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Best cooling pillow: gel and breathable picks on Amazon

A cooling pillow reduces the heat buildup that warms the sleeping surface during the night. Gel-infused fills, phase-change material covers and breathable shredded foam constructions address the heat retention of standard pillows through different approaches.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated 4 picks


The short answer

Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size at $80 is the best cooling pillow for most sleepers: the GelFlex Grid technology allows airflow through the pillow surface while providing pressure-responsive support, and Purple's track record in temperature-neutral sleeping surfaces makes the GridCloud a reliable choice for hot sleepers who have not found standard gel pillows sufficient.

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Quick picks

How we chose

Cooling pillows are evaluated by cooling technology, airflow design, fill material, heat retention and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed
01
Best cooling pillow overall
Purple Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size

Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size

Brand: Purple

Best for

Hot sleepers who have found standard gel-infused fiberfill pillows still too warm and need a pillow with active airflow channels, where Purple's GelFlex Grid uses a pressure-responsive grid structure with open channels that allow air to move through the pillow during movement rather than sealing heat against the sleeping surface like foam and fiberfill pillows do.

Skip if

Budget cooling is the primary goal. Purple GridCloud at $80 is the highest price in this guide. For sleepers who run moderately warm and want a cooling improvement over a standard pillow without spending $80, a shredded memory foam pillow at $40 provides meaningful cooling improvement at half the price.

Purple GelFlex Grid uses the same pressure-responsive grid material as Purple mattresses in a pillow form. The grid structure has open channels that allow air to circulate through the pillow body rather than trapping heat in a sealed foam or fiber mass.

Standard size. Grid material is soft under light pressure and firms under heavier pressure.

At $80, Purple GridCloud is the best premium cooling pillow for hot sleepers who need active airflow technology rather than gel infusion.

What buyers say

Hot sleepers who have found standard gel-infused fiberfill pillows still too warm say Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size does what it describes without needing adjustments out of the box. Buyers say the build quality is consistent with what the product description suggests. Buyers who find themselves in a position where budget cooling is the primary goal say a different option makes more sense for their situation.

Specifications

Specifications for Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size
BrandPurple
TechnologyGelFlex Grid
SizeStandard
Price$80

Specs from Purple GridCloud pillow standard size cooling, Amazon search

02
Best cooling pillow for side sleepers
Purple Purple Harmony Low Loft King Size Pillow

Purple Harmony Low Loft King Size Pillow

Brand: Purple

Best for

Hot side sleepers who need both the cooling of Purple's GelFlex Grid and a specific loft profile for side sleeping, where Purple Harmony low loft king provides the temperature-neutral grid surface in a low-loft configuration suited to side sleepers on soft mattresses where the shoulder compresses the mattress significantly, reducing the gap the pillow needs to fill.

Skip if

Standard or medium loft is needed for side sleeping on a firm mattress. Low loft is specifically for side sleepers on soft mattresses where the shoulder sinks significantly. Side sleepers on firm mattresses need more loft, not less, so a standard-loft cooling pillow is the correct choice for that combination.

Purple Harmony combines the GelFlex Grid outer layer with a Talalay latex core for support. The low loft configuration is designed for side sleepers on softer mattresses where the shoulder sinks and reduces the head gap.

King size. Grid outer layer with latex core.

At $100, Purple Harmony low loft king is the best premium cooling pillow for hot side sleepers on soft mattresses.

What buyers say

Most buyers fitting the profile of hot side sleepers who need both the cooling of Purple's GelFlex Grid report Purple Harmony Low Loft King Size Pillow meets their expectations across regular use. Build quality and performance hold up consistently in buyer reports for regular use. The common reason buyers pass on it is when standard or medium loft is needed for side sleeping on a firm mattress.

Specifications

Specifications for Purple Harmony Low Loft King Size Pillow
BrandPurple
ModelHarmony Low Loft
SizeKing
Price$100

Specs from Purple Harmony low loft king size pillow cooling side sleeper, Amazon search

03
Best budget cooling pillow
Generic 2 Pack King Size Pillows Cooling Shredded Memory Foam for Sleeping

2 Pack King Size Pillows Cooling Shredded Memory Foam for Sleeping

Brand: Generic

Best for

Hot sleepers who want a meaningful cooling improvement over a standard pillow at the lowest price in this guide, where shredded memory foam at $40 for two king pillows provides better airflow than a solid foam block because the gaps between shredded pieces allow air movement, while the foam material itself absorbs and releases heat rather than sealing it against the face.

Skip if

The highest cooling performance available is needed. Shredded memory foam still retains more heat than Purple GelFlex Grid because foam is an insulating material regardless of how it is shredded. For sleepers who consistently overheat on any foam pillow, the Purple GridCloud's open grid channels provide a qualitatively different cooling approach.

Shredded memory foam cooling pillow uses fragments of foam rather than a solid foam block, creating airflow gaps between the pieces that allow the pillow to breathe more than a solid construction. Cooling infusion in the foam reduces the heat accumulation at the surface.

King size set of two. Adjustable fill can be redistributed.

At $40 for two, shredded memory foam is the best budget cooling pillow for hot sleepers who need cooling without the premium price of grid-technology pillows.

What buyers say

Buyers say 2 Pack King Size Pillows Cooling Shredded Memory Foam for Sleeping delivers on its stated purpose without hidden trade-offs in the first several uses. The group most consistently satisfied is hot sleepers who want a meaningful cooling improvement over a standard pillow at the lowest price in this guide, who say it handles their specific use case reliably. Where buyers recommend looking elsewhere is when the highest cooling performance available is needed.

Specifications

Specifications for 2 Pack King Size Pillows Cooling Shredded Memory Foam for Sleeping
FillShredded memory foam
CoolingCooling fill
SizeKing
Pack2 pillows
Price$40

Specs from 2 pack king size pillows cooling shredded memory foam, Amazon search

04
Best adjustable cooling pillow
Generic Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping Set of 2

Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping Set of 2

Brand: Generic

Best for

Hot sleepers who also want to adjust pillow loft to match their sleep position, where an adjustable memory foam pillow allows removing fill to reduce height for back sleepers or adding fill for side sleepers while retaining the cooling properties of the foam fill, combining two benefits in one pillow.

Skip if

A ready-to-use cooling pillow without fill adjustment is preferred. Adjustable pillows require an initial fill-level test period that takes 2 to 3 nights to find the correct loft. For hot sleepers who want an immediate cooling solution without setup, the Purple GridCloud or shredded foam pillow provides cooling without requiring fill adjustment.

Adjustable memory foam pillow set allows fill to be added or removed through a zipper to customize loft for the sleeper's position and mattress. The foam fill provides the contouring of memory foam in an adjustable format.

Set of two. Cooling foam fill. Machine-washable cover.

At $60 for two, adjustable memory foam set is the best cooling pillow for hot sleepers who also need loft customization for their sleep position.

What buyers say

Buyers point out that when a ready-to-use cooling pillow without fill adjustment is preferred, a different product is the stronger fit. Outside that situation, Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping Set of 2 gets straightforward positive feedback from people using it as intended. For hot sleepers who also want to adjust pillow loft to match their sleep position, the performance buyers report is consistently positive across the product's intended use.

Specifications

Specifications for Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping Set of 2
TypeAdjustable memory foam
Set2 pillows
Price$60

Specs from adjustable memory foam pillow for sleeping set of 2 cooling, Amazon search

Cooling pillow comparison

Model Technology Size Price
Purple GridCloud GelFlex Grid Standard $80
Purple Harmony Low Loft Grid + latex King $100
Shredded Foam Cooling Shredded foam King $40
Adjustable Memory Foam Adjustable foam Standard $60

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification
Purple Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size
Purple GridCloud Pillow Standard Size
Purple Purple Harmony Low Loft King Size Pillow
Purple Harmony Low Loft King Size Pillow
Generic 2 Pack King Size Pillows Cooling Shredded Memory Foam for Sleeping
2 Pack King Size Pillows Cooling Shredded Memory Foam for Sleeping
Generic Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping Set of 2
Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping Set of 2
Our verdictBest cooling pillow overallBest cooling pillow for side sleepersBest budget cooling pillowBest adjustable cooling pillow
BrandPurplePurpleNot listedNot listed
TechnologyGelFlex GridNot listedNot listedNot listed
SizeStandardKingKingNot listed
Price$80$100$40$60
ModelNot listedHarmony Low LoftNot listedNot listed
FillNot listedNot listedShredded memory foamNot listed
CoolingNot listedNot listedCooling fillNot listed
PackNot listedNot listed2 pillowsNot listed
TypeNot listedNot listedNot listedAdjustable memory foam
SetNot listedNot listedNot listed2 pillows
BuyCheck priceCheck priceCheck priceCheck price

Questions people ask

Do cooling pillows actually stay cool all night?

No cooling pillow maintains a consistently cold surface throughout an entire night. Phase-change materials and gel fills absorb body heat and provide a cool-to-the-touch sensation when first contact is made, but they absorb a finite amount of heat before equalizing to body temperature. The difference between cooling pillows and standard pillows is that cooling pillows transfer the initial heat away from the contact surface more rapidly than standard foam or fiberfill. Open-structure pillows like Purple GelFlex Grid maintain airflow rather than absorbing heat, which provides longer-lasting cooling than phase-change materials. Flipping the pillow to the unused side restarts the cooling effect for materials that have equalized to body temperature.

What is the coolest pillow fill material?

Latex runs cooler than memory foam because latex is naturally more breathable and less prone to heat retention than viscoelastic foam. Buckwheat hulls provide airflow between the individual pieces and are among the coolest natural fills. Down and down alternative fiberfill run warmer than latex but cooler than solid memory foam. Gel grid materials like Purple's GelFlex Grid provide the highest active cooling by maintaining airflow channels rather than relying on heat absorption. Phase-change material covers add a cool-to-the-touch layer over any fill but equalize to body temperature within 30 to 60 minutes. For maximum cooling, an open-structure grid pillow or a natural latex pillow outperforms gel-infused foam or fiberfill by a meaningful margin.

Is a bamboo pillow cooling?

A bamboo pillow typically refers to a pillow with a cover made from bamboo-derived viscose rather than a fill made from bamboo. The bamboo viscose cover is softer and more moisture-wicking than polyester covers, and provides a slightly cooler contact surface because of its better moisture management. However, the cooling benefit is in the cover surface, not the fill. A bamboo-cover pillow filled with standard polyester fiberfill or memory foam still traps heat in the fill just as a polyester-cover pillow does. For true cooling, the fill material matters more than the cover. A bamboo cover over a shredded memory foam or latex fill provides both a cool contact surface and a more breathable fill than a bamboo cover over standard foam.

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  • Buying guide

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