Charcoal Infused Pillows

It is generally much better for your body to sleep in cooler temperatures than very hot temperatures because when you are overheated, the hormone that regulates sleep, melatonin, is compromised. You may feel less sleepy and toss and turn all night.

Thus, it is important to have the right bedding and sleeping tools to keep you cool and dry at night, improve sleep, and prevent uncomfortable overheating.

Have you ever heard of a memory foam charcoal-infused Pillow? This innovative product mainly aims to dissipate heat, among many other features, to provide you with a more cool and comfortable night’s rest.

The Charcoal-infused Pillow can give you a more cool and comfortable night’s rest.

Note: This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have ongoing pain, a sleep problem or another health condition, talk to your doctor.



Key Specs

No.ProductTypeFill / materialCoverSizesCare
1Cushyz CharcoalShredded memory foam pillowShredded memory foamCotton28 x 16 x 6 inMachine washable
2Owen Holmes CharcoalMemory foam pillowMemory foam–Queen–
3Generic Charcoal VentilatedMemory foam pillowMemory foam–QueenMachine washable
4Calvin Klein Charcoal KnitPillow–PolyesterStandard / QueenMachine washable
5Classic Brands Queen–––––

– = not stated on the Amazon listing. Specs as listed by the seller, not tested by us.


Charcoal and Activated Charcoal

You may have heard of activated charcoal and regular charcoal and asked yourself the difference between the two.

Well, Activated charcoal is produced using much higher temperatures, too, which in turn aid in expanding the pores of the charcoal, giving it a much larger surface area that can bind to many more elements.

Activated charcoal is much more commonly used in medicines because it is more porous and effective at filtering toxins from the body.

Regular charcoal is not used in medicines and is not regularly used in charcoal-infused pillows, but rather more porous activated charcoal for its many filtering and purifying benefits.


Why Invest in a Charcoal Infused Pillow

So, you may have asked yourself what the big hype with Charcoal-infused pillows is and why you may need them.

Well, as you will see, most of the listed charcoal pillows are either memory foam or similar types of foam infused with activated charcoal or activated carbon.

As we have said, activated charcoal is much more porous and has a much larger surface area, which is ideal for absorbing moisture, dissipating heat, and neutralizing odors.

  • Are Charcoal Infused Pillows Any Good? – Oh yes, they are. Charcoal-infused pillows offer much better airflow if there is no heat build-up, and they wick away sweat and absorb bad odors. The activated charcoal acts as an excellent air filter system because of the millions of tiny pores, and They are the best pillows for hot and sweaty sleepers.
  • Charcoal Gel Pillows – You do get gel-infused charcoal memory foam pillows. The gel layers or beads are just an extra cooling agent for very hot sleepers that helps to absorb heat.
  • Bamboo Charcoal Pillows – The combination of activated Charcoal and bamboo in these pillows offers not just a cool and comfortable sleep, but also excellent health benefits. Both charcoal and bamboo are known for their purifying properties, and bamboo also helps regulate temperatures by absorbing and wicking away moisture.
  • Is Charcoal infused Memory Foam Pillows a Safe Option – Charcoal is an organic compound used as medication, making it a safe option. However, memory foam is a volatile organic compound that can release hazardous gases. Our chosen pillows have been adapted to reduce these risks, ensuring your safety and comfort.
  • Can You Wash a Charcoal-infused Pillow? – Most charcoal Pillows are memory foam, and while machine washing memory foam is not advised, these pillows come with zip-sealable and removable covers that can be easily washed as needed, ensuring practicality and convenience in maintenance.

Features of a Good Charcoal Infused Pillow

Charcoal pillow

  • Materials – The Charcoal-infused pillows mostly have memory foam or polyester fills infused with charcoal. They may have additional cooling gel. There will also be a removable cotton, polyester, or bamboo cover for washing.
  • Design – You get standard, contoured, and cervical-design Charcoal infused pillows that offer different levels of support. Many options have ventilated or open-cell memory foam to improve breathable and cooling.
  • Options -The featured pillows mostly offer standard, queen, or king-size options, depending on the specific brand and model.

The FTC says most “bamboo” textiles are really rayon, with no trace of the original plant in the finished fabric, and that claims about natural antimicrobial properties carried over from the plant need scientific support.[1]

For acne, the NHS suggests washing your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser, using non-comedogenic products and not picking or squeezing spots.[2]

The NHS lists house dust mites among the most common allergens, along with pollen, foods and animals such as cats and dogs.[3]

The EPA notes that furnishings are among the many household products that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and that levels of many VOCs are higher indoors than outdoors.[4]


Our Picks: Charcoal Infused Pillows

These are our top favorite pillows that are all infused with charcoal;


1
The Cushyz Charcoal is an adjustable shredded memory foam pillow with a cotton cover and a size of 28 x 16 x 6 inches.
  • Adjustable Loft – Fill or inserts can be added or taken out to change the height of the pillow.
  • Contoured Shape – A shaped profile is meant to support the neck and keep the head in line with the spine.
  • Fill – The pillow uses shredded memory foam pieces that can be fluffed and moved around.
  • Temperature – Breathable materials help it sleep cooler.
  • Cover – The outer fabric is cotton.


2
The Owen Holmes Charcoal is a hypoallergenic cooling memory foam pillow with sizes of Queen.
  • Fill – The pillow uses memory foam, which slowly molds to the body.
  • Temperature – Breathable materials help it sleep cooler.
  • Certifications – It carries CertiPUR-US certification.
  • Allergies – It is hypoallergenic.
  • Best For – Made for side and back sleepers.


3
The Generic Charcoal Ventilated is a washable memory foam pillow with sizes of Queen.
  • Fill – The pillow uses memory foam, which slowly molds to the body.
  • Temperature – Breathable materials help it sleep cooler.
  • Care – Machine washable.
  • Size – Offered in Queen sizes.


4
The Calvin Klein Charcoal Knit is a soft plush washable pillow with a polyester cover and sizes of Standard / Queen.
  • Cover – The outer fabric is polyester.
  • Best For – Made for stomach sleepers.
  • Pack – Sold as a set of 2.
  • Size – Offered in Standard, Queen sizes.


5

  • The classic brands of Charcoal-infused pillows are ventilated and breathable.
  • Here, we have a queen-sized pillow available in a king-size.
  • The Pillow has a charcoal-infused memory foam fill that cradles your head and neck in good alignment.
  • The memory foam is well-ventilated to prevent overheating.
  • There is a polyester cover that you can remove and wash.


Index Table: Charcoal Infused Pillows

No.ProductImageFeaturesBrand
1Cushyz Charcoal - Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
  • Shredded Memory Foam
  • Cotton Cover
  • Machine Washable
Cushyz
2Owen Holmes Charcoal - Hypoallergenic Cooling Memory Foam Pillow
  • Memory Foam
  • Queen Size
Owen Holmes
3Generic Charcoal Ventilated - Washable Memory Foam Pillow
  • Memory Foam
  • Machine Washable
  • Queen Size
Generic
4Calvin Klein Charcoal Knit - Soft Plush Washable Pillow
  • Polyester Cover
  • Machine Washable
  • Standard Size
Calvin Klein
5Classic Brands Queen - Charcoal Infused Pillow
  • Venmtilated
  • Foam
Classic Brands

Sources

Background reading from health and consumer agencies. This is general information, not medical advice.

  1. Federal Trade Commission: How to Avoid Bamboozling Your Customers
  2. NHS: Acne
  3. NHS: Allergies
  4. U.S. EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality

Update History

  • Oct 2026: Replaced unavailable products: BedStory Bamboo Pillow with Cushyz Charcoal Pillow; Linenspa Bamboo Pillow with Owen Holmes Charcoal Pillow; SensorPedic Wellness Collection Pillow with Generic Charcoal Ventilated Pillow; brookstone Pressure Relief Pillow with Calvin Klein Charcoal Knit Pillow
  • Oct 2026: Removed SensorGel iCool Pillow (unavailable)
  • Oct 2026: Added a Key Specs comparison table and a Sources section
  • Apr 2022: Published


About the Author

Eliza Ward

Eliza Ward is a health enthusiast, nature lover, and full-time mother for 3 lovely kids in South Africa. She has always had a fetish for pillows and has the best product recommendations for all her friends and family. So she turned what she loved into her full-time job - by testing and recommending the best pillows for our online readers. Read her reviews to know how detailed her observations are.