Why our testers chose the Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling Pillow as the Best Cooling Pillow Overall

The Nectar Tri-Comfort is the coolest pillow we tested. Its polyethylene cover is designed to remove heat and wick away moisture. And our testers found this to be effective. The pillow also has a memory foam and down-alternative microfiber filling, which one of our testers described as "soft and fluffy." Together these layers earned the pillow a 4/5 for materials. 

When we tested the pillow with a thermal gun before and after use, the Nectar Tri-Comfort increased by just 8 degrees, one of only two pillows to do so. Some pillows warmed up double that amount. “I think this pillow would be a major win for hot sleepers,” one tester said. “I was wowed by how cool the pillow felt.”

Another big benefit of this pillow? The spinal support, according to our testers. Spinal support is a key part of promoting recovery and healthy sleep.² “Regardless of which sleeping position I was in, I felt like my head and neck were in line with the rest of my spine,” said one tester. The pillow is also adjustable in firmness, which makes it versatile enough to support all sleep positions. 

Our testers did wish this pillow was machine washable. The Nectar Tri-Comfort is spot-clean only, which earned it a 3/5 for ease of care.

The Nectar Tri-Comfort Cooling Pillow may not be right for these sleepers:

• People who aren’t able to easily hand-wash a pillow: Cleaning and care is the only area the Nectar Tri-Comfort didn’t score highly in testing. Putting a pillow case on this pillow will prevent most stains. But if cleaning is your top concern, you might want to opt for the machine-washable (but still cooling) Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow.

The Nectar customer experience

• Trial period: 30 nights
• Shipping: Free
• Warranty: 1 year
• Financing: Yes, through Affirm

Customer service

Nectar customer support is available seven days a week. You can contact Nectar customer service by calling 888-863-2827, emailing support@nectarsleep.com, or by using the website's live chat feature.

Why our testers chose the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow as the Best Cooling Pillow for Side Sleepers

Side sleepers create different pressure points when they sleep compared to back or stomach sleepers. Latex is responsive enough to offer proper head and neck support to side sleepers, compressing to fill the gap created at the neck and shoulders. 

“Switching positions is very easy with this pillow,” reported one tester. “There is no shape that the pillow holds when you get up from whatever position you were in earlier.” For this, we awarded the pillow a 4/5 for experience. It missed earning the 5/5 because it’s not adjustable and is slightly too high (6.5”) for stomach sleepers.

During testing, the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow took only 2.18 seconds to return to full loft (pillow height) after we dropped a medicine ball on it. Based on this, you can expect the pillow to quickly respond as you change positions. 

As for cooling, the quilted lyocell cover works together with the shredded Talalay latex to promote airflow. Our thermal gun test revealed this pillow retained a little heat, rising 15 degrees during testing. This is still considered a fair amount of cooling, though you can use it with one of our best cooling sheets to maximize coolness from head to toe. 

When we surveyed older adults about what they look for in pillows and mattress toppers, quality materials topped the list by a wide margin.³ If you feel similarly about quality, the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow won’t disappoint—our testers were impressed by its composition. “I liked this pillow!” one tester said. “I think that it's made with high-quality materials.” 

The Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow may not be right for these sleepers:

Stomach sleepers: While Brooklyn Bedding offers a lower-loft option for this pillow, stomach sleepers might experience neck strain. For a flatter pillow that’s still latex, we recommend the low-loft Saatva Latex option.

The Brooklyn Bedding customer experience

• Trial period: 30 nights
• Shipping: Free
• Warranty: 3 years
• Financing: Yes, Affirm

Customer service

You can contact Brooklyn Bedding customer service by calling 623-624-1222, emailing warranty@brooklynbedding.com or returns@brooklynbedding.com, or by using the website's live chat feature. Brooklyn Bedding is closed on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Why our testers chose the Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow as the Best Cooling Pillow for Night Sweats

The Silk & Snow is machine washable, unlike some of the pillows on our list. If you experience night sweats, you know how important it is to be able to toss your pillow into the laundry in the morning. We did wish the washing instructions were a little more clear on setting and drying time. But it washed well after some educated guesses by our testing team.

In addition to its cooling capabilities, the breathable layers may help the Silk & Snow stay dry through the night. Its shreds of memory foam and microfiber are housed in a breathable cotton case and a luxurious duvet-type topper. “I can feel myself continuing to sink,” said one tester of the plush duvet. “When I slept on it throughout the night, I woke up feeling very refreshed.” That restorative feeling earned the Silk & Snow a 4.5/5 from our testing team for experience. 

Part of that experience score was the pillow’s cooling ability. Rising only 11.6 degrees during testing, the Silk & Snow is one of the most cooling pillows we tested. It’s also one of the most supportive pillows for combination sleepers. “I recommend this pillow to combination sleepers who like to toss and turn onto their side and back,” one tester said. “Sleeping throughout the night on this pillow was super comfortable for my shoulders and neck on both my side and back. It also helped get this pillow on our list of the best pillows for neck pain.

The Silk & Snow Adjustable Pillow may not be right for these sleepers:

• People who want a firm pillow: Our testers found the Silk & Snow rather plush, noting its squishy feel. If you prefer something firmer that still cools, you might appreciate the Brooklyn Bedding Luxe Cooling Gel Pillow. 
• Stomach sleepers: The loft on the Silk & Snow was a little high for our stomach-sleeping testers, who said they still enjoyed the pillow more than they expected in that position. But the Silk & Snow is also an adjustable pillow. You can remove most of the filling to make it flatter and more comfortable for stomach sleeping. 

The Silk & Snow pillow customer experience

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Shipping: Free
• Warranty: 3 years
• Financing: Yes, Affirm

Customer service

You can contact Silk & Snow customer service by calling 1-877-672-2882, emailing hello@silkandsnow.com, or through the website's live chat feature.

Why our testers chose the Saatva Latex Pillow as the Best Cooling Latex Pillow

The Saatva pillow's inner core is packed with shredded latex, a mildew-resistant natural fiber that's designed to breathe. This layer is surrounded by a plush fill and topped off with a washable cover made of moisture-wicking organic cotton. 

“This pillow is made with very nice materials,” said one tester. “I would consider this a luxury pillow.” The care instructions for the Saatva Latex scored a 5/5 for being straightforward and easy to follow.

Latex pillows tend to be very bouncy and responsive. But that's not really the case with the Saatva Latex pillow. It has more of a soft, sinking feel, which causes the pillow to respond a little slower. During testing, the Saatva Latex took 18.25 seconds to somewhat return to its original shape. It lost 3 inches of loft during the test. “But it’s the right amount of sinkage to be comfortable,” said a tester.

The Saatva Latex Pillow may not be right for these sleepers:

• Sleepers on a budget: The Saatva Latex is the most expensive pillow we tested. If you’re looking for similar high quality and cooling capabilities that won’t break the bank, you might like the Silk & Snow, our Best Cooling Pillow for Night Sweats.
• People who want an adjustable loft: Saatva offers you two height options for the Latex pillow, but you have to choose during checkout. The pillow is not convertible. If you want a cooling pillow that is convertible, get the Nectar Tri-Comfort, our Best Cooling Pillow Overall.

The Saatva customer experience

• Trial period: 45 nights
• Shipping: Free delivery
• Warranty: Limited lifetime
• Financing: Yes, through Affirm

Customer service

You can contact Saatva customer service by calling 860-452-3977, emailing info@saatvamattress.com, or through the chat feature on the website.                                                                                         

Why our testers chose the Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow as the Best Adjustable Cooling Pillow 

What makes the Coop Sleep Goods pillow adjustable is the same thing that makes it cooling: the microfiber and shredded latex fill. This fill mix is designed to be breathable, and our testers confirmed it cushioned them well during testing. They awarded the Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow 5/5 for experience. “I give this pillow full marks,” said one tester. “Even when I take out some of the material, it’s soft and comforting. I like how you can mold the pillow around your head.”

The Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow is not cool to the touch. But it doesn’t retain heat nearly as much as other pillows we tested. The pillow rose 12.1 degrees after use, according to our thermal gun. The pillow’s quilted cover is designed for airflow, as is its breathable fill. But testers described it as “fuzzy,” which may not feel as cool to some.

Our testers gave Coop Sleep Goods a 5/5 for care instructions because the pillow is machine washable and the instructions are clearer than those of most competitors. “What really surprised me was that you can actually wash the inner filling, which typically is non-washable or spot-clean only,” said one tester.

The Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow may not be right for these sleepers:

• People who prefer a smooth sleeping surface: The Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow’s fuzzy cover, while comfortable on the skin, might not feel as nice if you want something cool to the touch.
• Stomach sleepers: While the filling and therefore the loft of the Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow is adjustable, stomach sleepers might experience neck strain even after scooping most of the filling out.
• People who don’t like clutter: The Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow is adjustable only if you keep the extra fill shreds in a baggie somewhere so you can refill the pillow later. Otherwise, you’re stuck at the pillow loft you created when you scooped all the filling out. For those who want their cooling pillow to stay adjustable without creating clutter, get the Nectar Tri-Comfort, our Best Cooling Pillow Overall.

The Coop Sleep Goods customer experience

• Trial period: 100 nights
• Shipping: Free
• Warranty: 5 years
• Financing: Not available

Customer service

You can contact Coop customer service by calling 888-316-1886, emailing customerservice@coopsleepgoods.com, or by using the website's live chat feature.

Why our testers chose the Luxome LAYR as the Best Cooling Memory Foam Pillow

The quality materials in the LAYR helped it become a top contender for best pillows for back sleepers. Those same materials—a down insert, a shredded foam insert, and a firm foam insert—earned it a 5/5 from our testers. “It has a super comfortable outer layer, to the point where I could sleep on this without a pillowcase,” said one tester. 

Although the bamboo and natural viscose cover is meant to be cooling, we recommend adding cooling sheets to the equation, as the LAYR retained slightly more heat than some competitors. Our testers clocked a 17-degree increase, which is still less than a standard pillow might have warmed. You can also remove one of the LAYR’s several foam layers if you find it retaining too much heat for your liking. 

Memory foam is known for its contouring, which helps it support your neck and spine and provide better pressure relief. Our testers dropped a medicine ball on the LAYR to see how it responded. After 8.78 seconds, the pillow had risen to a height of 8.5 out of its original 9.5-inch loft. That speaks to how well the pillow can adjust to contour your head throughout the night. 

All told, our testing team was impressed. “I thought this pillow was super neat and a comfortable choice for people who may not know what they like in a pillow,” one tester said, nodding to the way you can remove and interchange the layers.

The Luxome LAYR Pillow may not be right for these sleepers:

• Combination sleepers: The LAYR takes a moment to reset once compressed, which is not the best for combination sleepers. So if you change positions frequently in the night, you’ll feel a gap for a few minutes before the pillow contours to your new position. If you’re looking for a more responsive feel, get the Nectar Tri-Comfort, our best overall.
• People who want a set-and-forget pillow: The LAYR rewards experimentation. If you have the time to tinker with the filling and follow the brand's configuration chart, you might unlock the best, most customized pillow experience of your life. But if you just want simplicity from your pillow, this might not be the best fit for you.

The Luxome customer experience

• Trial period: 30 nights
• Shipping: Free standard
• Warranty: Limited
• Financing: Yes

Customer service

You can contact Luxome customer service by emailing support@luxome.com.