Top 6 Best Cooling Pillows for Comfortable and Restful Sleep in 2025

If you tend to feel too warm at night, a cooling pillow could make a big difference in how well you sleep. These pillows are made with materials that either pull heat away from your body or stay cool on their own, helping you stay at a more comfortable temperature through the night.

Sleeping in a warm room can make it tough to fall asleep or stay asleep, especially if the temperature is higher than what your body prefers. A cooling pillow can help if you often wake up hot, whether it's because of your body’s natural changes or the room itself.

How Do Cooling Pillows Maintain a Lower Temperature?

Cooling pillows are designed to ease heat and moisture buildup around your head and neck. A lot of them use breathable fabrics that let air pass through, so heat doesn’t get trapped while you sleep.

Some come with gel layers that feel cool when you touch them and help pull heat away from your skin. Others use what’s called phase-change materials, which are tiny beads that absorb and store heat by shifting from solid to liquid. It sounds technical, but it just means they help the pillow stay cooler for longer.

Which Are the Best Cooling Pillows?

1. Rest Evercool® Cooling Pillow

The Rest Evercool® Cooling Pillow is a solid pick if you sleep hot. Inside, it has a silicone sponge core with tiny pores that let air pass through, so you’re not stuck with a stuffy, warm pillow. The outer fabric feels cool the moment you touch it and stays that way through the night without needing to flip it.

It’s shaped to support your head and neck without feeling stiff or sinking in too much. You can choose from three heights: Low (3 inches), Medium (4 inches), or High (4.7 inches), depending on how you sleep and what feels right for your body. It also holds its shape over time, and since the whole thing is washable and hypoallergenic, it’s easy to keep clean.

Best Features:

• Open-cell silicone sponge with 5+ million micro-pores for airflow

• Evercool® fabric that feels instantly cool to the touch

• Ergonomic design that supports the head and neck

• Three height options for personalized comfort

• Machine washable and hypoallergenic

Pros:

• Stays cool all night without needing to flip

• Retains its shape and support over time

• Comfortable for side and back sleepers

• Soft, breathable outer shell

• Easy to wash and care for

Cons:

• Might feel firmer than expected if you're used to plush pillows

2. Snuggledown Bliss Extra Deep Cooling Memory Foam Pillow

The Snuggledown Bliss pillow stands out with its cuboid shape and rounded edges, filled with memory foam that has small air holes to keep things breathable. It helps maintain a cool temperature, so your head and neck won’t overheat during the night.

Its Cool Touch cover is soft, and you can machine wash and tumble dry it on low, which makes it easy to care for. The foam core has a layer that should only be sponge cleaned, so it stays in good shape. The pillow is 38 by 64 centimeters with an extra-deep height of 10 centimeters, offering firm support, especially for side sleepers.

The design lets your head sink in a little, but you won’t feel like you're being swallowed by the pillow. It’s a great option if you like firm support with some cushioning. However, if you have narrower shoulders, the height might feel a bit much, so it’s better for people with broader frames. Overall, it offers good cooling and support without being too soft or too hot, and it’s priced fairly for the features it offers.

Best Features:

• Cuboid shape with rounded edges for firm support

• Memory foam with small air holes for breathability and cooling

• Cool Touch cover, washable at 40°C

• Extra-deep height of 10 cm for side sleepers

• Firm support with a cushioned feel

Pros:

• Excellent support, especially for side sleepers

• Good cooling without being too soft or too hot

• Easy to maintain with machine washable cover

• Well-priced for the features

Cons:

• Might be too high for those with narrower shoulders

• Foam core should only be spot cleaned

• Not ideal for front sleepers

3. Downland Tencel Cooling Pillow Review

The Downland Tencel Cooling Pillow has a nice medium firmness, offering just the right amount of support without being too soft or too hard. It’s 74 x 48 cm, which works for most people who like a pillow that isn’t too high.

The pillow’s fill is 100% polyester, but the cover is where it gets interesting. It’s made from Tencel, polyester, polyethylene, and nylon, with Tencel helping it breathe better and feel smooth to the touch.

Washing it is a breeze. You can throw it in the machine at 40°C and tumble dry. It’s comfortable enough to use without a pillowcase, but if you don’t use one, you’ll probably have to clean it a little more often.

If you sleep on your back, it might push your head a bit forward, which could be uncomfortable. But for side sleepers who like a medium-height pillow, it does a great job keeping your neck aligned.

Best Features:

• Medium firmness with breathable Tencel cover

• 100% polyester fill for comfortable support

• Washable at 40°C and tumble dry

• Comfortable enough to use without a pillowcase

Pros:

• Soft and breathable with Tencel fabric for a cool touch

• Machine washable and easy to maintain

• Great for side sleepers who prefer medium height pillows

• Affordable

Cons:

• May push your head forward if you sleep on your back

• Needs frequent cleaning without a pillowcase

• Medium height may not be suitable for all sleep positions

4. Marks & Spencer Comfortably Cool Medium Pillows (two pack)

This set comes with two standard-size pillows and has a medium firmness that should work well if you sleep on your side or back. They’re filled with polyester, and about a third of that is recycled, which adds a bit of eco-consciousness. The cotton cover is sustainably sourced, too, and since there are no animal products involved, they’re vegan-friendly.

The main feature is their Comfortably Cool fabric. It’s meant to pull moisture away and keep things from getting too warm while you sleep. You might not feel a strong cooling effect through a pillowcase, but they do help maintain a steady temperature through the night. There aren’t any fancy extras like zip covers or specialty foam, but the filling stays in place and doesn’t bunch up. You can wash them at 40°C and tumble dry on low, which makes cleaning simple. If you prefer a firmer feel, there’s another version for that. Overall, they’re a no-fuss option if you want cooling and comfort without paying for extra features.

Best Features:

• Medium firmness, ideal for side and back sleepers

• Set includes two standard-sized pillows

• Eco-conscious with recycled polyester filling

• Vegan-friendly with sustainably sourced cotton cover

• Comfortably Cool fabric pulls moisture away to regulate temperature

• Filling stays in place without bunching

• Machine washable at 40°C with tumble dry option

Pros:

• Affordable for two pillows

• Eco-friendly and vegan-friendly

• Keeps your head cool by managing moisture

• Easy to maintain and clean

• Comfortable without needing extra pillowcases

Cons:

• Cooling effect isn’t as strong as pillows with gel technology

• Lacks advanced features like zippers or specialty foam

• Might not be firm enough for those who prefer a more rigid pillow

5. Tempur Cloud Smartcool Cushion

The Tempur Cloud Smartcool Cushion is a medium-firm pillow with a unique fill made from spherical shapes and open cells that adapt to your head and neck. This material gradually adjusts to give you solid support while relieving pressure.

The cover is a mix of polyester, polyethylene, and elastane, featuring Tempur’s SmartCool Technology. It absorbs heat and helps keep the surface cool, even through a pillowcase. If you sleep directly on the cover, you’ll get the most cooling, and it’s washable at 40°C.

At 74 by 50 centimeters, it works well for side and back sleepers, but front sleepers might find it a bit too firm. The pillow is on the heavier side, so it’s not the best option if you travel often with your pillow. It’s a bit pricier, but it comes with a 30-night trial and a three-year guarantee.

Best Features:

• Medium-firm pillow with spherical foam that adapts to head and neck

• SmartCool technology absorbs heat and keeps surface cool

• Washable cover at 40°C

• 74x50 cm size, suitable for side and back sleepers

• Comes with a 30-night trial and a 3-year warranty

Pros:

• Great pressure relief and support with adaptive foam

• Excellent cooling technology that maintains a steady cool temperature

• Durable with a 3-year warranty

• Ideal for side and back sleepers

Cons:

• Heavier and not ideal for travel

• A bit on the pricier side

• May feel too firm for front sleepers

6. Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow

This one’s also standard size with a medium firmness, so it suits side and back sleepers pretty well. Inside is polyester, and one side of the cover has a gel patch that kicks in as soon as you lie down. It gives off a cooling sensation that can be helpful if your room gets warm at night.

The gel does warm up after a while, so you might shift around to find another cool spot. You can even pop the gel panel in the fridge for a bit if you want to refresh it before bed. The cover with the gel is removable and can be spot cleaned, while the rest of the pillow can go in the wash at 40°C.

Sleeping directly on a gel surface might feel a bit odd at first, but most people seem to get used to it quickly. The support feels even, not too soft or too firm. If you’re looking for something affordable with a bit of cooling tech built in, this one gets the job done.

Best Features:

• Medium firmness suitable for side and back sleepers

• Gel patch on one side offers a cooling sensation

• Gel patch can be placed in the fridge for refreshment

• Removable cover for spot cleaning, pillow washable at 40°C

• Affordable with basic cooling technology

Pros:

• Instant cooling effect with the gel patch

• Versatile with the ability to refresh the gel by chilling it

• Even support with medium firmness

• Easy to clean with a removable cover and washable pillow

Cons:

• Gel patch warms up after a while, requiring repositioning

• Sleeping directly on the gel may feel strange initially

• Not suitable for those who want a stronger cooling effect

Cooling Pillow Alternative

If your pillow’s doing fine but you’re still waking up too warm, swapping out your pillowcase might be all you need. Rest’s Evercool®+ Cooling Pillowcases are a great option if you’re after that cool-side-of-the-pillow feeling without committing to a whole new pillow. They’re made with a soft, stretchy nylon and spandex blend that feels instantly cool to the touch and stays that way through the night. Plus, they use IONIC+™ antimicrobial technology to help keep things fresh, which is great if you tend to overheat or deal with night sweats.

These pillowcases are also gentle on your skin and hair, hypoallergenic, and totally pet-friendly. You can toss them in the wash without a second thought, and they come in a bunch of sizes and colors to match whatever bedding you already have. If you're not quite ready to upgrade your pillow but want to sleep a little cooler, this is an easy and genuinely comfy place to start.

Additionally, you can get them in Cool Gray, Snow Ivory, Aqua Blue, Lavender Breeze, Arctic White, and Midnight Blue.

Do Cooling Pillows Lose Effectiveness Over Time?

Yes, over time, cooling pillows can start to lose their touch. Sweat, oils, and dead skin gradually break down the materials inside, especially if the pillow has a gel layer or other delicate components that are harder to clean. Regular cleaning does help, but as the pillow gets older, you might notice the cooling effect and overall comfort start to fade, even with good care.

How to Use a Cooling Pillow

Using a cooling pillow is pretty simple. Just slip on a breathable pillowcase, ideally something that is not polyester, and use it like you would any regular pillow. The materials inside are designed to help regulate your temperature without needing any special setup.

If your pillow has a gel layer, that cooling surface is usually only on one side, so flipping it will cancel out the benefit. On especially hot nights, you can chill that gel side in the fridge for a while before bed. Just check that it does not feel too cold against your skin when you lie down.

How to Clean Your Cooling Pillow

Start by checking the care label, since cleaning instructions can vary. If your pillow is machine washable, you can wash the entire thing and then air dry it thoroughly to avoid any moisture buildup. Some pillows can also be tumble dried on a low heat setting.

If you have a memory foam version, avoid getting the foam itself wet. Remove the cover and wash it separately according to the instructions. For pillows with gel inserts, those usually cannot go in the wash, so wiping them down gently with a damp cloth is the better option. Using a breathable pillowcase made of cotton or bamboo also helps protect the pillow and keep it fresher between cleanings.