Best cooling pillows for summer in Australia in 2024
According to thousands of five star reviews this pillow is ideal for stomach sleepers, plus it helps keep you cool even in summer.
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There are few things more important for our health than a good night’s sleep and yet many of us struggle when it comes to getting a quality snooze.
Though disrupted sleep can be caused by a variety of factors, simply being too hot is one of the most common reasons people give for experiencing a restless night.
Whether you live in a warm climate, are experiencing night sweats or hot flushes, or just naturally run hot, investing in cooling technology may help to lower your temperature and keep you comfortable throughout the night.
Cooling pillows seem like a great solution, but do they actually work? US neurologist and sleep specialist and author of The Rested Child Dr Chris Winter, seems to think so.
“Most people sleep better in cooler temperatures, and mattresses, bedclothes, and pillows that are cooler help,” he told news.com.au checkout.
“Ideally, sleeping in a temperature of about 65 degrees [Fahrenheit – which is around 18 degrees Celsius] seems to be best.”
If you are looking to try a cooling pillow (and pillowcases too), we’ve rounded up a range of top-rated options for you to browse below, including our review of the Emma Diamond Pillow, which is a great choice for hot sleepers, the Koala Pillow, which has adjustable levels of firmness, and Tontine’s Classic Cool Dry Comfort Medium Density Pillow, which is currently half price.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR'S PICK - BEST COOLING PILLOWS
Emma Diamond Pillow, $258 at Emma
What You Need To Know
If you're after a great night's sleep, the Emma Diamond Pillow could be your ticket to 40 winks.
Designed to regulate your temperature while you're sleeping, the Emma Diamond Pillow is made up of three layers, wrapped up in a breathable, sweat-wicking knitted fabric that’s removable and washable.
You can also adjust the height and firmness depending on your preferred sleeping position, via three foam layers that can be removed or added as desired.
The Emma Diamond Pillow comes with a 150-night trial, and a 10-year warranty, which is great for peace of mind - and ideally a great night's sleep.
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Editor
I wasn’t expecting to like the Emma Diamond Pillow as much as I do. Although my initial impression was that the pillow would be too firm to be comfortable, I was proven wrong.
While the pillow is firmer than say its feathered and synthetic counterparts, it’s supportive to sleep on and doesn’t sacrifice comfort, especially if you use the ‘soft side’. Plus, you can mix and match the three layers of foam to create the perfect pillow for your preferences.
But what really sets the Emma Diamond Pillow apart from other pillows, including the others in the Emma range, is its temperature regulation.
We all know you sleep better when it’s not too hot or too cold and having used this pillow through some super humid nights, the pillow keeps you cool and therefore relaxed while sleeping.
I’ve had some of my best sleeps in recent memory since switching to this pillow.
If you’re a hot sleeper or can never find the right pillow, then the Emma Diamond Pillow is for you.
With its cooling features and adjustable layers that can be tailored to individual sleeping styles, I’m going to go so far as to say it’s the perfect pillow for anybody and everybody - read my full review here, where we unpack all the features of the Emma Diamond Pillow.
BEST COOLING PILLOWS
The Koala Pillow, $155 at Koala
The Koala Pillow
What You Need To Know
Koala has built up a great reputation for their mattresses and bedding products, and that extends to their cooling pillows.
Designed in Sydney, the Koala Pillow is flippable, and comes with a soft or firm option, providing a good level of support for your neck. It’s also made with memory foam which helps with managing heat and moisture - essentially everything you’d need in a cooling pillow and a great night’s sleep.
The Koala Pillow also comes with a 120-night trial, and a one-year warranty, and thousands of customers say it’s a “perfect” sleep accessory.
“The perfect pillow for a great night's sleep. The firm and hard side provide two options for how you prefer to snooze,” wrote one happy buyer.
Another said: “This memory foam pillow is amazing—supportive, yet soft, and contours perfectly to my head and neck. It helps reduce stiffness and provides great comfort throughout the night. The breathable cover keeps it cool, and it holds its shape well over time.”
BLISSBURY Thin Stomach Sleeping Memory Foam Pillow, $59.99 at Amazon
What You Need To Know
Stomach sleepers, this one is for you.
With its slim design, the mouldable foam pillow is designed to cradle your head even if you’re lying on your stomach. It’s made from memory foam infused with gel that also have ventilation. The pillow cover is also made from a light and breathable combination of bamboo and polyester.
This BLISSBURY pillow comes highly recommended by shoppers who call it “very comfortable. It has an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars from over 5200 reviews.
“This is hands down the best pillow I have ever had. It’s just the right height and firmness,” one reviewer wrote.
“It looks quite flat but because it’s fairly firm it doesn’t sink further. It’s not too firm to be uncomfortable. It has improved my sleep.”
CushionCare Cooling Gel Cervical Neck Pillow, $74.95 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This pillow is included on our list for being both affordable and having over 1750 five star reviews on Amazon.
It’s a cervical pillow, meaning it’s shaped to cradle your head for comfort and is ideal for side and back sleepers.
Made from memory foam the pillow has a removable cooling gel pad for to keep you from getting too hot during the warmer months.
“I’m really surprised how much I love this pillow, it’s perfect support when sleeping on your back but also good for side sleepers,” one five-star review reads.
Another buyer wrote: “So far one of the best pillows I’ve ever owned.”
Emma Cloud Hybrid Pillow, $139 (down from $278) at Emma Sleep
Emma Cloud Hybrid Pillow
What You Need To Know
This option is the perfect combination of a bouncy microfibre pillow and a supportive memory foam pillow. Carefully designed, this hybrid pillow is also adjustable allowing you to remove the memory foam core depending on your personal preferences.
Made with 100 per cent cotton fabric and padded with breathable microfibres, this Emma pillow will keep you cool all night. You’ll score free delivery and returns with this purchase as well as a 100 night trial.
One reviewer praised the pillow for how comfortable it is: “I don’t have any neck stiffness … anymore. Perfect for side and back sleeping. Love how it’s adjustable – was able to remove a layer.”
SleepMaker Fusion Gel Memory Foam High Profile Pillow in White, $148.98 (down from $299.95) at Myer
What You Need To Know
Available in high, mid and contour options, the SleepMakers’ pillow combines a ventilated, gel-infused core with the moisture wicking properties of a Tencel case.
The outcome is a soft, breathable pillow which provides both a cool sleeping surface and additional head and neck support.
Myer customers called it “comfortable and supportive” and claimed that it “keeps you cool especially when you get the hot flushes.”
Tontine Classic Cool Dry Comfort Medium Density Pillow, $36.48 (down from $72.95), at Myer
What You Need To Know
This Tontine pillow features a cotton japara cover and cooling fibre fill which, combined, creates a soft, moisture-wicking sleep surface.
The pillow is machine washable for easy cleaning and comes with an antimicrobial treatment to inhibit the growth of dust mites, mould and bacteria.
Customers on the Myer site have said that the pillow “quickly reverts back to its original shape” and is “great value for money.”
However, some have warned that the pillow is on the softer side, despite being labelled as medium density.
BEST COOLING PILLOWS WITH CHARCOAL
Macoda Memory Foam Pillow, $150 from Macoda
Macoda Memory Foam Pillow
What You Need To Know
The Macoda memory foam pillow has been designed to balance comfort and support, and features cooling memory foam to allow for airflow and minimal heat build up, in turn promoting a peaceful night's sleep.
Bamboo charcoal has been used in the Macoda pillow design, which helps with absorbing moisture, reducing heat, and neutralising odour. Not only that, it makes for a very comfy pillow.
And hundreds of happy customers agree, saying the Macoda pillow offers great support, and if you "buy one you won't regret it".
"It actually does what it says, it is very comfortable so much so I look forward to going to bed now and using it as it supports your head and neck and is just lovely to sleep on. I highly recommend this pillow," wrote one buyer.
Another said: "Most comfortable pillow I've ever had. Soft yet wonderfully supportive and uniform throughout. The breather holes really help keep things cool. A superb product."
BEST COOLING PILLOWCASES
If a cooling pillow is a little out of your budget, or you simply don’t want to give up your favourite pillow, cooling pillowcases are a great alternative to help keep you cool at night.
Elegear Cooling Pillow Cases, $29.99 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Crafted from Japanese cooling sensing technology fabric, the set of two features a double-sided design made to absorb body heat and bring your temperature down by two degrees.
The stylish looking pillowcases are also breathable, easy to clean, and feature a hidden zipper design which allows them to stay in place all night long.
The Cooling Pillowcases have proven popular with customers, holding a 4.3 out of five star rating from more than 3000 five-star customer reviews left on Amazon Australia.
According to one happy buyer, “if you’re a person who suffers from menopause (or) night flushes then this pillow case has to be the best thing ever.”
Tontine Classic Cool Dry Pillow Protector, $26.48 (down from $52.95) at Myer
What You Need To Know
Made from premium cotton, the pillow protector’s fibres are designed to wick moisture away, while an antimicrobial treatment works to stop the growth of bacterial mould and dust mites; resulting in a cool and healthy sleep environment.
One five-star reviewer claims that the Tontine Classic Cool Dry Pillowcase is also a “great quality protector – double layered and quilted so the pillow is well protected.”
LUXEAR 2 Pack Cooling Pillowcases, $122.70 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Crafted from Japanese cooling fibres, LUXEAR claims that the pillowcases can help drop the perceived temperature by two degrees; in addition to maintaining skin and hair moisture and preventing hair frizz.
The pillowcases also have an elasticity which allows them to fit both standard-size and queen-side pillows.
Most impressively, LUXEAR offers a lifetime warranty on the pillowcases for all customers, making them a fuss-free buy.
One reviewer on Amazon Australia highly recommends the pillowcases, claiming, “This is the best cooling pillow cover I’ve tried so far! The material feels wonderful … If you do struggle with overheating at night then I would recommend giving this a go as you would notice the cooling sensation.”
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A COOLING PILLOW
Sleeping Position
Many pillows are designed to match your regular sleeping position, but regardless of whether you’re a back, side or front sleeper, the product you purchase should offer an optimal level of neck, head and shoulder support. If you’re a side sleeper, you might choose a taller pillow, which will promote blood circulation and offer greater support for your spine, whereas if you’re a stomach sleeper, you may lean towards something that won’t raise your head a great deal off the mattress.
Body shape
Your body shape will also play a big part in the style of cooling pillow you purchase. And if you get the wrong product, this could be the difference between an average or excellent quality of sleep. If you’re tall or have broader shoulders, you should shop for products that offer greater neck and head support through increased height, whereas if you are a shorter person, you may lean towards something that sits lower on your neck.
Material
Cooling pillows will generally feature some kind of memory foam or memory gel, which promotes air circulation and regulation of body temperature while sleeping. These will be designed to also absorb body heat, in turn leaving you feeling refreshed and rested after a long night’s sleep. Also look for materials like bamboo and cotton, which are known to be breathable and machine washable.
Price
The amount you spend on a cooling pillow should always be an important factor, and thankfully, there's quite a number of options out there to suit your needs and budget. Whether you pick something that’s more affordable like the CushionCare Cooling Gel Cervical Neck Pillow, or invest in a more premium product like the SleepMaker Fusion Gel Memory Foam High Profile Pillow, we’ve rounded up products that suit a full range of price points.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the best cooling pillow for your needs and budget, we asked sleep specialist Dr Chris Winter for his expert advice and recommendations on what to look for when buying a cooling pillow.
In addition, the news.com.au checkout team read hundreds of customer reviews, while also looking at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best cooling pillow.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are Cooling Pillows?
Pillows that are “cooling” have been designed to both draw heat away from the head and prevent heat retention. These pillows can be broken down into three categories, which are breathable pillows, gel memory foam pillows and phase-change pillows.
Breathable options are crafted from materials that allow for more airflow through the pillow; effectively stopping them from retaining heat. Gel memory foam pillows meanwhile work to disperse heat from the head and neck to keep your temperature down.
Phase-changing pillows offer a slightly different approach; using phase change material (PCM) to regulate your head and neck temperature, rather than just cooling you down. This makes it a great all-year-round option, as it can both cool you down and heat you up as it tries to maintain an optimal temperature for sleep.
How do Cooling Pillows work?
Cooling pillows are designed to promote air circulation while you’re sleeping, ensuring your body temperature stays relatively constant, and keeping you cool, as the name suggests.
Most products contain foam or gel that aim to also provide a great level of support for your head and neck, so you’re not tossing and turning throughout the night.
Will a Cooling Pillow give me a better night's sleep?
There are consistent reports that a cooling pillow may help you achieve a better quality of sleep, thanks to the breathable materials that will keep you cool, coupled with great neck and body support.
How long do Cooling Pillows last?
The longevity of your cooling pillow really depends on how long you’re using it, and also taking into account certain factors like the climate and temperature you’re in.
More Coverage
On average, cooling pillows will last up to five years, and you can help with going the distance by regularly washing them, and keeping them away from high temperatures and direct sunlight.
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