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Many people know the feeling of turning their pillow over to the “cool side” in the middle of the night. Traditional pillows often retain heat and feel warm against the sleeper’s face. Flipping the pillow over to the other side feels cooler, albeit briefly. Hot sleepers especially may be wondering if there is a cooling pillow that provides that feeling consistently throughout the night.
Sleeping hot can result in sweating, overheating, and general discomfort. It can also interrupt sleep and cause daytime fatigue. Temperature affects sleep quality, and there are plenty of factors to consider when creating a comfortable sleep environment. The mattress, pillows, and bedding all play a role. A cooling pillow can help people sleep comfortably by regulating temperature and dissipating heat.
We’ll cover our top picks for the best cooling pillows and what to look for when shopping. We break down what a cooling pillow is and its pros and cons for sleepers. You’ll also find helpful tips for sleeping cool.
Best Overall
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Though memory foam has a reputation for retaining heat, the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-CLOUD Dual Breeze Pillow takes measures to offset this. The memory foam pillow uses gel pads on both sides to dissipate heat. The pillow also offers standout pressure relief.
The 100 percent premium cotton knit cover is quilted and breathable. It wicks away moisture and adds airflow throughout the pillow. The pillow core consists of a medium feel TEMPUR material, Tempur-Pedic’s proprietary memory foam blend that conforms closely. The TEMPUR core has a TEMPUR-Breeze gel pad on each side. This conductive material draws heat away from the body and dissipates it.
The pillow has a cool feel initially. This helps users feel comfortable as they fall asleep, but there is still the possibility of heat retention throughout the night.
This pillow is also the most expensive option on our list, so it is best for shoppers with bigger budgets. Memory foam often has an initial odor due to off-gassing, though it should dissipate quickly in a well-ventilated room.
The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-CLOUD Dual Breeze Pillow is available in queen and king sizes. It has a medium firmness that is best for side and back sleepers. Tempur-Pedic does not allow for returns of the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-CLOUD Dual Breeze Pillow, but the pillow is covered by a 5-year warranty.
Best Value
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The Vaya Pillow is a great example of a high-quality cooling pillow that won’t break the bank. The core is composed of open-cell polyfoam that conforms closely to alleviate pressure without retaining too much body heat, allowing you to remain cool and comfortable throughout the night. A soft, removable microfiber cover encases the foam to give the surface an exceptionally plush feel for added comfort.
The pillow’s loft measures 6 inches thick, making it best suited to side and back sleepers. Queen and king sizes are available. The cover can be washed and dried in any household machine, but you should only spot clean the foam as needed. The foam has earned a Certi-PUR certification, indicating the foam does not contain ozone depleters or other harmful chemicals.
In addition to a very reasonable price-point for one pillow, Vaya Sleep offers a 15% discount if you purchase two in the same order. Shipping is also free for all orders within the contiguous U.S. You’ll receive a 60-night sleep trial to test out the pillow that begins on the delivery date, along with a 10-year warranty for extra peace of mind.
Best Support
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Many pillows are designed for a uniform feel across the entire surface, but the Zoned Gel Active Cooling Pillow from PlushBeds is a notable exception. The pillow is composed of a single piece of memory foam ventilated with holes. Larger holes make up the midsection, creating a plusher area for your head to rest, while the edges feature smaller holes that make the foam feel firmer and more supportive for your neck.
Ventilating the foam also promotes steady air circulation throughout the core, which helps the pillow sleep cool, and the foam is infused with cooling gel to draw heat away from the surface. Additionally, the cover is made from Tencel, a eucalyptus-based fabric with exceptional breathability. The pillow is a great option for hot sleepers, especially those who have had bad experiences with other memory foam models.
Both the queen and king sizes offer a 6-inch loft, making the pillow particularly well suited for side and back sleepers. PlushBeds provides free shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. While the pillow cannot be returned for a refund after the order has been placed, it is backed by a five-year warranty against structural defects.
Best Memory Foam
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Memory foam is a popular pillow material because it contours evenly to the head and neck, alleviating aches, pains, and pressure points in the process. Shredded memory foam provides a plush feel, whereas solid memory foam is usually a bit denser and firmer. The Muse Pillow contains both materials, structured with a layer of shredded foam over a dense solid foam base. The pillow has a medium feel, so it will conform to the head and neck without sinking too much.
Customers can choose between three loft levels based on their sleep position and thickness preference. The 5-inch pillow offers the lowest loft, making it best suited to stomach sleeping, while the 6- and 7-inch pillows will likely be more comfortable for side and back sleepers. All
Muse Pillows feature covers made of phase-change material, which dissipates body heat and helps the pillow sleep very cool. The cover can be unzipped and removed for machine washing and drying, but you never need to launder the interior components. Gusseted sides allow the pillow to maintain a full shape, so you shouldn’t need to fluff it too frequently.
The Muse Pillow is competitively priced, and all customers in the contiguous U.S. qualify for free shipping. Customers also receive a 60-night sleep trial and three-year warranty with their pillow.
Best for Multiple Sleeping Positions
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The Bear Pillow feels cool to the touch, making it one of the best cooling pillows for hot sleepers. Aerated foam and mesh panels add breathability to the pillow and prevent heat retention.
The Bear Pillow has a unique Double Ice fabric cover that wicks away moisture. The pillow cover has dual mesh corner accents to help dissipate heat and regulate temperature. The cover can be removed and machine washed.
The pillow fill includes a proprietary Loft-X foam blend. This hybrid foam has qualities similar to memory foam and latex. It contours to the shape of the head and neck, but offers resilience that makes it easy to shift your head and neck as needed. The foam core is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. It should be spot cleaned as needed but cannot be washed.
The Bear Pillow is designed for hot sleepers who sweat throughout the night, as it wicks away both heat and moisture. The Loft-X foam blend relieves pressure with its responsive, contouring nature. Since the foam is ventilated, it retains less heat than a solid foam pillow would.
The medium firmness and loft of the pillow are not adjustable. We found this combination of firmness and loft is best for back and side sleepers, but may not be suitable for stomach sleepers. There is some potential for off-gassing, though any initial smell should dissipate within a few days.
The Bear Pillow is available in a queen or king size. Bear offers a 100-night sleep trial and covers the pillow with a 2-year limited warranty.
Best Pillow Cooling Device
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The Moona Pillow Pad is a unique pillow cooling device that uses active cooling technology to keep a pillow cool through the night. The Moona device works by pumping themroregulated water through a pillow pad lined with a tube system. The Moona can be controlled both through a smartphone app as well as through the device itself.
The pad rests between the pillow and the pillowcase, allowing you to experience the support and comfort of your current pillow. An external hub device pumps water and regulates the water’s temperature. The water can be set between 71 and 97 degrees Farenheit.
If you are unsure as to what temperatures will work best for you, the app has multiple tools built in to help you build a personalized temperature profile. The device can collect sleep quality data to help it adjust the temperature of the water throughout the night and different major phases of sleep. The app and cooling system also offer multiple other features, including advanced temperature settings, sleep tips, and a warming wake up option.
The hub device pod is easy to disassemble, clean, and change out the water for regular maintenance. The cover for the pad that fits into the pillowcase is detachable and machine-washable.
The Moona Pillow Pad ships to the U.S. as well as internationally. It comes with a 30-day trial period as well as a 1-year limited warranty.
Best for Neck Pain
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The Rollopillo is a completely adjustable pillow that is optimal for combination sleepers and other people whose loft preferences vary. The fill consists of down alternative clusters that mimic the lightness and softness of authentic down without absorbing too much body heat or triggering allergy symptoms.
The interior of the pillow includes three separate chambers, and an additional roll pillow is also included. Simply add or remove the fill from each chamber or the roll pillow as you see fit. An extra bag of down alternative clusters is included with each purchase, and Rollopillo sells the fill in bulk whenever you need to replenish the supply.
Adjusting the fill not only changes the pillow’s loft, but also its overall feel. A thicker volume and fuller shape are best suited to back sleepers, as well as people who snore or experience acid reflux symptoms. Mid-level loft should be more comfortable for side sleeping, while less fill and a flatter shape will be ideal for most stomach sleepers.
The Rollopillo is also a great option for hot sleepers. In addition to down alternative fill that sleeps cool, the pillow is encased in a breathable cover made of cotton percale. Cleaning the pillow is easy too – simply wash and dry it in your household machines. If you notice the pillow beginning to flatten, placing it in the dryer can help recover its shape.
Rollopillo offers free standard shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. The company also accepts returns and allows exchanges within 30 days of the original purchase.
Best Luxury
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airweave is the company behind airfiber, a proprietary material composed of interwoven polyethylene. airfiber has an open structure that promotes steady air circulation for optimal cooling. This material is also highly supportive, and won’t compress too much.
The airweave Pillow is one of the latest products to incorporate airfiber. Each pillow comes with two airfiber inserts that can be added or removed to change the thickness. Utilizing both inserts will create the most firmest and most supportive feel, though one insert also offers some reinforcement. The inserts are contained within a breathable polyester sleeve. Polyfill batting provides some cushioning for the head and neck, but the airweave Pillow will feel somewhat firm compared to other pillows.
Due to airfiber’s breathable structure, this pillow is an excellent choice for hot sleepers – especially those who feel too warm on memory foam, polyfoam, and other padding materials that tend to trap heat. Its profile of roughly 4.5 inches is best suited to back and stomach sleepers, though side sleepers who don’t require as much loft should also find the airweave Pillow comfortable. The pillow’s polyester cover can be machine washed, while the airfiber inserts can be rinsed off in the sink if they need to be cleaned.
Considering its innovative design, the airweave Pillow is reasonably priced. airweave also offers free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Returns of new and unused pillows are allowed within 30 days of purchase.
Choosing the right pillow is just one component of creating a cooling sleep environment. There is a direct relationship between temperature and sleep, and your bedroom should be set to a comfortable temperature to improve sleep quality. Colder room temperatures facilitate better sleep, and many studies recommend keeping the bedroom around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Your body has a circadian rhythm that lowers your body temperature when it is time to prepare for sleep. A hot room can increase wakefulness. This disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and results in poor quality sleep. Some people sleep hotter than others. This can make it harder to fall asleep. Cooling bedding can provide comfort and encourage restful sleep.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a cooling pillow, including its cooling properties and the quality of materials used. Every sleeper has unique needs, but there are common elements that can help each person determine if a pillow is right for them. These include price, loft, firmness level, and pressure relief. Keep in mind your sleeping position, weight, and personal preferences when shopping for a cooling pillow.
When purchasing a cooling pillow, these are the top things to focus on. A cooling pillow draws heat away from the body, and certain materials do this better than others. That being said, each person is different and what works for one may not work for another.
In addition to regulating temperature and providing a comfortable sleep environment, a cooling pillow may also relieve pressure and provide ample support for the head, neck, and shoulders. While the focus of this guide is a pillow’s cooling properties, there are additional factors that determine if a pillow is a good purchase or not. Shoppers should consider what type of pillow they want, and what is most important to them in addition to cooling properties.
A cooling pillow uses materials in its fill and cover to regulate temperature and dissipate heat. We’ll break down common fill and cover materials here. It should be noted that certain materials are highly conductive and draw heat away from the body. Others allow air to flow through them to dissipate heat. There are multiple options available, and certain pillow types will work better for some than others.
Many shoppers are drawn to cooling pillows for their temperature-regulating properties. These pillows reduce heat retention and are an important part of creating a comfortable sleep environment. However, due to the cooling properties and materials used, cooling pillows are more expensive. There are a few pros and cons shoppers should consider before purchasing a cooling pillow.
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Hot sleepers especially benefit from cooling pillows, but there are also benefits for side and back sleepers. It is important to consider sleeping position and personal preferences when shopping for a pillow. A cooling pillow might not be right for everyone and there are special considerations that should be kept in mind.
A cooling pillow is best suited for:
These kinds of pillows are not well suited for:
A cooling pillow is an essential part of a comfortable sleep environment, but it is just one component. Hot sleepers can take additional measures to stay cool throughout the night.