Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money
Affiliate link.
If you flip your pillow to the cool side five times a night, this one's for you. Start with airflow: HGTV ran 22 fans through real rooms, bedrooms included, and checked which ones were quiet enough to sleep next to.
Then swap the stuff touching your skin. HGTV tried cooling pillows for different sleep positions, and Sleepopolis and BestReviews picked sheets that feel cool and breathe. If your mattress itself traps heat, a cooling topper is the bigger (and pricier) fix. A quick tip: a fan works best with an open window or the AC on, because it moves air and creates a wind-chill effect, it doesn't make cold air. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out, so you can skip the stuff that won't work for you.
Who this is not for. Skip this if heat isn't your problem; the Better Sleep list covers noise, light and wake-up alarms.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
Pick a budget to see your plan.
Your plan lives in this link. Copy it or email it to yourself so Safari doesn't forget it.
Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 3 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell Turboforce HT-900 11-Inch Fan | budget | $15-25 | a cheap bedside breeze with a low white-noise hum | 1 outlet |
| Levoit Classic 36-Inch Tower Fan | mid | $50-100 | a small footprint and a sleep mode | 1 outlet |
| Rowenta Turbo Silence Pedestal Stand Fan | splurge | $100-150 | light sleepers who still want serious airflow | 1 outlet |
Best fanbudget pick · 10.9 x 8.9 x 6.3 in
Best for a cheap bedside breeze with a low white-noise hum
HGTV's best value cooling fan: it gets the job done, and on low and medium you could sleep or watch a movie with it running.
Heads up. The highest speed may be too loud for sleeping, and there are no special features
1 outlet. HGTV best Value cooling fan.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
mid pick · 36.2 x 6.5 in
Best for a small footprint and a sleep mode
HGTV's best tower fan: a slim, lightweight fan with a sleep mode and a sensor that sped up and slowed down with the room's temperature in tests.
Heads up. Setup isn't intuitive, and the base may collect dust
1 outlet. HGTV best Tower cooling fan.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · 41 x 18.5 x 4.9 in
Best for light sleepers who still want serious airflow
HGTV's most quiet cooling fan: exceptionally quiet next to every other model it tried, so you could sleep with it running even on turbo.
Heads up. Two-person assembly with a screwdriver that isn't included, and no handle to move it
1 outlet. HGTV most Quiet cooling fan.
$100-150
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best cooling pillowbudget pick · Standard/queen
Best for side sleepers who want a cool, firm pillow
HGTV's best budget cooling pillow: memory foam topped with a cooling gel layer, and its tester slept noticeably better without any pillow flips.
Heads up. On the firmer side, and the cover is sheer enough that you'll want a pillowcase
1 outlet. HGTV best Budget cooling pillow.
$25-50
Shop at WalmartStore link, not an affiliate link. I don't earn from this one.
mid pick · 54 x 20 in
Best for hugging a body pillow without overheating
HGTV's best cooling body pillow: a full-length pillow with a breathable bamboo cover and adjustable shredded memory foam, and the whole thing goes in the washer.
Heads up. Slightly less cool to the touch than others HGTV tried, and it needs a few hours to expand out of the box
1 outlet. HGTV best cooling body pillow.
$100-150
Shop at WayfairStore link, not an affiliate link. I don't earn from this one.
Best cooling sheetsmid pick · Queen
Best for two people who sleep hot
BestReviews' best of the best queen sheet set: 300-thread-count bamboo viscose that's moisture-wicking and soft to keep you cool at night.
Heads up. The material may not be very durable, per BestReviews
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best queen sheet set.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best cooling sheetsbudget pick · Pick by bed
Best for hot sleepers
Sleepopolis's best bamboo cooling sheets: cool to the touch, and they held up wash after wash.
Heads up. Not very stretchy, and the thick fabric may hold heat on memory foam
1 outlet. Sleepopolis best bamboo cooling sheets.
$150-200
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Pick by bed
Best for a silky, cool feel
Sleepopolis's best queen-size cooling sheets: silky, light, breathable sateen that stayed put on a deep mattress.
Heads up. Pricey unless there's a promotion
1 outlet. Sleepopolis best queen-size cooling sheets.
$150-200
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best mattress toppermid pick · 4 in
Best for side sleepers who run warm
Sleepopolis's best cooling mattress topper for side sleepers: 4 inches of soft, copper-infused memory foam.
Heads up. Its smell out of the box was stronger than most, and changing positions takes a little effort
1 outlet. Sleepopolis best Cooling Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers.
$150-200
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · 3 in
Best for hot sleepers on an older mattress
HGTV's best cooling mattress topper: 3 inches of softness with a cool-to-the-touch cover, made for hot sleepers and older mattresses that hold heat.
Heads up. The cover is tricky to get on, it can't be returned, and it's not for people who like a firm bed
1 outlet. HGTV best cooling mattress topper.
$300-500
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
HGTV says a relatively quiet one: the hum can work as white noise, but it shouldn't be loud enough to wake you. It suggests oscillating tower fans for bigger bedrooms and compact tabletop fans as a bedside option. Its quietest pick, the Rowenta Turbo Silence, was barely audible on every speed.
Not by itself. HGTV says the best fans work with an air conditioner or open windows to create a wind-chill effect that makes a space feel cooler and less stuffy.
They can be. In its cooling topper roundup, Sleepopolis left out one all-foam topper because it ran a bit too warm to call truly cooling. The two here were picked for cooling: HGTV's has a cool-to-the-touch cover, and Sleepopolis's is copper-infused foam for side sleepers.