The 9 Best Cooling Pillowcases of 2023

If you can’t fall asleep at night because you’re uncomfortably hot or sweaty, it might be time to try a cooling pillowcase. Many cooling pillowcases prevent overheating by promoting air flow, while others actively cool you down when you’re warm. “Sleep and temperature are closely related,” says Pamela Peeke, M.D., a physician and healthy living expert. “Feeling too hot or too cold will disrupt sleep, and this can be a major challenge for people.”

To find the best cooling pillowcases, we evaluated dozens of products based on material, style, cooling method, and more. We favored cooling pillowcases that were cozy, effective, easy to clean, and available with an at-home trial period. And for expert advice on buying and using cooling pillowcases, we consulted three experts: Peeke; Ellen Vora, M.D., a psychiatrist and a sleep expert; and Patrick Deighan, an expert in temperature-regulating textiles who works for Fieldsheer.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall Cooling Pillowcase:

Sleep Number True Temp Pillowcase Set at Sleepnumber.com

Jump to Review

Best Budget Cooling Pillowcase:

Elegear Cooling Pillowcase Set at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Splurge Cooling Pillowcase:

Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Pillowcase Set at Bollandbranch.com

Jump to Review

Best Organic Cooling Pillowcase:

Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Pillowcase Set at Nordstrom

Jump to Review

Best Cooling Linen Pillowcase:

Parachute Linen Pillowcase Set at Parachute

Jump to Review

Best Cooling Eucalyptus Pillowcase:

Sijo Eucalyptus Pillowcase Set at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Cooling Bamboo Pillowcase:

Bampure Bamboo Pillowcase Set at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Cooling Silk Pillowcase:

Brooklinen Silk Pillowcase at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Cooling Pillow Cover:

Coop Sleep Goods Coolside Pillowcase at Amazon

Jump to Review

Sleep Number

View On Sleepnumber.com

Who it's for: People who want a high-tech pillowcase that actively draws heat away.

Who it isn't for: People who want to stay away from synthetic materials.

In our research, we found lots of cooling pillowcases that were breathable or cool to the touch. But Sleep Number's True Temp Pillowcase Set takes it a step further. Each pillowcase is equipped with temperature-regulating technology, and is designed to keep you at an ideal sleeping temperature all night long. The pillowcase cools you down when you’re hot—and warms you up when you’re cold. It also wicks moisture and heat away from your body to keep you comfortable as you sleep.

Each True Temp Pillowcase Set comes with two cooling pillowcases, which are made of a cotton, polyester, and spandex blend. These sateen-weave pillowcases are silky smooth and easy to clean. And since they come in two sizes and nine colors, it's easy to find a set that suits your space. We also love that Sleep Number offers a 100-day trial period on its bedding, so you can test the cooling pillowcases for three full months to make sure they really work for you.

Price at time of publish: $45 for standard

Material: Cotton, polyester, spandex | Sizes: Standard, king | Return Policy: 100 days | Care: Machine wash cold; tumble dry low or line dry

Amazon

View On Amazon

Who it's for: People looking for a temperature-regulating pillowcase they can buy on a budget.

Who it isn't for: People who want to match their pillowcase to their bedding and people who want to avoid synthetic materials.

Pillowcases made with cooling technology tend to be expensive, but Elegear's Cooling Pillowcases are surprisingly affordable. They stand out for their double-sided design: One side is made with a smooth and cooling material (called Arc-Chill), while the other is made with cozy cotton. That Arc-Chill fabric is designed to absorb body heat and reduce friction, helping you stay cool and wake up without creases on your face. Just note that it's made of synthetic materials (nylon and polyethylene, a plastic), so it's not a good choice if you want to stick with natural or organic bedding.

This pillowcase comes in a set of two—a detail that makes the budget-friendly price point even sweeter. And they’re available in seven colors and two sizes, so there are plenty of great options to stock up on. The only issue is that they might be hard to match with your existing bedding, but they more than make up for it in comfort.

Price at time of publish: $19 for standard

Material: Nylon and polyethylene, cotton | Sizes: Standard, queen | Return Policy: 30 days | Care: Machine or hand wash

Boll--branch

View On Bollandbranch.com

Who it's for: People looking for a luxury pillowcase made from organic cotton.

Who it isn't for: People who don't want to spend a lot on a pillowcase.

Boll & Branch's Signature Hemmed Pillowcase Set offers the best when it comes to luxury. The pillowcases are woven from long-staple organic cotton, so they’re refreshingly breathable. And since they’re spun with a percale weave, they feel cool to the touch and stay crisp throughout the night. The pillowcases are easy to clean, and they grow softer and more breathable with every wash. And since they’re not pre-shrunk, you can expect them to come oversized and shrink a little in the wash.

The pillowcases come with extra-long hems and hand-finished seams, two elegant details that make them feel truly luxurious. And since they’re available in two sizes and 10 versatile colors, you shouldn't struggle to find a pair that looks great in your bedroom. The cooling pillowcases also come with a flexible 30-day trial period. And while they’re definitely a splurge buy, we think they’re worth it if you want to rest your head on a truly high-quality material.

Price at time of publish: $58 for standard

Material: Organic cotton | Sizes: Standard, king | Return Policy: 30 days | Care: Machine wash cold; dry on medium heat

Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Pillowcase Set

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Wayfair View On Coyuchi.com

Who it's for: People who want organic cotton bedding with a soft, relaxed feel.

Who it isn't for: People who don't want to spend a lot on a pillowcase, and people who prefer percale bedding that feels crisp.

Coyuchi's Organic Crinkled Percale Pillowcases are undeniably luxurious. The pillowcases are made of 100 percent cotton that’s GOTS-certified organic, and thanks to their unique weave, they’re softer than other percale pillowcases. While percale fabrics tend to feel crisp, this one is washed and woven for a crinkled, broken-in feel. This makes the pillowcases feel extra soft and comfortable—though they still give you the lightweight, breathable feel you expect from cotton pillowcases.

Though the pillowcases are luxuriously comfortable, they’re still easy to take care of: You can throw them in the washer and dryer any time you need to clean them. And we love that they come in two sizes and 10 pretty colorways. We also appreciate that the pillowcases are certified by Made Safe and Fair Trade, so you can be sure they've been made ethically with the highest quality materials. After all, these pillowcases aren’t cheap. And when you’re buying organic, you want to know you’re paying for quality.

Price at time of publish: $38 for standard/queen

Material: Organic cotton | Sizes: Standard/queen, king | Return Policy: 30 days for full refund; 365 days for store credit | Care: Machine wash cold; tumble dry low

4.9

Parachute

View On Parachute

Who it's for: People who want breathable linen pillowcases they don’t have to break in.

Who it isn't for: People who don’t want to splurge on pillowcases.

Linen is a breathable textile that's perfect for hot sleepers. The only problem? It can feel textured or coarse at first, especially to those who are used to cotton. But since Parachute's Linen Pillowcases are garment-washed for added softness, they should give you the broken-in feel you'd usually only get after long-term use.

Although linen is known as a summer-friendly fabric, it's also a great insulator. So on the rare night when you're feeling cold, these pillowcases should warm you up without trapping any heat. Plus, since linen is designed to look and feel relaxed, its care routine is characteristically low-maintenance. Simply toss the pillowcases in the laundry, and ignore any wrinkles you end up with—they're part of the linen look. These pillowcases are available in 12 different colors and two standard sizes, as well as two different closure styles: back envelope or side open.

Price at time of publish: $69 for standard

Material: European flax | Sizes: Standard, king | Return Policy: 60 days | Care: Machine wash

Sijo Home

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sijo

Who it's for: People who want a pillowcase made from natural materials..

Who it isn't for: People who prefer bedding with a crisp feel.

Sijo’s AiryWeight Eucalyptus Pillowcases are made of tencel lyocell, a type of rayon made from eucalyptus wood pulp—but they feel like they’re made of silk. The pillowcases are breathable, smooth, and cool to the touch. And like many silks, they’re designed with a tight sateen weave that cuts down on friction and static. Eucalyptus is also great at wicking heat and moisture away from your body, so these pillowcases will help you stay cool and comfortable as you sleep.

One of the best things about these pillowcases? You can throw them in the washer and dryer, and they won’t tear or pill. This may not sound like a big deal, but lots of eucalyptus pillowcases are hand-wash-only, so we love that these are easy to clean. Just remember to use a gentle cycle and cold water to maintain the quality of these pillowcases. Plus, they come in six colors, so it’s easy to find a pair that’ll look great on your bed.

Price at time of publish: $45 for standard/queen

Material: Tencel lyocell | Sizes: Standard/queen, king | Return Policy: 30 days | Care: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle; tumble dry low

BAMPURE Bamboo Pillowcase Queen Bamboo Pillow Case Queen Size

Amazon

View On Amazon

Who it's for: People who want a budget-friendly pillowcase that’s made from a plant-based material.

Who it isn't for: People who want a low-maintenance pillowcase that isn't prone to pilling and wrinkling.

Bampure’s Bamboo Pillowcases are incredibly soft and breathable, and they’re made from a unique material: bamboo. That bamboo is woven into viscose and spun with a silky sateen weave, resulting in a fabric that’s luxuriously soft and cooling—and delightful to snuggle up with.

Each Bampure Bamboo Pillowcase Set comes with two pillowcases, so these are some of the most budget-friendly cooling pillowcases on our list. And they don’t skimp on quality: The pillowcases are double-stitched for durability, and unlike many bamboo pillowcases, they’re designed to resist wrinkles and static.

The manufacturer recommends hand-washing these pillowcases, but we’ve been washing and drying them for six months with the rest of the Bampure sheet set and have found that they’re perfectly fine to throw in the washer—just use a gentle cycle and cold water.

Price at time of publish: $13 for queen

Material: Bamboo viscose | Sizes: Queen, king | Return Policy: 30 days | Care: Hand wash or machine wash on gentle cycle

4.2

Brooklinen

View On Amazon View On Brooklinen

Who it's for: People who want a pillowcase that'll protect their hair and skin.

Who it isn't for: People who don’t want to deal with the maintenance of silk.

Silk is one of the most coveted pillowcase materials around due to its luxurious comfort, gentleness on the skin, and benefits for hair care. It's also lightweight, breathable, and cool to the touch, making it a great option for hot sleepers.

Brooklinen's Mulberry Silk Pillowcase is made of pure mulberry silk, one of the highest-quality silks around. Spun into a soft but sturdy weave, this silk is smooth enough to cozy up with and durable enough to toss in your washing machine. And since it's insulating, it'll cool you down on hotter nights and help you warm up when you're cold.

Available in a variety of solid colors and striking prints, this pillowcase is worth snapping up. Just be aware that it's sold individually, so it's on the pricey side (which isn't unusual for silk). On the other hand, it's also backed by a 365-day return policy, so you can sleep on the pillowcase for a full year before deciding whether or not to keep it.

Price at time of publish: $59 for standard

Material: Mulberry silk | Sizes: Standard, king | Return Policy: 365 days | Care: Hand wash or machine wash cold; lay flat to dry

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Coopsleepgoods.com

Who it's for: People who want a pillowcase that’s cool on one side and cozy on the other.

Who it isn't for: People who want a traditional-looking pillowcase that comes in several colors.

Coop is known for its popular cooling pillow, but the brand's Coolside Pillowcase is a standout product too. Whereas other cooling pillowcases are made from breathable materials, this option is genuinely cooling. It's made from Coop's Lulltra Cool fabric, a proprietary blend of bamboo-based rayon and polyester. These fabrics are woven together to form a dual-sided jacquard, which feels cool on one side and cozy on the other.

The cool side of the pillowcase feels cool to the touch and silky smooth, and it wicks heat away from your body to keep you cool throughout the night. The pillowcase’s underside is cozy and textured for traction, and it keeps your pillow from sliding around as you sleep.

From top to bottom, the pillowcase is comfortable and hypoallergenic. And since it’s machine-washable, it’s easy to clean. Best of all, Coop offers a 100-night trial period on all its pillow products, so you can take the pillowcase for a lengthy test run before committing to it.

Price at time of publish: $30 for queen

Material: Rayon from bamboo, polyester | Sizes: Queen, king | Return Policy: 100 days | Care: Machine wash cold separately; tumble dry low

Final Verdict

Many cooling pillowcases are lightweight and breathable, but Sleep Number’s True Temp Pillowcase earned our top spot, because it’s genuinely cooling. Designed to keep you at an ideal sleeping temperature all night long, the pillowcase cools you down when you’re hot—and warms you up when you’re cold. Plus, we love that it comes with a 100-day trial period.

How to Shop for Cooling Pillowcases Like a Pro

Material

Natural materials like cotton, linen, and plant-based fibers tend to be considered cooling thanks to their inherent breathability and lighter weight. When it comes to cotton, you'll want to be sure you're sticking with a percale weave, which is crisp and cool to the touch. Although synthetic materials like polyester are generally considered to be heat-trapping, performance synthetics are equipped with heat-wicking technology that will cool you while you sleep. There are trade-offs with each of these materials, so focus on finding the combination of comfort, breathability, cooling capability, and value that best meets your needs.

Style

To be truly useful, a cooling pillowcase can't just be comfortable—it also needs to suit your bed. So as you shop, pay attention to pillowcase size, color, print, and style. Most cooling pillowcases come in two basic sizes (standard/queen and king), and many are available in multiple colors and prints to suit whatever bedding you already have. If you have a preference for closure style, like side envelope or back envelope, be sure to note that as well. (Some brands, like Parachute, even let you choose what kind of closure you want when you buy your pillowcase.)

Care

If you plan to sleep on your cooling pillowcase every night, you probably want it to be convenient to clean. After all, pillowcases should be cleaned on a weekly basis, so if you're low on time, a weekly hand-washing session may not be on the menu. Many cooling pillowcases are machine washer- and dryer-friendly, but some aren't—so be sure to set expectations before buying. And take note of other care instructions, as some pillowcases shouldn't be paired with dryer balls, others need to be ironed to avoid wrinkles, and so on.

Return Policy

Comfort is a matter of personal preference, so it's hard to tell how much you'll like a pillowcase until you get the chance to sleep on it. Thankfully, many cooling pillowcases are backed by generous trial periods and return policies. These policies give you anywhere from 30–365 days to sleep on a cooling pillowcase before you actually have to commit to it, making the process of finding a great pillowcase much easier.

Questions You Might Ask

What's the best cooling material for a pillowcase?

When considering materials for cooling pillowcases, you're often weighing cooling capability against breathability, so it's tough to say which material is the coolest. "Traditional materials, like cotton, silk, and satin, [are] the least cooling but are highly breathable," says Patrick Deighan, an expert in temperature-regulating textiles. "Some synthetics, like microfiber, offer the highest level of cooling but limit breathability, so heat may get trapped." What Deighan calls "semi-natural" materials, like bamboo-based lyocell and eucalyptus-based lyocell, fall somewhere in the middle—offering some amount of cooling and some breathability.

Do cooling pillowcases really work?

Cooling pillowcases can be effective. But remember, cooling pillowcases fall into two categories: breathable pillowcases and genuinely cooling pillowcases. "Cooling textiles absorb moisture, spreading it across the fabric and allowing it to evaporate," says psychiatrist and sleep expert Dr. Ellen Vora. Meanwhile, breathable pillowcases encourage airflow.

If a cooling pillowcase is made from a heat-wicking fabric or equipped with cooling technology, it may genuinely cool you. If it's simply made from a breathable material—like cotton, linen, or satin—it may cool you less directly, by keeping heat from getting trapped in your bed. Keep in mind, though, that a pillowcase won't do much if your pillow is exceptionally heat-trapping or your room is at a higher temperature. There isn't one single fix for sleeping hot, so you might need to make a few adjustments in order to sleep more comfortably, like also using a cooling pillow.

Does thread count matter for cooling pillowcases?

Thread count is often used as a quality indicator for pillowcases, but it's a misleading measurement. In fact, you want a lower thread count, especially if you sleep hot. Thread count is the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric, so a lower thread count results in more breathability. In general, you want to stick with bedding that has a thread count between 200-400, as a higher thread count means the brand has had to do some magic in order to get the number that high.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Lindsey Lanquist, a contributing writer for Real Simple with seven years of experience writing lifestyle content. To find the best cooling pillowcases, Lindsey evaluated dozens of products based on material, style, cooling method, and more. For expert advice on how cooling pillowcases work and what to consider when buying them, she turned to Pamela Peeke, M.D., a physician and healthy living expert; Ellen Vora, M.D., a psychiatrist and sleep expert; and Patrick Deighan, an expert in temperature-regulating textiles who works for Fieldsheer.