5 Best Cooling Pillows of 2026: Sleep Expert Approved

Key takeaways from our testing

Reasonably priced and you can try before you buy. We tested the medium firmness model of the Buffy Cloud Pillow. It’s the least expensive cooling pillow on this list at $50 for a standard size. And while other companies on this list offer a free trial of their pillows, but still charge you right away, this company offers a free seven-night trial before payment is required. If you select this pillow and check out on its website, you’ll see a temporary hold on your card, which may appear as "pending" or "processing." But the charge does not go through until after seven nights. If you want to return the pillow before the seventh night, you’d just email hello@buffy.co, and the company removes the hold. The company also offers a 50-night trial period that allows you to get a refund of your purchase price, which is the second-longest trial period on this list. Plus, this item has other strengths. Donna said it felt "snuggly" and said it offered comfort without sacrificing support. She also said the pillow's softness could make it suitable for placement between the knees at night.

Above-average cooling. This pillow has a TENCEL cover, which is a fabric designed to wick moisture and improve airflow. Donna said the Buffy Cloud Pillow felt slightly cool to the touch, so she gave it an above-average rating for cooling. In our cooling gun test, this pillow retained 8.6 degrees of heat, which resulted in a very good score. While that’s 3.3 degrees higher than our best overall cooling pillow, it’s still an above-average cooling performance. 

Medium model may be too high for some stomach sleepers and could be difficult to clean. This pillow is available in three firmness options: soft, medium and firm, with firm having the most fill. We tested the medium firmness model, which Donna said was perfect for back sleepers and near-perfect for side sleepers. And while she described the Buffy Cloud Pillow as plush and compressible, she said she felt some neck strain while lying on her stomach. “I like this on my stomach, but it does feel a tad too high for this position,” she said. Buffy says the soft option is best for stomach sleepers because it is the thinnest and has some give that lets the head sink into it. Another con? The cover is not removable, so you can’t wash the pillow’s surface in this way. The entire pillow, however, is machine washable. 

Best Latex: Saatva Latex Pillow

Score: 9.1 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Shredded latex filling feels plush
• Near-top-level cooling
• Relieves pressure for back sleepers

Cons

• May be too low for some side sleepers
• Most expensive pillow on this list

Features

• Material: Organic cotton cover
• Fill: Shredded natural latex
• Loft (height): About 4 to 7 inches
• Firmness: Plush

Key takeaways from our testing

Shredded fill conforms to the head. If you want a pillow that molds to the shape of the head and neck, the Saatva Latex Pillow may be worth considering. We tested the standard loft, which is about 4 to 5 inches tall. It has a shredded fill made of natural latex that tester Bryan said helped cradle his head and neck. Natural latex tends to be a more durable and responsive material, and this product’s shredded construction may contribute to its breathability. And while this item did not perform as well as the Helix Cooling Memory Foam Pillow in our testing, it still earned an admirable temperature-regulation score by retaining 7.5 degrees of heat. Donna said the pillow felt "subtly cool" when she lay on it.

Support and cushion for back sleepers. Bryan gave the Saatva Latex pillow a solid score for pressure relief for back sleepers. He said his spine felt aligned and that the pillow helped ease his back pain. In addition to the shredded latex core, this pillow has a plush fill layer, which Bryan said was soft and fluffy. "I like the profile and height for back sleeping in particular," he said. He said he was comfortable when positioned on his stomach as well and gave it a satisfactory score for stomach sleeping.

May not be ideal for some side sleepers. Bryan said the standard height was not high enough to sleep comfortably on his side, resulting in a mediocre score for this pillow in this sleeping position. Some side sleepers may want to try the taller model. The high model is roughly 6 to 7 inches tall, compared to the standard model's 4 to 5 inches. Another drawback? No matter the height, this pillow is the most expensive on this list at $165 for a standard size. You may want to consider the Buffy Cloud Pillow if you’re looking for a value option. For more on Saatva, see our Saatva mattress review.

Best for Side Sleepers: Brooklinen Marlow Pillow

Score: 9.5 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Adjustable firmness 
• Relieves pressure for side sleepers
• Very good cooling performance
• Longest trial period on the list

Cons

• Not machine washable
• Zippers may be difficult to use for some people 

Features

• Material: Cover is made of cotton; mesh gussets are made of polyester 
• Fill: Memory foam, polyester 
• Loft (height): Adjustable
• Firmness: Adjustable

Key takeaways from our testing

High marks for side sleeping pressure relief. This pillow features an adjustable design controlled by zippers on either side. For the plushest feel, you’d unzip both sides. For a medium feel, you’d zip it halfway. For the firmest feel, you’d zip it closed fully. Tester Donna said the ability to adjust the height and firmness via the zippers made this pillow very appealing. She favored the plush, open-zipper feel — especially for side sleeping — and gave it a perfect score in this position. She said the pillow conformed to the shape of her neck and head without feeling too firm on her face. "It's very versatile for different people and positions," she said, giving it a standout score for back sleeping and a near-top-level score for stomach sleeping.

Breathable comfort with mesh side panel. In testing, this pillow earned an impressive cooling score, retaining only 6.5 degrees of Donna’s body heat during testing. This was the second-best temperature regulation score on the list, behind the Helix Cooling Memory Foam Pillow that retained 5.3 degrees of heat. Its cooling performance during our testing may be due in part to the mesh side panels and adjustable side zippers. Donna said keeping the zippers open helped with airflow. While she said she did not feel any active cooling sensations from this pillow, she also said she did not feel warm when using it.

Spot-clean only and zipper adjustments could be challenging. Unlike other pillows on this list, the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow does not have a removable cover and is not machine washable. The company recommends spot cleaning. Donna said she liked to wash her pillows periodically and disliked these limitations. Older adults who also prefer machine-washable pillows may want to consider a different option. Another potential issue? Donna noted that the zippers may be difficult to use for people with dexterity issues since she said the zipper was slightly difficult for her to open or close at times.

Best Memory Foam: Nectar Tri-Comfort Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow

Score: 9.1 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Feels cool to the touch
• Adjustable firmness controlled by zippers
• Above-average pressure relief

Cons

• Cover is not removable or machine washable
• Silky cover may be slick

Features

• Material: Poly-blend cover
• Fill: Memory foam and microfiber down alternative
• Loft (height): 6 inches
• Firmness: Adjustable

Key takeaways from our testing

A cooling cover you can feel. The Nectar Tri-Comfort Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow features a quilted cool-to-the-touch cover designed to wick heat and moisture away during sleep. Tester Donna said the pillow felt notably "cold" during testing. "I would definitely recommend this to hot sleepers," she said, adding that she did not feel herself warming up at all. She gave the pillow a perfect cooling score. This pillow also has mesh side panels when the zippers are fully open, which may contribute to its impressive cooling performance.

Adjustable design relieves pressure. Like the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow, the Nectar Tri-Comfort Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow features a zippered design for adjusting firmness. When both zippers are closed, the pillow is at its firmest. When one zipper is open, it is a medium firmness. When both zippers are open, it is at its softest. Bryan said his spine and neck felt aligned when lying on his back. "I like that it doesn't go flat when I lie on it," he said, adding that it compressed a bit to relieve pressure but still was firm enough to support his neck. Bryan gave this pillow a near-perfect score for back sleeping pressure relief and an above-average score for side and stomach sleeping.

Slippery cooling cover and limited cleansing options. We don’t test pillows with pillowcases. During our assessments, Bryan said this cover felt slick and "manmade" compared to something like an organic cotton cover. Pillow covers that feature active cooling fibers tend to have an almost silky feel. It is often a trade-off for the cooling performance, which Bryan said was the best feature of the pillow. Another downside? The cover is not removable or machine washable. Nectar recommends you spot clean this pillow with mild soap and water. Here again, if you prefer to machine wash your pillows, this one may not be the best fit. 

Want to learn more about Nectar? Read our Nectar mattress review.

How we tested the best cooling pillows

We started our process by researching the market. Which cooling pillows are popular and why? Which companies have the best customer reviews — and are the reviews legitimate? After completing our research, consulting the results of surveys and focus groups and talking with medical experts, we narrowed our list from 20 pillows to the 10 we tested in our lab.

To identify these products’ strengths and weaknesses, we used controlled tests to assess features like sinkage and the resulting pressure relief, ease of care and temperature regulation. Then we recruited two testers, ages 60 and 62, to give us their unbiased feedback. They answered questions like: Did the pillow feel like it warmed up? How easy is it to adjust the height or firmness of the pillow? Does your spine feel well aligned? The models that excelled in our tests made our list of the best pillows. 

For more details on our process, see our mattress and sleep products testing methodology.

How to choose the best cooling pillows

Pillows can have a meaningful impact on sleep quality, particularly for older adults who may not have replaced theirs in several years. 

“The pillow's job is to keep the head, neck and spine in neutral alignment,” says Ashley Katzenback, a doctor of physical therapy at Cape Concierge Physical Therapy in Plymouth, Massachusetts. If your pillow does not do that effectively, you may wake up with a stiff or achy back. If you have had your pillow for longer than three years and it no longer feels comfortable, it may be time to consider a replacement.

For example, our 2026 AARP sleep accessories survey of 300 adults ages 50 and older who had bought a pillow in the last three years found that the top reasons respondents bought a new pillow were that their old one was no longer comfortable (37 percent), they were not sleeping well (28 percent) or they were experiencing pain and thought a new pillow might help (20 percent).

That said, while a new pillow may support comfort and spinal alignment, these products are unlikely to resolve chronic sleep problems on their own. So how do you know which cooling pillow is right for you? You may want to consider the following factors to help guide your comparison of cooling pillows.

Cooling features

Pillows vary in cooling features and performance. For older adults who want active cooling sensations, Katzenback says to look for a pillow with a cover that feels instantly cool. She says this type of cover usually uses a phase-change material in its construction, which is a type of material that absorbs and releases heat, similar to the way ice absorbs heat as it melts. "That immediate cool-to-the-touch sensation when you flip a pillow to the 'cool side' — the cover essentially maintains that feeling for longer," she says. 

You may also want to look for materials like TENCEL or cotton, or designs like mesh sides or shredded fill, as these features can help with cooling by promoting airflow.

Sleeping position and pillow height

Katzenback says that as we age, we lose water content in our spinal discs, which causes them to flatten and results in less spinal flexibility. Because of this issue, she says to choose a pillow that conforms to the neck. A good starting point is to consider your sleeping position, since the head and neck need different levels of support depending on how you sleep.

While individual preferences may vary, expert recommendations for pillow height based on sleeping position appear below.

• Side sleepers may benefit from a higher loft. Many older adults who sleep on their sides may benefit from a taller pillow that bridges the distance between their shoulders and head. Katzenback says pillows five inches or taller are usually recommended for the average side sleeper. If a pillow is too flat for side sleeping, it may cause the head to extend down to meet the pillow, creating tension in the neck.
• Back sleepers may fare best with a medium loft. Katzenback suggests that older adults who sleep on their backs aim for a medium height, which is around four inches. This height typically cradles the head and neck without pushing the chin toward the chest or straining neck muscles, which can happen with a pillow that is too tall.
• Stomach sleepers might prefer a lower loft. In general, stomach sleeping is considered the least favorable sleeping position for spinal alignment because it tends to strain the neck and shoulder muscles. If that is the most comfortable position for you, however, Katzenback says to look for a thin pillow or no pillow at all to limit spinal strain.
• Combination sleepers. Older adults who change positions when they sleep may want to choose a pillow that aligns with their most frequent sleeping position. 

Adjustability 

As we just noted, a pillow’s ability to adjust may be especially helpful for combination sleepers. In addition, if you’re not sure how high you want to go — or if you’d prefer to customize this sleep accessory — an adjustable pillow that lets you tailor height or firmness also may be worth considering. In this review, for instance, the Brooklinen Marlow Pillow and the Nectar Tri-Comfort Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow have side zippers you can open or close to adjust height and firmness.

Filling

A pillow’s fill influences how it feels. (Say that three times fast.) And pillows can be filled with different materials, including memory foam, down alternative, latex foam and down. 

Memory foam pillows often provide a cradling comfort that conforms to the shape of the head and neck. Latex foam pillows tend to compress less than memory foam because the material is highly responsive. Down and down alternative pillows often compress the most and have a cloud-like feel. 

So which fill could be best for you? In our survey of 300 adults ages 50 and older who had bought a pillow in the last three years, 54 percent of respondents chose this material in the make of their pillows. But you have many options, and the best fill for you may depend on your needs and preferences.

How much do the best cooling pillows cost?

The best cooling pillows on this list range from $50 to $165 per standard-sized pillow, and all are sold individually. The Buffy Cloud Pillow is the least expensive at $50 each and the Saatva Latex Pillow is the most expensive at $165 each. 

Some brands offer discounts when you buy more than one pillow at a time. For example, Brooklinen sells the Marlow Pillow for $65, but buying two pillows brings a 20 percent off the $130 total. If you buy four, you get 30 percent off the $260 total.

You can see a breakdown of standard pricing in the chart below. Note: We’ve listed the starting retail prices, but some companies vary their prices based on the fill amount and size you choose. 

FAQs

Do cooling pillows actually work?

Yes, based on our testing, some cooling pillows work in the sense that they feel cooler to the touch, improve comfort or may keep some sleepers feeling cooler. Using breathable materials such as mesh or cotton, or cooling technology that draws heat away from the body, is key to a cooling pillow’s success. For example, the Helix Cooling Memory Foam Pillow earned a perfect score in temperature regulation. Testers said this pillow’s cooling cover was noticeably effective, and the pillow also features a cooling foam grid.

What material is best for a cooling pillow?

We tested several types of pillows, from latex foam fill to polyester fill to memory foam, all of which earned at least an above-average cooling score. In our assessments, the pillows that delivered the most active cooling sensations for testers featured specialized covers that include fibers such as TENCEL or phase-change materials.

Can memory foam pillows be cooling?

Yes, memory foam pillows can help regulate temperature if they have features such as shredded memory foam fills, copper-infused foams or cooling covers. For example, the Helix Cooling Memory Foam Pillow — the best overall pick on this list — is a non-shredded memory foam pillow that offers cooling benefits through its gel-infused grid layer and GlacioTex cooling cover.

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.