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11 Cooling Pillows for When You’re Just Too Hot to Sleep

updated Apr 28, 2023
Apartment Therapy received compensation for this post, which was written and edited independently by our editorial team.
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Sleeping on a cool pillow is always a plus, but in the summertime, it’s especially necessary (particularly if you’re like me and sleep in a room that constantly feels oh-so-hot, no matter how many fans are running!). But no need to sweat it, because there are plenty of pillows on the market that are specifically designed to keep you cool as you catch those valuable Zzzs. That means no more tossing, turning, and constantly flipping your pillow over to briefly enjoy its cold side. Below, we’ve rounded up 11 popular cooling pillows that promise to help you chill out and stay comfortable as you sleep, no matter what the season. You’ll thank us later!

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Looking for more cooling bedding? We also rounded up some of the best cooling sheets and lightweight quilts and coverlets that’ll help your get a cooler (and sweat-free) night’s sleep all summer long. Stay cool, folks.

1 / 11
From our partner
Tuft & Needle
$85.00
was $100.00

Quality memory foam pillows can cost you a pretty penny, but this mid-price find from Tuft & Needle is bound to save you money in the long run. How so? Well, its soft but supportive open-cell foam naturally conforms to your head, neck, and shoulders, preventing cricks and pains that could warrant a visit to the chiropractor. One of our contributors absolutely swears by this breathable, temperature-regulating pillow. "The cooling gel beds and graphite technology within worked together beautifully to create a cooling base with the perfect density," Ivy wrote. "The pillow was firm enough to support my head and neck in any position, but soft and squishy enough to sink right in." If you're after a medium-firm feel, this is the pillow for you.

2 / 11
Amazon
$57.49

I bought these pillows on a whim a few years ago, and I guess I just got lucky because they're still my favorite. Budget-friendly and filled with a cooling poly gel fiber, they're a suitable choice for just about anyone. They also have, in my opinion, a perfect height and feel—not too soft, not too firm, and just enough bulk to be comfortable for both side sleepers and stomach sleepers. Plus, I can confirm that they hold up over time, and look and feel just as good as when I first got them. I truly have nothing negative to say about these pillows, and they should be your starting point in your cooling bedding search.

3 / 11
Sweetnight
$64.00
was $80.00

Sweetnight is better known for their mattresses, but the brand's Original pillow also happens to be a fantastic option for hot sleepers. Ninety percent of the fill is made up of shredded gel-infused foam (the other 10 percent is just regular shredded foam), and it comes with 25 percent extra filling so you can customize to your preferences. Top it all off with a 3-year warranty, 100-night trial period, and free shipping, and you've got a pretty perfect pillow. Oh, and did we mention AT readers get 20 percent off with code ATSWEETNIGHT20?

4 / 11
Casper
$118.15
was $139.00

A favorite of Shopping Editor Blair, Casper's recently launched Foam Pillow with Snow Technology is a winner for someone admittedly picky about their pillows. "Sleep experts may balk, but I’m a creature of pillow habit through and through. I’ve tried out some replacements here and there, yet none felt worthy of a swap. That is, until I slept on Casper’s latest version and it completely changed my pillow preferences," she writes. "As part of Casper’s Cooling Collection, it features interior perforations for increased breathability and air circulation. Plus, the pillow has four HeatDelete Bands to help prevent overheating. Just touching the outer layer, you can instantly gauge the coolness and comfort levels — and just wait until you lay on it. Night sweats? Not anymore!"

5 / 11
Tempur-Pedic
$199.00

Tempur-Pedic's TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow (phew, that's a mouthful) is a great pick for those who looking for a cooling pillow with optimal support. With a medium firmness level, this pillow offers balanced support great for all sleep styles and positions. And with its TEMPUR-Breeze Gel Layers that transfer heat away from you as sleep (made better by the breathable cotton quilt cover) you'll never have to worry about flipping to the cool side ever again.

6 / 11
GhostBed
$71.00
was $95.00

Touting itself as the "coolest pillow in the world", the GhostPillow from GhostBed is made with a patented phase-change material that adjusts to your body heat in real-time to keep you cool as you doze off. Wrapped in a "cool-to-the-touch" Ghost ice fabric cover, it's also super supportive thanks to its treated gel memory foam fill. Best of all, GhostBed offers a 101-night sleep trial so you can really find out if it's the right pick for you.

7 / 11
Coop Home Goods
$96.00

Coop Home Goods is a cult favorite for pillows, and while you might be familiar with their iconic Original pillow, their Eden pillow is even better for hot sleepers. The fill contains a mix of cross-cut, gel-infused memory foam and microfiber that can be adjusted, and the liner is made of a super breathable bamboo-derived fabric that'll keep you comfy all night. The Eden is softer than the Original, making it especially suited for stomach and back sleepers, and unlike the Original it's available in Standard size, plus Queen and King.

8 / 11
Brooklyn Bedding
$96.80
was $129.00

Brooklyn Bedding is best-known for its cooling mattress so it only makes sense that they'd have a killer cooling pillow, too. This pillow is designed with dual-action cooling that combines pin core ventilation for increased airflow and a cool gel surface infusion that draws heat out and away from your head and neck. Top that off with a silky smooth circular knit cover and two available profiles for all sleepers, it's easy to see why this pillow is another beloved Brooklyn Bedding pick.

9 / 11
Amazon
$36.24
was $54.99

Another great Amazon find, this Snuggle-Pedic pillow is, as its name suggests, totally snuggle-worthy. It's made up of shredded memory foam with a breathable bamboo-poly cover, and actually does hold its shape over time, as 17,000+ five-star reviews can attest to. It's available in three sizes and comes with a 120-night trial period, so you can rest easy when you buy.

10 / 11
Avocado
$129.00

We're big fans of Avocado here at Apartment Therapy, and their original Green pillow was chosen as the best organic pillow on our Best List. While the Green pillow is pretty amazing, it's the brand's newer Molded Latex pillow that we recommend for something cooling. It has a charcoal-infused latex core that's both organic and temperature-regulating, plus is capable of eliminating odors and moisture. It's firmer than the Green pillow, making it better suited to side and back sleepers.

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Nest Bedding
$96.30
was $107.00

Cozy, customizable, and a favorite of Assistant Shopping Editor Brit, the Easy Breather pillow from Nest Bedding is a pick she lovingly calls "the Goldilocks of cooling pillows". "The Easy Breather Pillow arrives at its firmest," she explains. "It’s packed with a mix of memory foam and polyester fiber, and it comes overstuffed on purpose. The point of the pillow is to adjust it to your liking by removing the fill." But the star? The cover. "The cooling cover is another big plus, especially for hot sleepers. It’s breathable and temperature-regulating, so I never had that urge to flip the pillow to its cool side, because it didn’t get too hot. And thanks to its moisture-wicking capabilities, not once did I get that cheek-sticking-to-the-pillow feeling that comes when the bedroom gets too stuffy." We call that a winner in our book!

Sarah Lyon and Sarah M. Vazquez also contributed reporting.