Cooling pillows are an easy way to help your head regulate your body temperature while sleeping. Constructed with breathable, moisture-wicking, foam or latex-based materials, these pillows work inside and outside to keep your head cool, often utilizing unique airflow designs and gel layers to prevent overheating.
Our editors spoke to top sleep experts, researched dozens of options, and tested 28 cooling pillows for at least one week, each in different sleeping positions, to find the best cooling pillows for a better night’s rest. We assessed the pillows’ performance based on quality, temperature/airflow, comfort, durability, and value. Then, our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy.
Materials to Look For in Cooling Pillows
Experts recommend looking for materials like latex, foam, buckwheat, and gel inside the pillow. Solid memory foam layers benefit from ventilation holes, while shredded foam or synthetic fill pillows naturally offer protection against heat-trapping.
On the outside of the pillow, you may want to look for covers made from bamboo cotton or polyester, which tend to have strong moisture-wicking properties.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Efficacy: Studies have shown that sleep is highly affected by temperature; sleeping in a room that’s too hot or too cold can make it harder to fall or stay asleep. The same goes for sleeping on a pillow that keeps your head too warm or too cold. Terry Cralle, RN, author and certified clinical sleep educator for the Better Sleep Council, says that cooling pillows are made with materials that give a cool or temperature-neutral surface, promoting airflow and detracting heat from the sleeper. That said, Cralle adds that others are more breathable and ventilated than traditional pillows, which can also draw heat away from you.
- Lifespan and upkeep: Ashtaad Dalal, MD, sleep medicine and family medicine practitioner in Virginia, says that many cooling pillows must be spot-cleaned because their materials aren’t compatible with a machine wash. You may want to use a removable and washable pillow cover—in addition to your pillowcase—to protect your pillow further and limit the need for cleaning. Finally, ensure that you read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning. They will give you specific tips on how to clean your pillow based on its materials. Dalal says that they can last anywhere from two to four years and that the durable materials help them stand the test of time better than traditional pillows.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Sometimes, night sweats are caused by warmer temperatures, but other times, they can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If you experience night sweats on a nightly basis or they’re accompanied by fever or other symptoms, such as weight loss, it may be wise to consult your doctor.
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Key Specs:
Fill Material: Memory foam, microfiber | Cover Material: Viscose rayon, polyester | Sizes Available: Queen, king
Why We Recommend It
The best cooling pillows keep your sleep surface cool all night long and promote ultimate comfort, and that’s just what we discovered when we slept on our best overall pick, the Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow. Everything about this pillow is designed to help you get a better night’s sleep, from the soft, well-constructed outer cover to the adjustable gel-infused memory foam filling.
We loved how adjustable this pillow was during testing. Not only does the pillow stay cool throughout the night without needing to be flipped over, but it can also be used by more than one type of sleeper because the filling is adjustable. Because each piece of filling is infused with cooling gel, this pillow maintains its temperature better than pillows we tested with cooling cores made of latex, like the Saatva. Not only is the entire pillow washable, but it fluffs up nicely after washing and even feels cool right out of the dryer. Thanks to its flexible comfort and commitment to cool, the Eden was a clear frontrunner for our best overall pick.
The Slumber Cloud Core Down Alternative Pillow came in a close second place. We found the Slumber Cloud to be a cool-to-the-touch option that’s not too hard or soft and washes up beautifully, maintaining its shape, size, and loft. It helped us fall asleep faster, making it a solid, cost-saving alternative to the Eden pillow. However, the only reason this is our runner-up is that it isn’t adjustable like our best overall pick.
Our final favorite pick is budget-friendly and comes in a pack of two. In testing, we found the HIMOON Bed Pillows to be a supportive option, allowing plenty of airflow while sleeping. They work hard to maintain a neutral sleeping temperature and do a good job at doing so. They didn’t get as chilly as other options, so if you want to bump up the chill factor, pair the pillows with a set of cooling sheets.
Keep in Mind
The pillow is washable, but you may need to readjust the fluff after. Also, there was an initial odor that dissipated with time.
Verywell Health / Joy Kim
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Key Specs:
Fill Material: Polyurethane foam | Cover Material: Polyester, spandex | Sizes Available: Standard, king
Why We Recommend It
You can’t beat the Casper Foam Pillow with Snow Technology for an ultra-cooling pillow for side sleepers. In our testing, this pillow was an overachiever in keeping us cool even when summer temperatures hit the 90s. We like that it’s a well-designed pillow made of multiple layers of foam that promote cooling and airflow.
The Casper consistently impressed us across categories like comfort, durability, and value thanks to its substantial heft and weight, easily washable cover, and ability to keep its shape through use. We found it cool to the touch, and it didn’t seem to have any trouble keeping us cool all night.
Keep in Mind
Our only true caveat is that it’s not quite as tall as some other pillows, and since it’s not adjustable, you’ll need to make sure its height works for your body size and sleeping style. We think it’s best for side-sleepers as we don’t think it’s as ideal for other sleep styles.
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Hotel-quality pillow
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Fully washable
Key Specs:
Fill Material: Microdenier fiber, latex | Cover Material: 100% cotton | Sizes Available: Queen, king
Why We Recommend It
While it’s not for everyone, the Saatva Latex Pillow is a hotel-quality pillow that works well for back and combination side-and-back sleepers. It impressed us with its quality and durability, thanks to its multiple layers of construction, most of which are washable, and its lack of any chemical odor.
In our experience, even for back and side sleepers, it took a few nights to get used to. But once we broke it in, we could sleep comfortably and—most importantly—it kept us cool all night long. We also think it’s a good pick for snorers. Throughout our test, partners reported that back sleepers snored less!
Keep in Mind
While it’s a great pillow with excellent quality and durability, it comes at a steep price—especially if you need a pair for your bed. This pick isn’t ideal for stomach sleepers.
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Key Specs:
Fill Material: Latex, polymer | Cover Material: Nylon and spandex | Sizes Available: Low, medium, tall in standard and king
Why We Recommend It
We had no trouble at all getting comfortable with the Purple Harmony Pillow—it is the perfect combination of squishy and supportive and keeps them cool all night long. Thanks to the jello-like interior, it earned top marks for comfort. It held its shape when we used it and never sunk down or required fluffing, and we loved that it sprung back into its original shape afterward. In terms of quality, we found the Harmony to be well-made, without any initial odors out of the box. And while the latex and polymer filling was a bit heavier than we were used to, we liked that its heft made the pillow seem stable, not flimsy.
Keep in Mind
Regarding cooling, we weren’t wowed but weren’t disappointed, either. Although there’s no noticeable cooling sensation when using the pillow, we had no issues overheating during the night. Also, there are cheaper options out there that perform similarly.
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Key Specs:
Fill Material: Latex | Cover Material: Tencel | Sizes Available: Standard, king
Why We Recommend It
The Sijo Clima Adaptive Latex Pillow scored similar marks to the Saatva Latex Pillow but with one important deviation that sets it apart as our best latex pick: overall value. While it’s also more expensive, we think the Sijo Clima is worth the cost, especially since we think it will last for several years of use without sagging or becoming misshapen.
This pillow impressed us regarding temperature, airflow, and comfort. While it’s not cool to the touch, it doesn’t cause overheating or require flipping during the night. And night after night, it was super comfy (if not a little bouncier than most other pillows). That bounce is thanks to the latex core, which also gives this pillow its high durability rating. It didn’t lose any of its lofts throughout our test, and its solid construction has convinced us it won’t need to be replaced anytime soon.
Keep in Mind
There wasn’t a noticeable “cool-to-the-touch” feeling, but it still worked effectively.
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Pillow adjusts to changing sleep positions
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Soft, luxurious construction
Key Specs:
Fill Material: Memory foam | Cover Material: Polyester | Sizes Available: Queen, king
Why We Recommend It
Memory foam pillows may not be everyone’s preferred type of pillowfill. Still, the Tempur-Pedic Temper-Cloud Pillow really impressed us throughout our test: it is a luxurious, well-made pillow that remains cool throughout the entire night and easily adapts to our changing sleep positions.
It earned top marks for temperature/airflow, comfort, and value. We have yet to find a reason to complain about how easy (and comfortable!) it is to sleep with this pillow. We didn’t need to flip it over or adjust it during the night, no matter our sleep position. The pillow cover is soft and washes up nicely. Although it’s a bit expensive, we think it’s a worthwhile investment considering how well we slept while using it.
Keep in Mind
Because it’s memory foam, the Temper-Cloud is heavier than the average pillow, but so far, that hasn’t been a sticking point for us; if anything, it made us feel more confident in the pillow’s quality and durability and its potential to last for a long time before needing to be replaced.
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Key Specs:
Fill Material: Foam | Cover Material: Micro polyamide and polyester| Sizes Available: Standard, king
Why We Recommend It
If you’re looking for a pillow that feels cool to the touch no matter how long you use it, we recommend the gel-based Tuft & Needle Pillow, which has a noticeable cooling sensation right off the bat and doesn’t seem to absorb or transfer any of our body heat during use, either. Made with adaptive foam infused with graphite and cooling gel, this pillow maintains a distinct level of chill and promotes good air circulation, making it a stellar choice for a cooling gel pillow.
In terms of comfort, it supports the head and neck through changing sleep styles and keeps its overall shape. We like that it’s made from high-quality materials, fills pillowcases evenly and manages to be soft, supportive and slightly bouncy simultaneously. The combination of support and intense cooling makes it worth the investment.
Keep in Mind
It had a slight smell for a few days after opening the package. Also, only the cover can be washed, not the entire pillow.
How We Tested the Cooling Pillows
We tested 28 cooling pillows at home to see how they performed among key attributes. After the initial testing period, we’ve slept on our top-scoring pillows for nearly a year and are updating our reviews with notes on their continued performance. We assessed them based on the following criteria:
- Quality: We measured the loft’s height before use and again after one week of use (and followed care instructions if the pillows were machine washable) to see if any notable compression or flattening had occurred.
- Temperature and airflow: We paid special attention to the pillows’ breathability and ability to keep us cool while sleeping. We observed whether the pillows felt cool to the touch at first and how well they maintained that coolness; we didn’t want to select pillows that had to be turned over during the night due to overheating or left us waking up covered in sweat.
- Comfort: We considered how well our heads and necks felt supported in our unique sleeping positions and how many times we woke up during the night to adjust our pillows. We also evaluated how easy or hard it was to adjust pillows with removable filling to get the right loft.
- Durability: We washed the pillows to see how they held up, how easily they cleaned, and whether they lost any supportiveness or comfort.
- Value: At the end of testing, we compared the pillows’ performance to the price point to see whether or not the financial cost matched the value received.
What to Look for in Cooling Pillows
- Firmness: Consider your body and head position, frequency of use, and any medical conditions, says Dalal. She adds that while firmness is all subjective, it’s extremely important.
- Sleep Style: When choosing a pillow, consider your sleep style (e.g., side, stomach, or back). A cooling pillow must support your head, neck, shoulders, and back; how well it does this depends on how you sleep. Cralle says a stomach sleeper may prefer a thinner pillow, while side sleepers may prefer thicker ones. Some picks are more adjustable than others, which can help you make it perfect for your sleep style and ergonomic needs.
Our Experts
To help in the process, we consulted several experts, including:
- Terry Cralle, RN, author and certified clinical sleep educator for the Better Sleep Council
- Ashtaad Dalal, MD, sleep medicine and family medicine practitioner in Virginia
- Carleara Weiss, PhD, science advisor for Aeroflow Sleep
Why Trust Verywell Health
Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017: everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that help you manage everyday conditions. Although she didn’t personally test the cooling pillows featured in this list, she has experience testing other personal care products for Verywell Health—and as a migraine sufferer, she understands the importance of finding a pillow that improves your sleep instead of keeping you up at night.
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