The 6 best cooling pillows to help you avoid overheating at night

It’s not always easy getting a good night’s sleep and if you’re prone to night sweats or restlessness, feeling hot at night won’t help. The right pillow and mattress can go a long way in ensuring you wake up feeling well-rested. 

So, if you’ve not converted to a cooling pillow yet, it may be something to consider — especially if you’re sick of getting so-so sleep.

Cooling pillows are available in different materials, such as latex and foam, and offer different heights if you sleep on your side or have neck pain. It can be tricky to choose the right one for you so our editors have stepped in to help out. 

Browse through our picks of the best cooling pillows now for a comfortable and chilled sleep at night. 

Read more: Find the best mattresses for side sleepers

Our top picks of the best cooling pillows

Best overall cooling pillow

Coop Eden pillow

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$96 at Amazon

Best temperature-regulating

Slumber Cloud UltraCool pillow

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$69 at Slumber Cloud

Best for side sleepers

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Breeze Pro Pillow

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$229 at Mattress Firm

Best for neck pain

Sleep Number True Temp pillow

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$109.99 at Sleep Number

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Best overall cooling pillow

Coop Eden pillow

$96

$96 at Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Available in two sizes, king and queen

• Comes with extra stuffing to adjust your pillow height

• Supports neck and back to reduce pain

• Entire pillow is machine washable

• Some reviewers noticed an odor 

• A few buyers say it gets flat quickly, so may need the extra filler

With a 4.5-star average rating from over 15,000 reviews, the Coop Eden pillow is a fan-favorite among buyers. 

Its cooling memory foam is infused with cooling gel, so your head stays comfortable throughout the night. For side sleepers and those with back pain, this pillow provides ample support and eases any aches, so you’ll wake up pain-free.

One of the key features of this pillow is that you can customize the filler to your liking. If you prefer a higher pillow, it comes with stuffing so you can add to it and if you prefer a thinner pillow, just remove the filling. 

It’s available in king and queen sizes and the foam is CertiPUR-US certified, so there’s no need to worry about sleeping on unsafe chemicals. And to wash it, simply pop the pillow, case and all, in the washing machine.

Best temperature-regulating

Slumber Cloud UltraCool pillow

$69

$69 at Slumber Cloud

Pros & Cons

• Available in soft-medium and medium-firm

• Easy to clean

• Effective even through a pillowcase

• Might be too soft for some

• Medium-firm may still be too soft for some sleepers

If you often feel hot at night and tend to change your sleeping position, the Slumber Cloud’s UltraCool pillow could be the best cooling pillow for you. Made with temperature-regulating technology, it adjusts according to your body temperature to keep you cool when you sleep. 

Its cover is made of Outlast technology, which was created for NASA. Plus, it’s filled with Polysilk, a down-alternative fiberfill, which maintains its shape and supports your head. You have two options — a soft-medium if you are a back or stomach sleeper and medium-firm if you prefer to sleep on your side or back.

Best for side sleepers

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Breeze Pro Pillow

$229

$229 at Mattress Firm

Pros & Cons

• Great for all side sleepers

• Comes in low and high options

• Has cooling gel in cover

• Not as supportive as some expect it to be

• May be too firm for some

The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Breeze Pro Pillow is great for all sleeping positions, but it’s the best cooling pillow for side sleepers because it cradles your neck and spine even when you move in your sleep. 

Available in two heights, this cooling memory foam pillow features TEMPUR-breeze Technology, which draws heat away from your body to keep you comfortable. Another impressive feature is its SmartClimate Cover, which allows for maximum airflow and continuous coolness to ward off night sweats. This pillow stays in shape and doesn’t flatten even after some time.

To clean, wash the cover in your washing machine.

Best for neck pain

Sleep Number True Temp pillow

$109.99

$109.99 at Sleep Number

Pros & Cons

• Three shapes to choose from 

• Helps with neck pain

• One-year limited warranty

• 100 nights return or exchange

• Only the cover is machine washable 

• Higher price compared to other brands

Reviews say the Sleep Number True Temp pillow stays cool throughout the night and that’s thanks to its cover’s 37.5 polyester with memory foam to balance body temperature and provide support. 

It has unique active-particle technology, which wicks away moisture and prevents a buildup of heat and humidity and is hypoallergenic, which is great if you have sensitive skin.

The pillow comes in three versions — the classic, which is ideal for back and stomach sleepers, the contour, which suits side and back sleepers and the ultimate, which is for all sleeping positions. And the ultimate comes with three removable inserts, so you can customize the height to your liking.

Best value

Allswell Gel Cooling Pillow

$39.96

$39.96 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

• Affordable option

• Cooling gel transfers heat

• Medium firm support

• Available in only one size (standard queen)

• Some reviews say it’s heavy

Want a cool pillow but you’re on a budget? The Allswell Gel Cooling Pillow is one of the best cooling gel pillows that’s affordable. It’s made of memory foam and has a cooling gel layer that draws heat away from your body so you feel chilled when you sleep.

Reviewers say that they feel their neck and head are supported and comfortable while they sleep and they don’t wake up sweaty. You can machine wash the cover, which maintains its quality even after several washes.

Best latex option

CloudSupport Pillow

You save $12 (10%)

$108$120

$108 at SIJO

Pros & Cons

• Springs back into shape quickly

• Sustainable, non-toxic materials

• Good quality

• May be too soft for some

• Latex smell takes getting used to

Supportive yet bouncy, moisture-wicking and cooling, the CloudSupport pillow is one of the best cooling pillows made of latex on the market. It uses talalay latex foam, which gives support to your neck and head — while its shell absorbs and distributes body heat to keep you cool when you heat up and warm when you cool down. 

The pillow’s shell uses Tencel fabric, which feels luxe and soft to the touch, so you’ll feel relaxed when you fall asleep. Just remember that only the cover is machine washable and that you should spot clean the inside with mild detergent.

What to consider when shopping for a cooling pillow

The best cooling pillow for you will differ according to your body type and the kind of sleeper you are. Other factors to consider include pillow height, level of firmness and if you have any pain issues. Here are a few questions you might have before you purchase the ideal cooling pillow for you.

How do cooling pillows work?

They’re usually infused with materials such as gel, graphite or copper that absorb heat from your body. Some pillows also use covers with fabrics that can help with circulation and remove sweat to keep you comfortable, such as cotton and bamboo.

The shape of your pillow can play a part in how cool your head feels throughout the night. Shredded foam can give you more circulation while a single piece tends to retain heat. 

What material is best for a cooling pillow?

Consider materials that allow your skin to breathe for cooling pillowcases. Cotton has good sweat absorption while bamboo can wick away moisture and absorb sweat too. Both of these materials are breathable and are popular choices for pillow covers since they’re easy to clean too. 

Some cooling pillows use materials that control body temperature by absorbing and releasing heat. These can change from a liquid to solid state.

Memory foam and latex are popularly used for filling in cooling pillows. Memory foam is responsive to the curves of your body and can offer relief and support if you have neck aches. It tends to retain heat so it’s a good idea to look for a pillow that contains other materials to counteract this. Latex can also ease pressure on your neck, shoulders and head but it’s more breathable than foam. It can retain heat too, but pillows that use aerated latex will encourage airflow and remove body heat.

Another common material you may spot in cooling pillows is gel, which is usually added to other fillers like foam. Some users point out that it gives a unique smell and it has a cool-to-the-touch feel. 

Which cooling pillows do we like best?

All of the cooling pillows in this roundup get our stamp of approval. That said, two of them are standouts among the rest. Our editors give these two extra high ratings.

• Coop Eden pillow: Its shredded foam is infused with cooling gel so you stay cool at night, and it encourages good airflow. It also gives support if you have back or neck pain and you can customize the filling if you prefer a thicker or thinner pillow. And when it’s time to wash it, you can put the entire pillow and case into the washing machine. It’s a winner for us.

• CloudSupport Pillow: It’s just the right amount of firmness and thickness, plus it uses Tencel fabric, which is soft and cooling. You get pain relief for your neck, it supports the shoulders and it regulates your body temperature, making it one of the best cooling pillows out there.

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Prices updated on 09/27/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.