The best cooling bedding, tried and tested by hot sleepers

Score: 90/100

This duvet has a eucalyptus silk cover and is filled with a bamboo and recycled plastic bottle filling. It’s about seven togs, so it may be too warm for scorching summer nights, but if you want something lightweight for autumn, winter and spring, then the relatively thin design should do the job.

Our panel praised its comfortable, luxurious feel and most found it breathable. In the lab, testers recorded slight shrinkage, but the filling was still evenly distributed.

Score: 84/100

Whether you’re dealing with menopausal night sweats or you’re just a hot sleeper, this coverless duvet boasts breathable, cool-to-the-touch fabric, which is designed to draw heat away from your skin and keep your body temperature well-adjusted. It’s also ultra lightweight, so you can use it in bed, on the sofa or even take it on trips.

Testers described it as “a great summer duvet” and praised its cooling capabilities. The fabric was soft and comfy to sleep under and the filling was spread evenly. The best part? Thanks to the coverless design, you can simply pop it in the washing machine to freshen up – no need to faff around with bedsheets and poppers. It does take slightly longer to dry, though.

Score: 96/100

This is not just our best pillow for hot sleepers; it’s also one of our best buys overall. That’s because, according to our testers, there was “nothing to dislike”. The firm foam filling was supportive with just enough softness for slight give, while its bamboo cover washed well in the lab.

Now onto its cooling properties. This is the double-sided pillow we mentioned in our intro, with a cooling gel pad on one side and soft bamboo on the other. So, on nights when you need something warmer it shouldn’t leave you shivering, but when you need to lower your temperature, a quick flip will make all the difference. Our testers found this feature very effective, saying it “worked wonders,” was “icy cool,” and “great at regulating temperature”. Sold.

Score: 89/100

Instead of gel, this has a soft, cool-to-touch quilted cover made with Tencel that should keep your temperature down. Our testers were impressed with how effective this was throughout the night, but popping a pillow case on top made it less noticeable, so you may want to leave one off for nights when you’re feeling very hot.

Luckily, the cover is washable and fared well in our lab tests, holding its shape and retaining its quality, so forgoing an additional case isn’t much of a barrier. And importantly, it was comfortable thanks to the memory foam inner.

Score: 85/100

This clever piece of kit is ideal for hot sleepers on the go. Simply slip the gel pad into your pillowcase and enjoy the instant cooling effects. You can even pop it into the fridge to keep you comfortable on particularly sweaty nights.

According to panellists, it had the desired effect, providing sufficient relief around the head and shoulders. One panellist told us their middle-of-the-night hot flushes had stopped since using the product and another said: “I wake up less in the night and have much more consistent sleep.”

There no was rustling or noise overnight and it was easy to clean (wipe it down and put in the washing machine). For some, it was a little heavy and one tester noted it slipped around in their pillowcase. Overall, though, a great buy for those who run hot.

Score: 80/100

Part of the brand’s Restore collection – designed specifically with hot and restless sleepers in mind – this pillow features a copper-infused cover to provide instant cooling when your head heats up. Copper is also naturally antibacterial, and the pillow is machine washable, so it’s easy to keep things fresh – even after a sweaty night.

Testers confirmed its immediate cooling effect, with one saying: “For night sweats and hot flushes, this is the best product I've tried”. Others found the cool feel faded quickly, especially with a pillowcase on, but the brand recommends using it with its own Silentnight Cool Touch Pillowcase for best results.

Most said the medium-firm design provided a comfortable and supportive base, with the full, structured feel making it a particularly good choice for back and side sleepers.

Score: 96/100

This “luxurious” linen duvet set from Bed Threads, did an excellent job of regulating our panellists' temperature. The breathable fabric kept them cool and comfortable overnight, and it felt ultra soft against their skin. Everyone said they would happily buy it again and would recommend it to friends and family.

Testers also praised the “gorgeous” design, with 20 vibrant shades to choose from, including terracotta, rosewater and oatmeal. As a bonus, the three-piece bedding set washed well, dried in a flash and maintained its quality after three goes in the washing machine. There was no noticeable shrinkage or colour fading, either.

Score: 95/100

If you don’t have hundreds of pounds to invest in your bedding, these soft Egyptian cotton sheets are a stand-out choice. They have a thread count of 400 and our testers loved the way they felt against the skin, with one telling us they “seemed to adjust to body temperature very quickly.”

They come in a wide array of colours, and maintained their quality and vibrancy after washing. The fit was also impeccable. You may need to whip out your iron, but there’s much to love about these affordable and breathable sheets.

Score: 89/100

This slinky set is made with organic bamboo, which is naturally moisture wicking, so it’s little surprise we received glowing reviews for its temperature regulation. One tester said, “I never felt too hot or cold,” and another told us the fabric felt breathable, which meant they “didn’t experience hot sweats” like they sometimes do.

Testers declared the set soft and comfortable, and were generally satisfied with its fit, although the sheet wasn’t quite big enough for deeper mattresses. In the lab washing machines, its overall quality was hard to fault too.

Bamboo is also considered to be better for the environment – because it's fast growing, it can regenerate more quickly than many other plants.

Score: 92/100

This excellent-value topper features air mesh sides to encourage airflow and prevent overheating while you snooze. Testers scored it highly for breathability, with one saying: “I tend to overheat at night, but I’ve experienced fewer restless, sweaty wake-ups.” One satisfied panel member has even bought another one for their spare room.

The topper was true to size and stayed put thanks to sturdy straps. It’s also machine washable, although it may be a little bulky for standard-size machines.

Score: 86/100

Specifically designed with sweaty sleepers in mind, this memory foam topper combines cooling gel beads with a soft yet supportive feel. Testers confirmed it helped regulate their temperature overnight, while the removable cover made cleaning simple.

The contouring foam fabric suited all sleep styles, and the secure, anti-slip base prevented it from sliding around at night. Refitting the cover after washing was a little fiddly, but it's otherwise easy to maintain – and the 30-day trial helps justify the price tag.

Score: 86/100

Dunelm describes this as a mattress enhancer, adding a light, breathable layer of comfort to your bed while helping to regulate temperature overnight. The TENCEL™ cover is designed to wick away moisture and keep things feeling fresh, while the polyester filling provides gentle cushioning, without drastically changing the feel of your mattress.

It's straightforward to use – the corner straps are easy to attach and stayed in place securely, even with movement, and it remained quiet during our tests, so it won’t disturb your sleep. Our experts praised the airy feel, though the cooling effect was more mild than noticeably cool. Keep in mind that it isn’t waterproof, but you can pop it in the washing machine for easy care.

Score: 73/100

This mattress protector from The Fine Bedding Co not only shields against spills and stains, but it’s also designed to regulate body temperature. It’s crafted from 180-thread count cotton with advanced HeiQ technology to deliver instant and continuous cooling as you rest. It’s machine washable, too, making it easy to keep fresh week after week.

It scored highly for practicality – testers said the elasticated skirt was simple to fit and confirmed it remained quiet overnight, with no noticeable rustling as they tossed and turned. Most agreed it was comfy to sleep on and appreciated its cooling capabilities, though some felt the temperature regulation was fairly subtle and could have been more pronounced. It’s worth noting that this will depend on the other bedding you pair it with, as heavier duvets and less breathable sheets will affect overall airflow and temperature control.