#1 Cooling Pillow Picks for 2025 – Expert Tested for Hot Sleepers.

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Why are There Cooling Pillows?

Some people overheat at night, as you will know well if you are one of them. Whether you naturally sleep warm, your current pillow traps heat or another reason explains why you sleep hot, switching to a cooling pillow may provide relief. When you no longer have night sweats, you are more likely to feel comfortable, which may lead to better sleep.

How Cooling Pillows Work

The top cooling pillows online are designed to regulate temperature while providing neck and head support for greater comfort at night. How they do so depends on:

• Materials of the particular pillow, such as gel or phase change materials.
• Design features of the pillow, such as adjustable fill, breathable covers, and cooling tech.

Materials in cooling pillows can include gel-infused memory foam, phase change materials, or latex, among others. These materials are known for regulating temperature well. A memory foam cooling pillow with gel beads or layers within the foam, for example, can absorb excess heat from the head and dissipate it. That helps keep the pillow surface cooler than traditional foam.

The pillow fill may also be perforated or shredded to increase airflow inside the pillow. This type of filling encourages heat to escape and moisture to evaporate more easily. A memory foam cooling pillow often combines this design with gel infusion or phase change materials, which absorb and disperse body heat. This design helps keep the pillow surface cool while supporting the head and neck.

In addition to the use of certain materials, the top cooling pillows are designed for better airflow with breathable covers, removable filling, and the cooling technologies listed later on this page (such as ventilation features). Adjustable pillows that let you add or remove filling to get the right height and firmness can improve airflow within the pillow, reducing heat retention. For instance, fluffing or redistributing the filling prevents clumps that can trap heat.

Pillow covers can also help with temperature control. Covers made of bamboo, cotton, or Tencel, for instance, encourage airflow and wick moisture away from the head and neck. That can prevent heat buildup that could lead to uncomfortable sweating at night.

Is There a Single Best Cooling Pillow for Night Sweats?

There is no single “best” cooling pillow for everyone experiencing night sweats. The reason is that individual sleep preferences and needs vary widely. A pillow that works well for one person may not for another because of differences in:

• Heat sensitivity: Some people get hot more easily than others. Those who overheat quickly may prefer pillows that help dissipate heat quickly, such as gel-infused memory foam, shredded foam with breathable covers, or ventilated foam. Others who don’t get hot as quickly may be comfortable with a pillow that offers cooling primarily through airflow and natural breathability.
• Material preference: The feel of the pillow matters. Some sleepers prefer the contouring support of memory foam, while others like the resilience of latex, for example.
• Adjustability: Pillows with adjustable fill allow sleepers to customize height, firmness, and airflow, which can improve cooling and overall comfort.
• Sleep position: Side, back, and stomach sleepers require different lofts and firmness levels to keep proper spinal alignment.

Ultimately, the cooling pillow for night sweats that best suits you is one that balances temperature regulation with sufficient support and personal comfort. Considering your sleep position, heat sensitivity, preferred materials, and adjustability options helps you find the right one.

Do Cooling Pillows Work? Can They Actually Keep You Cool?

They can, if you find a pillow that suits your sleep needs and preferences. For example, the best cooling pillow for side sleepers is not likely to be as effective for back sleepers as it is not designed for them. In our reviews, we typically tell you which sleep position most suits the specific pillow.

To help you decide if a cooling memory foam pillow or another type is likely to work for you, we include details of what reviewers online have said about it. Find out if a particular pillow gets glowing reviews for staying cool throughout the night, for example, or falls short in any way. We also research and tell you whether certain pillows are designed for better airflow, as well as details about the materials used.

As you can never know for sure whether a pillow is suitable until you’re sleeping on it, many leading brands online include sleep trials with purchase. That gives you time to try it at home, with the opportunity to return or exchange it within a specific time in the rare case it is unsuitable, based on the company policy. That is a major benefit of shopping online for the best cooling pillow, and why some people now consider online to be the best place to buy pillows. Plus, some popular brands release their newest memory foam cooling pillow or another type exclusively through their websites.

As cooling types vary widely in quality, we review leading ones online. Their popularity helps give you peace of mind; with a positive reputation online, they are more likely to meet your expectations for quality.

How Do They Differ?

As with most things, not all cooling pillows are made the same. For example, they differ in the cooling technologies used and how they cool the sleeper.

Cooling Technologies and Materials

Among the most popular for pillows online are:

• Cooling gel pillows: Gel infused into the foam or layered on top of the pillow draws heat from the head and disperses it across the pillow’s surface.
• Pillows with phase change materials: A special treatment applied to the pillow allows it to absorb and release body heat to help regulate temperature.
• Ventilated foam: Perforated memory foam or natural latex foam may help move warm air away from the body and increase overall pillow breathability. Latex is naturally breathable, allowing air to circulate freely through the pillow. That is why it’s the material used in some of the top cooling pillows online.
• Cooling cover: Some pillows have a cooling fabric cover for fresher sleep. The cover may unzip to easily machine wash.
• Shredded fill: A cooling memory foam pillow may contain shredded fill for better air circulation.
• Graphite or copper: Foams infused with cooling materials like graphite or copper may move heat away from the body faster than regular foam.

If you are looking for an immediate cooling feel, a pillow with gel or a cooling cover may be ideal. If temperature control that adapts to you is what you want, a pillow with phase change material may be ideal. For airflow throughout the night, shredded or ventilated foam may be best. The best cooling pillow for side sleepers or another sleep position may be graphite or copper-infused for faster heat dispersion.

Shredded vs Solid Foam for Cooling

If you choose a latex or memory foam pillow, the fill can be shredded or solid. Solid foam cooling pillows are typically a single block of memory foam or latex. In contrast, a shredded foam pillows feature small pieces of foam loosely packed into the pillow. Both designs can offer cooling, although they do so differently.

Shredded foam generally has better airflow than solid foam, although many solid foam pillows have additional cooling properties to prevent trapping heat. These additional cooling designs include gel layers, ventilated foam, and breathable covers.

For shredded foam, the small spaces between foam pieces allow air to move, improving cooling. Plus, shaping and fluffing a shredded foam pillow redistributes the fill, creating more space for airflow. Hot sleepers may prefer solid foam pillows with cooling properties or shredded foam pillows. Moisture-wicking pillow covers are also helpful for certain sleepers who get overly warm.

Loft

Pillows can also differ by loft, meaning the height or thickness. Usually, the loft options online are:

• Low: Under 3” thick
• Medium: 3–5” thick
• High: Over 5” thick

Stomach sleepers may prefer a low loft, while many back sleepers need a medium thickness for enough support. The best cooling pillow for side sleepers may be a high loft to fill the space between the shoulder and head for proper spinal alignment. There are also adjustable loft pillows for those who do not know which height they prefer or change positions often.

An adjustable cooling pillow is a popular choice, especially as many available online suit a range of sleep positions. Often, the pillow is designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers to easily adjust the pillow height and firmness for proper support. Tailoring this type of pillow to the height you prefer can help you get proper spinal alignment in your favorite sleep style. Certain people find this kind of pillow helpful for preventing or reducing neck strain and shoulder stiffness, all while enjoying cooler sleep. 

A looser fill allows greater airflow, and spreading out the filling evenly prevents clumps that can trap heat. Adjusting the loft typically involves unzipping the pillow’s cover (and sometimes an inner liner, as well) to access the inner filling. To decrease loft, remove some of the filling; to increase loft, add more filling back into the pillow.

Other Features

There are also different materials and sizes, and some are made for certain sleep positions. Our reviews explain the specific pillow’s features, construction, sizes available, and who it is most suitable for, such as back sleepers.

Common pillow sizes online are:

• Standard: 20″ x 26″
• Queen: 20″ x 30″
• King: 20″ x 36″

Is a Gel Cooling Pillow Right for Me?

You may have heard of this type of pillow and wonder if it suits you, especially if you tend to sleep hot. A gel cooling pillow might be right for you if:

• You often wake up warm or sweaty
• Getting to sleep is difficult because you feel too hot
• You find one designed for your sleep position

The “gel” in the pillow refers to a cooling gel layer or gel-infused memory foam built into the pillows. This gel absorbs or disperses heat to keep the pillow from getting too warm at night.

A common type is gel-infused memory foam. This memory foam cooling pillow can vary in design; some examples are gel beads infused in the foam, a gel layer on top of the foam, and gel-infused shredded filling.

Some pillows use latex, which is naturally breathable or other materials and add gel for extra cooling. A gel cooling pillow may also have a moisture-wicking or high-airflow cover.

If you’re exploring the best place to buy pillows, looking online can help you find more variety, often at better prices than in-store. Affordability comes from lower overhead costs for online retailers, online-only sales, and the ability to buy directly from the manufacturer without the markup of a middleman.

Why Choose Luxury Cooling Pillows?

Many high-end pillows online incorporate gel in the ways described. These pillows combine luxury and cooling to help you feel more comfortable and refreshed at night. Other advanced cooling technologies you may see in luxury pillows are ventilated foam and phase change material.

As they feature premium materials and are well-made, luxury cooling pillows tend to have great durability and longevity. They are more likely to retain their shape, support, and cooling properties over time than those of a lower standard. That can make them an excellent value for the money, avoiding the frequent replacements that cheaper pillows often require.

How Do I Find the Best Cooling Pillow?

High-Comfort, Supportive Material

A pillow that balances comfort and support is most likely to provide better sleep. The most common materials for cooling pillows are:

• Memory foam with cooling features: The comfy, contouring foam can be infused with gel, copper, graphite, or charcoal to disperse heat. A cooling memory foam pillow typically has medium to firm support to cradle the neck and offer pressure relief.
• Natural or synthetic latex: The open-cell structure of latex helps it stay naturally cool and breathable. It also generally is responsive rather than having a sinking-in feel. Natural latex is hypoallergenic, helping some allergy sufferers find comfort.
• Down alternative: Microfiber, polyester, silk, and bamboo are popular down alternatives. Some of these pillows incorporate cooling features.
• Down: If you sleep hot, you might look for a down pillow that has additional cooling features, such as phase change materials or gel. Some side and back sleepers prefer the support of down pillows.
• Wool: This material naturally regulates temperature and whisks away moisture for a drier pillow, helping some people stay cooler. Wool pillows are known to support the head and neck well, encouraging spinal alignment.

Consider Sleep Position

Your sleep style also matters when pillow shopping. The one you choose has the potential to improve comfort and temperature regulation.

For example, the best cooling pillow for side sleepers helps align the neck with the spine and fills the gap between the head and shoulder. Shredded memory foam provides contouring and excellent airflow for some sleepers, while graphite-infused foam helps whisk away heat in ways others prefer for greater sleep quality.

A cooling pillow that maintains proper head and neck alignment in your preferred sleep position and regulates temperature may lead to deeper sleep, making it worth searching for the right one online. Some pillows are designed to accommodate a range of sleep styles. A top-rated adjustable cooling pillow designed for use with all sleep positions offers custom comfort, especially for those who tend to overheat at night. If a particular pillow is designed for a specific sleep position, we will tell you so that you can decide if it aligns with your sleep style. That helps save you time when online shopping.

Read Reviews

What are you likely to expect from a particular pillow, given its cooling features, materials, loft, and other features? What size does it come in? Is it likely to suit my sleep style? What do people online who have slept on the pillow think about it?

These questions are likely ones you have, so we often address them in our reviews, along with other relevant details. Getting the most important information in one place, from the reviews to the lists and comparison table on this page, can make shopping online easier as a hot sleeper because it helps you make a more informed decision.

Online Shopping

Finding the cooling pillow that you want online is faster and often more affordable than in a brick-and-mortar store. You can shop from the comfort of home, saving time by not having to go store to store. 

Many leading brands also offer a great selection online, including customizable options like the adjustable cooling pillow. You may find pillows with cooling technologies that are not available in local stores, too. For those who want more options, the best place to buy pillows is often online.

Plus, you can shop when it’s convenient with your schedule rather than within set store hours. You also can save money as some pillows are less online than in-store when there is no middleman and with online-only promotions.

Buying a Pillow Online Without Compromising Quality

Choosing a cooling pillow online rather than in a physical store does not mean compromising on quality. In fact, many online-only brands and those who sell directly to you without the middleman focus on high-quality materials and the latest designs. That makes sense given they rely on reputation and reviews. 

Here's why quality can be as good (or better) online for cooling pillows:

• Premium materials: Online brands often use gel-infused memory foam, or breathable covers.
• Cutting-edge features: Many online pillows have adjustable lofts or cooling technologies.
• Sleep trials: Several leading online brands include sleep trials with purchase so you can test the pillow at home to make sure it meets your expectations.
• Warranties: Premium cooling pillows with manufacturer warranties give you greater confidence in their quality.

Being able to get excellent quality and shop from home is why many people consider online to be the best place to buy pillows. Plus, the pillow is generally delivered to your doorstop, which is convenient.

Of course, as with anything, the quality of cooling pillows can vary widely online. To help you make a confident choice, we provide reviews, a chart to compare key qualities, and lists of top features for popular options.

Finding the Cool Pillow for You

Whether you are looking for the best cooling pillow for side sleepers or another sleep style, reading reviews can help you narrow down the one most likely to suit you. Find out how our 2025 reviews and comparison can help you find the best pillow as a hot sleeper. The cooling pillows we recommend are:

Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow

Tempur-Pedic Pillow

Layla Kapok Pillow