Calling All Hot Sleepers: Cooling Pillows Exist So You Can Always Sleep on the "Cold Side"
It’s no secret that a sweltering sleeping environment can ruin a perfectly good night’s rest. And while a cooling pillow can’t stop your hot flashes or a super warm climate, sleeping on one in addition to cooling sheets or a temperature-regulating or cooling mattress pad certainly can help you feel less sweaty.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tested over 100 different pillows to find the best pillows to stay cool, whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper. A good cooling pillow should not only feel chill; it also needs to be comfy to sleep on and support your head and neck to avoid neck pain. To find the best cooling pillows, our textile pros evaluated washability and durability in the Lab and sent pillows to over 350 at-home testers to learn more about their cooling effects.
Our top picks:
We most recently reviewed this article in October 2022 to ensure all of our recommendations were in stock and reflected accurate pricing. You can learn more about how we test and how to pick the best cooling pillows at the bottom of this article. Looking for more cooling bedding and sleepwear? Check out our guides to the best cooling comforters and cooling pajamas.
Best Overall Cooling Pillow
Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow
With a similar feel to the best-selling Coop Home Goods Original Pillow, the Eden Pillow features shredded memory foam infused with cooling gel to prevent overheating. The fill is completely adjustable — add or remove as much as you like so you can find the best height for you. Testers raved about the soft, plush feel that still provided ample neck support. In our Lab testing, the pillow maintained its shape after weights were applied, but we did notice some wear on the cover after washing. The foam is CertiPUR-US certified so you don’t have to worry about unsafe chemicals and thousands of Amazon reviewers also love this pillow alongside our testers. We love that, unlike most memory foam pillows, the entire pillow is machine washable: cover and fill.
Fill: Shredded memory foam and polyester
Care: Machine washable; wash cover and fill separately.
Sizes: Standard, Queen and King
Best Value Cooling Pillow
Allswell Gel Cooling Pillow
Memory foam tends to overheat, but this pillow from Allswell has an added cooling gel layer, so you can enjoy the cushioned feel without the trapped heat. Testers gave this pillow especially high marks for keeping them at a stable body temperature, being supportive and maintaining its shape after use. The cover also washed beautifully after multiple laundering cycles. One tester who suffered from terrible neck pain previously said that after using this pillow she had "no pain whatsoever." Note that this pillow is only available in Standard sizing.
Fill: Memory foam and cooling gel
Care: Cover only machine washable
Sizes: Standard
Best Temperature-Regulating Cooling Pillow
SlumberCloud UltraCool Pillow
Made with innovative cooling technologies, our testers were impressed by the cool-to-the-touch feel of this down alternative pillow that's ideal for all sleeping positions thanks to the two softness options (side sleepers should opt for the firmer style). The cover is made with Outlast technology, which stores and releases heat to keep you at a stable body temperature. The polyester fill stood up perfectly to Lab tests as this pillow kept its shape without snagging. One tester gave a rave review, saying this pillow has "more of a cooling effect than other cooling pillows I've tried."
Fill: Polyester
Care: Machine washable
Sizes: Standard and King
Best Cooling Pillow for Side Sleepers
Tempur-Pedic Breeze Pro+ Advanced Cooling Pillow
This memory foam pillow is available in two heights, and the high height is perfect for side sleepers to keep your neck and spine aligned. Memory foam pillows tend to hold onto heat, but this Tempur-Pedic features cooling gel in the cover. Testers gave high scores for its supportive feel and cooling effects with one tester saying: "This pillow keeps me so nice and cool, plus I don't have to keep turning it or fluffing it up every time I change position." The signature feel of Tempur-Pedic memory foam takes a bit longer to return to its original shape as it forms to your head to provide neck support. Note that this pillow is not returnable, but our testers loved it so much that they all wanted to keep using it after testing.
Fill: Memory foam
Care: Cover is machine washable
Sizes: Queen and King
Best Cooling Pillow for Stomach Sleepers
SlumberCloud Core Down Alternative Pillow
The soft, fluffy feel of the down alternative pillow from SlumberCloud is ideal for stomach sleepers. Opt for the "soft/medium" firmness level as a stomach sleeper because "medium/firm" is better suited for back or side sleepers. SlumberCloud’s down alternative pillow has a cotton and Outlast infused cover, which actually stores and releases heat to keep your body at a comfortable temperature all night. Testers found the pillow very comfortable, but not as supportive as other styles likely because of the nature of the plush polyester. There’s free shipping and a 60-night trial period.
Fill: Polyester
Care: Machine washable
Sizes: Standard and King
Best Cooling Pillow for Back Sleepers
The Purple Pillow
While many pillows use materials that are known to hold onto heat like foam, The Purple Pillow is completely unique. It uses the brand's signature polymer grid for ultimate breathability with the ideal support for back sleepers. In our Lab testing, the pillow’s cover was easy to launder with no shrinkage or appearance changes, but analysts note that the pillow as a whole is on the heavier side and doesn't fit perfectly in a standard-size pillowcase.
Fill: Polymer grid
Care: Cover only machine washable
Sizes: Standard
Best Cervical Cooling Pillow
Sleep Number True Temp Contour Pillow
Sleep Number’s True Temp pillow uses 37.5 technology for cooler sleep with excellent neck support from the contoured shape. The cover uses polyethylene and polyester with an added 37.5-infused polyester fiberfill for a plush and cool feel as 37.5 technology stores and releases heat to keep you at a stable body temperature. The ultimate style features a curved design with three removable inserts for your ideal height no matter your sleeping position. The cover was easy to wash with no changes in appearance, but it's a bit difficult to get the cover back on the foam afterwards.
Fill: Memory foam
Care: Cover only machine washable
Sizes: Standard and King
Best Latex Cooling Pillow
Purple Harmony Pillow
Unlike any other latex pillow, this pillow from Purple features its popular "Purple Grid" polymer technology on the outside for neck and shoulder support. We washed the polymer grid cover in Lab and it showed no signs of shrinkage or change in appearance. The latex fill quickly returned to its shape in Lab testing and testers agreed when they used it at home. Because of its higher height, this pillow is best suited for side sleepers. Testers loved how breathable this pillow felt, keeping them cool all night long. With a 100-night trial period, there’s no risk in trying out this unique material for yourself.
Fill: Latex and polymer grid
Care: Cover only machine washable
Sizes: Standard and Tall
Most Comfortable Cooling Pillow
Casper Foam Pillow
Although this pillow doesn’t explicitly feature cooling technology, testers gave it a perfect score for keeping them cool, likely thanks to the tiny channels throughout the foam for increased airflow and a more breathable pillow. The outer cover washed nicely with no change in appearance or shrinkage, but it's not dryer safe and has to be laid flat to dry. Side, back and stomach sleeper testers gave it perfect scores for waking up without any soreness and maintaining its proper shape after use.
Fill: Memory foam
Care: Cover only machine washable, lay flat to dry
Sizes: Standard and King
Most Supportive Cooling Pillow
Pillow Cube Ice Cube Side Sleeper Pillow
Designed specifically for side sleepers, the innovative Pillow Cube has 90-degree edges (instead of traditional tapered sides) for unparalleled neck support. Testers raved that this pillow was "life-changing" and many appreciated the cover's cool-to-the-touch feel. The foam maintained its shape following pressure tests in Lab, but the cover showed some signs of wear after laundering. Pros recommend using the brand's sizing guide to find the perfect height for you as there are three different options available.
Fill: Memory foam
Care: Cover only machine washable
Sizes: Standard (Thin, Regular and Thick)
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is a Rectangular Pillow the Answer for Side Sleepers?
How we test cooling pillows
All pillows are evaluated in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab. GH pros analyzed over 3,500 data points from Lab testing and hundreds of consumer testers before making these picks. First, we check the care labels to see how easy they are to clean (PSA: some are not machine washable!), then we wash them five times to see whether they'll actually hold up to laundering. We also look at how well they fit into a pillowcase, and we perform support and recovery tests that mimic the pressure from your head laying on it all night: A weight is left on the pillow for an extended period then we measure how quickly it returns to its original shape.
In addition to Lab testing, we also have real consumer testers try them out for in-depth feedback on things like comfort, support, temperature regulation and more. Testers are assigned a pillow based on an initial survey to make sure they're getting a good match, then they're given weeks to sleep on it before providing both scored and open-ended responses. Panelists who identify as hot sleepers test cooling pillows to give proper feedback on if the pillow helped keep them cooler throughout the night.
What to look for when shopping for the best cooling pillows
✔️ Cooling technology: Look for fabrics with actual cooling technologies like Outlast or 37.5, which can absorb and release heat to keep your body at a more stable temperature while you sleep, preventing night sweats before they start. Some other fabrics offer a cool to the touch feel, but it may not stay that way all night long.
✔️ Ability to clean: If you tend to sweat at night, it’s even more important that you are able to wash your pillow. Look for a pillow that's entirely machine washable or has a washable cover. Some of the top-tested pillows on our list only have machine-washable covers, so we recommend investing in a good pillow protector for those picks.
✔️ Sleeping position: Even if it has the coolest feel, an uncomfortable pillow will keep you up at night. Make sure to choose a pillow that's suitable for your sleeping position, whether you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper, as that’s the best way to avoid neck pain in the morning.
✔️ Material: While using a cooling pillowcase will make a big difference, the fill material can still have an effect on the pillow's cooling capabilities. Memory foam tends to hold onto heat, so opt for styles with added cooling gel or perforations to reduce overheating.
Why Trust Good Housekeeping?
Emma Seymour is the senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 100 pillows in the Textiles Lab in the past two years, and she has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Emma has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for more than three years at Good Housekeeping.
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