Sleeping hot is a common challenge for many, impacting overall sleep quality and comfort. High body temperature during the night can lead to restless sleep, night sweats, and frequent awakenings. For hot sleepers, choosing the right mattress and material is key to staying cool and getting restful sleep. Mattresses designed with cooling technology, breathable materials, and temperature regulation features can help minimize heat buildup. Not only can we give you all of the details onhow to address night sweatsand improve your sleep quality, but allow us to explain why we believe we have the best mattress for hot sleepers so you can experience the ultimate in cool, comfortable, and uninterrupted rest all night long.
Why Do Some People Sleep Hot?
There are a few key reasons why some people sleep hot, and it often comes down to a mix of body temperature regulation, hormones, and the sleep environment. For starters, our bodies naturally fluctuate in temperature throughout the night, but this process is less efficient for some, leading to discomfort. Hormones, like those during menopause or pregnancy, can also play a significant role in making you feel warmer at night. On top of that, the materials of your mattress and bedding can trap heat, making it even harder to stay cool. It’s a common issue, but you can manage it by choosing the right mattress for hot sleepers and a sleeping environment that sets you up for success.
Factors for Comfortable Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is about more than just closing your eyes — it’s about creating the perfect environment for your body to relax and recharge. Here are the key factors that contribute to comfortable sleep.
- The Right Mattress: If you sleep hot, a mattress with cooling materials or airflow features can help regulate body temperature.
- Breathable Bedding: The materials in your sheets, pillows, and blankets matter. Look for options made with breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics like cotton, bamboo, or performance blends. These materials prevent heat retention and wick away sweat, keeping you cool and dry throughout the night.
- Ideal Room Temperature: The temperature of your sleeping environment significantly impacts comfort. The recommended range is 60–67°F, as cooler temperatures help your body naturally transition into sleep by lowering your core temperature. Fans, air conditioning, or even breathable curtains can help maintain this range.
- Minimized Noise and Light: A quiet, dark room signals your body that it’s time to rest. Use blackout curtains, sleep masks, or white noise machines to block out disruptions. A soft background sound, such as a fan or calming audio, can help if total silence feels unsettling.
- Consistent Sleep Schedule: Your body thrives on routine. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps regulate your internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up refreshed.
- Stress and Relaxation Techniques: Unwinding before bed is just as important as your physical setup. Incorporate calming activities like reading, meditation, or gentle stretches to prepare your mind and body for sleep.
Key Features to Look for in a Mattress for Hot Sleepers
The right mattress can make all the difference in staying cool at night. Here are the key features to look for to ensure a comfortable, sweat-free sleep.
Material and Breathability
The type of mattress material plays a significant role in breathability and temperature regulation. Memory foam, for example, is known for its ability to conform to your body by reacting to heat and pressure, thanks to its viscoelastic structure. While this quality provides excellent support and pressure relief, it also tends to trap heat, as the foam's unique composition reduces airflow and retains body warmth. That said, it’s not an ideal choice for hot sleepers.
Breathable mattresses, such as latex or coil-based hybrids, let air flow better, keeping you cooler. Big Fig offers a solution: Our mattresscontains individually wrapped coils and perforated foam layers(not memory foam), which promotes airflow and prevents heat from getting trapped.
Body Heat Retention
Some people generate more body heat while sleeping. Certain mattresses can retain this heat, causing you to feel warmer than usual. Plus-size people often feel hot while sleeping, but they may not know that their mattress can make it worse. That’s why Big Fig created a mattress for 300 pounds, 550 pounds, or even couples up to 1,100 pounds that helps address common sleep problems. It also ensures a cooler and more comfortable sleep. Did you even realize that mattresses have weight limits? They do! But that’sa different blog.
The Right Accessories
The type of mattress topper, cover, or bedding you use can affect your body temperature while sleeping. Thicker or heat-absorbing materials can make you feel warmer. The wrong accessories can also eliminate the cooling benefits of even the best mattresses, so choose your sheets carefully!
The warmth in bed sheets often comes from their ability to trap body heat. Materials like microfiber or polyester are known for poor breathability, hindering airflow, and retaining heat. Thicker or heavier sheets act as insulators, amplifying this effect. High thread counts can also reduce ventilation, especially when paired with less breathable fabrics, leading to a hot and uncomfortable sleep environment.
Big Fig helps plus-sized folks sleep better by focusing on cooling features. Our mattress protectoris infused with THERMOGEL COOLING ® technology (like our mattress) while protecting the mattress from spills and stains without blocking a key feature.
Ourhigh-quality cooling sheets are made from breathable TENCEL™ Lyocell fabric, which naturally removes moisture and heat from the body. Our pillows also have cooling properties, making snoozing more comfortable regardless of your sleep position.
Ready to build your own Big Fig sleep system? Find your perfect fit with our Bed Builder quiz.
The Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers
Sleeping well requires a mattress that keeps you cool at night and helps your body and mind recover. Remember, a good night's sleep directly impacts your overall health, productivity, and quality of life. So, what is the best mattress for hot sleepers? No surprise here; it's a Big Fig.
When choosing a cooling mattress, focus on features that promote breathability and regulate temperature — qualities Big Fig excels in. Advanced cooling technologies, like those found in Big Fig mattresses, help dissipate body heat and maintain a comfortable sleep surface all night long.
Don't forget the role of bedding and sleepwear in your temperature regulation strategy. Choose breathable materials and consider moisture-wicking fabrics that keep you cool and dry. Remember those lyocell sheets we mentioned earlier?
Don't hesitate to explore our customer reviews and take advantage of our 120-night sleep trial. Testing a mattress at home is the best way to prove how well it keeps you cool and comfortable!
Ultimately, investing in the best mattress for hot sleepers is an investment in your well-being so you can sleep well and wake up refreshed and energized, ready to tackle the day. Shop our Big Fig Mattress and Cooling Sheets and get ready for cooler, sweat-free nights!
Big Fig Classic Mattress
- Medium-Firm Support
- Best for Multi-Position Sleepers
- THERMOGEL COOLING® Technology
Big Fig Premium Cooling Sheets
Ultra-thin, breathable, cooling sheets with moisture control.
- Made from sustainable, eco-friendly TENCEL™ Lyocell
- Extra-wide top sheet keeps everyone (and everything) covered
- Deeper fitted sheet pockets to keep everything in place
