There are few things as underrated (and, let’s get real, as necessary) as a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, such slumbers can be hard to come by—particularly if you keep waking up drenched in your own sweat. Enter: cooling pillows—cushioned bundles specifically made to keep sleepers chilled out all night. If you need help shopping, check out these top-rated picks to help you sleep through the night and wake up feeling refreshed.
The memory foam in this pillow has tiny holes to allow for more ventilation and breathability. With temperature-regulating gel on top, this pillow offers a lot of cooling bang for its buck.
No more flipping to the cool side of the pillow in the middle of the night—this one has cooling gel layers on both sides. It's also from the trusted Tempur-Pedic brand, so it's sure to support your head, neck, and shoulders.
The softness of fluffy down is basically designed for stomach sleepers. Choose from real down or down alternative polyester, then select the "soft" firmness level (medium firmness is good for back sleepers, while firm pillows are good for side sleepers). SlumberCloud’s down pillow has an Outlast infused cover, which actually stores and releases heat to keep your body at a comfortable temperature all night. Bonus: There’s free shipping and a 60-night trial period.
This pillow is filled with shredded memory foam and encased in bamboo fabric—nice features in a cooling pillow. Not only that, you can add or remove the foam to adjust the pillow to the way you like it. It’s basically a custom bedroom piece.
Nestl's cooling pillow is perfect if you yearn for head, neck, and shoulder support all in one. Formulated with smooth bamboo rayon on one side and a cooling silky fabric on the other, this option feels like a soft memory foam beneath your head and neck and helps eliminate sleeping pains.
If you and yours are both looking to freshen up your sleeping arrangements, this gel pillow two-pack may just be your saving grace. “Just right,” one reviewer wrote. “It feels cooler than my various ‘cooling pillows,’ but not in a way I noticed until I saw that my pillow wasn’t drenched in the morning.” This will definitely make for a strong and subtle choice.
Although this pillow doesn’t feature cooling technology, tiny channels throughout the foam provide increased airflow and a more breathable pillow. The outer cover washes nicely with no change in appearance or shrinkage—just be warned that it's not dryer-safe, and has to be laid flat to dry.
This Brooklinen pillow has cooling-infused foam and breathable mesh so you stay cool all night long. It's also made from a combination of 80% memory foam and 20% polyester fiber creating the perfect balance of comfort and support.
Marie Southard Ospina is a freelance writer, editor, and digital content creator who explores parenthood, body image, fashion, beauty, and (when her kids actually allow her to read) books.
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.