We Asked Sweaty Sleepers to Try Cooling Sheets — These Are the 8 They Liked Best 

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But sometimes getting a good night’s rest without overheating is just harder for certain people — specifically hot sleepers. “Being a hot sleeper doesn’t necessarily mean something’s wrong. It could just be how your body handles temperature,” says Shelby Harris, PsyD, a board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist in White Plains, New York, and the director of sleep health at Sleepopolis. “A faster metabolism, hormone changes, or habits like exercising or drinking alcohol before bed can all make you warmer at night.”

Night sweats can also be a symptom of pregnancy and menopause. In some cases, says board-certified sleep expert Angela Holliday-Bell, MD, founder of The Solution Is Sleep in Chicago, it can be a side effect of living with certain health issues, including thyroid disorders, certain cancers, or obstructive sleep apnea.

So what do you do if you’re a hot sleeper and want a good night’s rest?

As a first step, it’s always a good idea to chat with your doctor (to rule out an underlying health concern), but you can also make sure that you’re paying close attention to your sleep environment. Your mattress, bedding, and room might be trapping heat. That’s why we decided to test some of the most popular, expert-recommended cooling sheets available. We spent months sleeping on these sheets to evaluate their breathability, durability, and overall value — and these eight stood out from the pack.

According to Dr. Harris, “If night sweats or overheating [while sleeping] are happening often, wake you up, or make it hard to sleep, it’s time to talk to a doctor.” If you start seeing other symptoms as well, such as weight loss, hair loss, fatigue, an increase in infections, or easy bruising, Brittany Busse, MD, co-founder of ViTel Health in Sacramento, California, says that it’s especially important to call your healthcare provider, as these could be symptoms of a larger health issue.

There’s nothing worse than waking up drenched in sweat, with damp sheets twisted around you. That’s why these moisture-wicking sheets really stood out for their quick drying time during testing.

Cooling bedding is traditionally made with breathable fibers like cotton, linen, or bamboo, but Rest Evercool+ Cooling sheets are made with the brand's proprietary Evercool+ Performance fabric, a blend of nylon and spandex designed to mimic the smoothness and softness of silk. Evercool+ Performance fabric is composed of thin fibers that can help promote moisture wicking and faster drying, and treated with an ionic antimicrobial technology that helps repel microbes and smells.

Right out of the package, Rest Evercool+ Cooling bedding felt notably cold to the touch. During our sleep tests, the stretchy, soft fabric remained cool throughout the night. If anything, our complaint might be that these sheets are too cold: After returning to bed after using the bathroom in the middle of the night, it took a moment to warm up enough to fall back asleep in the frosty sheets. In addition, the sheets are so silky that they tend to slide around, which could be annoying for sleepers who toss and turn and get tangled up in their sheets.

Rest Evercool+ Cooling sheets have an Oeko-Tex certification, an internationally recognized label awarded to products that have been tested for harmful substances and found to be safe for humans and the environment. These sheets are backed by a 30-night return policy and a one-year warranty.

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These sheets are made of natural cotton with a percale weave. “Percale weave cotton sheets in particular are known for their crisp and cooling feel, making them ideal for warm nights,” according to Harris. Percale uses a one-over, one-under weaving method that creates a tightly knit structure with a crispy, cool hand feel — similar to a cotton button-down shirt. Percale sheets are ideal for anyone who prefers a light, almost paperlike feel over a silky, smooth feel. The sheets stayed airy and light on hot summer nights, matching or exceeding some of the higher-priced bedding we reviewed. Sleepers who prefer a smoother, softer feel may find the Silk & Snow Percale Bedsheets too stiff — at least at first. We found that the sheets got softer each time we washed them, and the generous 100-night return policy means you have plenty of time to see if they'll soften to your liking over time.

Compared with the 16-inch pockets of most sheets on this list, the Silk & Snow 15-inch pockets are on the shorter side. If you use a tall mattress or thick mattress pad, it's worth measuring your bed to check if these sheets will fit. (Most mattresses are between 8 and 14 inches tall, so typically a 15-inch pocket should suffice.)

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During testing, the Cozy Earth bamboo sheets did not disappoint in softness or temperature regulation. The breathable sheets were also easy on our hair, resulting in fewer frizzy morning hairdos. There wasn't much we didn't love about these Cozy Earth sheets, though their high price tag certainly makes them an investment. It's also worth noting that the sheets wrinkle easily (as with any bamboo-based linen) and shrink some after washing. However, shrinkage is unlikely to be an issue for most mattresses, since the sheets arrive slightly oversized.

While many bamboo-based bedding products are blended with other materials, the Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set stands out for its bamboo viscose construction. Bamboo viscose comes from the plant's pulp, giving the fiber a velvety soft and breathable feel. The brand oversees production from start to finish, meticulously selecting responsible farmers, fiber producers, weavers, treatment facilities, and other partners with a proven track record of ethical, sustainable practices. Cozy Earth sheets are Oeko-Tex certified and backed by a 100-night return policy and a one-year warranty.

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Saatva's sheets feature a percale weave, which generates a crisper, lighter feel compared with a sateen weave. In addition, Saatva's percale sheets use long-staple cotton, a type of cotton with fibers measuring 1.25 inches or longer. (By comparison, regular- or short-staple cotton has fibers ranging between 0.5 to 1.25 inches.) Longer fibers contribute to a smoother, softer feel and increased durability.

To the delight of our testers, the Saatva Percale Sheet Set arrived wrapped in an elegant box with a ribbon, and the bedding performance matched its luxurious presentation: The plush percale was light as air and cool to the touch, and became softer with each wash. Our only complaint is that these sheets come in only three, slightly neutral colors.

Another note: The sheets are see-through, so we were concerned that they might pill, snag, or fray more easily over time. However, we found that the sheets excelled in our durability tests. These Saatva percale sheets are Oeko-Tex certified and backed by a 45-night return policy and a one-year warranty.

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Quince is a popular brand known for affordability, thanks to its direct-to-consumer model. Quince's bamboo sheets are made from naturally moisture-wicking organic bamboo viscose. The sheets feature a sateen weave — a one-under, three-over pattern that exposes more bamboo surface for a silky, luminous sheen. These were some of the soft and silkiest sheets we tested, and they offered the perfect amount of stretchiness. Despite their low price point, the sheets felt as luxurious as some of the higher-priced sheets we tested.

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Quince’s linen sheets are woven from European flax, a fiber known to be breathable and quick drying, and recognizable by its textured, rumpled look and feel. Like virtually all linen sheets, Quince European linen sheets feel thicker, with a rough texture. Considering this, we were surprised at how breathable and comfy the sheets felt during our sleep tests. In addition to keeping us cool, these sheets wicked away moisture and were quick to dry in our testing. Our only caveat is that these sheets (again, like all linen) can look a little wrinkly. While many people like the casual aesthetic of linen, it's not for everyone.

The Quince European linen sheets are Oeko-Tex certified. The sheets are backed by a 365-night return policy and ship free to destinations within the United States.

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During testing, the Purple SoftStretch sheets offered a uniquely soft and stretchy feel reminiscent of a T-shirt. Although the thicker fabric wasn't crisp or cool to the touch, the sheets kept us cool at night by providing good breathability. Purple SoftStretch sheets are designed with a blend of materials: 63 percent bamboo viscose rayon, 27 percent polyester, and 10 percent spandex. The bamboo-based construction can help promote cooling. One potential pitfall of these sheets is their clinginess: The sheets are made to hug and adapt to your body, which makes them comforting but easy to get tangled up in.

If you’re a hot sleeper who also has sensitive skin, we recommend the Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set. These sheets offer all of the must-have features for hot sleepers, like breathability and moisture wicking, and they’re also hypoallergenic and free of dyes, harsh chemicals, and bleach.

Tencel lyocell sheets can be made from several wood sources; the Sijo AiryWeight sheets are made from eucalyptus, a fiber prized for its sustainability, natural moisture-wicking capabilities, breathability, and hypoallergenic properties. Sijo treats the hypoallergenic fiber with a silver ion antimicrobial process to further prevent the growth of bacteria, earning the sheets an Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification.

When we received these sheets to test, the sheets looked shiny and felt smooth out of the package — almost slippery. After the first wash, however, their slipperiness was replaced by buttery softness. The ultrathin sheets were airy and breathable, and kept our testers consistently cool at night. One potential drawback? These sheets are so thin and weightless that our testers found it easy to get tangled up in the top sheet. In addition, the light weight combined with the deep pockets means that the fitted sheet may bunch up in spots on shorter mattresses.

To determine the best cooling sheets, we tested 10 sheet sets from nine brands over two months. Our tests involved the following:

In addition, we consulted with experts to learn more about cooling sheets and best practices for hot sleepers:

The article was written by Maria Cristina Lalonde, a service journalist who has been writing about lifestyle and health products for more than 15 years, and Ashley Ziegler, a full-time writer with extensive experience in health and commerce writing who also suffers from night sweats.

How do you know if a set of sheets will deliver the cool, uninterrupted slumber you seek?

Here are the key specs that experts told us to pay attention to.

Make sure you pay attention to the material and pick a breathable and moisture-wicking fabric. “Moisture-wicking fabrics help regulate body temperature by allowing air circulation and absorbing sweat effectively,” Harris says.

The most common materials used in cooling sheets include these types:

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These common certifications can tell you a lot about your sheets, including their sustainability and safety:

If your mattress is larger than a standard size, or if you use a thick mattress pad or mattress topper, you may need sheets with deep pockets. Before shopping, measure the total height of your mattress, including the topper, and make sure that the sheets you are looking at have a deeper pocket than the total thickness. Compare your measurements to the sheet manufacturer's to identify the right size.

Thread count is the number of vertical (warp) and horizontal (weft) threads per square inch. There is a lot of marketing hype around higher thread counts, but it isn't as important as we’ve been led to believe, Peters says. "Thread counts don’t necessarily speak to quality or durability," he says. A higher thread count usually means softer sheets, but the material matters more than the number. He recommends looking for a thread count of around 300.

The right price for sheets ultimately comes down to your priorities, needs, and budget. Through our testing, we found $100 to $250 to be the sweet spot in balancing value and quality. However, higher-end sheets might be worth a splurge if your priorities include sustainability, craftsmanship, and a brand name.

“Stay away from synthetic fabrics like polyester,” says Harris. “They tend to trap heat and moisture, making you even warmer. Satin sheets, while luxurious, are less breathable and can make sleeping through the night uncomfortable if you run hot.”

Holliday-Bell adds, “Heavy or nonbreathable materials like microfiber should also be avoided.”

Abhinav Singh, MD, is a board-certified sleep medicine specialist and the medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center. He is also an associate clinical professor at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, where he developed and teaches a sleep medicine rotation.

Dr. Singh’s research and clinical practice focus on sleep disorders, including excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleep education.

Singh is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Sleep Health (from the National Sleep Foundation) and the Journal of Sleep Disorders: Treatment and Care, and is coauthor of the book Sleep to Heal: 7 Simple Steps to Better Sleep. He has received several Top Doctor recognitions and is the sleep specialist for the Indiana Pacers NBA team.

He lives in the Indianapolis area and enjoys music production and racquet sports.

Ashley Ziegler is a full-time writer with extensive experience covering women’s health, babies' and kids' health, mental health, and wellness. Her work has appeared on websites including The Bump, Health, Pregnancy & Newborn, People, Parents, Romper, Scary Mommy, and more.

Before transitioning into her full-time writing career, Ashley worked in the departments of pediatric cardiology and general medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and later at the North Carolina Medical Board. During undergrad, she majored in communications at Purdue University and then earned her master’s degree with a concentration in healthcare management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Ashley lives with her husband and two young daughters in North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, taking barre classes, and catching up on her favorite podcasts.