Silkora silk pillowcase in Icy Blue on a pillow, with sunlight on a blue wall

Cooling pillowcase: is a silk pillowcase cool or warm?

November 9, 2026

Does your pillow get warm in summer, so you keep turning it to the cool side? Then you are probably looking for a cooling pillowcase. Silk often comes up. But is a silk pillowcase really cool, and doesn't it feel cold in winter? Below you can read how silk feels in every season, how it compares with other fabrics and what else you can do to sleep cooler.

In short

Cool to the touch: silk feels cool as soon as you lie on it, and it breathes well. Less warmth builds up between your face and the pillow.
Not chilly in winter: the fabric quickly takes on your body warmth.
Not a cooling technology: in real heat, a cool bedroom makes more difference than any pillowcase.
Polyester satin actually holds heat.

What is a cooling pillowcase?

Shops use "cooling pillowcase" for several things:

Fabrics with a cooling technology: a special layer or yarn that absorbs heat or feels cool. How well it works differs by brand.
Breathable natural fabrics: cotton, percale and linen, and bamboo (lyocell or viscose).
Silk: a natural protein fibre that feels cool and breathes.

A pillowcase doesn't make your bedroom cooler. It does decide how the pillow feels against your skin and how much warmth stays between your face and the pillow.

Is a silk pillowcase cool or warm?

Both, which is why we call silk temperature-regulating.

Cool to the touchSilk is smooth and feels cool when you rest your cheek on it.
BreathableMulberry silk lets air through, so less warmth builds up.
Not chilly in winterSilk quickly takes on your body warmth, so a silk pillowcase doesn't feel cold in December.

You notice the difference most against polyester satin. It is smooth too, but it breathes less and holds heat. More on how satin and silk differ in satin pillowcase or silk pillowcase: which is better?

Silk next to other fabrics for warm nights

Fabric	In the heat	Keep in mind
Silk (22 momme mulberry silk)	Cool to the touch, breathable and the smoothest	Needs careful washing, at 30 °C at most
Cotton and percale	Breathable and fresh, copes with sweat	Rougher on your hair
Linen	Breathable and fresh	Coarse, creases easily
Bamboo (lyocell or viscose)	Cool and breathable	Less smooth than silk
Polyester satin	Smooth, but breathes less	Holds heat
Fabric with a cooling technology	Feels cool thanks to a special layer or yarn	Results differ by brand

According to the Sleep Foundation, pillowcases and sheets made of cotton or linen breathe better than those made of polyester and other synthetic fabrics. All fabrics side by side, also for your hair and skin, are in which pillowcase material is best.

Do you sweat a lot in your sleep?

No pillowcase solves that completely. This does help:

Wash a silk pillowcase at least once a week in summer, at 30 °C at most with a detergent for silk. Our care page explains how.
Don't wait too long to wash it: sweat and skin oils can leave marks on silk.
If you have two pillowcases, alternate them, so one can air while you sleep on the other.

Night sweats often?

Do you often sweat at night for no clear reason, even when it isn't warm? Ask your GP for advice.

Tips for sleeping cooler

A pillowcase is only one part. This is what doctors and sleep experts advise:

Keep your bedroom cool. Around 18 °C is most comfortable for most people (Sleep Foundation).
Curtains closed, windows open at the right time. Keep the curtains closed during the day. Open windows and doors in the morning and evening, when it is cooler outside (Thuisarts, Sleep Foundation).
Sleep under a thin blanket (Thuisarts).
A fan or air conditioning helps too (Thuisarts).
Take a cool shower or a cool bath (Thuisarts).
Drink enough during the day: 2 litres or more, but no more than 3 litres, and no alcohol (Thuisarts).
Choose bedding that breathes, such as cotton or linen, and a silk pillowcase for your pillow.

Sources: Thuisarts.nl, the Dutch GPs' patient site (NHG), "Wat kan ik doen bij warm weer? Tips van artsen"; Sleep Foundation, "The Best Temperature for Sleep"; Sleep Foundation, "How to Sleep When It's Hot Outside".

Is a silk pillowcase warm enough in winter?

Yes. Silk doesn't feel chilly, because the fabric quickly takes on your body warmth. Real warmth comes from your duvet, not your pillowcase. If you want a warm fabric, flannel is the cosiest choice, but it creates more friction for your hair. What else a silk pillowcase does for your hair and skin is in the benefits of a silk pillowcase.