Best Cooling Pillows

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.

A high-quality cooling pillow in today’s market can be fairly expensive, but the Bear Pillow proves you don’t need to break the bank to sleep at a comfortable temperature. The solid foam core creates a plush, adaptive surface, but the material is ventilated with small holes to promote airflow and reduce heat buildup. A phase change cover with breathable mesh panels adds to the thoughtful craftsmanship — if you want to sleep cool and minimize pressure buildup around your neck and shoulders, this pillow is the best of both worlds.

How It Performed

Our hands-on tests show side and back sleepers will probably feel most comfortable on the slightly thicker king size pillow, which has a high-loft design. Stomach sleepers should consider the lower-loft queen size to lower their potential for neck strain. Our team loved the pillow’s gentle contour — you get ample cushioning without the “hugging” effect many people dislike about memory foam.

Since the core contains solid foam, the pillow requires virtually no fluffing to maintain a full shape. This does, however, make it less moldable than pillows with shredded fill. The cover is neither removable nor machine-washable, so cleaning may be time-consuming. Off-gassing odor is fairly strong for the first few nights. You may want to air out the pillow in a well-ventilated room for up to 48 hours before using it for the first time.

What It’s Made of

The core contains LOFT-X polyfoam, a proprietary foam that’s hole-punched during production. A cover woven with cooling Celliant fibers encases the foam. Mesh panels at opposite corners are intended to promote circulation and further elevate the pillow’s temperature-regulating abilities. The king size measures 5.5 inches thick, and the queen size is 5 inches thick.

Bear offers free ground shipping to all customers in the contiguous U.S. This is a final-sale item, so returns are not allowed after your order has been processed, but the Bear Pillow is backed by a two-year warranty.

While comfort is highly subjective, our team has found some pillows appeal to a wider swath of sleepers than others. Take the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow, a true crowd-pleaser thanks to its plush-yet-supportive feel, consistent cooling, and durable design. You can choose between two loft levels for added optimization, and the sticker price falls well below average for this pillow type.

How It Performed

Our team tested both of the pillow’s lofts. Side sleepers preferred the extra cushioning of the 5-inch design, which nicely filled the space between their heads and downward-facing shoulders — this is important for proper alignment and pressure relief along the spine. Back sleepers felt more comfortable on the 4-inch pillow, which elevates the head without straining the neck or shoulders too much. Most of our stomach sleepers found both lofts too high, as people who use this position generally prefer pillows that measure 3 inches or shorter.

Temperature control is a defining strength. This can be attributed to both the ventilated latex core and the moisture-wicking Tencel cover. Our testers noticed little to no heat retention when lying on the pillow. While the solid latex isn’t very moldable, the pillow offers excellent shape retention and never needs to be fluffed. Although the latex has a distinct rubbery odor that may be present for the first night or two, the smells aren’t nearly as harsh as the off-gassing produced by synthetic foam.

What It’s Made of

Talalay latex is known for its lightweight, responsive composition. The material provides some cushioning, but not to the same “hugging” extent as memory foam. This can be an advantage or a drawback depending on how much contouring you prefer, but most of our testers appreciated how buoyant and supportive this pillow felt.

The latex is ventilated with small holes to push air throughout the pillow’s core, and a cover made of eucalyptus-derived Tencel encases the latex. You can remove and machine-wash the cover as needed. Queen and king sizes are available for both lofts.

The Talalay Latex Pillow’s sticker price is quite low compared to the competition and standard ground shipping is free throughout the contiguous U.S. Brooklyn Bedding backs each purchase with a 30-night trial and three-year warranty.

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.

Airflow is key to consistent temperature control, and some pillows promote circulation better than others. The Nectar Dual Cooling Pillow is a prime example. While the core contains solid memory foam, a material known for heat retention, the polyethylene cover allows air to flow freely throughout the interior. This helps the pillow — and you — maintain a comfortable temperature for sleep.

How It Performed

Most side and back sleepers on our team felt comfortable on the Dual Cooling Pillow. The gentle foam and high 6-inch loft were ideal for side sleepers who need extra cushioning between their head and downward-facing shoulder, while back sleepers should receive the padding they need without too much elevation around their head and neck. Stomach sleepers may feel differently, as thick pillows can strain the neck and lead to soreness in the morning. We recommend a low-profile pillow for those who favor the stomach position.

In addition to above-average temperature control, we awarded the pillow high marks for pressure relief. The foam forms a close cradle to soothe aches and pains in your head, neck, and shoulders. Shape retention is another key strength. Thanks to the solid foam, you shouldn’t ever need to fluff the pillow.

What It’s Made of

A single piece of memory foam gives the pillow a dense, adaptive surface. The firmness is medium, resulting in a nice balance of softness and support. Cooling gel strips on each side of the pillow add to the temperature-regulating design, as does the breathable polyethylene cover. You can remove and machine-wash the cover whenever it needs to be cleaned, but the foam should only be dabbed with a moist cloth if stains or smudges occur.

The Dual Cooling Pillow is reasonably priced and Nectar offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a 50-night sleep trial, giving you plenty of time to test out the pillow and decide if it’s right for you. Should you decide to keep it, Nectar further backs your purchase with a five-year warranty against material 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.

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.

Steady airflow is key to helping your pillow maintain a comfortable temperature. The LAYR Customizable Pillow from Luxome is constructed with breathable cover and fill materials, then gets an extra cooling boost from ventilated mesh panels at each end. This design ensures plenty of circulation to reduce heat retention in the pillow’s foam layers.

How It Performed

Our testing team experimented with a handful of different configurations for the LAYR. Most side sleepers preferred using three to four inserts with the solid foam at the bottom to provide a stable base. Our back sleepers needed two to three inserts, though they varied on which one felt most comfortable on top. Stomach sleepers found one to two inserts ideal, with many agreeing the down alternative insert on top helped prevent neck strain.

The LAYR’s cooling abilities depend on how the layers are positioned, but none of the arrangements felt overly warm. This can largely be attributed to the ventilated cover, which is made of moisture-wicking viscose derived from bamboo. Using three or four inserts means the pillow retains its shape well and shouldn’t need to be fluffed too often, though this also makes it less moldable. Conversely, fewer inserts may cause shape loss but you can snuggle with the pillow more easily.

What It’s Made of

The LAYR comes with multiple inserts — all are intact when the pillow arrives, but you can easily remove them to lower the loft. Your options include down alternative fibers, shredded memory foam, and solid memory foam blocks measuring 1 and 2 inches thick. Each insert is encased in a zippered cotton shell, so you can separate them without too much hassle. You may machine-wash the cover and shells, but not the inserts.

The LAYR Customizable Pillow is reasonably priced, and you’ll receive a 50% discount on the second pillow when you purchase two. Luxome offers free ground shipping within the contiguous U.S. Each purchase is backed by a 30-night trial period.

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.