A hot and humid bedroom can make it difficult to get a night of uninterrupted sleep. If you’re like me, and suffer from night sweats, you might be a good candidate for a set of cooling bed sheets. Sheets marketed as cooling are typically designed with breathable fabrics like cotton, linen or bamboo, which “promote airflow and moisture-wicking to keep the body cool and regulate temperature,” says Dr. Shelby Harris, Director of Sleep Health at sleep product review site Sleepopolis.
To help you choose the best cooling sheets, we consulted sleep experts for their advice and compiled their recommendations along with NBC Select staff favorites.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best cooling sheets | The best cooling sheets | How to shop for cooling sheets
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How we picked the best cooling sheets
When it comes to cooling sheets, the right fabric can go a long way. The experts we spoke to recommend keeping the following factors in mind:
- Fabric: It’s best to look for bedding made of breathable fabrics like cotton, linen or bamboo, which promote airflow and have moisture-wicking properties, according to Harris. Additionally, consider bedding made with cooling weave patterns, such as percale, which is known for being lightweight, crisp and cooling.
- Oeko-Tex certification: While Oeko-Tex certification (which indicates that a product has passed testing for harmful substances) isn’t a prerequisite for a great set of cooling sheets, many of the options on our list have this designation.
The best cooling sheets
Below, we’ve rounded up expert-recommended cooling sheets and Select staff favorites to help you have a restful, temperature-regulated sleep.
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
- Good for very hot sleeper
- Lightweight
- Nothing to note at this time
Bamboo sheets, like this option from Cozy Earth, are a favorite among Dr. Harris and NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio, who tried them for NBC Select’s Wellness Awards. “I’m a very hot sleeper and they’re the most cooling ones I’ve tried,” she says. “They’re also super soft and lightweight without feeling like I’m slipping around.” The sheets are made from 100% viscose from bamboo fabric and fit both regular and deep pocket mattresses up to 20 inches. They are available in seven neutral colors, like white, driftwood or oat.
Sizes: Twin to Split King | What’s included: One fitted sheet, one flat sheet and two pillowcases | Oeko-Tex certified: Yes
Parachute Percale Sheet Set
- Extremely cooling
- Softens with each wash
- More crisp than soft
Made of 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton, these percale weave sheets were Select’s 2023 Wellness Award Winner for the best overall sheets. The Oeko-Tex certified sheets are structured, yet smooth to the touch, says associate updates editor Zoe Malin and Parachute says they get softer with each wash. The set comes in eight colors with a fitted sheet and two pillowcases but no top sheet.
Sizes: Twin to California King | What’s included: One fitted sheet and two pillowcases | Oeko-Tex certified: Yes
Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet
- Stonewashed
- Nothing to note at this time
These linen sheets, which are made from 100% European flax fibers, are another cooling option for those who run hot. “I’m such a hot sleeper and I love these sheets,” says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider who tested this linen set from Brooklinen. They’re stonewashed and woven with a breathable and cooling pattern, according to the brand, which makes them ideal for particularly warm evenings.
Sizes: Twin to California king | What’s included: One fitted sheet, one flat sheet and two pillowcases | Oeko-Tex certified: Yes
Parachute Linen Sheets
- Lightweight
- Many colorways
- Nothing to note at this time
These linen sheets from Parachute come recommended by Harris, who says that they’re “made using natural lightweight materials that promote airflow and wick away heat.”. The Oeko-Tex certified sheets, also a favorite of Select editorial director Lauren Swanson, are made of European flax and are currently available in 12 colors.
Sizes: Twin to California King | What’s included: One fitted sheet and two pillowcases | Oeko-Tex certified: Yes
Riley Home Linen Sheet Set
- Very soft
- Garment-washed
- Nothing to note at this time
Swanson is also a fan of this linen sheet set from Riley Home. They’re made from euroflax Belgian linen and have a super soft garment-washed finish, according to the brand. The sheets are only available in white with the option to add a flat sheet.
Sizes: Queen to King | What’s included: One fitted sheet and two pillowcase | Oeko-Tex certified: Yes
Sheex Original Performance Sheet Set
- Good for very hot sleepers
- Shrink-resistant
- Cold-water only
We included this sheet set in our roundup of the best bed sheets. The sheets, which have a 4.4-star average rating from 3,388 reviews on Amazon, are made of a cooling, moisture-wicking fabric that helps prevent sweating and regulate body temperature, according to the brand. Plus, they get softer after each wash and don’t shrink, fade or pill, according to the brand.
Sizes: Queen to King | What’s included: One fitted sheet and two pillowcase | Oeko-Tex certified: n/a
How to shop for cooling sheets
When looking for cooling sheets, it’s important to pay attention to the weave and whether they are designed with phase-change materials.
Materials
If you run hot, you should look out for breathable materials like cotton, linen, or bamboo, according to Harris, who says they “allow for better airflow and temperature regulation.” Materials that have moisture-wicking capabilities also can help “pull moisture away from the body and promote a cooler and drier sleep environment.” She also recommends avoiding synthetic materials, such as polyester or acrylic, as they have poor breathability, or heavy fabrics such as flannel, velvet, or fleece, which are designed for warmth and insulation.
Percale weave and cooling technologies
Harris says cooling sheets with an open weave, like percale, wick moisture away. Separately, some sheets may also incorporate natural or synthetic cooling technologies such as phase change materials or cooling gel-infused fibers (though we did not include these in this guide).
Meet our expert
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Shelby Harris, is a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified in behavioral sleep medicine and the director of sleep health at sleep product review site Sleepopolis.
Why trust NBC Select?
Christina Colizza is a former editor at NBC Select and has been a product reviewer since 2018. She covered a range of self care and skin care topics like shampoos, eyebrow serums and more.
Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he writes about cooking, cleaning, wellness and other lifestyle topics. He updated this article.
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