This article reviews the up-to-date progress in mechanocaloric effect and materials near ambient temperature. For elastocaloric materials, we focus on directly measured temperature change and its entropy origin in nonmagnetic and magnetic shape memory alloys. In terms of barocaloric materials, change in magnetic state, volume and shift of transition temperature due to hydrostatic pressure are systematically compared. We propose advantages and challenges of elastocaloric materials for solidstate cooling. Strategies to enhance elastocaloric and mechanical stability under long-term mechanical cycles are presented. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the prospect of elastocaloric cooling application. This article reviews the up-to-date progress in mechanocaloric effect and materials near ambient temperature. For elastocaloric materials, we focus on directly measured temperature change and its entropy origin in nonmagnetic and magnetic shape memory alloys. In terms of barocaloric materials, change in magnetic state, volume and shift of transition temperature due to hydrostatic pressure are systematically compared. We propose advantages and challenges of elastocaloric materials for solid state cooling. Strategies to enhance elastocaloric and mechanical stability under long-term mechanical cycles are presented. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the prospect of elastocaloric cooling application.