10 Highest Rated Beds for Menopause & Hot Flashes for 2024

What to Look for In A Mattress for Menopause

During the transition into menopause, which is known as perimenopause, people can experience symptoms¹ like hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. As many as 47 percent² of people can experience insomnia while in perimenopause, with that number increasing to 60 percent post-menopause.

This means that finding a mattress to help with sleep is key, and there are specific factors to look out for in a mattress for menopause.

Type of Mattress

Innerspring Mattresses

This type of mattress is one of the oldest around. An innerspring mattress contains coils that offer support. The result is a more breathable surface and more airflow throughout the product, which keeps you cooler.

Traditional innerspring beds are affordable, cool, and bouncy, but they don’t have much cushioning for pressure relief, which could be a drawback for side sleepers, lighter-weight people, and those also experiencing joint pain.

Hybrid Mattresses

A hybrid mattress usually combines innerspring coils with several foam layers on top, often memory foam, poly foam, latex, or a combination of them. These beds are beneficial because they provide the supportive bounce of the coils with the soothing comfort of memory foam or latex. The coils provide more airflow, and if the top layers are also cooling, these could be helpful for times when hot flashes emerge.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Although memory foam mattress is often a top pick for people in general, the contouring properties and cell structure of memory foam could make you hotter than you already are – so pick a modern design if you go this route.

If you love the feel of memory foam, look for qualities like “open cell” construction, pinholes, or other features that allow for airflow. There are also foam beds with gel and copper infusions to help draw heat away from the body, and phase-change materials that can be noticeably cool to the touch.

Latex Mattresses

This material is made from the sap of a rubber tree, though if you get synthetic latex, this won’t be the case, or it could be a blend. A latex mattress is another fantastic solution because the process of converting latex into a bedding surface involves creating air pockets that enhance breathability and the material doesn’t retain heat.

Latex is also highly durable for longer-lasting use and provides good bounce for easier mobility.

Other Considerations When Shopping for a Mattress for Menopause

Sleeping Position

The type of mattress you get should also depend on your preferred sleeping position. If you sleep on your side, for example, you’ll want a bed that provides a good amount of pressure relief on your shoulder and hip. As such, softer memory foam top layers can be great for side sleepers.

If you sleep on your stomach, though, you’ll want a firmer bed with less give to keep your spine straight. Something like a firm innerspring, hybrid, or foam bed would work well here.
Back sleepers typically need a balance of firm support at the base and some softness on top, so medium-firm beds are often recommended for this group.

Weight/Body Type of Sleepers

Your body type and weight will also determine what type of mattress is the best fit for you. If you’re under 130 pounds or so, you might go with a softer bed if that feels comfortable for you. If you’re average-weight, a medium-firm bed should be a good fit, and if you weigh more than about 230 pounds, you’ll need a more supportive bed. This might mean it includes something like an innerspring unit or highly-dense foam layers.

For More Information: Best Mattresses for Heavyweight Sleepers

Firmness

Finding the right firmness is all about your body type and preferred sleeping position. In general, side sleepers and lightweight sleepers do well with a softer mattress; back and average-weight sleepers with a medium-firm bed; and stomach and heavy-weight sleepers with a firmer bed.

Of course, firmness is subjective and each bed will feel different for each sleeper. Somebody who weighs less may lie on a bed and feel like it is much firmer than if a heavyweight person lied on the same bed. The trick is finding a mattress that feels firm enough to keep your back in neutral alignment through the night, but not so firm that it is uncomfortable.

Learn more about it in our mattress firmness guide.

Cooling

More than 80 percent³ of people going through menopause experience hot flashes, and oftentimes, these occur at night. This is why finding a mattress that doesn’t overheat you further is so important during this time.

Memory foam tends to be a hotter material, so unless your memory foam bed has gel cooling technology or is perforated, we recommend going with a more breathable bed. Beds that include springs and/or latex are naturally more cooling. You may also want to top your mattress off with some cooling sheets for additional comfort.

Interested in exploring further? Check out our complete guide on the best cooling mattresses.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation measures how well a bed can isolate motion from one side of the bed to the other. This means, if you share a bed and the other person moves at night, you’re less likely to be jolted awake and vice versa.

This is important during perimenopause and menopause because you’re more likely to have insomnia already², so little movements that didn’t disturb you before, might now. Plus, if you’re in and out of bed at night, you’re less likely to wake up your sleeping partner.

Memory foam mattresses tend to be the best at isolating motion because they have the least bounce, whereas innerspring beds with more bounce tend to have worse motion isolation.

Sex

If you’re sexually active, a mattress with more bounce might be a good pick for you. Innerspring and hybrid beds are some of our picks for beds for sex, but honestly, it is all about personal preference.

Hybrid mattresses are a good compromise because they can still have some bounce but also dampen motion transfer through foam layers and individually wrapping the coils.

Pressure Relief

A mattress with pressure relief will feel like a deep hug around your joints. A traditional memory foam bed is a great example of this. A mattress without a lot of pressure relief will feel springy and taut; you’ll feel more like you’re sleeping on top of the bed rather than sinking into it.

Many people going through menopause experience joint pain⁴ due to the drop in estrogen. Finding a mattress that has a good balance of support to keep your spine straight and pressure relief to cradle your joints will be important.

Edge Support

Edge support is a mattress’s reinforced edges, either with extra coils, more foam, or some other material that makes the perimeter of your mattress stronger. You’ll know a bed has good edge support if you’re able to sit or lie near the edge of the mattress without it drooping down.

The reason this matters is that without good edge support, you won’t be able to comfortably or safely use the entire surface of your mattress. When the edges start drooping down, this could throw your spine out of alignment, and make it so you and your partner are fighting over the middle space in the bed.

Budget

Menopause commonly increases feelings of stress and anxiety⁵, so we know how important it is not to add another big stress during this time. That’s why finding a bed that is within your budget will matter.

On average, you can expect to spend about this much for each type of bed:

• Foam – 1,000 dollars
• Innerspring – 900 dollars
• Hybrid – 1,000 dollars
• Latex – 1,500 dollars

You can spend less than this or more, depending on the brand and quality of the bed. However, we don’t recommend spending too little or buying a used mattress just to ensure you’re getting a quality product.

Learn More: Best Budget Mattress

What Causes Sleep Problems During Menopause?

In the transition period leading up to menopause, the body begins producing less progesterone and estrogen⁶. During this time, these two hormones can vary widely, and periods can become irregular and unpredictable. Eventually, periods stop altogether and these hormones are produced at a very, very low level⁷.

The side effects from these hormonal shifts can include hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety, depression, vaginal dryness, changes in libido, decreased bladder control, and changes in sleep6. Not only can hormonal changes have a direct impact on your sleep (progesterone tends to be a “sleepy” hormone and a decrease in this can mean less sleep⁸), but side effects like hot flashes, an increased need to pee, and anxiety can all impact sleep.

We will get into more detail on this below, but research shows that menopause can also increase the likelihood of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea9, which can impact sleep quality.

How Can A Mattress Help with Menopause?

For many, sleep becomes more difficult throughout perimenopause and into menopause. Finding a mattress that can help you stay cool, comfortable, and undisturbed throughout the night may help mitigate some of these sleep issues. For example, hot flashes affect most people going through this transition period³. A solution would be keeping your bedroom cool, sleeping on cooling bedding, and making sure you’re not using a mattress that overheats you.

If you share a bed with somebody and have trouble sleeping, it’s also helpful to invest in a good with good motion isolation so you’re less likely to disturb them when you adjust.

Additionally, you’ll want a bed that is both supportive and relieves pressure. Going through menopause can cause joint pain and lower back issues⁴, so you’ll want a bed that helps relieve this discomfort to help you sleep better through the night.

What is the Best Sleeping Position for Menopause?

Stomach Sleeping

Stomach sleeping can cause neck pain because your head will be turned to the side on your pillow in this position. It can also lead to back pain since this position can place strain and pressure on your spine¹⁴.

Since the change in hormones during this time can have an impact on joints, muscles, and bones⁴, we recommend sleeping in a position that doesn’t put undue strain on your neck or back.

That said, if stomach sleeping is the only way you can get some shut-eye, we recommend sleeping however you can. If you must sleep on your stomach, use a low-loft pillow to minimize the strain on your neck and back.

Check out our top picks for the best pillows for stomach sleepers and the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Back Sleeping

Studies show that as progesterone and estrogen decline during menopause, it increases the likelihood of developing obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA9. During REM sleep, the muscles in the back of your throat naturally relax. For those with OSA, these airways become too narrow and not enough oxygen gets through. This drop in oxygen levels causes the body to wake up suddenly in order to breathe properly again.

Back sleeping can make both OSA symptoms and snoring worse. Since these are known to be exacerbated during perimenopause and after menopause, it may be best to avoid sleeping on your back during this time.

Of course, if menopause is not affecting your breathing at night, back sleeping should be just fine if it feels most comfortable for you.
If you prefer back sleeping, take a look at our list of best mattresses for back sleepers.

Side Sleeping

If snoring or sleep apnea is one of your menopausal symptoms, try sleeping on your side to open up the airways more.

If your breathing isn’t affected by menopause, side sleeping is still a good option. Experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine¹² say that side sleeping – particularly on your left side – can help with digestion and symptoms of acid reflux or heartburn. Since menopause can increase symptoms¹³ of acid reflux and heartburn, this might be good to keep in mind.

For More Information: Top-Rated Mattresses for Side Sleepers

Combination Sleeping

Combination sleeping is moving between two or more sleep positions throughout the night.

Since sleep can be hard to come by and symptoms like hot flashes might make you uncomfortable, moving from one position to another makes sense.

There isn’t any science regarding the pros or cons of combination sleeping for those going through menopause. As long as you’re not dealing with breathing issues or heartburn, some combination of sleep positions should be fine.

Tips for Better Sleeping During Menopause

• Use cooling sheets and blankets – To further help you stay cool during menopause, look for breathable bedding materials like linen or cotton, and if you have a blanket on the bed, opt for something that is lightweight and a wool blend as this material is great for wicking away moisture.

Get more info: Highest-Rated Cooling Sheets

• Use cooling pillows – Cooling pillows are also helpful during those times you experience hot flashes or night sweats. Looks for pillows made with naturally cooler materials like bamboo or latex, or if you prefer memory foam pillows, get ones with cooling gel added to them.

Check out our top cooling pillow selections

• Invest in a cooling mattress topper – If the surface of your bed is keeping you up at night, you might need something on the top of your mattress that helps you cool down while you’re going through hot flashes. In this case, you can look into purchasing a cooling mattress topper.
• Keep your bedroom cool – In general, sleeping in a cooler room is helpful for better sleep, but this is especially true when those hot flashes arise. As such, you’ll want to find ways to keep your bedroom nice and brisk. If it’s cool outside, you can leave the window open. Another option is to use a fan or air conditioning.

Find out more: 12 Ways to Cool Down Your Bedroom

Best Mattresses for Menopause FAQs

Can a cooling blanket help with menopause?

Yes, a cooling blanket could help with menopause. These blankets give you the comfort that comes with a blanket layer, but they’re made with more breathable materials to avoid overheating. Even if you’ve never used a blanket that warms or cools your body before, if you’re experiencing hot flashes, the cost of a cooling blanket is well worth the investment.

View Our Guide: Top-Rated Cooling Blankets

What causes night sweats during menopause?

Those sudden hot flashes that leave you drenched in a pool of sweat are often more pronounced at night. The drop in estrogen production that happens during menopause makes it harder for the body to regulate its temperature. When this happens during waking hours, you have more control, and you can take proactive measures to keep cool, like drinking ice water or removing layers of clothing.

However, at night when you’re asleep, your body is on autopilot. Since you’re not taking an active role in regulating your temperature, you might be caught off guard by intense night sweats.

Get More Info: Causes of Night Sweats

Can menopause cause insomnia?

Yes, menopause can cause insomnia. For example, when you’re going through menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, you’re more likely to toss and turn or wake up during the middle of the night drenched in sweat. These sleep disruptions make it more difficult to get adequate rest.

Then, the next night, you’re more likely to feel stress, anxiety, and irritability due to the experience you had the night before. The result can result in a cycle of insomnia.

Learn More: How To Cope With Insomnia During Menopause