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We’ve tested 274 sheet sets to date, and these are the best for staying cool in the Southern heat. Bedding Mattress Jacquard Knit Fabric Suppliers
While your core body temperature drops each night to help you sleep comfortably, it’s likely all for naught if your sheets and mattress counterproductively trap that heat and moisture. Cooling sheets, however, can do the heavy lifting to keep rising temperatures in check so you can rest easy. The best cooling sheets provide plenty of airflow and help wick moisture away from your body to keep you at a comfortable temperature.
Katie Elks says, “Certain fabrics or fibers are cooler or more breathable than others.” And while she notes that “linen and cotton sheets are both breathable and more moisture-wicking than other fibers,” bamboo, eucalyptus, and silk are also worthy contenders.
Katie Elks is the director of design at Brooklinen.
To help you find the best cooling sheets to beat the Southern heat, we’ve conducted firsthand tests on hundreds of sheets across a variety of materials. A bit more on our testing process below:
To date, we’ve conducted over 27,500 hours of testing on 274 different bed sheets. Along the way, we’ve paid attention to specific factors that make certain sheets more cooling than others. In the lab, all sheets were visually inspected for quality and texture, used to make the bed, and then washed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
During testing, we noted whether the sheets had a cool-to-the-touch sensation and, if so, whether it remained after lying on them for five minutes. We also assessed the sheets' moisture management and breathability by seeing how quickly a water droplet moved and expanded over the fabric.
Additionally, we stained the sheets with oil, foundation, and coffee to gauge their stain resistance. To assess the crocking (color transfer) of the sheets, we rubbed a piece of white fabric against the sheets and noted whether any color transfer occurred. We repeated this test after wetting the fabric.
Once lab tests were complete, we brought the sheets home and slept on them in our own beds for months at a time to evaluate how well they held up to regular use and washing. We are still in the process of long-term testing many sheets and will update this article with fresh insights as we have them.
For help shopping for cooling sheets, check out our Tips for Choosing section below.
No change in appearance after laundering
Affordable for a linen blend
Held on to some stains
Sandpaper yielded holes and texture changes
Out of the 274 bed sheets we’ve tested to date, Quince’s Linen Bamboo sheets stand out as the best cooling sheets overall. These sheets are not just cool to the touch, but they also remained cool and comfortable for the duration of the lab tests. Their high-quality feel, excellent wash performance, and affordable price for a linen blend make them a top choice.
Out of the package, we found a sheet set made of a lightly textured twill weave of rayon from bamboo and linen. The sheets have a soft hand feel and are cool to the touch on the bed. They have an average weight to them.
We followed the washing instructions, and post-wash, we found little to no difference in the appearance of the sheet. The washed sheet feels slightly less smooth, and there may have been a few more wrinkles in the washed sheet, but the color and texture appear the same. There was some shrinkage, but very minimal.
The fitted sheet can accommodate mattresses as thick as 16 inches, and while we tested it on an 11-inch mattress, it still fits well—there were no overly loose or tight corners. Moreover, the fitted sheet remained firmly in place when tossing and turning in the bed.
While it didn’t absorb moisture as well as some of our other picks, it managed to stay cool. We felt cool when lying on the bed for the duration of the lab tests.
Stain testing showed that these sheets released some stains more easily than others. The coffee stain came out almost without a trace (98%), while the foundation remained pretty evident post-treatment, as did the oil stain. These sheets performed decently on the abrasion test; we saw a hole beginning to form in one area while another just looked a little worse for wear.
We brought them home for continued testing, and these sheets have proven to be breathable and lightweight. They didn’t trap heat and remained comfy and cool through the night. After washing the sheets weekly and drying them on high heat, the sheets continue to fit properly—no noticeable shrinkage to report. They started out remarkably soft and seemed to have gotten even softer with use. Two months down the line, these sheets have held up nicely, with no fading, tearing, or loose threads.
Material: 70% rayon from bamboo, 30% linen | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Twill weave | Thread Count: Not Listed
Garment washed for softness and fewer wrinkles
Quality control may be an issue
Elastic on the fitted sheet was quite loose
Those looking for budget-friendly cooling sheets will find a great option with Serta’s Supersoft cooling sheet set. Made from polyester, these sheets promote optimal airflow to prevent overheating. They’re garment washed to make them super soft and wrinkle resistant, so you can skip the iron. Ultimately, your bed will look neat with minimal effort.
These sheets lived up to their cooling expectations quite nicely. They were cool to the touch and remained so even after we laid on them for five minutes. Our lab tests revealed that these sheets managed moisture well, another plus for their cooling properties. The fitted sheets had deep pockets—they were easy to put on the bed and were generously sized compared to the mattress it tested on.
While it stretched over the mattress easily, this could be an issue for those with a slimmer mattress profile. We’ll add here that the elastic on the fitted sheet was quite loose. Based on our test, we think these sheets will likely move out of place against the friction of your pajamas.
This sheet set really shined in terms of stain and abrasion resistance. Out of the wash, we couldn’t find any trace of the stains, and only trace fibers came up on the abrasion test. The sheets are colorfast, and there was only minimal shrinkage to report.
Overall, these sheets performed well across categories, but we had to subtract some points for quality control. Out of the package, we found three snags in the fabric, one of which ran a couple of feet long. Still, it’s quite a value, as you really get more than what you pay for.
They laundered quite well, exiting the wash looking and feeling the same each time.
Material: Polyester | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king | Weave: Not listed | Thread Count: Not listed
Looks like new after six months
Lacks the crispness of cotton or linen
Anyone who needs a little help keeping things cool while they sleep will find a good option with Bampure’s organic bamboo sheets. Not only do these sheets draw heat away from the body, but they also wick moisture away to keep you dry and cool. They’re cool to the touch, but because bamboo is a good thermoregulator, these sheets will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
These 100% organic bamboo sheets have a silky smooth texture right out of the box, and even after six months of continued use (and laundering), they remained just as soft, if not softer. The sateen weave gives these sheets a sheen that makes them feel high end and even with repeated washing, that didn’t change either. If you prefer a heavier, crisper sheet such as percale or linen, this might not be for you.
The fitted bed sheet is fully elasticized with upgraded elastic at the bottom, ensuring no rips and a snug fit on deep mattresses up to 16 inches thick. And corner straps keep the fitted sheet in place no matter how much you toss and turn.
Material: Bamboo viscose | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Sateen | Thread Count: 300
Those who like the crisp feel of linen bedding will absolutely find it here. These sheets from Land’s End look and feel exactly like what you’d expect from linen—Belgian flax, to be more specific. The texture is a little rough and a little fuzzy, and the fabric feels springy and a tad stiff.
As we expected, these sheets exhibited excellent moisture-wicking properties. Just as we expect from linen, they’re breathable and refreshingly cool to the touch and remained cool when we laid on them for five minutes. We’ll add that the sheets warmed up after some time, but they never never felt hot or stuffy.
Out of the wash, these sheets felt a bit rougher than their unwashed counterparts (the pillowcases). But notably, there was minimal shrinkage. We noticed some pilling but no other imperfections or defects as a result of washing.
The fitted sheet covered the whole bed, and it fit loosely, almost like it was too big for the bed size. The fitted sheet had so much loose fabric that it could easily accommodate shifting and moving.
As we made our way through testing, we found that these sheets are colorfast and just okay in terms of stain resistance. While the oil stain came out fully, we could still see faint signs of foundation and coffee post-wash. In response to the abrasion test, the sheets looked a bit more worn and wispy in the areas we scoured, but there were no holes, rips, or tears to report.
Two months later, these sheets proved to be quite breathable. They didn’t trap heat, so we never woke up in a sweat. We washed these a total of four times with other sheets and towels on cold and tumbled them dry on a low setting. Overall, the sheets exited the wash softer than they were out of the package and with no wear and tear to report.
On the whole, these sheets are breathable and durable, but as you’d expect with 100% linen, they’ll pack quite a punch to your budget.
Material: Linen | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Weave: Linen | Thread Count: Not listed
Percale weave with a crisp, matte finish
Out of all the sheets we’ve tested, Sijo Home’s Organic Percale Cotton sheets make our list as the best cotton cooling sheets. These sheets have a stiff, breezy, crisp cotton texture with a percale weave. They washed well and felt cool and crisp to the touch.
Out of the box, we saw a few loose threads, but there were no quality defects to note. Moreover, the dark gray color was even and deep. The sheets proved to be a good, breathable percale and felt cool and crisp to the touch, and when we laid on them for five minutes, they didn’t overheat but stayed comfortably cool.
The elastic on the fitted sheet was pretty robust. It kept the sheet securely on a 10-inch mattress. When we tossed around in the bed, the fitted sheet stayed securely on each corner.
Post-wash, we found the texture of the unwashed sheet was only slightly softer. The sheets exited the washer with basically the same hand feel, a lot more wrinkles, and minimal shrinkage.
These sheets also released stains beautifully. Out of the wash, there was no evidence of the coffee, oil, or foundation. We also found these sheets by Sijo Home to be colorfast. They performed exceptionally well on the crocking test with no evidence of wet or dry color transfer. We’ll add that while we found no noticeable thinning on abraded areas, there was a light discoloration from the abrasion test and some piling of the fibers. The dark gray sheets showed a light square marking from the sandpaper.
Regular use revealed that these sheets remained cool throughout the night and didn’t trap heat. We washed these sheets weekly and returned them to the bed. There’s no shrinkage to note, and while they exit the wash feeling a bit rough, they soften up nicely in the dryer. When all was said and done, the sheets remained crisp, the color was still vibrant, and there were no rips or loose threads to report.
Overall, these sheets performed quite well. They’re on the pricey side, but they washed well and stood up nicely to expedited wear tests, and their moisture-wicking properties make them a great option for hot sleepers.
Material: Organic cotton | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Percale | Thread Count: 400
Made of naturally temperature-regulating silk for year-round use
Silk prevents hair frizz and breakage
Felt less silky after washing
Anyone looking for an indulgent splurge can find one with Mulberry Park Silks’ 22 Momme Silk Sheet Set. This sheet set is certainly a budget buster, but you get what you pay for. In this case, you’re getting a cooler night’s sleep courtesy of natural temperature-regulating silk—grade 6A mulberry silk, to be exact. Even better, silk sheets are suitable for year-round use, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
We’ll admit we were a bit skeptical of silk sheets given the price, but we were blown away by how cooling these sheets are. It’s also worth noting that in addition to cool, dry sleep, silk pillowcases are known to prevent hair frizz, breakage, and tangling, and silk sheets naturally maintain your skin’s natural moisture, promoting a hydrated, healthy complexion. We can verify that we saw sleeker hair and more moisturized skin after sleeping on these sheets.
The sheets are washable, but like most washable silk products, we noticed they felt “less silky” after washing. However, they still look good as new wash after wash. And the fitted sheets remained in place after we tossed and turned on them, thanks to the 16-inch pockets. And anyone concerned about sleeping on harmful chemicals can rest easy knowing this sheet carries a Standard 100 certification by Oeko-Tex, which means it’s been tested for harmful substances.
Material: Grade 6A Mulberry silk | Sizes: Full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Charmeuse | Momme: 22
Made with naturally temperature-regulating Tencel lyocell
Subtle sheen appears high end
Only available in four colors
Anyone who wants to get in on the goodness of Tencel sheets without blowing their budget will find a great option in Brielle Home’s Tencel lyocell sheets. Made from sustainably sourced hardwoods, including eucalyptus, these sheets are naturally temperature-regulating, and their moisture-wicking properties double down on their cooling effect. This sheet is cool to the touch, and we didn't feel any temperature change after laying on it for five minutes in our lab.
While we took some points off for wrinkling, we did find that these sheets have a silky and smooth texture with a subtle sheen that makes them appear high-end. Out of the wash, we noticed some shrinking, but it’s not a deal breaker—the sheets still fit over the mattress with ease. After months of repeated washing, we found these sheets were still smooth and silky, and the colors were just as vibrant. Shoppers should note that while they are pretty, there are only four colors to choose from.
Material: Tencel | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Sateen | Thread Count: 300
Bunches in the middle of the bed
If sleeping hot and waking up sweaty skyrockets moisture-wicking sheets to the top of your shortlist, consider these cooling sheets from Comfort Spaces. They’re quite soft and feel cool to the touch. They washed well, and the price makes them a great value.
To get things started, these sheets managed moisture quite well. In our assessment, the water drop expanded quickly and was absorbed by the sheet equally fast. The sheets felt cool to the touch and remained temperate as we continued to lay on them.
These sheets felt soft right out of the package (which was almost expected as they’re made from 80% polyester), and they remained so as they exited the wash. While there was a bit of shrinkage, these sheets released stains splendidly—so much so it was hard to tell which areas were intentionally stained.
In terms of fit, getting the fitted sheet on the bed was easy, and each end fit snugly over every corner. After tossing and turning, the fitted sheet didn’t come off any corners, but we did note some excess fabric that bunches up a little bit in the middle of the bed.
These sheets readily released stains, and while the color faded on the area we abraded, we can’t say that the integrity of the fabric was compromised. Moreover, we didn’t notice any color fading with the crocking test.
Overall, these sheets will check a lot of boxes for a lot of people. They’re soft and breathable. They manage heat well and wash beautifully. All of the above, paired with their bargain price, makes these sheets an excellent value.
Material: 80% Polyester, 20% Coolmax Microfiber | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Not listed | Thread Count: 180
Soft, silky, and cool to the touch
Available in a wide range of colors
With your skin in direct contact with them all night long, softness matters. So, if you’re looking for sheets that are cool and soft, try these sheets by PeachSkinSheets. In addition to being exceptionally soft, they’re lightweight and available in a wide range of colors.
First, don’t let the term peach skin fool you. While we expected sheets with a fuzzy velvet-like feel, that’s not quite the case. If we stick to the stone fruit comparisons, these sheets feel more like nectarines than peaches—they’re soft and have a silky hand.
The sheets feel cool to the touch, but they warm up with handling. Ultimately, they reached a comfortable level in terms of warmth, but they didn’t overheat. Moreover, we noticed the sheets cooled down quickly once we got up. In terms of their cooling capabilities, these sheets seem to handle moisture well. The fitted sheet fit securely over the bed, all corners were fully covered, and the sheet stayed put when we tossed and turned.
There’s only minimal shrinkage to note, and washed pieces feel no different than sheets fresh out of the box. We should note here that stain release may not be a selling point for these sheets. While the foundation stain completely disappeared, the oil and coffee stains were still evident. In our assessments of its potential durability and longevity, the sheets retained their color on the crocking test, and the abraded area didn’t look much different from the unabraded areas.
Out of the lab, we noticed we slept cooler with these sheets. We followed the instructions to wash them separately to avoid snags and had no issues. The sheets felt the same before and after, and there were no noticeable changes in size or quality.
Material: Poly-Fiber | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, king, split king, split head king, California king | Weave: Not listed | Thread Count: 1,500
Made from naturally temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking Tencel
Soft and luxurious hand feel
While we have other eucalyptus options on our list, this one is a more budget-friendly option with far more color choices. Made from 100% eucalyptus-derived Tencel, the Linenwalas Tencel lyocell sheets are moisture wicking, cool to the touch, and beautifully regulate your body temperature while sleeping. If you’re looking for an affordable all-season cooling sheet, this might be it.
The sateen weave gives these sheets an incredibly soft hand that feels luxurious and high quality. Post-washing, there was no visible damage aside from some very minimal shrinkage, and with continued washing over a six-month period, these sheets proved to be colorfast and held up quite well.
This queen sheet set from Linenwalas includes a 16-inch deep pocket fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two envelope closure pillowcases. It’s worth noting, though, that there are plenty of options, including a two-piece pillowcase set and a five-piece split king set. And don’t forget, you have over a dozen gorgeous colors ranging from warm to cool tones to choose from, including fun shades like Bahamas Blue and Burnt Orange. Our one complaint is that they can grow quite wrinkly unless taken out of the dryer and put on the bed immediately.
Material: Tencel | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, short queen, queen, king, California king, split king | Weave: Sateen | Thread Count: 300
Stays cool throughout the night
Made with GOTS-certified organic cotton
Shrank more after washing compared to others
If silky sheets aren’t your bag, and crisp fabrics feel better against your skin, these organic cotton crinkled percale sheets are a fine choice. They stayed breathable and cool for us throughout the night, and while they’re not silky, they have a crisp matte feel that’s still plenty soft.
After using these sheets almost daily for six months, they didn’t show any wear and tear. There were no discolorations, snags, or tears, and they still felt crisp. And while there was some noticeable shrinkage after washing, we felt these sheets just got better over time. These sheets are made from 100% organic cotton, and you can sleep easy knowing it's GOTS certified.
Material: Organic cotton | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Weave: Percale | Thread Count: 80
Quince’s Linen Bamboo Sheet Set is our choice for the best cooling sheets overall. These sheets are cool to the touch, have a high-quality feel, and laundered beautifully. They started out soft and continued to get softer with each wash. They held up quite well after two months of use, with no fading, shrinkage, or loose threads to report.
Those looking for cooling sheets that don’t pull as hard on the purse strings might consider our budget pick, Serta Supersoft Cooling Sheet Set. These sheets are made from polyester, so they’re great for promoting airflow. They’re garment washed, which makes them soft and less prone to shrinking, and they’re wrinkle resistant, so they look fantastic right out of the dryer. Most importantly, they lived up to their cooling promises quite nicely. They were cool to the touch and remained so after we laid on them.
“Sheets made of 100% cotton, especially a plain weave like percale, offer a crisp and cool feel for hot sleepers,” says Elks. To anyone shopping for cotton sheets, she says, “Look for high-quality, long-staple cotton fibers as they will have a softer hand feel and better durability.”
And while cotton is everyone’s first stop for cooling sheets due to their breathability and absorbency, they tend to wrinkle easily and are prone to color fading over time. Materials like lyocell, bamboo, and silk are also worthy of any shortlist as they, too, are excellent thermo-regulators that are breathable and moisture-wicking—excellent choices for anyone who sleeps hot.
Bamboo sheets are known for their breathability, moisture-wicking (and therefore) cooling properties. Moreover, bamboo sheets are known for their temperature-regulating prowess, so you can expect that much like silk, they’ll keep you cool in warm weather and warm in cooler temperatures.
Linen is an excellent option for cooling sheets because it holds water beautifully and elegantly handles sweat, but you really need to appreciate the rough textured hand inherent to the fabric.
For those who want the breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities of linen but prefer to skip the rough texture, Tencel lyocell is a great pinch hit. You should note that while sheets made from this fabric are quite soft, they carry a pretty hefty price tag.
Microfiber wicks away moisture well, keeps wrinkles at bay, and tends to skip the color fading that cotton is known for. It's also a significantly more budget-friendly option.
For many of the entries on our list, the cooling capabilities of the sheets aren’t so much driven by technology as they are by materials and fabrication. For example, with Mulberry Park Silks’ 22 Momme Silk Sheet Set, our pick for the best silk cooling sheets, the cooling technology is silks’ inherently thermoregulating properties. Or, in the case of our best cotton cooling sheets, Sijo Home’s Organic Percale Cotton Sheets, the “cooling technology” is its inherent crispness and moisture-wicking properties.
In some cases, however, it may be actual technology. For example, the Rest Evercool+ Cooling Starter Sheet Set features a performance fabric with ultra-thin fibers that quickly absorb and remove water molecules, ultimately producing a drier and temperature-regulated sleeping surface.
Not only does the weave affect how a sheet feels, but the weave can also have implications for breathability, durability, and appearance. While percale sheets tend to have a crisp feel with a matte finish, sateen weaves have a soft, silky feel with a lustrous appearance.
“Our favorite cooling weaves are percale and linen because of their naturally occurring cooling properties and breathability,” says Elks. “Percale sheets are a great cooling option due to their crisp and cool feel, akin to hotel bedding. I would also recommend linen for hot sleepers because of the fabric’s unique moisture-wicking properties.”
Hush Iced Cooling Sheet Set: Overall, these sheets looked and felt well made. They were silky, soft, cooling, and draped well. Before penciling this one on your shortlist, keep in mind that they don’t release stains well at all. During testing, we found that the oil and foundation stains were still 95% visible after washing.
They remained breathable and retained their moisture-wicking properties after months of at-home use, but after frequent laundering, they lost that initial cool-to-the-touch feel and became warm throughout the night. We washed this sheet set weekly in cold water and dried them on a low setting. Despite following manufacturer instructions when laundering, the sheets have lost their sheen and silkiness and continue to shrink slightly with each wash. While there’s a notable change in texture and size, there are no changes in color or fading to report.
It’s also worth noting that moisture marks are very evident on these sheets. If you spill a drop of water on them, you’ll see a visible outline of the drop that will remain until the next wash. It’s also not uncommon for the sheets to exit the wash with laundry detergent stains.
Temper-Pedic 400 Thread Count Cool Luxury Sheet Set: These sheets had a quality feel to them. They felt silky, yet heavy enough to stay put, no matter how much you toss and turn. But while they feel cool initially, they warm up a bit more than we liked. Pair that with the fact that they looked a little worse for wear out of the wash, and the high price point is hard to justify.
Rest Evercool+ Cooling Starter Sheet Set: This sheet set is made of nylon spandex and has a lot of stretch. They are cool to the touch and feel incredibly cool when you first get into bed. They also release heat exceptionally well, so you’ll always be able to find a cool spot. The sheets are thick and decently soft, but we found a significant difference between the unwashed pillowcase and the washed top sheet. Out of the package, these sheets feel silky and slick. However, the washed pieces end up feeling more like your average cotton blend.
While these sheets performed relatively well on the stain tests, releasing the foundation completely and leaving only traces of the oil and coffee, we didn’t get a repeat performance with at-home use. We had some stains from the dogs and some oil-based stains from sweat, neither of which budged even after laundering—this is pretty disappointing considering the price tag. Overall, they did what they’re supposed to do: keep you cool, but they hold on to stains, which may not be a great trade-off for most.
Cooling sheets are best for hot sleepers, those who live in warm climates year-round, and the summer months. They’re also great for menopausal women who regularly deal with hot flashes and night sweats.
“The lifespan of any bedding varies on the level of care you put in, but generally, sheets can last up to two years when cared for properly,” says Elks. “We suggest machine-washing your sheets with cool or cold water and a high-quality detergent. You can also alternate with two sheet sets to increase overall longevity.”
Cooling sheets are available in a range of price points, from budget-friendly options to decadent splurges. Among the sheets we reviewed, we found a polyester sheet set for $30 on the low end and a silk sheet set for $600 on the high end.
Cooling sheets typically boost airflow and wick moisture away from your body to keep you cool while you sleep. Material, weave, and thread count can all have an impact on how well sheets are able to keep you cool.
Weft Knitted Jacquard Fabric Suppliers This article was written by Sharon Brandwein, Certified Sleep Science Coach and freelance commerce writer. Over the last five years, Sharon has written product reviews and roundups for a variety of online publishers. To curate this list of the best cooling sheets, we tested 274 sheet sets, evaluating each on quality, texture, breathability, and durability. Sharon also spent hours researching what to consider when shopping for cooling sheets, including materials, weave, and thread count. For expert insight, she spoke to Katie Elks, design director at Brooklinen.