Best Cooling Pillows (2025): Recommended by Certified Sleep Science Coaches

According to Luxome, the LAYR pillow was designed to accommodate sleepers of all body types and sleeping positions due to its adjustable firmness and height. With three removable layers, you can choose between different materials and feels to create your ideal sleep surface. We chose this pillow as the best overall cooling pillow, not only because of its breathable, cool-to-the-touch cover, but also because it earned a perfect 5-star rating for its materials, extra features, and overall tester experience. 

The Luxome LAYR pillow is essentially three pillows in one due to the three separate inserts included. The “Soft” insert contains a soft, down alternative microfiber, and the “Medium” insert is filled with shredded memory foam and down alternative microfiber. The “Firm” insert is made entirely of denser memory foam, providing additional support. 

Additionally, the fill is removable from each insert, allowing you to customize the loft and feel further. Luxome provides an extra carrying case for any unused filling, allowing you to store it and use it again if your preferences change, which helps the pillow earn 5 stars for its extra features.

Since this pillow is made up of ‘stacked’ layers rather than a single densely-packed material, our expert tester Matt Schickling found it more cooling than the average pillow. He said, “The space between the layers allows for airflow as you move and adjust the pillow. While the cover is pretty thick and cushy, it’s breathable and even slightly cool to the touch due to the natural bamboo viscose material.” He rated the materials 5 stars overall because he was impressed by the gel-infused memory foam, which was designed to pull heat away from the sleeper, as well as the durable stitching and zipper.

Not only are the materials high-quality, but they’re also easy to clean, which earned the Luxome pillow 4.5 stars for the care process. Both the pillow cover and the insert covers are machine washable, so there’s no need to visit the dry cleaners. While the fill isn’t washable, you can keep it safe in the provided carrying case until you’re ready to refill the LAYR.

Over the course of several weeks, Matt slept on this pillow in several configurations. Since he prefers a high loft with plenty of plushness, he enjoyed the Luxome LAYR most when it was fully stuffed with all three inserts. The highest loft is most ideal for side sleepers, providing plenty of support at the neck and shoulders. He also thought back sleeping felt amazing on this pillow, saying, “My head feels cradled, supported — loved, even.” Since he believes all sleepers will be able to create a DIY pillow that’s right for them, he rated the overall experience 5 stars.

If you’re a stomach sleeper, we typically recommend low-loft pillows to prevent the neck from craning upwards, which can lead to stiffness and pain. While these sleepers may enjoy the Soft insert or the Medium insert on their own, they may not need all the customizable features this pillow offers.

Just like people, no two pillows are the same. The perfect pillow for you may feel like a nightmare to someone with a different body type, sleeping position, or personal feel preference. However, an adjustable pillow can be compatible with a multitude of sleepers because it allows you to customize the firmness to your liking. For the best adjustable cooling pillow, the Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling pillow is an excellent choice. Made from 4.5-star materials, this pillow is breathable and cool to the touch, which hot sleepers can appreciate. Additionally, adjusting the firmness is as easy as pulling a zipper, providing a 5-star overall experience that’s compatible with all sleeping positions.

Each side of the Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling pillow features a breathable gusset, which can be zippered open or closed to create three firmness levels. When both sides are fully zipped up, the pillow provides a firm feel. If you prefer a medium feel, simply unzip one side, or unzip both sides for the softest feel possible. While some adjustable pillows require manual removal of the filling, this pillow allows you to switch up the firmness in mere seconds, which is part of why our tester Sosha Lewis rated her experience 5 stars.

Additionally, Sosha was impressed by the overall cooling the Nectar pillow provides. Although its filling consists of memory foam clusters, which can be known for trapping heat, she thought the gusseted sides helped increase airflow. She also found its smooth cover extremely cool to the touch, even when it was inside a pillowcase. The cooling technology was especially appreciated by Sosha’s husband, who tends to sleep hot. 

While Sosha and her husband have different preferences when it comes to pillows, they were both able to enjoy the Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling pillow. Sosha is a side sleeper who prefers a soft, yet supportive pillow, and her husband is a back sleeper and prefers a little more loft. 

“I loved this pillow fully unzipped to the soft setting. My head sank in just the right amount and kept my spine aligned and neck comfortable,” she said. “I had my husband, who is a back sleeper, try it out for a few nights, on the medium setting. He liked it so much, I thought we were going to have to arm wrestle for the rights to it.” 

Another aspect Sosha appreciated was the easy care instructions listed on Nectar’s website and included in the packaging. Although it’s not machine washable, requiring spot-cleaning only, the material is moisture-wicking and easy to care for, earning 4 stars. “I don’t think this material would easily stain, especially if you get to any spills quickly,” she said. 

If fine-print details are important to you, you may want to note Nectar’s pillow warranty, which covers one year of use. While a trial period and warranty are nice to have, this one isn’t as lengthy as some other offers we’ve seen. With high-quality and durable materials, we expect the pillow to last more than a year, but we wish that the manufacturer showed its belief in the pillow with a longer warranty. 

When side sleeping, it’s crucial that your pillow properly supports your head and neck to prevent pain from occurring. Our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta says the best pillow for side sleepers has a thicker, taller loft that fills in the gap between the head and shoulders. With a whopping height of 8 inches, I chose the Cariloha Retreat pillow as the best cooling choice for these sleepers. Packed with 5-star, sustainable materials, this pillow offers breathable comfort perfect for hot sleepers. It also earned 5 stars for extra features and 4.5 stars for experience due to its flippable, dual-chamber design that offers two different firmness levels.

The Cariloha Retreat pillow contains two removable chambers – a soft side and a firm side. In theory, this pillow can be a good match for any sleeping position, depending on how you configure these inserts. But when it comes to side sleeping, our expert tester Kate Meier recommends keeping both inserts inside the removable cover. This creates a super tall loft that supported her head and neck in this position. She rated her experience 4.5 stars, saying, “The pillow is supportive where you want it to be, yet soft where you need more cushioning.

Whether you play around with the firmness or keep the pillow intact, you can appreciate the premium materials, which Kate rated 5 stars. The soft side is made from natural shredded latex foam and Kapok, which is a plant-derived fiber that feels similar to down but without the insulating properties that make you overheat. Both materials are naturally breathable and hypoallergenic, which contributes to cooling. The firm side consists of perforated bamboo charcoal memory foam, which also promotes cooling. Kate said, “I do notice the firmer side always feels cooler than the softer side.” However, we think hot sleepers can find relief from this pillow on either side. 

Another standout feature is the Cariloha Retreat’s quilted cover. Made from bamboo viscose, it’s soft, cozy, and easy to snuggle into. While you can certainly cover it with a pillowcase, it’s comfortable enough to be used without one. It’s even removable and machine washable, so you won’t have to worry about oil and dirt buildup from your face. Just keep in mind, the filling is spot treat only.

Although memory foam has a reputation for retaining heat, some hot sleepers still crave the unbeatable contouring this material offers. These folks may find better cooling from a gel-infused memory foam, which Dr. Dasgupta recommends for its ability to draw heat away from the sleeper rather than trapping it. For a memory foam pillow that fights against night sweats, I recommend the Helix GlacioTex Cooling Memory Foam pillow. Offered in 2 loft options, this plush pillow is made with solid 4-star materials that prioritize airflow, as well as a smooth cooling cover. 

In terms of construction, the Helix pillow is pretty simple. The outer cover is made from a proprietary GlacioTex material, which our tester Sosha Lewis found cool to the touch. There is a cooling gel memory foam core underneath the cover, which the company says helps regulate the sleeper’s temperature. Sosha rated the materials 4 stars overall, saying, “It’s a solid chunk of memory foam that’s durable and sturdy. Plus, it’s perforated, which promotes airflow.”

Depending on your sleeping position, you can choose between two lofts — Side Sleeper (High Loft) or Back & Stomach Sleeper (Low Loft). As a side sleeper, Sosha Lewis chose the High Loft, which is a little over 5 inches tall. However, she typically prefers flatter, more compressible pillows, so she found it slightly too firm for her liking. The Low Loft is 4 inches tall, so it’s likely better for back and stomach sleepers, or side sleepers who don’t want a lot of lift at their head.

Regardless of which loft height you choose, you can appreciate the easy cleaning process. Although the company doesn’t provide a care instruction card, Sosha was able to find details listed on Helix’s website and on the inside of the cover. The cover is removable and machine washable on a cold, gentle setting. You can then pop it in the dryer on low or lay it flat to dry. However, the memory foam core is spot clean only, so Sosha rated it 4.5 stars for the overall care.

When the pillow arrived, Sosha noticed that it looked different from the picture on the website. She contacted a customer service agent, who told her that slight changes were made to the pillow’s cover, but the feel and support remain the same. This didn’t affect her overall experience, but it did make her question if she had gotten the right pillow. Considering this pillow’s price, we would have liked an explanation about the difference in the look.

If you find yourself with a constant crick in your neck, your pillow may be to blame. Dr. Dasgupta says, “A supportive pillow is important for maintaining proper spinal alignment and neck posture throughout the night. Without sufficient support from your pillow, you may experience poor sleep quality and discomfort.” For a cooling pillow designed to reduce pressure on the shoulders and neck, the Bear Contour is my top choice. With 4.5-star materials that promote temperature regulation, this pillow also features a unique ergonomic design that our expert tester, Dan Caffrey, rated 4.5 stars.

Unlike a typical pillow, the Bear Contour has a U-shaped cut-out that conforms to the natural curve of the neck, shoulders, and head. When Dan tested this pillow, he felt great in the side sleeping position. He said, “Although I usually prefer something softer in terms of feel, the high loft is really comfortable on the neck and spine. The U-shape gives me a little extension that I can tuck between my shoulder and neck for pressure relief.”

Dan also thinks this pillow is compatible with back sleepers, especially those who prefer a slightly firmer pillow. “Regardless of feel preference, my spine felt neutrally aligned in the back sleeping position, with just enough sinkage to keep my neck from dipping too much,” he said. While some sleepers may prefer a more compressible pillow, those with neck and shoulder pain can appreciate the sturdy feel that still offers a bit of plushness without sacrificing neck support. 

In addition to the curved design, Dan was impressed with this pillow’s two-sided construction, so he rated it 4.5 stars for extra features. Bear claims that this pillow has two separate sides — one that’s cool-to-the-touch and another that’s smooth and silky. Dan thought the product lived up to its promises, saying, “I can definitely see this being a good match for hot sleepers. My head and neck didn’t feel like they were heating up at all when I used the cool side.” He also appreciated the smooth side, which was soft yet sleek.

Regardless of which side he slept on, Dan benefited from this hypoallergenic pillow, which consists of a polyester fill and a proprietary “ICE Fabric” cover. “I’m someone who struggles with allergies, but my sinuses didn’t act up at all when I slept on this pillow,” he said. Although the cooling cover isn’t removable, requiring spot-clean-only care, he thought the materials felt sturdy and durable overall. He was also impressed by the limited lifetime warranty, which increases our confidence in the product’s longevity.

Before purchasing the Bear Contour pillow, keep in mind that Dan didn’t find it compatible with stomach sleeping. With a loft of 6 inches, you’re likely to feel increased pain as your neck cranes upwards. Additionally, the U cut-out in the pillow feels awkward in this position, so Bear only recommends it to side and back sleepers.

A wedge pillow, also known as an acid reflux pillow, has a unique triangular design that allows slight head and body elevation. Dr. Dasgupta claims these pillows can be a good non-surgical option for anyone who experiences acid reflux or GERD. He said, “This pillow’s wedge-shape helps keep the upper body at an incline to prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus while you sleep.” With a perfect 5-star rating in materials, extra-features, tester experience, and care, the Avocado Organic Latex Wedge pillow stands out as a top performer. 

Since wedge pillows must support and elevate the upper body, high-quality and durable materials are crucial. As an organic product, the Avocado wedge pillow has earned several third-party certifications, which verify the absence of unnatural chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. We awarded this pillow 5 stars for materials because of its Global Organic Textile Standard-certified cotton and Global Organic Latex Standard-certified latex. This pillow has multiple other coveted awards, such as Made Safe and OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100. 

While these certifications guarantee quality, the quality can be felt just by feeling the materials. Our tester Kate Meier said, “The cover has great stitching and feels incredibly durable. I’ve already washed it twice and have had no issues with it puckering, shrinking, ripping, or tearing.” She rated the care process 5 stars because the entire cover can be removed, making it easy to pop it in the washer.

Inside the pillow is a wedge of organic Dunlop latex, which Kate described as squishy yet supportive. According to Avocado, this natural latex is also extremely breathable, as well as antimicrobial and bacteria-resistant. She thought this material helped prevent her from overheating, saying, “I need to give this pillow a shoutout for being cool, temperature-wise. It feels incredible to lie on at night.” 

While Kate found this wedge bed pillow cozy enough to sink into, it was still supportive enough to prop her body or legs up without sagging. “Some nights, I use this as my main pillow for when I sleep on my back and want a gradual slope,” she said. “Other nights, especially if I’m sore after a hard workout, I use it to elevate my legs while I sleep.”  She rated her experience 5 stars overall because she felt cool and comfortable and enjoyed how the pillow could be used in multiple ways. 

While Kate had a 5-star experience in the side- and back-sleeping positions, wedge pillows aren’t generally recommended to stomach sleepers. In this position, it’s important that the body is as flat as possible. You may find your neck craning too far upwards, or your lower back arching when stomach sleeping on an incline.