I overheat at night, but these cooling sheets help me fall asleep at the perfect temperature

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a day ago

The best cooling sheets we tested
Best cooling sheets: My Sheets Rock The Regulator Sheets
Best budget cooling sheets: Quince Bamboo Sheet Set If you're prone to overheating at night, the best cooling sheets can help you fall asleep and keep you at a comfortable temperature. Getting a good night's sleep is hard enough, and while cooling fans and cooling pillows might help with temperature regulation, prioritizing moisture-wicking and breathable fabrics for your bedding will be an instant upgrade to your nighttime routine.
As someone who runs hot in their sleep and lives in a sometimes-stuffy second-floor apartment, I know all too well how uncomfortable it is to sleep when it's too warm. That's why I decided to spend several weeks rotating through several different cooling sheets, from bamboo lyocell to crisp cotton, to see which ones actually kept me cool while I slept.
I tossed and turned through six different cooling sheet sets during a particularly warm summer in Los Angeles, California, where I live. In the end, I found two options I'd recommend to any hot sleeper.
My Sheets Rock The Regulator Sheet Set
The Regulator Sheets from My Sheets Rock truly live up to the brand's name. They rock. The silky-smooth material is breathable, and the sheets were the most cooling and comfortable of the sets in my testing pool.
Quince Organic Bamboo Sheet Set
Quince's Bamboo Sheet Set is perfectly designed to help you beat the heat (and night sweats). The breathable material feels soothing and cooling while you rest, and they come in 16 color options, so you can pick the style that best matches your bedroom. The silky-smooth fabric of the Regulator Sheets from My Sheets Rock truly feels cool to the touch, and this set provided the most consistent cooling sensation in my testing. They are made with bamboo rayon, a semisynthetic fiber made from fiber extracted from bamboo. It sounds fancy, but thankfully, it doesn't require a fancy washing method. The sheets are machine-washable and maintain a silky feel fresh out of the wash.
My first night with the Regulator sheets proved to me that cooling sheets truly can make a difference. I immediately felt cool and comfortable lying on the smooth fabric, and it maintained a refreshing temperature and light feel throughout the night. This is the set I reached for again once my testing period ended too.
I was also impressed with their moisture-wicking capability. After sprinkling some water on the pillowcase, the fabric dried in about 30 seconds. Even if the stain of water drops remained, the fabric felt dry to the touch. For anyone who sweats in their sleep, this is a welcome feature.
These sheets also provided a wholly unexpected experience: They made making my bed sort of fun. Since each corner of the fitted sheet is clearly labeled with where it needs to go, it's incredibly easy to make my bed each morning. I never needed to fuss about what side was up or which one was down since everything was clearly marked. I know that the ease of making a bed isn't a key component of cooling sheets, but I found this to be such a game changer that it's worth pointing out.
Beyond the praise for these sheets, I will admit that their somewhat high price gave me pause. This is an expensive sheet set starting at $149 for the twin size, jumping up about $50 for the queen and another $50 for the king size. Additionally, if you prefer to sleep without a top sheet, you still need to purchase the full set, as there's no option to customize your order. You can buy extra pillowcases, but there are no single-sheet options, unfortunately.
But after evaluating each set in my testing pool, The Regulator sheets remained the top-performing option in comfort and temperature. Yes, they're a touch spendy, but the quality and cooling ability are worth the investment.
Cooling sheets don't come cheap, but purchasing a quality set doesn't have to break the bank. Take the Quince Bamboo Fitted Sheet Set, for instance, which starts at $70 for a twin size without a top sheet and maxes out at $150 for a California King size with a top sheet. They aren't rock-bottom cheap, but the combination of quality and value is excellent here.
For starters, the performance in cooling and comfort of these bamboo sheets from Quince rivals the winner from My Sheets Rock. I felt an instant cooling sensation when tucking into bed, and I really appreciated the smooth, soft material. The 300-thread-count sheets are made from a bamboo concentrate that's turned into a synthetic material, which is another similarity between my two winners.
While the Quince Bamboo sheets are not as moisture-wicking as the Regulator sheets, they perform well when exposed to water. The Quince sheets felt slightly damp after spilling some droplets on them, but they dried within a few minutes. This is a great sign for anyone who sweats in their sleep.
But what truly makes this set stand out is its value and customization. The price is attractive, of course, but Quince also allows you to order the set with or without a top sheet. If you choose to sleep without one (like I do), you can order a set with just the fitted sheet and two pillowcases, and Quince will adjust the pricing accordingly.
Overall, these sheets kept me cool, maintained their integrity after being washed and are comfortable to cuddle up in at the end of the day. The value of this set and the ability to customize your purchase made it an easy winner as my best budget pick.
Testing cooling sheets required more than just a few afternoon naps. I evaluated each set over several particularly warm summer weeks in LA. I slept, lounged, made the bed over and over, and did multiple loads of laundry to see how everything fared. I took extensive notes on the feel of the fabric, the ease of making my bed and the sheets' cooling ability. Once I tested each sheet set, I focused my evaluation on the following criteria.
Comfort and cooling
Cooling: After sleeping in each sheet set, I noted whether or not I felt any cooling sensation. While each set was breathable, some kept me cooler for longer, and I recorded that information. I also tested the cooling effects of each sheet set by lounging in the bedding during the day.
Comfort level: I considered how comfortable the fabric was when lounging or sleeping in and on each sheet set.
Quality and feel
Out-of-the-box feel: I felt the fabric of these sheets while I unboxed them, recording the initial feel of the material. Specifically, I highlighted whether the material was soft or rough, light or thick, and silky or textured. These initial impressions helped me determine the overall comfort I later assessed.
How they feel after a wash: I washed each sheet set according to the brand's instructions, and then I felt them again to determine if the feel or the material had changed. Was the fabric still soft, or did it become scratchy? Did the material maintain its integrity? Not all changes in texture are necessarily bad either, so I paid attention to that as well. If the sheets felt rough initially, did they still feel the same after washing and drying, or did they soften?
Pilling: Thankfully, none of the sheets I tested began pilling after the initial wash or throughout testing. Any change in the texture of the material would cause me to consider the set lower in my rankings.
Moisture-wicking test: I sprinkled water drops on the pillowcases of all the cooling sheets and noted how fast each dried. All the sheet sets dried relatively fast, but a few outperformed the others in the testing pool.
Options
Size and color options: I noted the number of color options and the bedding size range for each set. All brands provided size versatility (though some sizes are out of stock online), though not all the sheets I tested are available in multiple color options. This did not cause any sheets to lose points, but it's something to consider if you have a specific aesthetic in mind.
Availability to customize and buy replacements: To top sheet or not to top sheet might be a debate in your household. Brands that offer customized sheet sets where you can opt out of a top sheet got a slight boost in my evaluation, as did brands like Buffy and Sijo that sell a single top sheet and fitted sheet, so you can replace an item without purchasing an entire new set. This customization enhances customer experience and earns some extra consideration.
Ease of setup and fit
Setting up a fitted sheet: I've had plenty of practice making my bed before this article, but using a new set of sheets for the first time always has a learning curve. I focused on how easy it was to get the fitted sheets on my mattress. I noted if there were tags that noted the head and foot of the bedding, or straps at the corners to help the sheets stay in place, both of which make the process easier.
Fit on bed: All the sheets I tested fit a full-size bed. I noted if there was any excess fabric or bulky sheets. While some top sheets touched the floor, all the fitted sheets easily enveloped my mattress.
In the world of bedding, there's far more to consider than comfort. Things like fabric type, thread count, duvet fill and more are all things you should keep in mind while shopping. Luckily, we can keep things on the simple side when shopping for cooling sheets, as there are essentially two important factors to consider that affect the cooling ability of the sheets: fabric material and moisture-wicking qualities.
Many different materials can help create a cooling feel, such as bamboo, cotton, eucalyptus, lyocell and other synthetic combinations. Choosing one over the other comes down to personal preference and, with certain fabrics, the feel of the sheet itself. For instance, bamboo sheets are often incredibly soft and silky, while cotton is a lighter material that has a much more airy feel.
The use of a moisture-wicking material is another element that creates a cooling sensation when it comes to sheets, something that's especially important for those prone to night sweats. Fast-drying fabric should repel and eliminate excess sweat that makes you uncomfortable. If you encounter this problem, opt for sheets that highlight their moisture-wicking capability, like my top pick, the My Sheets Rock The Regulator sheets.
Buffy Breeze Sheet Set
The Buffy Breeze Sheet Set is easy to make the bed with, thanks to straps on the corners of the fitted sheet that keep things in place. While these sheets are made of a thicker material, I enjoyed the cooling sensation they offered. The Buffy Breeze sheets provides an ideal amount of versatility and variety. There are several color and pattern options to choose from, plus you have the ability to buy a single top sheet or fitted sheet. This is always a nice touch because if you need a replacement, there's no need to purchase a full new set. While these sheets are expensive, the ability to pick and choose could save you money in the long run. Plus, the fitted sheet had tags marking the head and foot of the sheet, which made making my bed so much easier.
The sheets are made with a 300-thread count eucalyptus lyocell and a semisynthetic material. While I did find the cooling ability of these sheets strong from the start, the fabric felt tougher initially. It softened a lot after the first wash, but the initial feeling of needing to break in the fabric dropped it in my rankings.
Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set
The Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set's tencel lyocell material kept me at a comfortably cool temperature. The material feels thicker than others in the testing pool but is still breathable throughout the night. My initial reaction to the Airyweight Eucalyptus Sheets was that these sheets are thick and feel a little tough as a result. Thankfully, they still felt lightweight while sleeping on them, and the fabric softened after a wash, making the fabric more comfortable the more I used them.
Still, the material's texture was not my favorite. The winning sheets from My Sheets Rock and Quince feel far more silky-smooth, while these Sijo sheets had more of a matte feel. I will say, though, that the breathability and moisture-wicking capability of these sheets were among the best in my testing pool.
While these start at a higher price point with a top sheet, you can customize your order to remove that sheet and reduce the total of your order. You can also purchase separate top and flat sheets, as well as pillowcases.
Casper Hyperlite Sheet Set
The lightweight material of the Casper Hyperlite Sheet Set is the softest of all the sheets I tested. These sheets also performed well in my moisture-wicking test. The Casper Hyperlite Sheet Set felt quite thin and almost flimsy right out of the box. I wouldn't classify these sheets as having poor quality of material, but rather, they just felt very light to the touch. However, this somewhat thin, light fabric translated to a breathable and comforting cooling sensation as I slept.
I also appreciated this sheet set's comfort and moisture-wicking ability. The soft fabrics' weave makes it airy, which allowed the material to dry faster throughout testing. But it just didn't compare to my winning sheet pick in overall cooling and comfort.
Casper Sleep Percale Sheet Set
The Casper Percale Sheets are composed of 100% cotton material. I felt cool while sleeping, but the structure of the sheets did not make me feel cozy. The Casper Percale Sheets felt like a dress shirt that had been made into bedding. Cooling? Absolutely. Breathable? Very. But the structure continued to feel stiff, even after an initial wash and dry.
The sheets are made of a 100% cotton with a 300 thread count. I felt a soothing, cool temperature each time I slept on this set, and the material is very moisture-wicking. It almost didn't feel wet at all, even right after putting a few water droplets on it during testing.
While this set performed well, it was their comfort (or lack thereof) and versatility that made these sheets fall in my rankings. You also aren't able to purchase this set without a top sheet or buy any individual replacements.
The following FAQs were answered by sleep scientist and researcher Carleara Weiss and professor and founder of Wicked Sheets Alli Truttmann.
What is the best cooling fabric?
What is the best cooling fabric?
Alli Truttmann, the CEO and founder of Wicked Sheets, said to look for synthetics, polyester and cooling nylon blends. With synthetics, manufacturers can control the pore size and weight of the fabric to create cooling ability.
There are other fabric options too, many of which I tested for this guide. 'Cotton and bamboo-derived fabrics are excellent options due to their breathability and softness,' said sleep scientist and assistant research professor Carleara Weiss.
There are also some new, innovative fabrics in the weaving space that are great at cooling. 'Lyocell is a newer option that combines softness, breathability and the ability to manage sweat, and comes from a sustainable source, such as eucalyptus,' Weiss said.
Are bamboo sheets more cooling than cotton sheets?
Are bamboo sheets more cooling than cotton sheets?
'Bamboo and derived fabrics are generally more effective at cooling than cotton because bamboo is more breathable, allowing [for] better temperature regulation,' Weiss said. 'High-end cotton, such as Egyptian cotton, can be comparable in quality to bamboo.'
What is the recommended thread count for cooling sheets?
What is the recommended thread count for cooling sheets?
According to Weiss, a thread count of 200 to 400 ensures your sheets are breathable and, therefore, cool.
That said, Truttmann believes thread count should not be the main concern and said she focuses on the pore size of the fabric, which creates increased airflow in the sheets.
What are other ways people can stay cool at night?
What are other ways people can stay cool at night?
Truttmann recommended avoiding the three F's: feathers, fleece and fur. These materials trap heat and are not the ideal companion for a hot sleeper.
Along with staying hydrated and creating a cool sleep environment with air-conditioning, Weiss said that investing in a cooling mattress and other breathable bedding can help you sleep better.
For this article, we consulted the following experts for their professional insights.
Alli Truttmann, CEO and founder of Wicked Sheets, and adjunct psychology professor at Bellarmine University
Carleara Weiss, sleep scientist and assistant research professor at the University of Buffalo Office of Nursing Research with a doctorate in nursing
CNN Underscored thoroughly tests the products in our testing guides and provides full transparency about how we test them. We have a skilled team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
Associate testing writer Gareen Puglia slept several nights on each of the tested cooling sheets above. When she's not resting for work, she's hiking to test the most comfortable hiking boots or heading to the beach to find the best beach wagons. An expert in all things cooling, she recently wrote our guides on the best neck fans and best portable fans.