Always use these top picks when sleeping on the cold side of the cooling pillows.
Sweating during the night and waking up feeling hot is a nightmare when it happens repeatedly and is more so when you are a hot sleeper. Those who have hot flashes or are just in search of a more comfortable night’s sleep might benefit from getting a cooling pillow that takes heat away from the head and neck and enhances air circulation.
A cooling pillow can lead to improved sleep quality and duration. Most incorporate features such as heat-absorbing materials to eliminate the need for the use of night sweats and are uniquely designed to feel cool to the touch with all sides of the pillow being the cool side.
Although a cooling pillow cannot eliminate your hot flashes or change your room temperature, using one along with cooling sheets or a temperature-regulating or cooling mattress pad can make you feel cooler and more comfortable all night. If you are one of those people who always wake up to toss the pillow to the other side that is not warm, then a cooling pillow may be ideal for you.
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Best Overall Cooling Pillow
Coop Home Goods The Eden Cool + Adjustable Pillow
PROS
- Gel-infused foam pieces
- Adjustable fill
- Great for all sleeping positions
CONS
- Cover showed some signs of pilling
Sizes: Queen and King | Fill: Gel-infused foam pieces and microfiber clusters | Care: Machine washable (launder cover and fill separately)
Similar to a Coop Home Goods Original Pillow, the Eden Cool+ Pillow contains shredded memory foam with gel to avoid heat build-up. It eliminates the need to constantly change the fill to achieve your preferred height or level of support because the fill is fully adjustable.
The features most appreciated by the testers were the softness of the material and the firmness of the pillow that contributed to comfortable positioning of the neck. During our tests, we found that the pillow was able to retain the form even when pressure was applied; however, the cover wore out quickly when washed.
The foam also does not contain high levels of unsafe chemicals, therefore; the CertiPUR-US certification. We love that, unlike most memory foam pillows, the entire pillow is machine washable: surmount and overflow. Even Amazon shoppers give their approval of this cooling pillow with thousands of positive reviews. The brand has recently revamped this pillow with an extra layer of gel- cooling.
Best Value Cooling Pillow at Amazon
Himoon Queen Size Cooling Pillows 2 pack
PROS
- Outlast-infused cover
- Excellent cooling scores from testers
CONS
- It may be a bit too lofty for some sleepers.
Sizes: Standard, queen, king | Fill: Microfiber down alternative | Care: Machine-washable
This pillow comes with microfiber filling making it good for hot sleepers who desire dreamy hotel-like pillows that have a feeling like sinking into it after a tiring day. Thus, while this pillow did not feel cool upon touching it, it was breathable and did not retain heat during the night as most polyester pillows do.
Like any other down alternative pillow, it did not lose much of its shape or thickness even when I used it for months. But if it needs to be refreshed, it’s possible to just fluff it up and put it in the dryer since it is totally machine washable. For a two set pack, it can be obtained for less than $30 and it is suitable for use in every part of the house.
Oh, and it is also Greenguard Gold Certified and CertiPUR-US which indicates that it has low VOC emissions. Back-and-side combination sleepers would find this particularly ideal because the pillow can be flattened or fluffed depending on the user’s preference, but the stomach sleepers would find the pillow to be too high.
Best Memory Foam Cooling Pillow
Tempur-Pedic Breeze ProHi Pillow
PROS
- Cooling gel in the cover
- High and low loft options
- Signature Tempur-Pedic foam
CONS
- Takes time to return to its original shape
Sizes: Queen and King with Low and High heights | Fill: Memory foam | Care: Cover is machine washable
There are two thicknesses of this memory foam pillow, and the high thickness is great for side sleepers to maintain their neck and spine in a straight position. Memory foam pillows are known to trap heat, but this one from Tempur-Pedic has gel-infused in the cover.
In terms of comfort, testers have lauded the product for a supportive touch and coolness, with one of the testers stating, “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 does take a while to regain its original shape, they said that it conforms to the shape of the head to offer adequate neck support.
Best For Side Sleepers Cooling Pillow
Pillow Cube Ice Cube Cooling Pillow
PROS
- Responsive foam
- Cool-to-the-touch cover
- Unique rectangular shape for great neck support
CONS
- Cover showed some signs of wear after laundering
Sizes: One size | Fill: Memory foam | Care: Cover is machine washable
Launched to cater for side sleepers only, Pillow Cube is unique in that it features 90 degrees edges as opposed to the tapered sides. According to the test report, this pillow was described by many as ‘life-changing’ and many also loved that the cover was not hot to the touch.
A side sleeper commented: “The material fits perfectly my shoulders, neck and head and created a good structure of my body which other pillows required me to change the shape — I did not have to do anything with it. Another said, “The cooling effect was what I like the most about this pillow.” The foam retained its shape in the pressure tests conducted in our tests, but the cover was slightly damaged after washing.
Best For Back Sleepers Cooling Pillow
Purple Pillow The Most Supportive Pillow
PROS
- Adjustable height
- Breathable material
- Innovative polymer grid
CONS
- Heavy
Sizes: Standard | Fill: Polymer grid | Care: Only cover is machine washable
Fortunately, many pillows today utilize materials such as foam, which we know to grip the heat, and none of this is true for the Purple Pillow. It employs the polymer grid that defines its brand to deliver optimized breathability coupled with the right measure of lumbar support that back sleepers need. This is because it has an appealing and different design and one of the testers said, “I did not think I would like the pillow but I had to test it before I purchase it”. There are plenty of reasons why I would not consider purchasing it as the product is too far from what I would have expected.
One reviewer said, “I like that it molds to my body and supports my neck,” while another added, “I LOVED the cooling aspect.” In our own tests, the cover was simple to wash and did not shrink at all nor changed its appearance; however, it must be mentioned again that the pillow is heavy overall and does not fit a standard pillowcase properly.
Best For Neck Pain Cooling Pillow
Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
PROS
- Contoured design
- 37.5-infused cover and polyester fiberfill
- Three removable inserts to adjust to ideal height
CONS
- Difficult to get cover back on
Sizes: Standard and King | Fill: Memory foam | Care: Only cover is machine washable
Sleep Number’s True Temp pillow incorporates 37.5 technology for cooler sleep accompanied by great neck support as given by the contoured design.The cover incorporates polyethylene and polyester material with a layer of 37.5-infused polyester fiberfill that will give the cushion a very soft and cool touch to the skin as 37.5 technology stores and releases heat to maintain body temperature.
In terms of style, the ultimate comes with a curved design with three adjustable plates for any height according to your preferred sleeping position. We discovered it is also easy to wash with no change in appearance and it is slightly hard to place the cover back on the foam.
Best Latex Cooling Pillow
Purple Harmony Pillow
PROS
- Breathable feel
- Latex maintained its shape
- Signature Purple polymer grid
CONS
- Some testers didn’t like the feel of the unique polymer grid material
Sizes: Standard and Tall | Fill: Latex and polymer grid | Care: Only cover is machine washable
Different from any other latex pillow, Purple has equipped this pillow with its famous polymer on the outside of the pillow called “Purple Grid” designed for the neck and shoulders. In our house we washed the polymer grid cover and there was no change in the size or texture of the material. When put into test, the latex fill bounced back to its original shape and so also the testers when they took it home for use.
In my opinion, the most impressive feature of this pillow was that it helped me with my neck pain,” said one of the testers. “They found this pillow very comfortable when it comes to breathability: one of the testers said, “The other pillows make me overheat even during the coldest night but this pillow was very cool all throughout the night.
Best Adjustable Cooling Pillow
Coop Home Goods The Original Adjustable Pillow
PROS
- Outlast-infused cover
- Adjustable, Ultra-Soft, Machine Washable
- Two inserts to adjust firmness level and height
CONS
- It has been a fantastic addition to my sleep routine, according to reviewers.
Sizes: Queen and King | Fill: Memory foam pieces and microfiber clusters | Care: Machine washable (fill and cover separately), tumble dry low.
Coop Home Goods has many types of pillows available, but the most well-known is the Original Pillow, which is what lots of people call the Coop Pillow because that’s the name of the company. This is a combination-type pillow because it has memory foam pieces as well as microfiber clusters for comfort and support.
The outer layer utilizes viscose rayon and polyester for the soft touch while the fill is securely contained by the inner mesh liner. It is GREENGUARD certified with CertiPur-US certified foam which makes it a material free from ozone depleters, flame retardants, certain heavy metals, and formaldehyde and has very low VOC emissions.
The height of the pillow is fully customizable, so it is suitable for all different sleeping positions. One advantage of using this Coop pillow is that it is the only memory foam pillow that can be washed in a machine. Just make sure to remove the cover then put the cover and the inner pillow into the washing machine. It can also be placed in the dryer on low heat.
Most Comfortable Cooling Pillow
Casper Snow Foam Pillow
PROS
- Cool-to-the-touch cover
- Perforated foam for more airflow
- Designed for all sleeping positions
CONS
- Need to lay the cover flat to dry.
Sizes: Standard and King | Fill: Memory foam | Care: Only cover is machine washable; lay flat to dry
Casper released an improved version of its most popular foam pillows equipped with a technology called HeatDelete Bands, which is designed to reduce the heat generated by the person using the pillows. Here testers awarded the pillow maximum points for coolness as the temperature-regulating micro channels within the foam enhance its breathability.
The outer cover was also very easy to wash, similar to the inner cover, did not shrink or change in size and is not dryer-safe but has to be hand-dried and laid flat to dry. Side, back and stomach sleeper testers had rated it high for no aches or pains on waking up and holding the correct shape after use.
Features to consider when choosing the best cooling pillows
✔️ Cooling technology: Search for materials that have already been accredited for cooling ability such as Outlast or 37.5 smart materials that can go through phase change so that it can either gain or lose heat in order to regulate your body temperature as you sleep. This type of phase change material makes it possible to avoid night sweats before they occur. Some other fabrics are quite cool to the touch, but they may not remain that way for the entire night.
✔️ Ability to clean: If you have the tendency to sweat at night, it is much more crucial that you are in a position to wash a pillow. Ensure that the pillow is one that can be washed in a washing machine or has a removable and washable outer layer. Among the best-rated pillows on our list, a few have machine-washable casings only, so we suggest getting a quality pillow protector for such options.
✔️ Sleeping position: Even if it has the coolest feel, an ill-fitted, uncomfortable pillow will not allow you to have a good night’s sleep. Ensure that you select a pillow that will accommodate your sleeping position, that is, side sleepers, back sleepers, or stomach sleepers. That is how you could prevent the neck pain in the morning.
✔️ Material: Yes, getting a cooling pillowcase will improve the situation a lot but the filled material will still play its part when it comes to cooling. Memory foam is known to trap heat so look for designs which include cooling gel or holes to prevent excessive heating.
Are cooling pillows effective?
One of the factors that promote sleep is if the environment is cool, which makes the cooling pillows ideal for ensuring one gets enough sleep. As a general rule, cooling pillows help in minimizing heat conduction and accumulation as they are designed to take heat away from the body and enhance ventilation.
They take heat and humidity away and keep on adjusting all night to give you your perfect sleeping climate. Cooling pillows provide these effects by employing various mechanisms, from the cooling gel layer to the breathable shredded foam to pull heat away from the head, neck, and shoulders.
What kind of pillowcase is suitable for a cooling pillow?
To double up on the cooling effect you can use a cooling pillow case that should be made of bamboo viscose or lyocell which are moisture resistant and have a cool touch feeling. Cotton percale is another good choice as it is very smooth and allows for air circulation.
