Best Cooling Pillows: Beat the Heat With Our Expert-Reviewed Picks

Our team has personally tested hundreds of pillows, many of which sleep fairly cool. The Saatva Latex Pillow stands out from most of the pack for its durable construction, high-quality materials, and lofty shape. Shredded latex fill makes the pillow plush and responsive in equal measure, and a breathable cover further sweetens the deal for hot sleepers.

How It Performed

The Saatva Pillow measures 8 inches thick, making it thicker and loftier than many competing models. During our hands-on tests, the pillow was a big hit among our side sleepers. People who use the side position typically need a thicker pillow to fill the space between their head and downward-facing shoulder, which promotes even alignment and reduces pressure buildup. Some of our back sleepers also felt comfortable resting their head on the pillow. The thick profile makes this pillow particularly useful for back sleepers prone to snoring.

Thanks to the chambered design, our testers noticed consistent shape retention. You may need to fluff the pillow from time to time, but probably not as often as a pillow with down or down alternative fill. Latex is a naturally durable material, so we also expect this pillow to hold up well over time.

What It’s Made of

The pillow’s dual-chamber design consists of a shredded latex core and outer layer containing down-like microdenier fibers. These fibers make the pillow feel plush as you lay down your head, while the latex provides enough reinforcement to support your neck and shoulders. A cover made of organic cotton encases the fill.

You may machine wash the pillow after separating the cover and outer chamber from the latex core. Queen and king sizes are available. For an additional charge, you can add a pair of matching cotton sateen pillowcases. The Latex Pillow is reasonably priced and Saatva offers free shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Each order includes a 45-night trial period, and those who keep the pillow receive a warranty covering structural defects for up to 1 year.

The Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Memory Foam Pillow lives up to its name in more ways than one. The solid memory foam core provides gentle contouring to relieve tension and strain in your neck and shoulders. However, temperature regulation is one of the pillow’s biggest strengths. The foam is ventilated and infused with copper-graphite to ensure consistent cooling and the circular-knit cover is highly breathable, so bothersome heat absorption shouldn’t be an issue for most people.

How It Performed

The pillow is available in two loft levels. The lower-loft option — which measures about 4.5 inches thick — was most popular among the back sleepers on our testing team. The thicker profile of roughly 6 inches provided adequate cushioning for our side sleepers. Some of our stomach sleepers felt comfortable on the low-loft pillow, but this pillow may be too thick and strain the neck if you primarily use the stomach position.

In our experience, solid memory foam pillows struggle during temperature control tests, so we were very impressed with this Brooklyn Bedding model. Our thermal sensors detected little to no heat buildup, and none of our testers complained of uncomfortable heat retention. No fluffing is needed to maintain a full shape, but the pillow is soft enough to provide gentle cushioning.

What It’s Made of

The core contains a single piece of memory foam. Pinhole perforations allow air to circulate throughout the interior, and a copper-graphite infusion provides extra breathability and cooling. The cover is composed of circular-knit polyester. This material is engineered to feel cool to the touch at all times.

In addition to the medium- and high-loft options, you can choose from queen and king sizes. The cover is removable and machine-washable, but you should only spot clean the foam as needed.

The Luxury Cooling Memory Foam Pillow is competitively priced and shipping is free of charge for all customers in the contiguous U.S. Brooklyn Bedding’s pillow trial spans 30 nights in length. Returns are free during this time frame, but those who keep their pillow also receive a 1-year warranty against structural and material defects.

If you’re shopping for a cooling pillow with a limited budget, the Buffy Cloud offers exceptional temperature and moisture control at a reasonable price. PET fibers mimic the plushness and loftiness of natural down without triggering allergy symptoms or retaining heat, and the breathable Tencel shell ensures comfortable sleep even on hot or humid nights.

How It Performed

Most of our team awarded favorable ratings to the Cloud, though their preferred density level varied by sleep position. Side sleepers appreciated the thick profile and support of the firm model, which provided ample padding between their heads and downward-facing shoulders. Some of our back sleepers found the medium density comfortable, whereas others needed the lower profile of the soft pillow to minimize neck strain. All of our stomach sleepers preferred the latter.

The PET fill is luxuriously plush, making the pillow moldable and snuggly, but you shouldn’t notice much warmth — the shell offsets heat buildup to help you stay cool and dry. One potential downside is that the Cloud isn’t machine-washable. You can use a cover to keep your pillow hygienic, but the insert should only be spot cleaned or dry cleaned. 

What It’s Made of

The Cloud contains PET, a fiber fill derived from recycled plastic. Up to 30 bottles are used for each pillow. Moisture-wicking Tencel fabric with a Tencel weave makes up the shell. These two materials make the pillow feel quite soft. A 300 thread count also ensures plenty of airflow to help you stay cool. Standard and king sizes are available.

Not only is the Cloud affordably priced, but you’ll receive a $10 discount when you purchase two pillows and a $50 discount when you purchase four. Under Buffy’s generous trial policy, your credit card won’t be charged for the first seven nights. Even if you keep the pillow beyond the first week, you’ll be able to test it out for up to 50 nights before deciding whether or not to return it.

The Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow has a U-shape design that caters to the specific needs of side sleepers. The concave shape along the bottom offers a space for shoulders to rest while alleviating pressure buildup in your neck. The pillow is an ideal alternative for side sleepers who find traditionally shaped pillows uncomfortable.

How It Performed

The side sleepers on our test team gave the pillow high marks for its attentive design. While conventional rectangular pillows sometimes push up against the shoulders, this pillow’s unique shape created a perfect space for the shoulder to nestle in. The cradling design promotes even alignment between the head, neck, and spine. Our testers were also impressed with the adjustability of this model. You can add or remove fill to achieve the loft that feels most comfortable to you.

We didn’t notice much heat retention when we tested the pillow in our lab, and this was thanks to the breathable fill and cover material. The hot sleepers on our team recommend this pillow to anyone who lives in warmer climates or easily overheats in bed.

What It’s Made of

The Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow is filled with a blend of 75% shredded latex and 25% down alternative fibers. The latex gives the pillow a responsive feel, while the down alternative creates a bit of plushness for cushioning. The cover is composed of cotton, polyester, and spandex, and feels soft and slightly stretchy. You can unzip the cover to add or remove fill, and Eli & Elm sells additional fill for sleepers who need extra loft.

Eli & Elm ships the pillow for free to addresses in the contiguous U.S., but note that California residents are responsible for shipping fees. You’ll receive a 45-night sleep trial with your pillow and a 5-year warranty.

Although preferences vary from person to person, we’ve found most back and stomach sleepers prefer pillows with softer, more adaptive feels and mid-range profiles. The Helix GlacioTex Cooling Memory Foam Pillow – Back & Stomach Sleeper meets both criteria, with the added bonus of providing above-average temperature control thanks to its heat-dissipating cover and copper-infused core.

How It Performed

Our team tested both of the pillow’s loft levels. The Back & Stomach Sleeper model measures 4.75 inches thick, and earned favorable ratings from most of our testers who use these positions. Gentle elevation helps prevent neck strain, and the pillow’s medium feel ensures close contouring without too much sinkage. If you’re a side sleeper, you should receive adequate loft from the thicker 5.25-inch pillow.

During temperature control tests, we found the GlacioTex cover effectively offsets heat absorption from the memory foam. Copper fibers infused into the foam promote cooling and breathability. The pillow maintains a full shape and should never need to be fluffed. Our tests also show the pillow’s close, even contouring is ideal for people with persistent neck or shoulder pain.

What It’s Made of

The pillow contains a single piece of memory foam, creating an adaptive and squishy feel many of our testers described as cloud-like. A cover made of GlacioTex phase change fabric encases the foam. This material is engineered to feel cool to the touch even after repeated use. You may remove and machine-wash the cover in any household machine. Standard and king sizes are available.

The GlacioTex Cooling Memory Foam Pillow carries a below-average sticker price, and ground shipping is free for U.S. customers. Helix’s lengthy sleep trial allows you to test the pillow for up to 100 nights. If you’re satisfied with your purchase after the trial ends, you’ll also receive a full year of warranty coverage against manufacturing defects.

Comfort is a subjective quality, but we’ve found that some pillows have designs that appeal to a wider swath of sleepers than others. The Sweet Zzz Plant-Based Pillow lands squarely in the former category while maintaining an affordable price-point. With vegan down alternative fill and a smooth cotton cover, this pillow excelled throughout our hands-on tests and felt comfortable to the majority of side and back sleepers on our team.

How It Performed

Most of our side and back sleepers had positive things to say about the pillow. Our side sleepers found the pillow sufficiently lofty and didn’t experience any neck or shoulder pain due to uneven alignment, and back sleepers received enough loft to lie comfortably. The pillow may be too thick for stomach sleepers, but our testers in this category weighing less than 130 pounds also awarded it positive ratings.

Thanks to the breathable down alternative fill, the pillow performed well during our temperature control and moldability tests. You may need to fluff the pillow frequently to maintain a full shape, but you can also place the pillow in a dryer if it flattens with use and you need to expand it.

What It’s Made of

The Plant-Based Pillow’s down alternative fill is derived from soybeans, so it won’t trigger allergies and does not use any animal-based components. The outer chamber’s fill is looser and plusher, and the core chamber is denser to ensure good support for your head and neck. A cover made of smooth natural cotton encases the fill.

The entire pillow is machine-washable for quick and easy care. You can choose from standard and king sizes.

Not only is the Plant-Based Pillow affordably priced, but most orders in the contiguous U.S. qualify for low flat-rate shipping. Sweet Zzz allows returns and exchanges within 100 nights of the delivery date, and you’ll receive a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty against structural and material defects if you decide to keep the pillow.

Few materials can match the softness of real down, but the eco-friendly fill of Brooklinen’s Down Alternative Pillow is a worthy substitute. The thick clusters are composed of PET, a synthetic polyester derived from recycled plastic bottles, so the pillow is a good match for eco-conscious shoppers as well as those who are allergic to down.

How It Performed

The pillow’s exceptionally soft design was popular among back and stomach sleepers on our testing team. These positions often require pillows that compress deeply beneath your head and neck — otherwise you’re likely to wake up feeling sore or achy. Some of our side sleepers also found the pillow comfortable, but most needed a firmer, more supportive surface to promote even spinal alignment.

The PET fibers don’t retain much heat and the cotton shell is naturally breathable, so this pillow earned higher ratings during our temperature control tests than many competing models with real down fill. We also found the pillow quite moldable and ideal for snuggling. At the same time, you’ll need to fluff it somewhat frequently to maintain a full shape.

What It’s Made of

PET down alternative fill makes the pillow feel very plush and lofty. For added softness, the shell is made of natural cotton in a silky-smooth sateen weave. The shell’s edges are double-stitched to help minimize wear and tear, and border piping gives the pillow an elegant finish. You can choose from standard and king sizes, as well as a square-shaped “Euro” option. The pillow is not machine-washable, and should only be spot cleaned or dry cleaned if stains occur.

The Down Alternative Pillow is affordably priced, and you’ll receive a 10% discount when you buy two and a 15% discount if you buy four. Brooklinen offers free ground shipping for orders of two or more pillows within the contiguous U.S. The company’s 365-night trial period is one of the longest in the online bedding industry. If you decide to keep the pillow, you’ll receive an additional year of warranty coverage against manufacturing defects.

Mulberry silk is one of the most luxurious bedding materials in use today, and most pillows made with silk carry expensive price-points as a result. The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow is more affordable than many of its direct competitors without sacrificing the quality or longevity people have come to expect from silk.

How It Performed

The Silk Pillow has a thick profile but its fill is quite plush. As a result, the pillow was popular among a wide range of testers on our team. Side and back sleepers received enough loft to lie comfortably without their heads falling back too much, while the fill compressed well for most of our stomach sleepers and didn’t cause any neck strain.

Shape retention proved to be a standout quality during our tests. The pillow requires virtually no fluffing to keep a full shape and should never flatten — if it does, this is considered a defect under Cozy Earth’s warranty. Temperature control was another testing highlight. The silk does not absorb much heat and the moisture-wicking cover feels cool to the touch.

What It’s Made of

The pillow’s fill is composed of mulberry silk strands that are grouped tightly together, resulting in a soft surface for your head and neck that shouldn’t sink or lose shape. A bamboo-derived viscose cover encases the silk. Standard and king sizes are available.

You have multiple care options for your Silk Pillow. Cozy Earth recommends dry cleaning or spot cleaning, but you can also machine wash the pillow in a delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low heat with dryer balls, or hang to air dry. Keep in mind machine washing may cause the pillow to deteriorate more quickly.

Shipping is free for customers in the contiguous U.S. Your Cozy Earth Silk Pillow comes with a sleep trial spanning 100 nights. If you decide to keep the pillow, it’s backed by a generous 10-year warranty against structural defects such as pilling fabric and shape loss.

The Sijo FluffBase Eucalyptus Pillow’s fiber fill and quilted shell are both composed of Tencel, a eucalyptus-derived fabric that retains the natural softness and breathability of its natural source. Tencel’s moisture-wicking properties also make the pillow a great choice for hot and humid conditions.

How It Performed

As our hands-on tests showed, the FluffBase’s medium soft feel and 5-inch loft make the pillow particularly well suited to back sleepers. Those who use this position should receive adequate head and neck support without excessive elevation or deep sinkage. Some of the side sleepers on our team also enjoyed the pillow for its high profile and ample cushioning. Stomach sleepers will likely find the pillow too thick. 

Our temperature control tests revealed little to no heat retention on the FluffBase’s surface, and our testers agreed the pillow stayed cool even as the fill molded to their heads and necks. The FluffBase is also quite moldable and snuggly — but by the same token, you may need to shake out the pillow somewhat frequently to recover its full shape. 

What It’s Made of

Tencel-based down alternative fibers fill the FluffBase, resulting in a plush and lofty feel without the allergy potential or heat buildup of real down. The pillow is also a good choice for people who prefer not to use products with animal-based materials. A Tencel fabric shell encases the fill. Diamond quilting adds nice detailing to the design, and a sateen weave enhances the Tencel’s natural softness. You can choose from standard/queen or king sizes.

Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council ensures the eucalyptus used to produce the Tencel is sustainably grown and harvested. The pillow is technically machine-washable, though may be too large for some household appliances such as washing machines with agitators. You may need to dry clean the pillow or bring it to a laundromat if you’re unable to launder it at home.

The FluffBase Eucalyptus Pillow is competitively priced and customers in the contiguous U.S. qualify for reasonable flat-rate ground shipping. Sijo’s trial period spans one week, so you’ll need to decide quickly if this pillow is right for you.

If you live with frequent or chronic neck pain, choosing the right pillow can be highly beneficial. We recommend the Layla Kapok Pillow to anyone who needs a plush, slightly adaptive surface for their head and neck to sleep comfortably. The fill blend consists of shredded memory foam and natural down alternative fibers for a balance of cloud-like softness and gentle contouring. The adjustable design also allows you to customize the loft based on your sleep position and personal preferences.

How It Performed

Since the Layla Kapok Pillow is adjustable, most of our testers found a profile that was sufficiently supportive. Our side sleepers preferred the pillow at full volume, and most did not remove any of the fill. The back sleepers on our team removed about a third of the fill to avoid excessive elevation, and stomach sleepers felt most comfortable with most of the fill removed.

The fill doesn’t retain much heat and the poly-viscose cover is quite breathable, so the pillow fared well during our temperature control tests. You may need to fluff the pillow if you remove some of the fill, but at full volume we noticed good shape retention. At the same time, the fill is soft enough to ensure exceptional moldability.

What It’s Made of

The pillow contains shredded memory foam and kapok tree fibers. The latter have a soft, airy feel akin to real down, so the pillow feels plush but also contours evenly to the head and neck. To adjust the pillow’s loft, unzip the cover and add or remove the fill to your liking. You can purchase additional fill in bulk if you run out and need to replenish your supply.

The pillow’s cover is composed of polyester and viscose with a hint of Lycra spandex to give the fabric a stretchy feel. You can machine wash the cover, but must first separate it from the pouch containing the fill. The Layla Kapok Pillow is available in queen and king sizes.

Affordable pricing and free shipping within the contiguous U.S. make the Kapok Pillow a good option for budget-conscious shoppers. You can bundle your purchase with Layla bedding products for additional discounts. Each purchase comes with a 120-night trial, and you’ll receive a 5-year warranty if you decide to keep the pillow.