Grace Walsh
If you find yourself constantly flipping the pillow to find the "cool side" and dread going to bed, it's time to invest in one of the best cooling pillows. These clever sleep essentials will help regulate your temperature, wick away moisture, and leave your skin feeling fresher when you wake up. Whether you're a naturally hot sleeper, going through menopause, or just fed up with sweaty sleep, finding the perfect cooling pillow will prove revolutionary to how you rest.
The best cooling pillows come in all shapes and sizes. Memory foam is often known for being hot, but when it's infused with cooling gel or swapped out for a natural latex, you can end up with a really supportive and naturally breathable pillow (that's also hypoallergenic). If you like that soft, sink-in feeling, you can opt for down alternatives or wool pillows, which offer cloud-like softness without all the insulation. And, if you really want to invest in your rest, pairing your pillow with the best cooling mattress will help keep you cool from head to toe.
I've been testing all of these with the help of our peri and post-menopausal experts. We've been sleeping on everything from buckwheat pillows (yes, they're a thing) through to wool and memory foam options too. For me, the best cooling pillow overall is Dreams TheraPur Memory Foam Ice Pillow — it’s the perfect blend of comfort, support, and seriously impressive cooling power. If you've got more specific niggles that need addressing, I've found the pillow for you.
Quick list
If you want the headlines of what makes the best cooling pillows, here's a summary of how I found each one. There are detailed reviews and my own pictures further down the article, if you want to find out more.
Best overall
This balances support, comfort, cooling power, and value for money. It's cool to touch and stays that way all through the night.
Best for night sweats
Wool is an incredible temperature regulator (who knew?) and our peri and post-menopausal testers voted this as the most effective for keeping them cool. The firmness is adjustable inside it too.
Best for side sleepers
To keep your spine aligned, you'll need a pillow with more loft and firmness than the average. This delivers on that, with some clever cooling technology mixed in too.
Best for back sleepers
You wouldn't believe that buckwheat is something to sleep on, but it's revolutionary for keeping you cool and aligned. The firmness is quite extreme, but the results speak for themselves.
Best for front sleepers
This custom-designed memory foam pillow isn't specifically cooling, but I'm a hot front sleeper and this is the best solution I've found so far. It's soft with a low loft and lots of breathability.
Best memory foam
This offers all the comfort and contouring of memory foam, but with special gel and mesh heat dissipation technology. It's clever, cool (for memory foam), and a brilliant budget option too.
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Best latex
Latex is naturally breathable, hypoallergenic, and the perfect alternative to naturally hot memory foam. Nobody does it better than Woolroom. Their eco-credentials are on another level.
Best for combination sleepers
If you toss and turn in your sleep (regardless of the heat), this is the pillow that will keep you comfortable and cool better than anything else. Versatility is a skill like nothing else.
Best luxury
Want a taste of hotel life? The Down and Wool Pillow blends the sink-in softness of down with wool's naturally cooling properties. It's a dream to sleep on and you won't wake up sweaty either. Check out the eco-credentials too.
The best cooling pillows - tested for fresher sleep
It's hard to call any cooling pillow 'the perfect pillow', because we all have very different sleep needs. Whilst all of these address hot sleep and temperature regulation, beyond that, they have very little in common. You'll need to think about your sleep position first and foremost when choosing which pillow is right for you, because cooler sleep is only worth having if you can keep your shoulders, hips, knees, and spine in proper alignment.
Best cooling pillow overall
Choosing the best cooling pillow overall ended up being a very easy decision. I looked at the pillow that everyone steals the mos (and the one which gets argued over the most) and it's this one.
A lot of the clever, coolin power lies in the composition. At the core of the pillow is memory foam, which gets softer with your body’s heat. This is normally great for keeping you in proper spinal alignment, especially if you’re a side sleeper. However, memory foam is notoriously hot. TheraPur neatly designed away this issue by creating a case made from ActiCool and ActiGel foam. Both of these make the pillow cool to touch and even cooler to sleep on. I used this all through the summer heatwaves and noticed instantly when my partner tried to swap his bamboo pillow for mine.
The pricepoint is really reasonable too, which is the cherry on top of what is a comfortable, supportive, and cooling pillow already. My only word of warning would be that it is memory foam. A wool, latex, or buckwheat pillow is likely to be cooler (and more eco-friendly), if you don’t need the support of memory foam.
Find out more in my full review
Best cooling pillow for night sweats
A pillow that can whisk away night sweats is really the golden ticket. Whilst a cooling pillow won’t solve your problems, finding the right pillow can certainly help to make you a little less drenched and frustrated in the night. As with choosing the best cooling pillow overall, finding the best cooling pillow for night sweats was easy too. All the testers who were peri or post-menopausal said that this was the best pillow that they slept on.
I’ll admit, I thought that gels would have outperformed wool, but it turns out that the natural solution really is the best. Woolroom’s Wool Pillow is packed with traceable, organic British wool and the case is made with the same wool as well as organic, unbleached cotton. It’s a very eco-friendly start to the pillow, but both the cotton and wool are very clever with how well they regulate body temperature as well as wicking away moisture.
Sally, one of our testers who is aged 60, still struggles with her night sweats and she begged to keep hold of this pillow. “My skin feels the freshest that it has done in decades and I don’t really find myself being dragged out of dreams with that intense heat that normally haunts my nights.”
The beauty of the Woolroom is also that the wool inside can be taken out or packed in, so it’ll always be the perfect firmness, loftiness, and comfort for you. The only downside is that you pay a pretty premium price tag for the privilege of cooler sleep. If you look at what the brand does behind the scenes, it’s worth the investment.
Find out more in my full review
Best cooling pillow for side sleepers
The Silentnight Airmax pillow may only cost around £15, but make no mistake: this is a spectacular cooling pillow. Plush as a cloud yet incredibly supportive, it has a soft microfibre cover with Airmesh walls around the sides for ample airflow. Inside the Silentnight Airmax is a hypoallergenic polyester, hollow fibre fill that feels very comfortable - but will require regular fluffing to help it retain its shape.
Despite the brand describing the Airmax as ideal for front/stomach sleepers, the higher loft makes it one of the best pillows for side sleepers, in my view. I'm a dedicated side sleeper and initially, I was uncertain that the marshmallow-like Silentnight Airmax pillow would offer enough support but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it aligned my neck and shoulders whilst gently cradling my head. Another tester - a hot back sleeper - appreciated that they didn't have to turn this pillow over to the 'cool side' in the middle of the night. It also worked with most of the other best sleeping positions for hot weather.
A trade-off for buying such an inexpensive pillow is the lack of a trial period or guarantee. Many other pillows on the list offer trial periods that allow you to return the pillow if it doesn't work for you. However, your purchase will be backed by a 2-year warranty, so you can kit out your room with several Airmax cooling pillows without breaking the bank. If you have a spare room, your overnight visitors will thank you for the comfortable night's sleep too.
Find out more in my full review
Best cooling pillow for back sleepers
Sleeping on buckwheat might sound a little unconventional, but it's been the practice of Buddhist monks for centuries. They seem like pretty zen people and I bet the buckwheat is their secret. One of the reasons that I can say that is because I have been sleeping on buckwheat too and, if you ask the ladies in the office, I think they'd tell you I've been brighter and better rested since I made the swap.
Buckwheat generally wins for back sleepers, but the Putnams buckwheat pillow is adjustable, so you can pack it full or make it super slim, depending on which position you sleep in. Like a beanbag, you carve out a nook to rest your head in and there it stays. The buckwheat kernels will regulate your temperature beautifully and they won't budge unless you do, which can make for a surprisingly comfortable (if not very firm) night of sleep.
As it contours to your head, you get great pressure relief. However, unlike lots of other pillows that change position, this will keep ventilation around your head all night long. The organic cotton cover and organic filling will speak to all eco-conscious shoppers, but I'd recommend you take notice even if that's not for you. A third of your life is spent asleep and I'd rather mine be chemical-free.
For all that this pillow cools and contours, it is very firm. I found it was marmite amongst our testers. Those who could handle the firmness (and didn't mind the rustling noises) loved the Putnams. However, for some, it's too noisy and too hard to ever drift off, which defeats the object of these pillows.
Find out more in my full review
Best cooling pillow for front sleepers
I'd almost concluded that finding a cooling pillow suitable for a stomach sleeper was impossible and then I came across the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow. People are calling it a "cheap for a good night's sleep" and I think that undersells it. This actually helped me to switch out stomach sleeping for back sleeping, but even when I wanted to sleep on my front, it kept me cool and in perfect alignment. I didn't wake with aches, pains, or a bead of sweat on me. If you're wondering what stuff dreams are made on, it's Levitex.
The thin Levitex comes in lots of different shapes, sizes, and lofts, so you've got lots of options at your fingertips. After you've chosen which one (or two, you can double up on these) you want, you'll be welcomed into a world of wonderfully cool sleep. Inside, your pillow is made of patented 'Levitex', which is a form of polyurethane, which takes the best bits of memory foam and latex and blends them together. It feels like latex, but it's lighter and cheaper. The similaritieis to memory foam are the pressure relief that it offers, except this has enough firmness not to mess up your posture.
Aside from the comfort and corrections that Levitex offered my sleep habits, it also kept me surprisingly cool during the night. If you pair yours with a silk or bamboo pillowcase, I promise you'll find yourself deep in cool sleep before you can say "did I lock the front door?"
Find out more in my full review
Best memory foam cooling pillow
Memory foam has a reputation for being hot to sleep on. I'm not here to argue that. It's hot, insulating stuff, which is bad news if you're struggling with night sweats but you need the pressure relief that this pillow offers. If that's you, I have two solutions. On one hand, you could buy a latex pillow. This contours to your head and shoulders like memory foam, except it's a little more springy and rubbery. Or, you could look for cooling memory foam.
Whilst not all 'cooling memory foam' delivers on its promise, the Soak & Sleep Memory Foam Pillow really, truly does. At the heart of your pillow, you have the classic memory foam filling. This should be hot, but the cleverly designed case is packed with a cool gel lining that helps to dissipate heat away from your head while you sleep.
I found the pressure relief to be faultless and the support was impressive to, so I was surprised to see that this is one of the best value cooling pillows that I tested. If you're shopping on a budget, you really can't go wrong with the Soak & Sleep - that should help you sleep easier too, I think.
Compared to other memory foam pillows, this is amazing at keeping you cool. Compared to a wool pillow, however, this is still pretty warm. I'd say this is great for mitigating the worst of your night sweats and hot sleep, but don't count on it fixing any issues.
Find out more in my full review
Best latex cooling pillow
Not everybody knows how special latex is, especially when it comes to sleep. This clever material is great for the environment and it mimics a memory foam style of contouring, which means that you'll be supported, comfortable, and cool, without the planet's future weighing on your shoulders.
If you don't already know, latex is made when a special sap is baked and frozen (at different times). You end up with a sponge-like, spring pillow filling that has lots of air running through it (this really helps with cooling). Woolroom takes this and wraps it in their signature, cool-to-touch wool and cotton protective case, meaning your pillow is like a permanent cold spot.
I alternated between memory foam and the Woolroom Latex pillow and ended up putting them in the same category (specialists in pressure relief), but they're at opposite ends. This has a lot more spring and push back. It's pretty lofty and so will really be better for back sleepers (and one for front sleepers to steer well clear of). I actually like that you don't sink in quite as much - it certainly helped for keeping me cool - but it still gave me great pressure relief, especially around my shoulders.
When ranking the pillows, this scored really highly for its cooling properties amongst post menopausal testers who need a cooling pillow and pressure relief. It's just not as high up because of the price and loft. Nonetheless, it's an investment I'd make.
Find out more in my full review
Best cooling pillow for combination sleepers
If you're a combi sleeper wanting to go all out for a cooling pillow, check out the astronaut-inspired Simba Hybrid. It has lightweight foam Nanocubes you can add or remove to make the pillow as high and firm as you'd like. (Spare Nanocubes can go right in the included storage bag.) The Stratos-infused phase-changing outer cover regulates temperature and the Aerelle cooling layer directly beneath it combines with a mesh border for maximum airflow.
The bespoke element of the Simba Hybrid pillow means it'll appeal to most types of sleepers - but mainly combination sleepers keen to switch positions at night. Some trial and error is required to find the ideal amount of Nanocubes for your preferences but it's worth it once you hit that sweet spot as you'll learn how to sleep better for your personal preferences. I also found the Simba pillow extremely comfortable when it came to keeping night sweats away and I didn't have to turn it over to the 'cool side' once.
You'd think Simba would include a trial period for the lofty price you pay for its space-age tech - but they don't. You do get a 1-year warranty in return, however. That makes it somewhat of a risky purchase but we trust that with some patience you'll be able to fashion it into your perfect cooling pillow.
Find out more in my full review
Best luxury cooling pillow
Hotel-style pillows are the ones we all aspire too. Imagining that advert dive onto the bed, whilst your head sinks into an endless cloud of down and feathers sounds dreamy until you're up in the middle of the night with soaked pyjamas and a dripping forehead. The expensive life can also be the hot one too. Luckily for us, Naturalmat found the way to deliver on that hotel feeling, but with some cooling technology too.
As the name suggests, Naturalmat have some of the best sustainability policies that I've seen from any brand. The Devon-based brand keeps everything natural and local, but you don't compromise on the smell (they can often smell like farmyard) or quality. The Down and Wool Pillow feels like a seriously expensive sleep.
The beauty of blending down and wool means that you set a softness that's almost so light that you can't feel it, but the wool helps to keep the pillow structured, supportive and, most importantly, cooling. Even though the down made this a little warmer than Woolroom's Wool Pillow, for example, it still actively cools you in your sleep. The best way I can describe it is that your skin will feel fresh when you wake up. It's likely that you'll still get hot - even the best cooling pillow can't prevent that - but the sweats probably won't come on to the same level.
Find out more in my full review
How we test
At woman&home, even though testing pillows is technically sleeping on the job, we have a meticulous and thorough process through which all the best cooling pillows must go. We cover all aspects of the pillow, from composition through to loft, but the most important one is whether it's cooling or not. I am a hot sleeper, but I want to test these to the extreme. So, whilst I am happy to test and review these, I also hand them over to peri- and post-menopausal women who are struggling to sleep because of temperature regulation.
We put our (hot) heads together after two-four weeks of testing and have a chat about what we've found. Physiotherapists recommend waiting two weeks to notice a change in your body in response to a change in your sleep set up, which is why we often wait for the whole month: we like to be sure of ourselves. Then after a full pillow debrief, everyone keeps testing the pillows for longer, so that we can let you know what these pillows are like in the longer-term.
We have a few specific other factors that we look at, which I'll break down below. You asked how we test cooling pillows and I'm not known for my brevity:
Materials: This includes the outer cover and inner fill, both of which factor into a pillow's cooling properties. We followed a dedicated pillow testing process and reviewed each pillow to see how well its materials successfully wick away sweat and body heat.
Support: Of course, the best pillow has to be able to maintain proper alignment and support. Each pillow has been used by back, front, side, and combination sleepers for us to provide a full assessment of its strengths and weaknesses.
At-Home Trial: Most pillows nowadays include an at-home trial so you can sample it before making a final decision. This is especially important if you're buying a pillow online sight unseen. Most entries on our list come with a trial period of at least 30 days.
Warranty: Once you decide on a cooling pillow you want to ensure you're protected against any manufacturing flaws. The pillows on our list all have a minimum 1-year warranty.
Value For Money: Cooling pillows range in price depending on the quality of materials used plus included amenities (like a full-year at-home trial or a lengthy warranty period). Our buying guide features a mix of budget and premium pillows.
How to choose
'Best' is a subjective qualifier - everyone will go through a different process when considering how to choose a pillow. What may be right for one sleeper may not vibe with another. Thus, it's important to think about what you need in order to purchase a cooling pillow that'll help you sleep comfortably each night:
- Your Sleeping Position: Do you sleep on your back, front, or side? Knowing this will determine what type of firmness and loft (height) you should choose. If you are a combination sleeper, choose a pillow based on your dominant position.
- Firmness and Loft: Side sleepers need a thicker, firmer pillow, one that will fit the nook between their ear and neck. Back sleepers will benefit from a thin yet supportive pillow, especially if they regularly experience pain. Stomach sleepers can go for a soft pillow...or opt to go without a pillow at all, if they wish.
- Materials: Hot sleepers require materials that are breathable and good at regulating temperature. Thus, seek pillows that contain cotton, wool, or bamboo. Memory foam tends to trap heat but if you like the way it feels otherwise, then look for foam pillows infused with cooling elements like gel or graphite.
- Price: As our list shows, you don't have to shell out a load of cash for a quality pillow. But if you want a pillow with more luxurious fillings or extremely generous trial and/or warranty periods, know that it'll cost you so have a budget in mind.
FAQs
Do cooling pillows actually work?
Yes, pillows designed with specific cooling materials can help bring your body temperature down - whether you're dealing with a hot summer's night or the symptoms of perimenopause.
"Cool bedding, including pillows designed with specific cooling materials, may help mitigate night sweats and overheating for menopausal women. These pillows often utilise materials that absorb excess heat or promote airflow, such as gel-infused memory foam or breathable fabrics like bamboo or moisture-wicking polyester," says Dr Chandni Rajani, GP and women’s wellness expert.
"By maintaining a cooler surface temperature, these bedding options can in some women reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flushes during sleep. They can also provide a more comfortable environment, helping to regulate body temperature and thereby supporting uninterrupted sleep patterns. This cooling effect not only enhances comfort but can also contribute to overall sleep quality, which is particularly crucial during the menopausal transition when sleep disturbances are common," she says.
Should I put a cover on a cooling pillow?
Covers on cooling pillows are a somewhat controversial topic, believe it or not. Some people suggest that a cover on a cooling pillow can limit the benefits of the cooling technology as it fails to get through the cover material, while others are perplexed by the sleep hygiene implications of putting their heads straight on the pillow.
The answer? It's ultimately up to you - but if you do want to sleep with a cover on your cooling pillow, opt for one made of lightweight, breathable materials such as cotton or linen, rather than polyester or nylon, which aren't as breathable.
If you're happy to sleep without a pillow cover, opt for a cooling pillow that comes with its own cover - like the one from Panda London. This way you'll reap all the benefits of your cooling pillow without having to worry so much about cleaning it.
What material is best for a cooling pillow?
The best cooling pillows are typically made from latex, wool, bamboo, or gel-infused foam. The key is to shop for pillows that have breathable properties, as this will help your temperature regulation. Any extra cooling technology that helps to dissipate heat or actively cool you will come in handy too.
