Best cooling sheets 2025 – lightweight linens for warmer weather

As we head towards warmer days and hotter nights, a set of the best cooling sheets could help to regulate your temperature and wick away moisture. If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, then you'll appreciate that sleeping hot can be a year-round struggle, and a lightweight sheet set will never go amiss in warm, arid climates.

As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best bed sheets. I've combed through our back catalog of reviews to bring you the best cooling sheets for warmer weather, ranging from cooling cottons to breathable bamboo blends.

We sleep with sheets for a minimum of 30 nights to get a good indication of long-term performance before we write our initial reviews. We assess each cooling sheet set against the same criteria: look and feel; durability; thermoregulation. With top scores across the board, our reigning champion is the ettitude Signature Sateen Sheet Set , but you might prefer one of our tested alternatives.

Best cooling sheets – 6 breathable sets, ranked and reviewed

Certain bed sheet types are more suitable for hot sleepers. It's common consensus that sheets made from natural fibers are more breathable than synthetic strands. The way in which the material is woven also informs how warm or cool it feels. Here's a quick overview of the pros and cons of some common fabrics.

• 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), with lots of room for air to flow. Unlikely to pill, percale is a great low-maintenance option.
• Cotton sateen: silky and smooth, sateen is a tighter weave (three-threads-over, one-thread-under), designed to catch the light and create a lustrous sheen. Compared to percale, sateen is a less breathable weave, so it's important to choose thermoregulatory fabrics, such as cotton or bamboo.
• 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.

Be sure to steer clear of the worst bed sheet material for hot sleepers: polyester is known to trap heat and moisture, leaving you clammy and uncomfortable beneath your bed sheets.

While polyester is cheaper than more luxurious fabrics, which is why it's often found in the best affordable bed sheets, it's prone to pilling and made from non-renewable resources. For natural breathability, you'd be better off exploring the best organic bedding.

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 bed sheets 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.