If you regularly wake up feeling too warm, your pillow could be playing a bigger part in your sleep comfort than you realise. Some pillow fillings are naturally more breathable than others, while certain materials are better at managing moisture and helping heat escape during the night.
But do cooling pillows actually work, and which materials are best for hot sleepers? From naturally temperature-regulating wool to breathable feather and down, we look at what to consider when choosing the best cooling pillow for a fresher, more comfortable night’s sleep.
What is a cooling pillow?
A cooling pillow is designed to help reduce the build-up of heat around your head and neck while you sleep.
Different pillows achieve this in different ways. Some use breathable natural fillings that allow air to circulate, while others are made with specialist cooling materials or construction designed to help disperse heat.
If you tend to sleep hot, the filling is an important place to start. Natural materials such as wool, feather and down are breathable, making them a popular choice for sleepers who want to avoid feeling overly warm during the night. Soak&Sleep’s current pillow range includes natural, wool, feather and down options as well as a dedicated memory foam cooling pillow.
Do cooling pillows work?
Cooling pillows can help create a more comfortable sleeping environment, but they won’t necessarily make your bed feel cold all night.
Instead, a good cooling pillow should help manage warmth by encouraging airflow, regulating temperature or moving moisture away from the body.
The effectiveness will also depend on the material. Some fillings naturally retain less heat than others, while breathable fibres can help excess warmth escape more easily.
For hot sleepers, it is therefore worth looking beyond the word “cooling” and considering exactly how the pillow is designed to regulate temperature.
What is the best cooling pillow for hot sleepers?
There is no single best cooling pillow for everyone. Your sleeping position, preferred firmness and choice of filling all matter.
However, certain materials are particularly well suited to warmer sleepers.
Wool pillows
Wool is one of the best natural options to consider if you regularly overheat at night.
It is naturally breathable and helps regulate temperature by absorbing and releasing moisture as your sleep environment changes. Soak&Sleep’s New Zealand Mitchell Wool Pillow uses pure New Zealand wool and is designed to provide medium-firm support while helping maintain a more consistent sleeping temperature.
This makes a wool pillow a particularly good option if you want something supportive without sacrificing breathability.
Feather and down pillows
Feather and down are also naturally breathable fillings, allowing air to circulate through the pillow rather than trapping warmth around your head.
Down has an especially light, airy feel, while feather adds structure and support. A feather and down blend can therefore work well if you want a pillow that feels plump and luxurious while still benefiting from a natural filling.
Soak&Sleep’s pillow collection includes duck feather and down, goose feather and down and higher-down-content options, giving you a choice of softness and support.
Other natural pillows
Natural fibres can be a useful option for hot sleepers because they tend to be breathable and better able to manage moisture.
Cotton, for example, allows air to pass through the pillow and naturally absorbs moisture, while wool is particularly effective at temperature regulation. Soak&Sleep’s natural pillow collection includes fillings such as wool, silk and feather and down.
Cooling memory foam pillows
Memory foam is known for its close, contouring support, but traditional foam can feel warm to some sleepers.
If you like the feel of memory foam but tend to overheat, look for a design specifically created with cooling in mind. Soak&Sleep currently offers a Memory Foam Cooling Pillow designed as a cooler alternative for those who prefer supportive foam.
Are natural pillows better for hot sleepers?
Natural pillows can be particularly well suited to hot sleepers because materials such as wool, cotton, silk and feather and down are naturally breathable.
Rather than allowing heat to build up around your head, breathable materials encourage greater airflow through the pillow. Some natural fibres, particularly wool, can also help manage moisture throughout the night.
That doesn’t mean every natural pillow will feel exactly the same. A lightweight down pillow will offer a very different sleep experience to a supportive wool pillow, so it is still important to choose a filling and firmness that suits your sleeping position.
What pillow firmness should a hot sleeper choose?
Temperature is only one part of choosing the right pillow.
Your pillow should also provide the right level of support for the position you sleep in most often.
Side sleepers generally benefit from a deeper, firmer pillow to fill the space between the head and shoulder, while back sleepers usually need something slightly lower. Front sleepers tend to be most comfortable with a thinner, softer pillow. Soak&Sleep similarly recommends choosing pillow depth and firmness according to sleeping position.
The best cooling pillow for you should therefore balance breathability, temperature regulation and support rather than focusing on cooling alone.
How can you keep your bed cool in summer?
Changing your pillow can help, but your entire sleep environment will affect how warm you feel at night.
During warmer weather, try choosing breathable bedding made from natural fibres and using lighter layers that can easily be removed. Keeping your bedroom ventilated and avoiding unnecessarily heavy bedding can also make your bed feel fresher.
If you are particularly prone to overheating, pairing a breathable pillow with naturally breathable bed linen can help create a more comfortable summer sleep setup.
So, what is the best cooling pillow in the UK?
The best cooling pillow is one that suits both your temperature needs and your preferred sleeping position.
For naturally breathable temperature regulation, wool pillows are an excellent option for hot sleepers. Feather and down pillows offer a lighter, airy feel, while other natural fillings can also help encourage airflow and manage moisture.
If you prefer the contouring support of foam, a purpose-designed cooling memory foam pillow may be more suitable.
Ultimately, look for a pillow that gives you the right balance of breathability, support and comfort, so you can spend less time flipping your pillow over in search of the cool side.
Find your perfect pillow
Explore our full collection of pillows, including breathable wool, feather and down, natural and cooling options to help you find the right support for a more comfortable night’s sleep.
