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These will withstand any heat wave.
Hot sleepers can struggle with the bedroom feeling too warm year-round, but it’s especially difficult in the summer. We all know the feeling of waking up and flipping or fluffing your pillow in the middle of the night to find that cool side. If you can’t find it, chances are you’ll have an air conditioner running at full blast all night. So to save you some money on your electric bill, we tracked down the 10 best cooling pillows on the market. These have cooling covers and fillings that not only work, but are highly recommended by House Beautiful editors, who sleep on them every night.
Ahead, you'll find familiar favorites from brands you know and love, like Pottery Barn and Casper, as well as newcomers that utilize some of the most prized and secretive technology known to man. (Did you know they make pillows using the same textiles in NASA astronaut suits?) No matter what your preferred sleep position is, you’ll find your perfect pillow below. Plus, we put together some expert advice on how to find the best cooling pillow for your sleep needs, just in case you want to do a little extra shopping.
There is nothing worse than not being able to fall asleep because you're baking from the inside out, except maybe waking up in a pool of sweat. Now that summer is here (and it's potentially only going to get hotter), you need a cooling pillow to keep you both comfortable and sane throughout the next few months. The ones below, all of which are editor-tested and approved, will definitely do the trick.
As a self-proclaimed “pillow diva,” Kelsey Mulvey, one of our contributing writers, says, “Memory foam can sometimes feel a little too stiff for my liking, but this one was super soft and effortlessly contoured to the shape of my head.” Perhaps she enjoyed this one so much because it comes in both high and low loft versions, and she opted for the latter. She also reminds readers, "Remember: Saatva has a pretty generous return policy so you can always buy both and test them out for yourself!" No matter which loft level you end up snagging for your bed, know that they're both equally cooling. "I noticed it felt cool to the touch immediately, and stayed that way all night long. While it was not Arctic cold by any means, I sleep hot and noticed I didn't wake up in a pool of sweat each morning. Win-win," Mulvey notes.
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Memory foam | What Makes It Cool: Graphite-infused memory foam
Zippered pillows are one of those inventions that seem obvious in hindsight. Hunting for a great pillow is such a Goldilocks endeavor; every pillow should be adjustable. Helix’s ComfortAdjust pillow uses a double-zipper system to allow you to change the firmness with ease—and if you want extra flexibility, you can add or remove filling to change the loft. “The zipper system is such an easy alternative to fluffing the pillow or bunching it up under your neck,” Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie says. “I keep mine double zipped for maximum firmness, and it’s surprisingly supportive. Plus, the proprietary fabric in the pillow’s cover keeps me cool, so I don’t need to flip it over in the middle of the night if it gets too hot.”
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Shredded memory foam & fiber blend | What Makes It Cool: GlacioTex Cooling Cover (Polyester/Polyethylene blend)
This is not your average memory foam pillow. McKenzie was blown away and found it to be a premium sleep experience from start to finish. “So many memory foam pillows get saggy and disappointing, so I was shocked by how often I reached for this Helix Sleep pillow,” McKenzie says. “I tested the High Loft option since I’m a side sleeper. It’s the coldest and most dense pillow I’ve ever tested. It’s definitely hefty, but still has enough give to cradle my head when I lie down on it. It’s always ice-cold, and this is the first pillow that made me want to regularly sleep on something other than my Cushion Lab pillow.
Sizes: Standard and king, high loft and low loft | Fill: Gel memory foam | What Makes It Cool: GlacioTex cooling cover and cooling gel memory foam core
Sijo didn't name this pillow the Cloud for no reason; it's extremely supportive yet light as air. In fact, Assistant Editor Meghan Shouse says, "My first impression upon taking the Sijo CloudSupport pillow out of the box was that it was very bouncy. I have another latex pillow that I love, and this one definitely keeps the same feel as the other, but the Sijo one keeps me a lot cooler." It's actually so cooling, Shouse says, that she found its cooling abilities almost unbelievable. Perhaps House Beautiful's hottest sleeper, Shouse is not easily impressed by a piece of bedding that claims it can cool you down, but this one did the trick. "I was actually surprised by how cool this pillow is—even just laying my hand on it, I can feel a difference in temperature. I no longer have to flip my pillow to reach the cool side because all of it is cool, and I love how it's soft yet sturdy. My head doesn't sink in and feel stuck the way it would with memory foam; it's literally like sleeping on a cloud."
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Tencel lyocell fiber | What Makes It Cool: Tencel lyocell fiber
If you're looking for a Mother Earth-friendly cooling pillow, check out Pottery Barn's pick. It is filled with 60 percent regenerated polyester made from recycled plastic bottles, and 40 percent HydroCool performance polyester. "I chose the firm pillow to sleep on, and it kind of feels like you're sleeping on a down pillow," Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao says. "My bedroom tends to get hot, even though I have an A/C, so I think between using this cooling pillow and my cooling sheets, it has helped to keep my body at a nice temperature when I sleep. I don't notice the pillow trapping any night sweats and heat when I'm sleeping on it (I can't say the same for my mattress), and if anything, it has helped reduce the neck and shoulder pain that my current mattress is giving me."
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Regenerated polyester and HydroCool performance polyester | What Makes It Cool: HydroCool fill
For anyone who likes a very dense, spongy pillow that feels icy to the touch, Casper's Hybrid Snow will become your favorite thing in your home. "I actually got this the week it launched back in June of 2023, and I still break it out every time temperatures rise above 80 degrees," says Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner. "Full disclosure: It's actually so cooling that I don't use it in any season other than summer." However, if you still manage to sweat in your sleep, note that you take the cover off and toss it in the laundry with the rest of your washable bedding. "I will say, it's on the heavier side, so if you like light and airy pillows, this may not be the pillow for you. Otherwise, it really is the most summer-friendly pillow on the market, in my opinion," Cherner adds.
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Three-layer foam and fiber | What Makes It Cool: Snow technology
Nothing is better than a product quite literally designed to be used by human bodies. That may sound like an obvious requirement for pretty much any product, but think about how many items you use that have room for improvement. This pillow is not like that! It's ergonomic to cradle your neck for perfect support, and it hits your shoulder at the ideal angle. Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie says, "My Cushion Lab pillow is the only one I sleep on nightly. It's ergonomically designed to support my head, which has stopped my tossing and turning. Plus, the included cover is cool to the touch and soft against my skin." What's more, there's no reason to flip it over because all sides are the cool side. "It stops the overheating at the crown of my head, which helps my whole body regulate. I've been using it for two years, and it’s just as comfy as night one.
Sizes: 24" W x 16" L x 5.5" H | Fill: Dual-density memory foam | What Makes It Cool: Cooling nylon cover
This pillow may be from Marlow, but Marlow is owned by Casper, so you know you are getting the gold standard. "I actually got this pillow when it launched back in October 2021 (read the full review here), and I loved it so much that I also got one for my fiancé. I don't sleep particularly hot, but he does, and he was so relieved to sleep on the cooling pillow protector," Cherner says. Yes, the protector is included with the pillow.
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Memory foam | What Makes It Cool: Dual-layer action cooling PCM (phase changing material) interior, and patented thermoregulating technology
Slumber Cloud may be the most advanced pillow on our list because it uses the same cooling material NASA uses for their space suits. How, you may be wondering, is this possible? It's actually pretty simple: Outlast is a specialized technology that was originally developed for NASA's spacesuit temperature regulation systems, and now, it's available in your Slumber Cloud pillows. "As a hot sleeper, cooling pillows seemed like the next best addition to my slumber routine, and I was pleasantly surprised by the coolness that these pillows provided throughout the night," says Visual Assistant Natalie Boyce. "Upon unboxing, my first observation was that the outer lining of the pillows was cool to the touch and made with a slightly denser fabric compared to a standard pillow. I opted for the soft/medium firmness and found that these are a great balance of soft and fluffy, yet thick enough that it doesn't feel too flimsy." If you want to go the extra mile to stay cool, tuck this pillow into a bamboo pillowcase, as Boyce did.
Sizes: Standard and king | Fill: Down alternative | What Makes It Cool: Polyester knit outer cover with Outlast technology coating
How We Chose the Best Cooling Pillows
Generally speaking, we like to test all the products we are recommending to House Beautiful readers, but doing so can sometimes be tricky, especially when the items are large, like an upholstered bed frame or a couch under $500. Such is not the case, however, for sleeping pillows, which everyone has, uses, and, in our case, loves. So, we opened our linen closets to reveal our cooling favorites. You can rest assured that every pillow on this list is in a House Beautiful editor's home and, in some cases, is our go-to sleeping essential. Before recommending it, our editors have slept on these pillows for months. Some editors, like McKenzie, have had their pillows for over two years, though, so you know we really love them.
What to Look for in a Cooling Pillow
Cover Material: The cover material may not seem as important as the fill, but trust us, it's worth considering. After all, it's the only part of the pillow that has nearly direct contact with your skin (let's all make sure we're using pillowcases, though). Most covers are made of cotton, but any pillows meant to be cooling may be a brand-patented material that could be difficult to clean or scratchy on the skin, so make sure to read before buying. And again, use a pillowcase regardless. Personally, we recommend going with cotton because it tends to be soft and machine-washable.
Fill Material: The fill material is definitely key because it will determine how soft or firm your pillow will feel. You have a few options, including down, which will be the most plush; down alternative, which will feel similar to down (but hypoallergenic and more sustainable); latex, which is a bit more firm and spongy; and memory foam, which is dense but highly supportive. In the case of cooling pillows, some of the fill is infused with materials such as graphite or gel to keep them feeling chilly, and others stay cool by way of the fabric cover.
Level of Support: Speaking of support, this is another big factor to consider when buying a pillow, cooling or otherwise. Generally, if you don't have much neck pain and are used to sleeping on softer pillows, feel free to stick with what you like. On the other hand, if you tend to wake up with a sore neck or knots in your shoulders, you may need a firmer pillow that offers more support.
What Material Is the Most Cooling for a Pillow?
Plain and simple: Most brands design their cooling pillows with patented technology that keeps them cool, and that copyrighted material is definitely worth it. Otherwise, look for light materials like silk, gel- or graphite-infused memory foam, moisture-wicking cotton, or anything else that indicates the materials are cooling, temperature-regulating, and not trapping heat. Latex, for instance, is a spongy material that is naturally quite airy, so it won't be trapping heat or keeping you toasty all night.
Do Cooling Pillows Actually Work?
In our experience, cooling pillows work. We bought ones that are designed to be and stay cool, courtesy of the outer layer or the fill (or both), and we were all pretty impressed with how well ours performed. If you're hesitant, though, opt for one of the pillows on our list with a sleep trial to make sure that it is cool enough for you. Now, just before the peak of summer, is the best time to test the efficacy of a cooling pillow.
Why Trust House Beautiful?
When it comes to picking out the best (and affordable) pieces for any bedroom, including my own, our shopping team has been reviewing home products, especially bedding, for over eight years. We’re kind of sleep-obsessed, and we’ve been on a never-ending quest to maximize the comfort and look of our own bedrooms. So you can trust that we’ve done our homework to find the best and most beloved pieces on the market. Plus, as shopping editors, we’ve covered everything you could possibly need for your bed, including the best cooling mattress toppers, the softest sheets, the best linen sheets, and even dedicated brand bedding reviews.
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