Best cooling sheets 2024: tried and tested by hot sleepers, for hot sleepers

The best cooling sheets should keep you just the right side of cool and comfortable, whatever the weather. Whether you suffer from night sweats or hot flushes, or you simply tend to run a little hot, you should get a better night's sleep when you pick up a set of the best cooling sheets.

There are cooling sheets that incorporate temperature-regulating technology, as well as simpler sets made from naturally cooling materials, such as cotton percale. You could shop for cooling sheets at specialist sleep stores, such as Sijo and Saatva, or at any of the major home retailers. With so much on the market, it's easy to feel spoiled for choice.

I've been lucky enough to sample some of the world's best bed sheets. Our team of experts and I - all of us hot sleepers - tested these sheets over months, through the height of summer and blistering heatwaves. I've narrowed it down to my top six sheet sets to suit every style of bedroom and size of budget.

Best cooling sheets 2024: tested for hot sleepers

It isn't enough for thermoregulating sheets to keep you cool. They should also wash well, lie beautifully, and soothe your skin. You might be looking for statement sheets to pop against plain white walls or cool neutral or cute pastel shades to blend with the rest of your bedroom decor. These cooling sheet sets tick all of those boxes, and that's why they've won my sleep editor seal of approval.

How we test cooling bed sheets

We put a lot of thought into how we test bed sheets. It's more than a matter of sleeping on the job. Our expert testers sleep under sheets for weeks, if not months, to monitor their performance over time. We sleep through all four seasons, through heatwaves and cold snaps, to assess their thermoregulating properties. The best cooling sheets should keep you comfortable, whatever the weather, though you wouldn't want to feel too cold. Our testers will also strip their beds, wash their sheets, and make their beds again to see how well the sheets wash and dry. 

Best cooling sheets FAQs

Do cooling bed sheets really work?

Yes, but it's important to do your research. Some of the lower-end sleep stores will market their sheet sets as 'thermoregulating', without any cooling credentials to back it up. Most of the time, it's a matter of materials. Bedding made from bamboo, eucalyptus, linen, or cotton percale is naturally thermoregulating, and should help hot sleepers to stay just the right side of cool and dry. Make sure to avoid polyester, as well as natural materials with tight weaves: these sheets just won't let enough air through. 

Is all cooling bedding the same?

No. Like all the best bed sheets, cooling sheets come in every size and color, as well as a wide range of materials. Hot sleepers should steer clear of stifling synthetics, such as polyester, and opt for naturally cooling fabrics, such as breathable bamboo and lightweight linen. Yet while linen, bamboo, eucalyptus, and cotton sheets should all keep you cool, each material has distinct pros and cons. Bamboo and eucalyptus sheets are softer, and might be more suitable for sleepers with sensitive skin, while linen and cotton sheets might feel a little stiff to start. Eco-conscious shoppers should consider bamboo bedding, especially sheets made from bamboo lyocell, as a non-toxic, sustainable option. I recommend ettitude's Signature Sateen Sheet Set. 

Final thoughts

Once you've bought a set of the best cooling sheets, it's important to take good care of them. Make sure to avoid these bedding laundry mistakes to keep your sheets in good condition.

If you're keen to avoid night sweats, you might want to pair your cooling sheets with one of the best cooling mattress toppers and pads. If you're a seriously hot sleeper, and you have a few hundred dollars to spare, you could invest in the best cooling mattress. Word to the wise: avoid dense memory foam and opt for an innerspring or hybrid mattress with plenty of air pockets.