Whether you’re shopping for summertime or simply searching for a way to stave off night sweats, our roundup of the best cooling pillows is here to help. In this guide, we are presenting the absolute best pillows for hot sleepers, all of which the Sleepopolis Team has personally tested.
So settle in, folks, because your bedtime routine is about to get a whole lot cooler. Let’s get started!
Best Cooling Pillows 2024 – Our Top 9 Pillows for Night Sweats
- Best Overall Pillow – Luxome LAYR Pillow
- Best for Back/Side Combo Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillows
- Best Hypoallergenic – Coop Sleep Goods Eden Pillow
- Best Adjustable Cooling Pillow – Layla Kapok Pillow
- Best Cooling Organic Pillow – Birch Organic Pillow
- Best Cooling Pillow for Neck Pain – Brooklinen Down Pillow
- Best Cooling Pillow for Side Sleepers – Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Pillow
- Best Silk Cooling Pillow – Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Best Cooling Pillows Video Review
Best Overall Pillow – Luxome LAYR Pillow
Luxome LAYR Pillow
The LUXOME LAYR Pillow is a customizable option with CertiPUR-US certified memory foam and naturally cooling bamboo.
True to its name, the Luxome LAYR Pillow is outfitted with all sorts of luxurious features, including a cover made of bamboo viscose. As a material, bamboo is known for its breathability and being naturally cooling, so it should help hot sleepers keep a comfortably low temperature.
In terms of feel, the LAYR is made with customization in mind. Its fill consists of three interchangeable inserts: one made up of fluffy down alternative, one made of shredded memory foam, and one made of solid memory foam. The down is softest, the shredded foam has a medium firmness, and the solid memory foam is the firmest. Sleepers can use whatever insert or combination of inserts they’d like, which allows the LAYR to appeal to all sleeping positions.
Why It’s a Good Cooling Pillow
In addition to the natural cooling properties of the bamboo viscose, the different inserts can assist with temperature regulation. In particular, the down alternative and shredded memory foam leave a lot of room for airflow because the filling consists of tiny pieces, rather than one solid chunk.
Because it’s made of a single piece of material (thus restricting airflow), the firm insert would normally be the least-cooling of the three fillings. However, Luxome has found a way around this by infusing the memory foam with gel to help it keep a low temperature. No matter which insert they choose, hot sleepers should have no trouble staying cool on the LAYR.
Our full review is coming soon. You can also look at more options on our best pillows page.
Price: $120–$150, with a two-pack available for $180–$225.
Best Cooling Pillow for Back/Side Combo Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillows
Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow
Hot sleepers that are tired of flipping the pillow looking for the cool side will love the Brooklyn Luxury Cooling Pillow!
Sleepopolis Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full Review
Second up are the Luxury Cooling pillows from Brooklyn Bedding and, yes, they are luxuriously cooling.
They come in two different loft options to accommodate sleepers of different styles, and can be purchased separately, or as a bundle. They’re made from the exact same materials (which is why we’re grouping them together here), but it’s important to pick the one that matches your go-to position. Side sleepers should stick with the high-profile pillow, while stomach sleepers are better suited to the low-profile option. Back sleepers should like either loft depending on their personal preferences. This versatility should be great for combination sleepers.
Why They’re Good for Combo Sleepers Who Sleep Hot
Regardless of which loft you choose, both pillows are crafted to be cool, breathable, and oh-so-cozy. They’re covered in phase change material, which does an amazing job of wicking sweat and dissipating body heat. And they’re filled with one piece of ventilated foam in order to enhance breathability.
The foam in these pillows is also infused with copper and graphite, both of which can draw heat away from the body and make for a cooler snooze. And, since this pillow was designed to help hot sleepers, it literally feels cool to the touch.
Not only do these pillows sleep cool like latex, but they should give that special latex feel. If you prefer a bouncy pillow, then this pillow could be the one for you. Additionally, this makes it great for combination sleepers, since the responsive nature should make it a lot easier to switch positions throughout the night.
Looking to learn more? Be sure to check our full Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling pillow review.
Price: $129–$149, depending on size.
Best Hypoallergenic Pillow – Coop Sleep Goods Eden Pillow
Coop Eden Pillow
With cooling Lulltra fabric and shredded gel-infused memory foam fill, this down alternative pillow from Coop Sleep Goods is great for hot sleepers, side sleepers, and back sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full Review
The Coop Eden pillow is a down alternative pillow that features cooling gel-infused foam to prevent overheating. It’s made with shredded memory foam and microfiber fill that’s hypoallergenic.
Side and back sleepers should really enjoy the combination of support and plush comfort this pillow provides. You can also remove the filling to change the pillow’s loft if needed.
Why It’s Good for Hypoallergenic Needs
Along with being hypoallergenic, the fill of this pillow is CertiPUR-US certified, and GREENGUARD Gold certified to be free from harmful chemicals and pollutants.
It has a medium feel that’s a happy medium between a tradition down pillow and a block memory foam pillow. It’s moldable and easy to sink into, but it still maintains its support for sleepers.
This pillow has a breathable cover along with gel memory foam to prevent sleepers from overheating. You can wash the entire pillow and its outer cover is machine washable, which also makes it a great hypoallergenic pick and easy to keep clean.
To get all the details on this pillow, head over to the full Coop Sleep Goods Eden pillow review.
Price: $84–$94, with a 100-night sleep trial and 5-year warranty.
Best Adjustable Cooling Pillow – Layla Kapok Pillow
Layla Kapok Pillow
Constructed with shredded foam and natural fibers from a Kapok tree, this pillow is both plush and dense enough for side sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
Sleepers looking for a pillow they can adjust to their needs may really like the Layla Kapok. It’s more breathable than it is cooling, so it’s a nice fit for sleepers wanting to prevent heat from trapping.
Thanks to its kapok stuffing, it’s fluffy, supportive, and super-lofty. But of course, you can adjust the loft.
Why It’s Good for Adjusting
This is a super lofty pillow with a height profile of seven inches. A high loft is a great match for side sleepers, but you can also remove as much stuffing as you want to lower the loft and make it more suitable for other sleeping positions. It’s very easy to adjust — all you have to do is unzip the cover and take out the stuffing.
Although it’s not crafted to feel cool to the touch, the Layla’s shredded fill makes it extra-breathable. Remember, pillows filled with shredded materials are generally more breathable, as the individual pieces of stuffing can move freely within the fabric. Plus, this pillow’s soft, stretch-knit cover is infused with copper, a material that can pull heat away from your sleeping head.
For all the info on this sleep accessory, be sure to check our full Layla Kapok pillow review.
Price: $109–$129, with a long 120-night trial period, and a 5-year warranty.
Best Organic Pillow – Birch Organic Pillow
Birch Organic Pillow
The Birch Organic pillow is a GREENGUARD Gold certified product that is a great for back and side sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.10 / 5
Read Full Review
The Birch Organic pillow is an excellent pick for sleepers looking to go green.
It’s got a quick response to pressure, a lofty profile, and a medium-firm feel. Its high loft promotes great spinal alignment for side sleepers, and depending on firmness preference, it could work great for back sleepers as well. Combination sleepers should appreciate that the bouncy nature of the Birch allows them to switch positions easily throughout the night.
Why It’s Good for Eco-Conscious Sleepers
Covered in organic cotton and filled with a blend of shredded latex and wool, every part of this pillow is made from natural materials. But if you’re wondering why we’d include a wool-filled pillow in this roundup, allow us to bust some myths about this material.
Firstly, wool is one of the world’s most breathable fibers, right up there with cotton and linen. But what’s really neat about wool is that it’s thermoregulating, which means it adapts to your body’s temperature. So, the wool in this pillow works to dissipate your body’s heat when you get too warm, and serves as an excellent insulator when things get chilly.
If you’re looking for a pillow that will respond to your individual temperature preferences, this is a great way to go. Plus, its ability to both cool and insulate makes it ideal for year-round use.
For every last detail on this one-of-a-kind accessory, check our full Birch Organic pillow review.
Price: $99–$119, with a 100-night trial and 3-year warranty.
Best Pillow for Neck Pain – Brooklinen Down Pillow
Brooklinen Down Pillow
The Brooklinen Down pillow is available in three firmness levels, making it versatile for a variety of sleepers.
Sleepopolis Score
4.30 / 5
Read Full Review
Anyone looking for a high-quality, breathable pillow with a classic down feel, look no further than the Brooklinen Down pillow.
Down isn’t necessarily a cooling material, but it does do a great job with keeping products breathable and allowing for airflow. This pillow’s cover is also 100 percent cotton sateen cover, so it has a smooth, breathable texture.
Why It’s Good for Neck Pain
This pillow comes in three different firmness levels, so it works for every sleeping position. We tested the Mid-Plush standard size and it was like sleeping on a marshmallow. It offers an ultra-soft, plush feel that can be great for alleviating neck pain.
Anyone searching for a moldable pillow will also enjoy the Brooklinen Down pillow, as you can shape it to be the way you want.
When deciding on the right firmness level, we’d recommend stomach sleepers go for the softest Plush version, back sleepers choose the middle Mid-Plush version, and side sleepers pick the firmest Firm option. This will allow sleepers to find relief for their neck pain — no matter their sleeping position.
For more information on this sleep accessory, be sure to check the full Brooklinen Down Pillow review.
Price: $79–$129, with a 365-night sleep trial period and a 1-year warranty.
Best Cooling Pillow for Side Sleepers – Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Pillow
TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow
It offers cozy contouring but is still a supportive pillow, it has cooling technology that actually works, and it works well for back sleepers and side sleepers alike.
Sleepopolis Score
4.30 / 5
Read Full Review
Side sleepers, especially those who sleep extra hot, could really enjoy the TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling pillow.
With a 100 percent cotton washable cover, a polyester mesh encasement, and TEMPUR material foam with TEMPUR-Breeze gel pads, this pillow is cooling, contouring, and supportive.
Why It’s Good for Side Sleepers
This pillow sports a higher loft, which is great for side sleepers to keep their head and neck in line with the rest of the spine. It also has a slow-moving foam, firm feel that’s great for anyone wanting the foam to compress around them.
Side-back combination sleepers should also be pleased with this pillow since it fits both those sleeping positions’ comfort needs. We find it to be cozy, yet supportive.
This pillow is also a hot sleeper’s dream. It’s cool to the touch and as we mentioned, it has TEMPUR-Breeze gel pads on each side of the foam core, which is gel-infused memory foam. This helps draw heat away from the body and keep sleepers cool.
For all the info on this sleep accessory, be sure to check out our full TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling pillow review.
Price: $189–$229, with a 5-year warranty. This pillow does not come with a sleep trial.
Best Silk Cooling Pillow – Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Cozy Earth Silk Pillow
Made with 100 percent silk for the filling, this pillow will provide combination sleepers with a soft, luxurious feel.
Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5
Read Full Review
If you’re wanting the smooth and soft feeling of silk along with stellar cooling abilities, we’d like to introduce you to the Cozy Earth Silk pillow.
This pillow is filled with Mulberry silk, but its cover consists of bamboo viscose, which helps wick away moisture. With bamboo’s natural cooling properties, you shouldn’t overheat as much at night with this product.
Why It’s Good for Silk Fans
Cozy Earth is a company that places a large focus on not only the materials they use, but the way in which the products are built. While this pillow is a higher price than others, you can be sure that a lot of thought was put into its luxury construction.
The silk in this pillow makes it so soft. In fact, Oprah described it as the “softest ever,” and we’d love to take her word for it.
You can find this product in standard or king sizes.
Read our full Cozy Earth Silk pillow review to learn more.
Price: $279–$329, depending on size.
Methodology: How Do I Pick A Cooling Pillow?
Alright folks, before we dive into these pillows, let’s cover a few basics. When you’re shopping for the pillow that’ll keep you cool and comfortable through the night, it’s important to keep a close eye on loft, firmness, internal fill, and (of course) cooling properties.
Loft & Firmness
When we’re reviewing a new pillow, the first thing we pay attention to is its loft and firmness. But when you’re shopping specifically for a cooling pillow, it’s important to note all the little details that will affect its temperature. For example, lofty, firmer pillows tend to be a bit more dense, which can make them more susceptible to trapping heat, while thinner pillows are often more breathable.
That said, each sleeping position requires a different level of loft and firmness in order to maintain healthy posture.
- Side Sleeping: Side sleepers need a high-lofted pillow with a firmer feel in order to maintain healthy posture. Unfortunately, these pillows can be more likely to trap heat, which is why side sleepers might want to aim for ventilated or shredded materials. Pillows filled with ventilated or shredded materials promote better breathability while still maintaining their loft.
- Stomach Sleeping: Stomach sleepers need a low-lofted pillow with a soft firmness rating in order to keep the head in neutral alignment with the spine, and prevent it from being craned upwards. Luckily, softer, thinner pillows tend to be a bit less dense and warming. But if you want extra breathability or cooling features, there are certain fabrics and materials to look for (and we’ll get to that next).
- Back Sleeping: Back sleepers are generally most compatible with a medium level of loft and firmness. Of course, some may enjoy a firmer, flatter pillow, while others might prefer a plush and fluffy one, so take some time to experiment with the loft and firmness that feels right. Just remember that denser pillows can be a bit more warming.
Still not sure which level of loft and firmness is best? Don’t sweat it. We break it all down in even deeper detail in our complete guide to picking the right pillow.
Internal Fill
The next thing we consider is internal fill. There are many from which to choose, and some are more cooling than others. Though we won’t be covering the full list of materials today, there are a few major players within the world of pillows:
- Memory Foam: Memory foam pillows are known for their contouring support, moldable feel, and reputation for trapping heat. But don’t sweat it, memory foam fans, there are some ways to avoid this. Shredded memory foam, for example, is much more breathable than one solid piece. Additionally, memory foam infused with materials like copper and graphite can draw heat away from your body, and make for a cooler snooze.
- Latex: On the other hand, latex pillows tend to be much more breathable when compared to memory foam, making them a safe bet for hot sleepers. Not to mention, latex is an all-natural material that offers a springy kind of support, ideal for folks who prefer a quick response to pressure. If you’re a hot sleeper looking for a bouncy pillow, latex is a great way to go.
- Down and Down-Alternative: Down and down-alternatives are both very breathable materials. However, real down is very insulating, which can work against hot sleepers. If you love the fluffy feel of down but want to make sure your pillow isn’t trapping too much heat, we suggest aiming for down-alternatives. Down-alternatives are made from synthetic materials that are generally less insulating than real down.
Cooling Materials
Even if you’re not a hot sleeper, keeping your body at a cool, comfortable temperature can help you fall asleep faster and snooze soundly through the night. But some hot sleepers might need a little extra help regulating their body temp, which is where special cooling materials come into play.
If you’re looking for fabric that feels icy-cool to the touch, aim for pillows that feature Phase Change Material (PCM) or cooling gel pads. PCM is a Sleepopolis favorite because it’s crafted to feel very cooling on the skin. Not to mention, it’s naturally moisture-wicking, which can serve to keep those night sweats at bay.
More: Check out our roundup of the best cooling mattress toppers.
Cooling gel pads are usually a bit less cool to the touch as compared to PCM, but still do a fantastic job of dissipating body heat. In fact, they’re often used in memory foam pillows to prevent them from warming up (as they often tend to do). Plus, cooling gel pads are often removable, giving sleepers the option to customize the temp of their pillow.
How Do Cooling Pillows Work?
There are a lot of skeptics out there who aren’t too convinced of the cooling pillow’s ability to comfort hot sleepers. We’ve created this section to bust this myth. There are multiple types of cooling materials with different technologies, so while there’s no one-size-fits-all construction, you might just find the one that works for you here.
General Process
Cooling pillows help draw heat away from the body, but how? It all starts with the construction of the pillow. The key is to create a cool surface that’s either cool to the touch or extremely breathable. Because these pillows are able to keep a cooler temperature, they lower your own body heat by drawing warmth away from the head, neck, and shoulder areas.
How Each Common Cooling Material Works
Cooling Foam: Foam materials often get a bad reputation for sleeping hot, but cooling foam breaks this stereotype with the help of infused materials. Many pillows are infused with copper or graphite, but most commonly you should see gel-infused foams.
Gel-infused foam is built to feel literally cool-to-the-touch. Not only that, but it should also maintain its cooler temperature throughout the night. This is achieved by dissipating your body heat. That way, you can not only fall asleep more comfortably, but stay asleep too.
If you’re on a budget, a great way around buying a cooling pillow is purchasing a gel insert. You can slip it on the side you lay your head on, and it produces a similar effect to the gel-infused pillow.
Latex: This material is unique in that it’s naturally cooling. Depending on the brand or model, latex material often comes in one solid pillow block or shredded as a filling. The shredded material can allow for more breathability, so if you’re looking for additional cooling, then that’s what we recommend. Perhaps the best part about this material is that these pillows are often non-toxic, chemical-free, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and all-natural.
Phase Change Material (PCM): Recent technology has resulted in the creation of PCM, and we’re sure glad it did. If you’re looking for something especially moisture-wicking and temperature controlling, then you might want Phase Change Material in your pillow. During the winter, however, PCM can actually help you warm up. This is because this material monitors, absorbs, then dissipates your body heat, resulting in a balanced temperature.
FAQs
Should I use a pillowcase on my cooling pillow?
While this is largely a matter of personal preference, it’s important to note that dressing your cooling pillow with a pillowcase may diminish how cool it feels against your skin. That said, using a pillowcase made from cooling materials can enhance your pillow’s ability to dissipate heat.
Do memory foam pillows make you hot?
While it’s true that memory foam has the tendency to trap heat and warm up, there are some ways to avoid this! For example, shredded or ventilated memory foam promotes more breathability as compared to one solid piece. Additionally, memory foam pillows made with advanced cooling textiles like Phase Change Material or cooling gel pads do a great job of dissipating body heat.
How do I keep my bed cool?
Once you’ve found the perfect cooling pillows, you might want to invest in a cooling mattress and sheet set as well! The world of cooling mattresses and bedding is vast, so take some time to explore your options.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve seen all our favorites, you’re ready to pick best cooling pillow for yourself. Just be sure to keep an eye on loft, firmness, and any special properties that’ll keep you feeling cool and comfortable. Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the answers to all your sleep needs.
Amelia Jerden
Senior Staff Writer
About Author
Amelia is a Senior Staff Writer for Sleepopolis. She primarily covers bedding and sleep accessory products in reviews, how-to guides, and more. You can also find her over on the Sleepopolis YouTube channel. Amelia is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with double majors in media and journalism and in dramatic art. Outside of work, Amelia can usually be found on a hike, traveling to a new city, or at her local thrift store.
Back Sleeper
