A gel-foam mattress is often recommended for hot sleepers. The term refers to an infused foam layer used in both memory foam and hybrid mattresses, but does gel-foam really reduce overheating and night sweats?
We know from testing this year’s best mattresses that temperature regulation is a core factor in determining the overall performance of a bed. Gel-foam mattresses are often known for their cooling properties, but here we go deeper into their pros and cons, including expert insights from leading mattress manufacturers, to understand how such mattresses can impact your sleep.
Gel foam mattresses are available across different price ranges, so you’ll likely find one that fits your budget in the monthly mattress sales. To make your search easier, we’ve also included our top three recommendations should you decide to buy now…
What is a gel-foam mattress?
A gel-foam mattress uses foam infused with cooling polymer gel for temperature regulation. It's usually added to memory foam, as the material is infamous for trapping heat, causing stuffiness and discomfort. You'll also find gel-foam in mattresses with pocket springs and latex.
The gel, which is often incorporated with heat-conducting and anti-microbial substances like copper, absorbs body heat and distributes it throughout the surface of the bed.
This cooling gel is usually added to memory foam, as the material is infamous for trapping heat, causing stuffiness and discomfort. You'll also find gel-foam in mattresses with pocket springs and latex.
John Merwin, CEO at 3Z Brands — the parent company of mattress labels like Helix, Nolah, and Brooklyn Bedding — says substances like cooling gels are directly added into the foam liquid during the initial mattress manufacturing stage, which in turn improves their ability to transfer heat.
Cooling gel is actually deposited into foam as small, capsule-like beads. "The beads act like a heat sink, while also helping with pressure mapping," explains 3Z Brand's resident foam chemist, Neil Silverman. "The beads coalesce, preventing you from going too far into the mattress."
"Because we pour our own foam, we have the flexibility to use a variety of infusions, most of which are focused on cooling or performance," says Merwin. Graphite, copper, and titanium are other heat-conducting elements that are added to foam to aid in cooler sleep.
"When combined with other cooling features, like GlacioTex, these infusions can be incredibly effective in creating a cooler sleep experience," adds Merwin.
Once created, gel foam is typically added to the top layer of the mattress— right below the cover. You'll find varying levels of gel-foam in everything from the best cooling mattresses to the best cheap mattresses.
Gel foam mattress vs memory foam mattress: What’s the difference?
Many of the best memory foam mattresses we've tested include the cooling gel-foam — but gel-foam isn't present in all memory foam beds.
Some models rely solely on the different types of mattress foam for comfort and support and use cooling methods such as breathable top covers or perforated foam.
For example, the Cocoon by Sealy Chill Mattress, our top budget-cooling all-foam recommendation, features a breathable top cover that uses a proprietary phase-change material to wick away heat and sweat.
In essence, memory foam mattresses generally require additional cooling tech to be suitable for hot sleepers, but it needn't necessarily be a cooling-gel layer.
Gel-foam mattresses: Pros
The biggest advantage of gel-foam mattresses is definitely their cooling benefit for hot sleepers. The polymer gel layer can absorb body heat and wick it away, making it a perfect addition to heat-trapping memory foam beds.
In fact, mattresses using gel-foams are a cheaper alternative if you're a hot sleeper working with a tight budget. Yes, cooling mattresses using advanced tech are on a much higher level in terms of temperature regulation, but this also justifies their premium price tag.
Gel-foam mattresses also make up a bouncier and more responsive sleep surface, as they spring back quicker than traditional memory foam beds. This works in favor of combination and restless sleepers, who require ease of movement when changing positions during the night.
This extra "give" or responsiveness makes it possible to deliver the same pressure relief, motion isolation, and cradling sensation as pure memory foam mattresses and even add a bit of extra support.
A gel-foam mattress infused with copper can provide an anti-microbial sleep; copper is known for its natural antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Gel foam mattresses: Cons
Gel-foam mattresses have plenty of benefits, as we discussed, but they are not without their faults.
First of all, while they are cheaper than the best smart beds on the market, they can still cost more than traditional memory foam beds.
Another major drawback is off-gassing, the odor emitted when a foam mattress starts to expand, indicating the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Memory foam is already known for its potent chemical odor, but this issue can be exacerbated due to the synthetic nature of the cooling gel.
And speaking of synthetic materials, a gel-foam mattress is not an ideal choice for those who prefer a natural or organic bed. The best organic mattresses do not include any synthetic polymer gels and instead use naturally breathable materials like latex or cotton.
Many also question whether cooling gel foams are toxic, since these are essentially made using chemicals. However, the majority of gel-foam mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they meet certain safety and environmental standards.
Last but not least, while it upgrades the temperature regulation of naturally heat-trapping memory foam, the gel layer doesn't sleep as cool as the cutting-edge cooling tech, such as graphite or active climate control.
Can gel foam mattresses help with night sweats, hot flushes and overheating?
From our experience of testing cooling mattresses at Tom's Guide, we've found that methods such as the addition of cooling gel into the foam didn’t stand up against heat waves or hot flashes.
"Gel foam mattresses are good for many warm to hot sleepers," says certified sleep coach Claire Davies. "However, you may find that only a proper cooling mattress can reduce the intense sweating and molten-hot flashes that come with perimenopause and menopause."
Instead, Davies recommends seeking out mattresses with cooling elements such as phase change material (PCM). Studies show that this can lower skin temperature and improve human heat dissipation by up to 25.6%, compared to a conventional mattress.
"Other health conditions (and some medications) also cause intense overheating and night sweats, where your bed sheets are soaked with sweat," she explains. "In these instances, a standard gel foam mattress will not help; you'd need a specialist cooling bed."
Should you buy a gel-foam mattress?
Buy a gel-foam mattress if...
✅ You're a hot sleeper on a budget: The low-cost production paired with decent temperature regulation makes gel-foam mattresses a better budget-friendly choice than those using advanced cooling tech.
✅ You're a combination sleeper: Gel-foam has more responsiveness and bounce than traditional memory foam, making it much easier to move around on.
✅ You need ample pressure relief: Gel-foam mattresses deliver the same level of body-contouring pressure relief as pure memory foam beds but with extra support, thanks to the gel-foam's 'give'.
Don't buy a gel-foam mattress if...
❌ Your night sweats are severe: Gel-foam mattresses can prove to be insufficient for those who are prone to sleeping extremely hot and regularly struggle with night sweats.
❌ You want to prioritize natural, non-toxic sleep: If your mattress contains cooling gel, it's not a clean, organic mattress.
❌ You want a sink-in soft bed: The quicker bounce-back means gel-foam mattresses don't have the same amount of sinkage as ultra-plush memory foam beds
The top 3 gel-foam mattresses on sale today
The top 3 gel foam mattresses on sale today
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