Best Cooling Pillow: 2026

If you flip your pillow over in the middle of the night to find the cool side, the problem isn't your room — it's your pillow. Your head is one of the biggest sources of body heat, and a pillow that traps it can wake you up long before your mattress does.

This guide ranks every pillow we've reviewed by how hot it actually gets, not by what the label says. In our testing, surface temperature after two hours ranged from about 1.4°F to 5.6°F above room temperature — a real gap that you can feel. Below are the six best cooling pillows, how each one keeps cool, and the pillows to skip if you sleep hot.

---

How We Measure "Cooling"

Every pillow in this guide was tested the same way: we measured the pillow-surface temperature after two hours at a controlled room temperature of 70°F, and recorded how many degrees above the room the surface reached. Lower is cooler.

The Boll & Branch Down Alternative was measured differently (+1.8°F over an 8-hour period at 68°F), so it isn't directly comparable to the table. Its own review found it runs warmer than shredded-foam pillows, which is why it isn't one of our picks here.

The pattern is clear: open structures beat solid foam. The coolest pillows either let air move through the fill (shredded foam, open grid, latex) or pull heat away at the cover. The warmest are dense, solid memory foam.

---

Why Pillows Sleep Hot

A pillow gets warm for three reasons, and understanding them tells you what to look for:

Density. Solid memory foam is a closed, dense material that contours tightly to your head. More contact and less airflow means heat builds up where you can't shed it.

Fill that can't breathe. Tightly packed fibre and foam trap warm air. Shredded fill and open-cell structures leave gaps for air to circulate.

The cover. The fabric your head touches decides how hot the surface feels at first contact. Cooling covers and breathable weaves help; thick, tightly woven or synthetic covers do the opposite.

A note on gel: gel-infused memory foam runs measurably cooler than plain memory foam — but it's an improvement, not a fix. In our testing, gel foam pillows (DreamyBlue, Weekender) still ran warmer than shredded-fill or latex pillows. If you sleep genuinely hot, gel alone usually isn't enough.

---

The 6 Best Cooling Pillows

1. Purple Harmony — Coolest Pillow We've Tested

Price: $189–$219 | Type: Talalay latex + GelFlex Grid | Temp rise: +1.4°F | Rating: 4.8/5

The Purple Harmony's open GelFlex Grid sits on a Talalay latex core, so air moves through the pillow instead of pooling around your head. It recorded the lowest reading of any pillow we've measured, and it's also our highest-rated pillow overall. The latex core is naturally hypoallergenic and doesn't flatten the way synthetic fill does.

The trade-off: it's the most expensive pillow we've reviewed, it's heavier than most pillows, and the cover needs spot-cleaning or hand-washing rather than a machine cycle.

Best for: Hot sleepers who've tried other cooling pillows and still overheat, and anyone who wants a long-lasting, hypoallergenic pillow.

Read our full Purple Harmony review →

---

2. Coop Home Goods Cool+ — Best Adjustable Cooling Pillow

Price: $119–$149 | Type: Adjustable shredded foam, cooling cover | Temp rise: +2.1°F | Rating: 4.7/5

The Cool+ pairs the fully adjustable shredded fill of the Coop Original with a cross-cut cooling cover. The shredded fill lets air circulate, the cover pulls heat from the surface, and you can add or remove fill until the loft fits your neck and shoulders. It's GREENGUARD Gold and OEKO-TEX certified, fully machine washable, and backed by a 100-night trial.

The trade-off: it costs noticeably more than the Coop Original, the cooling advantage is most obvious in warm rooms or summer, and the first fill adjustment takes 5–10 minutes.

Best for: Hot sleepers who also need to fine-tune loft, especially side sleepers with broad shoulders.

Read our full Coop Cool+ review →

---

3. Nuzzle Adjustable Pillow (Set of 2) — Best Value Cooling Set

Price: $69–$89 for two | Type: Shredded gel memory foam | Temp rise: +2.9°F | Rating: 4.5/5

Shredded gel-infused foam gives the Nuzzle the airflow of a shredded pillow plus the small extra cooling of gel, and its zipper-access fill makes the loft adjustable. At this price you get two pillows, which is why it's the value pick — the cost per pillow is lower than most single cooling pillows.

The trade-off: it runs a little warmer than the Cool+ and Purple Harmony, and it's firmer than a down or fibre pillow.

Best for: Couples, or anyone who wants a cooler adjustable pillow without paying premium prices.

Read our full Nuzzle review →

---

4. Naturepedic Organic Latex Side Sleeper Pillow — Best Natural Cooling Pillow

Price: $125–$165 | Type: Solid natural latex | Temp rise: +3.6°F | Rating: 4.6/5

Latex has an open-cell structure that stays noticeably cooler than memory foam, and this pillow uses GOLS-certified organic latex with a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover — no synthetic foam, adhesives or flame retardants. The loft is built specifically for side sleepers.

The trade-off: the loft is fixed, so fit depends on getting the right size for your frame, and it's heavier and firmer than most people expect.

Best for: Hot side sleepers who want a natural, certified pillow that won't flatten.

Read our full Naturepedic review →

---

5. DreamyBlue Signature — Best Gel Foam Pillow for Side and Back Sleepers

Price: $59–$79 | Type: Gel memory foam | Temp rise: +4.6°F | Rating: 4.3/5

A medium-loft gel foam pillow that runs about 2.7°F cooler than plain solid memory foam in our testing. The breathable cover wicks moisture, off-gassing clears fast, and it comes with a 60-night trial.

The trade-off: gel doesn't fully eliminate heat retention, so very hot sleepers may still find it warm. The loft is fixed, and the cover is spot-clean only.

Best for: Side and back sleepers who want a cooler foam pillow at a mid-range price.

Read our full DreamyBlue review →

---

6. Weekender Cooling Gel Memory Foam — Best Budget Cooling Pillow

Price: $29–$39 | Type: Ventilated gel memory foam | Temp rise: +4.8°F | Rating: 4.1/5

The cheapest genuine memory foam pillow in our range, with a gel infusion and ventilated construction that keep it cooler than non-gel foam. The velour cover is removable and machine washable, and the foam is CertiPUR-US certified.

The trade-off: it's the warmest pick here, response is slow for combination sleepers, and the loft is fixed.

Best for: Budget buyers who want a foam pillow that runs cooler than the standard version.

Read our full Weekender review →

---

Comparison at a Glance

---

Pillows to Skip if You Sleep Hot

These are good pillows that simply aren't built to stay cool. They're the warmest in our range, so choose them only if heat isn't your issue:

• TEMPUR-Ergo Neck Pillow (+5.6°F) — the warmest we've tested. It's a targeted cervical pillow, and dense TEMPUR foam holds heat.
• TEMPUR-Cloud (+5.1°F) — a soft, cradling pillow whose slow, close-fitting foam warms up over the night.
• Boll & Branch Down Alternative — a lovely plush, hypoallergenic down-alternative, but in our review it ran warmer than shredded-foam pillows, so hot sleepers should look at the picks above instead.
• Eli & Elm Ergonomic (+4.4°F) — a molded foam contour that's excellent for side-sleeper alignment but runs warmer than shredded or latex options.

If you like these pillows for neck support but sleep hot, see our Best Pillow for Neck Pain guide for cooler alternatives such as the Coop Cool+.

---

How to Choose a Cooling Pillow

If you overheat easily and budget allows: the Purple Harmony is the coolest option, full stop.

If you need to adjust loft as well as stay cool: the Coop Cool+ is the best combination, and the Nuzzle is the value version.

If you want a natural, certified material: the Naturepedic latex pillow is the pick, and the Latex Pillow Guide explains Dunlop versus Talalay and solid versus shredded.

If you're on a tight budget: the Weekender is the cheapest cooling foam pillow, and the Nuzzle set gives you two adjustable pillows for close to the price of one.

Match it to your sleep position: side sleepers need enough loft to fill the shoulder gap (Cool+, Nuzzle, Naturepedic), back sleepers do well with medium loft (DreamyBlue, Purple Harmony), and stomach sleepers need a low loft, which an adjustable pillow with some fill removed can provide.

---

How to Sleep Cooler With Any Pillow

A cooling pillow works best as part of a cooler sleep setup:

• Keep the bedroom cool. The Sleep Foundation covers the temperature range most people sleep best in; see Sleep Foundation: Best Temperature for Sleep.
• Use a breathable pillowcase. Lightweight cotton or similar breathable weaves let heat escape better than thick or synthetic fabrics.
• Wash pillows and covers regularly. Sweat, oils and dust make a pillow feel hotter over time. Check each pillow's care instructions, since some foam cores can't go in a machine.
• Replace flat, worn pillows. A pillow that has broken down loses the airflow it had when new.

If your mattress is also part of the problem, read our Best Cooling Mattress guide and Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cooling pillows actually work?

Yes, but the amount varies a lot. In our testing the coolest pillow ran about 4°F cooler than the warmest at the two-hour mark. Pillows with open structures (shredded fill, grids, latex) and cooling covers made the biggest difference; gel infusion helped less.

What is the best cooling pillow for hot sleepers?

The Purple Harmony ran coolest in our testing at +1.4°F above room temperature. If you want an adjustable pillow, the Coop Cool+ is the best combination of cooling and fit.

Is gel memory foam cooler than regular memory foam?

Yes, measurably. The gel foam pillows we tested ran cooler than plain memory foam, but they still ran warmer than shredded-fill and latex pillows.

Is latex cooler than memory foam?

Generally, yes. Latex's open-cell structure lets air move through it, and the latex pillows we tested ran cooler than the solid memory foam ones.

What's the best cooling pillow for side sleepers?

The Coop Cool+ (adjustable) and the Naturepedic Organic Latex (fixed loft built for side sleepers) both fill the shoulder-to-head gap while staying cool.

What is the best cooling pillow for night sweats?

Start with the coolest options: the Purple Harmony, the Coop Cool+, or the Nuzzle. Also keep the room cool and wash the pillow and pillowcase regularly. If night sweats are frequent or come with other symptoms, talk to a doctor, since a pillow can't treat an underlying cause.

How often should I replace a cooling pillow?

It depends on the material: latex and quality foam last longest, while fibre pillows flatten sooner. Replace any pillow that stays folded when you fold it in half, no longer holds your head at the right height, or won't clean up.

Can I machine wash a cooling pillow?

Some yes, some no. The Coop Cool+ and Boll & Branch are machine washable; the Purple Harmony and most solid foam pillows should be spot-cleaned. Always check the care label first.

---

The Bottom Line

For the coolest sleep, buy the Purple Harmony if you can afford it. For the best mix of cooling and adjustability, the Coop Cool+ is the pick, and the Nuzzle delivers most of that at a much lower price for two pillows. If you're on a tight budget, the Weekender is the cheapest cooling foam pillow, and if you want a natural material, choose the Naturepedic latex pillow.

Browse all pillow reviews →

---

Related Guides

• Best Pillow for Neck Pain
• Best Pillow Under $100
• Latex Pillow Guide
• Best Cooling Mattress
• Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers

---

Sources and Further Reading

• Sleep Foundation: Best Temperature for Sleep — how room and bedding temperature affect sleep
• CertiPUR-US — the certification program for polyurethane foam
• UL GREENGUARD Certification — low chemical emissions certification
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 — textile testing for harmful substances
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) — the standard behind organic textile certification