Body temperature can affect ones sleep. During the summer, regulating your body temperature can add an extra layer to things. Feeling hot can make falling (and staying) asleep a lot harder, but cranking the air conditioning can get expensive -- and irritate a bedmate. Never fear: The right linens can send you drifting off and keep you from tossing and turning all night.
The Citizenry's stonewashed linen sheets kept me cool and had a great look, too.
The CitizenryAt CNET, we've been studying sleep and testing bedding accessories for some time. To find the best cooling sheets, we spoke with sleep experts and tested out a variety of options ourselves.
Remaining cool to the touch while offering comfort and style, the Citizenry's stonewashed linen sheets topped our list.
They're available in 14 colors and patterns, from basic white to indigo chambray (our favorite) so it's easy to match them to your bed decor.
Best cooling sheets of 2024
While made from stonewashed French flax linen, Citizenry sheets actually hail from one of the oldest linen mills in Portugal.
These sheets feel crisp and cool right out of the bag. They're definitely soft, but more rugged than satiny, with a lived-in, baggy look (especially after a few washings).
If social responsibility is important to you, know that Citizenry sheets are sustainably sourced, Oeko-Tex-certified nontoxic and fair-trade-verified by the World Fair Trade Organization.
They also come in more than a dozen subdued colors and patterns, so matching to your blankets or decor won't be an issue. (You can always request free fabric swatches to make sure, though.)
Includes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases
Styles: Available in 13 colors and three patterns
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Pros
- Soft and comfortable
- Come in 14 different colors and patterns
- Easy to care for
Cons
- Pricey
- Wrinkle easily
If you're looking for cooling technology and luxury, Somé is a brand you'll want to know about. This Canadian company is dedicated to optimizing sleep through technology.
Somé's continuous cooling performance sheets are engineered with Xyrotex technology, designed to maintain optimal body temperature through the night. This fabric isn't actively cool -- rather, it regulates your body temperature to prevent overheating and night sweats.
I found the sheets to be breathable and lightweight. They come in a cool honeycomb pattern that feels smooth to the touch.
For returns and refunds, you have 30 days from the shipping date to email the company. Note that the customer is expected to cover the shipping costs of the returns.
Includes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases
Colors: White
Sizes: Queen
Pros
- Enhanced temperature regulation
- Moisture wicking properties
- Hypoallergenic (made with 100% cotton)
Cons
- Limited sizing and styles (only available in white and for queen mattresses)
- Customers have to pay for shipping on returns
Want bamboo without breaking the bank? Quince's bamboo viscose sheets are breathable and cool to the touch, with a silky, smooth sateen weave.
With full elastic all around, they're definitely roomy but still have a fit that's true to size and easily covers mattresses up to 16 inches deep.
And the customer reviews are fairly glowing, with an average 4.8 rating out of 5.
"It's one of the softest sheets I've ever slept on," one user raved. "We washed it and used it for a week now. It is the hottest time of the year on the East Coast and the sheets keep us pretty comfortable at night."
If you're a nut for pristine smoothness, the wrinkling might be a drawback. You're not going to beat this price, especially for Oeko-Tex-certified, organic sheets.
Includes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases
Colors: Available in eight colors
Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
Pros
- Super silky soft feel
- Great price compared to comparable sheets
- Stay on the bed
Cons
- Lower thread count means a thinner feel
- Can get wrinkly
Launched by husband-and-wife duo Vicki and Rich Fulop in 2014, Brooklinen was one of the first players in the direct-to-consumer bed linens market.
The company's original core sheet set is great for people who sleep hot: Percale is a close-weave cotton, which has a certain structure to it but is still very soft and breathable.
It has a matte finish, which stays cooler than denser-weave sateen.
Brooklinen sheets are made out of long-staple cotton, which doesn't pill or fade as much as short-staple cotton: I bought my Brooklinen bedding three years ago and it still looks like new.
Each set comes with a one-year warranty, and you have 365 days to return it for a full refund. (They'll even cover the shipping.)
Includes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases
Colors: Available in three colors and three patterns
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Pros
- Cool and crisp after multiple washes
- Don't fade or pill
- 365-night sleep trial
Cons
- Percale cotton isn't good at wicking away moisture
- Can wrinkle and be noisy
You wouldn't think sheets made from wood would be incredibly soft, but these 100% bamboo viscose bed linens are lustrous and creamy, while still durable and breathable.
"The softest sheets I've ever owned, and they keep getting softer," one customer wrote.
These generously sized linens come in every size from twin to split king and fit deep pocket mattresses up to an unheard-of 20 inches.
Yes, they're among the priciest sets we've tested, but the quality is undeniable. A 100-night warranty means you can make sure they're right for you.
As an added treat, each set comes in canvas packaging that can be repurposed as a tote or beach bag, with a zipper enclosure, sturdy handles and an external pocket.
Includes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases
Colors: Available in seven colors
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Pros
- Stay smooth after multiple washes
- Naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic
- 100-night sleep trial
Cons
- Expensive
- Fewer color choices
Hot sleepers will love how the Casper Hyperlites ventilate and draw away moisture, a must if you get sweaty at night.
I actually don't like the feeling of silk against my body. (Thank God silk boxers haven't come back in style.) But the Tencel fabric and unique grid weave make these sheets smooth without feeling too slippery.
Tencel is made from wood-based cellulose fibers -- usually from eucalyptus but also bamboo or even pine or spruce. (Casper says its version is a blend.) It requires less energy and water than cotton and uses a lot fewer chemicals than even other bamboo fabrics.
It's a light fabric, bordering on thin. You'll feel like there's hardly any sheet there, which is good if you're trying not to overheat.
Casper's sheets come with a 30-day trial with free returns and a one-year limited warranty.
Includes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases
Colors: Available in five colors and three patterns
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Pros
- Cheaper than comparable sheets
- More sustainable than other fabrics
- 30-day sleep trial
Cons
- Thinner material
- Less stylish, with fewer color options.
How we tested the best cooling sheets
For this roundup, I tested sheet sets from some of the best-known bedding brands, choosing a variety of fabrics and price points.
I slept on each set for several nights, then gave them a second try after washing. I focused on feel, look, price and how cool the sheets kept me through the night. (I did consider other factors, including how sustainable the fabric was and if the sheets had trouble staying on the bed.)
I usually sleep with a comforter (and two cats). In the name of science, I only used the provided cover sheet during the testing period.
Read on: The Best Cooling Comforters
Factors to consider when choosing cool sheets
Material
The best cooling sheets are made out of natural fabrics, specifically cotton, linen, bamboo and eucalyptus.
Price
There's no getting around it: Quality bed linens can be expensive. The priciest pick in our roundup tops out at $375. For some folks, a good night's sleep is priceless. If you're on a budget, there are good options for less than $100.
Comfort
What your sheets look like when you're lying in the dark isn't as important as how they feel. If linen makes you itchy, It doesn't matter how cool it keeps you. Fortunately, there are a variety of fabrics that support cool sleeping.
Sustainability
More and more consumers are concerned about how their products are produced and their impact on the planet. Fortunately, the same fabrics that promote cool sleeping are also more sustainable. Many top bedding companies provide information about their environmental impact on their packaging and websites.
Best cooling sheets FAQ
Why is sleeping cool important?
"Sleeping in a cool environment helps promote and protect the sleep onset process," Dr. Shilpa Kauta, medical director of the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center, told CNET in an email. "It also can help you stay asleep and reach deeper stages of sleep, and, ultimately, wake up feeling more rested and energized."
The inverse is true too, according to Dr. Mike Sevilla, a family physician and health care communicator in Salem, Ohio.
"Research has found that warmer temperatures while sleeping cause less deep sleep and less REM sleep," Sevilla said. "That can make you feel more fatigued the next day."
While everyone has their own comfort zone, most people find between 65 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit the ideal sleep temperature.
What is the best fabric for sheets to keep you cool?
"Some materials retain heat more than others, so it's best to look for something that is breathable and can move heat and humidity away from your body," said Dr. Peter Polos, a sleep medicine specialist and consultant with Sleep Number.
"Think of the area immediately around your body as a micro-environment," Polos told CNET. "Controlling this environment is very beneficial to promoting and maintaining a good night's sleep."
Cotton and linen are good options because they're breathable, Kauta said. Bamboo and eucalyptus are even better -- they're softer, hypoallergenic and able to wick moisture away if you get hot flashes or night sweats.
"They tend to cost more but can be worth it to have cooler sleep," she added. "My personal favorite is bamboo sheets -- they feel cool and cozy at the same time."
Russell Jelinek, vice president of product development at Casper, makes the case for Tencel, which is made from wood fiber but is less prone to wrinkling than traditional bamboo and has a shinier finish.
"Tencel sheets are good for people who struggle with sleeping hot," Jelinek said. "The material is more lightweight and breathable than cotton, which tends to trap heat more easily."
What fabrics should you avoid if you sleep hot?
All of our experts said to avoid synthetic bedding, like polyester and nylon.
"They can trap heat and increase your body temperature during sleep," according to Kauta.
They also gave the thumbs down to satin, flannel and silk, which can feel cool to the touch but are not breathable.
"The more airflow or porosity, the more that body heat can escape," Jelinek said.