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.
Percale sheets are best suited to people who prefer crisp, lightweight bedding. They also offer above-average breathability. Sateen sheets are ideal for sleepers who enjoy soft, drapey bedding. The loose weave gives sateen a smooth feel, but the material is not as breathable as percale.
Percale sheets tend to be cool and crisp, and of the dozens of sets we've tried, L.L.Bean's 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set are our favorite. They're soft and breathable, yet more durable than others we've tested.
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.
Moisture-Wicking Properties: Moisture-wicking fabric can actually move sweat away from your body and keep your sleeping environment dry. Tencel, linen, bamboo, and polyester are all great examples of naturally moisture-wicking materials that can be blended with other fabrics or enjoyed solo.
Coolest Temperature
Crisp, percale cotton sheets are the best sheets for hot sleepers. They're a common choice for hotels and guesthouses, thanks to their fresh feel and cooling properties. And you, too, can enjoy a hotel quality of sleep with these cool, white percale cotton sheet sets.
If linen doesn't work for you, Fountain's recommendation is a percale weave cotton since the “one-over-one-under weave encourages airflow to keep you cool over the course of the night.” For a silky-smooth hand feel and fabric that feels initially cool to the touch, Fountain also recommends Tencel sheets.
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.
Natural fabrics, especially cotton, are a safe choice for people with moderate sweating. Some synthetic fabrics are better for people with heavy sweating. Bamboo sheets are also a good choice, despite the hype.
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.
Iron Your Sheets
This is one of the best tricks to keep your cotton sheets feeling crisp. If you want perfectly smooth sheets, ironing them is the way to go. When you take them out of the dryer, iron them on relatively high heat while they're still warm and hot, and perhaps a little damp.
Hotel buyers in the know most often choose percale sheets over sateen or other weaves. Hotels want white. White sheets are bright, clean-looking, and give a feeling of newness, even though they may have been laundered multiple times. Hotels don't want patterns, colors, or designs that may fade or stain easily.
Percale is a cotton fabric with a basic weave that feels light and airy. It's best for hot sleepers who want more breathability or those who prefer a crisp feel. Sateen is a cotton fabric with a satin-like weave that feels smooth and silky.
Percale's one under, one over structure (see image) has better air permeability, or breathability, than sateen. This makes the percale weave ideal for hot summer months. 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.
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.
Percale sheets use a one-over-one-under weave that gives them their classic crisp, smooth feel. Most percale sheets have a thread count of at least 200, so the weave is fairly tight. However, percale is still highly breathable. In fact, it is often considered the best type of sheet for people who tend to sleep hot.
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.
Opt for percale weaves, as they're more breathable and airy than sateen picks. Linen: Like cotton, linen is also a natural fabric that is popular for its loose weave, providing excellent airflow. Note that linen sheets tend to be less soft than other materials.
Percale fabric is lighter in weight and more breathable making it perfect for summertime or warmer climates. Sateen sheets are woven to create a silky smooth surface with a luminous sheen and is known for its luster and drape. Sateen is usually a little thicker and more tightly woven.
For starters, hotel sheets are designed to withstand frequent washings and constant use. They're also usually made of higher-quality materials, such as 100% cotton or Egyptian cotton. As a result, they're softer and more durable than your average bed sheet.
Although top sheets prevent your comforter from getting dirty, the widespread use of duvet covers has made them somewhat obsolete. Either way you choose to go, make sure your bedding is soft, comfortable, customized to your liking — and regularly washed.
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.
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.