Best Cooling Pillow
If you’re losing out on valuable rest because you spend more time tossing and turning to cool down, than actually sleeping, you need to be looking at more than just a cooling mattress. You need a pillow specifically designed to dissipate heat for a cooler sleep. A good quality cooling pillow can instantly draw heat away from your head, neck and shoulders and promote that better, uninterrupted sleep experience you need. And with the right style of pillow, you can wake feeling rested and alert in the morning, versus hitting the snooze button – just one more time.
But before you assume that just any gel-filled pillow will do the job, you need to look at the many unique options today’s cooling pillows can offer. You should consider its effectiveness, its overall comfort, the materials used, and for how long it maintains its cooling properties.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  Sealy CoolGel Copper Infused Cooling Pillow
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| #2 |  Columbia Dual-Sided Memory Foam Cooling Pillow
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| #3 |  Coop Home Goods Adjustable Memory Foam Cooling Pillow
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| #4 |  PineTales® Organic Buckwheat Cooling Pillow
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What Are the Benefits to Using a Cooling Pillow?
A cooling pillow is designed to help prevent a build-up of heat around your upper body. By maintaining a lower temperature around your head, neck and shoulder areas, you help regulate your core temperature – meaning the overall level of heat within your body. When your core is cooler, you sleep better. What a cooling pillow can do is both wick sweat and moisture for a drier sleep surface as well as promote air flow and the expulsion of warm air. It’s an essential sleep accessory for those who sleep hot. Even if they’ve already invested in a cooling mattress pad or bedding.
What to Look for When Buying a Cooling Pillow
Your Comfort
Before you look at the various cooling features that are available, you’ll need to find a pillow that delivers the degree of comfort you need for a good night’s sleep. Check out the level of firmness – can you rest your head comfortably or is it too plush with minimal support? If you love to sleep on your stomach, look for a pillow that’s a little firmer to provide comfortable support while minimizing that sinking sensation And, don’t forget ergonomics. If you’re a side sleeper you may want a thicker pillow, while back sleepers may prefer a thinner version for ideal spinal alignment.
The Fill
The fill used in your pillow is what will provide the cooling effect that you’re seeking. So, it should be a very important factor in helping you decide on the pillow that’s right for you. Options range from those with a solid memory-foam core with either gel-infused beads throughout, or a gel panel for added cooling. Others include loose fill that has been gel-infused, but encourages natural air circulation throughout the fibers. And some using the natural cooling properties of bamboo and other organic compounds to deliver a chemical- and technology-free alternative to the more popular foam designs.
The Cover
Because the sleep surface of your cooling pillow is where you will be resting your face, head, and neck, you want it to be always clean, fresh, and hygienic. And while most covers are removable and machine-washable, you should be looking for one that is also shrink-proof and able to hold its shape after multiple washings. The cover should be fully breathable to allow warm air to continually escape as you sleep, and you’ll need to consider whether you want natural moisture wicking from pure cotton, or to look at a more durable, cotton/poly blend with added wicking fibers.
Cooling Duration
Cooling pillows don’t actively lower the temperature of your head, neck and shoulders, they simply prevent heat from building up and causing you to lose sleep. To maintain their natural, standing temperature, they use a system of cooling gels and breathable materials to help expel the warm air you generate the moment you lay down. So, how long can they stave off this heat? For a gel-infused memory foam pillow or one with a full gel panel, the cooling benefits can last for 15 minutes – long enough for you to fall asleep. For those with loose, gel-infused fill, the duration is about the same. And with some, they claim to keep the sleeper cool and comfortable for the entire night.
Top 5 Cooling Pillows
Sealy CoolGel Copper Infused Cooling Pillow
Best for Side Sleepers
For the ultimate sleep pillow, you want one that not only delivers long-lasting cooling comfort, but ergonomic support as well. That’s why Sealy developed their copper infused memory foam pillow. Let’s start with the stretch knit cover that’s not only breathable to allow for continual air flow, but it flexes to work in concert with the foam core, instantly adapting to the contours of your head and neck. It comes with an easy-zip cover and because it’s both machine-washable and dryable, your pillow surface can always be clean, hygienic and fresh-smelling. Now, the premium memory foam is what provides exceptional support to your head and neck for optimal spinal alignment and continual pressure relief.
But where the cooling magic happens is in the copper-infused, raised gel panel across the pillow surface. Not only does it provide pressure relief for those who like to sleep in one position for long periods of time, but it helps to dissipate heat away from your head, face, and neck. And for those who are wondering “why copper?”, it’s down to copper’s natural conductive properties that aid in maintaining a cooler temperature while it’s antimicrobial make-up, helps keep your pillow free from germs and odor.
Who Should Buy This Cooling Pillow?
Copper-infused cooling gel makes this pillow ideal for those who sleep hot and are looking for serious, instant relief. Because this pillow is thicker and denser than a down or alternative down fill pillow, it’s ideal for side sleepers who may need a little more “lift” under their head and neck to maintain proper spinal alignment.
Pros
- Breathable cotton surface
- MoistureProtect wicks sweat
- Machine washable and dryable
- Copper-infused gel is anti-microbial
- Memory foam core for ergonomic support
Cons
- Only comes in standard size
- Thicker, denser core
Specs for Comparison:
Available sizes: Standard size only
Fill: Premium memory foam
Maintenance: Machine washable cover
Warranty: 10-year limited warranty
Columbia Dual-Sided Memory Foam Cooling Pillow
Best for a Long-lasting Cool
For those who sleep hot, a dream pillow would be one that can provide effective, cooling comfort that doesn’t quit on you in the middle of the night. And with this Columbia, dual-sided pillow, that dream has come true. Using Extreme Cooling Technology foam and a touch-activated cooling gel, this cushion reacts instantly to dissipate body heat the moment you settle in. Which means that restless nights and flipping pillows is a thing of the past. But it’s how this pillow works, that makes it so unique. The underside features the Omni-Freeze stay-cool technology that delivers effective, long-lasting relief from body heat, while the upper surface of this breathable pillow uses Omni-Wick for advanced air circulation and rapid moisture wicking. So, the two sides work in concert to actively cool your sleep surface, while also expelling warm air and wicking moisture.
Now, it also delivers cradling support to your head, neck and shoulders for a more restful sleep, and pain-free morning. Made using a high-performance memory foam that instantly adapts to your contours, this pillow provides immediate support regardless of how often you move in the night. And because we all love a pristine sleep-surface, the ultra-cooling cover is easy to remove and machine-washable.
Who Should Buy This Cooling Pillow?
If you don’t fall asleep within minutes of climbing into bed, you’re going to want a cooling pillow with staying power. This is the one. It not only delivers a cooler sleep surface, but it helps to dissipate body heat and wick sweat. So, your pillow is always cool-to-the-touch and ready for sleep – whenever you are.
Pros
- Memory foam core for ergonomic support
- Touch-activated cooling gel
- Omni-Freeze base for cooling
- Omni-Wick surface for drying
- Machine washable cover
Cons
- Only comes in medium-firm
Specs for Comparison:
Available sizes: Standard, Queen, or King
Fill: High-performance memory foam
Maintenance: Machine washable cover
Warranty: 5-year manufacturer’s warranty
Coop Home Goods Adjustable Memory Foam Cooling Pillow
Best for Picky Sleepers
If you’re searching for a cooling pillow but can’t seem to find one that meets your exacting needs for a super soft or super firm pillow that allows you to rest your head at just the right angle, your problem is solved. This gel-infused memory foam pillow uses a microfiber fill blend for optimal air circulation and a cooler sleep. But what separates it from the pack is that you can actually adjust the amount of fill to meet your desired depth and level of firmness. The zippered cover makes it easy to remove some for a softer feel or add a little for a firmer, more elevated angle. In fact, the manufacturer includes a ½ pound bag of extra fill so you can experiment. But let’s talk about that beautiful, gusseted pillow cover. Made using proprietary Lulltra fabric, its fully breathable and made from bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester which makes it not only exceptionally soft, but hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. Best of all, the cover and fill are CertiPUR-US certified and GREENGUARD Gold certified which means that no harmful chemicals were used in the creation of this cooling pillow.
Who Should Buy This Cooling Pillow?
For those who can’t get a decent night’s sleep because their cooling pillow is too firm, too soft, too thick, or too thin, this fully adjustable pillow is a perfect solution. You can add or remove fill to meet your personal needs. Flat, fluffy, or firm, the manufacturer provides an extra ½ pound of fill for you to experiment with.
Pros
- Fully Adjustable Fill
- CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified
- Shredded fill for optimal air circulation
- Gusseted for edge-to-edge support
- Machine-washable cover
Cons
- Slight off-gassing
Specs for Comparison:
Available sizes: Standard, queen, king
Fill: gel-infused memory foam
Maintenance: Machine-washable cover
Warranty: 100-night trial, 5-year warranty
PineTales® Organic Buckwheat Cooling Pillow
Best for Sensitive Skin
When you’re looking for a more natural way to cool down but need something that’s not only effective but long-lasting, you may want to consider a buckwheat pillow. Filled with 100% organic buckwheat hulls for continual air circulation and a cooler sleep surface, this eco-friendly option is made in the US from crops that are grown and harvested in the US. So, you never need to worry about contaminants or pesticides. And because the inner shell is made from pure organic cotton that is highly breathable, this cooling pillow is ideal at circulating air and dissipating heat all night long. For you the sleeper, this means you won’t feel over-heated and wake continually through the night.
Because we all have a different sleep style, this pillow’s liner is fully zippered so you can add or remove the buckwheat fill for when you want a thicker pad or prefer something a little thinner. The liner is also machine-washable so your sleep surface is always fresh and clean. And best of all, the cool comes through. Yes, it’s been designed to be used in conjunction with your pillowcases so you can feel the comfort of your own bed linens, without sacrificing the cooling effectiveness of this natural product.
Who Should Buy This Cooling Pillow?
For those who need long-lasting cooling comfort but worry about the chemicals and treatments used in some of the memory foam or gel-infused pillows, this all-natural buckwheat pillow is the way to go. The organic, unbleached cotton cover is fully breathable and is free from substances that can irritate sensitive skins.
Pros
- 100% organic fill and cover
- Fill is grown and harvested in the US
- Continual cooling comfort
- Fully adjustable
- Machine-washable cover
Cons
- Slightly noisy
Specs for Comparison:
Available sizes: 14 x 20-inches
Fill: 100% organic buckwheat hulls
Maintenance: Machine-washable cover
Warranty: n/a
Bottom Line
If your goal is to achieve a more comfortable, uninterrupted rest, a cooling pillow is an essential addition to your sleep accessories. Because your head is what regulates your core body temperature, even the most expensive cooling mattress, pad, or bedding won’t be able to compensate, if your pillow lets you down.
And because there are so many features and price points to choose from, there’s no reason you can’t find the perfect solution to your sleep style. Hypoallergenic, ergonomic support, soft, firm, or natural fibers – the options are plentiful and they make a cost-effective solution to achieving a cooler, more comfortable sleep experience.