14 Best Cooling Sheets for Hot Sleepers in 2021

With summer just around the corner, those of us who sleep hot are dreading the yearly ritual of either sweating it out every night or paying hundreds of dollars to blast the AC. While we can’t do anything about the weather, there are other ways to keep cool besides running up the electric bill.

Cooling sheets are one of the best ways to avoid overheating at night. A great set of cooling sheets can wick away moisture from sweat and summer humidity, as well as help diffuse body heat. Let’s take a look at some of the best cooling sheet sets on the market this year.

Best Cooling Sheets for Hot Sleepers in 2021

1. Amerisleep Tencel Sheets

When it comes to coolness and breathability, Tencel is among the best materials, and this offering from Amerisleep is among the best Tencel sheet sets.

Amerisleep’s Tencel Sheets have a patented Smarty-BandZz® system helps the fabric resist wrinkles and bunching to keep the sheets smooth night after night. Amerisleep’s Tencel sheets are also machine washable and dryable, more durable than cotton, and (possibly best of all) great for the planet.

Amerisleep sources their Tencel from “forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and PEFC,” meaning the trees are grown and harvested using only the most sustainable practices.

2. Boll & Branch Percale Hemmed Sheets

If it’s ethically produced, 100 percent organic cotton you’re after, look no further than these percale hemmed sheets from Boll & Branch. The percale weave offers a smooth feel and full breathability so you can stay comfortable all night long. And the 17-inch deep pockets allow the fitted sheet to go over just about every mattress, no matter the depth.

These sheets come with an impressive number of certificates indicating their ethicality, sustainability, and safety, including Fair Trade Certification, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.

3. Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet Set

A fiber made from the flax plant, linen is just as breathable and soft as cotton but a lot stronger. If you’re looking for a durable sheet that doesn’t sacrifice coolness and comfort, these washed linen sheets from Brooklinen could be for you. They’re light and airy to keep you comfortable, but strong enough to endure multiple washes without losing their color or pilling.

Brooklinen’s sheets are made in Portugal, OEKO-TEX certified, woven from 100 percent French and Belgian flax, and washed and dyed in small batches for optimum quality.

4. Buffy Eucalyptus Sheet Set

Eucalyptus is also a great substitute for cotton sheets. Eucalyptus is more breathable than cotton, softer than linen, and almost as sustainable as bamboo. The Buffy eucalyptus sheet set is the best of the best of eucalyptus sheets. They’re designed to get softer with each wash, they’re colored with natural dyes only, and they’re hypoallergenic.

Eco-conscious sleepers will also appreciate the fact that these sheets are made of eucalyptus grown using 10 times less water than cotton. Buffy also has outlined a commitment to implement an end-of-life takeback program that would allow used Buffy products to be recycled rather than dumped in a landfill.

5. Delilah Home 100% Organic Hemp Bed Sheets

Another great cooling yet sustainable material is hemp, and these Delilah Home 100 percent organic hemp sheets are as sustainable, non-toxic, and free of harmful chemicals as it gets. They’re GOTS certified, meaning they were manufactured to the highest standards of ethics, sustainability, and safety.

The 180 gram per square meter weight will be great for sleepers who like a little extra heaviness in their bedding. Don’t let the extra weight fool you—this organic sheet set is breathable, cooling, and soft, proving you don’t have to sacrifice comfort to be more eco-friendly.

6. Gravity Bamboo Sheets

Made of 300 thread count bamboo viscose and cotton fabric, the Gravity bamboo sheet set has a lot to offer. Its special blend of bamboo and cotton fibers has tons of softness, breathability, and comfort. Bamboo is also naturally odor-resistant, hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial, and the durable fabric will last through multiple washes.

If you’re interested in sustainability, bamboo is a great option. It grows fast, doesn’t require a lot of fertilizer, needs comparatively little water, and regrows on its own even after being harvested.

7. My Sheets Rock Regulator Set

Another amazing bamboo offering, the My Sheets Rock Regulator sheet set is made from extra cold bamboo rayon to help diffuse body heat and wick away sweat. The breathable bamboo fiber not only helps reduce moisture and regulate temperature but also resists odor.

These lightweight sheets are durable and low-maintenance. Since they’re resistant to bacteria, moisture, and dust mites, you might even be able to get away with washing them less than once a week. And when you do wash them, you can toss them in both the washing machine and the dryer.

8. Nollapelli Signature Sheet Set

If you want to stay cool while getting the best beauty rest, the Nollapelli signature sheet set might be for you. Designed with your skin and hair in mind, the Nollapelli sheet set is soft to the touch, cool and moisture-wicking, and gentle on your skin.

The signature dual-faced fabric is woven with two different types of yarn to balance moisture and reduce friction while you sleep so you don’t wake up with frizzy, staticky hair. And the soft, luxurious feel helps reduce creases and lines from your skin making contact with the bed. Nollapelli also offers a 30-day risk-free trial period.

9. Parachute Percale Sheet Set

If you’re in the market for the best cotton sheets, you might want to check out Parachute’s 100% premium, certified long-staple Egyptian cotton percale sheet set. These crisp, lightweight sheets are breathable enough to keep you cool while still being strong enough to maintain their integrity through wash after wash.

A great feature of these sheets is they come in the full range of sizes from twin to California king (many luxury sheet sets often don’t include the twin, twin XL, or sometimes even the full), and they come in a wide range of colors to match any comforter and bedroom.

10. PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats

PeachSkinSheets’ Night Sweats sheet set features breathable, performance fabric designed to decrease sweating during sleep as well as wick away moisture. They are one of the most popular sheet sets on Amazon.  The athletic-grade airy microfiber sheets are durable enough to resist pilling through multiple washes as well as stand up to stains from active kids and eating/drinking in the bed. They’re also soft right out of the package, so it’s not necessary to “break them in.”

Like the Parachute sheets, the PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats come in a huge range of sizes (including the split king, which is often hard to find) and a full pallet of colors. They also come with a 30-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee.

11. Slumber Cloud Essential Sheet Set

The Slumber Cloud Essential Sheet Set is a perfect mix of cotton and temperature regulating, NASA-approved Outlast® viscose fibers.

The Outlast® technology regulates temperature by absorbing your body heat when your skin is at its hottest and then releasing it once your body temperature drops, making it perfect for people who sleep both hot and cold or “temperature incompatible” couples.

These sheets also include a full elastic band and corner bands to keep the fitted sheet in place, an OEKO-TEX certification for non-toxicity, and a generous 60-day trial period and 180-day limited warranty.

12. Terra Life Home Coolmax Sheet Set

If you want a luxurious, cool feel in a durable, stain-resistant sheet, the Terra Life Coolmax microfiber sheet set might be a good choice for you. These sheets’ athletic-grade microfiber fabric wicks moisture away from your skin rather than just absorbing it, and it adapts to your body’s temperature to keep you cool.

Terra Life’s hypoallergenic microfiber is wrinkle-resistant, antimicrobial, and machine washable and dryable. Coolmax sheets boast comfort, functionality, and luxury all at the same time.

13. Touché Vegan Silk Full Sheet Set

If you like silk sheets but prefer to stick with plant-based materials, these offerings from Touché may be up your alley. Their proprietary “vegan silk” is made from eucalyptus Lyocell fabric, giving you the softness, shininess, and luxury of silk without the use of animal products (or the exorbitant price of silk).

One of the best things about the Touché vegan silk sheet set is the eucalyptus fabric is naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, which can help with acne and other skin issues. Don’t let their luxurious feel fool you—these sheets are still durable and machine washable.

14. Vero Linens Olivia Luxury Sheets

If you’re in the market for a luxury set of cooling sheets, look no further than these 100 percent cotton percale sheets from Vero Linens. The Olivia sheet line is handcrafted in Italy from only the highest-quality long-staple cotton for a super cool feel that’s soft yet crisp.

The oversized flat sheet offers tons of coverage, while the extra deep pockets in the fitted sheet will fit even the thickest mattress. The fitted sheet is fully elasticized for a snug fit. These sheets are OEKO-TEX certified non-toxic, machine washable, and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

One thing to note on the Olivia line (as well as other Vero Linens sheets) is that they’re not sold as a set, so you’ll need to purchase the flat sheet, fitted sheet, pillowcases, and/or duvet cover separately.

FAQs

What’s the best material if I’m a hot sleeper?

There are lots of great materials that can keep you cool at night. Cotton, Tencel, bamboo, silk, linen, and eucalyptus are all breathable, natural fibers with great temperature regulating abilities. There are also synthetic materials, such as microfiber. However, when decided between microfiber and cotton sheets, cotton tends to be more breathable.

Certain weaves are also naturally cooling. Hot sleepers may enjoy both sateen and percale sheets. If you’re looking for a shiny finish and a silky feel, a sateen weave will be a good choice for you. Meanwhile, if you’re in the market for a matte finish and crisp feel, you’ll probably like a percale weave better than sateen.

Are there other things I can do to cool down for sleep besides blast the AC?

There are several ways you can keep cool besides turning the AC down. In addition to great cooling sheets, you can alter a few nighttime behaviors to help your body start cooling down before bedtime.

Try taking a warm bath or shower before you go to bed. Your core body temperature will initially rise in the warm water. But once you get out, both evaporation and your body’s desire to regulate its internal temperature will help you cool down. Also, avoid eating heavy meals late at night or snacking right before bed. Digesting food takes energy, which can make you feel warm.

To cool down your room, try keeping your blinds shut during the day or even getting blackout curtains to keep the sunlight from raising the room temp. And make sure your ceiling fans are moving counterclockwise to help circulate cool air throughout the room rather than letting it pool on the floor.

What’s the ideal sleep temperature?

Since the body needs to shed heat at night to reduce its core temperature during sleep, a cooler ambient temperature can help encourage heat loss. The best bedroom temperature to facilitate sleep is around 65 degrees, but anywhere from 60 to 68 degrees is sufficient for most people.

If you don’t want to blast the air conditioning, you might be able to open windows and use fans to create a cross breeze that brings down the bedroom’s temperature.

Of course, your personal preference is an important factor in choosing a bedroom temperature. 60 to 68 degrees is the ideal room temp for the average person, but if you find that too cold (or too warm), there’s no reason to strictly abide by it.

Why do I wake up sweating at night?

There are a few reasons you might suffer from night sweats. Sometimes, it’s just your body’s natural attempt to cool off because your bedding or bedroom is too hot. If that’s the case, all you need to do is change to cooling sheets or turn the fan up.

However, there are also a few medical conditions that can cause you to sweat at night. Menopause is one condition infamous for causing night sweats because the hot flashes that accompany hormone changes often occur at night.

Other medical conditions that may cause night sweats include idiopathic hyperhidrosis, low blood sugar, hormone disorders like hyperthyroidism, and certain medications. If you think a medication or medical condition could be causing your night sweats, see your doctor as soon as possible.

What if I sleep hot but my partner sleeps cold?

If you and your partner want to sleep in the same bed but have different temperature needs, you might consider a split king with separate bedding sets. A split king won’t just allow you to have separate sheets and comforters, but it will also let you get separate mattresses. That means the partner who needs a warm bed can have a nice down mattress topper while the partner who needs a cool bed can get a cooling mattress/mattress topper like gel memory foam or latex.

Bottom Line

Keeping cool is extremely important for a good night’s sleep, and breathable, chilly sheets can be a great way to feel colder at night. The best sheets for you will depend on the material, durability and breathability.

Things you do want include cooling materials like cotton, Tencel, or bamboo and breathable weaves like sateen and percale sheets. Things you don’t want include warm materials like flannel, fleece, or wool and insulating weaves like jersey-knit.