Best cooling pillow: how cooling pillows work, and every one we sell compared
Hi, we’re John and Mimi. Your pillow sits right against your face and neck, so it’s often the first place you feel heat at night. “Cooling pillow” can mean very different things, though: a phase change coating, a gel side, ventilated foam, a cooling fabric cover, or just a fill that breathes. Here’s what each one does, what no pillow can do, and how every pillow we carry stacks up, with today’s prices.
General shopping advice, not medical advice. If you often wake up soaked in sweat, or you have neck or shoulder pain, talk to your doctor; a pillow won’t fix that.
The short answer
- Most cooling features in one pillow: the Cryo-Chill Phase Change (queen $75 today). Its listing names a phase change (PCM) coating, a cooling-infused ventilated memory foam core and a cooling zip-off cover, with a 4.5" loft that suits many back sleepers.
- Side sleeper who runs warm: the Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow ($60): PCM coating, gel-infused ventilated foam, a cooling nylon cover and a shoulder cutout, 5" high.
- Want a cool side to flip to: the Bamboo Charcoal & Cooling Gel (two-sided) has a cool-to-the-touch gel top on one side.
- Not sure what height you need: the Reactive Shredded (adjustable loft) pairs a cooling-fiber cover with fill you can take out.
- On a budget: the Essentials Dual Air-Foam (air foam, $49) and Essentials Memory Foam/Blend (shredded fill, $38) are both listed for better airflow.
- Sleep on your stomach? Height comes first. Our only low pillow, the Low Profile Memory Foam (2.95"), isn’t sold as a cooling pillow, but its foam is ventilated.
Today we have 10 pillows in stock, from $38, all with free shipping.
How cooling pillows work, in plain English
This is general information, not a lab test. Cooling pillows use one or more of these ideas:
- Phase change material (PCM). A coating that soaks up heat as it warms and gives it back as it cools. The Cryo-Chill listing describes it as passive temperature regulation. It usually feels cool to the touch at first.
- Gel. Gel-infused foam or a gel layer feels cool when you first lie down. That’s why a two-sided pillow lets you flip to the cool side.
- Ventilated or air foam. Holes or an open-cell “air” foam let heat and moisture move out instead of building up under your head. Solid memory foam tends to hold warmth more than other fills, so this matters most on foam pillows.
- Shredded or fiber fill. Loose pieces of foam or fiber leave air gaps. That’s why shredded and fiber pillows often feel less warm than one solid block.
- A cooling cover. Fabrics like cooling nylon feel cool to the touch, and since the cover is what touches your skin, it’s a big part of how a pillow feels.
What no pillow can do: stay cold all night. Once a gel or PCM layer warms to your skin, the cool feeling fades, so over a whole night, airflow and a breathable cover usually matter more. The rest of the bed matters too: the mattress, your sheets and the temperature of the room.
Every pillow we sell, by cooling feature
Read live from our catalog. Features are only what each product listing names; a dash means the listing doesn’t mention it, not that it’s missing. Prices are for one pillow, and a dash in a price column means that size isn’t offered or is sold out today.
| Pillow | PCM coating | Cooling cover | Ventilated / airflow | Also listed | Loft / size | Best for | Queen / one size | King |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cryo-Chill Phase Change | ✓ | Cooling zip-off cover (59% recycled polyester, 41% cooling nylon) | Ventilated memory foam | Cryo-Chill-infused cooling memory foam core | 4.5" loft | Back sleepers who run warm | $75 | $79 |
| Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow | ✓ | Machine washable cooling cover (53% cooling nylon, 46% polyester, 1% spandex) | Ventilated memory foam | Gel-infused memory foam; shoulder cutout | 22" × 16" × 5" (one size) | Side sleepers who run warm | $60 | — |
| Reactive Shredded (adjustable loft) | — | Cooling-fiber zip-off cover (59% recycled polyester, 41% cooling nylon) | — | Shredded reactive foam you can remove to set the height | 5" loft (adjustable) | Side or combination sleepers | $77 | $77 |
| Bamboo Charcoal & Cooling Gel (two-sided) | — | — | — | Cool-to-the-touch gel top on one side, bamboo charcoal on the other; molded memory foam | Loft not listed | Flip to the gel side when you’re warm | $70 | $70 |
| Ventilated Copper Infused Memory Foam | — | — | Ventilated for airflow | Copper-infused memory foam, listed as temperature reactive | Loft not listed | Molded foam fans | $65 | $67 |
| Ventilated Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam | — | — | Ventilated for airflow | Bamboo charcoal-infused foam, listed as moisture and odor absorbing | Loft not listed | Molded foam fans | $63 | $65 |
| Essentials Dual Air-Foam | — | — | Air foam, listed for better airflow | — | 28" × 16" × 4" | Back sleepers on a budget | $49 | — |
| Essentials Memory Foam/Blend | — | — | Shredded fill, listed for better airflow | Shredded memory foam and poly blend you can shape | 29" × 19" × 5" | Lowest price | $38 | — |
| Luxury Resort Kapok & 3D Fiber | — | — | Fiber fill (no foam), listed as temperature regulating fibers | 400 thread-count cotton cover “made for breathable comfort” | Queen 30" × 20" × 5"; king 36" × 20" × 5" | Soft, fluffy, shapable feel | $67 | $72 |
| Low Profile Memory Foam | — | — | Ventilated memory foam (3 lb) | 100% lyocell zip-off cover; not sold as a cooling pillow | 2.95" loft; queen 24" × 16" | Stomach sleepers | $65 | — |
Prices are today’s prices with free shipping included; most pillow listings say delivery within 3–5 business days. Most pillow pages also offer case packs of 6 to 12 for guest houses and rentals.
PCM coating is listed on Cryo-Chill Phase Change and Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow. A cooling-fabric cover is listed on Cryo-Chill Phase Change, Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow and Reactive Shredded (adjustable loft). Ventilated foam or an airflow fill is listed on Cryo-Chill Phase Change, Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow, Ventilated Copper Infused Memory Foam, Ventilated Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam, Essentials Dual Air-Foam, Essentials Memory Foam/Blend, Luxury Resort Kapok & 3D Fiber and Low Profile Memory Foam.
Pick by how you sleep (height first, then cooling)
A cool pillow at the wrong height still makes for a bad night, so start with loft. These are general rules of thumb:
- Side sleepers need a higher pillow that fills the space between ear and shoulder: the Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow (5", shoulder cutout, PCM and a cooling cover) or the Reactive Shredded (adjustable loft) with all the fill in. Also see our best mattress for side sleepers guide.
- Back sleepers usually like a medium height: the Cryo-Chill Phase Change (4.5") or, for less, the Essentials Dual Air-Foam (4").
- Stomach sleepers need low and thin: the Low Profile Memory Foam (2.95", ventilated foam). A thick cooling pillow would bend your neck up.
- Combination sleepers: the Reactive Shredded (adjustable loft), since you can take fill out until the height works in every position, under a cooling-fiber cover.
- Prefer soft and fluffy over foam: the Luxury Resort Kapok & 3D Fiber, a kapok and fiber fill with no foam and a cotton cover.
More on loft, fill types and sizes: how to choose a pillow.
Gel, PCM or airflow: which is best?
There’s no single winner. As a general guide:
- If the pillow feels hot the moment you lie down, a cool-to-the-touch surface helps most: PCM, a gel side or a cooling cover.
- If you wake up warm and damp a few hours in, airflow matters more: ventilated or air foam, shredded fill, fiber fill and a breathable cover.
- If you want both, pick a pillow that lists both. The Cryo-Chill and the Contoured Side Sleeper each list a PCM coating, ventilated foam and a cooling cover.
Keep the rest of the bed cool too
- The mattress matters more than the pillow. See best cooling mattress and gel memory foam vs. hybrid for hot sleepers.
- Breathable sheets and pillowcases. Our Bamboo Viscose & Cotton Luxury Sheet Set is $89 in queen today, and the Bamboo Cotton Luxury Pillowcases come in a set of 2.
- Keep the layers light. A pillow protector keeps a pillow clean, but a heavy or crinkly layer can cover up a cooling cover. Our pillow protectors list a no-crinkle fabric; see do you need a mattress protector for the mattress side.
- Raising the head a little on an adjustable base feels airier to some people; see zero gravity adjustable bed.
Caring for a cooling pillow
- Wash the cover, not the foam. Most of our pillows list a zip-off cover. The care label on the Contoured Side Sleeper’s cooling cover: machine wash cold on gentle with like colors, non-chlorine bleach only when needed, tumble dry low, don’t iron or dry clean.
- Let a new foam pillow air out. Some foam pillows ship compressed and rolled (the Low Profile listing says so) and need a little time to fluff up.
- Warranty: most of our pillows list a 3-year limited warranty (the Essentials Dual Air-Foam lists 1 year); per the listings, the pillow is guaranteed to return to its original shape or be replaced, and damage from improper care isn’t covered.
When it stays flat or you keep folding it in half, see how often to replace your pillow.
Cryo-Chill Cooling Phase Change Memory Foam Pillow
The pillow with the most cooling features we carry, at a medium height that suits many back sleepers.
- PCM coating that absorbs or releases body heat, per the listing
- Cryo-Chill-infused cooling memory foam, ventilated for breathability
- Cooling zip-off cover (41% cooling nylon)
- 4.5" loft, queen or king
- CertiPUR-US certified foam; 3-year limited warranty
From $75 (Queen) · See sizes & details
Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow
Our pick for side sleepers who run warm: cooling features plus a shape built around your shoulder.
- Ergonomic shoulder cutout
- Gel-infused, ventilated memory foam with a PCM coating
- Machine washable cooling nylon cover
- One size: 22" × 16" × 5"
- CertiPUR-US certified foam; 3-year limited warranty
From $60 (1 Pillow) · See sizes & details
Shop this guide
Pick the height first, then the cooling features.
- Cryo-Chill Cooling Phase Change Memory Foam Pillow, from $75. Back sleepers: PCM coating, ventilated foam and a cooling cover.
- Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow, from $60. Side sleepers: shoulder cutout, PCM and a cooling cover.
- Bamboo Charcoal & Cooling Gel Memory Foam Pillow with Washable Cover, from $70. Two-sided: a cool gel side and a bamboo charcoal side.
- Essentials Dual Air-Foam Pillow - PEAIR-Q, from $49. Budget: air foam listed for better airflow.
Questions we hear a lot
Do cooling pillows really work?
They can help, within limits. Gel, phase change coatings and cooling covers feel cool to the touch when you first lie down, and ventilated foam, shredded fill and breathable covers help heat and moisture move away during the night. No pillow stays cold all night, and your mattress, sheets and room temperature matter too.
What is a phase change (PCM) pillow?
It is a pillow with a phase change material coating, which absorbs body heat as it warms and releases it as it cools, for passive temperature regulation. Our Cryo-Chill and Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper pillows both list a PCM coating, along with ventilated foam and a cooling cover.
What is the best cooling pillow for side sleepers?
Side sleepers need height first: a pillow that fills the space between ear and shoulder. Our Cooling Contoured Side Sleeper Shoulder Pillow is 5 inches high with a shoulder cutout, a PCM coating and a cooling nylon cover. The Reactive Shredded pillow, with a cooling-fiber cover and fill you can remove, is another option.
Is a gel pillow cooler than memory foam?
Gel usually feels cooler to the touch than plain memory foam at first, but the cool feeling fades as it warms to your skin. Over a full night, ventilated or air foam, shredded fill and a breathable cover often matter more. This is general guidance, not a lab test.
Can you wash a cooling pillow?
Wash the cover, not the foam. Most of our pillows list a zip-off cover; the care label on the Contoured Side Sleeper cooling cover says machine wash cold on gentle, tumble dry low, and do not iron or dry clean. A pillow protector helps keep the pillow itself clean.
Still not sure?
Tell John how you sleep, whether you run hot all night or just when you first lie down, and what mattress you have, and he’ll point you to the pillow he’d pick, even if it’s the least expensive one. Text or call 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, take the 60-second mattress quiz, or use Help me choose.
Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. Cooling features, sizes, materials and warranties are from the manufacturer’s product listings; prices and stock are read live from our catalog and update automatically. How-it-works and loft advice is general shopping information, not a lab test. Not medical advice.