The Best Cooling Comforters for Hot Sleepers
If you tend to overheat or get night sweats, these picks will make bedtime so much more comfortable.
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If you're a hot sleeper, you know how frustrating it can be to rip off a sweaty comforter in the middle of the night. While it's essential to maintain a comfortable body temperature for a good night's rest, that's not as easy as it sounds. Luckily, cooling comforters are designed to trap less heat, and many even use specialized cooling technology, which is game-changing for users experiencing night sweats or menopausal hot flashes.
What's the best cooling comforter? Our top-tested pick is the REST Evercool Cooling Comforter. With an immediate cool-to-the-touch feel, this comforter easily wicked away moisture in Lab tests and was a favorite among hot sleeper testers. For a more affordable buy, the Elegear ArcChill 3.0 Cooling Comforter is a great value at around $60 for similarly cool fabric with a lightweight fill.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested over 70 different comforters to find the best picks for your coolest sleep yet. We regularly test bedding of all kinds from down comforters to duvet inserts. In the Lab, we evaluate design and construction and vet all cooling claims and technologies. We also send cooling styles to consumer testers who identify as hot sleepers to evaluate real-world performance.
REST Evercool Cooling Comforter
Pros
- Cool-to-the-touch feel
- Showed no signs of wear after laundering
- Aced moisture-wicking testing in our Lab
Cons
- Some testers found it too thin
Cover material: Nylon, spandex | Fill material: Down alternative (Sorona polyester and Tencel lyocell) | Cooling features: Moisture-wicking and cool-to-the-touch cover, lightweight fill
Amongst all the cooling comforters we tested, this cooling comforter from Rest reigned supreme. A game-changer for sweaty sleepers, it actually feels icy cold to the touch. Its silky-smooth performance fabric aced our moisture-wicking evaluations in the Lab, easily wicking away a sweat-like solution and showed no signs of wear after laundering. We appreciated its thin, lightweight feel, which helps prevent overheating and keeps you cool and dry. Still, it might feel too thin for some; it's thinner than your typical all-season comforter despite the smooth feel.
Our testers gave it perfect scores for keeping them at a comfortable body temperatures. One even described it as "soft and cool (almost icy even)," and said, "it provided much-needed relief in hot weather." It's especially great for anyone experiencing menopause or pregnancy hot flashes. One tester reported, "I am pregnant and having a cooling comforter was amazing." Another said, "I no longer wake up drenched in sweat!”
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter
Pros
- Double sided for different seasons
- Moisture-wicking, cool-to-the-touch fabric
- Lightweight fill
Cons
- Need to hang dry in the shade
- Brand recommends using with a fan or constantly moving
Cover material: Nylon/spandex and polyester | Fill material: Down alternative polyester | Cooling features: Moisture-wicking and cool-to-the-touch cover (one-side), lightweight fill
This lightweight, double-sided comforter is designed for year-round use (aside from an extra cold winter). It has a smooth, cool-to-the-touch side which quickly wicked away night sweats in our tests and a buttery soft, brushed back, which helps provide added warmth during chilly nights in the spring or fall. This pick is meant to be used on its own (without a duvet cover), but you can pick between a few solid colors. And while you can launder it in a washing machine, make sure to hang it to dry in the shade.
It was a hit amongst our testers for its cool, smooth outer fabric. One said, "As a menopausal woman, feeling the coolness of the comforter when a hot flash occurs was so welcoming and relieving." Others liked how light it felt. One user shared, " I love how soft and light it is...not heavy or bulky, which I love." Note that the brand recommends moving the comforter around to maintain its cool feel or using a fan, which not all testers loved; some found it disruptive and wished the cooling properties lasted longer.
Slumber Cloud UltraCool Comforter
Pros
- Temperature-regulating cooling technology fiberfill
- Silky cover that wicks away moisture
- Plush yet still lightweight feel
Cons
- Slippery feel, according to some testers
Cover material: 89% Cooling nylon, 11% spandex jersey | Fill material: Outlast-infused down-alternative fiberfill | Cooling features: Outlast temperature-regulating technology, moisture-wicking cover
Featuring Outlast technology, which stores and releases your body heat to help keep you at a comfy temperature all night long, this comforter from Slumber Cloud provides the ultimate cooling effect. It's lightweight with a 300 gsm down-alternative fill, and the nylon and spandex jersey cover has a silky feel for an extra cooling feel — though some testers said it felt too slippery.
While some cooling comforters are super thin, this comforter still feels substantial. "I love how plush it is with a cooling effect," said one tester. "Most cooling comforters tend to be flatter but I found this one had some cushion to it." Another tester who suffers from hot flashes reported, "It really did help keep me from getting overheated at night."
One tester shared that it became her new favorite comforter and said, "I was worried it'd feel paper thin and that I'd need to layer more blankets on top to feel comfy, but it offers a great thickness that feels both lightweight and cozy." Multiple testers also loved how easy this comforter was to launder, saying it dried quicker than their other comforters.
RELATED: The Best Cooling Pajamas
Buffy Breeze Comforter
Pros
- Sustainable materials
- Lightweight and breathable
- Generous free trial period
Cons
- Slides around in a duvet cover, according to testers
Cover material: Lyocell | Fill material: Down-alternative lyocell | Cooling features: Moisture-wicking and cool-to-the-touch cover, lightweight fill
Buffy — famous for its original Cloud Comforter — released a cooling Breeze Comforter just for hot sleepers. This down-alternative comforter is lightweight and breathable, and testers loved the silky soft feel of the sustainable Tencel lyocell cover that also helps keep you cooler. It has an immediate cooling effect and it wicks away moisture to keep you dry, even if you suffer from night sweats.
The silky feel did mean it was prone to sliding around on testers' beds or inside a duvet cover. One tester shared, "The comforter is lightweight and fluffy. It’s perfect for summer nights or hot sleepers," and they said it feels "very soft and comfortable, with and without a duvet cover." Loving its cooling feel, one tester said this comforter was "significantly cooler than my down duvet." Another said, "The comforter feels very quality, luxe and hotel-like."
The brand offers a generous free trial period that allows you to try the Buffy for seven nights before buying.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Buffy Comforter
Pros
- Three fill levels
- Generous return policy
- Baffle-box construction to keep fill in place
Cons
- Dry clean only
Cover material: 100% cotton | Fill material: Down | Cooling features: Lightweight fill
If you like the classic fluffy feel of real down but run hot, look for a lightweight style with a lower fill power. This pick from Brooklinen comes in three different fill options, so you can choose the right one for you. The lightest fill has a 650 fill power for an airy feel. It uses baffle-box construction, which helps keep the fill in place and also comes with a generous year-long return period. Note that this pick is recommended spot-clean and dry clean only.
In our tests, this comforter felt airier and lighter than others we tested, with less loft to trap hot air than typical heavy styles. Our testers agreed: One said, "it feels like I’m sleeping under a very light cloud." Another user, who tried the All-Season version, remarked, "It felt so plush and like being wrapped in a cloud! I couldn’t believe how lightweight it was, unlike some down comforters that can be heavy."
If you prefer to use one comforter year-round, the All-Season model earned high scores from our testers for keeping them at a comfortable body temperature.
RELATED: The Best Down Comforters
Birch Natural Down Duvet Insert
Pros
- Organic materials
- Innovative blend of down and wool
- Machine washable
Cons
- Only two size options
Cover material: 100% organic cotton | Fill material: 70% down and 30% wool | Cooling features: Temperature-regulating fill
While some comforters can be paired with a duvet cover or used as-is, this pick from Birch is specifically designed as a duvet insert. It's made with a mix of down and wool for a fluffy feel that's great for year-round use. While down is known for its ability to trap warmth, wool stands out for its natural temperature-regulating qualities. It uses baffle-box construction and has convenient corner loops, which help keep it in place in a duvet cover. Plus, it's machine washable!
One tester loved its cooling effects, saying, "I am a hot sleeper but the comforter never felt too hot and my husband is a cool sleeper and was comfortable all night." Another tester reported, "It looks great on my bed, it's cool feeling but also keeps you comfortable." Praising the cover material, one tester called it "soft and smooth to the touch." Note that this pick isn't available in Twin sizing.
RELATED: The Best Duvet Inserts
Crane & Canopy Ultimate Luxe Down Alternative Comforter
Pros
- Fluffy down-alternative fill
- Three fill levels available
- Luxurious, according to testers
Cons
- Testers said that it made a slight crinkling noise
Cover material: 100% extra-long staple cotton | Fill material: Microfiber | Cooling features: Lightweight and super-lightweight options
If you want a fluffy comforter but have a down sensitivity, opt for a down-alternative pick instead. This top-tested style from Crane & Canopy is available in three weights: all-season, lightweight and super lightweight, which is ideal for hot sleepers. It is constructed with baffle boxes, which help keep the fill evenly distributed and prevent clumping. With edge piping, it's chic enough to use without a duvet cover, but it also has corner loops to keep a cover secure.
Testers loved that the fill stayed evenly distributed, noting that it didn't shift, clump or poke through the smooth cotton cover. Calling it "luxurious" and "fancy," one tester said, "It's light enough that it doesn’t make you sweat but yet you feel snug under it." One called it perfect for pet owners and shared, "I thought I would have to wash it sooner because we have a dog that sleeps on top of the comforter, but there is no evidence that we even have a dog."
Still, some testers experienced a bit of a crinkling noise when using it without a duvet cover,.
RELATED: The Best Down Alternative Comforters
Pros
- A favorite among hot sleeper testers
- Temperature-regulating wool material
- Cotton cover
Cons
- Thinner feel
Cover material: Cotton | Fill material: Wool | Cooling features: Natural temperature-regulating properties of wool
Many are surprised to learn that wool is actually great for sweaty sleepers. It has natural temperature-regulating properties to help keep you at a more comfortable body temperature. In fact, this Woolroom comforter impressed many hot sleepers in our tests. One tester shared, "I am a very hot sleeper — I usually wake up in the middle of the night sweating but this is the first comforter in so long that I haven't sweat in my sleep with." She even added, "It is a miracle because I have tried so many."
It's on the thinner side, so it's not ideal if you want a super fluffy feel, but users didn't mind that in our tests. Many even shared that they liked the weight. Beyond that, it uses organic materials and is GOTS-certified, meaning the entire process of producing the wool fill and cotton cover follows strict organic guidelines. The outer cotton cover is undyed, which is why it's only available in one shade.
Pottery Barn Sleepsmart 37.5 Down Alternative Duvet Insert
Pros
- 37.5 temperature-regulating technology in fill and fabric
- Convenient corner loops for duvet cover
- Soft and fluffy
Cons
- Box quilting doesn't prevent shifting
Cover material: 80% polyester and 20% 37.5 performance polyester | Fill material: Down alternative: 80% polyester and 20% 37.5 performance polyester | Cooling features: 37.5 cooling technology in both the cover and fill
For ultimate cooling, this comforter from Pottery Barn uses 37.5 technology — designed to prevent overheating while you sleep — in the fill and the outer fabric. 37.5 technology absorbs heat to help to prevent night sweats from occurring. It's also generously sized, which is a key concern for users in our tests, for a more substantial, luxurious feel and has corner loops for pairing with a duvet cover.
While we're still in the process of testing this comforter, we're impressed by how lofty it felt compared to our other picks. One pregnant tester also shared that she slept cooler under this comforter than other comforters she's owned. Note that this pick uses box stitching (not baffle-box construction) so fill may shift a bit during use.
How we test the best cooling comforters
When Good Housekeeping Institute textile pros evaluate cooling comforters, we test them in the Lab and have consumer testers try them at home to give feedback on the comforters' temperature-regulation capabilities. GH analysts look at each comforter hands-on to rate the construction and materials used.
Then, we wash it according to its care label to evaluate any noticeable shrinkage or changes in appearance. The moisture management tester (pictured here) in our Lab places a small drop of sweat-like solution on the fabric and times how long it takes for the liquid to dissipate and into how large of an area, giving a score for the fabric's moisture-wicking abilities.
We also send comforters to hundreds of consumer testers who identify as hot sleepers to get feedback on comfort, temperature regulation, the ease of putting it into a duvet cover and more. Our latest comforter tests have included nearly 70 different styles and consisted of over 400 Lab and consumer tests. Using all of this data, we found the cooling comforters that are worth investing in.
How to choose a cooling comforter
When it comes to cooling claims, there isn't a ton of regulation about what brands can say. Our fiber scientists see many products that promise to stop night sweats or hot flashes, but these claims are largely unsubstantiated.
Cooling comforters should be lightweight and have excellent breathability. They may also feature specific cooling technologies or moisture-wicking fabrics. If you're looking to stay cooler but still use a comforter, here's what you should look for:
✔️ Cooling technologies: The most common cooling technologies we see in bedding are Outlast and 37.5. Outlast stores and releases your body heat using "phase change material." (The brand describes it like ice melting to cool a drink.) 37.5 is triggered by humidity and wicks away sweat before it forms.
✔️ Lightweight fill material:
- Real down is the fluffiest because the down clusters trap in air, but unfortunately for sweaty sleepers, this means they trap in heat as well. If you want to buy real down, opt for a lower fill power (a.k.a. the amount of space the down takes up) and weight because less air allows for less heat to trap. While anything with 650 fill power or less is usually ideal for summer months, fill power is not always comparable between brands. We've tested lightweight comforters with 700 fill power and ultra warm styles with 600 fill power.
- Down alternative is popular for cooling comforters as it won't trap as much heat as down. Some brands use merino wool or silk, which have inherent temperature-regulating capabilities but tend to feel less lofty than down. Others use synthetic materials like polyester, which can range in thickness. Even with down-alternative materials, the thicker the comforter, the warmer it is, so a thinner comforter will help keep you cooler. However, it can be a tough balance to find a comforter that feels fluffy and luxurious without overheating. If you hate a thin comforter, we recommend all-season comforters with other cooling features for the best of both worlds.
✔️ Cool-to-the-touch cover: If you sweat when you sleep, look for a comforter cover with a breathable feel and moisture-wicking capabilities. Tencel lyocell and synthetic materials like nylon wick away moisture easily for a cooler feel. Covers with cooling technologies like 37.5 and Outlast can help regulate your body temperature too. Cotton has a soft, natural feel that is popular in bedding, but it absorbs moisture, so it can feel sweaty for hot sleepers.
✔️ Be wary of "natural" claims: Some brands claim bedding is "naturally" cooling because it's made with "bamboo" or "eucalyptus" fibers. These types of fibers are actually "regenerated cellulose" fibers known as rayon or lyocell, meaning the wood pulp from different plants is dissolved in a chemical solvent before being pushed through an extruder to form fibers. (Check out Tencel for a more sustainable option.) These plants have been chemically altered to become fibers, so any inherent cooling benefit from the plant itself is no longer applicable. Bottom line: These materials may still help keep you cool if they're lightweight and moisture-wicking, but it's not because they're "bamboo" or other so-called tree fibers.
Cooling comforters FAQs
What type of comforter is best to keep you cool?
The coolest comforter will utilize cooling technology like 37.5 or Outlast, use moisture-wicking materials in the cover and be thin and lightweight. Comforters can have a cooling effect with both down and down-alternative fills as long as they're not too thick.
Do cooling comforters really work?
Yes! Cooling comforters can help make your bed feel cooler at night, especially if you're replacing a thick, high-fill power comforter. However, cooling comforters aren't miracle workers and if you're sleeping in a super hot environment or suffer from hot flashes, it may not be a complete solution.
What other types of cooling bedding are there?
Pairing your cooling comforter with a cooling duvet cover is a great way to enhance its cooling benefits. Our top cooling duvet cover pick is the Slumber Cloud Essential Duvet Cover, which is made with a blend of Outlast viscose and cotton. You can also purchase cooling sheets, cooling mattresses, cooling pillows, cooling mattress pads and cooling blankets to build your ultimate cool bed.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Emma Seymour is the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab associate director at Good Housekeeping Institute. Since 2018, she's been overseeing Lab and consumer tests for all types of cooling bedding products like the above comforters as well as cooling sheets and cooling pillows. She's an expert judge for Good Housekeeping's annual Best Bedding Awards. With a degree in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience focused on product quality assessment.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
