We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.
Out of 22 lyocell sheets we tested, these are the softest and most cooling. Tencel Hemp Fabric
Lyocell sheets (which are also called Tencel or eucalyptus sheets) are beloved for their soft and silky texture, as well as their cooling and moisture-wicking properties. It's important to keep in mind, though, that the terms eucalyptus and Tencel are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same. Tencel is the brand name for the lyocell and modal fibers created by the Austrian textile company Lenzing AG, which are created using several wood sources, one being eucalyptus.
While many brands opt to use the term “eucalyptus” for marketing purposes, Tencel lyocell (or just plain lyocell if they aren’t Tencel-branded) would be a more accurate term. In this article, we refer to these sheets as either Tencel or lyocell/eucalyptus depending on their construction.
To sort through the overwhelming number of lyocell sheets on the market, we tested 22 sheet sets in our Des Moines lab and at home, evaluating them on quality, texture, breathability, durability, and value. We also spoke to Jeffrey Kambak, president of Yunus Textile Mills Limited, and Tori Piscatelli, regional marketing manager of Lenzing, for expert advice on shopping for lyocell sheets.
The thick yet breathable material is made for longevity, while the reinforced edges keep the fitted sheet snug against the mattress.
These sheets get pretty wrinkly.
Crafted from 100% Tencel lyocell, the Sheex Arctic Aire Max Sheets are ideal for hot sleepers or anyone prone to night sweats. Not only are they made from Tencel, but they also feature Sheex’s patented CoolX technology, which helps to wick away moisture and keep you cool all night long. We never once woke up sweaty after sleeping on these sheets. Plus, we found them to be breathable yet thick, leading us to believe they’re made to give you many years of use.
The sheets have a slick and soft sateen weave that makes them easy to slide over the bed. Plus, the pocket depth ranges from 18 to 20 inches, depending on which size you purchase, and the reinforced edges keep the fitted sheet snug against the mattress. There were no loose threads both before and after laundering, although there was minimal shrinkage (but not so much that we couldn’t get it over the bed again). If the price is a deterrent, there is a 60-day sleep trial, so you can take your time deciding. For a complete cooling bedding set, the Arctic Aire Max collection also features a duvet cover and coverlet.
Material: Tencel lyocell | Pocket Depth: 18–20 inches | Sizes: Queen—California king | Return Policy: 60 days
They offer stand-out temperature regulation and come in more color and size options than the competition.
They wrinkle if you don’t put them on the bed right after drying.
We were thoroughly impressed with these inexpensive bed sheets made from soft, breathable Tencel lyocell. Our first impression was that the sheets appeared to be high quality with a silk-like sheen, though there were a few loose threads and one minor snag on the top sheet. The smooth fitted sheet slid over the mattress easily, while the 16-inch pocket and elastic band ensured a secure fit. The pillow cases come with an envelope closure to keep the pillows hidden, for a more finished look.
Where these sheets really stood out was in their temperature regulation—they even made our list of top-rated cooling sheets. The sheets felt cold on first contact and remained cool for the duration of the night. Plus, there was no visible damage to the sheets after laundering repeatedly over six months. The Linenwalas Tencel Lyocell Bed Sheets come in over a dozen color options and the most size options of all the sheets on our list. While they might be more expensive than other budget sheet sets, they’re a great price for the quality of the material, and can often be purchased on sale.
Material: Tencel lyocell | Pocket Depth: 16 inches | Sizes: Twin—split king | Return Policy: 30 days
It's Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly and you can choose whether or not to have a top sheet.
The pillowcases do shrink a bit after washing.
These lightweight and airy sheets might just ruin all other sheets for you. We found them to be silk-like in texture, with a sheen that gives the illusion of luxury.
Most sheet sets come with a fitted sheet, a top (aka flat) sheet, and two pillowcases—but not everyone sleeps with a top sheet. Some people prefer to forgo the top sheet because it’s an extra layer of bedding to make in the morning, and can become tangled up at the bottom of the bed overnight. The Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set gives you the option to add a top sheet if you want, but it doesn’t have to be included in the set.
The pillowcases did shrink a bit after washing, which made it a little difficult to slide them back on. Otherwise, they wash like a dream. And, this is one of only three sheet sets on our lists that boasts the Oeko-Tex certification, meaning it’s been tested for harmful substances. It’s also Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly, so it’s a fantastic option for those with sensitive skin.
Material: Tencel lyocell | Pocket Depth: 16 inches | Sizes: Twin—California king | Return Policy: 30 days
They are soft and breathable with a cozy weight to them.
They’re only available in two sizes.
It’s no surprise that Tempur-Pedic, which is known for its high-quality mattresses and pillows, makes a luxurious sheet set. These sheets have a soft texture that’s similar to silk but feels heavier, which is due to the fact that it’s not made from 100% Tencel. Instead, it’s made using Refibra technology, another Lenzing innovation that combines Tencel with cotton textile waste.
Despite this extra weight, these sheets remained breathable during testing. We actually appreciated the cozy weight and were amazed to find that the fabric somehow became even softer post-wash. The sheets fit securely on our bed, and the elastic band kept them in place as we tossed and turned. We were pleased to find that the coffee and oil stain came out entirely in our testing, and some of the permanent marker even came out as well. During the abrasion test, we saw no difference between the abraded and unaffected area, which leads us to believe that this set is particularly durable. Plus, they cost below the median price, and we think the hefty material and breathability make it worth the buy.
Material: Tencel lyocell made with Refibra technology | Pocket Depth: 16 inches | Sizes: Queen, king | Return Policy: 90 days
These sheets are soft, crisp, and durable.
They may be a bit wrinkly post-wash.
Nothing beats snuggling up in a soft set of sheets before bed, and we can attest that this set from Sheets & Giggles is among the softest sheets we’ve ever slept on. Plus, we appreciated the cooling effect, particularly on nights when we chose to forgo air conditioning. These sheets are made from “eucalyptus lyocell,” but are not Tencel. Still, they have impressive credentials, including Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, USDA BioPreferred, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
Even after laundering, the sheets remained silky and comfortable. There were no rips, snags, or shrinkage post-wash, a testament to their durability. The sheets have deep pockets, accommodating even the thickest mattresses. For improved longevity, the brand recommends rotating the fitted sheet between washes.
The sheets were a bit more wrinkly than we would have liked, but drying them with a dryer ball solved the problem. Quality was hit or miss though—we found loose threads and stitching errors on the set we tested in the lab, while our at-home tester found the sheets to be well-made. The sheets are available in two solid colors and two striped options. We tried the striped white colorway, which we found to have a very luxe, hotel-like appearance. After one month of nightly use, we expect these sheets will continue being a prominent part of our bedding rotation.
Material: Eucalyptus lyocell | Pocket Depth: 17 inches | Sizes: Twin—split king | Return Policy: 90 days
The hypoallergenic Tencel fabric and use of Oeko-Tex certified botanical dyes make them ideal for those with sensitive skin.
They feel thinner and have a smaller pocket depth than its competitors.
These soft and breezy bed sheets come in a variety of colors and patterns (29 total!), all of which are dyed using Oeko-Tex-certified botanical dyes. Colors include classics like white, cream, and powder blue, as well as more unusual hues that have names like redwood, olive oil, and monstera. These sheets are not made from Tencel, but “eucalyptus lyocell,” and have FSC and PEFC certifications.
Buffy’s eucalyptus sheets are soft but not overly silky, though they do feel on the thinner side of those we tested. However, they remained cool and breathable for the duration of our testing, perhaps as a result of their thin construction. Fortunately, there was no loose threading or other damage post-wash. In fact, the sheets grew even softer after washing.
We had no issues putting the fitted sheet on the bed, although the pocket depth is smaller than that of some competitors. Overall, this is a great option for the earth-conscious consumer, or anyone looking for distinctive bedding colors.
Material: Eucalyptus lyocell | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin—California king | Return Policy: 50 days
The sheet set has the cooling properties of cotton with a crisp, percale weave.
The elastic band is a bit difficult to fit on the bed.
Can’t decide between eucalyptus and cotton? This sheet set is made from a blend of Tencel and Egyptian cotton, providing you with the best traits of each fabric. Immediately upon opening the package, the sheets have a soft and lightweight feel. And after daily use and regular washing, they remained just as soft. But what’s more, they kept us noticeably cooler in the summer. This is thanks to both the cooling and moisture-wicking properties of Tencel and the breathability of cotton. Plus, this is the only sheet on our list with a percale weave, which adds to its breathability and gives the sheets a crisp, matte finish.
The sheets held up well to regular washing and didn’t come out of the dryer overly wrinkled. The fitted sheet has a strong elastic band that secures it tightly to the mattress—though this does make it a bit more challenging to pull over corners. We also appreciate that it's the only product on our list that comes with the Made In Green by Oeko-Tex certification, meaning it is both safe from harmful substances and made in environmentally-friendly facilities with responsible work practices.
Material: Tencel lyocell and Egyptian cotton | Pocket Depth: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin—split king | Return Policy: 30 days
Our top pick is the Sheex Arctic Aire Max Sheet Set for its impressive cooling technology, which managed to keep us cool yet cozy throughout the night. This set’s thick yet breathable material felt durable in our testing, and the reinforced seams kept it secure on our mattress as we tossed and turned. For a more budget-friendly option, the Linenwalas Tencel Sheet Set retained its cooling sensation for the duration of our testing and held up well to laundering. It also comes in 17 different color options, making it suitable for a range of bedding styles.
We tested 22 different lyocell sheets in our lab over several days and then in our homes for up to six months. For our lab testing, we first visually inspected each sheet set to assess its quality, looking for any loose or uneven threads, imperfections in the dye or pattern, or other flaws. We also measured each sheet and compared its dimensions to those provided by the manufacturer.
Next, we used the sheets to make the bed in our lab, evaluating how secure they felt to the bed and how easy they were to slide over the mattress or pillows. During this portion of the testing, we took the opportunity to evaluate the texture of the sheets, including whether they felt smooth, silky, crisp, or scratchy.
We also performed a durability test using a sanding block. We rubbed the sanding block 25 times over a small portion of the flat sheet, noting how much abrasion occurred and whether any fibers came off the sheet.
Finally, each set of lyocell sheets was washed and dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After laundering, we remade the beds. To score the durability of the sheets, we took note of whether there was any damage or shrinkage post-wash.
Once lab testing was complete, we learned the price of the bed sheets and scored their overall value based on their price and performance. We brought the top performers home with us to test daily for up to six months, evaluating how well they held up to regular use.
Most lyocell bed sheets are made from Tencel lyocell, although two (the Buffy Breeze Sheet Set and the Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Sheet Set) are made from non-branded lyocell. Lyocell is a fiber made from wood pulp, most commonly eucalyptus, beech, birch, and spruce. It’s made by dissolving wood in a chemical solvent and pushing it through an extruder to form fibers. Tencel, a branded form of lyocell, is well-trusted for its sustainable production process, in which the water is recycled and the solvent is reused at a rate of over 99%.
Any time you’re shopping for bed sheets you’ll want to consider the pocket depth of the fitted sheet. Pocket depth indicates the maximum mattress height a sheet can accommodate. While a 12-inch pocket depth can technically fit a 12-inch mattress, you’ll usually want to look for a pocket depth that’s at least two inches taller than your mattress, in order to give yourself a little wiggle room. If you use a mattress topper, be sure to count that in your measurements, too.
Don’t let thread count fool you: Because lyocell fibers are so soft, a higher thread count isn’t necessary. Beware of brands with thread counts of 1,000 or higher—some companies try to boost their thread count by using thinner fibers to cram in as many threads as possible. For eucalyptus lyocell, look for a thread count between 300 and 600.
Independent third-party tests ensure that textiles, such as bed sheets, meet certain standards for product safety. Because lyocell sheets are treated with a chemical solvent during the production process, there can be a residual of these harmful substances on the textile. The Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification ensures that products have been tested and proven safe from harmful substances. Two products on our list received this certification: the Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set and the Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Sheet Set.
The Made In Green by Oeko-Tex label indicates that the product is both safe from harmful substances and made in environmentally friendly facilities with safe and socially responsible work practices. All Made In Green-certified products are also Standard 100-certified. The only product on our list with the Made In Green certification is the Sweave Bedding Eucalyptus Tencel Sheet Set.
Even when you’ve considered all the factors above, you won’t know if a sheet set is right for you until you sleep on it yourself. This is why most companies offer a sleep trial period in which you can return your sheets for a full refund, ranging anywhere from 30 to 100 days.
Because of the involved and (mostly) sustainable production process, eucalyptus sheets tend to be more expensive than other types of cooling bed sheets. The median price of all the eucalyptus sheets we tested is $150. However, you can find a complete set of eucalyptus sheets for less than $100 for a queen-size bed (like the Linenwalas Tencel Sheet Set, our best budget pick). Keep an eye out for department store "white sales" in January and July, the best times to buy home textiles.
Miracle Made Luxe Cooling Sheets: We found these lyocell sheets easy to move around in, as they stayed secure on our mattress as we tossed and turned. They also excelled in our stain test, so much so that we couldn't even tell there had been coffee, oil, or foundation stains on them. Even so, they lacked cooling capabilities, and we weren’t fans of the stiff, rough texture.
Olive + Crate Eucalyptus Sheet Set: This sheet set was among the softest and most cooling of those we tested, and it’s priced very reasonably for a eucalyptus sheet set. Plus, it’s certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, meaning it's been tested and proven safe from harmful substances. The seam ripped at the three-month mark, though, making us question its longevity.
Molecule Sateen Performance Sheets: These sheets are made with a blend of long-staple cotton and Tencel lyocell. This explains their crisp feel, which is an unusual trait for eucalyptus sheets but is potentially desirable for those who gravitate toward cotton but want the moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties of eucalyptus. However, we prefer the Sweave bedding because it’s available in more color options and comes with the Made In Green by Oeko-Tex label.
While the terms “eucalyptus” and “Tencel” are often used interchangeably, that’s a common misconception. According to Kambak, most eucalyptus is actually lyocell, a generic term referring to fiber made from wood pulp—most commonly eucalyptus, beech, birch, and spruce. You’ve likely seen the term Tencel associated with these sheets—this is a branded form of lyocell, trademarked by the Austrian company Lenzing, that’s trusted for its sustainable production process. Tencel sheets have a silky, satin-like texture that’s soft, breathable, and naturally hypoallergenic.
Lyocell is known for its breathability and moisture-wicking properties, making the material ideal for hot sleepers. Piscatelli notes that many of these properties can be attributed to the construction of the fibers themselves. When the brand’s lyocell is spun into yarns, either by themselves or blended with other fibers, they help absorb and divert heat and humidity from the body.
“The natural structure of Tencel fibers allows the absorption and release of moisture,” she says. “These effective moisture-controlling properties support a drier microclimate on the skin, resulting in increased thermal comfort.”
By absorbing sweat from the body, Piscatelli explains that the fibers not only keep you cooler throughout the night but also help eliminate moisture from the material’s surface, which “creates a less favorable environment for the growth of odor-causing bacteria.”
The answer is complicated. On the one hand, lyocell is made from wood pulp, and the quality of the wood used for this purpose isn’t important. So, companies like Lenzing can use thinning and damaged wood that wouldn’t be used otherwise, according to Piscatelli. Tencel lyocell is also trusted for its environmentally-responsible closed-loop process: “Wood pulp is transformed into cellulosic fibers, while more than 99.8% of the solvent are recovered and fed back into the loop, resulting in close-to-zero wastage,” says Piscatelli.
On the other hand, there’s not currently a true third party certification that can guarantee lyocell is made sustainably. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the certifying body for organic materials, but it cannot certify lyocell, as it is technically a man-made material. (That’s why you won’t find any “organic eucalyptus sheets.”) That means you have to rely on brands to be transparent about their sustainability practices, which can be challenging with the amount of greenwashing happening in the space. Another thing to keep in mind: There are chemicals involved in the manufacturing process, as there is with any man-made material, so Oeko-Tex is a good certification to look for to ensure none of the chemicals used are harmful.
This article was written by Melanie Fincher and was updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To compile this list, we tested 22 eucalyptus sheets in our lab and in our homes, evaluating them on quality, texture, breathability, durability, and value. For expert tips on how to buy lyocell sheets, we tapped Jeffrey Kambak, president of Yunus Textile Mills Limited, and Tori Piscatelli, regional marketing manager of Lenzing.
Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.
Tencel O Lyocell Fabric Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.