If you sleep hot, a gel mattress could help. The gel draws heat away from your body, creating a cooler sleep surface than the classic memory foam. "Gel mattress" can mean a few things, but typically, there's liquid gel swirled in the memory foam layer or tiny gel beads infused throughout it. This description fits most of the mattresses on this list, aside from Purple, which is made of a unique gel-like material.
According to a recent CNET survey, 46% of surveyed US adults are willing to invest in a quality mattress to improve their sleep. If you’re one of them, we’ve rounded up the best gel-infused mattresses -- from athlete-friendly to eco-friendly -- that you can buy online to relieve pressure points and improve sleep quality. I’ve personally tested around 100 beds, while our team has reviewed about 350, including dozens with gel technology.
Our Picks
What is the best gel mattress overall?
Taking the spot as the best overall gel mattress is the Purple Mattress, thanks to its proprietary GelFlex Grid. Made of hyper-elastic polymer, the grid material is stretchy and simultaneously soft and supportive. It's unlike any other gel mattress, offering a unique feel that's buoyant and responsive while also providing pressure relief. Around a medium on the firmness scale, it can pretty much accommodate all sleeping positions.
Best gel mattresses for 2025
- Breathable; helps regulate body temperature
- Unique and distinct gel-like feel
- Accommodates all sleeping positions
- Not for those wanting a traditional feel
- No coils for added durability
Why we chose the Purple Mattress: Purple's beds have been landing on our best lists for years, for good reason. The original Purple Mattress is adaptable and moves with you as you switch positions, providing a distinctive, gel-like feel you simply won't find with any other mattress brand. It's supportive but also provides pressure relief around your joints.
How it sleeps: The 2-inch thick grid allows for a ton of airflow, making the bed breathable and helping to temperature-regulate. We wouldn't consider it actively cooling, but you likely won't overheat on a Purple bed. This mattress has an all-foam construction, including a stable base support foam, adaptive comfort foam and extra foam around the perimeter for increased edge support (which is nice if you share the bed).
Our team found the firmness of the original Purple Mattress around medium, leaning slightly into medium-firm. This was confirmed by our Mattress Smasher 9000 providing an objective firmness level of 5.9 out of 10, meaning it can accommodate all sleeping positions (though we recommend it most for combination sleepers). This mattress provides support for your back and spine while gently cradling your curves. It's truly a unique type of comfort.
For some, it's an acquired feel -- I was not a huge fan of the GelFlex Grid when I laid on my first Purple bed, but it's grown on me, and now I appreciate its distinct feel. Owen Poole, senior video producer and mattress expert, loves the brand so much that he slept on a Purple mattress for five years. If you're unsure, I recommend watching our full YouTube review or ordering Purple's grid sample first to get a better idea of what it's like.
Retailing for $1,500 for a queen, Purple frequently offers its beds for discounted prices around holidays, which can bump the cost down a few hundred dollars.
Learn more in our full Purple Mattress review.
- Good price point and lifetime warranty
- GreenGuard Gold Certified (no harsh chemicals)
- Hybrid construction is more durable than all-foam
- Not soft enough for strict side sleepers
- Costs extra for the Celliant cover
Why we chose the Bear Pro Hybrid: Bear promotes the fact that its beds are slept on by quite a few athletes in the sports industry. The brand offers an optional Celliant pillow-top cover, which has patented "Sleep Recovery Technology" designed to promote recovery by enhancing tissue oxygen levels. It's said to help you fall asleep faster and wake up rejuvenated through increased oxygenation. While our team can't quantify or prove this claim, a few of our experts swear by the Celliant-infused fabric -- as do many of Bear's customers.
“Even though Bear Pro Hybrid sounds like something out of a science-fiction movie, it is actually a really comfortable bed if you are looking for a hybrid mattress with a hint of memory foam,” says Wes Ott, senior video producer.
How it sleeps: The top layer of the Bear Pro Hybrid has cooling gel memory foam that draws heat away from your body to help you sleep cooler. At the base is a layer of individually wrapped coils topped with a transition layer of Bear Dynamic Foam for pressure relief. The combination of these materials creates an overall neutral feel with a hint of memory foam. It's still slow-sinking and conforming, but more responsive than traditional dense memory foam.
Our Mattress Smasher rated the Bear Pro Hybrid 6.2 out of 10 on the firmness scale, so it lands right in that medium-firm spot. It's ideal for back, stomach and combination sleepers who need a slightly firmer surface for spinal support. If you're a side sleeper, you'll want to opt for something softer for your shoulders and hips. If you're a heavier individual, you may be able to spend some time on your side, since it will feel slightly softer as you sink into the layers.
Runner-up: If you don't care about having coils in your mattress, consider the Bear Original. It has a bit more of a dense memory foam feel than the Pro Hybrid but has a similar medium-firm profile. It also features gel memory foam, Bear Dynamic Foam and optional Celliant-infused cover.
Watch our full Bear Pro Hybrid mattress review.
- Affordable price point
- Hybrid design offers durability
- Responsive; easy to switch positions
- Accommodates all body types
- Too firm for strict side sleepers
- Not for those wanting a dense memory foam feel
- Only one firmness option
Why we chose the Allswell Hybrid mattress: The Allswell 10" Hybrid mattress has a simple construction that includes a support system of coils topped with layers of comfort foam and "MyGel Foam", which is gel-infused memory foam. Overall, it has a neutral foam feel that most people will like. A queen-size retails for $284 right now -- an incredible value for a hybrid bed of this quality. What's not to like about that?
How it sleeps: Our team agrees it lands between medium and medium-firm, meaning it's great for back, stomach and combination sleepers looking for more support. Those who sleep primarily on their side (especially petite individuals) may find this bed too firm.
This 10" tall bed is topped with a soft quilted cover and has reinforced edges, so you won't feel like you're going to fall if you lie close to the edge. This mattress is very responsive and bounces back into shape quickly, making it easy to switch positions at night. Despite the infusion of gel in the memory foam, it doesn't sleep actively cool, but you still shouldn't warm up excessively.
"If you're looking for a cheap bed with a neutral firmness and feel that's able to support all body types, the Allswell might be your next bed," says JD Christison, senior video producer.
Runner-up: The Dreamfoam Hybrid mattress retails for $800, but holiday discounts throughout the year bring the price below $600 for a queen. It has a 2.5-inch comfort layer of patented gel memory foam and a medium firmness level to accommodate all sleeping positions.
Read more in our full Allswell mattress review.
- Cooling features are great for hot sleepers
- Luxurious bed with premium materials
- Accommodating firmness and feel
- Thousands of coils for increased durability
- Only one firmness level
- Expensive
Why we chose the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid: "I had the opportunity to test the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid at 3Z's mattress factory (the exact place that the bed is made). I love how cool to the touch this bed is; lying down on it feels similar to the cooling cover on my favorite cooling mattress, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. The Legend Chill Hybrid has an amazing pillow top that feels like a fluffy cloud. You stay more on top of the pillow top rather than sinking into the bed like Tempur-Pedic memory foam. Side sleepers, especially, will appreciate the pressure relief of the gel comfort layer in the bed," explains Caroline Igo, sleep editor.
How it sleeps: This luxurious hybrid mattress has a neutral and accommodating feel with phase-change fibers in the cover designed to draw your body heat away. There's a support layer of individually wrapped coils and another layer of micro coils, providing increased durability. The added micro coils provide more airflow and responsiveness, enhancing the bed's overall breathability.
The motion isolation of the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid is pretty solid, which is good news if you share the bed -- you shouldn't feel your partner tossing or turning much. With a medium firmness profile, this bed can accommodate most sleeping positions, especially combination. Heavy individuals and couples may want to try the Leesa Plus Hybrid mattress instead.
Runner-up: The GhostBed Classic is a cool all-foam bed featuring responsive aerated latex and gel-infused memory foam. It has a medium to medium-firm profile that can accommodate all sleeping positions.
Learn more in our Leesa Chill mattress review.
- Crafted with high-quality, sustainable materials
- Micro coils for added durability and responsiveness
- Plenty of pressure relief for your joints
- Cooling gel-infused memory foam
- May not be supportive enough for stomach or back sleepers
- On the expensive side (before discounts)
Why we chose the Brentwood Home Oceano mattress: "When it comes to comfortable pillow top beds of the more sustainable variety, the Brentwood Home Oceano is a top contender. It has organically certified wool and cotton, micro coils for enhanced support, and gel-infused memory foam to give the bed ample pressure relief. Since it’s a hybrid bed that’s around a medium firmness, the Oceano should also be accommodating for all sleeper types, regardless of your size," says JD Christison, CNET sleep expert.
How it sleeps: Even though the Oceano is a little too soft for my needs (I primarily sleep on my stomach and prefer firmer beds), I love this mattress. It truly feels luxurious. Our Mattress Smasher rated the Oceano 4.4 out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning it's especially great for combination and side sleepers seeking extra pressure relief for the shoulders and hips.
This premium bed has an extremely comfortable and soft pillow top feel and features a variety of eco-friendly materials, including a plant-based Tencel cover, gel-infused BioFoam memory foam and GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton. It's a great choice for eco-conscious shoppers seeking a soft, gel-infused mattress.
Learn more in our Brentwood Home mattress review.
- Hybrid and all-foam options
- Zoned support for spinal alignment
- Cool-to-the-touch cover
- 365-night trial and lifetime warranty
- Expensive
- Not actively cooling
Why we chose the Nectar Ultra mattress: "This is quite possibly the beefiest Nectar bed ever. Available in a hybrid or all-foam construction, the Nectar Ultra features a targeted Zoned-support design to help keep your back more aligned on a nightly basis. The four inches of gel memory foam on top give it a viscous, memory foam feel that’s on the softer side. Compared to other beds in its class like the ones from Tempur-Pedic, it’s also priced super reasonably," explains JD Christison, senior video producer.
How it sleeps: The Ultra stands 15" tall and features zoned ergonomic support for your shoulders, back and hips, aimed to keep your spine neutrally aligned -- making it a good option for those with back pain. Our team found this mattress to land between medium and medium-soft on the firmness scale, providing plenty of pressure relief for side sleepers. It has a dense, sinking sensation with slow-to-respond foam.
This mattress has cooling fibers and phase change material intended to help you sleep cooler (though we still wouldn't say it's actively cooling). Its foams are CertiPur-US certified, and the hybrid version comes with individually wrapped coils that enhance the bed's breathability, edge support and overall durability. Heavier individuals and couples should opt for the hybrid model.
Runner-up: The Puffy Lux Hybrid has "Cooling Cloud Foam" infused with gel, intended to disperse heat while cradling your curves and joints. It has targeted support layers for keeping your spine aligned, and its medium-soft profile makes it best suited for side sleepers with back pain.
- Ideal for back and stomach sleepers
- Two firmness options
- White glove delivery and lifetime warranty
- Luxurious memory foam feel
- Not for those who don't like dense memory foam
- Expensive
Why we chose the Saatva Contour5 mattress: If you're seeking a firm mattress with gel, check out the Saatva Contour5. This all-foam bed is available in medium and firm profiles. The firm model lands around an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it ideal for back or stomach sleepers. Side sleepers will probably find both options of this mattress too firm.
How it sleeps: The Saatva Contour5 has that contouring and cradling sensation that dense memory foam provides. It feels quite firm at first, then softens up a little as your body heat warms the foams and you slowly sink into the layers -- though with the firm version, it has more "push back" support. Dense memory foam makes it harder to move around, but that can be a good thing if you tend to toss and turn at night.
"The Saatva Contour5 is a direct answer to Tempur-Pedic. It has a classic, dense, body-contouring memory foam feel, organic materials and two firmness options. It's a great option for anyone seeking a luxurious memory foam mattress," says Owen Poole, senior video producer.
It features certified organic and recycled materials with a 1.5" gel-infused layer of memory foam for body-hugging support and cooling comfort. Though it has the gel and phase change material (what Saatva calls its "CoolVent System"), our team feels the mattress sleeps more temperature-neutral than actively cooling. It's slightly firmer in the center third of the mattress to keep your spine neutrally aligned. If you share the bed, you'll be pleased to know that the Contour5 has excellent motion isolation, so you shouldn't feel your partner moving around much.
To top it all off, Saatva offers some generous policies, including white glove delivery. This means a team will deliver and set up your new mattress for you -- even offering to remove your old mattress if you want.
Runner-up: The all-foam WinkBed GravityLux is available in three firmness options, and features a Tencel cover with 2" of cooling gel-infused foams. Our team found the "firm" model to be around medium-firm, making it great for back and stomach sleepers.
Read more in our Saatva Contour5 mattress review.
Best gel mattress firmness data
Our CNET sleep experts test the firmness of mattresses in subjective and objective ways. Incorporating the objective analysis allows us to back up our claims with factual measurements of how soft or firm the beds are.
Subjectively, we use our years of experience and expertise to examine a bed's construction, describing where it lands on the firmness scale to the best of our ability. The way a mattress feels to me may differ drastically from how it feels to you, which is why we describe firmness from the perspective of varying body types and sleeping positions.
The Mattress Smasher 9000 pushes its actuator arm into the bed to find the objective firmness level.
Our nifty Mattress Smasher 9000 is a proprietary device created by CNET Labs that objectively assesses mattress firmness. This unique machine presses down into the bed with a predetermined amount of force (to simulate whatever body weight we want to test), calculating how far its arm goes into the mattress to determine its firmness on a scale of 1 to 10.
Here are the objective firmness levels obtained by the Mattress Smasher for the gel mattresses on this list, ranked from softest to firmest.
How we test gel mattresses
We've been testing mattresses, bedding and sleep accessories for years -- a few members have been doing this for eight years already. We estimate that our team has rolled around and slept on 350 different mattresses from dozens of brands, ranging from bigwigs like Serta and Tempur-Pedic to niche players like Sonu and Airweave.
Our bed testers have varying body weights and types, heights, genders and sleep preferences, which allows us to provide an overarching assessment of each mattress from a multitude of viewpoints. Many mattresses are tested for long periods of time, ranging from a month or two up to five years.
CNET's sleep team consistently takes mattresses home for long-term reviews, such as our 30-night mattress testing series as a couple.
We test gel mattresses like we would any other bed, with a tighter focus on temperature. When a new mattress arrives at our testing facility, it undergoes a strategic set of hands-on testing. We analyze characteristics such as firmness, feel, temperature regulation, motion isolation, edge support and other unique features the mattress may have.
Firmness
In the mattress industry, firmness is rated numerically on a scale of 1 (softest) to 10 (firmest). We also use straightforward terminology like "soft" or "medium-firm" to describe it. Our team takes turns assessing and rating the firmness of each bed, allowing us to make solid recommendations about which sleeping position and body type it best suits. After subjectively analyzing the firmness, we let our one-of-a-kind Mattress Smasher do its thing and provide us with an objective firmness score.
Feel
We also subjectively review the feel of each mattress, which is separate from firmness. Does the bed feel bouncy and responsive? Is it easy to switch positions? Or does it conform and contour around our curves and hold our shape for a while? Does the mattress have a soft, plush pillow top feel, or is it more neutral? Can we feel any coils or zoned support? We do our best to describe exactly what it feels like to lie on each bed to help you determine if it's right for you since we know you can't test them all yourself.
Examining the memory foam layers of the Nectar Ultra. You can see the foam holds your shape and is slow to respond.
Temperature regulation
Considering that everyone's body is different -- and that many mattress brands exaggerate their beds' cooling capabilities -- it can be tricky to objectively determine how warm or cool a bed sleeps. For the most part, mattresses will sleep more temperature-neutral than actively cooling. Few beds fit the bill for what our team would consider genuinely actively cooling -- even those with gel-infused foams.
When testing mattresses, we detail to the best of our ability how hot or cool the mattress sleeps. Many external factors come into play here (such as climate and environment, sheets, pajamas, etc.), so we test the beds in temperature-controlled rooms without sheets or bedding. Using our extensive knowledge and experience, we analyze its construction and materials and explain how they affect the temperature. We are also able to offer a more in-depth analysis of temperature regulation in our long-term reviews.
Motion isolation
A bed's motion isolation describes how well it deadens or absorbs movement across the surface. This is an especially important feature for light sleepers or those sharing the bed with a partner, kids or pets. We test motion isolation with one person lying still on the bed while another flops around and switches positions. Is the person lying still jostled around with them or is the movement subtle? The second method is by setting a glass of water on the edge and rolling toward and away from it to see if the water sloshes or the glass falls.
One method of testing motion isolation is with a glass of water.
Edge support
Edge support is another important feature for those who share the bed. Testing the edge support means we assess how the mattress holds its structure and support around the perimeter. We sit and lie on the edge to see how the bed responds. Does it cave in and give the sensation that we'll roll off, or does it feel sturdy? We also push down on the edges with our fists to observe how much the edge compresses under pressure.
Special features
Some brands include unique features in certain beds, such as cooling covers for hot sleepers or zoned support for those with back pain. We test and review these additional characteristics to determine whether the claims live up to the hype and which type of sleeper would benefit most.
Read more: How CNET Tests Mattresses
Other gel mattresses we've tested
The mattresses on this list were hand-picked by our CNET sleep team and proven to be the top-performing gel mattresses among the hundreds of beds we've tested. With so many mattresses out there, there are bound to be a few that were super close to making the cut. Here are other mattresses with gel that are worth checking out:
DreamCloud Mattress: As the name implies, the DreamCloud mattress is a luxurious mattress that offers a cloud-like sensation. It's made with 2.5" of therapeutic gel memory foam, but the neutral comfort foams balance it out and make it feel a bit more neutral and responsive. It's supportive and lands on the firmer side, making it ideal for back and stomach sleepers. The price tag is also more affordable than expected for a premium bed like this. Read more in our full DreamCloud mattress review.
GhostBed 3D Matrix: This mattress stands 12" tall and features a "thermal conductive gel polymer layer" in addition to 2" of gel memory foam. It offers a neutral foam feel and a medium firmness level, making it suitable for most sleeper types (but especially combination sleepers).
What to consider when shopping for a gel mattress
While shopping for a mattress with gel, the primary factors to consider include your sleeping position, body type, health needs and budget. Knowing these will help narrow down the right gel mattress for you.
Sleeping position
The primary position you sleep in at night will help determine the firmness level you need.
- Side sleepers need a softer mattress with cushioning pressure relief for your shoulders and hips. One that's too firm can cause pain and numbness in your joints and limbs. We recommend a bed between soft to medium for side sleepers.
- Back and stomach sleepers generally need a firmer mattress that offers more support to keep your spine from sagging uncomfortably. When you sleep on a bed that's too soft, your spine may curve or droop, increasing your chances of waking up with back pain. We recommend medium-firm to firm for this category, depending on your weight (more on that below).
- Combination sleepers should choose a firmness level based on the position they spend the most time in at night. Medium mattresses are a good middle ground for combination sleepers who spend equal amounts of time in each position. If you spend most of the night on your side, you'll want to opt for a softer one, perhaps around medium-soft to medium.
Body type
Your body type and weight directly influence how firm a mattress feels. People who weigh more will put more pressure on the bed, sinking further into the layers and typically feeling the bed as softer. On the flip side, lighter individuals will feel the mattress as being firmer because they sleep more "on top" of the layers.
We recommend that individuals over 230 pounds opt for an innerspring or hybrid mattress with coils, as they generally offer more support, durability and longevity than all-foam mattresses.
Cooling technology
One of the main advantages of gel-infused memory foam is that the gel can help draw your body heat away and keep you feeling cooler. This is a great feature for hot sleepers who tend to overheat at night. Keep in mind that mattresses with latex foam and coils are naturally more breathable than beds with dense memory foam as they allow for more airflow.
Budget
Mattresses are a significant investment. Establishing how much you can spend on your next bed first will help narrow your options. The average price of an online mattress ranges anywhere from $850 to $1,200, though there are budget beds around $500 and luxury mattresses well over $2,000.
Third-party certifications
Gel foam is a synthetic material and many mattress manufacturers don't disclose the exact ingredients. We recommend looking for certifications like CertiPUR-US to ensure that all the materials in your mattress are safe.
The difference between gel and memory foam
Memory foam is a synthetic material primarily manufactured from polyurethane and added chemicals to give it viscosity and density. The typical gel foam is created when gel beads or liquid gel are added to the memory foam. Gel foam is a bit more responsive than traditional memory foam and helps draw your body heat away to keep you feeling cooler. Traditional dense memory foam can trap your body heat due to the closed-cell structure, making it feel warmer over time. If you love memory foam but are a hot sleeper, a bed with gel-infused foam can be a nice compromise.
Best gel mattress FAQs
What are the pros and cons of a gel mattress?
Mattresses with gel incorporated in their construction tend to sleep cooler since the materials won't hold heat quite like traditional memory foam will. A gel-infused bed also tends to be a little more responsive and bouncy than dense memory foam. It can promote a cooler and more comfortable sleeping experience. Because of this, gel foam mattresses are typically more expensive than your standard memory foam beds.
What exactly is a gel mattress?
As I mentioned, “gel mattress" is a somewhat ambiguous term -- it can mean multiple things. A gel mattress usually has either liquid gel swirled in the foam or tiny gel beads infused throughout it. Purple's proprietary GelFlex Grid also fits the description of a gel mattress but in a much different way.
Are gel mattresses cooling?
Yes, but it depends. Mattresses with gel can certainly be cooling, but the intensity of its cooling capabilities varies depending on the materials used and the overall construction of the bed. Gel-infused mattresses can help regulate your body temperature as the gel absorbs the heat -- but this effect is limited and may diminish over time as the foams begin to degrade.
How long do gel mattresses last?
Gel memory foam mattresses last about as long as your average mattress -- around 7 or so years; however, the lifespan of your bed largely depends on its construction and how well you take care of it. Mattresses with high-quality foams will last longer than cheaper foams and hybrid beds with coils tend to last longer than all-foam beds. If you can, rotating your bed every six months and cleaning it regularly can elongate its lifespan. Learn more about ways to make your mattress last longer.