For hot sleepers, we narrowed down the best materials to cotton, linen, satin, and silk. Dr. Peters says these materials work well because they allow heat to dissipate and feel airy and breathable. They're also durable and long-lasting.
After testing dozens and dozens of sets in our ongoing quest for the best sheets, we've found that a set in linen or percale cotton (which is more breathable than sateen) is a great way to round out your bedding collection and extend the life of your everyday sheets by giving them the summer off.
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.
Don't choose high thread counts.
However, thread count greatly affects heat and higher thread counts create hotter sheets. In fact, 1000TC sheets are the hottest cotton sheets you can buy. Conversely, lower thread counts (250TC-350TC 10cm2) create cooler sheets but must be made from good cotton so they last.
Cotton sheets are the most popular natural sheets
You can't go wrong with cotton sheets for coolness. Cotton's two biggest strengths are: it transmits heat well, and it absorbs moisture well. It cools you down better than any other natural material. It is also more durable and affordable than most alternatives.
High Thread Count For Bed Sheets
1000 TC sheets are the warmest cotton sheets available on the market. Lower thread counts (250 TC-350 TC), on the other hand, provide cooler sheets but they must be made of high-quality cotton to retain a premium standard.
If the satin sheet is crafted from rayon / polyester / other synthetic material, then cotton sheets will feel cooler than satin, especially if its a percale cotton sheet.
Cooling sheets are never made with materials like flannel or heavy cotton that trap heat. The best sheets for the summer will be made with bamboo, cotton, silk, Tencel, linen, polyester, microfiber or lyocell.
Microfiber sheets are lightweight and breathable, but they trap more body heat than cotton sheets. Hot sleepers should consider a set of the best cooling sheets instead.
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.
Cotton is a lot more breathable than polyester and will keep your body temperature lower in summer with air flowing on your skin. However, polyester is moisture-wicking and will keep you dry when you are sweating.
If you're struggling to sleep during warm weather, then it's advised to sleep on your side as this will allow more heat to escape from your body. As well as sleeping on your side, try and sleep with your hands and feet outside of the cover as this will also help.
Disadvantages. Satin is a very cool material, which might make your sheets too cold in the winter. It's harder to clean than cotton and other cheaper materials. Satin sheets are more expensive.
The Feel — Percale fabric has a cool, crisp handfeel, and sateen fabric feels silky and smooth. The Weight — Percale is lighter and more breathable than sateen; sateen weaves produce a thicker sheet that lies heavier on the body. The Warmth — Percale bedding tends to sleep cooler than sateen bedding.
If you sleep with a foot hanging out of bed, or are often hot at night, you're a prime candidate for the cool and crisp percale weave. Sateen on the other hand, uses a three over (or more) and one under weave (see image) which traps more heat, making it an excellent choice for cooler seasons or cold sleepers.
Best Thread Count for Cool Sheets
Buying a set of bed sheets with a high thread count may not be the best idea when it comes to breathability, because more threads result in a tighter weave and less airy construction. If keeping cool is your priority, look for low thread count sheets in the range of 180 to 280.
The short answer: Yes. Organic bamboo threads provide a very breathable and lightweight sheet fabric, keeping you cool throughout the night. On average, bamboo sheets are known to keep the body temperature about 3 degrees cooler than cotton bedding would during the night.
Their hollow center makes silk fibers far better at regulating body temperature than cotton. When you sweat, silk wicks away moisture and keeps you cool; when you're not, it insulates and maintains warmth. This is why silk sheets are great for staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
For hot sleepers who prefer the cooler side of things, consider bamboo or Tencel sheets, as they remain cool—not to mention, they're more eco-friendly. All in all, you can find extra-soft sheets no matter which material you choose—you just have to find what makes you comfortable.
Quality cotton with a high thread count is what makes hotel sheets so crisp. Plus, the percale weave is the most popular weave for hotels which makes the sheets extra cool and extra crisp.
The breathability and wicking properties of the bamboo fabric will keep your bed feeling cool and fresh all night long. In terms of cotton sheets, percale sheets tend to have the coolest feeling while jersey sheets tend to trap heat.