers feel that it is too soft.

Also featured in our roundup of the best mattresses for neck and back pain, this cushioned pick layers together a Euro pillow topper, gel-infused memory foam, and base of individual coils in a hybrid pick that's cushioned yet supportive. While the memory foam is key to pressure relief, the individually wrapped pocket coils offer optimal support, especially for back sleepers. However, the choice of four firmness levels (softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus) allows for all sleeping styles and bodies to find comfort in the design—including heavier individuals who need a bit more support.

Plus, the breathability of this mattress makes it a great choice for anyone who tends to run hot, as the gel-infused Euro top helps limit motion control and ease muscle tension.

All of the brand's mattresses are handmade in the United States, using CertiPUR-US® certified foams, recycled steel coils, and sustainably sourced Tencel for the cover. The cover is also OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class 1 certified, ensuring that it's safe enough for children, too. Like most mattresses, it's compressed, rolled up, and shipped in a box directly to your door.

What reviewers say:

Even after obtaining more than 8,000 reviews, this mattress maintains a 4.8 out of five-star rating overall. One reviewer who is prone to back pain says that the WinkBed "combines just the right levels of firm and soft to provide good support but still feel like a comfortable, premium item." Another writes, "Most supportive 'soft' mattress I've ever slept on. Get your blankets out, this mattress also sleeps very cool."

Like all other Purple mattresses, this pick uses the brand's proprietary GelFlex technology, a grid-like layer of injection-molded polymer originally designed for patients in hospitals. The unique gel-infused material contours to pressure points without reducing support, making it a top pick for those who like the feel of memory foam but worry about overheating, as the material is temperature-neutral and constructed to allow airflow.

However, this hybrid design doesn't rely on just foams alone. It also features a layer of responsive stainless steel coils for added support and bounce. Wrapped in noise-reducing fabric, the coils boost the mattress' responsiveness and help the grid better return to its original shape.

The brand makes all its mattresses in the U.S. and ships them compressed and rolled in a recyclable box. The materials are CleanAir GOLD and CertiPUR-US certified—and while some report a smell when unboxing, others say it goes away soon after the mattress expands.

What reviewers say:

After nearly 2,000 reviews, this crowd-pleaser has earned 4.4 out of five stars on Purple's website. Hot sleepers, side sleepers, back sleepers all praise the design, as well as people with back and joint pain. One shopper raves, "Very comfortable and [I] love the cooling technology, as I sleep very warm and never wake up hot with this mattress."