A Cooling Pillow May Help You Stop Sweating At Night

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There’s almost nothing worse in this world than trying to sleep when you’re hot, sweaty, or both. If you tend to sleep warm or you live somewhere with extreme highs in temperatures, you know the struggle. Some nights it can feel downright impossible to get comfortable. Thankfully, technology has the answer: Cooling bedding or, more specifically, cooling pillows.

If you tend to overheat, “a cooling pillow can help you sleep better,” says board-certified sleep medicine researcher and neurologist W. Christopher Winter, MD, of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and author of the book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It. “Cooling the body—and cooling the head is a great way to accomplish that—can significantly increase sleep quality.”

The problem is, not long ago, cooling bedding was kind of … gimmicky. That included so-called “cooling pillows” that were often cool to the touch for about five minutes, but didn’t do much in the way of actually keeping your head cool while you slept. Those days are long gone. Some of the best sleep brands now make cooling sheets and pillows with newfangled materials and fabric treatments that not only stay cool to the touch, but actively work to draw heat away from your skin. So you’ll never worry about flipping your pillow all night long, endlessly searching for “the cool side.”

But all the sleep tech jargon can be confusing. Is a gel-infused memory foam pillow best? Or maybe something copper-infused? Or should you go with an all-natural option like latex or buckwheat? And what firmness do you need? And why do people count sheep anyway? Capybaras are way cuter. Our sleep enthusiasts chatted with sleep experts to answer all of these questions and more (well, maybe, not that last one). These are the 14 best cooling pillows, per sleep experts, and tested by editors.

True Temp Pillow

The best activewear (think Lululemon yoga pants and The North Face jackets) relies on serious tech to regulate your temperature and keep you dry. Sleep Number uses a similar tech in its True Temp Pillow—specifically a material that "attracts and removes moisture vapor to resist heat and humidity buildup." Translation: You sleep cooler, drier, and more comfortably.

This pillow is available in three flavors. Classic is like a traditional-shaped pillow that's best for back and stomach sleepers. Contour is designed with a gentle curve that dips in the middle to provide the best comfort and support for side or back sleepers. The flagship Ultimate model includes three removable foam inserts (four, five, and six inches) so you can dial in your exact height and level of support. That makes this option the best cooling pillow for all sleeping positions.

We especially love the free shipping and 100-night in-home sleep trial. This is something we strongly recommend when shopping for cooling pillows or any bedding, really—more on that below.

Original Loft Bed Pillows

This pillow offers a "best of both worlds" design with synthetic shredded memory foam that's encased in natural bamboo fabric—nice features in a cooling pillow, Dr. Winter says. Not only that, you can add or remove the foam fill to adjust the pillow to the way you like it. So it almost feels like a custom bedroom piece.

We appreciate the lack of chemical odors, which is a typical issue with lower-quality memory foam pillows and mattresses. Plus, this is one of the best-reviewed cooling pillows on Amazon, with more than 40,000 five-star reviews (!). At $75, the price is right in the sweet spot between the cheapest models and pricier premium options—all of which make this our pick for the best value cooling pillow of 2024.

Z Gel Memory Foam L-Shape Pillow

Calling all side sleepers: The Z Gel Memory Foam L-Shape Pillow is perfect if you yearn for head, neck, and shoulder support all in one. The unique L-shape takes the place of multiple pillows, so you can ditch the separate "head and body pillow" or "head and back pillow" setup you're currently hobbling together to try to stay comfortable at night. The gel, which is more cooling than standard memory foam, provides a perfectly chilly snoozing surface to boot.

Formulated with bamboo and smooth rayon, this option feels like soft memory foam beneath your head and neck that helps eliminate sleeping pains. The Tencel cover feels cool to the touch, is moisture-wicking, and can be easily removed for machine-washing.

Breeze Cooling Pro+ Pillow

Tempur-Pedic makes some of the world's best bedding, and we've personally tried a lot of it. So, it's no surprise that its Breeze Cooling Pro+ is one of the best cooling pillows. That's thanks to Tempur-Pedic's own brand of memory foam, plus a cover with cooling gel baked in to actively regulate your head temperature all night long. It's available with high and low loft options, so you can pick a pillow that matches your preferred sleep position (more on that below).

One of our own in-house editors noted, "This pillow is just as good as my Tempur-Pedic mattress. It's firm, yet comfy with just the right amount of give. Plus, it literally feels cool all night long, despite the fact that I usually sleep very warm, even in winter."

Memory Foam Bed Pillow

Finding the right pillow—cooling pillows included—depends a lot on your preferred sleep position. Ostrichpillow makes that choice a little easier with its simply named Memory Foam Bed Pillow. It's versatile with an ergonomic design that works with any sleep position, whether you like to snooze on your back, side, or stomach. The higher "flared" sides are designed to provide greater support for side sleepers, while the center dip perfectly cradles the head and neck for back and stomach sleepers. Just rotate it 90 degrees to dial in your preferred height.

While it's not touted specifically as a "cooling pillow," the memory foam features open channels that encourage continuous air circulation to prevent overheating, and we can confirm they work very well. We love the premium, medium-density memory foam that provides just the right support and pressure relief in any position.

Harmony Anywhere Pillow

Purple has been a favorite brand for us here at Women's Health for years. Everything it makes—mattresses, sheets, bed frames, and cooling pillows—just rocks. Its latest Harmony Anywhere Pillow is everything we love about Purple's amazing pillows—the GelFlex grid material, pressure-relieving comfort for any sleep position, and it stays niiiiice and cool—but super portable. It's a newer, tinier, cuter version of the already awesome full-sized Harmony Pillow.

"The compact size and medium firmness are just right for however and wherever I need to snooze," says Women's Health contributor Mike Richard. "I've used this to nap on my couch at home, to slightly prop up my legs in bed, and as a bolster pillow to support my back when I'm working from home" He also says that it's perfectly sized for a travel pillow. "Sure, at six to seven pounds, it's a little heavy to tote around an airport all day, but that heft gives it more of a 'therapeutic weighted pillow' vibe that I like."

Storm Performance Pillow

Bedgear's premium pillows are built with a soft-to-the-touch foam that contours (a.k.a. hugs) your body, all while deflecting heat. “They are very cool and lightweight,” Dr. Winter says. The Storm Series pillows also have a numbering system to help you figure out what size you need. Plus, Bedgear “also makes very good temperature-reducing bedding to put over the pillow,” Dr. Winter says.

There's only one downside to this and most of Bedgear's pillows: price. At $200, all this great cooling pillow tech doesn't come cheap. But when you factor in not having to buy a new cooling pillow every few years for the foreseeable future because you're not happy with any of them, buying this pillow once will probably save you money in the long run.

UltraCool Pillow

If you're looking for the best cooling pillow for maximum cooling (which is probably why you're reading this anyway), this is it. True to its name, SlumberCloud's UltraCool Pillow is made with serious cooling tech that ensures it feels cool to the touch and actively regulates your body's temperature, too.

It's available in two softness options: Soft (for back and stomach sleepers) or Medium/Firm (ideal for side sleepers). In either option, the polyester fill does an excellent job of making sure the pillow maintains its shape without sagging or developing lumps over time.

Plus, we were perhaps most surprised by the price. At just $69 per pillow (it's even cheaper if you buy more than one), this is an absolute steal!

Adjustable Body Pillow

The problem with most pillows (cooling or otherwise) is that you're stuck with whatever loft and firmness you choose. "Adjusting" either after the fact usually isn't possible. But, as its name implies, the Adjustable Body Pillow from Twilla is designed to adapt to your body's shape, size, and preferred sleep position. So, you can mix things up three days or three years after you buy it just by reswizzling the 15 included "adjustment pods."

"I bought this for my girlfriend, and I'm pretty sure she likes it more than she likes me, which says a lot about just how amazing this pillow is," says WH contributor Mike Richard. "She has a lot of chronic health issues and uses it to nap almost daily!"

Gel Cooling Bed Pillows (Set of 2)

Beckham Hotel Collection proves legit cooling pillows don't have to be expensive. Its Gel Cooling Bed Pillows are priced right at just $60 for a pair, making them some of the most affordable in our roundup. But, as the roughly quarter of a million reviewers can attest, that doesn't mean they sacrifice on quality.

These feature a down-alternative fill that's not only fluffy, but designed to keep you cool and comfortable naturally. The no-shift design is purposefully-built so the fill stays put with no awkward lumps and bumps. It's all wrapped in a 250 thread-count cover that's buttery soft and cool to the touch. Our only gripe is that while the plush firmness should work for most back and stomach sleepers, it might be too soft for some side sleepers.

Snow Foam Pillow

Like Tempur-Pedic, Casper knows a thing or two about cooling bedding. Its Snow Foam Pillow does just that, thanks to multiple densities of foam with small air channels for maximum breathability. They also help to better whisk away your body heat. The company's own HeatDelete Bands add even more of a cooling effect, making this one of the most comfortable cooling pillows we tested this year.

Those same three layers also provide solid support and comfort for all types of sleep positions. It's perfect for warm sleepers who also like a very supportive foam pillow. But we loved that it works for any sleep position. The back, side, and stomach sleepers in our test panel all agreed they slept great on this pillow with no morning stiffness or aches.

"I'm a combo sleeper," noted one of our writers. " I tend to shift from my side to my back throughout the night, and this pillow was comfortable in either position. I'm used to waking up with a stiff-ish neck most mornings, and I didn't feel that at all."

Bed Pillows for Sleeping (Set of 2)

The best bedding usually doesn't come cheap, and most of us don't have $200 to spend on a single pillow. The good news is that you can find great cooling pillows for significantly less. This pair of pillows from Sleep Restoration is priced at just $44.99, making them only a little more than $20 per pillow—that is a serious bargain!

Inside each pillow is cooling, gel-infused down alternative made from polyester. They feature bounce-back construction designed to help the pillows maintain their shape, so your head and neck are always supported. They're wrapped in a fade and stain-resistant cover that's safe for machine-washing and drying.

AquaCool Memory Foam Pillow

At less than $50, this cooling memory foam pillow from Walmart-exclusive brand Allswell is a solid value. It's made with gel-infused memory foam with a perforated design to encourage better airflow and keep you even cooler through the night. It's wrapped in a cooling knit cover that also breathes well and makes machine-washing a breeze. The only downside? It's only available in one size and height. But, seriously, can you really complain at this price?

"This might be the best cooling pillow I've slept on in the last year at this price," says one of our associate editors. "It feels as good as other pillows I tested that cost twice as much."

Bed Wedge Pillow

Finding the best cooling pillow can be a challenge. But if you need a good pillow that's both cooling and wedge-shaped, it can feel almost impossible. This option from Kölbs checks all of our "must-have" boxes for the right cooling wedge pillow, and it's surprisingly affordable, too.

The medium-density polyurethane foam features a just-right firmness that supports your entire upper body without feeling too stiff. That's thanks to a 1.5-inch plush memory foam top layer that's soft and cushy enough to fall asleep on (not just for sitting up in bed). Plus, it's wrapped in a Jacquard cover that's breathable and machine-washable. We also love that it's available in nearly a dozen widths and heights.

"I never knew I wanted or actually needed a wedge pillow until I tried this one. It's easily now the most versatile thing in my bedroom," says one of our editors. "I use it for reading in bed, propping up my legs for recovery days, or for helping with my light sleep apnea."

What should I consider when shopping for the best cooling pillow?

Cooling pillows feature materials and design elements that release heat more effectively than regular pillows to help keep you cool. But, they’re also often made to eliminate sleeping pains and prevent stiffness as well, Dr. Winter says. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

But before you go grab the first cheap cooling pillow you find on Amazon, keep these things in mind: “Don't sacrifice comfort for cool,” Dr. Winter says. “Make sure that the pillow still ‘fits’ you.”

Just like shopping for the best cooling sheets or cooling mattresses, finding the right cooling pillow usually involves a little trial and error. Here are the most important considerations, according to our in-house sleep enthusiasts and the sleep experts we spoke with.

Materials

Cooling pillows, especially the best cooling pillows, are available in a wide variety of materials. Here are the most popular:

• Latex: Latex is a great natural material for cooling pillows, as it’s breathable, retains minimal heat, and is hypoallergenic. It’s often pricier than most other cooling pillow materials, however, and can feel too firm for some sleepers.

• Gel-infused memory foam: These pillows offer all the support and benefits of memory foam, plus cooling gel pockets that are great for whisking body heat away at night. However, they tend to be less breathable than natural materials.

• Copper-infused: Copper is excellent at drawing heat away from your head and body, and it stays cool to the touch, too. But it’s not as breathable as most alternatives, and not everyone finds the metallic feel comfortable.

• Buckwheat: Another near-perfect all-natural material for cooling pillows, buckwheat breathes well, keeps naturally cool, and is moisture-wicking. Plus, it conforms easily to the shape of your head. The downside is that it can be noisy when you move at night, and lesser-quality pillows can be hard or lumpy.

• Silk: Just like silk sheets, silk cooling pillows are luxuriously soft, naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and hypoallergenic. But silk is often the most expensive option for cooling pillows.

Sleeping position

Whenever you’re shopping for new bedding, including cooling pillows, consider your sleeping position. Back sleepers will want a medium-high loft pillow to cradle their head and neck without pushing the chin up too far. Side sleepers usually do best with a high-loft option that fills the gap between the head and shoulder to align the spine properly. For stomach sleepers, a low loft model (or even no pillow at all) is ideal to keep the spine aligned.

Firmness

Finding the right firmness for your cooling pillow comes down to your preferred sleep position. Back sleepers will likely want a down alternative, memory foam, or latex pillow with good support and pressure relief. Side sleepers will probably find that latex, memory foam, or cervical pillows that offer good neck support and pressure relief are best. Stomach sleepers will likely need a down, down-alternative, or memory foam pillow that’s thin, soft, or both to provide just enough support without elevating the head too much.

Ease of cleaning

Latex pillows are the easiest to clean, as these often need only spot-cleaning with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Some models can even be thoroughly hand-washed. Buckwheat and traditional (non-gel-infused) memory foam pillows are the second easiest to clean. The buckwheat hulls can be removed from a cooling pillow and sun-dried to freshen them up, while memory foam typically needs to be spot-cleaned. Machine-washing is not recommended for either material.

Lastly, gel-infused memory foam and copper-infused cooling pillows require the most care. Spot-cleaning with a damp cloth and mild detergent (or specialized cleaner) is usually required. Either material will need to be air-dried in the shade to maintain longevity.

Price

Cooling pillows vary widely in price. The best budget models can be found for less than $50, while mid-range options are typically closer to $100. The very best cooling pillows cost north of $150 or more and usually feature advanced cooling tech from brands like Purple and Casper.

Do cooling pillows really work?

The short answer is: Yes—mostly. Cooling pillows used to be something of a gimmick, but today’s best cooling pillows feature legit fabrics and sleep tech that do a surprisingly good job of keeping you cool. But it’s important to manage your expectations. Most cooling pillows provide a sensation of cooling or feel “cool to the touch,” but may not actually do much to whisk your body heat away while you sleep. The effectiveness comes down to how hot or cool you sleep and the temperature and humidity of your bedroom, and of course, the quality of the pillow you purchase.

What is the coolest material for pillows?

As with all things bedding-related, there is no one best—er, coolest—material for pillows. It’s all about what’s best for you. Some prefer all-natural materials like latex, silk, or buckwheat pillows, while others like gel-infused memory foam. That’s why it’s always worth testing a new pillow in-store whenever possible to be sure it works for you. At the very least, be sure the brand or retailer you’re buying from offers a generous return policy and an in-home trial.

How can I keep my pillow cool all night?

Whether you have a legit cooling pillow or not, there are a few easy things you can do to pre-cool your pillow and help it stay cooler for longer. Start by ensuring your pillow is in a shaded spot (i.e., not near a sunny window or otherwise in direct sunlight throughout the day). Toss your pillow or pillowcase in the freezer or refrigerator an hour or two before bedtime. While this won’t keep your pillow cool all night, it will help during that first hour after slipping into bed. Lastly, direct a fan toward your head and neck to keep air circulating throughout the night.

How we chose the best cooling pillows of 2024

Our editors and writers love sleep and sleep tech and, well, pretty much anything to do with sleep. We spent countless hours over the last year researching and personally testing many of the best-reviewed, top-selling cooling pillows. We compared models from budget etailers like Amazon and Walmart, premium bedding brands like Purple, Casper, and Sleep Number, and everything in between. For 2024, we chose the 14 models above as our picks for the best cooling pillows worth buying.

Read more about the best products for better sleep

Best Cooling Sheets | Best Memory Foam Pillows | Best Pillows For Neck Pain | Best Cooling Weighted Blankets | Best Acid Reflux Pillows

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