6 Best Cooling Pillows of 2026, Tested by Editors and Sleep Experts
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There's a special kind of frustration that comes with being too hot to sleep . You flip your pillow to the cool side. Thirty seconds later, it's warm again. You toss, turn, kick off the covers, and wonder how you can be both exhausted and wide awake. If this sounds familiar, your pillow might be part of the problem.
Thankfully, technology has the answer: Cooling bedding (like cooling mattresses and cooling mattress toppers ) or, more specifically, cooling pillows . Cooling pillows promise to help, but not all of them deliver.
Best Cooling Pillows
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Best Overall: SlumberCloud UltraCool Pillow
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Best Adjustable: Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
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Best Budget: Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
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Best L-Shaped: Malouf Z Gel Memory Foam L-Shaped Pillow
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Best for Every Sleep Position: Ostrichpillow Memory Foam Bed Pillow
Some feel refreshingly cool when you first lie down, only to trap heat as the night goes on. The good news? Newer designs use breathable fabrics and temperature-regulating materials to help manage heat and moisture, so you're not stuck playing an endless game of pillow roulette.
If you tend to overheat, "a cooling pillow can help you sleep better," says board-certified sleep medicine researcher and neurologist W. Christopher Winter, MD, of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and author of The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It . "Cooling the body—and cooling the head is a great way to accomplish that—can significantly increase sleep quality."
To find the ones actually worth your money, we put popular cooling pillows to the test, looking beyond that initial cool-to-the-touch feeling. We evaluated comfort, support, materials, and temperature regulation, with input from sleep experts to help separate genuinely useful features from clever marketing.
Whether you're a hot sleeper, a chronic midnight pillow-flipper, or someone who wants their bed to feel like a retreat rather than a sauna, these cooling pillows are worth checking out.
SlumberCloud UltraCool Pillow
If you're looking for the best cooling pillow for maximum cooling (which is probably why you're reading this anyway), this is it. True to its name, SlumberCloud's UltraCool Pillow uses serious tech to keep it cool to the touch and actively regulate your body temperature.
It's available in two softness options: Soft/Medium (for back and stomach sleepers) or Medium/Firm (ideal for side sleepers). In either option, the polyester, down-alternative fill does an excellent job of keeping the pillow shaped and preventing sagging or lumps over time. It's easy to keep fresh and clean—just throw the entire thing (cover and core) into the washing machine.
Plus, we were perhaps most surprised by the price. It's among the cheapest cooling bed pillows we tested this year, and it's an absolute steal if you buy more than one!
- Great price
- Excellent temperature regulation
- Two firmness options for all sleep styles and positions
- Cool-to-the-touch, Outlast-infused cover
- Blue pillow can be visible through thin pillow covers
Sleep Number True Temp Pillow
The best activewear (think Lululemon yoga pants and The North Face jackets) relies on serious tech to regulate your temperature and keep you dry. Sleep Number uses a similar feature in its True Temp Pillow—specifically, a material that "attracts and removes moisture vapor to resist heat and humidity buildup." Translation: You sleep cooler, drier, and more comfortably.
This pillow is available in three options: classic, contour, and ultimate. The flagship Ultimate pillow includes three removable foam inserts (4, 5, and 6 inches tall) so you can dial in your exact height and support level. That makes it the best cooling pillow for all sleeping positions, since you can easily mix and match.
WH contributor Mike Richard has now spent months testing all three models. He keeps coming back to the Contour and Ultimate. "They're the cooling pillows that are on my bed night after night—the ones that my girlfriend and I fight over," he says. "We've both found the foam fill to be extremely effective at drawing away heat and keeping us cool, even on the hottest summer nights." Because he's also a combo sleeper—shifting from his back to his side to his stomach and back again throughout the night (in his own words)—Richard says the Ultimate has the versatility to keep him comfortable no matter what.
Read more: Best Pillows for Neck Pain
- Very effective at whisking away heat and humidity
- Ultimate model is customizable for any sleep position
- Premium, durable design
- Cool-to-the-touch, machine-washable cover
- Legit 100-night sleep trial
- Classic might still be too tall for back/stomach sleepers
Coop Home Goods Original Loft Bed Pillows
This pillow offers a "best of both worlds" design with a synthetic shredded memory foam fill that's encased in a polyester and natural bamboo fabric blend—nice-to-have features in a cooling pillow, Dr. Winter says. You can also add or remove the foam fill to adjust the pillow to your preference. So, you can adjust both height and firmness, making it feel like a custom bedroom piece.
This is also a rare cooling pillow that features a fully machine-washable design. You can throw both the cover and interior fill in the washer for easy, low-maintenance care. What most sets this model apart for us is the affordable price tag, making it one of the best-value, best "bang-for-your-buck" cooling pillows of 2026.
- Great bang-for-your-buck price
- Adjustable fill works for any sleep position
- Cool and breathable
- Fully machine-washable design
- Some reviewers note an initial chemical smell (disappears after a few days)
Malouf Z Gel Memory Foam L-Shape Pillow
Calling all side sleepers: The Z Gel Memory Foam L-Shape Pillow is perfect if you want maximum head, neck, and shoulder support in one. The unique L-shape replaces multiple pillows, so you can ditch the separate "head and body pillow" or "head and back pillow" setup you're currently cobbling together to stay comfortable at night. The high-tech gel cools way better than traditional memory foam, giving you a perfectly chilly snoozing surface.
Made with bamboo and smooth rayon, this option feels like buttery-soft memory foam under your head and neck and helps reduce sleep pain. The Tencel cover is also cool to the touch, moisture-wicking, and easy to remove for machine washing.
The main downside is the lack of a true in-home sleep trial. Amazon buyers can still take advantage of the company's solid return policy.
- Unique shape provides perfect support for side sleepers
- Cooler than traditional memory foam
- Tencel cover is cool to the touch and machine-washable
- Decent price (for a niche pillow)
- Quirky shape isn't for everyone
- Questionable long-term durability
Ostrichpillow Memory Foam Bed Pillow
Finding the right pillow—including cooling options—depends heavily on your preferred sleep position. Ostrichpillow makes the choice easier with its simply named Memory Foam Bed Pillow. It's ultra-versatile, with an ergonomic design that works whether you snooze on your back, side, or stomach. The slightly higher "flared" sides provide greater support for side sleepers, while the center dip perfectly cradles the head and neck for back and stomach sleepers.
Unlike most shredded memory foam pillow designs, you don't have to fuss with adding or removing foam fill. Just rotate it 90 degrees to dial in your preferred height. It's a great solution, especially if you're a combo sleeper who switches positions in the middle of the night.
While it's not marketed specifically as a "cooling pillow," the memory foam features open channels that promote continuous airflow to prevent overheating, and we can confirm they work very well. We love the premium, medium-density memory foam that provides just the right support and pressure relief in any position.
For contributor Mike Richard, this pillow ranks second only to Sleep Number's True Temp pillow. "My girlfriend swears by it, and even after trialing dozens of pillows over the last year, this is the one she always keeps on our bed as her go-to," he says.
- Clever design is versatile enough for back, side, and stomach sleepers
- Memory foam is airy and great for cooling
- Zip-off, machine-washable cover
- 100-day return policy
- Eco-friendly, carbon-neutral design
- Not particularly designed to be cooling (though it has cooling features!)
Bedgear Storm Performance Pillow
Bedgear's premium pillows use soft-to-the-touch foam that contours (a.k.a. hugs ) your body, all while deflecting heat. "They are very cool and lightweight," Dr. Winter says. The Storm Series pillows also have a numbering system to help you figure out what size you need. Plus, Bedgear "also makes very good temperature-reducing bedding to put over the pillow," Dr. Winter says. We love that the versatile, dual design is soft on one side and firm on the other, making it a great option for every sleep position. Just flip to the side you need, even in the middle of the night.
There's only one downside to this and most of Bedgear's pillows and bedding: price. All this great cooling pillow tech doesn't come cheap. If you factor in not having to buy a new cooling pillow every few years because you're not happy with any of them, buying this pillow once will probably save you money in the long run.
- Helps bolster restorative, recovery sleep
- Extreme cooling tech
- Premium memory foam construction
- Works for stomach, back, and side sleepers
- Versatile, dual-sided design
- Among the priciest pillows we've ever tested
What to Consider
Cooling pillows use materials and technology that release heat more effectively than regular pillows, helping keep you cool. They're also often designed to reduce sleep pain and prevent stiffness, Dr. Winter says. Sounds pretty awesome, right?
But before you grab the first cheap cooling pillow you find on Amazon, keep this in mind: "Don't sacrifice comfort for cool," Dr. Winter says. "Make sure that the pillow still 'fits' you."
Like shopping for the best cooling sheets or a new cooling mattress, finding the right cooling pillow usually takes a little trial and error. Here are the most important considerations, according to our in-house sleep enthusiasts and the sleep experts we spoke with.
Fill Material
Cooling pillows, especially the best cooling pillows, come in a wide variety of materials. Here are the most popular:
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Latex:Latex is a great natural material for cooling pillows because it's breathable, retains little heat, and is hypoallergenic. It's often pricier than most other cooling pillow materials, however, and can feel too firm for some sleepers.
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Gel-infused memory foam:These pillows offer the support and benefits of memory foam, plus cooling gel pockets that help whisk away body heat. However, they tend to be less breathable than natural materials.
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Copper-infused memory foam:Copper effectively draws heat away from your head and body and stays cool to the touch. But like its gel-infused counterpart, copper-infused memory foam isn't as breathable as most alternatives.
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Buckwheat:Another near-perfect all-natural material for cooling pillows, buckwheat breathes well, stays naturally cool, and wicks moisture. Plus, it conforms easily to your head's shape. The downside is that it can be noisy when you move at night, lower-quality pillows can be hard or lumpy, and it's not widely available among the best cooling pillows.
Shell Material
While quality fill material is vital for supportive, cooling pillows, the right shell material can enhance the pillow's cool-to-the-touch effect. Our favorite cooling pillows feature a variety of shell materials with a few common traits. From modal to Tencel and polyester blends, the shells on all these cooling pillows are breathable and stretchy.
Sleeping Position
Whenever you're shopping for new bedding, including cooling pillows, consider your sleeping position. Back sleepers will want a medium-high-loft pillow to cradle their head and neck without pushing their chin up too far. Side sleepers usually do best with a high-loft option that fills the gap between the head and shoulder to align the spine properly. For stomach sleepers, a low-loft model is ideal to keep the spine aligned.
Firmness
The right firmness for your cooling pillow depends on your preferred sleep position. Back sleepers will likely want a down alternative, memory foam, or latex pillow with good support and pressure relief. Side sleepers will probably find that latex, memory foam, or cervical pillows that offer good neck support and pressure relief are best. Stomach sleepers will likely need a thin, soft down, down alternative, or memory foam pillow that provides enough support without elevating the head too much.
Ease of Cleaning
Latex pillows are the easiest to clean, as these often only need spot-cleaning with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Some models can even be thoroughly hand-washed. Buckwheat and traditional (non-gel-infused) memory foam pillows are the second easiest to clean. You can remove buckwheat hulls from a cooling pillow and sun-dry them to freshen them up, while memory foam typically needs spot cleaning. Machine washing is not recommended for either material.
Lastly, gel-infused memory foam and copper-infused cooling pillows require the most care. Spot-clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent (or a specialized cleaner). Air-dry either material in the shade to maintain longevity.
Sleep Trial
Of course, the only way to know for sure if a cooling pillow is right for you is to try it out in your own bed. That's why we recommend shopping brands and retailers that offer a legit in-home sleep trial. At a minimum, you should expect a 30-night trial period, but the best cooling pillow brands offer generous 100-night in-home trials.
Price
Cooling pillows vary widely in price. You can find the best budget models for under $50, while mid-range options typically run closer to $100. The very best cooling pillows cost $150 or more and usually feature advanced, proprietary cooling tech from brands like Purple and Casper.
How We Selected
We love testing sleep products here at Women's Health , from luxurious bedding to plush mattresses. We believe comfort is key, but so is staying cool. We set out to find the best cooling pillows by researching top models from budget retailers like Amazon and Walmart, premium bedding brands like Purple, Casper, and Sleep Number, and everything in between. We evaluated these pillows for comfort, durability, materials, firmness, cooling features, and price.
Over the last year, the Women's Health team spent countless hours personally testing many of the most popular cooling pillows on the market. For 2026, we shortlisted the six pillows above as the best cooling pillows worth buying.
*Additional reporting by Mike Richard and Jasmine Gomez.
Meet the Experts
W. Christopher Winter, MD, owns Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and is the author of The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It .
Do cooling pillows really work?
The short answer is: Yes— mostly . Cooling pillows used to be a gimmick, but today's best cooling pillows use legit fabrics and sleep tech that do a surprisingly good job of keeping you cool. But it's important to manage your expectations.
Most cooling pillows create a cooling sensation or feel "cool to the touch," but they may not actually do much to whisk your body heat away while you sleep. Effectiveness depends on how hot or cool you sleep, your bedroom's temperature and humidity, and, of course, the quality of the pillow you buy.
How can I keep my pillow cool all night?
Whether you have a legit cooling pillow or not, a few easy things can help you pre-cool your pillow and keep it cooler longer. Start by ensuring your pillow is in a shaded spot during the day (i.e., not near a sunny window or in direct sunlight).
You can also toss your pillow or pillowcase in the freezer or refrigerator an hour or two before bedtime. While this won't keep your pillow cool all night, it will help during that important first hour after slipping into bed. Lastly, point a fan toward your head and neck to keep air circulating all night.
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