10 Best Cooling Pillows for Hot Sleepers

Waking up feeling sweaty and overheated is a hot sleeper's worst nightmare — especially if it's happening regularly. A cooling pillow may help you sleep more comfortably and more soundly. Many feature technology that absorbs heat to prevent night sweats in the first place and are designed with a cool-to-the-touch feel so every side of your pillow is the cool side.

While a cooling pillow can’t stop your hot flashes or change a stuffy room, sleeping on one in addition to cooling sheets or a temperature-regulating or cooling mattress pad certainly can help you feel cooler and more comfortable all night long. At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we've tested more than 200 pillows for all types of sleepers, and our experts say these are the best cooling pillows.

Best Overall

Coop Home Goods The Eden Cool+ Adjustable Pillow

$145 at Amazon

$159 at Target$145 at Walmart

Pros

• Adjustable fill
• Gel-infused foam pieces
• Great for all sleeping positions

Cons

• Cover showed some signs of pilling

Fill: Gel-infused foam pieces and microfiber clusters | Care: Machine washable (launder cover and fill separately) | Sizes: Queen and King

With a similar feel to the best-selling Coop Home Goods Original Pillow, the Eden Cool+ 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 and level of support for you.

The foam is CertiPUR-US certified so you don’t have to worry about high levels of unsafe chemicals. We love that, unlike most memory foam pillows, the entire pillow is machine washable: cover and fill.

✔️ Testing notes: Testers especially liked the Eden pillow's 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. Thousands of online reviewers on Amazon also loved this pillow alongside our testers. The brand recently updated this pillow with an added gel cooling layer, which we just began testing.

Best Value

SlumberCloud UltraCool Pillow

Now 30% Off

$79 $55 at Slumber Cloud

$69 at Amazon$69 at Target

Pros

• Two softness options
• Outlast-infused cover
• Excellent cooling scores from testers

Cons

• Blue color visible through some pillowcases

Fill: Polyester | Care: Machine washable | Sizes: Standard and King

Most cooling pillows cost over $100, but this Slumber Cloud pillow is more affordable. 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.

✔️ Testing notes: Testers agreed that they felt cooler when using it with comments like, "It's so icy to lie on, and I don't feel hot when using it," and, "[This pillow] has more of a cooling effect than other cooling pillows I've tried." The polyester fill stood up very well to Lab tests as this pillow kept its shape without snagging and washed beautifully. One thing to note: The blue color of the pillow is visible through some pillowcases.

Cool-to-the-Touch Cover

Sijo FlexCool Memory Foam Pillow

Now 20% Off

$80 $64 at sijohome.com

$100 at Nordstrom

Fill: Shredded memory foam and microfiber clusters | Care: Cover is machine washable | Sizes: Standard/Queen and King

Featuring a sleek nylon-blend cover, this Sijo pillow has a chilly feel when you touch it. The pillow uses phase change material to absorb and release heat to keep you at a stable body temperature. The shredded foam fill with a bit of added microfiber fluff is adjustable to ensure you have the best height for optimal neck support.

✔️ Testing notes: “I just melt into the pillow while still being supported," noted one tester. Another exclaimed, “I’ve even overslept twice because this pillow is so comfy!” Calling it “the perfect combination of supportive, soft and fluffy,” testers gave it high marks for comfort, support and temperature regulation. The cover washed well in Lab tests, and the pillow fit perfectly into a pillowcase, looking great on the bed.

Best Memory Foam

Tempur-Pedic Breeze Pro+ Advanced Cooling Pillow

$225 at Amazon

$225 $180 at JCPenney$279 at Home Depot

Pros

• Cooling gel in the cover
• Signature Tempur-Pedic foam
• High and low loft options

Cons

• Takes time to return to its original shape

Fill: Memory foam | Care: Cover is machine washable | Sizes: Queen and King with Low and High heights

This memory foam pillow is available in two heights, and the high height is perfect for side sleepers to keep their neck and spine aligned. Memory foam pillows tend to hold onto heat, but this Tempur-Pedic pick features cooling gel in the cover.

✔️ Testing notes: Testers gave high scores for its supportive feel and cooling effects with one tester who said, "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 Tempur-Pedic memory foam takes a bit longer to return to its original shape, but its signature construction forms to your head to provide ample neck support.

Best for Side Sleepers

Pillow Cube Ice Cube Cooling Pillow

$87 at Amazon

Pros

• Unique rectangular shape for great neck support
• Responsive foam
• Cool-to-the-touch cover

Cons

• Cover showed some signs of wear after laundering

Fill: Memory foam | Care: Cover is machine washable | Sizes: One size

Designed specifically for side sleepers, the innovative Pillow Cube is made of solid memory foam and has 90-degree edges (instead of traditional tapered sides) for unparalleled neck support. It's also earned a Good Housekeeping Bedding Award in the past.

✔️ Testing notes: Testers said that this pillow was "life-changing" and many appreciated the cover's cool-to-the-touch feel. One side sleeper reported, "It fits my shoulders, neck and head perfectly and led to good alignment, unlike other pillows I've used — I didn't have to adjust the shape at all."

Another added, "The cooling effect was what I like the most about this pillow." The foam maintained its shape following pressure tests in our Lab, but the cover showed some signs of wear after laundering.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is a Rectangular Pillow the Answer for Side Sleepers?

Best for Back Sleepers

Purple The Purple Pillow

Now 10% Off

$249 $224 at Amazon

$249 at Wayfair$249 at Walmart

Pros

• Innovative polymer grid
• Adjustable height
• Breathable material

Cons

• Heavy

Fill: Polymer grid | Care: Only cover is machine washable | Sizes: Standard

While many pillows use materials like foam that are known to hold onto heat, The Purple Pillow is completely different. It uses the brand's signature polymer grid for ultimate breathability with the ideal support for back sleepers. It has a unique shape and one tester reported, "I was surprised that I liked the pillow so much, but I had to sleep on the pillow to be convinced. I would have never bought it otherwise."

✔️ Testing notes: Testers gave especially high marks for its supportive feel and cooling capabilities. One said, "I like that it molds to my body and supports my neck," while another remarked, "I LOVED the cooling aspect." 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.

Best for Neck Pain

Sleep Number True Temp Pillow

Now 30% Off

$110 $77 at Sleep Number

Pros

• 37.5-infused cover and polyester fiberfill
• Three removable inserts to adjust to ideal height
• Contoured design

Cons

• Difficult to get cover back on

Fill: Memory foam | Care: Only cover is machine washable | Sizes: Standard and King

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.

✔️ Testing notes: We found that 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 afterward.

Best Latex

Purple Harmony Pillow

Now 10% Off

$199 $179 at Amazon

$199 at Wayfair$199 $179 at Walmart

Pros

• Signature Purple polymer grid
• Latex maintained its shape
• Breathable feel

Cons

• Some testers didn't like the feel of the unique polymer grid material

Fill: Latex and polymer grid | Care: Only cover is machine washable | Sizes: Standard and Tall

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 our Lab and it showed no signs of shrinkage or change in appearance. The latex fill quickly returned to its shape in our Lab testing, and testers agreed when they used it at home.

✔️ Testing notes: "The best part about this pillow for me was that it relieved my neck pain," said one tester. "This pillow is much more supportive and soft while still keeping its shape." Testers loved how breathable this pillow felt, keeping them cool all night long with one tester who said, "Other pillows tend to make me overheat even in the coldest nights, but this pillow kept me consistently cool." However, some testers did not like the feel of the unique grid material.

Best Adjustable

SlumberCloud Adjustable UltraCool Pillow

Now 30% Off

$99 $69 at Slumber Cloud

$89 at Amazon

Pros

• Two inserts to adjust firmness level and height
• Outlast-infused cover
• Recent Good Housekeeping Bedding Awards winner

Cons

• Confusing instructions, according to testers

Fill: Polymer insert and memory foam insert | Care: Machine washable without foam insert | Sizes: Standard and King

For the ultimate neck support, you can easily adjust your pillow's height with this supportive pick from Slumber Cloud. A recent Good Housekeeping Bedding Awards winner, this pillow features an Outlast-infused cover, which helps absorb and release heat to keep you at a more stable body temperature. It includes two inserts: one down-alternative fiber-fill insert and a solid memory foam one. The brand recommends that back sleepers use both inserts with the gussets zipped closed, while side sleepers unzip the gussets. Stomach sleepers should use just one of the inserts with the gussets unzipped.

✔️ Testing notes: Multiple testers were especially impressed with this pillow's cooling effects with one who said, "I liked that you could actually tell it was cooling and I could feel that on my face at night." Another tester added, "I liked that the pillow truly felt cool from inside out and not just on the outside (like all pillows before sleeping on them) and maintained a cool temperature throughout the whole night."

While testers gave high marks for comfort and support, some found the instructions confusing and said it took a few tries to find the most comfortable height and firmness level.

Most Comfortable

Casper Snow Foam Pillow

Now 10% Off

$139 $125 at Amazon

$139 at Target$84 at Home Depot

Pros

• Perforated foam for more airflow
• Cool-to-the-touch cover
• Designed for all sleeping positions

Cons

• Need to lay cover flat to dry

Fill: Memory foam | Care: Only cover is machine washable; lay flat to dry | Sizes: Standard and King

Casper recently launched its best-selling foam pillow with additional cooling technology called HeatDelete Bands, which helps draw heat away from the body to keep you cooler. Testers gave this pillow a perfect score for keeping them cool, thanks to the tiny channels throughout the foam for increased airflow and a more breathable pillow.

✔️ Testing notes: 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.

RELATED: Casper Pillows Review

In addition to the featured cooling pillows above, our Lab experts think the following products are also worth considering:

• Slumber Cloud Core Down Alternative Pillow: We appreciate this pillow's use of Outlast technology to help keep your body temperature more stable. It has a plush feel ideal for stomach sleepers, but doesn't offer enough support for other sleeping positions.
• Luxome LAYR Pillow: Testers liked this pillow's supportive feel and adjustable height with four different inserts. It was too firm and difficult to put the cover over the inserts to make the short list.
• Layla Kapok Pillow: This pillow from Layla is one of our top-tested styles for its supportive yet plush feel with an innovative blend of shredded foam and kapok fibers. It didn't offer noticeable cooling benefits in our tests though.

All the pillows we receive are evaluated in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab using our standard battery of tests. We tested over 200 pillows, involving dozens of hours of Lab testing and hundreds of consumer testers before making these picks.

✔️ Lab testing: First, we check the care labels to see how easy the pillows 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. 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.

✔️ Consumer testing: In addition to Lab testing, we also have consumer testers try them out to give in-depth feedback on factors 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 for their sleep style, then they're given weeks to sleep on it before they provide both scored and open-ended responses. Panelists who identify as hot sleepers test cooling pillows to give proper feedback on whether the pillow helped keep them cooler throughout the night.

✔️ Cooling technology: Look for fabrics with proven cooling technologies like Outlast or 37.5 phase change materials, which can absorb and release heat to keep your body at a more stable temperature while you sleep. This type of phase change material helps prevent 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. Opt 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. 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.

Do cooling pillows actually work?

Yes, but don't expect miracles. Certain materials common in pillows, like memory foam, trap heat and can feel sweaty and hot by the morning. Choosing a pillow with phase change materials, a breathable design and moisture-wicking fabrics can help alleviate overheating, but it may not fully stop night sweats.

How do I keep my pillow cool all night?

Because cooling pillows don't have an active cooling element like an air conditioner, they likely won't feel cool all night long. Pillows with phase change materials store and release heat, so you stay at a more stable body temperature throughout the night to help prevent night sweats. If you want ultimate cooling at night, opt for a mattress cover with an active cooling element like this popular sleep system from Eight Sleep.

Do I add a pillowcase over a cooling pillow?

If your cooling pillow includes a machine-washable cover, you do not need to add a pillowcase. Adding a cool-to-the-touch pillowcase to a pillow can help make your pillow even cooler. Plus, if you tend to get night sweats, adding a pillowcase is a good idea for easy cleaning (it will also help extend the life of your pillow!).

Emma Seymour is the associate Textiles Lab director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 180 pillows in the Textiles Lab and she has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Seymour has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has tested bedding for over six years at Good Housekeeping.

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Emma Seymour

Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director

Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.