6 best cooling sheets 2025 − tested by hot sleepers, for hot sleepers

If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you simply tend to run a little warm, then you're what's known as a hot sleeper. I spent years sweltering in silence before I bit the bullet and bought the best cooling sheets I could afford. I slept so much better under cooling cotton percale than I did under polyester.

As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best bed sheets. Together, we've tested dozens of sheet sets, ranging from luxury linens to cooling cottons and breathable bamboo sets. I asked my fellow hot sleepers living in warm climates to help me shortlist the six best sets of cooling sheets.

We sleep with each sheet set for eight hours a night, seven nights a week, for a minimum of 30 nights before we write our reviews. That's hundreds of hours of testing for thermoregulation and durability, as well as look and feel. For natural breathability and a silky-smooth finish, our reigning champion is the ettitude Signature Sateen Sheet Set, but you might find that another cooling sheet set is a better match for you. Follow my bed sheet buying rules and you won't go far wrong.

Best cooling sheets 2025 – 6 breathable sets, ranked and reviewed

First, let's talk materials. It's common consensus that sheets made from natural fibers, such as cotton or linen, are more breathable than synthetic sheets. When you're working with cotton, in particular, the way the material is woven matters, too. Hot sleepers need loose waves and lightweight sheets to promote airflow through the mattress.

• Cotton percale: crisp and cool, cotton percale is the material of choice for high-end hotels and luxury spas. It's a loose, lightweight weave (one-thread-over, one-thread-under, unlikely to pill, so it's a great low-maintenance option.
• Cotton sateen: silky and smooth, cotton sateen feels more luxurious than cotton percale, but it's often less suitable for hot sleepers. That's because sateen is a tighter weave (three-threads-over, one-thread-under), which forms a thicker, heavier sheets.
• Linen: breathable and durable, linen is a great option for anyone who likes a little texture in their bedding. Linen is woven from flax fibers, which are totally hollow (hence their breathability). The best linen sheets are a low-maintenance option for anyone who hates making the bed: they're designed to be wrinkled.
• Bamboo: thermoregulating and sustainable, bamboo is the material of choice for hot sleepers and eco-conscious shoppers. You get a similar look and feel from eucalyptus.
• Wool: believe it or not. wool is an excellent moisture-wicker. According to the Woolroom Clean Sleep Report, wool can hold up to 33% of its weight in water (or sweat), so it's highly absorbent, keeping you fresh and dry beneath your sheets.
• Polyester: this is the worst bed sheet material for hot sleepers. Polyester known to trap heat and moisture, leaving you clammy beneath your bed sheets. While polyester is cheaper than more luxurious fabrics, it's prone to pilling and made from non-renewable resources.

How we test cooling sheets

As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of product testers across the country in the search to find the world's best bed sheets. We sample the sheets in our own homes for a minimum of 30 days to give an accurate indication of long-term performance. We assess each sheet set against the same criteria: look and feel; thermoregulation; and durability.

First, we describe the look and feel of the sheets, noting how they feel against our skin and how they lie on the bed. To assess thermoregulation, we switch off our AC to sleep through heat waves and cold snaps, noting down any nights that we wake up in a sweat. To assess durability, we clean the sheets according to the instructions on their care tag: then, we remake the bed and carry on testing, considering how the feel of the fabric changes with nightly wear and tear.

We also consider all the practical parts of buying a sheet set, from the colors and sizes available to the details of delivery. We like to compare our findings against verified reviews to pick up common customer concerns. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the sheet set to help you determine value for money. To learn more about how we test at Homes & Gardens, consult our expert guide.

FAQs

Where can I buy cooling sheets?

Most of the best places to buy bedding sell cooling sheets. For eco-conscious shoppers, I recommend ettitude or Cozy Earth (both of which specialize in bamboo bedding). If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, and you're looking for thermoregulating bed sheets, I suggest Slumber Cloud or Sijo. If you're shopping for bed sheets with prints and patterns or unique color combinations, I recommend Piglet in Bed, or even Amazon: it's one of the best places to buy affordable bedding.

Are cooling sheets worth it?

Yes − a cooling sheet set could change the game for hot sleepers and summer nights. As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I'm often asked: 'do cooling bed sheets really work?' In my experience, yes, they do. My cooling cotton percale sheets help to keep my night sweats under control so that I can feel fresher in the morning. I suggest you pay a little extra for natural fibers with their superior thermoregulation rather than save a few bucks on sweaty synthetic sheets.

If you're looking for other ways to keep cool, I suggest you invest in one of the best cooling mattress protectors to keep your bed looking clean and your body feeling fresh. For hot sleepers who still like a layer, I recommend the best cooling comforter.