A cool, comfortable environment is key to good sleep — and a set of cooling sheets can help make that happen. Here are our picks for the best cooling sheets, from classic linen to tech-forward fabrics to a eucalyptus fiber that won’t irritate sensitive skin.
If you’re a hot sleeper, getting a solid night’s rest can be difficult. It’s especially hard if you can’t sleep without some kind of bed covering. Sleeping on top of the comforter, vulnerable to all manner of aliens and demons, is just not an option.
That’s where cooling bedding — pillows, comforters, and sheets — comes in. (For more info on why sleeping cool is so important, check out our story on cooling pillows.) A cooling sheet set is a particularly useful way to stay cool: Since sheets come into direct contact with your body, their cooling effects are less likely to be blocked by protectors, pads, or other layers of bedding.
How do cooling sheets work?
Cooling sheets come in a surprising range of fabrics, from breathable cotton percale weave to moisture-wicking polyester. How each sheet set works depends on its material and engineering, but in general, you can expect natural fibers with a fairly loose weave to be the most breathable: cotton, linen, eucalyptus, etc. This is because they allow for increased airflow through the fabric, letting heat move around instead of staying trapped against your soon-to-be-sweaty skin.
Then there are fabrics designed specifically for cooling purposes. The two we’ve included on this list are Outlast and 37.5, both of which are intended to regulate temperature. They function differently from one another — Outlast, which was originally developed for NASA, absorbs heat like an ice cube, while 37.5 takes the moisture wicking approach — but the endgame for both is to keep temperatures down, either by wicking sweat away from your body or by curbing it in the first place.
You may also notice many of our picks skew more expensive than the average sheet set. This is pretty standard for cooling bedding, but we’ve taken care to feature hardy sheets intended for years of use, especially ones that reviewers say get even softer with frequent washes.
What else can I do to sleep cool?
Cooling fabrics are a great step toward keeping the space in that optimal temperature zone (which is between 65 and 70 degrees, by the way), but there are other measures you can take to keep it chill, too.
Christina Pierpaoli Parker, a sleep and health researcher and a resident of clinical psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, recommends — believe it or not — a hot shower before bed.
“Some emerging evidence suggests that passive body heating via a shower or bath 60 to 120 minutes before bed can hasten sleep onset because it reduces core body temperature,” she explained via email. (You can read more about that here.)
“While it may sound counterintuitive, passive body heating elicits heat out from the body’s core to its surface, naturally cooling the body.”
She cautions against doing heat-producing activities, or activities that can raise the body’s core temperature, too close to bedtime. These might include vigorous exercise, eating heavy meals, or drinking alcohol.
Then, of course, there are the usual suspects. If you haven’t invested in an AC unit or a tower fan for your bedroom, now might be a good time to consider it.
Here are our picks for the best cooling sheets. To help you compare accurately, we’ve included the price of a full set for each option, but most are available in a wide range of sizes.
Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet Set
This luxurious linen sheet set is an investment, but one that’s likely to pay off for sweaty sleepers who prize breathability.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases -
Material:
100% linen -
Sizes available:
Full, queen, king, California king
Linen is widely regarded as one of the best fabrics for cool sleep: It’s natural, it’s breathable, and because it facilitates airflow, it’s a great option for sweaty sleepers and people who are prone to body breakouts.
If you’re choosing between linen and cotton, you’ll want to keep a few key differences in mind. High-quality linen will likely get softer and more comfortable with each wash, but may feel slightly stiff out of the box, while cotton will probably be softer from the get-go. (Also, cotton percale tends to be crisper than cotton sateen.)
High-quality linen sheets will be more expensive than cotton, generally speaking, but you’ll see value in their longevity and how gracefully they age. (Like a fine wine, some would say.)
These sheets from Brooklinen start at $259 for a full-size set, which is admittedly pricey, but reviewers report that the sheets are ultra-comfortable and soften up nicely with use. They also come in a wide array of soft, dreamy, and (sorry) Instagram-friendly colors, including a delicate petal pink and a deep, velvety shade of (limited edition!) green.
Trident 100% Cotton Percale Sheet Set
Cotton percale is a classic, comfy material that will keep you cool — and this cooling sheet set is super affordable to boot.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases (twin and XL twin include 1 pillowcase) -
Material:
100% cotton -
Sizes available:
Twin, full, queen, king
“If you miss the cool crisp sheets you had at your Grandma’s house growing up, these are for you. After purchasing several other brands and returning all of them I decided to do the research. Percale is what I was looking for.”
When selecting cotton percale sheets, keep in mind that “higher thread count” doesn’t necessarily mean “better” — especially if your top priority is staying cool. In fact, the optimal thread count range for cotton percale is no lower than 200 and no higher than 500, according to Wirecutter as well as Apartment Therapy. This sheet set, at 300, falls neatly within that range.
Those looking for a more luxurious cotton percale should consider the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set, which also appears on this list. If you’re searching in a lower price range, though, the Trident sheets are a reliable budget pick.
Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set
These cotton percale sheets are a little more luxurious than our budget pick — and, of course, a little more expensive.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases -
Material:
100% cotton -
Sizes available:
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
These particular sheets are a favorite of SleepFoundation.org founder and certified sleep science coach Bill Fish, who has been using them for over a year. “I find them incredible,” he told Mashable in an email. “The cotton keeps me cool, and they frankly don’t feel too thick.”
Another tiny bonus: The sides are labeled “long” and “short,” which will make putting the sheets on your bed (which is difficult, please don’t @ us) a bit easier.
Like the Brooklinen linen sheet set, this set comes in a wide array of pleasant, soft colors. Several good prints are also available, including a muted grid pattern and cheery green polka dots.
The Classic Core set does appear to go out of stock more often than the linen set, though, so if you see a color you like be sure to scoop it up fast. If it’s your first time buying from Brooklinen, you’ll also get 10% off your order. Never a bad thing!
True Temp Sheet Set
This sheet set’s blend of 37.5 polyester and cotton sateen make for a sleep experience that’s both soft and cool.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases -
Material:
76% cotton, 22% 37.5 polyester, 2% spandex -
Sizes available:
Queen, king, split king, California king, split California king
However, this particular set also includes 37.5 cooling polyester, a moisture-wicking fabric that’s used frequently in athletic clothing and bedding, including the popular Buffy comforter. It’s named after the body’s “optimal core temperature” (though that’s really more of a range) and is designed to pull moisture from the body, then release it away from the fabric.
Sheets that use 37.5 technology aren’t universally well-reviewed — some people prefer the natural breathability of 100% cotton and linen — but reviewers praise this set for its long-lasting coolness and ability to maintain its color, even after lots of washes. The sheets are also a little stretchy, thanks to a tiny bit of Spandex, so keep that in mind. (It can make it easier to get that fitted sheet on board!)
Note: These sheets are not available in full size, so we’ve included the price of a queen set here, a size which should still accommodate a full bed.
Nest Bedding Tencel Lyocell Sheet Set
These soft, cool Tencel sheets will be a godsend for hot sleepers with sensitive skin.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases (twin and XL twin include 1 pillowcase) -
Material:
100% Tencel -
Sizes available:
Twin, XL twin, full, queen, split queen, king, split king, California king, split California king
These Tencel sheets from Nest Bedding are also moisture-wicking, which means you’re less likely to wake up sweating. (The company recommends them specifically for “people who tend to sleep hot.”) Reviewers like them for their exceptional softness and lightweight feel, though quite a few people also noted that they’re prone to wrinkling — be sure to take them out of the dryer fast if wrinkled sheets bother you.
The color options here, while all lovely, are limited: white, gray (“slate”), and beige (“sandstone”). If you want something more vivid, you may prefer the Brooklinen options on this list.
Stratus Sheet Set
These cotton sheets are infused with Outlast fibers, which work like dropping ice cubes into a glass of water.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases (twin and XL twin include 1 pillowcase) -
Material:
40% Outlast viscose, 60% cotton sateen -
Sizes available:
Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
They’re made with both cotton and Outlast fiber, the latter of which is a phase change material originally developed for NASA. It works not by wicking moisture as 37.5 does, but instead by absorbing heat, which then cools the fabric around it. (The Outlast website compares it to ice in a glass of water, which we found to be a useful image.)
The Stratus sheets have been an internet favorite since they were released, with endorsements from The Sleep Judge, The Strategist, Good Housekeeping, and more. More importantly, though, dozens of reviewers attest to their softness (even with lots of washing) and cooling powers — though some reviewers say they feel slightly less cool to the touch than they expected.
One small downside: The Stratus sheets come in a limited range of colors. If you like blue, white, and gray, though, you’re all set.
Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets
Like its famous comforter, Buffy’s eco-conscious Eucalyptus sheet set lives up to the hype.-
Set includes:
1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases -
Material:
100% eucalyptus -
Sizes available:
Twin, XL twin, full, queen, king
Like the brand’s hallmark comforter (which we loved, by the way), Buffy’s sheets are sewn with recycled thread and made of 100% eucalyptus fabric. Like Tencel, this is also a type of lyocell. This means they’re very breathable, notably soft — not crisp like cotton percale nor textured like linen — and especially silky to the touch. The sheets’ dye is also all natural.
Buffy also has a refreshingly eco-conscious return policy. The company offers a seven-day trial period for their sheets, so you can give them a whirl before you commit. If you decide that you don’t like them, you won’t need to send the sheets back to Buffy. Instead, Buffy encourages customers to donate their sheets (and yes, they’ll still refund you).
In the future, they hope to repurpose returned materials. “Our roadmap to a closed loop supply chain includes plans for a return take back program that will allow us to turn worn Buffy products into new, comfy essentials,” reads a notice on their website.