The Best Cooling Pillows

Slumber Cloud achieves an exceptional cool-to-the-touch pillow by combining their proprietary Outlast fabric and down alternative fiber fill. This pillow performed well across categories, earning high marks in moldability, temperature regulation, and ease of cleaning.

The Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow staves off heat from the inside out. The pillow contains polysilk down alternative fibers that imitate the feel of down without down’s tendency to trap heat. On the outside, the pillow boasts Slumber Cloud’s trademark Outlast fabric. The pillow is also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, meaning it’s been tested for and does not contain a wide range of harmful substances. 

The pillow is available in two firmness levels: medium soft and medium firm. The medium soft option is better suited for stomach sleepers who prefer a plush feel, while side and back sleepers benefit from the extra support from the medium firm model.

The Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow is available in standard and king sizes and is designed for easy cleaning. Slumber Cloud recommends washing the pillow using a mild detergent and cool water, then drying it on a delicate spin cycle with low heat. The purchase comes with free shipping and a 60-night trial.

Sijo's FluffBase Eucalyptus Pillow offers excellent long-term value. Plush down alternative fibers encased in a breathable Tencel cover provide an excellent balance of cushioning and cooling, but the sticker price falls well below average compared to the competition. You can also choose from two density levels depending on whether you prefer sleeping on your side or your back.

The fill mimics real down in terms of softness and loftiness, but the fibers are 100% vegan and won't trigger allergy symptoms. They also absorb less heat than real down. You'll need to fluff somewhat frequently to maintain a full shape, but by the same token, the pillow is exceptionally moldable and can be reshaped to meet your needs.

The medium firm design is thicker and more supportive, making it best suited to side sleeping. If you're a back sleeper, we recommend the lower-profile medium soft pillow instead – it provides adequate support without elevating your neck too much and causing strain. Both designs excel at temperature control thanks in large part to the cover. Tencel is a eucalyptus-derived material prized for its breathability and moisture control.

Sleep Doctor offers reasonable flat-rate shipping fees for customers in the contiguous U.S. You may return the pillow unopened and unused within 60 days of the delivery date for a refund.

Sleep Is the Foundation's Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow earns points for comfort thanks to its customizable design. The fill consists of memory foam that's been cross-cut into cube-shaped pieces, which provide deep cushioning and contouring while also promoting air circulation. You can unzip the cover and add or remove as much fill as you need to sleep comfortably. Each order comes with a bag of supplemental fill if you want to stuff the pillow at full volume.

The cover is made from a breathable blend of polyester and viscose derived from bamboo. Side vents add extra airflow to ensure the pillow doesn't absorb too much heat. You may wash and dry the cover in your household machines for quick, easy care, but the foam should never come into contact with water.

The amount of fill you'll prefer will largely depend on which sleep position you use. During hands-on tests, side sleepers on our team felt most comfortable when the pillow was at least 75% full – and some opted to use all of the fill. Back sleepers gravitated toward mid-loft, or 50% to 60% of the fill, while stomach sleepers preferred a lower profile with 30% to 40% of the fill.

Sleep Doctor offers competitive shipping rates for shoppers in the contiguous U.S. Those who reside in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories must pay additional delivery fees. You may return the pillow for a refund within 60 days of receipt.

Cozy Earth’s luxurious combination of silk and bamboo viscose results in a plush and durable pillow that maintains its coolness throughout the night. 

The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow is filled with long-strand mulberry silk, known for its plushness, longevity, and breathability. The pillow’s cover is composed of bamboo-derived viscose fabric, enabling the pillow to wick moisture and draw sweat away from the body. It also utilizes Cozy Earth’s enhanced weave to reduce pilling and increase the pillow’s lifespan.

During testing our team found that the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow’s medium soft feel was a good choice for any type of sleeper. However, we noticed it was especially comfortable for side sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds and back sleepers less than 130 pounds. We also found that the pillow holds its shape exceptionally well and doesn’t flatten with use.

The Cozy Earth Silk Pillow includes free shipping and returns in the U.S. and is available in standard and king sizes. Cozy Earth offers a 100-night trial to test the pillow and a 10-year limited warranty.

Layla seamlessly blends the contouring benefits of shredded memory foam with the plushness and durability of kapok tree fibers. Our testing team found this created a soft yet supportive pillow that was ideal for side sleepers. 

The Layla Kapok Pillow’s cover is made of a blend of polyester, viscose, and poly/lycra. The fill consists of a blend of kapok tree fibers and shredded memory foam. Kapok tree fibers provide moisture-wicking properties and are lighter than cotton and down. The pillow also contains an upscale hexagon stitching designed to enhance breathability. 

Our testing team found the Kapok Pillow was highly moldable and temperature neutral. It was also easy to adjust the pillow’s loft and firmness using the zipper to add or remove filling as needed. While most of our testers found the pillow comfortable, the highest ratings came from our side sleepers under 230 pounds.

The Layla Kapok Pillow is available in queen and king sizes. It comes with a 120-night trial and a five-year limited warranty. Shipping is free to the contiguous U.S.

If you tend to sleep hot and struggle with frequent neck pain, the Sijo FlexCool Memory Foam Pillow should satisfy both needs – and the sticker price is very reasonable given its high-quality construction. A lush fill blend of shredded memory foam and down alternative clusters make the pillow feel both soft and adaptive, creating a close cradle for your head and neck. To adjust the pillow, simply unzip the cotton inner shell and add or remove as much fill as you need to sleep comfortably.

The cover is made from stretch-nylon fabric that feels silky-smooth and holds up well over time. You can remove and machine-wash the cover as needed, but the fill should only be spot-cleaned – overexposure to water can permanently damage the foam.

Our tests show side sleepers prefer to use most – if not all – of the fill to ensure adequate cushioning for the space between their head and downward-facing shoulder. Back sleepers may not need as much loft, but the pillow should provide enough elevation to keep their head and neck aligned with their spine. If you're a stomach sleeper, chances are you'll need to remove most of the fill to make the pillow flat enough – otherwise you may notice neck strain.

Sleep Doctor offers reasonable shipping rates for shoppers in the contiguous U.S. Those who reside in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories pay additional delivery charges. You may return the pillow unopened and unused for a refund within 60 days of receipt.