If you're a hot sleeper, tend to sleep sweaty, want the softest sheets, or prefer something as environmentally-friendly as possible, choose bamboo. If you're more of a cold sleeper or prefer a fabric that's super lightweight or textured, go with linen.
Linen and bamboo both sleep incredibly cool. But linen may have a slight edge over bamboo when it comes to cooling properties because of its looser weave.
For people who get hot during sleep, choosing sheets made of bamboo, cotton, or linen — breathable fabrics that wick away moisture from the body and help maintain a comfortable temperature — can help.
"Bamboo sheets offer supreme softness and incredible durability,” he notes. “They're also gentle on sensitive skin. While linen sheets are as breathable, they often take time to soften with each wash and typically don't match the strength and durability of bamboo sheets."
Linen and cotton are both great options for hot, sweaty sleepers. Both fabrics are breathable (and therefore, cooling). "Fabrics like bamboo are breathable and cool, even in warmer seasons," Holliday-Bell explains.
Bamboo sheets are a type of bedding that's made from bamboo fibers, which are highly breathable and lightweight. This makes them ideal for hot sleepers because the fabric is better able to move moisture away from your body while you sleep.
One of the many cooling qualities of the linen fabric is a type of weave that allows more airflow. That's exactly what makes linen bed sheets so breathable. Therefore, linen bed sheets are perfect for hot sleepers because they reduce the body heat and let the air circulate freely throughout the night.
However, the resulting fabric tends to be somewhat coarse and prone to wrinkling. Our guide to the best bamboo sheets highlights some of the best options available.
Bamboo sheets are softer, better for your health, offer exceptional breathability, are more durable and their production process has less of an impact on the environment than that of linen.
Type of fabric
Picking out a breathable and moisture-wicking fabric that keeps you cool and dry at night is essential if you're particularly prone to night sweats. Think natural materials like silk, cotton, and linen.
Fabrics made from natural fibers are more breathable and cool than synthetics, whether used for bed linens or clothing. Natural fibers include wool, cotton, linen, and silk. Some of these can be quite expensive, and that's why many synthetic products exist.
One of the most significant disadvantages of linen bed sheets is that they can be thick and coarse to touch when first purchased. Linen takes time to achieve the softness that bamboo bed sheets possess within the first touch. Be mindful of the wear-in period before you buy linen bed sheets.
Several of the sleep experts I spoke to suggested linen sheets. According to Dr. Joshua Tal, a psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders, they are very breathable and “pick up cool air.” Oks says that since linen is made of a looser weave than, say, a cotton sheet with a high thread count, it traps less heat.
Breathable: Due to its weave and the natural properties of the flax plant, linen fabric is naturally breathable, allowing air to flow between the fibres. This means wearing linen clothing instead of garments made from synthetic fabric keeps you cooler in hot weather.
Aesthetically speaking, bamboo bed sheets are generally more prone to wrinkling, & they lack the “crisp” sheet feeling. On the flip side, TENCEL™ is less prone to wrinkling and tends to have a lustrous and less matte look. TENCEL™ sheets are also notably softer and more drapey than bamboo.
The thermoregulatory properties of bamboo fabric helps keep you cool when the weather gets hot. The breathable and moisture wicking nature of the material allows for ultimate comfort on hot days. So yes, that bamboo shirt will keep you cooler than a cotton alternative.
Bamboo is extremely environmentally friendly, using very little water to grow, needing no harmful pesticides and being 100% biodegradable. There is no other plant used in clothing that is as well-suited and gentle on Planet Earth.
Durability – Viscose from bamboo fabric is known for its durability. It is less likely to pill with use, especially if you take proper care of your bedding. Meanwhile, Egyptian cotton is also easy to take care of, much like regular cotton, but tends to wear out faster than bedding made of bamboo viscose.
Bamboo fibers are naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, which helps to keep the skin cool and dry. This makes bamboo bedding an ideal option for hot sleepers who want to regulate their body temperature and prevent night sweats.
Because bamboo sheets are delicate and soft, it's advised that you air dry them, to avoid damaging the fibres and maintain elasticity and colour. However, it is possible to machine dry bamboo sheets, so long as you choose a low heat and remove your bedding from the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished.
Of all bedding materials, linen is also the most cooling one because of its looser weave. And since it's incredibly moisture-resistant, too — it can absorb up to 20 percent of its weight — linen bedding is ideal for those who live in warmer climates or those who prefer to stay cool at night.
Percale sheets are most comfortable for sleepers who get too warm in the night, for people who live in warmer climates and for those who prefer to use the same sheets and bedding year round.
Oprah loves the Cozy Earth bamboo sheet set for its soft comfort and breathable, moisture-wicking fabric.