The best cooling sheets for hot sleepers, tested and reviewed

Being a hot sleeper can feel like a curse. Truthfully, there's little worse than waking up in the middle of the night tangled in sweaty sheets and drenched in perspiration. If this situation sounds all too familiar to you, it could be time to look into a set of the cooling sheet. The best sheets for hot sleepers are breathable, airy, and cool-to-the-touch. They're usually made from cool materials like crisp cotton, Tencel, bamboo, or even eucalyptus.

After testing a dozen sheet sets during a hot Texas summer, my pick for the best cooling sheets is the Sijo Airyweight Eucalyptus Sheet Set. These sheets are soft, silky, and excel at temperature regulation, even in warm weather. If you're on a budget, I recommend the Mellanni Iconic Collection Sheet Set, a breathable, affordable option available in a range of colors and patterns.

For more bedding for hot sleepers, check out our best cooling pillow, best cooling comforter, best cooling mattress topper, and best cooling sleep products guides.

Our picks of the best cooling sheets for hot sleepers

Best overall: Sijo Airyweight Eucalyptus Sheet Set — See at Sijo

Best budget: Mellanni Iconic Collection — See at Amazon

Best bamboo: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set — See at Amazon

Best linen: Brooklinen Washed European Linen Core Sheet Set — See at Brooklinen

Best cotton: L.L.Bean Percale Sheet Set — See at L.L.Bean

Best Tencel: Slumber Cloud Performance Tencel Sheet Set — See at Slumber Cloud

Best deep-pocket: The Original PeachSkinSheets Sheets Set— See at Amazon

Best organic: The Citizenry Organic Resort Cotton Sheet Set — See at The Citizenry

Best overall

This set has everything I look for in cooling sheets. The Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set, made with Tencel Lyocell from eucalyptus, offers a feel between silky and soft. I preferred how they felt after washing them, more soft than silky. I remained cool sleeping under these sheets as they wicked away heat and moisture and allowed air to flow through, and they were slightly cool to the touch as I got into bed. With a 16-inch pocket, they could fit a thicker mattress than my 10-inch mattress. When I placed the fitted sheet on my bed, I didn't notice any extra fabric bunching.

They're eco-friendly. Health-minded buyers will love that these sheets have the best certifications that bed sheets can have. They're sourced from FSC & PEFC-certified eucalyptus wood, hold an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, and are Allergy & Asthma Friendly Certified.

I love the color and buying options. In addition to 14 different color options, you can buy Sijo's sheets with or without a flat sheet. This is a nice option in case you need to replace only a single item, like a fitted sheet, in the future.

Best budget

You get more than what you pay for with these sheets. The Mellanni Iconic Collection Sheet Set is a solid budget buy. Not only can you choose from 45 different color options, but you can usually find a queen-size sheet set for $37. That's a steal in itself, plus I'm glad to say that these microfiber sheets did well in terms of temperature regulation.

This set kept me comfortable. They aren't cool-to-the-touch, and they weren't the softest that I tested. However, they did well in pulling heat from my body and releasing it. I didn't get hot at night, only slightly warm — not enough to cause me to sweat. There also wasn't any extra fabric that made for an uncomfortable sleep experience. It doesn't hurt that these Oeko-Tex-certified sheets have a lifetime warranty, which is something you don't often see among sheet sets. On the downside, their array of colors and patterns are not available in all sizes. You won't find top/bottom labels on these sheets, either.

Best bamboo

Bamboo sheets are one of the best options for hot sleepers. Bamboo is highly regarded for its breathable properties in textiles. Cozy Earth has become the de facto brand when we think of high-quality bamboo bedding, making it no surprise that its Bamboo Sheet Set made this list.

I love the way they feel. Our reviewer for the guide to the best bamboo sheets selected the Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets as her splurge pick, but she also found that they sleep the coolest. They are cool-to-the-touch and get softer after each wash. The medium-weight feels luxurious, and the sheets have labels to identify the top and bottom of the sheets to make it easier to make the bed. Cozy Earth currently offers 10 colors, and the fitted sheet will fit up to a 20-inch mattress.

The flat sheet is a bit long, and the set loses its sheen in the wash. Of note, the flat sheet is considerably long and didn't shrink much in the wash. The sheets arrive with a shiny sheen, which lessens following a wash.

Read our Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set review.

Best linen

Linen is renowned for being breathable, durable, and temperature-regulating. Out of all the sheets we tested for our best linen sheets guide, the Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheet Set is the perfect mix of soft out-of-packaging and cooling. The Oeko-Tex certified sheet set regulated the temperature of our tester as she slept. While the texture was something that our reviewer (and her husband) weren't initially used to, they quickly overlooked this when they didn't wake up sweating at any point in the night.

You can buy pieces individually. While they sleep cool, these sheets can feel thin. There are nine core color options, with additional seasonal color options offered until the brand sells out. Pieces are available individually and as a set. Brooklinen also offers 365-day returns, so you can get a feel for these sheets before deciding if they're for you.

Read our Brooklinen Washed European Linen Sheets review.

Best cotton

Percale is a weave of cotton best known for being crisp and cool. The L.L.Bean Percale Sheet Set is not only the best cotton sheet choice for sleepers who sleep hot and want to stay cool at night, but it's also our overall favorite in the best sheets guide.

The set is made from extra-long-staple cotton. This sheet set is moderately priced and comes in nine color options, plus prints like florals and gingham. Our reviewer loved how soft and durable this sheet set was — which is not surprising since they're made with extra-long-staple cotton, which is stronger and more resistant to abrasion than long-staple cotton. So, yes, it may only have a 280-thread count, but it'll be softer to the touch.

But it's not available in twin XL, and I wish there was more clarity about the certifications. If you have a twin XL bed, you're out of luck since the sheets aren't offered in this size. Oddly, L.L.Bean denotes in the product listing that the percale sheet set is tested for harmful substances, and yet, they don't share those results and the sheet set doesn't have any chemical-free certifications.

Read our full L.L.Bean Percale Sheets review.

Best Tencel

Tencel excels at temperature regulation. Tencel is a soft, eco-friendly fabric made from wood pulp, and it's one of the best materials for hot sleepers. The Slumber Cloud Performance Sheets did a great job of keeping my temperature regulated as I slept. Not only were they breathable and cool, but I also did not sweat when sleeping with them.

The heat-absorbing fabric is soft and smooth. I liked how the sheets became softer and took on a more natural look after washing them, almost losing the silky feeling that originally stood out. The silky feeling of the material didn't feel bad, it's just that I prefer soft over silky fabrics for my sheets. These unique sheets are made with Tencel Lyocell and proprietary Outlast viscose fibers, which regulate heat to stop moisture from developing as opposed to having to wick away the sweat that developed. The fabric absorbs, stores, and releases body heat to keep you from overheating or becoming too cold.

I wish there were bed-making tags and more color options. While I'm not a fan of the elastic corner straps on the fitted sheet because they're hard to put on the corners, they do prevent the sheet from slipping, and others may appreciate that feature. There are no top/bottom labels on the fitted sheet and I did notice some extra fabric that bunched when I placed the fitted sheet on my bed. The 60-night trial is a practical perk, but there's only a short 6-month warranty. I also wish they came in more than seven neutral colors.

Best deep-pocket

These are the best cooling sheets for thick mattresses. If you have a thick mattress, you'll need deep-pocket sheets — and with a pocket depth of 22 inches, the Original PeachSkin Sheets were the best I tested.

They are incredibly soft. Thanks to the name, I knew that they would be soft, but even I was surprised by the almost creamy feel. According to PeachSkin, its "athletic grade poly-fiber" sheets (a form of microfiber) are moisture-wicking and more breathable than cotton. While definitely breathable, I disagree with the claim that they are cooler than cotton, but they did a stand-up job of keeping me cool at night. I never once got warm or hot sleeping with these sheets, which is impressive, considering these Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified sheets are one of the more affordable options on this list. They are also hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, come in 34 different color options, and can fit mattresses up to 22 inches thick. I also appreciated that they had a "side" label to indicate the longer sides of the fitted sheet.

Their care is a bit cumbersome. On laundry day, I had to wash the Original PeachSkin Sheets on their own in warm or cold water. I also had to ensure that the detergent was poured into the dispenser or with the running water, which means you can't use detergent pods. These sheets had to be dried separately to ensure that they don't pill. If you purchase this sheet set, you have to be OK with following a rather complicated cleaning process, which obviously means using more water and electricity.

Best organic

These sheets are made with organic long-staple cotton. The Citizenry Organic Resort Cotton Sheet Set was my second favorite sheet set to test because it did a phenomenal job keeping me cool on warm nights, even under a heavy comforter and with little air flow in my room. The stellar temperature regulation can be attributed to the material of the sheets — 100% organic long-staple Turkish cotton with a 400 thread count.

They're durable but a little wrinkly. These Citizenry sheets are Oeko-Tex and GOTS-certified, and they felt very soft and cozy upon first use. After washing them, they didn't seem any softer, but they took on a more natural, slightly wrinkly look that I like. This is not to say that they looked worn or seemed less durable. In fact, I think they'll hold up well over time. Plus, they fit on the bed perfectly without any bunching fabric.

I wish the set came with a trial and warranty. The biggest drawbacks to this sheet set are that there are only five color options, no bottom/top labels, and they are only sold in full, queen, or king sizes. For the price, I was disappointed that the sheets don't come with a warranty and the return policy is poor. Essentially, the sheets have to be unused and returned in original packaging, which means you can't sleep on them to see if they're a good fit. Beyond these few drawbacks, I can confidently say that you'll enjoy the Citizenry Organic Resort Cotton Sheet Set.

What to look for in the best cooling sheets

Although cooling bed sheets can be helpful to those who live in warm places or folks who overheat at night, they are beneficial to all sleepers. "As your body temperature naturally decreases at night, cooler bed sheets can help signal to your body that it's time to go to sleep," said Dr. Daniel Gartenberg, Ph.D., Sleep Health Advisor at CPAP.com. "They can also help you stay asleep and avoid interruptions that may be caused by sweat or increased temperatures."

He adds, "Cooler sheets help maintain a more balanced temperature within your body, so you're more likely to experience more restful sleep rather than waking up periodically due to either sweating or feeling hot."

With this in mind, here's what to consider when shopping for sheets that will keep you cool as you sleep.

Material

Sheets that are advertised as "cooling sheets" can be made with a wide variety of materials from cotton to microfiber, eucalyptus, bamboo, Tencel lyocell, nylon, spandex, and more. Cotton, Tencel lyocell, linen, and bamboo are best known for keeping sleepers cool.

"Certain bedding materials such as bamboo sheets excel at deterring moisture and promoting airflow, keeping you cool and comfortable. Bamboo fibers contain tiny pores that let hot air escape naturally, making it easier to stay cool and relaxed while sleeping," Gartenberg said.

Microfiber is quite affordable, and for the price, it does a decent job regulating a sleeper's temperature. This is not to say that other materials wouldn't be good at temperature regulation — they may — especially as sleep brands continue to experiment with new materials.

Thread count and weave

As mentioned above, breathability and temperature regulation are going to depend a lot on the sheets' material – as well as the thread count and weave.

According to Gartenberg, "The lower the thread count, the cooler you'll be able to feel at nighttime as lower thread counts typically have a much looser weave than higher thread counts, which allows them to be more breathable."

The type of weave method used can also contribute to a cooler sleep. "The best weave method for cooling sheets is Percale, as Percale contains a one-thread-over, one-thread-under pattern that provides the sheets with a cool feel," Gartenberg explains.

Sizes and color options

Many popular sheet sets are limited to three or four color options. In fact, it seems that the more affordable the sheet set, the more color options available. White, gray, tan, and cream are the most common sheet color options, so if you're looking for specific sheet colors beyond that, you're a bit limited in options.

Of course, you'll need to see if the sheet sets come in the mattress size you need and have a deep enough pocket to fit over your mattress height. It's also helpful when sheets are sold with the option to purchase with or without the top sheet, according to your own preferences, or individual pieces.

Certifications

Whether you have allergies or just want to ensure that the product you're sleeping with doesn't contain harmful substances, it's necessary to determine if the sheets you're interested in have specific certifications. We love to see sheets that are hypoallergenic.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a common certification, which means that they're free of harmful chemicals. Sheets with FSC certification indicate that the materials were sourced from forests that are being managed in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible. And if sheets claim they're "organic," look for a GOTS certification, as it is the certified standard for organic textiles.

Return and warranty policies

I was astonished by some of the return and warranty policies of the sheets we tested. Some brands will not allow you to actually test the sheets before returning them, requiring buyers to return the sheets in the original packaging — unused. We prioritized brands with flexible trial and return policies: they can vary from 30 days up to an entire year. It may seem a little silly that sheets come with a warranty, but considering that some sheet sets cost upwards of $200-$400, it's a nice perk to have, even if it is only for one year.

How we tested cooling sheets

I've tested the best mattresses, the best comforters, and the best pillows, so I know how important it is to have the right products and accessories for a good night's rest. Bed sheets, like any other sleep product, can improve one's sleep, and as someone who lives in Texas, it's imperative that my bed is outfitted with cooling sheets.

I slept on each sheet set for two nights and evaluated how they felt on my skin, their cooling capabilities, and how they fit on the bed. Some of the sheets were tested on a queen mattress with a lightweight comforter, while others were tested on a king-size mattress with a heavy comforter. However, for each sheet set that I tested, the air conditioning was set at 77 degrees, and the fan was on. My house is inevitably warm even with the air conditioner.

To determine the sheets' durability, I washed the sheets per the brand's instructions. This allowed me to see if the feel or comfort level of the sheets changed with washing. I also made sure to consider the materials, certifications, color and size options, and policies relating to returns and warranties in the overall score I gave each sheet set.

Best cooling sheets FAQs

Can cooling sheets help with night sweats?

Yes, cooling sheets can help with night sweats. "Cooling bed sheets can help with night sweats by keeping you from becoming too hot and trapping moisture away from your skin. It's best that you find cooling sheets that are more lightweight and breathable, " says Gartenberg. "Heavier cooling sheets will make you sweat more, so finding cooling sheets that are super lightweight and breathable will be most beneficial to you."

What is the best material for sheets to keep you cool?

The best material for cooling sheets is cotton, Tencel, bamboo, or linen. Cotton, especially percale, is airy and repels heat. Tencel is silky-smooth and cool to the touch. Bamboo combines softness with cooling capabilities, and linen is ultra-breathable.

Do cooling sheets actually work?

Based on our testing, yes, cooling sheets actually work. They combine breathability, temperature regulation, and a cool touch to fight off night sweats and keep even the hottest sleepers comfortable.

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