Bedding made from bamboo, eucalyptus, linen, or even cotton with a percale finish has natural cooling properties that will help hot sleepers stay cool and everyone else sleep well during hot weather.
Tencel sheets are known for being breathable, smooth, and cool to the touch. Additionally, Tencel bedding is derived from natural fibers, making it a great pick for eco-friendly sleepers.
Material. Most of the sleep experts I spoke to agreed that sheets made of natural fibers, like cotton and linen, are your best bet for sweaty sleepers because they're the most breathable (and therefore cooling). When it comes to cotton, the weave of a fabric matters, too.
Bamboo Sheets
Bamboo fabric is exceptionally eco-friendly and, in our opinion, the softest and most comfortable bed sheets you can find. To produce them, the bamboo fibers are mashed into a soft pulp and then dried into threads.
You should be looking for a range from 200 to 400. If the number is between 150 and 180, then the sheets are going to be rough and not at all soft. A number over 400 means that the fibers are likely woven together to get an inflated figure.
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.
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 are cool, breathable and absorbent
They are also cooler to the touch than cotton sheets. Beyond that, bamboo can absorb 40% more water than cotton. So a bamboo sheet is a great choice to absorb sweat.
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.
Sateen (not to be confused with satin) is a type of weave with more vertical threads than horizontal. This produces an exceptionally soft bed sheet with a smooth, lustrous finish that resembles satin. While they are luxurious, sateen sheets are far more fragile than percale or plain weaves.
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.
Sateen sheets are more prone to heat retention than some alternatives. In winter, this may feel cozy to sleepers. Most individuals choose to use sateen sheets year-round, but especially hot sleepers may find them too warm.
Generally, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet, and the more likely it will wear well — or even soften — over time.
Egyptian cotton is more breathable, moisture-wicking and absorbent than normal cotton, which helps to regulate your body temperature, making it ideal for balmy summer nights, and all year round comfortable sleeping.
One of the reasons Egyptian cotton is softer than regular cotton is that it's made of closely woven long fibers. This composition leads to a smoother surface that's likely to hold up for years to come. Additionally, shoppers can choose from two weave styles, percale, and sateen.
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.
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.
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.
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 such as linen, silk, bamboo, modal, and lyocell are great at helping regulate body temperature. You should also look out for sweat-wicking fabrics like rayon that help to absorb moisture and keep your body feeling dry if you do sweat.
They also often made of a blend of fabrics, such as a blend of cotton/polyester. By twisting strands of cotton with polyester, small pockets are created, helping the sheet breathe better. This creates airflow which is why hotel sheets stay cooler.
The best sheets typically have a thread count between 200 and 400. Any thread count lower than 180 tends to have a rougher texture. Any number over 400 is most likely an inflated figure due to multi-ply thread, meaning you'll pay a premium price for a sheet that doesn't actually feel any softer.
1. Read the fiber content first. 100% cotton is always an excellent go-to because it's soft and affordable. If you're looking for premium, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton, like Egyptian or Pima, is even softer and more durable.