If you wake up turning your pillow over to find the cool side, you are not alone. Hot sleeping is one of the most searched sleep problems, and the pillow is often part of the cause. This guide explains what makes the best cooling pillow for hot sleepers, so you can tell real cooling from marketing.
Why your pillow gets hot
Your head releases a lot of heat, and a pillow sits right against it for hours. Dense materials hold that heat, and fabrics that do not breathe trap moisture. Traditional memory foam is supportive precisely because it is dense, which is also why it can feel warm. We cover the science in why memory foam sleeps warm, and what actually helps.
What makes a cooling pillow work
Gel-infused memory foam
Gel infusion helps the foam draw heat away from the surface and spread it out, so the spot under your head does not warm up as quickly. You keep the support of memory foam with less of the heat build-up.
Airflow
Foam that lets air move through it releases heat faster. Ventilated designs and lighter structures help the pillow stay closer to room temperature.
A breathable cover
The cover is the part your skin actually touches. Bamboo-derived viscose is popular for cooling pillows because it feels smooth and cool, breathes well and helps wick moisture away.
A cover you can wash
Hot sleepers sweat more, and a washable cover keeps the pillow fresh. Here is how to wash a memory foam pillow without ruining it.
Cooling claims to be careful with
- Ice cold all night. No pillow stays cold for eight hours. The goal is a surface that warms up more slowly and releases heat more easily.
- Cooling cover, regular foam. A cool-feeling cover on top of a dense, heat-trapping core only helps for the first few minutes.
- Cooling with no washable cover. Sweat and oils build up and reduce breathability over time.
Our pick: a cooling gel memory foam pillow
The VaVerto Cooling Gel Memory Foam Pillow combines the features hot sleepers need. Its gel-infused memory foam adapts to your head and neck while helping regulate temperature through the night, and its breathable bamboo-derived viscose cover enhances airflow. The cover zips off for washing, and you can choose Standard, Queen or King, single or 2-pack.
It is designed for side, back and stomach sleepers, so you get cooler sleep without giving up support. Not sure which position you sleep in? Start with our side sleeper or back sleeper guide.
More ways to sleep cooler
- Keep your bedroom cool and dark, and run a fan for airflow.
- Choose breathable sheets and pillowcases over heavy synthetics.
- Take a warm shower an hour or so before bed. Your body cools down afterwards, which can help you drift off.
- Avoid heavy meals and alcohol right before bed.
Sleep on the cool side
Gel-infused memory foam and a breathable bamboo-derived viscose cover that zips off for washing.
Shop the cooling gel memory foam pillowFAQ
Do cooling pillows really work?
Good ones do. Look for gel-infused foam plus a breathable cover. Together they slow heat build-up and help it escape.
Is gel memory foam cooler than regular memory foam?
Generally yes. Gel helps move heat away from the surface, so it feels cooler for longer than standard foam.
What is the best cooling pillow for side sleepers?
One that combines cooling materials with enough loft to fill the shoulder gap. See our best memory foam pillow for side sleepers guide.
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