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.
Also, compared to all the other types of bedding I've tried, percale to me is, hands down, the coolest of them all. (I personally think linen sheets sleep warmer than percale.)
If you're hot at night, then high thread count sheets are some of the worst sheets you could buy because besides synthetics, 1000TC sheets are the hottest, non-flannel sheets available.
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.
Sheets with a thread count between 600-800 are considered very high quality. A 1500 thread count is through the roof. If you're suspicious about a set of 1500 thread-count sheets for $22 dollars, you're right to be.
There isn't really a best thread count for sheets. Depending on budget, aim for a thread count between 400 and 1,000. The highest thread count you should look for is 1,000. Anything above that number is unnecessary and often lower quality.
Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. Generally, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet, and the more likely it will wear well — or even soften — over time. Good sheets range anywhere from 200 to 800, although you'll occasionally see numbers over 1,000.
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.
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.
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.
While linen is slightly better at wicking away moisture, good quality cotton sheets are still the cooler, more breathable option.
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.
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. Just as you may flip your pillow to the fresh side, these cooling bed sheets will feel crisp to the touch.
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.
What's the best thread count for sheets? In our tests, top-rated bed sheets often have thread counts between 300 and 500. Anything above 500 isn't necessarily better (so don't be deceived when you see thread counts over 1,500), and on the flip side, you can still find quality sheets with thread counts under 300.
If you want lighter sheets, Joanna says, a 400 thread count sheet can be soft and light, while an 800 percale would be soft and dense. The higher the thread count, the more likely multiple-ply thread is used or picks are added, making the fabric denser and heavier.
Thread counts of 800–1000 or more likely use multi-ply threads which are more expensive and less durable with limited benefits. So in terms of thread count alone, anything around 200–400 will be good quality and comfortable, broadly speaking.
1000 thread count sheets made with an Egyptian cotton blend are incredibly soft to the touch, meaning you'll love every second you spend wrapped in them. Sheets with a high thread count are also more durable than lower thread count alternatives or products made from synthetic materials like polyester.
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.
Textile expert Julian Tomchin told the New York Times “Once you get beyond 400 threads per square inch, be suspicious”. The reason is that there is a limit to how many threads can fit in a square inch, and that number is usually 400 or less. Fifty years ago, a sheet with thread count of 180 was considered luxury.
Higher-thread-count sheets are made with finer (thinner) yarns. The more yarns that fit into a square inch, the smoother, denser, and more durable the fabric. Fine yarn is also more expensive to produce, thus resulting in pricier sheets (and why densely woven sateen is more expensive than percale).
High Thread Count Sheets Are All Hype
The reality is that anything above a 400 thread count sheet is almost always a complete fabrication, and you're paying for nothing but slick marketing. Sheet thread count comes down to the type of fiber used and whether it's of high quality, not necessarily how much of it is used.
Although an exceptionally high-end product, 1000 thread count bedding is available in the majority of home stores around the country, so it's easy for us to enjoy the extravagant experience of sleeping in thick, crisp cotton.