Best bed cooling systems of 2026

Night sweats are nightmarish. They prevent you from falling asleep on time, or worse, wake you up feeling like you've run a marathon with how much you're sweating. While cooling mattresses and accessories can help, you've likely already exhausted these options to no avail. It's time to call in reinforcements via the best cooling sleep systems that offer continuous active temperature control, all night long.

Many of these cooling mattress toppers offer cooling and heating features on both sides of the bed, allowing co-sleepers to achieve their ideal temperatures. Some even offer sleep tracking. Based on our testing, if you experience night sweats or are curious about how much quality sleep you achieve through temperature control, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 offers detailed tracking and precise control. It's the original bed cooling system, and still the best. If you'd rather strictly focus on cooling and skip all the tracking bells and whistles, the Chilipad 2.0 is the one for the job.

Our picks of the best cooling bed systems

Best overall bed cooling system:Eight Sleep Pod 5

Best budget bed cooling system:Bed Jet 3

Best bed cooling system for couples:Chilipad 2.0

Best bed cooling system for sleep tracking:Orion Sleep System

Best fan-based bed cooling system:Perfectly Snug

The top bed cooling systems, compared

Best overall

Holistically speaking, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 encompasses everything a cooling sleep system has come to be synonymous with: precise temperature control, sleep tracking, and synergy with your sleep setup. Its tech-forward approach has captured the market's attention, appealing to hot sleepers seeking relief and even to companies looking to unlock employee performance.

The Eight Sleep Pod 5 is a water-based system; the bedside hub is responsible for cycling water through tubes inside its cover. The system's internal sensors aren't just pinpointing your sleep metrics. It uses AI to gauge changes in your body temperature. If there are any increases or perceived dips, the system will react accordingly via its "Autopilot" programming, adjusting its surface temperature to keep you asleep. You may feel water "moving" as the cover becomes cooler or warmer to the touch and your body picks up on that change.

No sleep system is silent, and the Pod 5 is no exception; you'll hear a soft humming noise as water is pumped into the cover. Our team wasn't disturbed by either of these factors in testing. The app provided a lot of convenience, especially when establishing a bedtime so that the preferred surface temperature was ready to hit the hay as soon as testers were. If you wake up in the middle of the night and want to adjust the bed without reaching for your phone, tactile side controls make it simple. A built-in alarm clock with soft vibrations and temperature on your bedside will also help wake you up naturally without disturbing a bed partner.

For co-sleepers, a big bonus is that one hub can handle temperature regulation on both sides of the bed, so you don't have to pay for a second or sacrifice more space for it. That said, the initial cost and ongoing subscription price are steep — $17 a month and $199 annually for basic analytics. You could pay upward of an extra $400 a year for an extended warranty and enhanced cardiovascular and respiratory pattern insights. Our team compared this data with other sleep wearables and found the Pod 5's data to be right on target with the other devices. There are also intense add-ons like a cooling blanket, pillow, and base for a complete sleep system.

Read our full Eight Sleep Pod review for more details.

Best budget

Having a fan running in your bedroom is a common way to cool off for hot sleepers, but the BedJet 3 Climate Comfort Sleep System takes it to a whole other level. The premise of this system is a fan placed to the side or bottom of your mattress, connected via a tube to an underbed control unit. Air is then pumped onto the mattress surface. It’s controlled via app or remote.

In testing, the BedJet 3’s biorhythm programming was an immediate standout, as it helped develop a temperature-regulation plan based on age, typical body temperature, and gender. It will then switch between heating and cooling depending on these variables. If you sleep with a partner who has different preferences, they will need a separate BedJet 3 unit for their side of the bed, which will run on their programmed plan. We found that this clash was a bit off-putting at times, like cold and warm fronts colliding. Given that this is your sleep space, and not The Weather Channel, we recommend the Bed Jet for couples staying in tune about temperature fluctuations on each side or solo sleepers.

The appeal of this system isn’t just cooling on a budget, but the flexibility to use it with any bed setup, regardless of mattress or frame. The brand recommends using its Cloud Sheet to contain the fan opening, as your bedding will puff up a bit when air starts circulating. You aren’t beholden to this, but if the thought of your bedding floating or bulkier tubes protruding from the side of the bed throws you off, BedJet may not be a great fit for you. In testing, it was clear that the BedJet produced noise alongside its constant airflow, but it was on par with window AC units.

Read our BedJet review.

Best for couples

Sleep preferences often clash for co-sleepers, especially when one partner suffers from night sweats while the other prefers a warm bed. This is where dual-side cooling systems are appealing: if one sleeper deals with night sweats, but the other doesn’t need aggressive temperature control, they both have temperature customization for their side of the bed. The Chilipad 2.0 keeps this at the forefront for co-sleepers, with a wide temperature range of 55℉ to 115℉, easy setup and maintenance, and effective temperature control. Above all, though, its design takes a different approach from the competition to enhance comfort and temperature-control effectiveness — Hydrocool thermoplastic layers instead of internal tubing.

Chilipad’s use of Hydrocool chambers over internal tubes is very intentional. It’s designed to provide better temperature control while feeling less obtrusive. During testing, we used a temperature gun at different points on the bed to assess the effectiveness of thermal regulation, and the Chilipad 2.0 showed it was pumping water across a greater surface area of the mattress on both sides of the bed—unlike other toppers that centralize cooling directly beneath their internal tubes.

Because there are no rigid tubes poking through the foam encasement, active sleepers won't feel wayward coils or lines beneath them. Instead, the internal Hydrocool layer lends a slightly stiffer, tarp-like feel to lie on; while unobtrusive, it may take a few nights to get used to. Sizing flexibility is another major draw, with both one- and two-sleeper options available. Two-sleeper models give each partner independent control, while single-sided models let you cool your half of the mattress while leaving your partner's side untouched. For dual users, it’s priced similarly to the Eight Sleep but offers significant savings if you only need a single-sided setup.

Keep in mind that dual-sleeper setups require a bedside dock on each side, and both emit a faint operational hum, but they can easily tuck away out of sight under the bed. I found myself having to refill the dock almost every night with distilled water, though. While the Chilipad lacks sleep tracking or automatic temperature adjustments based on your sleep quality, it includes a bedside remote that also serves as a charging station, along with a companion app for customizable nightly schedules, in which the topper will heat and cool according to your temperature preferences. Whether you want the bed icy cold when you slide under the covers, need programmed temperature shifts to prevent waking up overheated at midnight, or want a blast of cold air to act as a morning alarm, these options are available to you.

Read our full Chilipad 2.0 review for more details.

Best for sleep tracking

Arguably, the vast majority of sleepers who turn to cooling systems are doing so because they are at wits’ end with night sweats. But this isn’t the only target market for cooling systems: couples, athletes, those who use sleep-tracking metrics to monitor their health, and even biohackers looking to optimize their sleep are also interested. That’s where Orion Sleep’s data tracking and presentation stood out. It’s very similar to Eight Sleep — but costs $450 less. Technically, a subscription isn’t required, but the annual fee lets you access your sleep data and provides recommendations for how to sleep better.

The first step of this smart topper involves a sleep test to calibrate your sleep system: wear a “Sleep Disruption" patch to bed, and that initial data will inform the preliminary setup of your Orion Sleep system. You can forgo this step, as it’s an additional $25 fee and requires meeting with an Orion Sleep expert, but it’s a launch point for those who are serious about capturing accurate data points. In terms of setup, Orion is similar to Eight Sleep in that it uses a bedside docking station outfitted with tubes that pump water into the foam topper. The dock is also taller than Eight Sleep, making it a little harder to conceal, but it has an aesthetically pleasing appearance. I experienced some technical difficulties during setup, but the Orion team was very quick to respond in the app and run diagnostics to pinpoint the issue. In total, the process took about two hours, but it typically takes about 45 minutes.

Orion AI will track your sleep patterns to make temperature adjustments based on the body temperature fluctuations it reads. It’ll also map out your sleep duration and stages, movement, breathing disturbances, heart rate, heart rate variability, and breathing rate. It also analyzes “sleep debt” based on these factors, indicating how much sleep you need to account for in your upcoming night’s sleep, or whether you are on track.

The breadth and depth of data are helpful and available via Orion Intelligence. It starts off as a 60-day trial, and then it is an annual $250 a year fee. Automatic temperature fluctuations are helpful, but aren’t perfect off the bat, as the system needs time to record data. Initially, it didn’t feel as cool as it could have been, especially when manual cooling adjustments were made in the app. Additionally, Orion’s design is sleek, but not foolproof. You can feel water movement beneath you, usually by an onset of cooling or heating, detect some soft light emitted by the machine, and hear the soft hum of the machine as it runs. None of it is strongly interfering with your sleep routine, but if you’re coming from an absolutely silent sleep space, it does take getting adjusted to.

Best fan-powered

If you’re ready to put body heat on blast, the Perfectly Snug cooling system’s approach is very different from those listed in this guide. It reads your body temperature and makes 10-degree adjustments, either warmer or cooler, with the help of four small fans situated inside the topper.

The topper looks like any other traditional one you’d put atop your mattress, and comes with separate adjustable straps should you need them. A mesh cover improves breathability for the fans working beneath you. Sensors within keep track of your body temperature, adjusting the fans to run to warm you up or cool you off by 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

While there is in-app control, there’s also a side panel that lets you adjust in real time instead of reaching for your phone in the wee hours. You’ll have to mentally note the placement, because with a top sheet covering it, you may be fidgeting around in the dark to find it. Additionally, the topper makes a slight crunch, like plastic cellophane wrap, when you lie on it or press down on it — not exactly relaxing, particularly if you have sensory issues. To this end, it’s also important to note that the fans will generate noise that increases with fan speed. Cooler means a higher velocity, so expect more noise in these instances.

Another tester noted that the cord connections at the top of the bed come unplugged if you toss and turn, and resorted to taping them together to stay in place, which isn’t ideal. If your bedframe does not have enough space for the cords to drape discreetly behind the bed, you’re forced to jam them against the wall or headboard — which we found out the hard way, and could be considered a fire hazard. She also found the app rather basic and had issues keeping the WiFi connection, so she turned to the topper’s manual adjustments via buttons on the side of the topper instead of the app. You can also turn off the companion voice within the app, which announces on each side when the system is turned on and off, which we found a bit jarring.

The Competition

GhostBed Climate Pro: This system hasn’t yet hit the market, but it promises to offer sleep tracking without subscription fees. The design follows a dual-zone, water-based construction that can be controlled via app or the dock.

Sleep Number DualTemp: Available as half-queen, half-king, or half-California king sizes, this remote-controlled, air-powered topper relies on a side tube that connects to an underbed dock. It's currently half off clearance.

How bed cooling systems work

It’s important to note that cooling sleep systems and cooling mattress toppers are often used interchangeably, especially as cooling sleep systems trend amongst consumers. While similar, only one can truly perform ongoing active cooling — cooling sleep systems.

They often resemble toppers, as they sit on top of your current mattress. Nonstop cooling, formally known as “active cooling,” can be categorized into two groups: air-based and water-based cooling systems. As natural thermoregulators, they can pick up heat and circulate it away from the body for regulation by an underbed or bedside pump. From there, the temperature-conditioned air or water is pumped back out via internal tubes or chambers or delivered atop the mattress surface.

Some systems below can detect body temperature fluctuations and adjust the surface temperature accordingly to keep you comfortable and, more importantly, asleep. Others will maintain a stagnant temperature of your choosing.

Water-based systems

Products in this group:

• Sleepme Chilipad 2.0 uses two thermoplastic Hydrolayers to circulate water and regulate temperature. It also has a cool-to-the-touch cover to heighten this effect.
• Eight Sleep Pod 5 features a bedside docking system and a thin foam topper with tubes. Water is pumped into these tubes, and with the Pod 5’s smart programming, can automatically adjust to your body temperature fluctuations while asleep.
• Orion Sleep System is another tube-based, water-reliant system that has smart features. It can also adjust temperature while asleep and track sleep metrics.

Air-based systems

Products in this group:

• BedJet blows air between the sheets, ideally through its Cloud Sheet. It changes the microclimate under the covers rather than chilling the mattress itself.
• Perfectly Snug integrates fans and sensors inside a two-inch topper, so it cools from beneath the sleeper without an external hub or hose.

Who cooling systems are best for

Night sweats can be caused by a variety of factors, like perimenopause, menopause, aging, body composition, medications, or simply living in a warmer climate. If you know these are the drivers behind your recurring night sweats, a cooling system may help tremendously — and can offer targeted, dual-zone relief for you and a partner.

However, medical experts warn against using technology to mask potential health issues. "Your body is telling you something—you want to avoid masking symptoms without addressing the root issue," said Dr. John Saito, spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,

Dr. Saito notes that anyone experiencing sudden or severe night sweats without an obvious cause should consult a doctor first. Crucially, individuals with underlying neurological or vascular conditions should exercise caution before buying. Because these conditions impair the body's natural temperature regulation—like blood vessel dilation and sweating—using an active cooling pad can make it difficult to sense extreme temperatures, posing a risk of severe overheating or chilling.

What to look for in a bed cooling system

Cooling method

Both air- and water-based cooling systems rely on active cooling, which involves ongoing temperature regulation to maintain a controlled sleep environment. However, how they do so function differently: Water-based systems provide precise, conductive thermal control across the entire mattress surface but require regular distilled water refills and reservoir sanitation. Air-based systems use forced airflow or internal fans to alter the microclimate under your duvet, offering a low-maintenance, hose-free setup at the expense of potential wind noise.

Additionally, some will use passive cooling features, such as the Chilipad 2.0, which has a cool-to-the-touch cover that initially feels colder when you lie down. As you settle in, the active cooling mechanisms take over for temperature control.

Temperature range and zone controls

Cooling bed systems will market generous temperature ranges (50°F to 115°F) as a draw for sleepers who sleep too warm or even cold. Realistically, the temperature range you should be sleeping in is much more limited. If you share a bed, dual-zone coverage allows each sleeper to adjust their side independently without thermal bleed. Some brands, like Chilipad, BedJet, and Perfectly Snug, also offer single-sided coverage. This allows a sleeper who needs temperature control to get exactly what they need, while their partner can enjoy the feel of their mattress, and also saves you from having to spend on a feature your bedmate won’t use. Dual Zones also typically require separate units to operate, with Eight Sleep and Orion being the exception, which requires only one cooling tower to cover both sides.

Mattress feel

Cooling systems are meant to enhance your sleep experience and blend in with your mattress setup, not detract from it. Most toppers add 1 to 2 inches of high-density foam to your bed. Orion Sleep and Eight Sleep encase tubes in thin layers of foam, which is generally firmer to prevent you from feeling the tubing while still allowing for pressure relief. Similarly, Perfectly Snug’s fans utilize foam to protect the mechanisms and prevent you from feeling them. Most should not affect the mattress firmness, but you may be able to detect tubes or water chambers beneath you. However, this is a worthwhile tradeoff for many dealing with restless nights due to overheating.

Most cooling systems can serve as mattress protectors when placed atop the bed. In the case of the BedJet system, because fans blow air across the surface, there is no barrier to protect your bed. Therefore, a mattress protector should be utilized to fully protect your mattress.

Smart features (and ongoing subscription fees)

There are varying levels to what a “smart” app that accompanies a smart cooling system actually entails. Baseline systems will come with bedside or handheld remotes for making changes, along with a basic app that lets you control them, but no sleep tracking or scheduling. More advanced smart systems can monitor biometrics, heart rate, and body temperature to adjust surface cooling automatically throughout the night and provide sleep feedback without the use of a wearable. However, you’ll need to factor in ongoing ownership costs: platforms like Eight Sleep ($199-$399/year) and Orion ($250/year) lock automated thermal adjustments behind mandatory recurring subscriptions

Noise

Every smart cooling system you’ll come across makes noise, as it is the compromise you have to make to ensure consistent active cooling. Luckily, the majority of systems aren’t blaring, like a fan whirring, a white noise machine, or an AC unit.

Maintenance and ongoing costs

Consider how much investment, both upkeep and ongoing costs, you want to put towards a cooling bed system. More advanced systems require subscriptions to access sleep data and premium features. Water-based systems typically require monthly internal upkeep to prevent bacterial or mineral buildup, often using proprietary cleaning tablets or solutions.

Trial and warranty

The cooling systems we tried typically offer trial periods between 30 and 60 days. Warranty coverage also helps cover against defective parts, providing replacements or repairs. Two years is the standard.

How we tested

Our sleep testing team spent several weeks evaluating each cooling system in real-world bedroom environments. We scored each model across four key criteria:

Setup and usability

We timed unboxing, secure mattress attachment, initial app pairing, and Wi-Fi setup. For instance, I liked that Orion Sleep and Chilipad 2.0 have product-specific labels to denote each step of the process, along with written and video tutorials to follow along. Orion Sleep took two hours due to a technical difficulty; Chilipad 2.0 took an hour to set up both docks and the sides of the bed; and Perfectly Snug took less than 20 minutes, including downloading the app.

Cooling performance

Using infrared temperature guns, we verified minimum cooling and maximum heat temperatures, and compared t our sleep metrics with sleep wearables and, if available, with the system’s app. Based on sleep quality, time asleep, and consistent performance, this denoted a truly successful cooling performance.

Overnight comfort (including noise)

We assessed physical tactile feel (how well internal tubes, fans, and layers were masked beneath fitted sheets) and recorded operational decibel levels, pump hums, and dock light output in pitch-black rooms.

At most, each system should equate to a white noise machine or fan while actively running. If you consider yourself a light sleeper who is disturbed easily and prefers complete silence, you may have to opt for earplugs or consider alternative methods to cooling bed systems.

Dual zone precision

On dual-sided models, we ran varied temperatures on each side to test zone independence and measure heat bleed across the center seam.

Bed Cooling System FAQ

Do bed cooling systems actually work?

Yes, cooling bed systems actually work. Cooling bed systems are still evolving, but the options available now may be invaluable for those seeking relief from nightly overheating. They are quieter, sleeker, and more feature-rich, but still an investment in your sleep.

How do bed cooling systems compare to cooling mattress toppers and smart beds?

• Conventional cooling toppers use breathable or cool-to-the-touch materials but do not actively regulate temperature.
• Bed cooling systems add powered water or airflow technology to an existing mattress. They’re the focus of this guide.
• Smart mattresses integrate technology into the mattress itself and may offer firmness adjustment, sleep tracking, temperature regulation, or some combination of those features.

Are water- or air-based systems better?

It truly depends on your preferences. Some are wary of potential water leakage from water-based systems and prefer air-based systems altogether. Others may prefer water-based temperature regulation over air constantly breezing across the surface of their bed to help keep them dry. Either way, expect low noise levels from cooling systems’ control units while operating.

Can a bed cooling system replace air conditioning?

Generally, bed cooling systems work in tandem with air conditioning and reduce how hard it has to work — but they do not replace it entirely. While your air conditioning and any ceiling fans regulate the surrounding temperature of your bedroom, your cooling system is dedicated solely to the mattress surface. To ensure it’s not straining itself to compensate for environmental temperature, it’s best to have both.

“The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that the ideal environment for sleep is cool, dark, quiet, in a range of 68 to 72℉. For some, it can extend to 65 to 75℉,” says Dr. Saito. He also explains that even with AC and cooling systems, it’s important for people to manage their sleep “microenvironment” or bed, with cooling pajamas and bedsheets as well, all geared toward breathability.

Do bed cooling systems help with night sweats or hot flashes?

Cooling systems cater to sleepers dealing with night sweats and hot flashes. With ongoing, active temperature regulation, it can be a vital tool for ensuring better sleep, keeping you asleep, and preventing temperature-spike disruptions. The physiological sensation of feeling a cooler surface can help with sleeping in these instances.

As Dr. Saito puts it, “In my opinion, [perceived environmental temperature] matters because it’s about your core body temperature and your brain’s response to the body temperature change. Whether it's the environment outside, in your room, in the bed, or your clothing, it’s really how it affects you individually.”

Are bed cooling systems worth it?

If you are someone who has had enough of night sweats, hot flashes, and ongoing discomfort from overheating, cooling systems may be the very thing you’ve been waiting for. If you're a hot sleeper but not to the point of recurring night sweats, you may not need to jump for a cooling system. Instead, look for cooling mattresses and accessories that promote passive cooling through temperature-regulating covers, as well as materials designed to enhance airflow and prevent heat retention.

Should I buy a bed cooling system or a smart mattress?

A bed cooling system is generally the more practical choice if you like your current mattress and primarily want temperature control. A smart mattress may make more sense if you’re already replacing your bed and want features like adjustable firmness or integrated sleep tracking. Compare the full cost, subscription requirements, repairability, trial period, and whether the cooling components can be replaced independently of the mattress.

Are bed cooling systems HSA/FSA eligible?

Yes, all of the cooling bed systems we tested are HSA- or FSA-eligible, allowing you to use your pre-tax dollars to save up to 30%. This includes Eight Sleep, Orion, Bedjet, SleepMe, and Perfectly Snug. Many sleep products are HSA- or FSA-eligible, but they do require a letter of medical necessity, which is easier to obtain than you'd expect. See our explainer about how to use your FSA or HSA on a new mattress, bedding, or cooling system.

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